Document	Document Title
US08498518B2	Recording/reproducing device A recording and playback apparatus capable of recording and playing back a content downloaded from a server, includes a recording unit configured to download the content with a playback time limit, stored in a server and record the content to a recording medium, an instruction receiver configured to receive an instruction for starting playback of the content, a playback unit configured to play back the content recorded in the recording medium in accordance with the instruction received by the instruction receiver, and a warning output unit configured to output warning information related to the playback time limit of the content before the playback unit stars playback of the content, when the instruction receiver receives the instruction for starting playback of the content during download of the content.
US08498516B2	Personal video recorder and control method thereof for combining first and second video streams The present invention provides a PVR system and control method thereof, by which a user is facilitated to synthesize and combine a multitude of videos or broadcast programs. The present invention includes a decoder selecting at least one of a plurality of reception video streams to decode the selected video stream, a PVR engine reading a first index file including video features and addresses of previously stored video streams, the PVR engine generating a second index file including video features and addresses of the selected video stream, the PVR engine links the first and second index files to each other to combine the previously stored video stream and the selected video stream, and a storage means for storing the video streams and the index files corresponding to the video streams.
US08498509B2	Optical fiber telecommunication cable The invention relates to a flat telecommunication cable in which optical fibers are positioned within micromodules. The micromodules are coupled to a surrounding, ribbon-like cable jacket, thereby preventing the micromodules from sagging within the cable during vertical installations. The invention also relates to a method of extracting optical fibers from such a cable.
US08498504B2	Integrated optical transmission board and optical module An integrated optical transmission board in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes: a first optical transmission board having a first optical transmission line; a second optical transmission board having a second optical transmission line; and an optical coupling structure which is disposed between the first optical transmission board and the second optical transmission board and has a third optical transmission line for providing optical connection between the first optical transmission line and the second optical transmission line. The first optical transmission board further has a first engagement portion provided in an area thereof opposed to the optical coupling structure. The optical coupling structure further has a second engagement portion provided in an area thereof opposed to the first optical transmission board so as to make engagement with the first engagement portion.
US08498497B2	Swarm imaging A method and apparatus is provided for collecting data and generating synthesized data from the collected data. For example, a request for an image may be received from a requestor and at least one data capture device may be identified as capable of providing at least a portion of the requested image. A request may be sent to identified data capture devices to obtain an image corresponding to the requested image. Multiple images may be received from the data capture devices and may further be connected or stitched together to provide a panoramic, 3-dimensional image of requested subject matter.
US08498488B2	Method and apparatus to determine robot location using omni-directional image A method to determine the location of a robot using an omni-directional image, the method including acquiring an omni-directional image from a robot, extracting a predetermined current line from the acquired omni-directional image, calculating a correlation coefficient between the extracted current line of the robot and each landmark line of pre-stored nodes using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and performing a stochastic approach method of a particle filtering process on a basis of the calculated correlation coefficient to recognize a location of the robot.
US08498483B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium Provided is an image processing apparatus, including a characteristic region detecting section that detects a characteristic region from an input image; an image generating section that generates, from the input image, a low-quality image, which is of lower quality than the input image, and a characteristic region image, which is of higher quality than the low-quality image at least at the characteristic region; a difference processing section that generates a characteristic region difference image indicating a difference between an image of the characteristic region in the characteristic region image and an image of the characteristic region in the low-quality image; and an encoding section that encodes the characteristic region difference image and the low-quality image.
US08498480B2	Computationally efficient method for image segmentation with intensity and texture discrimination A computationally efficient image segmentation method is provided that processes a grayscale digital image to more clearly show textures in the underlying object shown in the digital image. A grayscale digital image is converted to an intensity matrix based on the brightness of the pixels in the image, where each matrix element represents a pixel in the digital image and has a value corresponding to the intensity, i.e., the brightness, of that pixel. The value of each matrix element is compared to the value of its nearest neighbor matrix element, and the pixel represented by the matrix element is categorized as being “dark” or “bright” based on its value, and is categorized as being “smooth” or “rough” based on the values of the nearest neighbor matrix elements. As each pixel is categorized, it is assigned a shading level corresponding to the brightness/texture matrix element value. A processed image having only the assigned shading levels is then produced, with the processed image indicating textures of the underlying object shown in the original grayscale digital image.
US08498476B2	High dynamic range texture compression A method for compressing a high dynamic range (HDR) texture. A first block of texels of the HDR texture in a red-green-blue (RGB) space may be transformed to a second block of texels in a luminance-chrominance space. The first block may have red values, green values and blue values. The second block may have luminance values and chrominance values. The chrominance values may be based on a sum of the red values, a sum of the green values and a sum of the blue values. The luminance values and the chrominance values may be converted to an 8-bit integer format. The luminance values may be modified to restore a local linearity property to the second block. The second block may be compressed.
US08498462B2	Image processing apparatus and program An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit which stores volume data associated with an area including a contrast-enhanced artery as an examination target, a first calculation unit which calculates a plurality of partial atherosclerotic indexes associated with a plurality of portions of the artery on the basis of morphological information associated with the artery which is obtained from the volume data, a second calculation unit which calculates a whole atherosclerotic index associated with the entire artery including the plurality of portions on the basis of the morphological information associated with the artery, and a display unit which displays evaluation information based on the calculated whole atherosclerotic index.
US08498451B1	Contact cropping from images The present disclosure provides methods and systems for storing image data in a mobile device. In some embodiments, the method includes generating an image on the mobile device, identifying automatically at least one person in the image, creating a cropped image of the at least one person and storing the cropped image to memory upon request of a user of the mobile device.
US08498444B2	Blob representation in video processing A method of processing a video sequence is provided that includes receiving a frame of the video sequence, identifying a plurality of blobs in the frame, computing at least one interior point of each blob of the plurality of blobs, and using the interior points in further processing of the video sequence. The interior points may be used, for example, in object tracking.
US08498435B2	Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method A signal processing apparatus and signal processing method capable of correctly detecting that a conversation is established even in a daily environment are provided. In signal processing apparatus (100), excitation separation section (130) separates a mixed sound signal in which a plurality of excitations are mixed into the respective excitations. Speech detection section (140) performs speech detection on the plurality of separated excitation signals, judges whether or not the plurality of excitation signals are speech and generates speech section information indicating speech/non-speech information for each excitation signal. Identification parameter extraction section (150) extracts an identification parameter indicating a feature value of a daily conversation based on a plurality of excitation signals or speech section information. Conversation establishment degree calculation section (160) calculates and outputs a degree of establishment of a conversation based on the extracted identification parameter. Conversation partner identifying section (170) judges which excitation is a conversation partner using the degree of establishment of a conversation.
US08498432B2	Digital mixer and method of controlling the same A digital mixer is configured to store, in response to a store operation by a user, values of parameters for one input channel stored in a current memory together with the bus type of each mixing bus at the time of the store into a library as one preset, and to recall, when recalling the values of the parameters in the stored one preset into the current memory in response to a recall operation by the user, the values of the parameters in the preset after converted into parameters corresponding to the bus type at the time of the recall regarding a part of the buses whose bus type stored does not coincide with the bus type at the time of the recall.
US08498429B2	Acoustic correction apparatus, audio output apparatus, and acoustic correction method According to one embodiment, an acoustic correction apparatus includes an input module, a calculator, a divider, a converter, an extractor, a synthesizer, and a generator. The input module receives an audio signal propagated through a sound field. The calculator calculates an impulse response from the audio signal. The divider divides the impulse response into first and second impulse responses. The converter converts the first and second impulse responses into first and second frequency spectrums. The extractor specifies an amplitude component of the first frequency spectrum with a peak relatively higher than that of the amplitude component of the first frequency spectrum, and extracts the peak as a resonance component. The synthesizer synthesizes a first property and a second property for attenuating the resonance component. The generator generates a correction filter for performing correction to obtain the synthesized property.
US08498424B2	Method and apparatus for an adaptive gain control unit A method and apparatus of an adaptive gain control (AGC) unit. The method includes receiving a noisy input signal and determining to utilize a stethoscope in at least one of a noise suppression mode or in amplification mode depending if the noise level is at least one of above or below a threshold, wherein the stethoscope is in noise suppression mode when K is less than the threshold and is amplification mode when K is above the threshold.
US08498422B2	Parametric multi-channel audio representation Multi-channel audio signals are coded into a monaural audio signal and information allowing to recover the multi-channel audio signal from the monaural audio signal and the information. The information is generated by determining a first portion of the information for a first frequency region of the multi-channel audio signal, and by determining a second portion of the information for a second frequency region of the multi-channel audio signal. The second frequency region is a portion of the first frequency region and thus is a sub-range of the first frequency region. The information is multi-layered enabling a scaling of the decoding quality versus bit rate.
US08498416B2	Validation of stored or incoming messages A mobile device can save time by validating a stored message, which was previously unreadable, by utilizing a related message, which can be received at a much quicker rate. In accordance with some aspects, the mobile device can save time by validating the stored message by reading a new related message and subsequently re-reading or descrambling the stored message or its CRC. The first attempt to read the message might not be successful due to a scrambling information change or due to other reasons. The reason for the failure of the first attempt to read the message may be determined based on whether a later attempt to read the message with the same or a different scrambling information is successful.
US08498415B2	Method for preserving privacy of a reputation inquiry in a peer-to-peer communication environment A method for preserving privacy of a reputation inquiry in a peer-to-peer communication environment. The method allows peers using their own personal agents to obtain reputation information of each other through a pair of trustworthy mediator proxies. A mediator proxy is considered trustworthy if even when it is compromised it can guarantee three conditions: (1) the anonymity of the identity of the responders and the target being inquired; (2) the privacy of the content in an inquiry and a response; and (3) the boundary limit of the reputation summary with no possibility of combining the response of multiple inquiries to reverse engineer the reputation rating of an individual responder.
US08498412B2	Method of providing an encrypted data stream A method of providing an encrypted data stream, includes obtaining a first data stream, partitioned into sections corresponding to key periods, each of a plurality of the key periods being associated with a respective value of a key, wherein each section corresponding to a key period associated with a value of the key includes at least one encrypted data unit decryptable using that associated key value, obtaining a sequence of key messages, at least some of which carry key information for obtaining at least one of the key values, obtaining a replacement data stream section, forming an encrypted output data stream, corresponding at least partially to the first data stream, by inserting the replacement data stream section so as to replace a corresponding part of the first data stream with a tail end of the replacement data stream section preceding at least part of a section of the first stream corresponding to a certain key period, and providing as output the encrypted output data stream in synchrony with an associated stream of key messages. A key message carrying key information for obtaining the key value associated with the certain key period is included in the stream of key messages so as to coincide with a point of the encrypted output data stream preceding the tail end of the replacement data stream section.
US08498408B2	Crosstalk estimation and power setting based on interpolation in a multi-channel communication system An access node of a communication system comprises a plurality of transmitters adapted for communication with at least one receiver over a plurality of channels. The access node is operative to obtain estimated crosstalk coefficients between a joining channel and an active channel, and to set a power level of at least one signal transmitted over the joining channel based on the estimated crosstalk coefficients. The access node obtains the estimated crosstalk coefficients by first obtaining a subset of the estimated crosstalk coefficients and subsequently determining additional ones of the estimated crosstalk coefficients by applying an interpolation process to the estimated crosstalk coefficients in the subset. The access node sets the power level of the signal transmitted over the joining channel in a manner that ensures maintenance of a desired performance characteristic for the active channel.
US08498396B2	Notification to absent teleconference invitees A method includes receiving an indication of an elapsed time since a scheduled teleconference meeting start and a further indication of current attendance at the teleconference;applying at least one rule for determining, based on the indications, whether to issue a notification to an absent invitee of the teleconference; and in response to application of the rule, selectively issuing the notification to the absent invitee.
US08498391B2	Methods, systems and program products for supporting prepaid service within a communication network According to a method of controlling access to a prepaid packet data communication service, a prepaid server transmits a resource response in response to receipt of a resource request for prepaid resources from a prepaid client. The resource response specifies a quota of prepaid resources no greater than a prepaid account balance of a prepaid service subscriber and a resource usage threshold at which the prepaid client provides notification. The prepaid client then receives a notification from the prepaid client indicating that the threshold of prepaid resources has been reached, and in response to the notification, performs an accounting updating reflecting a portion of the prepaid account balance that has been consumed.
US08498383B2	Media relay service Disclosed are various embodiments for a call control application bridges communication devices with a media call. In one embodiment, the call control application receives a request to place a media call from a source device to a destination device. The call control application determines if at least one of the source device and the destination device is associated with a telephone number registered in a relay registry. In response to a determination that the telephone number is registered in the registry, the call control application directs an intermediary agent to place a first media call to the source device and a second media call to the destination device. The call control application then bridges the first media call and the second media call via the intermediary agent.
US08498382B2	System and method for evaluating and troubleshooting a digital subscriber line system Disclosed is a method and system for evaluating and troubleshooting a DSL system in a plurality of DSL systems having a common static characteristic. The plurality of DSL systems are ranked based on a ranking characteristic different than the common static characteristic.
US08498372B2	Counter circuit and protection circuit A counter circuit is provided that can switch delay times by use of a simple circuit configuration. A counter circuit includes plural stages of flip flops connected in cascade, in which a flip flop in a first stage receives a clock from an oscillator as an input signal, and a flip flop in a given stage after the first stage receives a Q output of a preceding stage as an input signal, wherein all or part of the plural stages of flip flops receive a mode signal, and wherein each of the plural stages of flip flops divides by 2 a frequency of the received input signal for output as a Q output when the mode signal indicates a normal delay mode, and each stage of the flip flops that receives the mode signal allows through passage of the received input signal for output as a Q output when the mode signal indicates a delay shortened mode.
US08498363B2	Compensating for frequency offsets on a base station A base station for compensating for frequency offsets is described. The base station includes a processor and instructions stored in memory. The base station computes a time domain impulse response estimate and applies frequency offset compensation to the time domain impulse response estimate to obtain a time domain offset-compensated impulse response estimate. A frequency domain offset-compensated impulse response estimate is computed. The frequency domain offset-compensated impulse response estimate is used to compute beamforming weights. The base station transmits data using the beamforming weights.
US08498357B2	Transmitting/receiving apparatus and method for interleaver division multiple access system Provided is a transmitting/receiving apparatus and method for an IDMA system. The receiving apparatus includes a channel estimator, an estimator, and a determiner. The channel estimator estimates a channel using a multi-user signal received through at least one RX antenna. The estimator estimates the noise power and the signal power for each transmission layer of each user by using the estimated channel value from the channel estimator. The determiner determines the number of transmission layers for each user and an MCS level for each transmission layer by using the signal power and the noise power estimated by the estimator.
US08498353B2	Apparatus and method for cyclic delay diversity in multiple-antenna wireless communication system A cyclic delay diversity (CDD) technique in a multiple-antenna broadband wireless communication system is provided. An apparatus in the multiple-antenna broadband wireless communication system includes: a controller for selecting at least one sub-carrier to which CDD is applied; at least one shifter for shifting a phase of a signal mapped to the at least one selected sub-carrier; and an operator for converting the signal, which is mapped to the at least one selected sub-carrier and whose phase is shifted, and other signals mapped to the remaining sub-carriers into time-domain signals.
US08498347B2	Transmission apparatus and reception apparatus A transmission apparatus used in a mobile communication system adopting a single carrier scheme in an uplink includes: multiplexing means configured to multiplex a pilot channel, a control channel, and a data channel; and transmission means configured to transmit a transmission symbol including at least the pilot channel and the control channel using the uplink. A first pilot channel used for a reception apparatus to measure channel state of the uplink is transmitted using a frequency band over a plurality of resource blocks. A second pilot channel for compensating for a channel transmitted by the uplink is transmitted by a resource block assigned to the transmission apparatus. Control channels of the transmission apparatus and the apparatus other than the transmission apparatus are orthogonalized with each other by a FDM scheme.
US08498338B1	Mode decision using approximate ½ pel interpolation A method for video encoding is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating first sub-pel data for at least one of (i) a motion estimation and (ii) a mode decision by first filtering reference data and (B) generating second sub-pel data for a motion compensation by second filtering the reference data. Wherein a first performance of the first filtering may be different than a second performance of the second filtering.
US08498335B2	Adaptive deadzone size adjustment in quantization Techniques and tools are described for adaptive deadzone (“DZ”) resizing during quantization. For example, in some embodiments, for quantization of an AC frequency coefficient of a block, a video encoder adjusts DZ size of a selected quantizer depending on the texture of the block. In other embodiments, a video encoder adjusts DZ size depending on the frequency of a coefficient being quantized. In still other embodiments, for quantization of an AC frequency coefficient of a block, a video encoder adjusts DZ size depending on the texture of the block and the frequency of the coefficient being quantized.
US08498330B2	Method and apparatus for coding mode selection Method and apparatus for providing a fast and accurate video coding process are disclosed. After checking the coding history of certain coded video frame units of a video, the order of the inter prediction and the intra prediction is adaptively exchanged for each coding video frame unit of an inter frame. Furthermore, the computations for coding modes in the latter part of the computation order are selectively skipped so as to speed up the coding process without degrading the video quality.
US08498327B2	Wireless communication apparatus Wireless communication apparatus adopting a time division duplex system for transmission and reception using plural antennas, deviation of amplitude and phase occurring between transmission and reception circuits is detected and corrected using a communication signal. Channel estimation means detects channel information based on reception output of N reception circuits having a one-to-one correspondence with N antennas. Correction value detection means finds a correction value for correcting deviation occurring between each of N transmission circuits and each of the N reception circuits based on the channel information. A wireless communication apparatus transmits an already known signal (training signal) to a base station with which the wireless communication apparatus conducts communications. The base station executes channel estimation based on the already known signal and generates and transmits a correction signal (probe signal). The correction value detection means of the wireless communication apparatus detects the correction value using the correction signal.
US08498326B1	Method and apparatus for forward error correction A multi-tone transceiver with a components forming a transmit path and a receive path configured to couple via a subscriber line to an opposing multi-tone transceiver for frequency division multiplexed multi-tone modulated communications therewith is disclosed. A noise margin channel identifier is configured to identify within a received tone set, discrete tones each associated with a corresponding one of at least two channels differing from one another in a relative noise margin of associated tones. A Viterbi decoder is responsive to the channel identification provided by the noise margin channel identifier to discretely decode each of the at least two channels; thereby improving the fidelity of the error correction provided by the Viterbi decoder by discretely processing the identified channels within the received set of tones.
US08498314B2	Clock operating method and apparatus for supporting ethernet physical layer interfaces Provided is a clock operating method and apparatus for supporting a plurality of Ethernet physical layer interfaces. To provide a network synchronization function in a board of simultaneously accommodating the plurality of Ethernet physical layer interfaces, the clock operating method may include: determining a physical layer interface according to a current network synchronization mode; and generating a clock signal of the determined physical layer interface as a reference signal of another physical layer interface.
US08498311B2	Communication subsystem for wireless devices or the like Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a wireless terminal may include an application subsystem and a communication subsystem. The communication subsystem in one embodiment may enable a virtual direct interface to a remote network to be presented to the application subsystem via a wireless communication system air link interface. The communication subsystem may allow applications of the application subsystem to be independent of any particular radio technology or network implementation of a wireless communication system air link interface. Once a session is established between the communication subsystem and the wireless communication system air link interface, the application subsystem may gain access to the remote network through the communication subsystem via a transport interface.
US08498308B2	Method and apparatus for fast closed-loop rate adaptation in a high rate packet data transmission In a high data rate communication system capable of variable rate transmission, an open loop rate control can be adjusted with a closed loop rate control to maximize throughput. An access point generates interleaved multi-slot packets that allow an access terminal to transmit indicator messages to the access point in accordance with recently received data carried within slots of the multi-slot packets.
US08498306B2	Maintaining data unit order in a network switching device Data units received by a network device may be classified into traffic flow classes in which the determined traffic flow class for a data unit may be dynamically refined as the data unit is processed by the network device. A dispatch component of the network device may receive data units associated with traffic flow classes. Parallel processing engines of the network device may receive the data units from the dispatch component and may generate, for a least one of the data units, a plurality of dynamically refined indications of the traffic flow class to which the data unit belongs. Additionally, an ordering component of the network device may include a plurality of re-order queues, where the at least one data unit successively progresses through at least two of the re-order queues in an order defined by the plurality of dynamically refined indications of the traffic flow class.
US08498303B2	System and method for route data in an anycast environment A method of routing data in a network includes sending an instruction to a router to statically route outbound traffic to a firewall farm having an anycast address, identifying prefixes of endpoints that communicate with router, instructing a firewall router to send a route advertisement to the network announcing that the firewall router is the subsequent best hop for data bound for the endpoints, detecting a change in network condition, and sending another instruction to the router to route outbound traffic to another firewall farm having the anycast address after detecting the change.
US08498301B2	Switch with packet services processing Virtual machine environments are provided in the switches that form a network, with the virtual machines executing network services previously performed by dedicated appliances. The virtual machines can be executed on a single multi-core processor in combination with normal switch functions or on dedicated services processor boards. Packet processors analyze incoming packets and add a services tag containing services entries to any packets. Each switch reviews the services tag and performs any network services resident on that switch. This allows services to be deployed at the optimal locations in the network. The network services may be deployed by use of drag and drop operations. A topology view is presented, along with network services that may be deployed. Services may be selected and dragged to a single switch or multiple switches. The management tool deploys the network services software, with virtual machines being instantiated on the switches as needed.
US08498288B2	System and method for achieving voice-activated radio broadcasting over IP networks A system and method for adding voice capability to an existing computer network having non-voice-ready routers is described. A radio broadcasting base station is connected to a voice activated relay, such that the relay activates or switches to a broadcast mode of the base station when a voice signal is received from the router.
US08498281B2	Mobile WLAN gateway This disclosure provides a technique for operating a mobile station as a wireless local-area network (WLAN) gateway. The mobile station is provided with a gateway application to control the following operations: activating a WLAN circuitry of the mobile station as a WLAN base station capable of communicating with at least one WLAN terminal over a WLAN network; creating a network identifier for the WLAN base station; assigning an internet protocol address for the at least one WLAN terminal; resolving domain name service (DNS) queries in cooperation with an external DNS service system; assigning at least one port number for each protocol supported by the gateway application; and tunneling internet traffic between the at least one WLAN terminal and an internet host over the broadband connection.
US08498270B2	Mobile station, base station, and method of reporting wireless channel quality A disclosed mobile station includes a wireless channel quality measuring unit configured to measure wireless channel quality; a wireless channel quality determining unit configured to determine to report the wireless channel quality to a base station if the wireless channel quality is greater than a threshold; and a transmission unit configured to report the wireless channel quality to the base station based on the determination result of the wireless channel quality determining unit.
US08498263B2	Method for transmitting a control signal in a radio communication system According to the invention, the method for transmitting a control signal in a radio communication system comprises the steps of generating a control signal in accordance with the type of subframe for transmitting the control signal, wherein said subframe is a first type of subframe including a basic number of OFDM symbols, a second type of subframe including a larger number of OFDM symbols than the first type subframe, or a third type of subframe including a smaller number of OFDM symbols than the first type of subframe; and transmitting the control signal via a control channel having a structure determined in accordance with the type of the subframe.
US08498260B2	Methods of packet element transmission in wireless communications system A method of packet element transmission for a mobile device of a wireless communication system includes generating a control element including a triggered capability report and a header of the capability report when the mobile device has sufficient resources to transmit both of the capability report and the header thereof in a transmission opportunity, wherein the capability report is a power headroom report, hereinafter called PHR, and cancelling all pending PHRs of the mobile device.
US08498259B2	Radio communication system, base station apparatus, mobile station apparatus, and radio communication method Mobile station apparatuses are provided that receive downlink allocation information from a base station apparatus in a downlink control channel. Each mobile station apparatus performs demodulation, decoding, and cyclic redundancy check on the downlink shared channel in accordance with the downlink allocation information received. Each mobile station apparatus generates an acknowledgement or a non-acknowledgement in accordance with the result of the cyclic redundancy check. Each mobile station apparatus then selects the lowest number and the second lowest number of the numbers of the control channel elements in which the downlink allocation information is received. Based on the selected numbers, each mobile station apparatus 2 obtains a physical resource block (PRB), as well as a cyclic shift and an orthogonal code sequence in the time domain for each transmission antenna, and spreads the acknowledgement or the non-acknowledgement and the uplink pilot channel.
US08498244B2	Method of reporting channel quality in EGPRS system To report channel quality in RTTI configuration, channel quality parameters for at least one radio block intended for the MS is calculated over a filtering period. A filtering period is two times longer than the time needed to transmit the radio block.
US08498241B1	Use of macro-network channel-list messages for selection of carriers for low-cost internet base-station frequency-hopping pilot beacons Methods and systems are provided for selecting carriers for low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) frequency-hopping pilot beacons. The LCIB receives channel-list message information associated with one or more macro-network coverage areas within a vicinity of the LCIB. The LCIB then uses the received channel-list message information to identify a set of macro-network carriers on which to transmit a frequency-hopping pilot beacon. The LCIB can then transmit its frequency-hopping pilot beacon on each of the carriers in the identified set.
US08498229B2	Reduced power state network processing A network interface controller of a computing device is disclosed that processes network packets without waking the computing device. The network interface controller may detect that a secured connection with an access point has been disconnected and may reconnect to the access point without waking the computing device. The network interface controller may support roaming between access points without waking the computing device. The network interface controller may also support establishing, re-establishing and maintaining a secured session with another computing device while a computing device is in a sleep state.
US08498222B2	VoIP-based invocation of PSTN-based AIN/IN services A method may include receiving an Advanced Intelligent Network/Intelligent Network (AIN/IN) service request from a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscriber, generating an IP-based message for invoking the AIN/IN service based on the AIN/IN service request, routing the IP-based message to an AIN/IN service control device via an IP signaling gateway, receiving an AIN/IN response from the AIN/IN service control device based on the IP-based message, and connecting the VoIP subscriber to the AIN/IN service based on the AIN/IN response.
US08498219B2	Monitor for multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) networks In one embodiment, a method includes receiving label data that indicates all interface labels that belong to each path ID of multiple path IDs associated with corresponding multiple paths between provider edge nodes in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. Each interface label is associated with a network interface on a node in the MPLS network. Based on the label data, an untested list that holds data that indicates all unique interface labels is generated. A tested interface selected from the untested list is scheduled for testing. After scheduling, the interface label of the tested interface is removed from the untested list. It is determined whether the untested list still includes data for at least one interface label. If not, then a test of the MPLS network is completed without testing every path end to end, thus conserving network resources.
US08498214B2	Switching device, information processing device, and recording medium for failure notification control program A switching device includes a storage unit configured to store management information including an updated management information and a before updated management information, a specification unit configured to acquire an information for specifying management information stored in a management device which manages a failure that has occurred in an object device for the failure to be monitored and specify management information stored in the storage unit on the basis of the acquired information, and an information sending unit configured to send a failure information to the management device on the basis of the management information which has been specified using the specification unit in the case that the failure has been detected.
US08498195B1	HARQ retransmission scheme for at least two transmit antennas Systems and methods are provided for employing a HARQ retransmission scheme in a time invariant MIMO transmission channel with two inputs. During odd-numbered transmission attempts of information bearing signal s, the original signal s is sent. During even-numbered transmission attempts, a signal {hacek over (s)} that is different from but represents the same information as s is sent. By alternating between two different signals during retransmission, diversity gain is introduced. Information bearing signals s and {hacek over (s)} may also be subjected to precoding before transmission. The result of precoding is a channel that effectively changes with time. A receiver that operates using this retransmission scheme may use the information from some or all of the transmission attempts. The receiver may include a pre-processor for space-time codes that effectively converts {hacek over (s)} into an s representation.
US08498193B2	Method for selection of an optimized number of subscribers in mobile radio systems This invention comprises a method of little complexity for selection of an optimized number of subscribers for transmission in wire-free message transmission systems having a plurality of antennas at the base station and having one or more antennas at the receivers, as well as space-division multiple access (SDMA) in conjunction with multiple access in the time domain or frequency domain. Subscribers with channels with little spatial correlation are selected for operation in the same time slot or frequency slot, in order to increase the throughput of the SDMA transmission method, with the relationship between the group size and the mean transmission power being taken into account. The invention interacts both with SDMA methods which do not allow any interference (Zero Forcing) and with methods with residual interference. It is based on a novel interpretation of the ZF principle with the aid of orthogonal projection matrices, which allow the channel quality to be estimated with much less computation complexity, based on use or the transmission method. The possible subscriber combinations are sorted efficiently with the aid of a tree-like search algorithm. The method makes use of perfect channel knowledge or alternatively averaged channel statistics. Quality of service requirements for the subscriber as well as fairness criteria can be taken into account.
US08498191B2	Information recording / reproducing method and apparatus, and information reproducing apparatus An information recording/reproducing method includes: setting light beam power from a light source, to second power P2, which is weaker than first power P1, and detecting the number of the recording layers provided for an optical disc; controlling an objective lens to focus the light beam on one recording layer which is the closest to the objective lens, in a condition that the detected number of the recording layers ≧3; setting the power of the light beam to third power P3, between P1 and P2; specifying the number of the recording layers provided for the optical disc on the basis of layer information, which is information associated with the one recording layer; and setting the power of the light beam to P1, reading the layer type information recorded in advance in the one recording layer, and specifying a disc type based on the read layer type information.
US08498179B2	Mechanism for indication of the lunar phases A mechanism for indication of the lunar phases, in particular for a mechanical watch, including a moon disk and a dial having a substantially semi-circular aperture. The moon disk is rotated in such a way as to display the indications inscribed on the moon disk through the aperture in order to indicate the lunar phases. In addition, the mechanism comprises at least one first occultation disk housed rotatably, at least in part, between the moon disk and the dial, and a gear train which drives the at least first occultation disk in such a way that the indications inscribed on the moon disk are obscured, at least in part, during specific phases of operation of the mechanism in such a manner that the indications appearing through the aperture correspond substantially to the natural appearance of the moon during the entire lunation. The invention also relates to a watch piece comprising such an indication mechanism.
US08498175B2	Burst order control circuit A burst order control circuit includes a signal transmitting unit transmitting a second address as first and second signals in response to a mode signal and a first address, a signal delay unit delaying a read command, the first signal, and the second signal to generate a delayed read command, a first delayed signal, and a second delayed signal, a signal generating unit configured to generate a burst signal in response to the first address and generate first and second transmission signals in response to the delayed read command and the first and second delayed signals, and an output unit sorting and outputting a plurality of data in response to the burst signal, the first transmission signal, and the second transmission signal.
US08498171B2	Distributed semiconductor device methods, apparatus, and systems Some embodiments include a device having a number of memory cells and associated circuitry for accessing the memory cells. The memory cells of the device may be formed in one or more memory cell dice. The associated circuitry of the device may also be formed in one or more dice, optionally separated from the memory cell dice.
US08498167B1	Temperature-dependent self-refresh timing circuit for semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device with a self-refresh timing circuit is provided. The semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory banks, a command decoder, a bank address generator, a self-refresh counter, and the self-refresh timing circuit. The self-refresh timing circuit comprises a temperature sensor, a reference voltage source, a comparison circuit, an enable circuit, and an oscillation circuit. The comparison circuit compares a voltage from the temperature sensor with a constant voltage from the reference voltage source and generates a comparison signal. The enable circuit activates the comparison circuit when self-refresh operations for at least one refresh row are completed in all memory cell banks. The oscillation circuit generates a self-refresh clock signal which controls the operating frequency of the bank address generator and the self-refresh counter.
US08498164B1	Variable impedance memory device biasing circuits and methods An integrated circuit can include at least one programmable metallization cell (PMC) comprising an ion conducting material and a metal dissolvable in the ion conducting material, selectively connected to a shunt node; and a biasing circuit comprising a current source coupled to the shunt node configurable to provide a first current in a first type operation, and a voltage regulator coupled to the shunt node configured to regulate a potential at the shunt node; wherein in the first type operation, the voltage regulator shunts current with respect to the shunt node in a same direction as a current flow of the at least one PMC.
US08498163B2	Semiconductor memory apparatus and data erasing method A data erasing method of a semiconductor memory apparatus may include: if any one threshold voltage of a plurality of memory cells, for which an erase operation has been performed using an erase voltage pulse, is higher than an erase verification voltage, increasing a voltage level of the erase verification voltage applied to a plurality of word lines of the plurality of memory cells until the threshold voltage of the plurality of memory cells is lower than the erase verification voltage, and increasing a voltage level of the erase voltage pulse by an increased voltage level of the erase verification voltage and applying the erase voltage pulse to the plurality of memory cells.
US08498161B2	Nonvolatile memory device and method of reading the same A read method of a nonvolatile memory device according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure includes precharging bit lines coupled to memory cells, performing a first read operation by supplying a first reference voltage to the memory cells in order to determine the data stored in the memory cells, precharging bit lines coupled to undetermined memory cells whose data has not been determined by the first read operation, and performing a second read operation by supplying a second reference voltage to the memory cells in order to determine data stored in the undetermined memory cells.
US08498158B2	System and method for controlling voltage ramping for an output operation in a semiconductor memory device A voltage driving circuit comprises a current bias generating unit and a voltage driving unit. The current bias generating unit is configured to receive a mode signal and to generate a mode selection current in response to the mode signal. The voltage driving unit is coupled to the current bias generating unit, and is configured to receive the mode selection current and to drive an output voltage at a slew rate that is set according to the mode selection current. The voltage driving unit can include a plurality of stages, where each stage is configured to drive the output voltage at a respective different slew rate according to the mode signal.
US08498151B1	Data storage in analog memory cells using modified pass voltages A method for data storage includes storing data in a target analog memory cell, which is one of a group of analog memory cells that are connected in series with one another, by writing a storage value into the target memory cell. The storage value written into the target memory cell is verified while biasing the other memory cells in the group with respective first pass voltages. After writing and verifying the storage value, the storage value is read from the target memory cell while biasing the other memory cells in the group with respective second pass voltages, wherein at least one of the second pass voltages applied to one of the other memory cells in the group is lower than a respective first pass voltage applied to the one of the other memory cells. The data is reconstructed responsively to the read storage value.
US08498150B2	Non-volatile magnetic memory element with graded layer A non-volatile magnetic memory element includes a number of layers one of which is a free layer which is graded. The graded free layer may include various elements with each element having a different anisotropy or it may include nonmagnetic compounds and magnetic regions with the non-magnetic compounds forming graded contents forming a unique shape such as cone shaped, diamond shaped or other shapes and whose thickness is based on the reactivity of the magnetic compound.
US08498149B2	Non-volatile magnetic memory element with graded layer A non-volatile magnetic memory element includes a number of layers one of which is a free layer which is graded. The graded free layer may include various elements with each element having a different anisotropy or it may include nonmagnetic compounds and magnetic regions with the non-magnetic compounds forming graded contents forming a unique shape such as cone shaped, diamond shaped or other shapes and whose thickness is based on the reactivity of the magnetic compound.
US08498146B2	Programming reversible resistance switching elements A storage system and method for operating the storage system that uses reversible resistance-switching elements is described. Techniques are disclosed herein for varying programming conditions to account for different resistances that memory cells have. These techniques can program memory cells in fewer attempts, which can save time and/or power. Techniques are disclosed herein for achieving a high programming bandwidth while reducing the worst case current and/or power consumption.
US08498142B2	Resistance change memory A memory includes memory cells each includes a resistance change element and a diode, and each memory cell between one of row lines and one of column lines, a first decoder which selects one of the row lines as a selected row line, a second decoder which selects one of the column lines as a selected column line, a voltage pulse generating circuit which generates a voltage pulse, a voltage pulse shaping circuit which makes a rise time and a fall time of the voltage pulse longer, and a control circuit which applies the voltage pulse outputting from the voltage pulse shaping circuit to unselected column lines except the selected column line, and which applies a fixed potential to unselected row lines except the selected row line, in a data writing to a memory cell which is provided between the selected row line and the selected column line.
US08498141B2	Non-volatile semiconductor memory device A memory cell array includes a memory cell having a variable resistance element and disposed between first and second wirings. A control circuit provides a selected first wiring with a first voltage and provide a selected second wiring with a second voltage having a lower voltage value than the first voltage. A current limitation circuit controls a cell current below a first current. It includes a first current generation circuit for storing a cell current at a first point of time and generating a first current of α times the stored cell current. It also includes a second current generation circuit for generating a second current of (β/α) times the cell current at a second point of time. A determination circuit outputs a control signal when the second current exceeds the stored current. The first current generation circuit newly stores a stored current according to the control signal.
US08498139B2	Semiconductor storage device A memory includes plurality of word lines extending in a first direction, plurality of bit lines extending in a second direction to intersect with the word lines, and a memory cell array including plurality of memory cells connected to the word lines and the bit lines. Plurality of sense amplifiers include detectors configured to detect data transmitted from the memory cells to sense nodes via the corresponding bit lines, and capacitors connected between the sense nodes and a reference potential, respectively, and are provided to be arranged in the second direction from at least a side of one ends of the bit lines. Each of k capacitors corresponding to k detectors, where k is equal to or greater than 2, has a width corresponding to widths of the k detectors, the k capacitors are arranged in the second direction, and the k detectors are arranged in the first direction.
US08498138B2	Method for modifying data more than once in a multi-level cell memory location within a memory array A method and apparatus for marking a block of multi-level memory cells for performance of a block management function by programming at least one bit in a lower page of the memory cell block such that a first logic state is stored in the at least one bit in the lower page; programming at least one bit in an upper page of the memory cell block such that the first logic state is stored in the at least one bit in the upper page; reprogramming the at least one bit in the upper page such that the at least one bit transitions from the first logic state to a second logic state; identifying the first logic state in the at least one bit of a lower page and the transition of at least one corresponding bit in the upper page from the first logic state to the second logic state; and in response, marking the corresponding memory cell block for performance of a block management function.
US08498133B2	Controlling a high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) link The present disclosure is directed to a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link with Voltage Source Converters VSC and interconnecting two power systems. A model-predictive control with a receding horizon policy is employed for controlling the outer loop of a two-loop or two-layer control scheme or setup for the HVDC link. The two-loop control scheme takes advantage of the difference in speed of the dynamics of the various system variables of the HVDC link and the interconnected power systems. Model-based prediction representative of the interconnected power systems' behavior enables comparison of the future effect of different control inputs applied within the control scheme, while taking into account any physical, safety and operating constraints. It is valid for a complete operating range, e.g., it avoids performance degradation when moving away from the nominal operating point of the control scheme for a HVDC link.
US08498129B1	Power distribution network An improved power distribution network for an integrated circuit package that reduces the number of power supply pins that are used in the pin array and achieves better operating performance. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of power supply pins to input/output (I/O) pins is in the range of approximately 1 to 24 to approximately 1 to 52. In this embodiment, the integrated circuit package comprises a substrate, an integrated circuit mounted on the substrate, a first decoupling capacitor mounted on the substrate, and a second decoupling capacitor formed in the integrated circuit. The package is formed by coupling a power supply pin to both the first and second capacitors by a low frequency path and a DC path, respectively, and the first and second capacitors are coupled by a high frequency path.
US08498128B2	Printed circuit board A PCB includes a number of insulation layers, a number of circuit layers, a signal-interfering component, and a signal-sensitive component. The circuit layers and the insulation layers are stacked alternately. The circuit layers include at least two first circuit layers, a second circuit layer, and a ground layer. The ground layer has a first side and a second side facing away the first side. The first circuit layers are positioned near the first side and include an outmost first circuit layer and at least one inner first circuit layer positioned between the outmost first circuit layer and the ground layer. The second circuit layer is positioned near the second side. The signal-interfering component is positioned on the outmost first circuit layer. The signal-sensitive component is positioned on the second circuit layer. Each inner first circuit layer defines a copper-remove area corresponding to an orthogonal projection of the signal-interfering component thereon.
US08498127B2	Thermal interface material for reducing thermal resistance and method of making the same The thermal interface material including a thermally conductive metal a thermally conductive metal having a first surface and an opposing second surface, a diffusion barrier plate coupled to the first surface of the thermally conductive metal and the second surface of the thermally conductive metal, and a thermal resistance reducing layer coupled to the diffusion barrier plate.
US08498122B2	Communication protocol interface module A communication protocol interface module conceived to be applied to an electromechanical equipment (1) provided with an opening (3) for coupling the module (2) that is provided with an electronic board (11) inside same having a circuit for defining the communication protocols.
US08498113B2	Disaster-proof data safe for housing functional electronic data processing, storage and communications systems A disaster-proof data safe with multiple, insulated, surrounding solid structural metal walls for housing functioning digital electronic computing, data processing, data storage, communications and high power density blade server systems has one or more coaxial helical coil coolant tubes circulating a coolant liquid encircled around an interior hexahedral, housing space for removing heat generated in the housing space and insulating the housing space from sources of heat external to the safe. Features of the safe include a plurality of longitudinal heat sink bars thermally coupled to the encircling helical coil coolant tubes supported either by the helical coil coolant tubes or the interior structural metal sidewalls of the housing space. The helical coil coolant tubes and the heat sink bars are preferably composed from metals such as copper, aluminum and their alloys that have a high thermal conductivity and that retain structural integrity at temperature ranging up to 500° C.
US08498110B2	Container data center A container data center includes a container and a number of information processing systems arranged in two rows. The container includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite to the top wall, and opposite sidewalls connected between the top wall, the bottom wall, and a raised floor supporting the information processing systems. Each of the sidewalls defines an outlet and an intake respectively to above and below the raised floor. Two groups of the fans respectively are mounted in the air outtake holes of the container. Two air ducts are respectively arranged between the sidewalls and the rows of the data processing systems. Air outside the container flows into the container through the intake to cool the information processing systems, and is guided to the corresponding outlets by the air ducts to be exhausted out of the container by the fans.
US08498107B2	Fixing mechanism and electronic device having the same A fixing mechanism for attaching a peripheral device to a housing of an electronic device includes a latching member, a locking rod, a locking member, a positioning member and a first resilient member. The latching member is fixed to the peripheral device. The locking member is mounted on the housing. The positioning member is fixed to the locking rod. The locking rod is slidably mounted on the locking member via the first resilient member. The first resilient member is elastically sandwiched between the positioning member and the locking member, and enabling the locking rod to be latched with or detached from the latching member. The electronic device having the fixing mechanism is also provided.
US08498102B2	Rotatable coupling mechanism A rotatable coupling mechanism includes an annular base member and a first annular member. A second annular member is mechanically coupled to the annular base member. A resilient member is disposed between the first annular member and the second annular member.
US08498101B2	Support frame and electronic apparatus A support frame is adapted to provide support to a display device, and includes a pivot seat module, a first support module and a second support module. The pivot seat module is adapted to be mounted to the display device for rotation relative to the display device about a first axis passing through the display device. The first support module is coupled to the pivot seat module, and is disposed to form an angle with a backside of the display device for supporting the display device at a substantially upright position. The second support module is coupled to the pivot seat module, is pivotable relative to the pivot seat module about a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, and cooperates with the first support module to support the display device at a lying position.
US08498094B2	Semiconductor variable capacitor A novel semiconductor variable capacitor is presented. The semiconductor structure is simple and is based on a semiconductor variable MOS capacitor structure suitable for integrated circuits, which has at least three terminals, one of which is used to modulate the equivalent capacitor area of the MOS structure by increasing or decreasing its DC voltage with respect to another terminal of the device, in order to change the capacitance over a wide ranges of values. Furthermore, the present invention decouples the AC signal and the DC control voltage avoiding distortion and increasing the performance of the device, such as its control characteristic. The present invention is simple and only slightly dependent on the variations due to the fabrication process. It exhibits a high value of capacitance density and, if opportunely implemented, shows a linear dependence of the capacitance value with respect to the voltage of its control terminal.
US08498092B2	Air ionizer electrode assembly An air ionizer electrode assembly (10; 50; 60) comprising an inner electrode (11; 52; 66), at least one outer electrode (14, 15; 54; 61) and a dielectric barrier (12, 13; 53; 64) sandwiched between the inner electrode and the at least one outer electrode. The inner electrode has a continuous overall surface and the at least one outer electrode has a plurality of holes (21; 56; 70) to provide a plurality of ion generating points for generation of negative ions.
US08498090B2	Apparatus and method for supplying power to a voltage- or current-releasing switching device A power supply for a voltage or current-releasing switching device having at least one coil for one of a voltage and current release includes a device which activates a switch means in a pulse-width modulated manner, the device configured for setting the current flowing in the coil, wherein inductance of the coil functions as an impedor of a clocked power supply which, via a rectifier diode and a storage capacitor, provides a first supply voltage that is predefinable via a comparison value. A voltage regulation device provides at least one second supply voltage. A measurement-resistor-free regulation device is provided for setting the current through the coil.
US08498080B2	Magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording that includes a sensor for detecting contact with a recording medium A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, a return path section, a heater that generates heat for making part of a medium facing surface protrude, and a sensor that detects contact of the part of the medium facing surface with a recording medium. The return path section includes: a yoke layer located backward of the main pole along the direction of travel of the recording medium; a first coupling part coupling the yoke layer and the write shield to each other; and a second coupling part located away from the medium facing surface and coupling the yoke layer and the main pole to each other. The first coupling part has an end face facing toward the yoke layer. This end face includes a middle portion spaced from the yoke layer and facing the yoke layer, and two side portions located on opposite sides of the middle portion in a track width direction and in contact with the yoke layer. The sensor is located between the middle portion and the yoke layer.
US08498076B1	Disk drive biasing timing recovery measurements for spiral tracks based on radial location of head In an embodiment of the present invention, a disk drive comprises a head actuated over a disk including a plurality of spiral tracks, wherein each spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted at a predetermined interval by a sync mark. The read signal from the head is processed to detect a plurality of the sync marks in spiral track crossings. A plurality of timing recovery measurements are generated corresponding to the detected sync marks, and the timing recovery measurements are biased based on a radial location of the head. A servo write clock is generated in response to the biased timing recovery measurements, and the servo write clock is used to write product servo sectors to the disk.
US08498068B2	Lens module A lens module includes a lens barrel, a first lens, a second lens, and a spacer. The lens barrel includes an object-side end and an image-side end opposite to the object-side end. The first lens is received in the lens barrel, and adjacent to the object-side end. The second lens is received in the lens barrel, and adjacent to the image-side end in relative to the first lens. The spacer is an annular plate, and includes an object-side surface, an image-side surface opposite to the object-side surface, and an inner sidewall. The spacer is positioned between the first lens and the second lens. The object-side surface faces the first lens, and the image-side surface faces the second lens. The intersection of the object-side surface and the inner sidewall forms a chamfer.
US08498066B2	Projection lens system with long back focal length A projection lens system, in the order from a magnified side to a reduced side, includes a first lens group with negative refraction power and a second lens group with positive refraction power. The projection lens system satisfies the formulas: −1.55
US08498062B2	Optical system An optical system having a novel imaging method of forming an image of a subject of projection in space the same as if the image were being reflected from a mirror where a mirror does not actually exist is provided, the optical system being provided with a light beam redirecting surface that functions to transmit light while refracting the light and form a real image at a plane-symmetric position, and a mirror surface arranged facing the light beam redirecting surface; in which, by transmitting light emitted from the subject of projection through the light beam redirecting surface, reflecting the transmitted light at the mirror surface, and again transmitting the reflected light through the light beam redirecting surface, an image of a subject of projection arranged at a position on an observation side opposite the mirror surface arranged on the other side across the light beam redirecting surface is formed at a position that is plane-symmetric to the mirror surface with respect to the light beam redirecting surface to which a virtual mirror that does not exist as a substantial body has been moved.
US08498058B2	Zoom lens and image pickup device including the same A zoom lens and an image pickup device including the same. The zoom lens includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power. The first through fourth lens groups are sequentially arranged from an object side. The second lens group includes a lens formed of a material having a low refractive index.
US08498052B2	Composition including an item and an encoded optical substrate and a method for identifying an item A composition including an optical substrate removably attached to an item. At least a portion of the substrate has a diffraction grating embedded therein or thereon. The grating has a resultant refractive index variation at a grating location. The grating provides an output optical signal indicative of a code when illuminated by an incident light signal.
US08498046B2	Highly rare-earth-doped optical fibers for fiber lasers and amplifiers Various embodiments described herein comprise a laser and/or an amplifier system including a doped gain fiber having ytterbium ions in a phosphosilicate glass. Various embodiments described herein increase pump absorption to at least about 1000 dB/m-9000 dB/m. The use of these gain fibers provide for increased peak-powers and/or pulse energies. The various embodiments of the doped gain fiber having ytterbium ions in a phosphosilicate glass exhibit reduced photo-darkening levels compared to photo-darkening levels obtainable with equivalent doping levels of an ytterbium doped silica fiber.
US08498040B2	Color electronic paper display device and method for manufacturing the same A color electronic paper display device, which includes: a base; a first colorant disposed on the base; a second colorant disposed on the base, the second colorant having higher reflectance and smaller size than those of the first colorant; and an electrode part for applying voltages to the first and second colorants.
US08498031B2	Correction of white balance deviation in a captured image A method is provided for correcting an image. At least some pixels in a captured image are scanned and there is selected each scanned pixel having at least one associated light intensity value greater than an intensity threshold value based on a comparison between the light intensity values for color indicators associated with the scanned pixel. Three correction information items are obtained by summing the light intensity values associated with the pixels selected by color indicator, and a correction of the white balance deviation affecting the captured image is determined based on the correction information items. A pixel is selected if both the difference between a mean light intensity value and a lowest light intensity value associated with the scanned pixel and the difference between a highest light intensity value and the mean light intensity value associated with the scanned pixel are less than a difference threshold value.
US08498030B2	Image scanning apparatus for light integrating and predicting signals An image sensor using three-color, e.g., R, G, and B light-emitting elements assures a period in which all the three colors are turned on and periods in each of which one light-emitting element is turned off during a scan period per pixel, and integrates and measures amounts of light of the respective periods. An amount of light based on the OFF light-emitting element is calculated based on a difference between the amounts of light during the full light-ON period and each light-OFF period to define an amount of light of the light-emitting element, and light intensity information corresponding to each light-emitting element is obtained based on a total amount of light during the entire scan period per pixel, and the amount of light of each light-emitting element.
US08498029B2	Apparatus and method for reading color chart and computer-readable storage medium Provided is a method for automatically determining an error of a user operation or a colorimeter caused when the colorimeter is manually slid to measure the colors of color patches on a row-by-row basis. Also provided is a method capable of determining an error or a scanning direction using a feature value obtained from the colorimetric values without using fixed reference and threshold values for each patch.
US08498027B2	Automatic document feeder and image forming apparatus having the same An automatic document feeder of an image forming apparatus capable of improving a duplex scanning or printing (copying) efficiency includes a single scan path having a document admission passage to admit a document to a document scanning part and a document discharge passage to discharge the scanned document, a duplex scan path having a first document reversing and waiting passage diverged separately from the document discharge passage on the single scan path at the rear of the document scanning part to reverse the document, one surface of which is scanned, and admit the reversed document again to the document scanning part, and a document re-reversing path having a second document reversing and waiting passage diverged separately from the document discharge passage on the single scan path at the rear of the document scanning part to reverse the document, both surfaces of which are scanned, again and send the re-reversed document to the document discharge passage.
US08498025B2	Image reader and method of reading image An image reader reads an image on a document while transporting it along a transport path. The image reader includes an image-reading unit, a document guide member and a size detector. The image-reading unit reads the image in a predetermined line width and generates image data based on the image. The document guide member is disposed along the document path and has a first mark thereon. The first mark extends in a main scanning direction of the image-reading unit and has a width greater than or equal to the predetermined line width. The size detector detects the size of the document based on image data read by the image-reading unit at a size detection position where the document overlaps with the first mark.
US08498019B2	Image forming apparatus that emphasizes a boundary between two objects using a halftoning process An image forming apparatus capable of reducing a stitch effect, an image forming system including the same, and a printing method thereof. The printing method of the image forming system includes inputting image data to be printed; and, if adjacent first and second objects included in the input image data have different LPIs (Lines Per Inch), emphasizing at least one of boundaries of the first and second objects and printing the image data with an emphasized boundary.
US08498015B2	Controlling dfe color management behavior in a distributed system A document specification is examined to determine if it matches the device color characterization of a rendering device such as a printer. If it matches, then the document can be faithfully rendered by the device. Otherwise, the document specification must be transformed before rendering. A match can be detected by discovering a appropriate metadata within the document specification or within the document color characterization. Alternatively, a device signature can be used instead of a metadata.
US08498013B2	Fluid ejection device, program, and fluid ejection method A fluid ejection device includes first, second and third nozzle rows for forming first, second and third band images, respectively. The fluid ejection device forms an image in which an edge portion at one side in a prescribed direction in the first band image overlaps an edge portion at the other side in the second band image, and an edge portion at one side in the second band image overlaps an edge portion at the other side in the third band image. The fluid ejection device carries out a halftoning process whereby a center area of a dither mask equal in size to the input data for forming a band image but having a smaller dot generation rate in the edge areas than in the center area is associated with the input data for forming the edge portion to the other side of the first band image.
US08497999B2	Information processing apparatus and method for displaying a preview image Defect-free printing is achieved by previewing on a display prior to printing, device functions and print specifications. Preview of double-sided faces is concurrently provided when double-sided printing is specified. Display is performed by generation of data which allows print preview that reflects consideration of device information and document data. Data is generated for perspective-reverse-face preview when page-specification information is set for double-sided faces.
US08497994B2	Interferometer employing a multi-waveguide optical loop path and fiber optic rotation rate sensor employing same An interferometer employed, in part, as a Sagnac interferometer or fiber optic gyro (FOG) includes a light source (100) that provides a source light wave that is split into first and second light waves that are directed to traverse a defined optical loop path (508, 500) in opposite directions. The defined optical loop path (508, 500) in accordance with the present invention is provided by multiple waveguides wound into a coil such that the opposite traveling first and second light waves serially travel through all of the waveguides in opposite directions around the optical loop path.
US08497991B2	Thin-film inspection apparatus and inspection method An object is to reduce the effect of a film thickness variation on the substrate surface of a thin film and improve the measuring accuracy. Provided are a light source that radiates single-wavelength light to an inspection-target substrate (W), which is formed by forming a thin film on a glass substrate from the glass substrate side; a light receiving element that is disposed such that the light receiving axis intersects with the optical axis of illumination light emitted from the light source at a predetermined inclination angle and that receives diffused transmitted light that has been transmitted through the inspection-target substrate W; and a computer (7) that obtains a haze ratio of the thin film on the basis of the intensity of the light received by the light receiving element. The computer (7) has a haze ratio characteristic made by associating the haze ratio and the light intensity of the diffused transmitted light and obtains a haze ratio by using the haze ratio characteristic and the light intensity received by the light receiving element.
US08497990B2	Optical filter, optical filter module, spectrometric measurement apparatus, and optical apparatus An optical filter includes a first variable wavelength bandpass filter that extracts light of a first wavelength band and has first and second spectral bands and a second variable wavelength bandpass filter that extracts light of a second wavelength band adjacent to the first wavelength band and has third and fourth spectral bands. Part of the period during which the light of the first spectral band is extracted overlaps with the period during which the light of the third spectral band is extracted, and part of the period during which the light of the second spectral band is extracted overlaps with the period during which the light of the fourth spectral band is extracted.
US08497984B2	System and method for inspection of a workpiece surface using multiple scattered light collectors A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. Certain of these components, most notably the beam source subsystem, the beam scanning subsystem and the optical collection and detection subsystem are modular for ready field replacement and/or maintenance. The optical collection and detection system features wing collectors in the front quartersphere and back collectors in the back quartersphere for collected light scattered from the surface of the workpiece. This can greatly improve the measurement capabilities of the system. Also included is a method for detecting asymmetric defects using the wing collectors and back collectors.
US08497981B2	Small form-factor size sensor The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a distance from a mobile device to a remote object or a size of the remote object.
US08497972B2	Thermal plate with optional cooling loop in electronic display An electronic display having one or more thermal plates in thermal communication with an image assembly and a thermally-conductive housing (and optional door frame). In some embodiments, the thermal plate is in thermal communication with the door frame which is in thermal communication with the housing. A channel may be defined between a transparent plate assembly and the image assembly where a fan may force cooling air through the channel. The cooling air may also pass through apertures in the thermal plate(s). An exemplary image assembly may provide an LED edge-lit LCD or an OLED display. In some embodiments, two displays may be provided in a back-to-back orientation within a single housing. The display may dissipate heat without the need to ingest ambient air.
US08497970B2	Array structure having thin film transistor and connecting structure for gate line charging and manufacturing method thereof An array substrate comprises: a base substrate; a display area comprising gate lines and data lines formed on the base substrate, wherein a pixel electrode and a first thin film transistor are formed in each of pixel units defined by the gate lines and the data lines which are crossed with each other, and the gate lines comprises a first gate line and a second gate line; and a dummy area which is at the periphery of the display area, which comprises a second thin film transistor and a connecting structure for each gate line, wherein the first gate line and the second gate line are connected with each other through the second thin film transistor and the connecting structure for the first gate line.
US08497969B2	Liquid crystal display device having particular electrodes A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate including a pixel electrode which is disposed in each of pixels, a counter-substrate which is disposed to be opposed to the array substrate and includes a counter-electrode which is common to a plurality of the pixels, and a liquid crystal layer which is held between the array substrate and the counter-substrate. The pixel electrode includes a first major electrode portion having a strip shape, and the counter-electrode includes second major electrode portions each having a strip shape, the second major electrode portions being disposed in parallel to the first major electrode portion in a manner that the first major electrode portion is interposed between the second major electrode portions and that the first major electrode portion and the second major electrode portions are alternately arranged.
US08497968B2	Liquid crystal display having capacitance-coupled floating electrode A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a first sub-pixel electrode to which a first data signal is applied, a second sub-pixel electrode which is spaced apart from the first pixel electrode and to which a second data signal is applied, and a floating electrode which is capacitance-coupled to the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrodes. Also described is a method of controlling an LCD, the method including applying a first data signal to a first sub-pixel electrode, applying a second data signal to a second sub-pixel electrode, and capacitance-coupling a floating electrode to the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode.
US08497964B2	TFT-LCD array substrate A thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) array substrate and a method for forming the same. The thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) device, comprising gate lines and data lines that intersecting with each other to define pixel regions, wherein a pixel electrode and a thin film transistor are formed in each of the pixel regions, and wherein the data lines each have a mirror-symmetry structure so that coupling capacitance between one data line and the pixel electrodes in an upper adjacent pixel region and a lower pixel region that are adjacent changes oppositely.
US08497963B2	Liquid crystal display with protruding sub-pixel electrode A pixel unit of a liquid crystal display includes a first sub-pixel electrode coupled by a direct current path to a corresponding switching element and a second sub-pixel electrode capacitively connected to the first sub-pixel electrode. The second sub-pixel electrode has a protrusion extending upwardly toward a spaced apart common electrode. The common electrode has a cut-out directly above the protrusion.
US08497962B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates, a first alignment film provided on the liquid crystal layer side surface of the first substrate, and a second alignment film provided on the liquid crystal layer side surface of the second substrate, wherein the liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules with negative dielectric anisotropy. Alignment directions of the liquid crystal molecules near the first and second alignment films are perpendicular to each other, and the first alignment film and the second alignment film are photo-alignment films made of a material having a photosensitive group.
US08497961B2	Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same A liquid crystal display device is provided that has improved compensation using a single type of wide view film. The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate including a thin film transistor (TFT); a second substrate including a color filter; a first liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates and including a plurality of pole-shaped liquid crystal molecules twisted in a first direction; a second liquid crystal layer including a plurality of disk-type liquid crystal molecules arranged to perform wide view compensation matching with the plurality of pole-shaped liquid crystal molecules; wherein a first rubbing direction of a first alignment layer and a second rubbing direction of a second alignment layer cross at a crossing angle greater than about 90 degrees and less than or equal to about 94 degrees.
US08497960B2	Liquid-crystal display device A liquid-crystal display device makes it possible to attach an optical element to a liquid-crystal display panel with high positional accuracy while avoiding or minimizing the enlargement of the picture-frame region (i.e., the non-display region) induced by the formation of markers on the panel and the increase of the fabrication cost. The panel comprises a main substrate, an opposite substrate, and a liquid crystal enclosed in a gap between the main and opposite substrates, wherein a polarizer plate is attached at least to the opposite substrate. Markers for attaching an optical element to the panel are formed at positions that overlap with the polarizer plate in a non-display region on the main or opposite substrate. Alignment direction regulators regulate the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules to a predetermined direction in the vicinities of the markers, allowing light to pass through at least the opposite substrate.
US08497949B2	Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a gate electrode disposed on the substrate, a gate pad disposed on the substrate, an insulating film disposed on the gate electrode and the gate pad, an active layer disposed on the insulating film above the gate electrode, an ohmic contact layer disposed on portions of the active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on the ohmic contact layer, a passivation layer disposed on the source and drain electrodes, a pixel electrode disposed on the passivation layer and contacting the drain electrode, and a transparent electrode disposed on the passivation layer and contacts the gate pad, wherein the gate electrode and the gate pad both include a first layer formed of a first metal and a second layer formed of an alloy of the first metal and a second metal disposed at an upper surface of the first layer.
US08497948B2	Pixel structure and method for fabricating the same A pixel structure includes a first patterned metal layer, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor channel layer, a second patterned metal layer, a passivation layer, and a conducting layer. A gate line of the second patterned metal layer is electrically connected by the conducting layer to a gate extension electrode of the first patterned metal layer. A source electrode of the second patterned metal layer is electrically connected by the conducting layer to a second data line segment of the first patterned metal layer. A method for fabricating a pixel structure is also disclosed herein.
US08497945B2	Radio frequency front end circuit module for receiver A radio frequency front end circuit module for a receiver used in a digital television is disclosed. The radio frequency front end circuit module includes a switch set, a differential low noise amplifier, a filter, and a tuner. The switch set receives two differential signals. The differential low noise amplifier is electrically coupled to the switch set for amplifying the two differential signals. The filter is electrically coupled to the differential low noise amplifier for filtering out portions which are excluded in a predetermined bandwidth of the two amplified differential signals. The tuner determines how to control the switch set to select the two differential signals in the predetermined bandwidth according to the filtered differential signals. The present invention is capable of amplifying the received differential signals and rejecting noise which has the same phase as that of the received differential signals.
US08497943B2	Display driving circuit A display driving circuit comprising a video signal transformation circuit, a reference voltage generating circuit, a DAC and an interpolation operational amplifier is provided. The video signal transformation circuit transforms an input video signal into a transformed video signal with a higher bit depth. The transformed video signal comprises an upper n bits data and a lower m bits data, wherein n+m equals a bit depth of the transformed video signal. The reference voltage generating circuit generates reference voltages. The DAC selects a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage to interpolation operational amplifier from the reference voltages according to an upper n bits data of the transformed video signal. The interpolation operational amplifier outputs a driving voltage to display device according to the first reference voltage, the second reference voltage and the lower m bits data of the transformed video signal.
US08497941B2	Broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving digital broadcasting and broadcast receiving method A start of execution of drawing processing of graphics data according to an application is delayed based on a time period required for image processing to be performed on image data according to a broadcast program image.
US08497935B2	Rotatable camera system including infrared communications links A camera system includes a camera assembly and a base. A mounting assembly rotatably mounts the camera assembly on the base. The camera assembly is rotatable through a range of 360 degrees relative to the base about an axis of rotation. The mounting assembly provides electrical communication between the camera assembly and the base. A first emitter and a first detector wirelessly communicate signals therebetween. One of the first emitter and the first detector is mounted on the camera assembly and the other of the first emitter and the first detector is mounted on the base. A second emitter and a second detector wirelessly communicate signals therebetween. One of the second emitter and the second detector is mounted on the camera assembly and the other of the second emitter and the second detector is mounted on the base.
US08497932B2	Photographing apparatus and method having at least two photographing devices and exposure synchronization A photographing apparatus includes a first photographing device converting incident light from an object through a first optical system to an electric signal, a second photographing device converting incident light from the object through a second optical system to an electric signal, an image signal processing unit generating a first image signal corresponding to the electric signal converted by the first photographing device and a second image signal corresponding to the electric signal converted by the second photographing device, and an exposure control unit controlling a first exposure start time of the first photographing device and a second exposure start time of the second photographing device so that the first exposure start time and the second exposure start time are different from each other.
US08497911B2	Imaging device, imaging method and program for changing a bandwidth requirement for transmitting an image An imaging device, which includes: an imaging section which photoelectrically converts an optical image of an object and generates an image signal; an outputting section which outputs the image signal generated by the imaging section to a transmission path; a driving section which drives the imaging section to generate the image signal; and a controlling section which drives the driving section to cause the imaging section to generate the image signal in a predetermined exposure time and reduces an image rate for the image signal generated by the imaging section so as to narrow a bandwidth necessary for transmission of the image signal.
US08497908B1	Unified video test apparatus Arrangement of circuit cards and enclosures in a unified video test apparatus wherein the circuit boards may be arranged within a single enclosure, having a size spanning two slots of an instrument chassis wherein each circuit board includes none, some or all of the functional modules of the video test apparatus. Alternatively, the circuit boards are arranged in different enclosures, with each circuit board including some of the functional modules of the video test apparatus, and the different enclosures may be arranged in a common instrument chassis or in different instrument chassis. A single or multiple software interfaces in a host computer can control the functional modules in the different enclosures in the same or different chassis to cause the arrangement to appear as a homogenous instrument regardless of location of the functional modules, and coordinates interaction between the functional modules.
US08497904B2	System and method of target based smoke detection A smoke detector includes processing circuitry coupled to a camera. The field of view of the camera contains one or more targets, each having spatial indicia thereon. The processing circuitry collects a sequence of spatial frequency measures, such as contrast indicating parameters. Members of the sequence can be compared to at least one reference spatial frequency measure to establish the presence of smoke between the target and the camera.
US08497890B2	Thermal print head detecting device and detecting method, and a heat printer using the same A thermal print head detecting device comprises a power supply (1), a power supply switch (4), a power supply switch control circuit (5), a first detecting resistor (Ra), a second detecting resistor (Rb), a print head (2) to be detected and a print head control circuit (3); an output end of the power supply (1) is connected to a common joint (N) of respective heating elements of the print head through the power supply switch (4), the first detecting resistor (Ra) is connected in parallel with the power supply switch (4); an output end of the power supply switch control circuit (5) is connected to a control end of the power supply switch (4); the second detecting resistor (Rb) has one end connected to the common joint (N) of the heating element units, and the other end grounded; and the print head control circuit (3) controls strobing of each heating element unit of the print head. The thermal print head detecting device does not need an exclusive power supply, which prominently simplifies the circuit of the detecting device and decreases the cost.
US08497889B2	Display apparatus A display apparatus comprises a display unit and a controller. The display unit displays a first image and a second image. The controller controls the display unit. When the second image is displayed after an enlargement of a part of the first image is performed, the controller specifies a first position relationship between the first enlargement and the first image, and performs the enlargement of the second image on the basis of the first positional relationship.
US08497888B2	Image display device An image display device which can change an image size without the image deterioration and can suppress the large-sizing of the image display device is provided. The image display device includes an optical flux generator which is configured to generate and radiate an optical flux in response to an image signal read out for every dot clock, and an optical scanning part which is configured to display an image by scanning the optical flux two-dimensionally. By changing timing at which the optical flux is radiated from the optical flux generator, a size of an image to be displayed is changed. The change of the timing at which the optical flux is radiated from the optical flux generator is performed by changing a period of the dot clock.
US08497887B2	Display driving unit and method for using the same A display driving unit used in a liquid crystal display (LCD) stores two γ curves. When the LCD displays images, the display driving unit determines the luminance of the image in a first sub-period for displaying the image according to the gray level of the image and the first γ curve, and determines the luminance of the image in a second sub-period for displaying the image according to the gray level of the image and the second γ curve. The LCD displays the image in the luminance determined according to the gray level of the image and the first γ curve in the first sub-period and displays the image in the luminance determined according to the gray level of the image and the second γ curve in the second sub-period.
US08497884B2	Electronic device and method for manipulating graphic user interface elements An electronic device for manipulating graphical user interface elements has a touch-sensitive display (touch screen) and a touch-sensitive surface (touch pad). The electronic device displays at least two graphical user elements (data icon, program icon, application window, digital photograph, etc.) on the touch screen. A user touches a first element using either the touch screen or the touch pad. This touch user interaction selects the first element and “anchors” it while a user's slide interaction on the other touch-sensitive surface manipulates the second, non-selected element. The slide contact can be interpreted by the electronic device as a drag, push, rotate, or pixel-based move (e.g., zoom in/out) relative to the first element. Various features of the slide movement, such as the speed, the length, the pressure, the direction, and/or the pattern may affect the manipulation of the second element.
US08497879B2	Information processing apparatus, display processing method, and computer program product therefor This invention relates to an information processing apparatus that includes a judging unit that judges a usage state of the information processing apparatus; a deciding unit that decides, according to the usage state, a position at which a display element on a display screen on a display unit is to be arranged in either a normal position or an inverted position on the display screen; and a display control unit that controls for arranging the display element in a determined position and for displaying the display element in the determined position on the display screen.
US08497876B2	Infinite complexity deep-framebuffer rendering A method of rendering a scene with a plurality of objects includes rendering an object in a scene, wherein a portion of the object spans at least two of a plurality of non-overlapping tiles that subdivide the scene, and wherein the portion of the object is rendered only once in rendering the scene. The process further includes storing the rendered output of the object into a deep-framebuffer. While rendering the object and storing the rendered output of the object, in response to the size of the deep-framebuffer reaching a predetermined threshold, the steps that are performed include dividing the deep-framebuffer's contents based on the plurality of non-overlapping tiles, storing the divided contents of the deep-framebuffer in a plurality of tile files, and clearing the contents of the deep-framebuffer.
US08497874B2	Pixel snapping for anti-aliased rendering Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for improving output rendering in anti-aliased rendering scenarios. The system receives information regarding at least one visual element area which is important for symmetric appearance. The information can include at least one coordinate of a guideline that a client would like to be snapped towards a pixel grid. The system uses the information to perform a pixel snapping procedure to snap the points of visual element to a pixel grid to create an adjusted image. The adjusted image is rendered on a display device in an anti-aliased rendering scenario. APIs are provided for setting horizontal and vertical pixel snapping guidelines. The collections containing the snapping guidelines are accessed and used during the pixel snapping procedure.
US08497873B2	Apparatus and method for correction of projected images An image processing apparatus determines a reference pixel position for each pixel by an interpolation calculation using the distortion correction values for representative pixels stored in a correction value storage unit, decides whether the distortion correction values used in the interpolation satisfy a predetermined condition, reads a plurality of pixel values from an image data storage unit according to values of their reference pixel position, determines first interpolation coefficients from a value of its reference pixel position, and determines the pixel value in the output image from the plurality of pixel values read and the first interpolation coefficients. The image processing apparatus determines second interpolation coefficients from said value of its reference pixel position and a predetermined function, and selects, according to the decision result, either the second interpolation coefficients or third interpolation coefficients for use as the first interpolation coefficients.
US08497871B2	Color generation using multiple illuminant types A system for generating a colored light comprises a set of illuminant types and a processor. The set of illuminant types is associated with a chromaticity gamut, and the set of illuminant types comprises at least five illuminant types that are each associated an illuminant type hue angle. The processor is configured to determine, based at least in part on a mapping, an output level set for a received color coordinate. The mapping comprises associating each color coordinate with an output level set that uses a set of hue-adjacent illuminant types. Hue-adjacent illuminant types comprise a group of illuminant types that are determined to be adjacent in a circular ordered list of illuminant types that is circularly ordered according to the illuminant type hue angle.
US08497857B2	Display device A display device includes: a display panel including a display region in which display pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, and a non-display region in which first dummy pixels and second dummy pixels are arranged; a first drive section allowing each of the first dummy pixels to emit light by applying signal voltages having different magnitudes to each of the first dummy pixels; a second drive section allowing each of the second dummy pixels to emit light by flowing constant currents having different magnitudes to each of the second dummy pixels; a current measurement section detection currents flowing through each of the first dummy pixels to output current information thereof; a light reception section detecting light emitted from each of the second dummy pixels to output luminance information thereof; and a calculation section deriving a current deterioration function using the current information, and deriving an efficiency deterioration function using the luminance information.
US08497850B2	System and method for retrieving information from an information carrier by means of a capacitive touch screen The present invention relates to a method comprising providing one or more information carrier(s) with a dielectric and/or conductive pattern and a detection device having a capacitive touch screen and inducing an interaction between the information carrier and the touch screen, wherein the interaction is based on a difference in the dielectric coefficient and/or the conductivity of the pattern and generates a touch signal and wherein the interaction is induced by relative motion between the information carrier and the touch screen. The invention further relates to a system comprising an information carrier comprising a dielectric and/or conductive pattern which encodes information and a detection device having a touch screen; the detection device is able to decode the information upon interaction between the information carrier and the touch screen, wherein the interaction is caused by a difference in the dielectric coefficient and/or the conductivity of the pattern.
US08497845B2	Sensing structure of touch panel A sensing structure of a touch panel includes a substrate, a plurality of sensing electrodes, a plurality of electro static discharge (ESD) protection electrodes, a plurality of first bridges, and a passivation layer. The sensing electrodes, the ESD protection electrodes, and the first bridges are disposed on the substrate. The passivation layer is disposed between the sensing electrode and the first bridge, and disposed between the ESD protection electrode and the first bridge. The passivation layer has a plurality of contact holes, and at least one sensing electrode is electrically connected to the ESD protection electrode via the contact hole and the first bridge.
US08497844B2	Capacitive touch panel with high touching sensitivity A capacitive touch panel has a plurality of first conductor lines and a plurality of second conductor lines. The first conductor lines are disposed in a first direction for sensing a contact with an object. The second conductor lines are disposed in a second direction to be intersected insulatively with the first conductor lines so as to define an overlapping region at each intersection of a first conductor line and a second conductor line. As a driving signal is applied to one of the second conductor lines, the overlapping region defined at the intersection forms a capacitance. Each of the first conductor lines defines at least one opening in each of the overlapping regions.
US08497842B2	System having user interface using motion based object selection and mouse movement A system includes a touchscreen display and an interface application. The interface application controls the touchscreen display to provide a container and a user interface control. The user interface control may be selected through manipulation of the touchscreen display in an area of the container proximate the user interface control. The user interface application identifies a user manipulation as a mouse movement in response to manipulation of the touchscreen display in an area of the container when the manipulation has a motion magnitude exceeding a threshold value.
US08497839B2	Receiving structure of receiver of wireless input device and mouse having the receiving structure A mouse includes a device main body, a magnetic component and a receiver. The device main body is comprised of a shell of a wireless input device and is arranged a receiving case. The magnetic component and an accommodation part shown as a hollow configuration are arranged in the receiving case. An opening of the receiving case is formed on the accommodation part and faces the outside of the device main body. Corresponding to the accommodation part, the receiver can be placed into the accommodation part and generates magnetic attraction with the magnetic component. In the invention, the device main body can also be a main body of mouse.
US08497838B2	Push actuation of interface controls A computing system translates a world space position of a hand of a human target to a screen space cursor position of a user interface. When the cursor overlaps a button in the user interface, the computing system actuates the button in response to a movement of the hand in world space that changes the cursor position by a depth threshold along a z-axis regardless of an initial z-axis position of the cursor. When the button includes an activation lock, the computing system unlocks the activation lock, prior to button actuation, if the cursor path satisfies unlocking criteria.
US08497835B2	Electro phoretic display device including touch panel Disclosed is an electro phoretic display (EPD) device capable of minimizing the whole thickness and weight by integrally including a photo-sensing touch panel and minimizing the number of lines such as a signal line. The EPD device includes first and second substrates facing each other, a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of common lines, and a driving voltage line formed on the first substrate in a first direction, an output line formed and a plurality of data lines defining pixel regions by crossing the gate lines in a second direction, pixel transistors formed at intersecting parts between the respective gate lines and the data lines, a pixel electrode formed at each pixel region, a sensing transistor formed between one of the common lines and the driving voltage line, an output transistor formed between one of the gate lines, adjacent to the sensing transistor, and the sensing transistor to transmit an output signal to the output line, a sensing capacitor formed between one of the common lines and a connection part between the sensing transistor and the output transistor, a common electrode formed over the entire surface of the second substrate, and an electro phoretic layer formed between the first and the second substrates.
US08497831B2	Electro-optical device, driving method therefor, and electronic apparatus An electro-optical device includes pixel electrodes corresponding to intersections of a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines and specific to the pixels, a common electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a switching element that establishes conduction between the data line and the pixel electrode when a selection voltage is applied to the scanning line, a control circuit that supplies a high voltage having a predetermined value and a low voltage lower than the high voltage alternately at predetermined intervals to the common electrode; a scanning line driving circuit that selects the plurality of scanning lines in a predetermined order and that applies the selection voltage to each of the selected scanning lines; and a data line driving circuit that supplies a data signal defining the grayscale levels of the pixels to the data lines in a period during which one of the scanning lines is selected and during which the voltage applied to the common electrode is maintained at the high voltage or the low voltage and that performs a precharge operation for precharging the plurality of data lines to a predetermined potential in a period of time including a period during which the voltage applied to the common electrode changes from one of the high voltage and the low voltage to the other.
US08497828B2	Sharing switch TFTS in pixel circuits A circuit and driving technique to improve the display resolution of an AMOLED display. Sharing of switch transistors between several sub-pixels in the display leads to improved manufacturing yield by minimizing the number of transistors used. The method also allows for conventional sequential scan driving to be used. The circuit includes a shared switch transistor connected between a voltage data line and a shared line that is connected to a reference voltage through a reference voltage transistor, a first pixel including a first light emitting device configured to be current driven by a first drive circuit connected to the shared line through a first storage device, a second pixel including a second light emitting device configured to be current driven by a second drive circuit connected to the shared line through a second storage device, and a reference current line configured to apply a bias current to the first and second drive circuits.
US08497824B2	Pixel and organic light emitting display device using the same A pixel which allows compensating a threshold voltage of a driving transistor and a mobility deviation is provided. The pixel includes an organic light emitting diode connected between a first power supply and a second power supply, a first transistor connected between the first power supply and the organic light emitting diode, wherein the gate electrode of the first transistor is connected to a first node, a second transistor connected between the first node and the data line, wherein the gate electrode of the second transistor is connected to the scanning line, a third transistor connected between an access node of the first transistor and the organic light emitting diode, and the second power supply, that is turned on during the scanning period which the second transistor is turned on; and, first and second capacitors connected between the first power supply and the first node, wherein an access node of the first and second capacitor is connected to an access node of the first and third transistor.
US08497822B2	Light emitting device and driving method of the same The invention provides a light emitting device which can suppress the reduction of luminance in accordance with the light emission time and light emission at a high luminance. Moreover, the invention relates to a driving method which can suppress the reduction of luminance in accordance with the light emission time and light emission at a high luminance. The light emitting device of the invention can display a plurality of colors of which brightness and chromaticity are different by visually mixing light emission of a plurality of light emitting elements of which light emission colors are different. When a visually mixed display color is formed, a white light emission is exhibited.
US08497809B1	Electronically scanned antenna An aperture of an antenna for a radar system comprises a first waveguide comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion, each protrusion extending longitudinally along one side of the first waveguide. The aperture further comprises a second waveguide comprising a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion, each protrusion extending longitudinally along one side of the second waveguide. The first and third protrusions and second and fourth protrusions adjoin to form a radio frequency choke at least partially suppressing cross polarization of radio frequencies between the first and second waveguides.
US08497808B2	Ultra-wideband miniaturized omnidirectional antennas via multi-mode three-dimensional (3-D) traveling-wave (TW) A class of ultra-wideband miniaturized traveling-wave (TW) antennas comprising a conducting ground surface at the base, a plurality of TW structures having at least one ultra-wideband low-profile two-dimensional (2-D) surface-mode TW structure, a frequency-selective coupler placed between adjacent TW structures, and a feed network. In one embodiment, a 2-D surface-mode TW structure is positioned above the conducting ground surface, a normal-mode TW structure placed on top with an external frequency-selective coupler placed in between; continuous octaval bandwidth of 14:1 and size reduction by a factor of 3 to 5 are achievable. In other embodiments using at least two 2-D TW structures and a dual-band feed network, a continuous bandwidth over 100:1, and up to 140:1 or more, is reachable. In yet another embodiment, ultra-wideband multi-band performance over an octaval operating bandwidth up to 2000:1 or more is feasible.
US08497792B2	Signal generation method and apparatus and test method and system using the same According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a signal generation system for generating a predetermined analog signal. The system comprises a clock generator (1) adapted for generating on the basis of an external clock signal a predetermined clock signal, a signal generator including a first gain stage (21) and a second gain stage (22) adapted for providing an overall gain of the signal generator and outputting a stepped analog signal, an analog filter (23) adapted for filtering the stepped analog signal output by the second gain stage and for outputting the predetermined analog signal, and a first and a second clock mapping units (3,4) adapted for receiving the predetermined clock signal, and respectively supplying to the first and second gain stages non-overlapped clock signal, wherein the amount of gain provided by the first and second gain stages is controlled by the non-overlapped clock signals. The present invention further relates to a signal generation method of generating discrete-time periodic analog signals suitable for a built-in self-test, as well as to a test method and system using the same.
US08497786B2	Capacitive keyboard with enhanced electrode areas A touch sensitive capacitive keypad (200) is provided that multiple electrodes (201-210) and associated wire connectors (220-229) formed under a touch panel in a single layer of conductive material, where the electrodes (201-210) are arrayed in relation to a keypad to form unique combinations of two electrodes per key, where each electrode is shared with only immediately adjacent keys. The electrodes are sized and arranged so that a first electrode (e.g., electrode E4 205) associated with a given key (e.g., the “5” key) is sized and arranged so that it is shared by only surrounding keys (e.g., the “4,” “7,” and “8” keys), while a second electrode (e.g., electrode E3 204) associated with the given key (e.g., the “5” key) is sized and arranged so that it is shared by only surrounding keys (e.g., the “2,” “3” and “6” keys). As a result, the area for each capacitive electrode is at least twice the area of a given key.
US08497777B2	Analyte monitoring system having an alert Described herein are analyte monitoring systems including a receiver or data processing component that is configured to automatically issue a first alert notification when a first predetermined number of consecutive data packets are not received from the sensor/sensor electronics, and automatically issue a second alert notification when a second predetermined number of consecutive data packets are not received by the sensor/sensor electronics. The receiver may also be configured to enable a user to disenable alert or alarm notifications that are triggered based on detected events.
US08497776B2	Radio frequency identification system and method used to perform electronic article surveillance A radio frequency identification (RFID) system used to perform electronic article surveillance comprises a RFID tag and a RFID reader. The RFID tag is affixed to an object, and the RFID reader, having a plurality of antennas, is in radio frequency (RF) communication with the RFID tag. The plurality of antennas are arranged to have a spatial relationship with one another to monitor and communicate with the RFID tag such that a likelihood of a security breach of the RFID tag is determined. Determining the likelihood of the security breach is based, at least in part, on a signal strength of a read of the RFID tag at each antenna relative to the plurality of antennas.
US08497773B2	Managing advertising devices In one general aspect, a request to determine a status of a first of a plurality of advertising devices is received. The advertising devices are spatially separated. Operating conditions of the first advertising device are identified. The status of the first advertising device is determined based, at least in part, on the operating conditions. A presentation including information indicating the status of the first advertising device is transmitted.
US08497769B2	Maintenance decision support system and method for vehicular and roadside applications A method and system are provided in which maintenance vehicles collect information from sensors and operators, forward the collected information to a server, and, in response, receive maps and operator instructions.
US08497767B2	Magnetic levitation haptic interface system This invention discloses a haptic interface system that uses Lorentz forces to provide magnetic levitation for a handle which can be manipulated by a person, typically a computer user.
US08497766B2	Key input device for remote control apparatus, key input method of key input device for remote control apparatus, program, and recording medium A first control unit outputs, to a lighting control unit, a lighting signal that causes a plurality of light-emitting units provided for each of a plurality of keys for operating to be sequentially lighted for each of groups determined in advance. Based on a signal for selecting a group outputted from a first selection unit and an output signal from the first control unit, a first comparison/judgment unit outputs a group whose light-emitting unit had been lighted upon selection as a finalized group. A second control unit outputs a lighting signal that causes light-emitting units included in the finalized group to be respectively sequentially lighted, and based on the output signal and a signal for selecting a key outputted from a second selection unit, a second comparison/judgment unit judges that a key corresponding to a light-emitting unit that had been lighted upon selection as a finalized key.
US08497762B2	Network control In one embodiment, a network control module permits any or all of power signals, traffic signals and controller command signals to be carried on as few as one wire or cable to a first port of the network control module. In another aspect, a “peripheral array” includes a network control module (in any one of a number of different possible embodiments), with one or more peripheral devices, such as antennas, attached to or coupled with the network control module outputs. In one embodiment, RFID “smart shelving” may be fabricated in sections, with several (for example, 4, 8 or 16) antennas in each section, and as few as one cable coupling adjacent sections. Additional embodiments are described and claimed.
US08497760B2	Adaptive MIDI wind controller device Provided is a system controller device intended for use by persons having limited or no use of their hands. The device includes a first air sensor configured to provide a first electromagnetic signal representative of an air pressure or an air-flow, or a combination thereof, a second orientation sensor configured to provide a second electromagnetic signal representative of a relative orientation or a change of orientation, or a combination thereof, of said first sensor, a third linear position sensor configured to provide a third electromagnetic signal representative of a relative position or change of position, or a combination thereof, of said first sensor along a linear carriage, and a signal processor configured to combine said first, said second and said third electromagnetic signals to provide an event message.
US08497755B2	Hybrid transformer with transformation and improved harmonics functions, unbalanced current, and a power supply system thereof The present invention provides a hybrid transformer. In a transformer comprising a primary core and a secondary coil, the hybrid transformer includes a core with a 1st leg, a 2nd leg, and a 3rd leg; and a secondary coil with a 1st winding, a 2nd winding and a 3rd winding, which are wound zigzag on said 1st leg, said 2nd leg, and said 3rd leg. Two types of windings selected from the group consisting of said 1st winding, said 2nd winding and said 3rd winding are wound alternatively on said 1st leg, said 2nd leg, and said 3rd leg, respectively. However, the two types of windings wound on said 1st leg, said 2nd leg, and said 3rd leg, respectively, are wound in an overlapping manner around said core in the winding order.
US08497745B1	VHF harmonic impedance tuner An electro-mechanical VHF harmonic load pull tuner is made as a cascade of three independent tuning sections, each including three adjustable shunt air capacitors inter-connected using coaxial cables of appropriate length, or one section of nine shunt capacitors inter-connected using coaxial cables; each capacitor is adjustable to at least 20 values (states); the tuner creates independently controllable impedances at three (harmonic) frequencies in the frequency range between 10 and 150 MHz. An Error Function-based optimization algorithm allows impedance tuning at three frequencies independently, by optimized searching among the more than 209≈512,000,000,000 possible combined tuner states. This allows matching the output of VHF transistors and amplifiers at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Stepper motors, drivers and control software are used to automate, calibrate and use the harmonic tuner in an automated harmonic load pull measuring setup.
US08497739B2	Single-differential converting circuit There is provided a single-differential converting circuit that can reduce the variations in the input voltage of an operational amplifier sufficiently, made by changes in the voltages input from the exterior, while maintaining the function as the amplifier. The single-differential converting circuit is configured to include: an operational amplifier 104 provided with an inverting input terminal 104a and a noninverting input terminal 104c, for respectively receiving an input signal and a signal indicative of a reference voltage, a noninverting output terminal 104b and an inverting output terminal 104d having opposite polarities to each other; and a positive feedback impedance element 103a connected between one of the two input terminals and one, of the output terminals, having a same polarity with the above one of the two input terminals.
US08497734B2	High efficiency audio amplifier system A high efficiency amplifier system may include multiple output stages cooperatively operating to produce an amplified output signal. The amplifier system may be used in an audio system. The amplifier system may include a non-switchmode amplifier stage cooperatively operating with a switchmode amplifier stage to generate the amplifier output signal. The non-switchmode amplifier stage may selectively enable and disable the switchmode amplifier stage to optimize efficient operation. In addition, the switchmode amplifier stage may include multiple switching stages operated with interleave. The switching stages may be controlled to balance current output of the respective switching stages based on a measured current flow in at least one of the switching stages.
US08497726B2	Level shifter A level shifter is provided. The level shifter includes a signal converter connected to an external power source and a ground, first and second output terminals connected to the signal converter, the first and second output terminals being configured to output a bias voltage applied from the external power source, and a switching unit configured to switch a connection state of the signal converter according to an input signal to adjust output voltage values of the first and second output terminals, the switching unit including first and second transistors, the first transistor being of a type that is different from a type of the second transistor, the first and second transistors being connected to each other in series between an input terminal, to which an input signal is applied, and the external power source, gates of the first and second transistors being commonly connected to the second output terminal.
US08497722B2	SR flip-flop An input priority determination circuit is configured such that: (i) when a set signal S is asserted and a reset signal R is negated, an intermediate set signal S′ is asserted and an intermediate reset signal R′ is negated; (ii) when the set signal S is negated and the reset signal R is asserted, the intermediate set signal S′ is negated, and the intermediate reset signal R′ is asserted; (iii) when a control signal P indicates a set priority mode, and when the set signal S and the reset signal R are both asserted, the intermediate set signal S′ is asserted and the intermediate reset signal R′ is negated; and (iv) when the control signal P indicates a reset priority mode, and when the set signal S and the reset signal R are both asserted, the intermediate set signal S′ is negated and the intermediate reset signal R′ is asserted.
US08497715B2	Electrical load driving apparatus The electrical load driving apparatus includes means for alternately lowering the gate voltages of two current supply transistors connected in parallel to each other at regular time intervals, a current being supplied to an electrical load through drain-source paths of both the current supply transistors, and means for detecting wire breakage in two current supply wires in which the current supply transistors are interposed respectively at portions near the electrical load with respect to the current supply transistors based on the drain-source voltages of the current supply transistors.
US08497708B2	Fractional-rate phase frequency detector A phase frequency detector detects the difference between the edges of a fractional-rate recovered clock signal and the edges within a serial data bit stream, where the edges within the serial data bit stream correspond with the edges of a full-rate clock signal that was used to clock the serial data bit stream.
US08497705B2	Phase change device for interconnection of programmable logic device A programmable logic device has a configurable interconnection coupling logic blocks, where the configurable interconnection has a phase change element with an amorphous region having a variable size to determine the phase change element is open or short. This isolates the programming path from the logic path.
US08497702B2	Power control of an integrated circuit including an array of interconnected configurable logic elements An integrated circuit (8) comprising an array (10) of interconnected configurable logic elements (12), such as an FPGA array, is provided. The logic elements are used to form a power controller (14) which separately controls the power state of different regions of the array. Each region of the array contains one or more logic elements. Each region has a corresponding region controller (16) responsive to one or more power signals generated by the power controller to switch that region into the requested power state.
US08497700B2	Systems and methods for propagating digital data across an isolation barrier Systems and methods pertaining to propagation of digital data from a transmit side domain to a receive side domain through an intermediate isolation barrier are described. Specifically, a carrier waveform is superimposed upon a first logic level of a digital signal that is referenced to a first local ground. The digital signal with the superimposed first carrier waveform is propagated through the intermediate isolation barrier. On the receive side domain, the propagated digital signal is processed using a second local ground that is different than the first local ground, the processing including the use of the carrier waveform to enforce the first logic level upon an output digital signal generated from the propagated digital signal.
US08497699B2	Output driver robust to data dependent noise Techniques for controlling a driver to reduce data dependent noise, such as simultaneous switching effects and cross-talk effects. A plurality of drivers may each receive a data segment to transmit and a plurality of data segments that other drivers will transmit. A driver controller may adjust the time at which the data segment is transmitted in response to the plurality of data segments that the other drivers will transmit. The adjustment may compensate for simultaneous switching noise and cross-talk by, for example, delaying the transmission of a data segment or changing the slew rate of the signal carrying the data segment.
US08497698B2	Methods and systems for diagnosing faults for rotors of electric motors Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing faults of a rotor of an electric motor. A current is obtained for an inverter using a sensor. A preliminary angle is determined by a control unit or processor using a resolver angle of the rotor. A transformation is conducted by the control unit or processor using a transformation angle that is equal to a multiplier multiplied by the preliminary angle. A fault condition is identified via the control unit or processor using the transformation.
US08497693B2	Method for testing a test substrate under defined thermal conditions and thermally conditionable prober In a method and a device for testing a test substrate under defined thermal conditions, a substrate that is to be tested is held by a temperature-controllable chuck and is set to a defined temperature; the test substrate is positioned relative to test probes by at least one positioning device; and the test probes make contact with the test substrate for testing purposes. At least one component of the positioning device that is present in the vicinity of the temperature-controlled test substrate is set to a temperature that is independent of the temperature of the test substrate by a temperature-controlling device, and this temperature is held constant.
US08497691B2	Oil quality sensor and adapter for deep fryers A system for measuring the state of degradation of cooking oil or fat includes at least one fryer pot; a conduit fluidly connected to the fryer pot for transporting cooking oil from the fryer pot and returning the cooking oil back to the fryer pot. A pump for re-circulating cooking oil to and from the fryer pot; and a sensor disposed in fluid communication with the conduit that measures an electrical property of the cooking oil as the cooking oil flows past the sensor and is returned to the at least one fryer pot is provided.
US08497681B2	Magnetic resonance method and apparatus to determine phase correction parameters In a magnetic resonance system and operating method to determine phase correction parameters for a phase correction in MR image data, first and second phase correction data sets are thereby acquired and correlations are calculated between data of the second phase correction data set and data of the first phase correction data set. Phase correction parameters are determined, such as coefficients of a power series that approximates a curve of a phase difference between phase curves of the second and first phase correction data sets.
US08497680B2	Magnetic resonance method for quantification of molecular diffusion using double echo steady state sequences Disclosed is a magnetic resonance method for the quantification of molecular diffusion. The method uses a diffusion-weighted (dw) double echo steady state sequence (DESS). In particular, the method allows direct quantification of molecular diffusion from two steady state scans with differing diffusion weighting such as one with diffusion-weighting and preferably one without diffusion weighting. Such a quantification of molecular diffusion allows for rapid and/or quantitative measurements of physiological and/or functional parameters of living tissue. Quantitative measurements are often a prerequisite for pre-clinical and clinical research as well as for clinical trials in drug research performed at different sites. Especially for the early diagnosis of subtle or diffuse pathological changes, quantitative MR promises to have a very significant impact.
US08497671B2	Load driving device with over current protection The load driving device disclosed in the specification includes a controller to generate a first control signal based on an input signal, a first output transistor to supply an output current to a load according to the first control signal, a first dividing circuit to output a first divided voltage by dividing a voltage across a first primary electrode and a second primary electrode of the first output transistor by a first transistor and a second transistor connected in serial, a first voltage generating circuit to output a first reference voltage, and a first comparator to supply a first over current detection signal to the controller based on the first reference voltage and the first divided voltage.
US08497669B2	Output voltage controller, electronic device, and output voltage control method An output voltage controller includes a first controller which controls current supply to a inductor based on an output voltage, and a second controller which controls current supply to the inductor by controlling a period when an input end to which an input voltage is inputted, the inductor, and an output end from which the output voltage is outputted are coupled based on the input voltage.
US08497665B2	Drop power supply circuit A capacitor drop power supply circuit for supplying power to a load has a switch configured to alter a configuration of the power supply circuit to reduce input current of the power supply circuit. The switch is operable by the load to alter the configuration when the load enters a power save mode. The switch is operable to alter the configuration of the power supply circuit between a first configuration having a first current path through the power supply circuit in a first current direction, and a second configuration having a second current path through the power supply circuit in the first current direction. The switch changes the power supply circuit between the first configuration and the second configuration when the load enters a power save mode.
US08497657B2	Docking station for electronic device A docking station for an electronic device includes a magnet that holds the electronic device in a mated orientation relative to the docking station. The docking station may include a mounting surface with two or more different charge-contact regions, each charge-contact region electrically coupled to a terminal of an electric power source and positioned to form an electrical connection with a charging terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device mates with the mounting surface.
US08497655B2	Method and apparatus for estimating rotor position in a sensorless synchronous motor The present invention provides a simple, robust, and universal position observer for use with sensorless synchronous machines. The observer may be implemented using an equivalent EMF model of a synchronous machine or, alternately, using a sliding mode controller based on the equivalent EMF model of the synchronous machine. The observer may be used on any type of synchronous machine, including salient or non-salient pole machines such as a permanent magnet, interior permanent magnet, wound rotor, or reluctance synchronous machine. The observer provides low sensitivity to parameter variations and disturbances or transient conditions in the machine. In addition, no knowledge of speed is required as an input to the observer and an estimated position may be calculated using a subset of the machine parameters.
US08497652B2	Dynamoelectric machine assemblies operable with serial communication signals and PWM control signals A dynamoelectric machine assembly for connection to a system controller. The assembly includes at least one input contact for receiving a control signal from the system controller and a processor coupled to the input contact. The processor is configured to operate the assembly in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode when the control signal is a PWM control signal and to operate the assembly in a serial mode when the control signal is a serial communication signal.
US08497646B2	Controller for AC electric motor and electric powered vehicle An AC electric motor, an inverter and a controller are mounted on an electric powered vehicle. The controller includes a voltage deviation calculating unit, a modulation factor calculating unit, and a mode switching determination unit. The voltage deviation calculating unit calculates a voltage deviation between a first voltage command when the rectangular wave voltage control is executed and a second voltage command when pulse width modulation control is executed, by inputting a current deviation to a voltage equation of the AC electric motor. Modulation factor calculating unit calculates the modulation factor based on the first voltage command and the voltage deviation. The mode switching determination unit determines whether or not control mode of the AC electric motor from the rectangular wave voltage control to the pulse width modulation control is necessary, based on the modulation factor.
US08497644B2	Refrigerator and method for controlling the same A refrigerator and a method for controlling the same are provided. With the refrigerator and the method for controlling the refrigerator, a receiving box may be automatically drawn in and out together with a door when a user operates an input device that inputs door drawing in and out instructions, thereby increasing use convenience of children and older people.
US08497637B2	Constant voltage dimmable LED driver A constant voltage dimmable LED (Light Emitting Diode) driver is disclosed that is compatible with all types of dimmers, including conventional phase cut (TRIAC) dimmers, and behaves like a conventional constant voltage driver which can be connected to any size of LED load that has a matching voltage rating. The driver produces a continuous train of pulses for driving the LED load and obtains an averaged measure of the voltage at the AC input for controlling the duty cycle of the continuous train of pulses. Therefore, when the averaged measure of the voltage at the AC input is reduced by a dimmer, the duty cycle reduces, resulting in a dimmed LED. The driver can be created by adding a few components to a conventional wide input range AC-DC converter without or with very little modifications.
US08497634B2	Wireless lighting system for staircases and passageways The invention discloses an illumination system having a first proximate detector with a first zone detector and a first transmitter. The first zone detector can detect the passing of a human body and the transmitter can send a signal upon such detection. The invention may further include a second zone detector and a second transmitter having similar capacities. In addition, the invention may also have a first staircase illuminator and a second staircase illuminator. Detection of a person passing near a zone detector may cause a staircase illuminator to illuminate a staircase area. The process of transmitting, receiving and illuminating may continue for as long as any of the illuminators within the illumination system that has not yet been illuminated.
US08497630B2	Methods of analyzing peptide mixtures The present invention provides for a method of characterizing and classifying a sample of peptide or polypeptide mixtures or a biomolecule comprising a polypeptide component by using mass spectrometry and statistic methods for analyzing the mass spectrometry results.
US08497626B2	Large area light emitting diode light source The present invention relates to a LED light source comprising at least one layer of light emitting material (3), in particular organic light emitting material, sandwiched between two electrode layers (2, 4). At least one of the electrode layers (2, 4) is structured to form a pattern of electrode segments (5), each electrode segment (5) being in electrical contact with at least three of its nearest neighbor electrode segments (5) via direct electrical connections (6), which are designed to act as electrical fuses between the electrode segments (5). The invention allows the design of a large area LED light source having a homogeneous light density without the risk of failure of larger light emitting areas.
US08497620B2	Piezoelectric resonator element, piezoelectric resonator, and acceleration sensor A piezoelectric resonator element includes: a resonating arm extending in a first direction and cantilever-supported; a base portion cantilever-supporting the resonating arm; and an excitation electrode allowing the resonating arm to perform flexural vibration in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. In the piezoelectric resonator element, the resonating arm includes an adjusting part adjusting rigidity with respect to a bend in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first and second directions.
US08497617B2	Stators with improved conductor assembly and method of making same A stator includes a stator core, a plurality of slots, and a conductor. The plurality of slots are formed within the stator core. The conductor is disposed continuously within at least two of the plurality of openings.
US08497610B2	Ceiling fan motor A ceiling fan motor has a stator with several coil arms disposed at intervals for the winding of magnetizing coils. Between two adjacent coil arms are formed with a magnetic pole spacer. A supporting base is provided in a predetermined magnetic pole spacer for the disposition of a sensor to detect the position of the rotor.
US08497608B2	Electric machine cooling system and method Some embodiments of the invention provide an electric machine module comprising an electric machine including a rotor assembly and a rotor hub. In some embodiments, the module can include a output shaft substantially circumscribed by the rotor hub and including at least one channel and at least one coolant outlet. A cavity can be formed by at least the output shaft and the rotor hub. Some embodiments can include a sleeve substantially circumscribing a portion of the output shaft with at least a portion of the sleeve positioned substantially within the cavity between the output shaft and the rotor hub. The sleeve can include at least one groove.
US08497606B2	Electromagnetic generator with free moving inner magnetic core An energy harvesting device (EHD) and method including a hollow outer envelope (201) having an inner wall (200) with a first predetermined magnetic field distributed on an inner surface of the inner wall, at least one inner core (202), free to move in the hollow envelope (200) characterized by a second predetermined magnetic field distributed on an inner surface of the at least inner core, the inner core being characterized by one or more convex projections of magnetically active material, at least one conducting loop (203) disposed at locations selected from the group consisting of the outer envelope and the at least inner core, so as to be suffused with magnetic flux due to the magnetic field distributions of the at least one inner core and the at least one outer envelope and generating an alternating current due to movement of the inner core within the outer envelope and a rectifying circuit in electrical connection with the at least one conducting loop (203) rectifying the alternating current into a current having a DC component.
US08497605B2	Power supply arrangement for integrated circuit core A power supply arrangement is for supplying power to a chip core. A dc-dc converter arrangement is used both for a wake-up state of the core in preparation for an active state, and for a shut down charge recycling state in which the core supplies charge to the dc-dc converter. Thus, the dc-dc converter arrangement functions both to control powering on of the core in an efficient manner and the powering down of the core to implement charge recycling. In an active state, the core is supplied with power from the high power supply line.
US08497599B2	Electrical generator network and a local electrical system A local electrical system having an electrical generator is connected to an electrical generator network. The local electrical system has a controller to avoid the non-detection zone of loss-of-mains relays. The controller is arranged to monitor the real power flow from the electrical generator network to the local electrical system and to determine if the absolute value of the real power flow is below a first predetermined value to determine if there is a close match between the power requirements of the local electrical system and the electrical generator. If there is a close match, then the controller is arranged to monitor the reactive power flow the same way. If there is a close match also with the reactive power, then the controller is arranged to adjust the target reactive power output from the electrical generator of the local electrical system.
US08497598B2	Inverter system A vehicle system for use in powering an AC load. The system may include an inverter system operating in cooperation with a power distribution system. The power distribution system may be configured to provide a stabilized power output to the inverter system. The inverter system be configured to inverter the stabilized power output to an output suitable for powering the AC load.
US08497597B2	Two-wire power and communications for irrigation systems A two-wire power and communication system is provided, having a decoder that draws a constant amount of current for communication signals despite changes in the voltage on the power and communication wires. In one example, decoders have a constant current sink circuit that includes a shunt regulator that controls a field effect transistor.
US08497595B1	Surface wind power generation array An energy generation system is disclosed, comprising a blade portion, a magnet portion and a coil portion. The blade is an elongated member positioned so as to be subject to ground-level wind forces. The blade is connected to the magnet portion so that the magnet portion oscillates as the blade is moved by the wind forces. The magnet portion may be disposed within the coil portion to induce a current in the windings of the coil portion as the magnet portion reciprocates/oscillates. A plurality of individual blade/magnet/coil combinations may be provided in a modular array to generate electricity independent of wind direction and with minimal wind intensity. A plurality of interconnecting modular arrays may be provided in a grid to supply the desired voltage and amperage levels. The array grid may conform to the local topology of the installation site, thus eliminating the need to level the site. The disclosed system can be made aesthetically pleasing by fabricating it to resemble a field of grass, reeds, wheat, etc., thus allowing it to blend in with the natural landscape.
US08497594B2	Horizontal-axis hydrokinetic water turbine system A hydrokinetic water turbine system includes two turbine assemblies each having a frame structure, a horizontally-disposed shaft supported by the frame structure, and a rotor secured to the shaft. The rotor has a plurality of spaced-apart blades so that the flowing stream of water revolves the rotor. The blades are filled with a foam material to reduce weight and increase buoyancy. The frame structure is an open frame structure and includes frame members adapted to reduce a coefficient of drag of the frame structure. The frame members are filled with a foam material to reduce weight and increase buoyancy. The two turbine assemblies are secured side by side with shafts coaxial and the rotors rotating in opposite directions. The shafts can drive electric generators located out of the water or under the water. The underwater generators can be direct drive, low speed, high output generators.
US08497590B2	Spring generator A spring operated generator includes a pair of torsion spring banks and a pair of elongate shafts extending through respective spring banks and operatively connected to respective generators. A starter motor is connected to each respective spring bank for initially winding each spring bank. When actuated, the primed spring bank is allowed to unwind. A clutch coupled to the elongate shaft is configured to engage a respective generator, transferring energy from shaft rotation to the generator which produces electricity. As one spring bank unwinds, the other spring bank is wound in like manner as the first. When the initial spring bank is unwound and the other spring bank is sufficiently wound, the cycle is repeated, thereby causing the other generator to produce electricity.
US08497587B2	Thermally enhanced expanded wafer level package ball grid array structure and method of making the same A thermally enhanced expanded wafer level ball grid array package. The expanded wafer level ball grid array package includes an integrated thermally conductive heat dissipater. In one embodiment the heat dissipater is positioned in close proximity to a non-active face of a die and is separated from the non-active face by a thermal interface material. In another embodiment the heat dissipater includes legs that displace the heat dissipater a short distance from the non-active die face, with the intervening space occupied by encapsulation material. In yet another embodiment, the thermal interface material exists between the non-active die face and the heat dissipater, but extends beyond the edge of the semiconductor die to also cover a portion of the encapsulation material. Methods for making the various embodiments of the expanded wafer level ball grid array package are also shown.
US08497574B2	High power semiconductor package with conductive clips and flip chip driver IC In one implementation, a high power semiconductor package is configured as a buck converter including a control transistor and a sync transistor disposed on a leadframe, a flip chip driver integrated circuit (IC) for driving the control and sync transistors, and conductive clips electrically coupling the top surfaces of the transistors to substrate pads such as leadframe pads. The source of the control transistor is electrically coupled to the drain of the sync transistor using the leadframe and one of the transistor conductive clips. In this manner, the leadframe and the conductive clips provide efficient current conduction by direct mechanical connection and large surface area conduction, thereby enabling a package with significantly reduced electrical resistance, form factor, complexity, and cost.
US08497560B2	LED package and method of assembling the same An LED package is provided. The LED package includes a carrier, an LED chip, a conductive structure, a first encapsulant, a lens and a heat sink. The carrier is cup shaped and comprises a bottom portion and a lateral wall. The LED chip is received in the carrier and disposed on the bottom portion. The conductive structure is electrically connected to the LED chip. The first encapsulant is received in the carrier and fixing the carrier and the conductive structure. The lens is corresponding to the LED chip. The carrier is embedded in the heat sink, and heat generated by the LED chip is transmitted to the heat sink via the bottom portion and the lateral wall of the carrier.
US08497556B2	Semiconductor devices with active semiconductor height variation A semiconductor product has different active thicknesses of silicon on a single semiconductor substrate. The thickness of the silicon layer is changed either by selectively adding silicon or subtracting silicon from an original layer of silicon. The different active thicknesses are suitable for use in different types of devices, such as diodes and transistors.
US08497552B2	Semiconductor devices with current shifting regions and related methods A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor buffer layer having a first conductivity type and a semiconductor mesa having the first conductivity type on a surface of the buffer layer. In addition, a current shifting region having a second conductivity type may be provided adjacent a corner between the semiconductor mesa and the semiconductor buffer layer, and the first and second conductivity types may be different conductivity types. Related methods are also discussed.
US08497551B2	Self-aligned contact for trench MOSFET The process methods and structures mentioned above for creating a trench MOSFET enables self-aligned contacts to be formed to allow decreasing pitch size for trench MOSFET. The self-aligned contacts are formed by etching exposed silicon areas without using lithographical mask and alignment. As a result, the allowance for alignment can be saved and the pitch size can be decreased.
US08497549B2	Method and structure for shielded gate trench FET A shielded gate field effect transistor includes a trench extending into a semiconductor region. A shield electrode is in a lower portion of the trench, and is insulated from the semiconductor region by a shield dielectric. The shield dielectric comprises first and second dielectric layers, the first dielectric layer extending between the second dielectric layer and the semiconductor region. The second dielectric layer comprises a material which during oxidation process inhibits growth of oxide along surfaces of the semiconductor region covered by the second dielectric layer. An inter-electrode dielectric overlies the shield electrode, and a gate dielectric lines upper trench sidewalls. A gate electrode is in an upper portion of the trench over the inter-electrode dielectric.
US08497547B2	Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same Provided is a semiconductor device having, over a semiconductor substrate, a control gate electrode and a memory gate electrode which are adjacent to each other and constitute a nonvolatile memory. The height of the memory gate electrode is lower than the height of the control gate electrode. A metal silicide film is formed over the upper surface of the control gate electrode, but not formed over the upper surface of the memory gate electrode. The memory gate electrode has, over the upper surface thereof, a sidewall insulating film made of silicon oxide. This sidewall insulating film is formed in the same step as that for the formation of respective sidewall insulating films over the sidewalls of the memory gate electrode and the control gate electrode. The present invention makes it possible to improve the production yield and performance of the semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory.
US08497542B2	ZrXHfYSn1-X-YO2 films as high K gate dielectrics The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a nanolaminate dielectric of zirconium oxide (ZrO2), hafnium oxide (HfO2) and tin oxide (SnO2) acting as a single dielectric layer with a formula of Zrx Hfy Sn1-x-y O2, and a method of fabricating such a dielectric layer is described that produces a reliable structure with a high dielectric constant (high k). The dielectric structure is formed by depositing zirconium oxide by atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing hafnium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing tin oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form the thin laminate structure. Such a dielectric may be used as a gate insulator, a capacitor dielectric, or as a tunnel insulator in non-volatile memories, because the high dielectric constant (high k) provides the functionality of a much thinner silicon dioxide film.
US08497538B2	MRAM synthetic antiferromagnet structure An MRAM bit (10) includes a free magnetic region (15), a fixed magnetic region (17) comprising an antiferromagnetic material, and a tunneling barrier (16) comprising a dielectric layer positioned between the free magnetic region (15) and the fixed magnetic region (17). The MRAM bit (10) avoids a pinning layer by comprising a fixed magnetic region exhibiting a well-defined high Hflop using a combination of high Hk (uniaxial anisotropy), high Hsat (saturation field), and ideal soft magnetic properties exhibiting well-defined easy and hard axes.
US08497536B2	Dual-facing camera assembly Embodiments of the invention relate to a camera assembly including a rear-facing camera and a front-facing camera operatively coupled together (e.g., bonded, stacked on a common substrate).In some embodiments of the invention, a system having an array of frontside illuminated (FSI) imaging pixels is bonded to a system having an array of backside illuminated (BSI) imaging pixels, creating a camera assembly with a minimal size (e.g., a reduced thickness compared to prior art solutions). An FSI image sensor wafer may be used as a handle wafer for a BSI image sensor wafer when it is thinned, thereby decreasing the thickness of the overall camera module. According to other embodiments of the invention, two package dies, one a BSI image sensor, the other an FSI image sensor, are stacked on a common substrate such as a printed circuit board, and are operatively coupled together via redistribution layers.
US08497535B2	Multilayered photodiode and method of manufacturing the same In a multilayered photodiode and a method of manufacturing the same, the multilayered photodiode comprises: a transparent substrate; a gate insulating film formed on the transparent substrate; a first metal layer formed on the gate insulating film; a semiconductor layer formed on the first metal layer so as to be in contact with the first metal layer; and a second metal layer formed on the semiconductor layer so as to be in contact with the semiconductor layer. The photodiode is vertically multilayered, and has a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure in which a P-N region is replaced by a metal, and in which a light-receiving region does not block incident light.
US08497531B2	Integrated MOS gas or humidity sensor having a wireless transceiver A single chip wireless sensor comprises a microcontroller connected by a transmit/receive interface to a wireless antenna. The microcontroller is also connected to an 8 kB RAM, a USB interface, an RS232 interface, 64 kB flash memory, and a 32 kHz crystal. The device senses humidity and temperature, and a humidity sensor is connected by an 18 bit ΣΔ A-to-D converter to the microcontroller and a temperature sensor is connected by a 12 bit SAR A-to-D converter to the microcontroller. The device is an integrated chip manufactured in a single process in which both the electronics and sensor components are manufactured using standard CMOS processing techniques, applied to achieve both electronic and sensing components in an integrated process.
US08497527B2	Device having active region with lower electron concentration A device comprising a two-dimensional electron gas that includes an active region located in a portion of the electron gas is disclosed. The active region comprises an electron concentration less than an electron concentration of a set of non-active regions of the electron gas. The device includes a controlling terminal located on a first side of the active region. The device can comprise, for example, a field effect transistor (FET) in which the gate is located and used to control the carrier injection into the active region and define the boundary condition for the electric field distribution within the active region. The device can be used to generate, amplify, filter, and/or detect electromagnetic radiation of radio frequency (RF) and/or terahertz (THz) frequencies.
US08497525B2	Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same A high-quality light emitting device is provided which has a long-lasting light emitting element free from the problems of conventional ones because of a structure that allows less degradation, and a method of manufacturing the light emitting device is provided. After a bank is formed, an exposed anode surface is wiped using a PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)-based porous substance or the like to level the surface and remove dusts from the surface. An insulating film is formed between an interlayer insulating film on a TFT and the anode. Alternatively, plasma treatment is performed on the surface of the interlayer insulating film on the TFT for surface modification.
US08497522B2	Solid state lighting device A light emission package includes at least one solid state emitter, a leadframe, and a body structure encasing a portion of the leadframe. At least one aperture is defined in an electrical lead to define multiple electrical lead segments, with at least a portion of the aperture disposed outside an exterior side wall of the package. A recess may be defined in the exterior side wall to receive a bent portion of an electrical lead. A body structure cavity may be bounded by a floor, and side wall portions and end wall portions that are separated by transition wall portions including a curved or segmented upper edge, with different wall portions being disposed at different angles of inclination.
US08497521B2	LED package According to one embodiment, an LED package includes a first lead frame, a second lead frame, an LED chip, a wire, and a resin body. The first lead frame and the second lead frame are arranged with a space between each other. The LED chip is provided above the first lead frame and the second lead frame. The LED chip has a first terminal connected to the first lead frame and a second terminal connected to the second lead frame. The wire connects the first terminal to the first lead frame. The resin body covers the LED chip as well as a top surface, a part of a bottom surface, and a part of an edge surface of each of the first lead frame and the second lead frame. A remaining portion of each of the bottom surfaces and a remaining portion of each of the edge surfaces are exposed. A chip side angle formed by a top surface of the LED chip and a direction in which the wire is extracted from the first terminal is smaller than a frame side angle formed by the top surface of the first lead frame and a direction in which the wire is extracted from the first lead frame.
US08497516B2	Light-emitting device and display device Although an organic resin substrate is highly effective at reducing the weight and improving the shock resistance of a display device, it is required to improve the moisture resistance of the organic resin substrate for the sake of maintaining the reliability of an EL element. Hard carbon films are formed to cover a surface of the organic resin substrate and outer surfaces of a sealing member. Typically, DLC (Diamond like Carbon) films are used as the carbon films. The DLC films have a construction where carbon atoms are bonded into an SP3 bond in terms of a short-distance order, although the films have an amorphous construction from a macroscopic viewpoint. The DLC films contain 95 to 70 atomic % carbon and 5 to 30 atomic % hydrogen, so that the DLC films are very hard and minute and have a superior gas barrier property and insulation performance.
US08497511B2	Array substrate and display apparatus using the same An array substrate includes scan lines and data lines defining pixel structures. Each pixel structure includes a first TFT, a second TFT and a pixel electrode. The first TFT includes a first gate connected to the scan line, a first source disposed above and partially overlapping the first gate, and a first drain disposed above the first gate. An end of the first source is connected to the data line. The first drain has at least one first concavity in which the first source is disposed partially. The second TFT includes a second gate connected to the scan line, a second source disposed above the second gate and connected to the first drain, and a second drain disposed above and partially overlapping the second gate. The second source has at least one second concavity in which the second drain is disposed partially. The pixel electrode connects to the second drain.
US08497509B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprises the steps of: forming a first insulating film on a first substrate; forming a second insulating film on the first insulating film; forming an amorphous silicon film on the second insulating film; holding a metal element that promotes the crystallization of silicon in contact with a surface of the amorphous silicon film; crystallizing the amorphous silicon film through a heat treatment to obtain a crystalline silicon film; forming a thin-film transistor using the crystalline silicon film; forming a sealing layer that seals the thin-film transistor; bonding a second substrate having a translucent property to the sealing layer; and removing the first insulating film to peel off the first substrate.
US08497501B2	Organic electroluminescence generating devices An electroluminescence generating device comprising a channel of organic semiconductor material, said channel being able to carry both types of charge carriers, said charge carriers being electrons and holes; an electron electrode, said electron electrode being in contact with said channel and positioned on top of a first side of said channel layer or within said channel layer, said electron electrode being able to inject electrons in said channel layer; a hole electrode, said hole electrode being spaced apart from said electron electrode, said hole channel and positioned on top of within said channel layer, said hole electrode being able to inject holes into said channel; a control electrode positioned on said first side or on a second side of said channel; whereby light emission of said electroluminescence generating device can be acquired by applying an electrical potential difference between said electron electrode and said hole electrode.
US08497498B2	Display device A display device includes an array of pixels including a plurality of organic EL elements each having a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer including a light-emitting layer and disposed between the pair of electrodes and includes a protective layer disposed on the plurality of the organic EL elements. The protective layer has a first protective layer made of an inorganic material, a second protective layer made of a resin material and disposed on the first protective layer, and a third protective layer made of an inorganic material and disposed on the second protective layer. The second protective layer includes lenses for diverging at least part of light emitted from the light-emitting layer. The lenses have an elongated concave shape.
US08497497B2	Organic electroluminescent element, method for manufacturing the organic electroluminescent element, and light emitting display device Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent element having an element structure that can reduce damage to an organic layer during electrode formation and can facilitate the injection of charges from the electrode into the organic layer. The organic electroluminescent element includes an anode, a cathode, and an organic layer held between the anode and the cathode. The organic layer contains a luminescent material. The organic electroluminescent element further includes a transparent protective layer provided between the anode or the cathode and the organic layer. The transparent protective layer contains a bipolar charge transport organic compound and an electron-accepting compound. The transparent protective layer is formed in a period between after the formation of the organic layer and before the formation of the anode or the cathode on the organic layer.
US08497493B2	Growth substrate and light emitting device Disclosed are a growth substrate and a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a silicon substrate, a first buffer layer disposed on the silicon substrate and having an exposing portions of the silicon substrate, a second buffer layer covering the first buffer layer and the exposed portions of the silicon substrate, wherein the second buffer layer is formed of a material causing a eutectic reaction with the silicon substrate, a third buffer layer disposed on the second buffer layer, and a light emitting structure disposed on the third buffer layer, and the second buffer layer includes voids.
US08497491B2	Air sterilizing assembly An air disinfection device aimed at improving the efficiency and quality of air disinfection or sterilization may be achieved through an air disinfection device comprising a body housing a power supply and control unit, which, in turn, comprises an energy storage capacitor, a high-voltage constant current source, an ignition pulse generator, a ferrite-core pulse transformer, and a program control unit. The air disinfection device may also comprise an ultra-violet radiation source in the form of a pulsed gas-discharge lamp mounted on the body and enclosed in a tubular quartz casing. Given that the energy storage capacitor and the pulsed gas-discharge lamp may form a discharge circuit connected to the ignition pulse generator through the ferrite-core pulse transformer, the pulsed gas-discharge lamp may be placed in a bactericidal radiation translucent casing, resulting in convection air-cooling due to a natural draft inside the casing that disinfects and sterilizes surrounding air.
US08497485B2	Imaging apparatus An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor in which a plurality of area sensors arranged adjacent to each other to form an image sensor. A control circuit controls timing for reading out image data from each of the plurality of the area sensors based on area sensor arrangement information concerning the arrangement of each of the plurality of the area sensors.
US08497484B2	Device for detecting highly energetic photons A device (10) for detecting highly energetic photons, comprising one or more pixelated solid-state detectors (11) for detecting the highly energetic photons; means for providing a high voltage for polarizing said solid-state detectors; one or more pixelated readout elements (30), a readout element being connected to each of said one or more pixelated solid-state detectors (11); an input/output element (12) connected to said readout elements (30) for data input and output; and a base layer (13) for mounting the pixelated solid-state detectors (11), the readout elements (30) and the input/output element (12).
US08497483B2	Circuit substrate and method Embodiments of the invention are concerned with semiconductor circuit substrates for use in a radiation detection device, said radiation detection device comprising a detector substrate having a plurality of detector cells arranged to generate charge in response to incident radiation, each of said detector cells including at least one detector cell contact for coupling charge from said detector cell to said semiconductor circuit substrate. More particularly, in embodiments of the invention the semiconductor circuit substrate comprises: a plurality of cell circuit contacts, each of which is configured to receive charge from a corresponding detector cell contact, cell circuitry associated with said plurality of cell circuit contacts; one or more conductive pathways arranged to carry at least one of control, readout and power supply signals to and/or from said cell circuitry; and one or more signal pathways extending through said semiconductor circuit substrate, said one or more signal pathways being electrically coupled to said conductive pathways so as to provide an external signal interface for said cell circuitry. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention thus provide a means of routing signals through the semiconductor circuit substrate to an electrical contact on a surface of the semiconductor circuit substrate. The electrical contact on the surface of the circuit substrate can then be directly coupled to a corresponding electrical contact on a mount.
US08497479B1	Adjustable-aperture infrared cameras with feedback aperture control A thermal infrared camera may be used under a wide variety of target-scene radiation conditions, with interchangeable or zoom lenses requiring matching or different size cold stops. A variable aperture assembly of a thermal infrared camera integrates a rigid open truss-like framework that's capped by an aperture ring and bottomed by a driving ring, and a radiation shield, located inside the framework, that contains an aperture ring at an upper side. A plurality of blades that collectively define an aperture positioned between the upper aperture rings. Opposite blade ends are coupled to respective ones of the two aperture rings, permitting pivotal movement in one ring and radial movement in the other ring, when the rings are rotated relative to one another, to change the size of the formed aperture. Both refractive and reflective infrared telescopes may be retro-fitted with variable aperture devices to enhance infrared imaging performance.
US08497475B2	Method and apparatus for charged particle beam inspection A method, apparatus and computer readable medium for charged particle beam inspection of a sample comprising at least one sampling region and at least one skip region is disclosed. The method, apparatus and computer readable medium comprise receiving an imaging recipe which at least comprises information of the area of the sampling and skip regions; calculating a default stage speed according to the imaging recipe; calculating an alternative stage speed at least according to the default stage speed, the sampling region area information, and the skip region area information; calculating at least one imaging scan compensation offset at least according to the alternative stage speed; and inspecting the sample at the alternative stage speed while adjusting the motion of the charged particle beam according to the imaging scan compensation offsets, such that the charged particle beam tightly follows the motion of the stage and images only the sampling regions on the sample.
US08497472B2	Assessing the contamination in a mass-spectrometric MALDI ion source The invention relates to a method by which the operator of a mass spectrometer with a MALDI ion source, particularly one which operates with delayed extraction of the ions, is provided with a technique for determining the degree of contamination, in particular to determine when the ion source must be cleaned. The method comprises the acquisition of at least one mass spectrum of ions which are generated in the ion source, the recording of at least one characteristic value for each of at least two mass signals in the mass spectrum, and the determination of an indicator number, derived from the characteristic values of at least two mass signals, which shows how urgently the ion source must be cleaned. The invention also relates to a mass spectrometer with a MALDI ion source which can be characterized accordingly.
US08497465B2	Orientation sensing switch system for a head-mounted electronic device Helmet-mounted switch systems are disclosed. A helmet-mounted switch system comprises a mount portion, an electronic device, a power source, at least one accelerometer, and a processor. The mount portion is rotatable around a rotation axis. The electronic device is mounted to the mount portion. The power source is configured to switchably supply power to the electronic device. The at least one accelerometer is operable to measure an acceleration of the mount portion. The system may also include at least one gyroscope operable to measure a rotation of the mount portion. The processor is configured to receive acceleration data. The processor is programmed to determine whether the mount portion is rotating around the rotation axis based on the acceleration data. The processor is programmed to change a power state of the electronic device when the mount portion is rotating around the rotation axis.
US08497462B2	Trans-impedance amplifier with variable bandwidth and digital coherent optical receiver installing the same A trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) with an adjustable bandwidth is disclosed. The TIA of the present invention includes the amplifying stage and the emitter follower stage arranged in the downstream of the amplifying stage. The transistor in the amplifying stage includes a diode in the emitter thereof to provide a substantial emitter level to the transistor. This diode is biased by another current source with a variable function. The operating point of the diode, in particular, the differential resistance thereof, is variable by the current source, which adjusts the bandwidth of the TIA without affecting the phase characteristic of the TIA.
US08497461B2	Light sensor circuit and driving method thereof Embodiments provide a light sensor circuit for a flat panel display which improves resolution at low luminance and increases the range of sensible ambient light by divisionally driving a frame period, in which light is sensed, into a plurality of sub-frames, and a method of driving the light sensor circuit.
US08497460B2	Solid-state image sensor having a control unit controlling a selection transistor during a reset period of a reset transistor A solid-state image sensor has a pixel, a vertical signal line, and a control unit. The pixel has a photoelectric conversion part, a charge-voltage conversion part, a transfer transistor, an amplifying transistor, a selection transistor which selects whether or not to output a signal, and a reset transistor which resets a charge of the charge-voltage conversion part. The charge-voltage conversion part is connected to the amplifying transistor and the reset transistor by connection wiring. To the vertical signal line, a signal output from the amplifying transistor is transmitted. The control unit controls the reset transistor and the selection transistor so that the selection transistor is in the on state when the reset transistor changes from the on state to the off state during the reset period in which a charge of the photoelectric conversion part is reset.
US08497457B2	Flight vehicles with improved pointing devices for optical systems A pointing device is provided for directing electromagnetic radiation along a line of sight within a flight vehicle. The pointing device includes a beam deviation structure; a rotation assembly configured to support the beam deviation structure such that the beam deviation structure is pivotable about the rotation axis; and a nod gimbal configured to support the rotation assembly and the beam deviation structure such that the rotation assembly and the beam deviation structure are pivotable about a nod axis.
US08497452B2	Axial resistance sheathed heater An axial resistance sheathed heater is presented. The axial resistance sheathed heater includes a retaining sheath having a first end and a second end and a resistance wire completely disposed within the retaining sheath. The heater further includes a first conductor rod partially disposed within the retaining sheath and extending beyond the first end of the retaining sheath, the first conductor rod in direct electrical communication and direct mechanical communication with the resistance wire; and a second conductor rod partially disposed within said retaining sheath and extending beyond the second end of the retaining sheath, the second conductor rod in direct electrical communication and direct mechanical communication with the resistance wire. The resistance wire, the first conductor rod and the second conductor rod comprise a circuit achieving a power to voltage rating of about 5000:24.
US08497448B2	Apparatus and method for working a surface of a workpiece by means of laser radiation The present invention, among other things, relates to an apparatus (10) for working a surface (11) of a workpiece, in particular a metal workpiece, by means of laser radiation. The apparatus (10) is characterized by a scanner device (20), which is mounted in a rotationally immovable manner in the working apparatus (10) and is intended for shaping a laser beam that is to be deflected and positioned onto the surface to be worked, a control device for changing the orientation of the scanning direction of the laser beam shaped in the scanner device (20), and an optics element (40), which is movable about an axis of rotation (12), is arranged downstream of the scanner device (20) in the beaming direction of the laser beam and advantageously has a beam splitter device for splitting the laser beam into two or more beam parts (41, 42) and for deflecting and positioning the beam parts (41, 42) onto the surface (11) that is to be worked. A method for working a surface of a workpiece by means of laser radiation is also described.
US08497443B2	Switch actuation device, interlock system, and image forming apparatus incorporating switch actuation device A switch actuation device for turning on and off a switch in accordance with one of movement and rotation of at least two movable members. The switch actuation device includes a first shaft, a supporting member, a second shaft, and a swingable lever. The swingable lever is supported by the second shaft with its both ends being swingable, one of said both ends including a switch actuation section activating the switch. The switch actuation section of the swingable lever activates the switch when the supporting member and the swingable lever swing at the same time in response to the movement or the rotation of the first and second one of the at least two movable members, respectively. The switch actuation section of the swingable lever includes a cam.
US08497433B2	Circuit board having improved ground vias A circuit board includes a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface. The circuit board has signal vias extending at least partially through the substrate along signal via axes being configured to receive signal terminals and ground vias extending at least partially through the substrate along ground via axes being configured to receive ground terminals. The ground vias are arranged in a predetermined pattern around the signal vias to create a ground ring surrounding the corresponding signal via, wherein the ground vias are at least partially filled with a conductive material to create a ground column. Each ground column extends from a column top to a column bottom. A first subset of the ground columns extending to a first depth and a second subset of the ground columns extending to a second depth greater than the first depth.
US08497426B2	Wire harness A wire harness has an exterior component (11a) that covers a certain part of at least one wires (12). The exterior component (11a) has parts having different hardness, including a relatively hard first part (111a), a relatively soft second part (112a), and a third part (113a) having an intermediate hardness between that of the first parts (111a, 112a). The first part is formed on a surface of the exterior component and functions as a shape keeping member and a protector. The second and third parts (112a, 113a) surround the certain part of the at least one wire 12 and each functions as a cushioning material and a muffler/soundproofing material. The first part (111a), the second part (112a), and the third part (113a) are formed integrally from a non-woven fabric (2) with thermo plasticity.
US08497420B2	Thick-film pastes containing lead- and tellurium-oxides, and their use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices The present invention provides a thick-film paste for printing the front-side of a solar cell device having one or more insulating layers. The thick-film paste comprises an electrically conductive metal, and a lead-tellurium-oxide dispersed in an organic medium.
US08497417B2	Intervalgram representation of audio for melody recognition A system, method, and computer readable storage medium generates an audio fingerprint for an input audio clip that is robust to differences in key, instrumentation, and other performance variations. The audio fingerprint comprises a sequence of intervalgrams that represent a melody in an audio clip according pitch intervals between different time points in the audio clip. The fingerprint for an input audio clip can be compared to a set of reference fingerprints in a reference database to determine a matching reference audio clip.
US08497411B1	Maize variety hybrid X08A212 A novel maize variety designated X08A212 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A212 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A212 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A212, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A212. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A212.
US08497407B2	Sealing film dressing The present invention relates to a film dressing comprising a thin plastic film (2) coated with an adhesive (3). In accordance with the invention, the adhesive (3) has a softness of 10-22 mm, and the adhesive coating has a weight per unit area of 50 g/m2 or more.
US08497406B2	Preparation and conditioning of sedimentary materials A flexible process for the preparation and conditioning of sedimentary materials. The degree of decontamination of these dredged materials is enhanced by the use of chemical indicators. Based upon the level of contamination contained within this material the process is used to isolate the specific contamination and utilize a variable process to decontaminate these compounds. Not all of the compounds contained within the dredged sediment is treated the same way. The process is designed to isolate the composite of materials and treat each particle with a different process based upon its classification. Post treatment, this material may be combined and dewatered for a suitable use.
US08497397B2	Substituted acrylamide derivative and pharmaceutical composition comprising the same A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound having Formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient: [wherein, R1 is, for example, a C6-C10 aryl group which may be substituted with one group or more than one group selected from substituent group α; R2 is, for example, a C6-C10 aryl group which may be substituted with one group or more than one group selected from substituent group α; and X is, for example, a hydroxyl group or a C1-C6 alkoxy group].
US08497392B2	Process for producing functionalized carbon nanotubes A process for producing functionalized carbon nanotubes, which can organically modify carbon nanotubes with high efficiency, and in particular, can introduce different organic groups into carbon nanotubes with high efficiency through a series of chemical reactions, is provided.Carbon nanotubes are allowed to react with at least one reagent selected from a silyl-substituted organometallic compound and an organometallic compound to obtain a functionalized carbon nanotube reductant, and this functionalized carbon nanotube reductant is then allowed to react with at least one reagent selected from a silyl halide compound and an organohalogen compound to obtain functionalized carbon nanotubes.
US08497386B2	Method of carbon chain extension using novel aldol reaction Method of producing C8-C15 hydrocarbons. comprising providing a ketone starting material; providing an aldol starting material comprising chloromethylfurfural; mixing the ketone starting material and the aldol starting material in a reaction in the presence of a proline-containing catalyst selected from the group consisting of Zn(Pro)2, Yb(Pro)3, and combinations thereof, or a catalyst having one of the structures (I), (II) or (III), and in the presence of a solvent, wherein the solvent comprises water and is substantially free of organic solvents, where (I), (II) and (III) respectively are: where R1 is a C1-C6 alkyl moiety, X=(OH) and n=2. In (III), X may be CH2, sulfur or selenium, M may be Zn, Mg, or a lanthanide, and R1 and R2 each independently may be a methyl, ethyl, phenyl moiety.
US08497385B2	Bryostatin analogues, synthetic methods and uses Biologically active compounds related to the bryostatin family of compounds, including methods of utilizing the same.
US08497384B2	Process for the production of cyclopropane derivatives A process for the preparation of a cyclopropane derivative of Formula (I), by reacting an olefin of Formula (II), with a carbene of the formula:CR1R2, in a reaction vessel, optionally in the presence of a solvent, wherein, R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, carbocyclyl, heterocyclyl, —C(O)R7 or —NR82; R3, R4, R5 and R6 are each independently hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C2-C6 alkenyl, aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, carbocyclyl, heterocyclyl, —C(O)R9, —NR102, —SR11, —S(O)R11, or —SO2R11, or R3 and R6 are as defined above and R4 and R5 together form a ring, which ring is carbocyclyl, heterocyclyl, aromatic or heteroaromatic; R7 is hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl or —NR102; R8 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, carbocyclyl or heterocyclyl; R9 is hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy or heteroaryl; R10 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, carbocyclyl, heterocyclyl or C(O)R12; R11 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, carbocyclyl or heterocyclyl; and R12 is hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, aryl, or aryloxy, in the presence of copper metal or copper oxide, wherein the process is a continuous process.
US08497383B2	HIV protease inhibitors Compounds of Formula (I) are disclosed; wherein XA, k, A, B, R3A, R3B, R4 and R5 are defined herein. The compounds of Formula (I) are HIV protease inhibitors. The compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts are useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of infection by HIV and the prophylaxis, treatment, or delay in the onset of AIDS. The compounds and their salts can be employed as ingredients in pharmaceutical compositions, optionally in combination with other antivirals, immunomodulators, antibiotics or vaccines.
US08497364B2	Triggered RNAi The present application relates to methods and compositions for triggering RNAi. Triggered RNAi is highly versatile because the silencing targets are independent of the detection targets. In some embodiments, methods of silencing or modulating the expression of a target gene are provided. The methods generally comprise providing an initiator to a cell comprising a detection target and a silencing target gene, wherein the detection target is different from the silencing target gene, wherein binding of the detection target to the initiator initiates formation of an inactivator double-stranded RNA (inactivator dsRNA). The inactivator dsRNA can silence or modulate the expression of the silencing target gene.
US08497354B2	Antibodies to endoplasmin and their use Isolated monoclonal antibodies are disclosed herein that specifically bind endoplasmin. In some embodiments these antibodies are fully human. Recombinant nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, expression vectors including these nucleic acids, and host cells transformed with these expression vectors are also disclosed herein. In several embodiments the disclosed antibodies are of use for detecting and/or treating tumors that express endoplasmin, such as melanoma, breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, renal cancer, lung cancer, glioma, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer or pancreatic cancer. In one example, the tumor is a melanoma.
US08497353B2	Polypeptides for microbial detection Polypeptides which can be activated to cause the formation of pores in a lipid membrane are disclosed. Also disclosed are polypeptide compositions for the detection of target microorganisms and methods of using said compositions.
US08497349B2	Use of multivalent synthetic ligands of surface nucleolin for treating cancer or inflammation A method for treating disorders involving deregulation of cell proliferation and/or angiogenesis comprising the administration of an effective amount of a multivalent synthetic compound comprising a support on which at least 3 pseudopeptide units are grafted, said compound being of formula (I).
US08497347B2	Methods of treating medical conditions using peptides The present invention provides peptides and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for appetite suppression and weight control. Preferred peptides are calcitonin analogs, preferably with specific amino acid changes to make the peptide more amylin-like.
US08497346B2	Polymer powder storage and/or transport and/or degassing vessels Polymer powder vessel having a silo including a main vertical cylinder and a hopper at the bottom of the cylinder, a polymer powder which occupies the full volume of the hopper and at least a part of the volume of the cylinder, a polymer powder silo inlet pipe connected to the silo at a height located above the polymer powder, and a polymer hopper withdrawal pipe is also connected to the hopper. The polymer powder hopper withdrawal pipe is also connected to the silo at a location above the polymer powder for recirculating a part of the polymer powder within the silo.
US08497345B2	Device and method for degassing solvent-containing polycarbonate solutions The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for devolatilizing solvent-containing polycarbonate solutions. By employing the inventive apparatus, polycarbonates with low residual values of volatile constituents are produced from solvent-containing polymer melts, which improved optical properties, especially yellowness index, with the aid of an apparatus combination of a flash devolatilizer and a vented extruder.
US08497343B2	Polyarylate compositions and articles therefrom A polyarylate composition comprising: structural units derived at least one substituted or unsubstituted diacid, at least one aromatic dihydroxy compound, and an unsaturated compound. The composition possesses good optical properties, flow, stability and mechanical property. Also disclosed is a process to prepare these compositions and articles therefrom.
US08497340B2	Fluorosilicone mold release composition Disclosed in a mold release composition comprising a fluorosilicone compound of the formula (I): (I) wherein R1, R2, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 each is, the same or different, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, R3 and R10 each is; the same or different, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or Rf—X—, or Z—Y— in which X and Y each is; the same or different, a divalent organic group, Rf is a C1-6 fluoroalkyl group, Z is a silyl group containing a hydrolyzable site, m is 1-100, n is 1-50, and o is 0-200. The mold release composition can give excellent mold releasability and durability of mold releasability (repeated mold releasability).
US08497336B2	Method for manufacturing water-absorbing polymer particles with a low centrifuge retention capacity A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles with a low centrifuge retention capacity by polymerizing in a continuous kneading reactor under an inert gas volume flow of at most 10 m3/h per m3 of reactor volume.
US08497335B2	Surface conditioner for coating agents A surface conditioner for a coating agent is provided. The surface conditioner for the coating agent comprises: a copolymer composed of 1 to 40 parts by weight of an acrylate monomer (A) having a siloxy group, 2 to 80 parts by weight of an N-vinyllactam monomer (B), and 10 to 97 parts by weight of an alkyl(meth)acrylate monomer (C) of which an alkyl group has 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and weight average molecular weight of the copolymer is 1000 to 120000. It is another object of the present invention to provide a coating agent to which said surface conditioner is blended.
US08497333B2	Polylactic acid composition for automobile parts Disclosed is a polylactic acid composition with improved heat-resistance and improved impact-resistance. Specifically, in the disclosed polylactic acid composition, both impact strength and heat-resistance are improved by mixing 30 to 80 wt % of polyketone and 10 to 40 wt % of modified rubber. The disclosed polylactic acid composition does not only exhibit excellent in heat resistance, chemical resistance, fuel permeation resistance, abrasion resistance, etc., but also has improved impact-resistance and improved heat resistance. Thus, it is possible to employ polylactic acid as a bioplastic in interior/exterior parts of a vehicle.
US08497328B2	Catalyst components for the polymerization of olefins and catalysts therefrom obtained A solid catalyst component comprising Ti, Mg, halogen and a couple of monofunctional electron donor compounds MD1 and MD2 selected from esters and ethers, said donors being present in amounts such that the molar ratio MD1/MD2 ranges from 20 to 800. The so obtained catalyst component when converted into a catalyst is able to produce ethylene polymers with good morphological properties even under drastic polymerization conditions.
US08497319B2	Dispersion and aqueous coating composition comprising the dispersion The present invention relates to a dispersion comprising an acryl-modified cellulose ester derivative (D) dispersed in an aqueous medium, wherein a hydrophobic acrylic resin (B) and a hydrophilic acrylic resin (C) are grafted onto a cellulose ester derivative (A) in the acryl-modified cellulose ester derivative (D). The dispersion has excellent long-term storage stability, and aqueous coating compositions comprising the dispersion can form coating films with excellent coating workability, solvent resistance, chemical resistance, water resistance, and excellent curability.
US08497314B2	Liquid hardening Curing agents for air-drying alkyd-based resins, coatings, such as paint, varnish or wood stain, inks and linoleum floor coverings, based on an iron/manganese complex containing tetradentate, pentadentate or hexadentate nitrogen donor ligands are disclosed.
US08497313B2	Biorenewable thermoplastic elastomers A thermoplastic elastomer compound is disclosed having polyether-polyamide copolymer, epoxidized soybean oil, and vulcanized vegetable oil. The compound has a biorenewable content of the compound of at least about 70 weight percent. The compound can be used to make a plastic article needing a Shore A hardness of from about 22 to about 72. The compound is a sustainable solution for extruded or molded articles.
US08497311B2	Silicone-containing polyisocyanurate foam Polyisocyanurate foams of closed cell structure and low density are obtained by reaction of an amino-functional hyperbranched organopolysiloxane polyol, polyisocyanate, trimerization catalyst, and blowing agent.
US08497305B2	Phenylcyclobutylamide derivatives and their stereoisomers, the preparation processes and uses thereof Phenylcyclobutylamide derivatives and their optical isomers, the preparing processes and the uses thereof, which includes the compounds of formula (I), their pure stereoisomers and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. In formula (I), R is H, formacyl, acetyl, haloacetyl, benzoyl, benzyloxy carbonyl (Cbz), t-butoxy carbonyl (Boc), or 9-fluorenyl methoxyl carbonyl (Fmoc). The present novel compounds have pharmaceutical activity and are prepared by condensation reaction of racemic, levo- or dextro-demethyl Sibutramine and racemic or D/L isoleucine under a mild condition. It is demonstrated that the present compounds have effect of losing weight to obese mode rats in different level and the effect is better than Sibutramine by the animal experiments. So the medicaments prepared by the present compounds or the medicaments prepared by the compositions of the present compounds and other pharmaceutical activity compounds may be used for treating obesity.
US08497304B2	Aqueous liquid preparation containing 2-amino-3-(4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetic acid An aqueous liquid preparation of the present invention containing 2-amino-3-(4-bromobenzoyl)phenylacetic acid or its pharmacologically acceptable salt or a hydrate thereof, an alkyl aryl polyether alcohol type polymer such as tyloxapol, or a polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester such as polyethylene glycol monostearate is stable. Since even in the case where a preservative is incorporated into said aqueous liquid preparation, the preservative exhibits a sufficient preservative effect for a long time, said aqueous liquid preparation in the form of an eye drop is useful for the treatment of blepharitis, conjunctivitis, scleritis, and postoperative inflammation. Also, the aqueous liquid preparation of the present invention in the form of a nasal drop is useful for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and inflammatory rhinitis (e.g. chronic rhinitis, hypertrophic rhinitis, nasal polyp, etc.).
US08497303B2	Method to enhance aqueous solubility of poorly soluble actives A method to enhance solubility of an active compound comprises combining an active compound, having an aqueous solubility that is less than or equal to about 10 mg/mL, and an amount of methoxypolyethylene glycol that is sufficient to increase the aqueous solubility of the active compound. Enhancement of aqueous solubility for this combination may be significantly greater than that of an active compound in combination with an equivalent amount of polyethylene glycol. Particularly enhanced solubility is shown where a small amount of water is also included. The invention may be used in a wide variety of applications, such as for pharmaceutical, agricultural, antimicrobial, and personal care products.
US08497289B2	3.1.0 bicyclic GlyT1 inhibitors and methods of making and using same In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds which are useful as inhibitors of glycine type 1 transporter (GlyT1) activity; synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating disorders associated with glycine type 1 transporter (GlyT1) activity using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08497285B2	Therapy of autoimmune colitis using a TIP60 inhibitor This invention is in the fields of immunology and autoimmunity. More particularly it concerns methods of treating patients with compounds which are useful agents for inhibiting the functions of TIP60 in the treatment of an individual suffering, for example, from ulcerative colitis and other irritable bowel diseases.
US08497283B2	Autotaxin inhibitors The present invention relates to compounds according to formula (I) as autotaxin inhibitors and the use of such compounds for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions, which are caused, mediated and/or propagated by increased lysophosphatic acid levels and/or the activation of autotaxin, in particular of different cancers.
US08497282B2	Method of preparing (+)-1,4-dihydro-7-[(3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-(methylamino)-1-pyrrolidinyl]-4-oxo-1-(2-thiazolyl)-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid Methods of preparing (+)-1,4-dihydro-7-[(3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-(methylamino)-1-pyrrolidinyl]-4-oxo-1-(2-thiazolyl)-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid are disclosed. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising (+)-1,4-dihydro-7-[(3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-(methylamino)-1-pyrrolidinyl]-4-oxo-1-(2-thiazolyl)-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acid, and methods of treatment using such compositions.
US08497273B2	Heterocyclic compounds suitable for treating disorders that respond to modulation of the serotonin 5HT6 receptor The invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) wherein the variables have meanings given in the claims and the description. The invention also relates to the use of a compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for preparing a medicament for the treatment of a medical disorder susceptible to the treatment with a 5HT6 receptor ligand.
US08497254B2	Oxadiazole derivatives as sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators The present invention relates to novel oxadiazole derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08497250B2	Use of spiegelmers to inhibit an intracellular target molecule The present invention relates to the use of a L-nucleic acid as intracellularly active agent.
US08497244B2	Methods for targeting pulmonary diseases with agents that bind a target in pulmonary tissue Disclosed is the use of an agent (e.g., antibody fragment, antagonist, ligand, dAb monomer) that binds a target in pulmonary tissue for the manufacture of a long action or long therapeutic window formulation for local delivery to pulmonary tissue, and methods for administering an agent that binds a target in pulmonary tissue to a subject to produce a long therapeutic window in pulmonary tissue. The formulation is for, and the method comprises, administering locally to pulmonary tissue. Also disclosed is the use of antagonists of TNFR1 for the manufacture of a formulation or medicament for treating, preventing or suppressing lung inflammation or a respiratory disease, and methods of treating such diseases. Also disclosed are the use of agents a for the manufacture of a delivery device (e.g., inhaler, intranasal delivery device) for the treatment or prevention of lung inflammation or a respiratory disease, and a delivery device for the treatment or prevention of lung inflammation or a respiratory disease that contains an agent as described herein.
US08497238B2	Composition for improving membrane composition and functioning cells It has now been found that after administration to a diseased person or person that is at risk for developing such disease of a neutraceutical or pharmaceutical composition that comprises: a) a lipid fraction comprising at least one of docosahexaneoic acid (DHA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); b) a protein fraction comprising proteinaceous material from non-human origin which provide at least cysteine and/or taurine; and c) a mineral fraction comprising at least one of manganese and molybdene, the health of these persons improves. Membrane function of several types of mammalian cells improves, which allows efficient treatment of immune related disorders, such as allergy, autoimmune diseases, cancer, cognitive dysfunction and other diseases of the nervous system, neuropathies, such as diabetic neuropathies and neuropathic pains, neuronal damage during insulin resistance, and gut diseases and support of the development of gut and lung function during growth or recovery.
US08497236B2	Implantable putty material The present invention provides compositions for an implantable putty material for delivery of active compounds to a patient. More specifically, the present invention provides a material having a pH of between about 3 and 6 and possessing putty-like physical properties, wherein the composition of the material includes collagen and water. The present invention also provides a method for using the implantable putty material.
US08497230B2	Solid crop protection agents containing polyalkoxylate, method for their production and use thereof The invention relates to solid plant protection compositions comprising: a) liquid or low melting point polyalkoxylate; and b) a carrier based on relatively high molecular weight sulfonate, wherein (i) the weight ratio of liquid or low melting point polyalkoxylate to plant protection active agent is at least 1:2; (ii) the proportion of liquid or low melting point polyalkoxylate, based on the total weight of the relatively high molecular weight sulfonates, is at least 30% by weight; and (iii) the weight ratio of liquid or low melting point polyalkoxylate to relatively high molecular weight sulfonate is at most 3:1. The invention also relates to processes for their preparation and the use of the plant protection compositions for the treatment of plants and their habitat as well as corresponding processes, and also spray mixtures comprising such a plant protection composition.
US08497225B2	Method of producing graphite-carbon composite electrodes for supercapacitors A method of producing a composite electrode having a specific surface area of at least 100 m2/gm for use in an electrochemical capacitor. The method comprises (a) providing exfoliated graphite flakes that are substantially interconnected to form a porous, conductive graphite network comprising pores; and (b) incorporating an electrochemically active material into at least a pore of the graphite network to form the composite electrode. The exfoliated graphite flakes are preferably obtained from the intercalation and exfoliation of a laminar graphite material selected from natural graphite, spheroidal graphite, synthetic graphite, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, meso-carbon micro-bead, carbon/graphite fiber, carbon/graphite whisker, carbon/graphite nano-fiber, carbon nano-tube, or a combination thereof. A supercapacitor featuring such a composite electrode exhibits an exceptionally high capacitance value and low equivalent series resistance.
US08497221B2	Refractory block and a glass melting furnace The present invention provides a fused refractory product having the following average chemical composition, as a % by weight based on the oxides and for a total of 100%; ZrO2: 30%-46%; SiO2: 10%-16%; Al2O3: complement to 100%; Y2O3≧50/ZrO2 and Y2O3≦5%; Na2O+K2O: 0.5%-4%; CaO: ≦0.5%; and other species: ≦1.5%. Application to a glass-melting furnace.
US08497218B2	Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method for producing the same A silicon carbide semiconductor device (90), includes: 1) a silicon carbide substrate (1); 2) a gate electrode (7) made of polycrystalline silicon; and 3) an ONO insulating film (9) sandwiched between the silicon carbide substrate (1) and the gate electrode (7) to thereby form a gate structure, the ONO insulating film (9) including the followings formed sequentially from the silicon carbide substrate (1): a) a first oxide silicon film (O) (10), b) an SiN film (N) (11), and c) an SiN thermally-oxidized film (O) (12, 12a, 12b). Nitrogen is included in at least one of the following places: i) in the first oxide silicon film (O) (10) and in a vicinity of the silicon carbide substrate (1), and ii) in an interface between the silicon carbide substrate (1) and the first oxide silicon film (O) (10).
US08497216B2	Micromechanical component A method is described for manufacturing a micromechanical component. The method includes providing a first substrate, forming a first connecting structure on the first substrate, and forming a microstructure on the first substrate after forming the first connecting structure. The microstructure has at least one movable functional element. The method further includes providing a second substrate having a second connecting structure, and joining the first and second substrates by carrying out a bonding process, the first and second connecting structures being joined to form a common connecting structure, and a sealed cavity being formed in the region of the microstructure. The method provides that the first connecting structure takes the form of a buried connecting structure extending up to an upper surface of the first substrate. Also described is a related micromechanical component.
US08497208B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A method for producing a semiconductor device including a first conductor disposed on a semiconductor substrate; an oxygen-containing insulation film disposed on the semiconductor substrate and on the first conductor, the insulation film having a contact hole which extends to the first conductor and a trench which is connected to an upper portion of the contact hole; a zirconium oxide film disposed on a side surface of the contact hole and a side surface and a bottom surface of the trench; a zirconium film disposed on the zirconium oxide film inside the contact hole and inside the trench; and a second conductor composed of Cu embedded into the contact hole and into the trench.
US08497202B1	Interconnect structures and methods of manufacturing of interconnect structures Interconnect structures and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed herein. The method includes forming a barrier layer within a structure and forming an alloy metal on the barrier layer. The method further includes forming a pure metal on the alloy metal, and reflowing the pure metal such that the pure metal migrates to a bottom of the structure, while the alloy metal prevents exposure of the barrier layer. The method further includes completely filling in the structure with additional metal.
US08497184B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first conductor layer on a surface of a semiconductor layer via a tunnel insulating film. The method includes forming an isolation trench extending from a surface of the first conductor layer to the semiconductor layer to form a plurality of conductive plates on the tunnel insulating film. The method includes filling the isolation trench with an element insulation insulating film from bottom of the isolation trench to an intermediate portion of a side surface of each of the conductive plates. The method includes forming a silicon nitride film on an exposed surface of the each of the conductive plates not covered with the element insulation insulating film. In addition, the method includes filling an upper portion of the isolation trench by forming a second conductor layer above the conductive plates and the element insulation insulating film.
US08497180B2	Transistor with boot shaped source/drain regions Devices are formed with boot shaped source/drain regions formed by isotropic etching followed by anisotropic etching. Embodiments include forming a gate on a substrate, forming a first spacer on each side of the gate, forming a source/drain region in the substrate on each side of the gate, wherein each source/drain region extends under a first spacer, but is separated therefrom by a portion of the substrate, and has a substantially horizontal bottom surface. Embodiments also include forming each source/drain region by forming a cavity to a first depth adjacent the first spacer and forming a second cavity to a second depth below the first cavity and extending laterally underneath the first spacers.
US08497173B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. A recess gate structure is formed between an overlapping region between a gate and a source/drain so as to suppress increase in gate induced drain leakage (GIDL), and a gate insulation film is more thickly deposited in a region having weak GIDL, thereby reducing GIDL and thus improving refresh characteristics due to leakage current.
US08497169B2	Method for protecting a gate structure during contact formation Various methods for protecting a gate structure during contact formation are disclosed. An exemplary method includes: forming a gate structure over a substrate, wherein the gate structure includes a gate and the gate structure interposes a source region and a drain region disposed in the substrate; patterning a first etch stop layer such that the first etch stop layer is disposed on the source region and the drain region; patterning a second etch stop layer such that the second etch stop layer is disposed on the gate structure; and forming a source contact, a drain contact, and a gate contact, wherein the source contact and the drain contact extend through the first etch stop layer and the gate contact extends through the second etch stop layer, wherein the forming the source contact, the drain contact, and the gate contact includes simultaneously removing the first etch stop layer and the second etch stop layer to expose the gate, source region, and drain region.
US08497157B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a semiconductor package including the same In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a front end of line (FEOL) process may be performed on a semiconductor substrate to form a semiconductor structure. A back end of line (BEOL) process may be performed on the semiconductor substrate to form a wiring structure electrically connected to the semiconductor structure, thereby formed a semiconductor chip. A hole may be formed through a part of the semiconductor chip. A preliminary plug may have a dimple in the hole. The preliminary plug may be expanded into the dimple by a thermal treatment process to form a plug. Thus, the plug may not have a protrusion protruding from the upper surface of the semiconductor chip, so that the plug may be formed by the single CMP process.
US08497155B1	Planarized TCO-based anode for OLED devices, and/or methods of making the same Certain example embodiments relate to organic light emitting diode (OLED)/polymer light emitting diode (PLED) devices, and/or methods of making the same. A first transparent conductive coating (TCC) layer is disposed, directly or indirectly, on a glass substrate. An outermost major surface of the TCC layer is planarized by exposing the outermost major surface thereof to an ion beam. Following said planarizing, the first TCC layer has an arithmetic mean value RMS roughness (Ra) of less than 1.5 nm. A hole transporting layer (HTL) and an electron transporting and emitting layer (ETL) are disposed, directly or indirectly, on the planarized outermost major surface of the first TCC layer. A second TCC layer is disposed, directly or indirectly, on the HTL and the ETL. One or both TCC layers may include ITO. The substrate and/or an optional optical out-coupling layer stack system may be planarized using an ion beam.
US08497154B2	Solar cell system manufacturing method A method for manufacturing a solar cell system includes the following steps. First, a number of P-N junction cell preforms are provided. The number of the P-N junction cell preforms is M. The M P-N junction cell preforms is named from a first P-N junction cell preform to a Mth P-N junction cell preform. Second, the M P-N junction cell preforms are arranged along a straight line. Third, an inner electrode preform is formed between each two adjacent P-N junction cell preforms, wherein at least one inner electrode is a carbon nanotube array. Axial directions of the carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube array are parallel to the straight line.
US08497147B2	Array substrate and method of fabricating the same A method of fabricating an array substrate and a display device including the array substrate are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes forming a gate electrode on a substrate, forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, forming an oxide semiconductor layer and an etch prevention layer on the gate insulating layer using a single mask, forming source and drain electrodes on the etch prevention layer, and forming a passivation layer including a contact hole on the source and drain electrodes and on the gate insulating layer, and forming a pixel electrode on the passivation layer and through the contact hole.
US08497136B2	Device and method for detecting the presence of hemoglobin in a biological sample A device and method for detecting the presence of hemoglobin in a biological sample, more particularly, the presence of blood in a fecal sample as an indicator of upper or lower gastrointestinal tract bleeding.
US08497134B2	Fluorescent detector systems for the detection of chemical perturbations in sterile storage devices System and method for detecting and measuring chemical perturbations in a sample. The system and method are useful for non-invasive pH monitoring of blood or blood products sealed in storage bags.
US08497133B1	Terpene media compositions for eluting compounds from matrices and methods for making and using them Embodiments of the invention provide to apparatuses and media used in drug elution studies and methods for making and using them. One embodiment of the invention is a drug elution method that can be used for in-vitro studies of a matrix impregnated with a compound such as a drug blended polymer matrix. Such methods and materials can be used for example to assess and control the manufacturing process variability of drug eluting implantable devices such as cardiac leads.
US08497128B2	Genetic modification of homolactic thermophilic bacilli Disclosed herein is a genetic modification of moderately thermophilic Bacillus species that are facultative anaerobic and homolactic. The method includes introducing DNA cloned in a thermosensitive plasmid system containing a pSH71 replicon or a homologue thereof into cells of a moderately thermophilic Bacillus species that is facultative anaerobic and homolactic; culturing the cells on a selective medium at a permissive temperature to select transformed cells; culturing the transformed cells on a selective medium at a non-permissive temperature to select transformed cells capable of growing on the selective medium at the non-permissive temperature. The method can modify the Bacilli for R-lactic acid production, production of other organic acids than lactic acid, alcohol, enzymes, amino acids, and vitamins. The Bacillus species may be modified by replacing the S-lactate dehydrogenase gene by a DNA construct including a DNA sequence encoding R-lactate dehydrogenase.
US08497126B2	Method of making enhanced cell growth surface A method of producing an improved cell growth surface and cell attachment surface. According to the present invention, a polymer article is molded at temperature in excess of 550° F. at the injection tip. After allowing the part to cool, a stream of plasma comprised of activated gaseous species generated by a microwave source is imparted on the article. This stream is directed at the surface of a polymer substrate in a controlled fashion such that the surface is imparted with attributes for cell adhesion superior to those of untreated polymer or polymer treated by other methods.
US08497119B1	Method and device for performing micro-operations on a vesicular object A method for performing micro-operations on a vesicular object comprising securing the vesicular object by applying negative pressure in a radial vacuum passage; advancing a pipette into the vesicular object through an axial vacuum passage; ensuring that the axial vacuum passage and the radial vacuum passage are not in fluid contact with each other; controlling the negative pressure in both axial and radial vacuum passages, and the pressure or vacuum in the pipette separately; whereby allowing the simultaneous holding of the vesicular object by applying negative pressure in the radial vacuum passage; injection into or aspiration from the vesicular object via the pipette; and aspiration from the vesicular object by applying negative pressure in the axial vacuum passage.
US08497117B2	Method for manufacturing cell culture substrate A main object of the invention is to provide a new method for producing a cell culture substrate used to cause cells to adhere in a highly precise form onto a base material and then culture the cells.To attain the object, the invention provides a method for producing a cell culture substrate comprising: a patterning substrate forming process of forming, on a base material, a cell culture patterning layer wherein a cell adhesion portion having cell adhesive properties and a cell adhesion-inhibiting portion having cell adhesion-inhibiting properties can be formed by action of a photocatalyst by energy irradiation, thereby forming a patterning substrate; an energy irradiating process of irradiating the energy onto the cell culture patterning layer, thereby forming the cell adhesion portion and the cell adhesion-inhibiting portion in a pattern form by action of the photocatalyst; and a cell-containing liquid applying process of applying a cell-containing liquid onto the cell adhesion portion by a region-selecting applying method of applying the cell-containing liquid selectively onto the patterned cell adhesion portion.
US08497102B2	Mutant methylglyoxal synthase (MGS) for the production of a biochemical by fermentation The present invention concerns a method for the production of a biochemical selected among lactic acid, acetol and 1,2-propanediol, comprising culturing a microorganism modified for an improved production of the biochemical selected among lactic acid, acetol and 1,2-propanediol in an appropriate culture medium and recovery of the desired biochemical which may be further purified wherein the microorganism expresses a methylglyoxal synthase (MGS) enzyme which activity is not inhibited by orthophosphate.The present invention concerns a mutant methylglyoxal synthase (MGS) comprising at least one amino acid residue in the protein sequence of the parent enzyme replaced by a different amino acid residue at the same position wherein the mutant enzyme has retained more than 50% of the methylglyoxal synthase activity of the parent enzyme and the methylglyoxal synthase activity of the mutant MGS is not inhibited by orthophosphate as compared to the parent enzyme.
US08497099B2	Production of high levels of DHA in microalgae using modified amounts of chloride and potassium Methods for production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms, including the heterotrophic marine dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium, using low levels of chloride ion are disclosed. Specifically, methods of increasing production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine microorganisms while growing in low chloride media by manipulating sodium ion and potassium ion levels. The invention also relates to methods of production of highly unsaturated fatty acids by marine organisms at low pH levels, and includes methods for generation of low pH tolerant strains.
US08497096B2	Methods and materials for increasing expression of recombinant polypeptides The present invention provides novel methods and materials for increasing the expression of recombinant polypeptides. Methods and materials of the invention allow increased expression of transcription units that include recombinant DNA sequences which encode polypeptides of interest. The present invention provides expression vectors which contain multiple copies of a transcription unit encoding a polypeptide of interest separated by at least one selective marker gene and methods for sequentially transforming or transfecting host cells with expression vectors to increase transcription unit dosage and expression.
US08497095B2	Biochemical markers for acute pulmonary embolism The present invention relates to a method of differentiating between a singular and a multiple lung embolism in a subject suspected to suffer from acute lung embolism comprising determining the amount of NT-proBNP in a sample of a subject suspected to suffer from acute lung embolism and comparing the amount to a reference amount. Further, the present invention also relates to a method of differentiating between acute and chronic lung embolism in a subject comprising determining the amount of NT-proANP at a first and a second time point and comparing the determined amounts with each other. The present invention also encompasses devices and kits for carrying out the aforementioned methods.
US08497089B2	Method to predict toxicity using the analysis of dynamic organelle behaviour The present invention provides an in vitro method to predict the effect of an exogenous element on an animal or human organism. This method is based on the analysis of variations of an organelle behaviour represented by at least two characteristics in isolated cells induced by the contact with the exogenous element and the determination of the cluster membership of the exogenous element which is representative of the effect of said element. Analyzed characteristics are selected from the group consisting of the motility, the morphology, the relationship with the cell cytoskeleton and the membrane permeability of said organelle. This method may be used to predict the efficacy or the toxicity of an element, such as a drug.
US08497084B2	15-PGDH in colon cancer The disclosure provides, among other things, a method of decreasing resistance to the chemopreventive properties of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, e.g., celecoxib, particularly in the prevention of cancer, e.g., colon cancer, by increasing the levels or activity of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). The disclosure also provides a method of identifying compounds that upregulate or reactivate 15-PGDH. The disclosure also provides a method of identifying an individual suitable for treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment or prevention of colon cancer.
US08497083B2	Fructosyl amino acid oxidase In one form, a mutant fructosyl amino acid oxidase modified at an amino acid residue involved in a proton relay system is provided. The mutant fructosyl amino acid oxidase has reduced oxidase activity while substantially maintaining its dehydrogenase activity. Other forms include an assay device and assay method for measuring glycated protein. Still, other forms include unique methods, techniques, systems and devices involving a mutant fructosyl amino acid oxidase.
US08497082B2	Composition comprising corn flour and saccharification enzymes The present invention describes compositions having aqueous corn flour and saccharification enzyme mixtures. In this composition all of the corn flour has particle size of 0.5 mm or less.
US08497078B2	Biomarkers for myocardial ischemia This invention relates, e.g., to a method for determining if a subject has myocardial ischemia, comprising (a) providing a blood sample obtained from a subject suspected of having myocardial ischemia; (b) determining in the sample the amount of one or more of the following proteins: (i) Lumican and/or (ii) Extracellular matrix protein 1 and/or (iii) Carboxypeptidase N; and (c) comparing the amount(s) of the protein(s) to a baseline value that is indicative of the amount of the protein in a subject that does not have myocardial ischemia, wherein a statistically significantly increased amount of the protein(s) compared to the baseline value is indicative of myocardial ischemia. Other proteins indicative of myocardial ischemia are also described, as are methods for treating a subject based on a diagnostic procedure of the invention, and kits for carrying out a method of the invention.
US08497074B2	Granin proteins as markers of heart disease The present invention relates to methods for the diagnosis of impaired cardiac function/heart disease. The present invention provides a method of diagnosing heart disease in a subject, said method comprising determining the level of CgB or SgII, or fragments thereof, in a body fluid of said subject. Such methods can also be used to determine the clinical severity or prognosis of heart disease in a subject.
US08497055B2	Electrostatic charge developing toner, electrostatic charge developing developer, and image forming apparatus To provide an electrostatic charge developing toner in which resin fine particles and inorganic fine particles are externally added to toner base particles, wherein the toner base particles include at least binder resin and colorant, the resin fine particles are monodispersed and fixed to surfaces of the toner base particles, and following equations are established: a=70 to 160 nm, b/a=0.2 to 0.5, and c/a=0.6 to 0.8, where “a” represents an average of diameters (nm) of circular surfaces of contact between the fixed resin fine particles and toner base particle surfaces, “b” represents an average of heights (nm) of the resin fine particles from the contact surfaces, and “c” represents an average diameter (nm) of the resin fine particle at the height b/2.
US08497053B2	Pigment dispersion composition, resist composition for color filter including the same, and color filter using the same The present invention relates to a pigment dispersion composition that is capable of decreasing pattern residues and improving resolution, a resist composition for a color filter including the same, and a color filter fabricated using the same. More particularly, the pigment dispersion composition includes a pigment, a binder resin, a solvent, and a first dispersing agent and a second dispersing agent each represented by a predetermined chemical formula.
US08497042B2	Fuel cell system Disclosed is a fuel cell system comprising a reformer and a fuel cell body to which a fuel gas reformed through the reformer and air are supplied and in which the supplied fuel gas and air are separated from each other and caused to flow and contact on respective electrodes to perform electric power generation. A moisture quantity adjustment device is configured to adjustably separate a portion of moisture included in the fuel gas supplied from the reformer in order for the moisture included in the fuel gas to be supplied to the fuel cell body in an appropriate quantity.
US08497035B2	Battery cell integrated measurement sensor line and equalization resistor A battery cell for an electric vehicle battery pack, including surface-applied wires to facilitate connecting the cell to a controller. Resistive or non-resistive wiring is printed onto or otherwise applied to the outer surface of the battery cell, to eliminate the need for separate jumper wires routed around or through the battery pack. A surface-applied wire is directly connected to each terminal of the battery cell, and each wire is routed on the outer surface of the cell to a location convenient for connecting a cell monitoring controller. The surface-applied wires can be made of a suitable resistive material, such that the resistance of each wire is known and the wires can be used for dissipating power during cell state of charge equalization. An insulating layer can be applied over the surface-applied wire to minimize the risk of short circuit.
US08497031B2	Combined heating and pre-charging function and hardware for propulsion batteries A battery circuit for an electric vehicle that employs a resistor that provides both a pre-charging function at system start-up and battery heating. The battery circuit includes a positive high voltage bus line electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the battery and a negative high voltage bus line electrically coupled to the negative terminal of the battery. A first end of the resistor is electrically coupled to the positive high voltage bus line, a first switch is electrically coupled between a second end of the resistor and the positive high voltage bus line and a second switch is electrically coupled between the second end of the resistor and the negative high voltage bus line. The pre-charging operation is provided when the first switch is closed and the second switch is opened and the heating function is provided when the second switch is closed and the first switch is opened.
US08497028B1	Multi-layer metallic coating for TBC systems A coating system for a turbine engine component having a substrate includes a multi-layer bond coat applied to the substrate. The multi-layer bond coat has an oxidation resistant layer and a spallation resistant layer deposited over the oxidation resistant layer. Processes for forming the coating system are described.
US08497023B2	Polyurethane-grafted hydrogels An article comprising two chemically grafted polymer layers comprising a hydrogel layer and an end-functionalized polyurethane layer. The invention also includes methods of making and using the article.
US08497022B2	Three-metallic-component type composite nanometallic paste, method of bonding, and electronic component Provided is a composite nanometal paste which, when a layer of the paste interposed between upper and lower bodies is sintered in an inert gas under no load until the layer turns to a metal layer, attains a shear bond strength between the upper and lower bodies of 10 MPa or higher.The composite nanometal paste contains, as metallic components, composite metallic nanoparticles comprising metal cores with an average particle diameter of X (nm) and an organic coating layer formed around the circumference, metallic nanofiller particles having an average particle diameter of d (nm), and metallic filler particles having an average particle diameter of D (nm), and satisfies the first relation X
US08497021B2	Superoleophilic particles and coatings and methods of making the same Superoleophilic particles and surfaces and methods of making the same are described. The superoleophilic particles can include porous particles having a hydrophobic coating layer deposited thereon. The coated porous particles are characterized by particle sizes ranging from at least 100 nm to about 10 μm and a plurality of nanopores. Some of the nanopores provide flow through porosity. The superoleophilic particles also include oil pinned within the nanopores of the porous particles The plurality of porous particles can include (i) particles including a plurality of spaced apart nanostructured features comprising a contiguous, protrusive material, (ii) diatomaceous earth particles, or (iii) both. The surfaces can include the superoleophilic particles coupled to the surface.
US08497020B2	Precision wood particle feedstocks Wood particles having fibers aligned in a grain, wherein: the wood particles are characterized by a length dimension (L) aligned substantially parallel to the grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) normal to W and L; the L×H dimensions define two side surfaces characterized by substantially intact longitudinally arrayed fibers; the W×H dimensions define two cross-grain end surfaces characterized individually as aligned either normal to the grain or oblique to the grain; the L×W dimensions define two substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces; and, a majority of the W×H surfaces in the mixture of wood particles have end checking.
US08497012B2	Authenticity mark in the form of a luminescent substance A printed document of value having at least one authenticity feature in the form of a luminescent substance on the basis of host lattices which are doped with one or a plurality of ions. Since the host lattices are doped with different ions, exchange interactions between clusters of ions that occur leads to cooperative effects.
US08497000B2	X-ray induced wettability modification Disclosed is a method for modifying wettability of a surface of an inorganic material, the method comprising the steps of: preparing an inorganic material with a surface; and charging the surface of the inorganic material with positive surface charges obtained from photoelectron-emission by an X-ray irradiation to the surface of the inorganic material.
US08496997B2	Process for the preparation of a cross-linked multilayer film The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a multilayer film, in particular, a cross-linked multilayer macromolecular film.
US08496993B2	Nanocomposite coatings on cemented carbide A method of creating adherent, fracture-toughened polycrystalline diamond coatings on carbide cutting tools or other workpiece substrates through the development of composite coatings comprising polycrystalline diamond and carbon nanotubes is described. The coating is deposited through a chemical vapor deposition process using a pre-determined hydrocarbon-hydrogen gas mixture suitable for nucleating diamond on the carbide particles and carbon nanotubes on the metallic binder. The deposited coating, which may be up to 30 micrometers in thickness, is typically characterized by a diamond or diamond-like carbon matrix in which carbon nanotubes are distributed as fiber-like filler materials.
US08496988B2	Dispenser for fabricating liquid crystal display panel and method for controlling gap between nozzle and substrate by using the same A dispenser for fabricating a liquid crystal display panel and a method for controlling a gap between a nozzle and a substrate by using the same are disclosed in the present invention. The dispenser for fabricating a liquid crystal display panel includes a syringe having a nozzle at one end and separated from a substrate, a vertical driving motor driving the syringe in a vertical direction, a contact type switch switching on/off the vertical driving motor depending on whether the nozzle and the substrate are in contact with each other, and a first sensor detecting an initial value between the nozzle and the substrate by switching on and off the contact type switch.
US08496987B2	Trans fat free plastic composition for bakery products A stable trans fat free emulsifier composition is provided that may have other functional ingredients incorporated to form a base for a flour-based dough preparation to hold the ingredients together. A glyceride emulsifier is heated above its melting point and blended with a non-hydrogenated vegetable oil, or a quantity of glyceride emulsifier is blended with non-hydrogenated vegetable oil and the mixture then heated to a temperature above its melting point. The ratio of emulsifier to vegetable oil is selected to cause the composition, upon cooling, to form a solid plastic mass. The hardness value of the plastic mass is within a range especially applicable to bakery dough applications.
US08496985B2	Puffed pet treat An animal protein-based dog treat has a soft crunch and a stable shelf life without use of an appreciable amount of sodium or chemical preservatives. A method of producing the dog treat entails use of extrusion and heating processes to trap moisture in the interior of the dog treat, and then to expand and evaporate the moisture. This process creates in an internal portion of the dog treat voids or air pockets that provide desired texture and strength characteristics.
US08496980B2	Non-sterile fermentation of bioethanol A range of concentrations exists in which fermentation inhibitors derived from pretreatment of lignocellulosic feed stocks inhibit growth of lactic acid bacteria without affecting fermentive yeast. By optimizing levels of fermentation inhibitors to fall within this range, yeast fermentations of lignocellulosic biomass can be conducted under non-sterile conditions with ethanol yields comparable to those achieved under sterile conditions. Optimised inhibitor levels can be achieved by controlling the water/biomass ratio of a lignocellulosic biomass during and after pretreatment, for example by washing the fiber fraction of a previously pretreated lignocellulosic biomass with a pre-defined amount of fresh water or recycled process solutions. Crude extracts of liquid fraction or process solutions from pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass can also provide an effective anti-bacterial treatment for first generation starch fermentations.
US08496979B1	Caffeine-free dietary supplements for increasing energy and methods of administering the same Disclosed herein are caffeine-free dietary supplements for increasing energy in a subject and methods of administering the same. The method comprises administering to a subject a caffeine-free dietary supplement comprising omega-3 fatty acids, resveratrol, beta-alanine, gamma aminobutyric acid, and valerian root extract product, in amounts such that the supplement is effective for increasing energy and mental focus and relieving stress in the subject.
US08496975B2	Compositions for the treatment and prevention of infections of the oral cavity The present invention relates to compositions comprising benzophenanthridine alkaloids, benzofuran compounds and catechin polyphenols, which are useful in the treatment and prevention of infections of the oral cavity.
US08496972B2	Cleaning, disinfecting and microbicidal compositions A microbicidal disinfecting composition and a method of preparing the same include the use of an acidifying agent that comprises at least one of an alkali metal bisulfate, ammonium bisulfate, or a combination thereof. The composition has broad-spectrum microbicidal properties and does not demonstrate cloudiness or precipitation when prepared, diluted, or otherwise exposed to hard water.
US08496958B2	Compositions and methods for the sustained release of beta-alanine Methods and compositions are provided for increasing the anaerobic working capacity of muscle and other tissues. Also provided are compositions formulated for the sustained release of free beta-alanine. Also provided is a dietary supplement formulated, for example, as a solid food product, an edible suspension, liquid or semi-liquid as described herein.
US08496946B2	Antimicrobial hydrogels, methods of preparation thereof, and articles therefrom A covalently crosslinked hydrogel comprises a) three or more divalent poly(alkylene oxide) chains P′ covalently linked at respective first end units to a branched first core group C′, b) three or more divalent poly(alkylene oxide) chains P″ covalently linked at respective first end units to a branched second core group C″, the chains P″ comprising respective second end units which are covalently linked to between 0% and 100% of respective second end units of chains P′ by divalent linking groups L″, and c) at least one pendant cationic block copolymer chain A′-B′. A′-B′ comprises i) a divalent block A′ comprising a poly(alkylene oxide) backbone chain having an end unit covalently linked to a second end unit of one of the chains P′ by a divalent linking group L′, and ii) a monovalent block B′ comprising a first repeat unit, the first repeat unit comprising a backbone carbonate group and a cationic side chain group.
US08496944B2	Process for the manufacture of powders of inhalable medicaments The invention relates to an improved process for the production of powders of an inhalable medicament by crystallization from a supersaturated fluid containing said medicament, the method comprising passing along a tubular reactor (a) a segmented flow of that fluid comprised of discrete volumes; or (b) a fluid mixture being separated by discrete volumes of a separating fluid which is substantially immiscible with said fluid, characterized in that the crystallization is initiated by application of ultrasound.
US08496941B2	Vectors for generating pluripotent stem cells and methods of producing pluripotent stem cells using the same Stem cell reprogramming genes cloned into a single sustained expression-type Sendai viral vector are shown to reprogram differentiated somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells without integration of vector sequences into the host cell's genome. The genes are transduced into normal differentiated somatic cells via infection with recombinant Sendai virus. After expression of the reprogramming genes and subsequent induction of pluripotency, the vector genome RNA including the reprogramming genes is removed from the cell to establish an iPS cell that is genetically identical to the parent somatic differentiated cell thus reducing the risk of tumorigenic transformation caused by random integration of vector sequences into the host genome. The method promises to provide safe, autologous iPS cells that can be used for human cell replacement and regeneration therapeutic applications.
US08496940B2	Prevention and treatment of sub-clinical PCVD The present invention relates to the use of an immunogenic composition comprising a porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antigen for the prevention and treatment of sub-clinical PCV2 infection in animals, preferably in pigs.
US08496939B2	Injectable water-in-oil emulsions Personal care or cosmetic oil in water emulsions include an oil emulsifier and a combination of a Xanthan polysaccharide and a polyglucomannan polysaccharide to provide enhanced stability even at low emulsifier stabilizer levels. The emulsifier stabilizer system provides stable emulsions without dominating system rheology, particularly viscosity. Thus, the emulsions can have a low viscosity suitable for formulation as milks or thin lotions, or can be thickened, desirably by thickening agents other than the Xanthans and/or polyglucomannan, to provide emulsion creams or gels. This enables the system to be used very flexibly in end use applications. The emulsifier is desirably a non-ionic emulsifier and particularly is a combination of a low HLB and a high HLB emulsifier and can be formulated with conventional alcohol ethoxylate surfactants or from non-EO surfactants e.g. sucrose ester high HLB surfactants and citrate or sorbitan ester low HLB surfactants.
US08496926B2	Treatment for chronic myocardial infarction A method of treating chronic post-myocardial infarction including helical needle transendocardial delivery of autologous bone marrow (ABM) mononuclear cells around regions of hypo or akinesia in chronic post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients. The treatment is safe and improves ejection fraction (EF).
US08496921B2	Consensus interferon variant and methods of suppressing viral activity The invention relates to variants of consensus interferon protein with improved properties, such as improved anti-viral activity, and use thereof The variants are also easier to renature after denaturant treatment. The invention also relates to the preparation method of the variants consensus interferon.
US08496907B2	Procedure for the synthesis of threadlike tungsten oxide W5O14 The object of the invention is the synthesis of threadlike tungsten oxide W5O14, in the presence of nickel at a temperature lower than 1000° C. Represented is a procedure for the synthesis of a highly homogeneous phase of the W5O14 compound from the vapor phase, in the presence of nickel, by means of a chemical transport method in a closed quartz ampoule. As an alternative example, a procedure is represented for the synthesis of the W5O14 compound in a through-flow reaction vessel. Both procedures yield electrically conductive threadlike crystals of the W5O14 compound. The synthesis is performed in vapor phase. Tungsten enters the reaction as a pure phase or via WS2±x, x≈4, previously synthesized from the elements, and/or the source of tungsten may also be tungsten oxides WO3−Y, 0≦y≦1. Nickel may enter the reaction via NiI2, Ni(OH)2 and/or atomic nickel.
US08496905B2	Method for the manufacture of an ammonium sulfate composition The present invention describes a method manufacture of an ammonium sulfate composition having a total organic carbon (TOC) content of 1% by weight or less than 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, comprising the following steps: a) reacting i) waste sulfuric acid comprising an organic tertiary amines with ii) ammonia in an amount sufficient to obtain a pH of 9.5 or higher b) separating the organic tertiary amine from the reaction mixture obtained in step a) wherein during the separation the pH of the reaction mixture is maintained at a pH higher than 10 and c) optionally reducing the content of water and/or other volatile components from the aqueous solution comprising the ammonium sulfate.
US08496904B2	Single-walled carbon nanotube catalysts and method for preparing same An activated catalyst capable of selectively growing single-walled carbon nanotubes when reacted with carbonaceous gas is provided. The activated catalyst is formed by reducing a catalyst that comprises a complex oxide. The complex oxide may be of formula Ax-wFwBy-vGvOz wherein x/y≦2; z/y≦4; 0≦w≦0.3x; 0≦v≦0.3y; A is a Group VIII element; F is an element that is different from A but has, in said composition, the same valence state as A; B is an element different from A and F, and is an element whose simple oxide, in which B is at the same valence state as in the complex oxide, is not reducible in the presence of hydrogen gas at a temperature less than about 900° C.; G is an element different from A, B and F, and is an element whose simple oxide, in which G is at the same valence state as in the complex oxide, is not reducible in the presence of hydrogen gas at a temperature less than about 900° C.; and O is oxygen. The complex oxide is reduced at a temperature less that 950° C. Methods of making, uses for and carbon fibril-containing product made with these activated catalysts are also provided.
US08496892B2	Hydrogenation process for fluorocarbons Disclosed is a process and apparatus for the catalytic hydrogenation of fluoro-olefins to fluorocarbons where the reaction is carried out in a multi-tube shell and tube reactor. Reactions involving hydrogenation of fluoro-olefins are typically exothermic. In commercial processes where a fluoro-olefin CnH2n−xFx to CnH2n−x2Fx is hydrogenated (e.g., hexafluoropropylene to 236ea, 1225ye to 245eb, and the like), inadequate management or control of heat removal may induce excess hydrogenation, decomposition and hot spots resulting in reduced yields and potential safety issues. In the hydrogenation of fluoro-olefins, it is therefore necessary to control the reaction temperature as precisely as practical to overcome challenges associated with heat management and safety.
US08496884B2	Stirring container and analyzer A stirring container in which liquid is contained is used in an analyzer for measuring a property of the liquid. The stirring container includes a recessed portion in which the liquid is held so that a meniscus is formed; and a sound wave generating unit disposed outside of a wall portion forming the recessed portion, and generates surface sound waves for stirring the liquid. The wall portion is configured so that a rising of the meniscus is lower than a rising of the meniscus formed by the liquid held in an assumed container whose cross section in a direction orthogonal to a depth direction of the recessed portion is the same as that of a circumscribed rectangle. The circumscribed rectangle is circumscribed about a portion, made of a same material as a part of the wall portion where the meniscus is formed, where the meniscus is formed in the relevant direction.
US08496883B2	Honeycomb filter A honeycomb filter includes a cell having one open end and another closed end that serves as a fluid flow path and a cell having one closed end and another open end, wherein the cells are alternately disposed. The honeycomb filter includes an undeposited region in an upstream region of a partition portion, which has no trapping layer and has a length of 5% or more and 30% or less of the length of the inlet cell. The upstream region of the partition portion includes an undeposited region having an area of 10% or more of that of the cell in a cross-section perpendicular to the exhaust gas flow direction. The undeposited region with no trapping layer in the upstream region decreases the permeation resistance of the partition portion in the upstream region and facilitates fluid passage through the partition portion in the upstream region.
US08496879B2	Optical detection utilizing cartridge with tunable filter assembly A cartridge and cartridge system for use in an apparatus for analyzing a sample are provided. The system has a plurality of cartridges for different applications for a multimode instrument. The cartridges are removably engaged with a cartridge support in a “plug-in” format such that one cartridge may be removed from the apparatus and another cartridge may be easily installed. The cartridge support includes a plurality of cartridge positions that receive cartridges concurrently. One of the cartridges is a wavelength-tunable cartridge in which different light sources, excitation filters, and/or emission filters may be selected. Tuning is further accomplished by tilting the excitation or emission filters at desired angles relative to a beam of exciting light or emitted light.
US08496873B2	Alloy nanoparticles of SN-CU-AG, preparation method thereof and ink or paste using the alloy nanoparticles The invention relates to Sn—Cu—Ag alloy nanoparticles, preparation method thereof and ink or paste using the alloy nanoparticles in which the alloy nanoparticles are suitable for metal ink having excellent electrical conductivity or solder materials having low calcinating temperature.
US08496865B2	Method to minimize chain scission and monomer generation in processing of poly(L-lactide) stent Methods of fabricating an implantable medical devices such as stents made from biodegradable polymers are disclosed that reduce or minimize chain scission and monomer generation during processing steps. The method includes processing a poly(L-lactide) resin having an number average molecular weight between 150 to 200 kD in an extruder in a molten state. A poly(L-lactide) tube is formed from the processed resin and a stent is fabricated from the tube. The number average molecular weight of the poly(L-lactide) of the stent after sterilization is 70 to 100 kD.
US08496856B2	Compound semiconductors and their application Disclosed are new compound semiconductors which may be used for solar cells or as thermoelectric materials, and their application. The compound semiconductor may be represented by a chemical formula: InxCo4Sb12-n-zQ′nSez, where Q′ is at least one selected from the group consisting of O and S, 0
US08496854B2	Positive temperature coefficient materials with reduced negative temperature coefficient effect Positive temperature coefficient (PTC) compositions having a reduced negative temperature coefficient effect (NTC) are provided that are achieved without crosslinking the thermoplastic base material. The PTC compositions include a thermoplastic base resin, an electrically conductive filler and particles of a polymeric additive dispersed in the PTC composition.
US08496849B2	Liquid crystal aligning agent, liquid crystal alignment film and liquid crystal display device Disclosed is a liquid crystal orientating agent which contains a liquid crystal orientating polyorganosiloxane obtained by reacting a specified reactive polyorganosiloxane typified by the hydrolysis condensate of 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane and a reactive compound which includes a specified compound typified by stearic acid. The liquid crystal orientating agent of this invention can form liquid crystal orientating films which have excellent liquid crystal orientating properties, a high level of heat resistance and light resistance, exhibit little reduction of voltage retention even in high temperature environments and when irradiated with light of high intensity, and excellent residual image characteristics, and it also has excellent storage stability.
US08496838B2	Processes employing movable particles The invention is directed to an industrial process, for instance a process for the separation of compounds from a fluid mixture or a process for cleaning parts of equipment, using movable particles, as well as to said particles per se, which may be used in such processes.
US08496833B2	Leukocyte removal method A method of removing leukocytes that through reducing of clogging of a leukocyte removing filter element by blood cell components and plasma proteins being a problem encountered at the time of removing leukocytes from blood, shortens the filtration time at refrigerated filtration and exhibits high leukocyte removing performance at room temperature filtration. There is provided a method of removing leukocytes including filtering blood containing leukocytes through a leukocyte removing filter apparatus having multiple fibrous filter elements with different average fiber diameters to thereby remove leukocytes from the blood, characterized in that use is made of a leukocyte removing filter apparatus wherein the multiple fibrous filter elements include at least leukocyte removing filter element (A) of 2.0 to <4.0 μm average fiber diameter and leukocyte removing filter element (B) of 0.7 to 1.2 μm average fiber diameter and wherein the filter element (B) is disposed downstream of the filter element (A), the leukocyte removing filter element (B) having an average fiber diameter of >17.5% to <50% of that of the filter element (A).
US08496829B2	Method for reducing fouling in microfiltration systems A process has been found which increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall filtration system, by reducing the fouling of the microfiltration system, thereby increasing its permeability and reducing the frequency of cleanings necessary. According to one embodiment of the invention, cationic coagulant is used to treat water in the early stages of a water treatment system, and to coagulate and flocculate the contaminants, and thereby resulting in reduced fouling of the microfiltration system, resulting in increase flux, less deposit of colloidal and particulate solids and dissolved organics on the surface of the microfiltration membrane, thereby reducing the frequency and duration of the membrane cleaning and ultimate replacement.
US08496820B2	Method and apparatus for forming an homogeneous mixture of chromatography media in a vessel The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming an homogeneous mixture of chromatography media in a vessel. The invention also relates to methods and apparatus for transferring the homogeneous media from the vessel into a second vessel in preparation for packing a chromatography column. The invention can also be used directly to pack the column with homogeneous media.
US08496816B2	Modular fuel filter assembly A fuel heater module and a water-in-fuel sensor module are disclosed that are configured to be connected to an outside surface of a filter assembly. The fuel heater module includes an inlet port and an outlet port with a heating element positioned in the fluid path between the inlet and outlet. A thermostat is included for controlling operation of the heating element. The water-in-fuel sensor module is configured to detect water in the filter housing that it may be drained from the filter housing. Both modules are configured to be attached to an outside surface of the filter housing thereby being readily replaceable.
US08496807B2	Hemodialysis apparatus and method for hemodialysis A hemodialysis apparatus includes a dialysis device, a detecting device, an evaluation device and a memory device. The dialysis device dialyzes and ultrafiltrates blood of a patient according to an ultrafiltration volume based on an estimated dry weight while performing hemodialysis treatment on the blood circulating extracorporeally. The detecting device obtains time series data by measuring a parameter related to concentration of the blood circulating extracorporeally at a plurality of points in time series in a process of the hemodialysis treatment by the dialysis device. The evaluation device evaluates appropriateness of the hemodialysis treatment by evaluating whether the estimated dry weight approximates to a dry weight after the hemodialysis treatment by the dialysis device. The memory device stores a plurality of time series data when the hemodialysis treatment is evaluated to be appropriate by the evaluation device.
US08496803B2	Process for treating a hydrocarbon-containing feed A process for treating a hydrocarbon-containing feed is provided in which a hydrocarbon-containing feed comprising at least 20 wt. % of heavy hydrocarbons is mixed with hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and a catalyst to produce a hydrocarbon-containing product. The catalyst is comprised of a tetrathiometallate material comprised of a first metal and a second metal, where the first metal is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Fe, Ni, Co, Bi, Ag, Mn, Zn, Sn, Ru, La, Pr, Sm, Eu, Yb, Lu, Dy, Pb, and Sb and the second metal is Mo, W, V, Sn, and Sb.
US08496801B2	Method and system for checking an electromechanical biosensor A method of operating a meter for determining the concentration of an analyte in a current sample and for self-detecting electrical connection errors like short or open circuit between the electrodes of a biosensor. The method includes providing a connector with a plurality of contacts and coupling each of the plurality of contacts to one of a plurality of electrical leads on a biosensor, such that each of the plurality of connector contacts electrically contacts a corresponding one of the plurality of electrical leads. The meter obtains a first measurement between a pair of the plurality of connector contacts prior to the fluid sample being applied. The meter also obtains a second measurement between the pair of the plurality of connector contacts after the fluid sample is applied. In response to either the first or the second measurements being outside a predetermined range, a fault is indicated.
US08496799B2	Systems and methods for in situ annealing of electro- and electroless platings during deposition Systems and methods for in-situ annealing of metal layers as they are being plated on a substrate by action of a chemical solution are provided. The in-situ annealing, in conjunction with controlled slow growth rates, allows control of the structure of the plated metal layers. The systems and methods are used for maskless plating of the substrates.
US08496798B2	Reversible current gel electrophoresis device for separating biological macromolecules Cassette bodies for use with electrophoresis apparatus can be formed of a single piece of molded or machined plastic. Such cassette bodies can include a plurality of channels that pass through the cassette body, from a proximal end to a distal end. Such channels can be defined by upper and lower chambers. The upper chambers can be in fluid communication with a first buffer pool through a semi-permeable membrane, and the lower chambers can be in fluid communication with a second buffer pool. An electric current can be passed through the first and second buffer pools, and then reversed, to perform an electrophoresis operation that can separate a biomolecule of interest from free probes, and provide for convenient collection of said biomolecule of interest.
US08496788B2	Method and device for producing and storing energy A method and a device for producing and storing electrical energy using iron complexes, using an iron +III molecular complex as well as a photoreduced iron +II complex, both complexed chemically by a ligand of the benzoic hydrazide type.
US08496784B2	Process for making a stiffened paper A process for making a stiffened and rigid paper includes preparing a pulp slurry consisting essentially of water, a cellulosic pulp, a crosslinker, and a starch, and optionally a binder; draining the liquid from the pulp slurry to form a web; and drying the web. Alternatively, a process for making a stiffened and rigid paper includes the step of adding at least one crosslinker at one or more locations, such as at the wet-end, dry-end, or at both ends of the papermaking process. Suitable crosslinkers include a glyoxal-containing crosslinker, a gluteraldehyde, a polyfunctional aziridine, a zirconium-containing crosslinker, a titanium-containing crosslinker, and an epichlorohydrin, and mixtures thereof. When a binder is employed, it can be added either in the dry or wet form. Provided is a neutral or alkaline process to produce a paper product having the improved mechanical properties of a laminated product in the Z-direction, without a lamination step.
US08496780B2	Apparatus for the deposition of high dielectric constant films An integrated deposition system is described that is capable of vaporizing low vapor pressure liquid precursors and conveying the vapor to a processing region to fabricate advanced integrated circuits. The integrated deposition system includes a heated exhaust system, a remote plasma generator, a processing chamber, a liquid delivery system, and a computer control module that together create a commercially viable and production worthy system for depositing high capacity dielectric materials from low vapor pressure precursors.
US08496779B2	Sheet goods having a large repeat length and tile with numerous patterns Sheet goods having extremely long repeat lengths and tiles having a large number of different visual patterns are formed by printing two different print patterns having different repeat lengths. The two different print patterns are printed on two films that are laminated together, or on a substrate, or one print pattern on a substrate and one print pattern on a transparent or translucent film that is laminated to the printed substrate.
US08496777B2	Multi-layer decorating element and method of its manufacture A method for producing a multi-layer decorating element includes the steps of: (a) providing a base, a first plate, a second plate and a fixing layer; (b) stacking the first and second plates onto one of the base and the fixing layer; (c) stacking the other of the base and the fixing layer onto one of the base and the fixing layer to form a stacked array; (d) hot pressing the stacked array; and (e) removing the fixing layer.
US08496776B2	Letterpress application of elastomeric compositions The invention provides a process to deliver an elastomeric composition to a substrate. The elastomeric composition is cooled. The cooling also results in substantially complete transfer of the elastomeric composition from the pattern roll to the substrate with a resulting reduction in elastomer degradation.
US08496770B2	Method of manufacturing multilayer ceramic substrates In a method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic substrate, first and second sheet stacks are formed by pressurizing a plurality of unsintered ceramic sheets, respectively. A hole is formed to penetrate through the second sheet stack. A third preliminary sheet stack is formed by positioning the second sheet stack on the first sheet stack. First and second thin films are formed at top and bottom of the third preliminary sheet stack, respectively. A third sheet stack is formed by pressurizing the first and the second thin films and the third preliminary sheet stack. The first and the second thin films are removed from the third sheet stack, thereby forming a preliminary multilayer ceramic substrate. The preliminary multilayer ceramic substrate is sintered. Accordingly, the reliability and stability of the manufacturing process for the multilayer ceramic substrate is sufficiently improved with reduced cost due to the flat molds and thin films.
US08496766B1	Gas generant with auto-ignition function Gas generating compositions include a primary fuel selected from aminotetrazoles and heterocyclic amines; a carbonyl donor selected from formaldehyde, formamide, or an ammonium formate; and a basic constituent selected from alkali and alkaline earth metal aminotetrazoles, hydantoin and basic derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof. Gas generators and vehicle occupant protection systems incorporating the present compositions are also described.
US08496746B2	Ink composition and ink jet recording method using the same An ink composition includes: water, a compound represented by the following general formula (1) or a salt thereof, and a compound represented by the following general formula (21) or a salt thereof. (in the formula (1), n represents 0 or 1, each of R1, R2, R3, and R4 represents a substituent, Group A represents a substituted heterocyclic group represented by the following general formula (2) or (3): in the formula (2), R5 represents a substituent. in the formula (3), each of R6, R7, and R8 represents a substituent, and Group B has a substituted phenyl group or naphthyl group). (in the formula (21), each of R21, R22, R23, R24, R25, R26, R27, and R28 represents a substituent, and X represents a divalent crosslinking group).
US08496742B2	Wet flue-gas desulfurization equipment In an absorbing tower including an absorption unit of relatively small diameter capable of absorption and removal by an absorbent slurry for exhaust gas purification and a tank unit of relatively large diameter for temporarily storing the absorbent slurry flowing down from the absorption unit, the tank unit and the absorption unit are joined together by a conical member. By disposing an entrance flue at the conical member, a distance from an upper portion of the conical member to a spray header is shortened, and a height of the absorbing tower can be reduced accordingly. By extending a front end of the entrance flue to the absorption unit into which droplets of the absorbent slurry fall, a high-temperature exhaust gas from a boiler, etc., that has passed through the entrance flue, is made to pass through a circumference of the conical member so that an inexpensive material can be used in the conical member.
US08496733B2	Large scale pressure swing adsorption systems having process cycles operating in normal and turndown modes The present invention relates to large scale pressure swing adsorption systems (i.e., ranging from twelve to sixteen beds) utilizing new and advanced cycles to obtain enhanced hydrogen recovery from a hydrogen containing feed gas (i.e., synthesis gas).
US08496729B2	Process gas purification device for a melt reduction system for extracting pig iron Process gas purification device (2) for a melt reduction system (1) comprising at least one reduction reactor (3) and a melting gasification reactor (4), a first line system (5) for discharging a furnace gas (6) from the reduction reactor (3) and a second line system (7) for discharging a generator gas (8) from the melting gasification reactor (4) wherein both line systems (5,7) lead to a respective wet scrubbing system (11, 12). The furnace gas or generator gas flow can be throttled preferably by way of a control element (41) that varies a control gap (40) and the scrubber or cooling liquid (49) can be collected and drained. The first wet scrubber system (11) of the first line system (5) for routing the furnace gas (6) and the second Venturi scrubber system (12) of the second line system (7) for routing the generator gas (8) both discharge into a common mist elimination device (14).
US08496728B2	Metallurgical process and plant therefor A process for the production and/or treatment of at least one metal in a reactor includes discharging a waste gas stream via a waste gas conduit and after-treating the waste gas stream by supplying a cooling gas and/or a cooling gas mixture. The after-treating includes injecting the cooling gas and/or cooling gas mixture into the waste gas conduit on a side of the waste gas conduit facing the reactor, at a high velocity and substantially tangentially with respect to a main flow direction of the waste gas. A volume of the cooling gas and/or the cooling gas mixture injected into the waste gas conduit is adjusted so as to reduce a mixing temperature below a melting temperature of the molten particles and/or a condensation temperature of the vaporous constituents of the waste gas stream.
US08496718B2	Silicon nitride cutting tool A silicon nitride cutting tool comprising a sintered product is disclosed. The sintered product comprises silicon nitride, at least one rare earth element compound, and a magnesium compound. The silicon nitride cutting tool further comprises a surface region and an inside region comprising the sintered product with varying content ratios of component compounds to provide enhanced wear and fracture resistance.
US08496717B2	Actively cooled fuel processor A fuel processor for producing a hydrogen-containing product stream from a fuel stream and an oxidant stream is actively-cooled by a gaseous or liquid coolant which is directed to flow in contact with at least a portion of the outer shell of the fuel processor. Active cooling can improve the operating characteristics of the fuel processor as well as allowing for the use of compact fuel processor designs that would otherwise tend to have insufficient heat loss capability.
US08496714B2	Base material for revascularization The present invention aims to provide a material for revascularization which enables the regeneration of a blood vessel at an extremely high efficiency by being transplanted into a defect of the blood vessel.The present invention provides a tubular material for revascularization comprising a foamed body comprising a bioabsorbable material, a reinforcing member comprising a bioabsorbable material for reinforcing the foamed body, and a reinforcing yarn comprising a bioabsorbable material for reinforcing the foamed body, wherein the reinforcing yarn and the reinforcing member are located at the center or outer face of the foamed body, the inner face thereof is the foamed body, the reinforcing yarn is wound around in a spiral-shaped, ring-shaped or X-shaped manner, and the reinforcing yarn comprises a glycolide-ε-caprolactone copolymer.
US08496711B2	Knee arthrodesis implant A knee arthrodesis implant has a femur nail inserted in the bone marrow canal of the femur, and a tibia nail inserted in the bone marrow canal of the tibia, the nails being rigidly connected to each other by a connecting means. The problem of providing a knee arthrodesis implant having increased modularity as the result of increased length variability, having a reduced number of parts, and allowing simplified modification is addressed. The problem is addressed in that the connecting means has at least one collar-like module lying in the axis direction defined by the nail, the module having at least two half-shells which are connected to each other in a detachable manner and which are separated in the axis direction (LA) of the module, said half-shells together forming a passage which extends axially and through which a nail neck is inserted, and which have recesses corresponding to each other for receiving a tensioning means, said recesses being arranged coaxially in the longitudinal direction of the module and positioned perpendicular to the axis (LA). The tensioning means fixes the respective nail neck in the passage when in the tensioned state in the manner of a clamping jaw, exclusively by means of a friction fit producing a sufficient clamping torque to prevent axial displacement and rotation.
US08496710B2	Interbody spinal implant having a roughened surface topography An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture. The single vertical aperture extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, has a size and shape predetermined to maximize the surface area of the top surface and the bottom surface available proximate the anterior and posterior portions while maximizing both radiographic visualization and access to the substantially hollow center, and defines a transverse rim. The body may be non-metallic and may form one component of a composite implant; the other component is a metal plate disposed on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the body.
US08496690B2	Orthopaedic surgical components A bone plate system for the internal fixation of a fractured bone of a patient has a bone plate with one or more threaded bone fastener apertures and one or more non-threaded bone fastener apertures. The system also has a plurality of bone fasteners, each with a shaft and a head. The heads are dimensioned and configured to threadedly engage the threaded bone fastener apertures to provide a fixed angle locking construct. The heads also are dimensioned and configured to directly engage the non-threaded bone fastener apertures to provide a polyaxial non-locking compressive construct.
US08496687B2	Crossbar spinal prosthesis having a modular design and related implantation methods Modular spinal prosthesis having one of both of adaptable and configurable components are provided. The modular spinal prosthesis described herein provide an artificial articular configuration to replace damaged, worn or otherwise removed spinal facet elements.
US08496673B2	Clip advancer with lockout mechanism A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided and can include a housing having a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The clip applier can include an advancer assembly disposed within the elongate shaft and configured to advance one of a plurality of clips disposed within the elongate shaft into the opposed jaws. A feeder shoe can be disposed within the elongate shaft and can be configured to engage and prevent the advancer assembly from moving to a proximal position after the advancer assembly has moved to a distal position to advance a proximal-most clip into the opposed jaws. This can indicate to a user that a clip supply of the surgical clip applier is depleted.
US08496671B1	Mitral valve treatment An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a guide catheter including a clip channel, at least one hook channel, and at least one sling channel defined therein; a clip applier movable within the clip channel, wherein the clip applier holds at least one clip; at least one hook movable within a corresponding hook channel; and at least one sling movable within a corresponding sling channel. An exemplary surgical method for treating a mitral valve may include providing a guide catheter; a clip applier held by the guide catheter, and a clip held by the clip applier; introducing the distal end of the guide catheter into the left atrium; engaging the anterior and posterior leaflets of the mitral valve with the clip; closing the clip; and disengaging the clip applier from the clip, whereby the clip remains in the mitral valve. Another exemplary surgical method for treating a valve may include providing a guide catheter; a clip applier held by the guide catheter, and at least one clip held by the clip applier; advancing the guide catheter into proximity to the valve; and applying at least one clip substantially in the middle of the valve to create two orifices, one on each side of the clip.
US08496668B2	Combined umbilical cord cutter, clamp, and disinfectant Provided is a combined umbilical cord clamp, cutter, disinfectant, and data collecting system which reduces the risk of cord infections due to unsanitary birth conditions. Also provided is an identification system which aids in the collection of birth statistics.
US08496663B2	Surgical templates A surgical template system for use in working on a bone comprises: a tool guide block comprising at least one guide aperture for receiving and guiding a tool to work on a bone; locating means comprising a plurality of locating members, each member having a respective end surface for positioning against a surface of the bone; and attachment means for non-adjustably attaching the tool guide block to the locating means such that, when attached, the member end surfaces are secured in fixed position with, respect to each other, for engaging different respective portions of the surface of the bone, and the at least one guide aperture is secured in a fixed position with respect to the end surfaces. Corresponding methods of manufacturing a surgical template system, methods of manufacturing locating means for a surgical template system, methods of fitting a prosthesis to a bone, surgical methods, and surgical apparatus are described.
US08496659B2	Minimally invasive implant and crimping system A device for treating a bone comprises a cable block including a first lumen extending from a first proximal opening in a proximal face of the cable block to a first distal opening in a distal face thereof, the first lumen being configured to receive a cerclage cable including an enlarged end. The cable block further includes a second lumen extending from a second proximal opening in the proximal face to a second distal opening in the distal face and being configured to receive a portion of the cable extending from the enlarged end while preventing the enlarged end from passing therethrough. The cable block includes a slot connecting distal portions of the first and second lumens and being at least as large as the second lumen in combination with a crimpable locking member including a channel configured to receive the portion of the cable extending from the enlarged end.
US08496657B2	Methods for utilizing vibratory energy to weld, stake and/or remove implants Vibratory energy is applied using a horn applied to the fastener, and tuned to generate vibratory motion proximate the horn, or at a point distal to the horn, for example at a point along the fastener body, or at the end of the fastener. Melted or softened material of the fastener bonds to a contacting surface, which may be body tissue or another implant. The contacting surface may also include bondable material, softenable or meltable through vibratory energy derived from contact with the fastener. To improve a bond, particularly where dissimilar materials are to be bonded, one or more contacting surfaces is provided with a roughened or porous surface, or a surface including one or more cavities or projections into or onto which softened or melted bondable material may form, bonding once the bondable material has cooled.
US08496655B2	System and method for resecting a valve A system and method for resecting a valve in a patient, in which the system includes: a proximal frame and a distal frame opposite the proximal frame, each frame including a plurality of interconnectable frame segments, in which the proximal and distal frames are separated by an adjustable distance and positionable on opposite sides of the valve; an electrode, adjacent to the valve on at least one of the proximal and distal frames, that electrosurgically resects valve tissue; a proximal chamber and a distal chamber coupled to the proximal and distal frames, respectively, that allow passage of fluid and captures at least a portion of resected valve tissue, in which each chamber selectively operates in one of a radially collapsed mode and a radially expanded mode; and a drive system that adjusts the distance between the proximal and distal frames.
US08496649B2	Retinal rejuvenation laser A laser treatment device for use in retinal regeneration. The laser treatment device includes a laser module that delivers a pulse or sequence of pulses having a pulse duration in the range of 50 ps to 500 ns, a wavelength in the range 500 nm to 900 nm, and a pulse energy in the range 100 μJ to 10 mJ. The laser treatment device also includes a uniform irradiance module that modifies an output beam profile of the laser module to produce a uniform treatment effect and a beam delivery and viewing module that delivers the laser pulse or pulses to the retina with a radiant exposure in the range of 8 mJ/cm2 to 8000 mJ/cm2 per pulse.
US08496648B2	Stiffening assembly A stiffenable structure is made of longitudinal beams that are positioned around a longitudinal axis. In one state, the longitudinal beams are bendable so that the structure is bendable. As the structure bends, the longitudinal beams slide longitudinally with reference to one another. In a second state, the beams are clamped in a fixed position relative to one another so that the structure is stiffened. In some aspects the longitudinal beams are made of two or more longitudinal laminar elements. As each beam bends, the laminar elements slide longitudinally with reference to one another. Each beam, and accordingly the structure, is stiffened by preventing the laminar elements from sliding longitudinally relative to one another.
US08496644B2	Drainage catheter tip shape configuration A percutaneous catheter includes a longitudinal catheter shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a hollow portion, and a wall portion, a wire embedded within said wall portion at said distal end wherein said wire forms a pigtail curve when in a relaxed state, and a stylet capable of entering said hollow portion of said longitudinal catheter at said proximal end wherein said stylet substantially straightens said longitudinal catheter at said distal end.
US08496642B2	Device and method for fabricating cellularized implants with a predetermined architecture at the point of care In some embodiments, a method of repairing damaged tissue may include an implant system and method for preparing and using the implant. In some embodiments, a method of repairing damaged tissue may include injecting a first portion of biological material through a first opening in fluid communication with a first end of at least two first channels. In some embodiments, the method may include injecting a second portion of biological material through a third opening in fluid communication with a first end of a sheath. At least a portion of the first channels may be positionable in at least a portion of the sheath. The method may include coupling at least a portion of the sheath and/or at least a portion of at least one of the first channels to at least a portion of a damaged tissue in a human.
US08496638B2	Absorbent articles having a waist region and corresponding fasteners that have matching stretch properties Absorbent articles with carefully controlled stretch properties are disclosed. In particular, the absorbent articles have a waistband that encompasses a pair of opposing side panels and a waist region of the article. The side panels are attached to longitudinal edges of a chassis and are configured to extend around a person's waist. The side panels are attached to fastening devices for fastening the absorbent article to a wearer. In accordance with the present invention, the side panels and the waist region are both elastic. In order to improve fit and comfort, the stretch properties of the side panels are matched with the stretch properties of the waist region. For example, elongation of the side panels can be matched to elongation of the waist region or, alternatively, displacement of the side panels can be matched to the displacement of the waist region for a given range of forces.
US08496631B2	Apparatus and method for increasing flow resistance around a probe An apparatus is provided for decreasing or eliminating flow of fluid between a probe and an incision during surgical procedures. The apparatus may comprise a deformable layer on the probe. The deformable layer may be comprised of a polymer foam, which may be covered with a surface layer. In another embodiment, baffles on a base layer are provided. The deformable layer or baffles may be on a slidable base surrounding the probe.
US08496630B2	Transendoscopic medical instrument There is provided a transendoscopic medical instrument which can insert, remove and latch a plurality of medical items including a flexible guide unit with respect to a transendoscopic sheath which is selectively inserted into a body cavity such as a bronchial branch.
US08496624B2	Blunt cannula with non-circular proximal portion for accessing a slit septum oriented to the cannula A blunt cannula includes a distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portion has a non-circular, such as oval, cross-section. A slit septum of a medical site is oriented to receive the proximal portion of the blunt cannula.
US08496618B2	Activity guard The fluid infusion system is disclosed that includes a pump housing that has a reservoir cavity and is designed to be pocketable. The reservoir cavity has a rim and helical coupling features formed on an interior face of the reservoir cavity. The fluid infusion system further has a reservoir that is removable from the reservoir cavity and the reservoir also has an open end. A removable cap coupled to the pump housing is also included in the fluid infusion system. The cap has corresponding coupling features, an exterior surface and a tab. The corresponding coupling features are defined to couple the cap to the pump housing while the tab is defined as a ridge that extends away from the exterior surface. The tab further has a port to accommodate fluid flow from the reservoir where the port defines and axis of rotation such that torque applied to the tab about the axis of rotation disengages the coupling between the cap and the pump housing. Further included in the infusion system is a guard that is removably coupled to the pump housing. The guard has a slot defined to immobilize rotation of the tab about the axis of rotation.
US08496617B2	Balloon inflation device The balloon inflation device comprises a syringe (2) having a syringe barrel (4) and a syringe piston (6) slidably and rotatably movable. The piston (6) has an exterior threading. The syringe barrel also comprises a retractable mechanism (30) for retaining the piston (6) in the syringe barrel, which mechanism (30) is switchable between a retracted state in which the piston (6) is free to slide in the syringe barrel and an active state in which the free sliding of the piston (6) is impossible and in which the piston (6) can be screwed or unscrewed.The device comprises a pressure gauge (104) for measuring the output pressure of the syringe barrel (4).The pressure gauge (104) is mounted angularly movable with respect to the syringe barrel (4) and around the axis of the syringe barrel (4).
US08496609B2	Fluid delivery system with spiked cassette A fluid dispensing machine, such as a peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis machine, includes a dispenser or cassette that pumps a medical fluid for dialysis or other treatments for patients. The machine includes and uses an autoconnect device for connecting containers of liquid, such as bags of dialysis fluid or medication fluids, to the machine, while maintaining the sterility of the connection. The autoconnect device removes the cap from the fluid bag and pierces a sealing membrane on tubing from the bag. This makes it easier for patients to receive treatment, especially home treatment. The cassettes preferably have tubing ports with integral spikes for piercing the membrane on tubing from bags of liquids. The ports may be staggered for sequential engagement with the spikes. Other embodiments are useful for dispensing other liquids from other types of dispensing or pumping machines.
US08496597B2	Method of detecting and predicting ovulation and the period of fertility A method of providing information relating to the fertility of a female mammal comprising the steps of: (i) taking multiple temperature readings from the female mammal during an extended period; (ii) identifying and disregarding temperature readings having one or more characteristics of irrelevant or faulty data; (iii) obtaining one or several representative temperature values for the extended period; (iv) repeating steps (i) to (iii) over multiple extended periods; (v) analyzing the representative temperature values obtained over multiple extended periods for one or more patterns in the representative temperature values indicative or predictive of ovulation in order to provide information relating to the fertility of the female mammal to a user, wherein the representative temperature values are not the maximum or minimum temperature readings obtained for the extended period; and related uses and apparatus.
US08496595B2	Method and device for measuring the pulse by means of light waves with two wavelengths System and method to determine the heartbeat of a person by a pulse measuring device. Light waves are generated in the direction of the skin by two light sources with a first wavelength (λ1) which is sensitive to the pulse beat and movement of the person, and with a different second wavelength (λ2) which is sensitive to movement, wherein a photodetector detects the reflected light waves. A pulse is determined based on calculation made of at least one non-coherent power spectrum on the basis of a spectral coherence function γ which takes into account the dependence between the measurement signals relating to the first wavelength and to the second wavelength by the formula SNC=(1−γ2)*SAA, where SAA is the average Fourier power spectrum of the signals relating to the first wavelength, and where γ2 is between 0 and 1.
US08496584B2	Machine for rapid identification of infections and/or risk situations related to gastroduodenal pathologies A machine for performing a method for immediate identification and rapid comparative assessment of indicators of the presence of infections and/or risk situations related to gastroduodenal pathologies, characterized in that it comprises a measurement unit that is constituted by a container supplied by means for aspirating gastric juices in which an agitator of the mixture of gastric juice, reagents and water operates, and at least one probe for sensing the values of the analysis, a hydraulic section that comprises a set of tanks for the reagents required for the analysis and for the water, which are connected to respective apparatuses for feeding said measurement unit and to a pump for feeding water into the stomach of the patient, an apparatus for controlling the temperature of said container, and an electrical section, which comprises a programmable control unit for actuating and controlling said feeder apparatuses and said measurement unit and is suitable to determine the test execution methods.
US08496583B1	Pupil dilation system A pupil dilation system including a generally circular deformable and discontinuous ring member is provided. The ring member expands circumferentially and applies an expansile force substantially uniformly around a pupillary margin of a pupil for dilating the pupil along an entirety of a circumference of the ring member. The ring member in an uncoiled configuration allows insertion of the ring member through a single incision in the eye and unfolds into a coiled configuration. A circumferential groove defined on an outer surface of the ring member allows continuous contact with the pupillary margin along the circumference of the ring member. One or more connector members are positioned on the circumference of the ring member for engaging with a surgical manipulating element that allows movement and manipulation of the ring member. The ring member is composed of a thermoplastic material or a bioabsorbable material that naturally dissolves within the eye.
US08496576B2	In-vivo information acquiring system and method for controlling in-vivo information acquiring system A capsule endoscope system provided with a magnetic field generating apparatus including an input section for inputting identification information A and a magnetic field generating section that generates a magnetic field signal that controls a capsule endoscope, and the capsule endoscope including an in-vivo information acquiring section, a battery, a magnetic field receiving section, a storage section that stores identification information B, a control section and a comparing section that compares the identification information A with the identification information B and judges whether both pieces of information are the same or different, wherein when the judgment by the comparing section is a judgment that both pieces of information are the same, the control section supplies or shuts off power from the battery to the in-vivo information acquiring section.
US08496574B2	Selectively positionable camera for surgical guide tube assembly A selectively positionable camera assembly for use in connection with a guide tube assembly that has a guide tube handle portion and at least one guide tube protruding therefrom. In various embodiments, the camera includes an elongated flexible camera portion that is sized to operably extend through at least one of the guide tubes of the guide tube assembly. A camera handle is operably coupled to the elongated flexible camera portion such that the handle is movably supported by at least a portion of the guide tube handle portion. At least one retainer is provided on the guide tube handle and/or the camera handle for releasably retaining the camera handle in any one of a plurality of orientations relative to the portion of the guide tube handle.
US08496569B2	Manufacturing machine for producing combination cigarette filters A manufacturing machine includes a group-forming unit for forming filter portion groups, each group having at least two different filter portions aligned axially and contacting at the ends; a winding unit that receives a succession of groups from the group-forming unit, winds a strip of wrapping material about the groups to form a continuous filter rod, and cuts combination filters off the rod by cyclically cutting the rod transversely; and a transfer unit that transfers the groups from the group-forming unit, in which the groups travel transversely, to the winding unit, in which the groups travel axially. The transfer unit has at least one spider that feeds the groups successively into a forming beam of the winding unit, and at least one release drum that releases the groups successively to the spider. The release drum is mounted to move between a work position and a maintenance position.
US08496565B2	Method and apparatus for increasing grip strength In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a method of increasing grip strength, includes gripping with one hand a weighted block having first and second side gripping surfaces such that the fingers and the thumb of the hand are disposed on the first and second side gripping surfaces, respectively, the fingers and the thumb extending substantially straight along the first and second side surfaces, respectively, and holding the weighted block such that an arm connected to the hand is extended substantially straight along a side of a user and the fingers and thumb are disposed substantially parallel to the side of the user. The weighted block has a width of about 1.75 inches to 3 inches.
US08496553B2	Power transmission system for use in vehicle The power transmission system for use in a vehicle includes a power split device to perform power distribution among a flywheel for storing rotational energy as mechanical energy, an internal combustion engine and an electric rotating machine. The power transmission system is provided with an interrupting device configured to interrupt power transmission between a group of the flywheel and the electric rotating machine and a group of the internal combustion engine and drive wheels of the vehicle when rotational energy stored in the flywheel is transmitted to the electric rotating machine through the power split device under condition that power is transmitted between the internal combustion engine and the drive wheels.
US08496552B2	Angled spoke pulley design An idler pulley is described for a front end accessory drive. The idler pulley includes plurality of angled spokes, such as angled ribs molded into the pulley to join an outer hub and an outermost belt interacting region. As the belt runs over the surface of the pulley, any defects on the belt running surface of the pulley due to shrinkage and fill are now angled, and angling of the defects reduces direct impact with the belt and therefore reduces the structureborne noise produced by operation of the belt and the pulley.
US08496530B2	Hand held tablet communicating with gaming machine The present invention is a small tablet that wirelessly communicates with a stationary gaming machine. The player makes bets using the tablet. The gaming machine, and not the tablet, determines the outcome of the game and transmits the award information to the tablet. The gaming machine may be an ordinary slot machine displaying random symbols in an array or displaying another game. The player using the tablet views the display on the gaming machine to see the outcome of a game, so the tablet does not need a large display to play a game. The player who operates the gaming machine bets independently from the player using the tablet. In another embodiment, the gaming machine is operated automatically, and multiple players with tablets independently bet on a common game.
US08496527B2	Capacitive input for computer program A capacitive input apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus includes a mat and a probe. The mat has a dielectric layer sandwiched between a common conductive layer and a patterned conductive layer having a grid pattern containing plural conductive regions. Each conductive region is selectively coupled to a corresponding capacitance sensor that is responsive to a signal capacitively coupled to a corresponding one of the conductive regions. The probe can be worn on a user's feet and can change a capacitive coupling of the signal. A degree of the change of the signal varies with a degree of proximity of the probe to the corresponding one of the conductive regions. In the method, a capacitive coupling of the signal can be changed with the probe. Measurements collected from the capacitance sensor can provide input to a computer program based on values of one or more measurements.
US08496524B2	Methods of enhanced interaction and play for community-based bonusing on gaming machines A plurality of gaming machines is linked, such as via a local bank controller. The gaming machines present base wagering games and, at one or more times, a community bonus event or game involving multiple of the linked gaming machines and their associated players. The community bonus comprises an event or game where awards, information, attributes and/or other features may be exchanged between players, thus fostering interaction/camaraderie between the players. Such features may be exchanged as part of cooperation or competition between players. Player may share in community bonus awards.
US08496517B2	Number guessing game One example embodiment includes a method of playing a game. The method includes providing a first player and a second player with a sum of money. Each sum of money is within predetermined minimum and maximum thresholds. The sum of money provided to the first player is the first player's current balance. The sum of money provided to the second player is the second player's current balance. The method also includes allowing the first player to guess the second player's current balance and adjusting the first player's balance based on the first player's guess. Adjusting the first player's balance can be based on whether the first player's guess is too high or too low relative to the second player's current balance.
US08496516B2	Game device, tempo announcement method, information recording medium and program A game device (200) that evaluates an operation of a player that is performed in step with music sounds comprises a music storage unit (201), tempo information acquisition unit (241), and tempo announcement unit (202), and is configured as follows. The music storage unit (201) stores music that is to be played. The tempo information acquisition unit (241) acquires tempo information for the music. The tempo announcement unit (202), based on the acquired tempo information, announces a tempo of the music before the music is played.
US08496515B2	Apparatus to protect a radon fan from mechanical failure due to damage from falling objects from within the radon mitigation system This apparatus protects a radon fan from damage due to falling water, ice, birds and animals and debris and is installed above the radon fan and protects the fan in several ways.It is installed just above the radon fan, thus taking advantage of warm “Earth Temperature” air to reduce ice build-up. Its screen replaces the birds and animals screen often installed at the top of the exhaust pipe where ice is formed. The screen additionally prevents ice and debris from falling into the fan.The water bypass catches back-flowing water and directs it around the fan. The access port serves as an opening for testing, observations and cleaning of any debris that is collected by the screen and the access port is sealed with a removable plug.This apparatus protects and extends the life of a radon fan and is made part of the radon mitigation system.
US08496513B2	Device and method for scalding different parts of a poultry carcass with varying intensities The present invention relates to a device for scalding poultry carcasses comprising a plumage, comprising: a processing space with transport means in the form of a transport path for poultry carcasses; a feed of scalding medium; dispensing means for the scalding medium provided with outlet openings, wherein the scalding medium leaving the outlet openings co-displaces with the poultry carcasses moving along the transport path. The present invention also relates to an improved method for scalding poultry.
US08496489B2	Connector A force multiplying member (30) is mounted rotatably on supports of a first housing (10) and is guided slidably relative to the first housing (10). In a connecting process of the two housings (10, 20), the force multiplying member (30) successively performs a rotational movement that displays a force multiplying action by causing tracks (39) for rotational movement and cam followers (23) to slide and a sliding movement that displays a force multiplying action by causing tracks (40) for sliding movement and the cam followers (23) to slide.
US08496487B2	Electronic device with memory card connector An electronic device includes a housing, a card reader, and a cover. The housing includes a slot and two protrusions defined on the inner wall of the housing. The cover includes a body and two connection ends. The body is for covering the slot. The connection ends extend from the body. Each of the two connection ends includes a sliding slot which receives one of the two protrusions respectively to guide the two connection ends to slide. When the cover covers the card which contains a memory card therein, the cover is operable to be pressed to eject the memory card. When the memory card is ejected, it push the body of the cover to cause the two connection ends to slide along the two protrusions to make the body of the cover uncover the slot and rotate to expose the memory card.
US08496481B2	Teaching and training head model for haircutting and hairdressing A teaching and training head model for haircutting and hairdressing includes a soft and flexible synthetic resin casing, a shape keeping arrangement mounted in the casing to keep the shape of the casing and a support stand for supporting the shape keeping arrangement. The support stand includes: a base board; and a guiding bar, a pushing cylinder for lifting plates and a pressing cylinder which are centered about the center of the base board and sequentially positioned on the base board from inside to outside. A fixing ring for fixing the casing is provided at the periphery of the pressing cylinder. The shape keeping arrangement includes components fitted with the support stand and umbrella-shaped supporting components for supporting the casing. The shape keeping arrangement has a simple structure, and it will expand to keep the shape of the casing when the shape keeping arrangement mounted in the casing is inserted into the supporting stand. The shape keeping arrangement is simple to assemble.
US08496474B2	Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
US08496472B2	Process for combustion of high viscosity low heating value liquid fuels The present invention is directed to a process for the clean and convenient combustion of high viscosity liquid fuels, such as glycerol, as well as an apparatus useful for carrying such processes. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a process for glycerol combustion comprising providing a combustion apparatus with a glycerol combustion chamber that facilitates reflective heating, pre-heating the glycerol combustion chamber, atomizing the reduced viscosity glycerol, and combining the atomized glycerol with air in the glycerol combustion chamber to thereby completely combust the glycerol. In one embodiment, such as when using a pressure-atomizing nozzle, the inventive method may further comprise treating the glycerol to reduce the glycerol viscosity.
US08496470B2	Injection molding die for producing a molded product having an appearance surface An injection molding die for producing a molded product having an appearance surface, an injection molding method for producing a molded product having an appearance surface, and a resin molded product molded by the injection molding method which is free from occurrence of appearance deficiency such as a flow mark or the like that is a drawback in appearance. A molten thermoplastic resin material is injected into a cavity defined by a molded product's appearance surface forming portion (4a) and a molded product's rear surface forming portion (6a) through one or more direct gates and one or more hot runners to fill the cavity with the molten resin material, thereby performing injection molding.
US08496461B2	Motor driven mold A mold includes a controller and core actuators that may independently drive a plurality of mold cores positioned with the mold. Sensors may be included whereby the mold cores are positioned in the mold core responsive to the sensor feedback. The core actuators may be servomotors and may further include motor controllers, one for each servomotor, for use in actuating the mold cores.
US08496460B2	Pipe extrusion die flow path apparatus and method A method and apparatus is provided for distributing material through a multilayer pipe extrusion die. A first flow passageway, having a first cross-sectional area and extending along a first flow direction, may be connected to a second flow passageway, having a second cross-sectional area substantially the same as the first cross-sectional area of the first flow passageway, to provide a second flow direction different from the first flow direction of the first flow passageway. A conical passageway may extend from the second passageway toward a dispensing outlet. Material may be distributed from the first flow passageway into the second flow passageway. The method and apparatus may generally maintain the same flow properties of the material at a point before and after the connection of the first flow passageway and the second flow passageway. The flow properties of the material may be altered proximate to the outlet.
US08496457B2	Metering gear pump with integral flow indicator A gear pump includes a driven gear and an idler gear each mounted for rotation in a housing. The driven gear and the idler gear include respective gear teeth in a meshing relationship and forming an inlet space and an outlet space in the housing and adjacent to the meshing gear teeth. The inlet space is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the outlet space is in fluid communication with the outlet port. A flow indicating element is located in the housing and is mounted for rotation independent of the driven gear and the idler gear. The flow indicating element is configured to be rotated by the viscous fluid to indicate when the fluid is moving from the inlet port and inlet space to the outlet space and outlet port.
US08496448B2	Pump assembly The present invention provides a pump assembly having an intake, an outtake, and a rotor rotatably mounted to a shaft. A propeller is fixedly mounted to the upstream portion of the rotor and is rotatable upon actuation of the rotor. A passageway is disposed on the rotor so as to provide a path for fluids to cool the shaft. The pump assembly includes chamber and a pipe. The chamber is disposed within the housing and is located downstream the intake and is in communication with the passageway. The pipe interconnects the chamber with the outtake. An impeller is fixedly mounted to the rotor opposite the propeller and draws air bubbles from the passageway into the chamber.
US08496447B2	Motor In a motor, a bearing housing is made of a thermoplastic resin material. A bottom portion of the bearing housing includes a first large diameter portion, a small diameter portion, and a second large diameter portion. The first large diameter portion of the bearing housing is arranged on an upper surface of the base. An outer circumferential surface of the small diameter portion of the bearing housing is arranged radially opposite a side peripheral surface of a base hole. The second large diameter portion is arranged to be in direct contact with a lower surface of the base through caulking.
US08496437B2	Power transmitting system through cables for airborne wind-type power generation applications The present invention deals with a new system for transmitting energy through a cable and interconnected pulleys. The traditional power transmission through pulleys sizes the system of belts and friction surfaces depending on energy to be transmitted and is obtained through systems composed of a rotary element for every point of application and of a flexible element for the connection. In the proposed system, the flexible element is a high-resistance cable and friction on the rotary element is increased by using interconnected pulleys, which increase the cable friction surface allowing power transmissions without any sliding till the cable breaking point. The lightness of such system allows it to find optimum application in transmitting to ground all wind energy produced at an upper level. The system of interconnected pulleys is further applied to discontinuous tractions in the sailing field, replacing the traditionally used winches.
US08496424B2	Fixing arrangement for a work piece An arrangement for fixing a work piece (14) to an end of a boom (1) in a working machine, like an excavator, in which arrangement the end of the boom comprises at least a tilting device (13) for the work piece (14), the moveable body of said device can be limitedly tilted in relation to the end of the boom (1) and to the moveable body of said device the work piece (14) is fixed either directly or by fitting a device (10), (11) of an other type as a distance piece, said device adjusting position of the work piece (14). An auxiliary body (9) is mounted between the pins (5), (6) of the articulation points locating in the ends of the tilting device (13) and the boom (1), to said auxiliary body the tilting device (13) is fixed from both ends of its non-rotating part essentially in a point of the axis line (15) which is rotating axis (15) of the tilting part of the tilting device (13) and that for getting the fixing point of the work piece (14) nearer the articulating pin (5) in the boom (1) end, the counter articulating point (17) which is placed in the auxiliary body (9) and which can be coupled to the articulating pin (5) in the boom (1) end is fitted to pass the axis line (15) and to extend towards the work piece (14).
US08496419B2	Blind rivet The invention relates to a blind rivet and a rivet pin that is connected or can be connected to the tool and is used to apply the blind rivet. Said rivet pin can be connected, by means of a rivet positioning tool, to a part of the blind rivet designed for said tool. When the blind rivet is inserted into a hole up to the abutment of an abutment shoulder formed on a flange, said contact place can be lengthened by means of the rivet pin acting as a traction element, in order to deform the rivet pin such that it fixes in the opening.
US08496417B1	Adjustable binding belt set An adjustable binding belt set includes a binding belt, a fastening component and a handling bar. The handling bar has a spine tube which is passing through an axial rod. A gear on the spine tube is engaged with a switching component. A first spring hole is defined on a handling component. The first spring hole has a spring component placed into and controls the engagement between the gear and the gear tuner. The fastening component includes a fastening base and a fastening slice. The fastening base has an assembling groove defined thereon. The fastening slice is pivoted on the assembling groove. A gear stopper is extruded from the fastening slice and engaged with the gear. The fastening slice further has a resisting part extruded therefrom. Thus, the binding belt is automatically or manually to fasten the goods on a cart when a user operates the handling bar.
US08496410B2	Method and apparatus for penetrating particulate substrates A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention relates to penetrating a particulate substrate using a compact, low-energy, reversible, and dynamic device for burrowing through particulate substrates. In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one vessel and a displacement module coupled with the vessel. The actuation of the displacement module fluidizes the particulate substrate proximate to the vessel and thereby reduces resistance of the particulate substrate to movement of the vessel and causes further penetration of the apparatus through the particulate substrate. The example embodiment utilizes volume contraction and localized fluidizing to move through substrates.
US08496405B1	Mitred grate and drain cover A drain cover and pipe combination comprises a drain cover including a substantially elliptical frame portion defining a space, the space having an axis substantially normal to the frame, and at least one cross piece located in the space so as to define a plurality of openings in the drain cover. The pipe comprises a substantially tubular member having a longitudinal axis, with the pipe having a substantially elliptical shaped rim at one end thereof with a rim axis which is other than parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. Securing means are provided for securing the drain cover over the rim of the pipe.
US08496403B2	Wave pool with moving reef wave generator extension and counter current The invention relates to a wave pool with a beach having a body of water and a wave generator that travels along a relatively shallow channel across from the beach. The wave generator is adapted to travel through the channel and displace the water in the channel to create primary waves on which surfing maneuvers can be performed. The primary waves in turn enter into the body of water to produce secondary waves that can be acted upon by the inclined pool floor so that they eventually break and spill onto the beach. The water in the channel is preferably provided with a reverse current to enable the absolute speed of the wave generator to be reduced, which allows the channel to be shorter in length without significantly impacting the wave effects that are created, which helps reduce the cost of construction. The wave generator is preferably provided with a forward extending wing section that causes the leading edge to extend further out in front of the flow forming surface, which provides added safety to the participants.
US08496397B2	Precast concrete slabs and related systems, methods of manufacture and installation Precast concrete slabs, methods of manufacture and installation are provided. In this regard, a representative precast concrete slab includes: a first portion, substantially triangular in shape and exhibiting first, second and third sides, the first and second sides being positioned along an exterior of the slab and residing in a first plane; and a second portion, substantially triangular in shape and exhibiting first, second and third sides, the first and second sides of the second portion being positioned along the exterior of the slab and residing in a second plane, the second plane being non-parallel with respect to the first plane; the third side of the first portion and the third side of the second portion being positioned adjacent to each other and forming a transition between the first plane and the second plane.
US08496396B1	Wire mesh for pervious concrete A mesh assembly for the formation of pervious pavement is disclosed. The mesh is defined by a plurality of elongated structural members. The mesh has a first side and a second side. A plurality of conduits are coupled to and extend through the mesh. Each conduit has a first end defining a first opening, a second end defining a second opening, and a passageway extending between the first opening and the second opening. The plurality of conduits each have at least one of the elongated structural members extending through a sidewall of the conduit such that the first opening is positioned on the first side of the mesh and the second opening is positioned on the second side of the mesh.
US08496395B2	Vertically actuated vehicle barrier system A barrier system comprises a housing, substantially vertical members, and vertical guide tubes. The housing extends into the ground. The guide tubes are positioned in the housing and also extend into the ground below the housing. The substantially vertical members are translatable vertically within the guide tubes. At least one barrier member is secured to the substantially vertical members. The at least one barrier member may comprise at least one guardrail, a plurality of chains or cables, and/or a plurality of gate beams. A series of cables and pulleys form an actuation system that raises and lowers the substantially vertical members relative to the guide tubes to selectively extend and retract the at least one barrier member relative to the ground. A cover plate may selectively cover the top opening of the housing when the barrier member and substantially vertical members are retracted within the housing.
US08496393B2	Refillable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush A refillable toothpaste dispensing toothbrush has a toothpaste containing capsule for dispensing toothpaste through the bristle head of the toothbrush. The toothpaste capsule can be filled using any standard toothpaste tube. Grooves in the toothpaste passageway prevent clogging of toothpaste in the toothbrush. In an alternate embodiment, the dispensing toothbrush also contains a sonic vibrating device.
US08496386B2	Ferrules having an anti-rotation feature and fiber optic connectors using the same Ferrules having anti-rotation features along with fiber optic connectors using the same are disclosed. The ferrules have a body with a first diameter and at least one bore extending from a rear end of the ferrule to a front end of the ferrule. The ferrule has at least one anti-rotation feature such as a rib. The ferrule may be part of a ferrule assembly that includes a ferrule holder where the anti-rotation feature improves the bond between the ferrule and the ferrule holder. Methods for making the ferrules and assemblies using the ferrule are also disclosed.
US08496382B2	Bi-directional tapered roller bearing assembly with improved wear resistance The wear resistance of a bi-directional tapered roller bearing is improved by applying a tribological coating to both the small and large end faces of the roller and to at least one of the rib faces of the bearing assembly.
US08496381B2	Bearings A bearing includes a first member having a passageway configured to engage a shaft, the first member having a metallic material; and a second member disposed around at least a portion of the first member, the second member having a metallic material and at least one radially and inwardly bent portion capable of restricting axial movement of the first member. The first and second members are movable relative to each other.
US08496379B2	Systems and methods for determining device temperature Circuitry for measuring and/or monitoring device temperature may include a first node coupled to ground, and a second node and a first resistor coupled in series to ground and in parallel to the first node. A first current driven to the first node and a second current driven to the second node can be selected such that a first voltage measured at the first node and a second voltage measured at the second node are substantially equal. The circuitry may also include a third node and a second resistor coupled in series to ground. A third current driven to the third node can be selected such that a third voltage measured at the third node is substantially equal to a reference voltage. Measures of the second and third currents and measures of the first and second resistors can be used to determine device temperature.
US08496377B2	Thermometer having molded probe component A medical measurement device, such as an electronic thermometer, having a probe. The probe includes a molded plastic substrate having a conductive circuit pattern formed directly on its surface. The circuit pattern extends at least from a first end margin of the molded plastic substrate to a second end margin opposite the first. The device also includes a sensor mounted on the molded plastic substrate for detecting a physiological parameter, such as temperature. The sensor is positioned on the molded plastic substrate at the first end margin by at least one positioning element integrally formed in the substrate. The conductive circuit pattern provides an electrical connection between the sensor and a processor.
US08496375B2	Pyrometer adapted for detecting UV-radiation and use thereof A pyrometer that is adapted for detecting radiation in the range of 250 to 450 nm is disclosed. The pyrometer can be used for determining the temperature of a matter thermally emitting only ultraviolet-radiation. In particular, the pyrometer can include: a detector having an active area adapted for measuring thermal radiation, a longpass filter having a cut-off wavelength in the range of 400 to 450 nm, means adapted for alternately activating and deactivating the longpass filter, means adapted for measuring a first thermal radiation signal when the longpass filter is deactivated and adapted for measuring a second thermal radiation signal when the longpass filter is activated, and means adapted for determining a temperature corresponding to the measured thermal radiation from a difference of the first radiation signal and the second radiation signal.
US08496370B2	Light guide plate, light guide plate mold insert and method for making light guide plate A light guide plate mold insert includes a molding surface and a number of uniformly distributed dot-shaped recesses. The molding surface is used for forming a reflective surface of a light guide plate. The uniformly distributed dot-shaped recesses are formed in the molding surface. The molding surface includes a number of frosted regions formed by machining the molding surface using a sand-blasting process. Each of the frosted regions includes a number of dot-shaped micro recesses. A distribution density of the micro recesses are greater than that of the recesses.
US08496369B2	Display element and display device A display element includes a light source, an optical waveguide, a light-extracting portion. The optical waveguide has two ends and a side surface. One of the two ends is near the light source. The other of the two ends is far from the light source. The side surface extends from the one end to the other end. The light-extracting portion is provided near the side surface to extract light out of the optical waveguide. In addition, the other end changes a light path of forth-traveling light so that an incident angle of back-traveling light is smaller than the incident angle of the forth-traveling light.
US08496367B2	Suppression of color mixing in UV LED based color pixel backlight for liquid crystal display A ultra-violet based color pixel backlight system for color filter-less Liquid Crystal Display, comprising multiplicity of LEDs, emitting UV or NUV light in the wavelength range of 150 nm to 390 nm, assembled at one edge of a UV transmitting light guide, which has other three edges and bottom surface coated with UV reflecting layer and its top surface etched with UV and NUV extracting pixel patterns that contain phosphors that emit different colors of light in red, blue and green region when excited by UV or NUV light. The etched pixels contain Aluminum islands underneath the phosphor layers to reflect the visible rays generated by the phosphors of the pixel and suppress the visible light leaving the pixel as well as suppress the visible light from adjacent pixel entering the pixel. Thus suppressing the color mixing that could occur without the incorporation of Al islands. LCD without color pixels, a micro-lens sheet and the light guide with color pixels are placed in substantial alignment to provide a color pixel backlight system for LCD. Thus red, blue and green pixels of light from the light guide passes through the intended red, blue and green pixels of the color filter-less LCD, resulting in color pixel backlighting that enhances the optical efficiency of LCD.
US08496357B2	Dissipation module for a light emitting device and light emitting diode device having the same A light emitting diode device is provided. The light emitting diode device comprises a composite substrate and a light emitting diode disposed on the composite substrate. The composite substrate comprises a first carbon fiber composite layer which is able to conduct heat rapidly in the direction of carbon fiber, such that the heat generated from the light emitting diode module can be dissipated rapidly.
US08496352B2	Wavelength conversion A wavelength conversion device comprising a plurality of regions. Each region for absorbing radiant energy and emitting light having a characteristic dependent upon which region of the device emits the light.
US08496345B2	Sound control candle light A sound control candle light includes a candle light having a lampshade shaped like the flame of a candle and a light-emitting device surrounded by the lampshade, a sound generator having an enclosed sound pipe with a mouthpiece and a reed mounted inside the enclosed sound pipe adjacent to the mouthpiece and vibratable to produce a sound at a predetermined frequency when a person blows in the mouthpiece, a sound sensor mounted inside the enclosed sound pipe for sensing the sound produced by the reed and providing a corresponding sensing signal, and a control circuit adapted for receiving the sensing signal provided by the sound sensor to drive on/off the light-emitting device. Thus, a specific sound frequency different from surrounding noises can be produced, enabling the sound control candle light to be alternatively turned on and off when it is blown by the user, assuring high control reliability.
US08496344B1	Reflector and light kit for rear of backpack The reflector and light kit for rear of backpack is an auto-illuminating device that reflects and emits light from a back surface of a backpack and is useful as a safety feature to an end user wearing the backpack. The reflector and light kit can be built into the construction of a new backpack or is a kit that is installed upon an existing backpack. The reflector and light kit features at least one light positioned on a rear surface of a backpack, and a highly reflective material positioned around the light. The light features a switch and light sensor that enable the end user to turn on the light, and to automatically turn off the light when in an illuminated environment.
US08496338B2	Lens module with spacer A lens module includes a lens barrel, a first lens, a second lens, and a spacer. The lens barrel includes an object-side end and an image-side end opposite to the object-side end. The first lens is received in the lens barrel, and adjacent to the object-side end. The second lens is received in the lens barrel, and adjacent to the image-side end in relative to the first lens. The spacer is an annular plate, and includes an object-side surface, an image-side surface opposite to the object-side surface, and an inner sidewall. The spacer is positioned between the first lens and the second lens. The object-side surface faces the first lens, and the image-side surface faces the second lens. The intersection of the object-side surface and the inner sidewall forms a chamfer.
US08496331B2	Portable pattern-generating ophthalmic probe A pattern-generating intraocular probe is provided that includes a cannula including a diffractive optical element (DOE), the DOE being patterned such that an on-axis illumination of the DOE produces an emitted beam forming a linear pattern; and a handpiece connected to a proximal of the cannula.
US08496326B2	Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a functional agent that blocks the substance from or attracts the principal substance to the substrate. The apparatus and methods may utilize ink jet technology to apply the functional agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface. The principal substance may be an ink, a dye, a marking substance other than an ink, or a carrier for any other type of substance.
US08496323B2	Metastable nanoparticle ink compositions and images made therefrom Self-erasing inks in which both the printing and self-erasure of color images can be controlled by the dynamic/non-equilibrium aggregation of photoresponsive surface-coated nanoparticles contained in a carrier film are provided. The aggregation is a reversible aggregation that is triggered by a photo-induced transformation in ligands within the surface coating on the nanoparticles. Methods for forming images using the inks are also provided.
US08496311B2	Inkjet recording apparatus and inkjet recording method A recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of a recording head and a control unit to control a pulse waveform, a pulse width forming a drive pulse, and a voltage. The drive pulse supplied to an electrothermal transducer is selected according to information about thermal conduction characteristics of the recording head and the temperature of the recording head detected by the temperature sensor.
US08496310B2	Recording apparatus There is provided a recording apparatus including: a head jetting liquid droplets from nozzles; and a controller controlling the head to perform a recording jetting-operation for jetting the liquid droplets toward a recording medium from the nozzles at each of drive periods, and a flushing operation for performing maintenance on the nozzles by jetting the liquid droplets from the nozzles prior to the recording jetting-operation. The controller controls the head so that with respect to each of the nozzles, a total liquid discharge amount in the flushing operation becomes less in a case of jetting a liquid droplet at a first drive period in the recording jetting-operation, in comparison with a case of not jetting the liquid droplet at the first drive period.
US08496307B2	Door assembly and method of replacing a door of an electronics cabinet Disclosed are rack enclosures for electronic equipment including at least one door configured to define a space between an edge of the door and a wall or frame of the cabinet, kits for retrofitting rack enclosures to include such a door, and methods of installing such.
US08496304B2	Electronic device enclosure An electronic device enclosure includes a frame, a limiting member located in the frame, a limiting member located in the frame, a mounting bracket, and a maintaining member. The frame includes a mounting plate. The mounting bracket is adapted to receive a data storage device and includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall. The second sidewall is secured to the mounting plate. A first end of the first sidewall is rotatably received in the limiting member. A second end of the first sidewall opposite to the first end is hung on the frame. A protruding block protrudes from the second end. The maintaining member includes a positioning portion and two latching poles secured to the mounting plate. The protruding block is engaged with the positioning portion and located between the positioning portion and the mounting plate.
US08496295B2	Rotary elbow with double shaft A chair elbow capable of rotating with double shaft is disclosed. Two bearings are disposed on a mount board fixed on a chair. Each of the bearings connects one end of each of two rotating plates, while the other ends thereof are pivotally connected in a linear slot of a seat plate used for securing an armrest. The length of the slot is longer than the distance between the two bearings, and the latter is longer than the length of the rotating plates. Thus, the armrest on the seat plate can rotate against the mount board with 360 degrees and move forward and backward.
US08496290B2	Motor vehicle seat with preloaded wing-rest and seat arrangement with such a motor vehicle seat A motor vehicle seat is provided with a seat back which can be tilted from a substantially upright use position into a substantially horizontal non-use position. The seat back has at least one wing-rest which, in the non-use position of the seat back, can be tilted about a tilting axis extending in seat direction from a lower armrest non-use position into an upper armrest use position for forming an armrest. The wing-rest is preloaded into the armrest use position. A seat arrangement is also provided with such a motor vehicle seat.
US08496285B2	Dynamically adjustable aerodynamic vehicle devices Adjustable aerodynamic devices are controlled to control the drag on a vehicle. In one form, control is accomplished in response to pressure from a plurality of pressure sensors. In another form, control is accomplished in response to air movement measurements, such as of wind speed and direction at a location that a vehicle has yet to reach. In another form, the position and location of air vortices between a cab and trailer can be determined and adjusted to adjust the drag by controlling aerodynamic devices.
US08496278B2	Portable device for preventing movement of a door A portable device (10) for preventing movement of a door (5), the device (10) comprising: a support frame (11) having a base portion (12); and a leg (20) connected to the support frame (11); wherein the leg (20) is adjustable in height such that a distal end of the leg (20) is made to contact the ground when at least part of the base portion (12) is inserted beneath the door (5) in order to prevent movement of the door (5).
US08496277B2	Latching system A latching system includes a handle mechanism with a housing having a recessed channel, a handle base, and a handle member connected to the handle base. The handle base and handle member are configured to be selectably moveable relative to the housing to define an extended orientation, a first retracted orientation corresponding to an open state of the handle mechanism, and a second retracted orientation corresponding to a closed state of the handle mechanism. The handle base and handle member are further configured to be disposed in the recessed channel and extended in a first direction or a second direction. The handle member is operable for rotation about an axis of rotation to control transition between the open state and the closed state of the handle mechanism. The handle mechanism may include a panel having a lift-slide operation.
US08496273B1	Pressure and corrosion-resistant couplings for oil field tubing An improved reemployable tubular connection system and method for oil field application disposes an axially asymmetric seal in a coupling sleeve interconnecting the oppositely entered pin ends of two tubing sections. The sleeve includes an approximately central interior surface for seating a deformable seal having oppositely directed tapered edges with different angles of convergence. The pin ends enter into and resiliently displace the edges of the seal, which may be made differentially adhesive so that a tubing connection may be broken and remade a number of times.
US08496271B2	Multi-purpose card A multi-purpose card includes a combination of a plurality of coupons detachably cut into the redemption card, a bar code imprinted onto the redemption card, integrated circuit chips, and/or a scratch-off foil overlying an offer or information printed on the card. The multi-purpose card may be housed integrally in a promotional mailer in the form of a two-piece in one post card. The card is created and defined within the promotional mailer by score lines intermittently cut through a top layer, base layer and plastic film of the mailer in a manner to securely maintain the card in place until forcibly removed.
US08496270B2	Transformer oil holding assembly A transformer oil holding assembly for holding transformer oil. The transformer oil holding assembly includes a tank subassembly with one or more tanks for containing the transformer oil, the tank subassembly having a lower exterior surface adapted for engagement with a ground surface, and one or more sets of wheels for at least partially supporting the tank subassembly, each set of wheels being movable between a lowered position and a raised position, a suspension subassembly mounted to the tank subassembly, and one or more stop subassemblies for at least partially maintaining the set of wheels in the lowered position. Each stop subassembly includes a stop lever movable between an engageable condition, in which a stop element is engageable with the suspension subassembly to maintain the set of wheels in the lowered position, and a disengaged condition, in which the stop element is disengaged from the suspension subassembly.
US08496269B2	Belt buckle presenter The invention relates to a belt buckle presenter for a seat belt system of a vehicle comprising a belt buckle which is coupled to a spindle drive (16) through force transmission means (14), the force transmission means (14) including a locking member (40) which in normal operation is movable along a threaded spindle (30) of the spindle drive (16) in axial direction and in the case of restraint can be deformed by a restraining force acting on the belt buckle (12) so as to adopt a locking position in which the locking member (40) positively engages in the threaded spindle (30).
US08496267B2	Vehicle protection device A protection device for the outside of a vehicle is described. An impact absorbing structure is placed on the outside of a vehicle and is anchored to the vehicle using a strap. The strap is secured between the doorframe and the roof of the vehicle and allows the impact absorbing structure to hang horizontally along the outside of the vehicle. Any object that would otherwise impact and damage the vehicle, such as the door of a neighboring car in a parking lot, is intercepted by the protection device.
US08496266B2	Gas generating system A gas generating system usable in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system is provided. The system includes an outer housing having an outer diameter varying within a range of approximately 16 millimeters to approximately 20 millimeters. A vehicle occupant protection system and an airbag module including the gas generating system are also provided.
US08496265B2	Assembly and airbag module An airbag module, especially for a vehicle occupant restraint system, includes an assembly of an inflator (16) having a mounting flange (32) and an inflator supporting member (18) for resilient support of the inflator (16). The inflator supporting member (18) includes a holding member (24) made of metal sheet and at least one mounting foot (26) arranged at the holding member (24) for connection to an inflator base (12). The holding member (24) and the mounting flange (32) are fixed to each other by plastic shaping of at least one of the two members.
US08496264B2	Airbag cover and method of producing same The invention relates to an airbag cover having a carrier and a visible-side surface made of leather or an imitation leather arranged on the carrier, wherein the surface has a uniform thickness and the carrier has a carrier thinning introduced along a tear line, and a reinforcing layer having a local weakening is arranged between the carrier and the surface, wherein the surface is attached directly to the reinforcing layer. The local weakening is formed by a minimal thickness of the reinforcing layer in the area of the tear line. The uniform thickness of the surface is less than or equal to 1 mm.
US08496260B2	Wheelchair bag transporting mechanism A storage apparatus (10) attachable to a wheelchair (44) is pivotable and slidable from a storage position against the back of a wheelchair backrest to an access position adjacent to a wheelchair armrest. Pivoting and sliding is accomplished under power of an operator with the storage apparatus and slide mechanism (11) rotating substantially 90 degrees around vertical pivot member (30) and then sliding on a block member (18). A handle (24) is used to aide with the movement of the storage apparatus and to operate a locking mechanism (28), which secures the storage apparatus in access and storage positions.
US08496257B2	Knee walker Knee walker assemblies and methods of manufacturing a knee walker assembly are provided herein. One concept of the present disclosure is directed to a knee walker assembly that includes a frame, a support platform and a handle mounted to the frame, at least one rear wheel mounted proximate the rear end of the frame, and at least two front wheels swivel mounted proximate the front end of the frame. A locking mechanism is operatively engaged with the at least two front wheels. The locking mechanism is configured to substantially simultaneously lock both of the at least two front wheels in a rigid-type mounting configuration.
US08496252B2	Seal A seal includes a supporting body; a disk-shaped sealing element fixed to the supporting body so as to form a static seal and to include a free end; and a sealing body disposed at the free end so as to form a dynamic sealing edge, wherein the sealing body includes a material that is a different from a material of the sealing element.
US08496242B2	Media cassette A media cassette comprises: a base on which a stack of media items may be placed, a pusher plate biased towards the base and a plurality of drive rollers located beneath the profiled surface and partially protruding through apertures defined in the profiled surface. The base includes a profiled surface extending from a central low region disposed along an axis of the base to higher regions on opposing sides of the central low region. The pusher plate is operable to urge a stack of media items onto the profiled surface. The plurality of drive rollers are operable to drive a media item in contact with the profiled surface out of the media cassette.
US08496231B2	Steel rope safety system with compacted ropes A steel rope safety system includes at least one steel rope having at least one strand, and the at least one rope or at least one strand is compacted. Further, a method is provided for making a steel rope safety system comprising the step of providing at least two wires, the step of stranding the wires thereby forming a strand for a rope and the step of compacting the strand. The steel rope safety system includes a guardrail system having vertical poles and horizontal compacted ropes which are held in place by hooks. The steel rope safety system may include non-round shaped, such as trapezoidal shaped compacted wires. There is likewise provided the use of compacted steel ropes as impact reducing material.
US08496229B1	Powered fish tape Taught is a powered fish tape having an integrated electric rewinding mechanism that winds a tape onto a rotating reel using an electric motor. A cross-member is mounted to the rotating reel. A flexible shaft and a mechanical clutch couple the cross-member to the electric motor. The powered fish tape is beneficially powered by a rechargeable battery.
US08496222B2	Bracket coordinating device A bracket coordinating device includes a rubber disc having a bottom surface capable of being fitted with a curved or planar surface, a compressing disc disposed on the rubber disc in a manner facing a top surface of the rubber disc, and an actuation device, a shaft member being connected on the top surface of the rubber disc vertically, a through hole being defined in a central portion of the compressing disc for passage of the shaft member, the actuation device being capable of driving the shaft member to move axially so as to make the compressing disc compress or be separated from the rubber disc. A resilient rubber member is sandwiched between the rubber disc and compressing disc to store elastic potential energy when it is compressed axially so as to counteract the compressing force. The bracket coordinating device of the invention has simple construction, reliable connection, wide application, and extended lifespan. In addition, the bracket coordinating device of the invention can withstand high temperature.
US08496214B2	Anti-tip stability system integral to an imaging apparatus An imaging apparatus having a printer frame, a media tray frame module disposed below the printer frame, and an anti-tip stability system including two alignment posts mounted substantially diagonally on the media tray frame module. The alignment posts have first surfaces and second surfaces where each second surface makes an acute angle ranging from about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees with a horizontal plane. The alignment posts provide anti-tip stability to the imaging apparatus by engaging with the printer frame when the printer frame is tilted at a first contact angle with respect to the alignment posts due to the application of an external force. The alignment posts also facilitate relatively easy separation of the printer frame from the media tray frame module.
US08496207B2	Connection of cabin components, cabin component and method for connecting cabin components A connection device for a plurality of cabin components of an aircraft includes a rail extending in a longitudinal direction of an aircraft structure, wherein the plurality of cabin components is disposed on the rail; and a plurality of adjustment devices configured to self-adjust each of the plurality of cabin components in the longitudinal direction.
US08496200B2	Control flows and forces in VTOL vehicles The present application relates to VTOL vehicles with multi-function capabilities and, specifically to ducted fan arrangements that facilitate the control of forces and flows of air to control movement of the vehicle in six degrees of freedom in both primary and secondary modes of operation. Also disclosed are pitch control mechanisms for the lift propellers of VTOL vehicles: drive and transmission arrangements; a specially configured exhaust duct for directing exhaust gases from such vehicles along an upper surface of the vehicle; and shock absorbing components for the landing gear of such vehicles.
US08496198B2	Automated tissue dispenser An automated dispenser includes a rotatable carousel including a mounting station for a primary roll of sheet product and a mounting station for a reserve roll of sheet product; mounting brackets configured for mounting the carousel such that it is movable between a locked, rearward position for dispensing and a forward position where the carousel is rotatable for reloading; a drive system including a motor coupled to a drive roller and control circuitry; a transfer mechanism adapted so as to be operable to urge a tail of the reserve roll toward a dispensing nip of the drive system upon depletion of the primary roll; a housing; and an auxiliary access aperture fitted with an access door, the auxiliary aperture and access door being configured and adapted to be manually operable to expose the reserve roll for manual dispensing.
US08496192B2	Outward opening fuel injector A fuel injector provided with: an injection valve comprising an injection nozzle; a mobile needle for regulating the fuel flow through the injection valve and ending with a shutting head, which engages a valve seat of the injection valve, is arranged externally with respect to injection valve and presents a predetermined sealing diameter; an actuator for displacing the needle between a closing position and an opening position of the injection valve; a closing spring which tends to maintain the needle in the closing position of the injection valve pushing the shutting head against the valve seat itself in a sense contrary to the feeding sense of the fuel; and a supporting body having a tubular shape and presenting a feeding channel within which a needle is arranged; the needle, at an opposite end of the shutting head, is coupled to a balancing channel, which is at ambient pressure.
US08496186B2	Barcode label and method of using the same A shipping label includes a shipping label and an advertising label, and a tear-off tab is formed in the back liner sheet by a score line. After removing the tear-off tab and forming an exposed adhesive layer portion, the label part where the second barcode is printed is folded to the back side of the label to form a back-folded portion, which is held to the back side of the label by the exposed adhesive layer portion. The liner sheet portion contiguous to the tear-off tab is then removed, and the label is attached to the product. Because the second barcode is hidden on the back, only the first barcodes containing tracking information can be read, while the second barcode can be read as needed by unfolding the back-folded portion to the front.
US08496171B2	Fraud prevention An electromagnetic signal transmitter for fraud prevention in a self-service terminal is described. The electromagnetic signal transmitter comprises a plurality of coil drives. The plurality of coil drives may include a first inductive coil drive comprising a first pair of opposing poles; and a second inductive coil drive comprising a second pair of opposing poles, where the second pair of opposing poles are offset from the first pair of opposing poles in at least two dimensions.
US08496164B2	Method and apparatus for customer/passenger specific interactive flight information data notification using boarding pass barcode scanning capabilities on low-cost display devices A low-cost display unit that displays travel-related information to a traveler in a public travel-related area is disclosed and may include a communication interface that facilitates receiving of travel-related information, a machine-readable marking reader that determines the presence of a travel document having one or more machine readable markings, scans the one or more machine-readable markings, and decodes the scanned one or more machine-readable markings, wherein the one or more machine-readable markings contain encoded traveled-related information pertaining to the traveler, and a display control unit that receives the decoded one or more machine-readable marking, and displays the travel-related information contained in the decoded one or more machine-readable markings to the traveler on the low-cost display unit.
US08496162B2	Carton and carton blank A carton (90) for packaging articles comprises top (14) and bottom (18, 20) panels connected together by spaced side walls (12, 16) to form a tubular structure, and a set of end panels (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) at each end of the tubular structure. Each set of end panels comprises a pair of lower end closure panels (26a, 26b) connected to the side walls respectively. Each lower end closure panel is hingedly interconnected by gusset panel (34a, 34b) to an anchoring panel (24a, 24b) hinged to an adjacent one of the side wall panels. Each anchoring panel extends into the tubular structure and tucked between the adjacent side wall panel and an adjacent article. One of the gusset panels (34a, 34b) is hinged to the adjacent side wall panel (12, 16) by a hinge line (27a, 27b).
US08496161B2	Device and method for brazing a heat pipe The present invention relates to a device and method for brazing a heat pipe assembly with copper-silver alloy filler rings to improve heat dissipation efficiency of a heat pipe. The device comprises a brazing furnace and a conveyor. The brazing furnace comprises an open ended passage with a multi-stage brazing heater and cooler. The conveyor comprises an input bracket assembly, an output bracket assembly and a steel mesh belt. The method comprises steps of (A) providing multiple heat pipe components, (B) assembling the heat pipe components to form heat pipe assemblies, (C) injecting mixed gas, (D) turning on the multi-stage brazing heater and cooler, (E) placing the heat pipe assemblies on the conveyor, (F) brazing the heat pipe assemblies to form heat pipes, (G) cooling the heat pipes and (H) removing the heat pipes from the conveyor.
US08496160B2	Method for positioning two components using tack welds crossing the joint line The invention relates to a method for positioning two components to be joined to each other along a common joint line. According to the invention, the two components are connected to each other by limited-length tack welds firmly connecting the two components, particularly by way of bonding, to each other. In order to obtain reliable and robust positioning of the components for tacking during the joining process, without requiring extensive production apparatuses, such as is required for the high-precision setting of the focal point of the welding laser relative to the joint line, the tack welds are designed such that they cross the joint line.
US08496158B2	Method and apparatus for monitoring free air ball (FAB) formation in wire bonding A method for monitoring free air ball (FAB) formation during a wire bonding process includes attaching a dummy bond wire to an unused location on a first surface of a semiconductor chip carrier, extending the dummy bond wire a predetermined distance from the first surface such that a tip of the dummy bond wire is spaced from the first surface, and forming a dummy FAB at the tip of the bond wire. A profile of the dummy FAB is inspected with an imaging unit to identify any defects in the dummy FAB. An alarm is triggered and the wire bonding process is halted if the dummy FAB is defective so that bonding parameters may be adjusted. The wire bonding process is restarted after the bonding parameters have been adjusted.
US08496147B2	Roof rack system for a motor vehicle A roof rack system for a motor vehicle, specifically for a passenger car, having at least one roof rack has an attaching device for location on the roof of the vehicle. The attaching device has at least one mounting bolt to pass through at least one roof opening. A seal allocated to the mounting bolt extends around the mounting bolt and rests on the roof with the roof rack installed and thereby surrounds the roof opening.
US08496146B2	Convertible vehicle storage rack A convertible roof rack is provided that is generally comprised of a light bar and a roof rack that is spaced from the roof of a vehicle. The roof rack is also rotatably interconnected to a support structure associated with the rear of the vehicle such that it is capable of moving from a first position of use adjacent to the roof to a second position of use away from the roof where the light bar remains interconnected to the vehicle adjacent to the windshield. As such, electrical connections associated with the light bar remain intact when the roof rack is rotated away from the roof.
US08496145B2	Vehicle rack for carrying a wheel A vehicle rack for carrying a bicycle wheel, a wheel carrier mountable on a load supporting bar of a vehicle rack, and methods of using a vehicle rack and/or wheel carrier to hold a bicycle wheel. In some embodiments, the wheel carrier may include a base, a pair of arms connected to the base and defining slots for receiving an axle of a bicycle wheel, and a strap securable to the base over a rim of the bicycle wheel to restrict removal of the wheel from the arms.

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