Document Document Title
US08542670B2 Inter-domain call routing
The present invention provides for routing calls between disparate domains, such as a circuit-switched subsystem and a multimedia subsystem. When a user element is homed in a first domain and roaming in a second domain, an incoming call will arrive at a gateway node in the first domain. As a result, a message identifying the user element and indicating that an incoming call has been received at first gateway node for the first domain is sent to a continuity control function (CCF) residing in the multimedia subsystem. The CCF will create and effect delivery of an inter-domain routing number to the first gateway node. The inter-domain routing number is used by the first gateway node to route the call to the second domain. The inter-domain routing number may be associated with a second gateway node of the second domain.
US08542643B2 Approach for managing the use of communications channels based on performance
An approach for selecting sets of communications channels involves determining the performance of communications channels. A set of channels is selected based on the results of performance testing and specified criteria. The participant generates data that identifies the selected set of channels and provides that data to other participants of the communications network. The participants communicate over the set of channels, such as by using a frequency hopping protocol. When a specified time expires or monitoring of the performance of the channel set identifies poor performance of the set of channels, the participant selects another set of channels for use in communications based on additional performance testing. By selecting channels based on the initial performance testing and performance monitoring, the communications network adaptively avoids channels with poor performance.
US08542633B2 Admission control
The present invention relates to a network node and a method in a network node for admission control of broadcast transmission sessions. The method comprises receiving a broadcast transmission session start request for a first broadcast transmission session, obtaining at least a first traffic statistics parameter related to said first broadcast transmission session, obtaining the available bit rate for the broadcast transmission area, and obtaining a re-synchronization parameter indicating the time between re-synchronization of transmissions for said broadcast transmission session. The method also calculates a first expected bit error rate based on said at least first traffic statistics parameter, said available bit rate and said re-synchronization parameter, and admits said first broadcast transmission session if said first expected bit error rate is less than a first bit error rate threshold.
US08542631B2 Communication device and method for internally redirecting control information
A base station unit of a communication device generates control information identical with those generated by other communication devices. The control information includes information defining regions in a radio frame that are used by the communication device and the other communication devices to transmit data. A terminal unit receives data in accordance with the control information. A switching unit changes the connection among the base station unit, the terminal unit and an antenna. When the control information is output from the base station unit, a switch controller operates the switching unit so that the base station unit may be connected to the terminal unit to output the control information to the terminal unit.
US08542622B2 Delivery of multicast data
A method and apparatus are provided for delivering multicast media in a network in which at least some nodes do not support delivery of multicast packets. A RTSP SETUP request is sent to a streaming server to send multicast packets, encapsulated within unicast wrappers, to a gateway node in the network. The RTSP SETUP request includes details both of the multicast destination address, and of the unicast destination address of the gateway node, requiring an extension to the RTSP protocol as currently defined and enabling the media server to send multicast packets in a unicast tunnel dynamically.
US08542621B2 Method of and apparatus for providing and receiving video service in digital audio broadcasting
Methods and apparatuses for providing and receiving a video service in digital audio broadcasting (DAB) are provided. The method includes inserting a profile ID (identifier) indicating an encoding method used for a provided video service stream and program type information indicating the type of the provided video service stream into a fast information channel (FIC) that is different from a service data channel and multiplexing service data channel including the video service stream and the FIC into a transmission frame for transmission.
US08542613B2 High-throughput channel operation in a mesh wireless local area network
High throughput channel operation in a mesh wireless local area network (WLAN) is disclosed. A mesh network comprises a plurality of mesh points and a network management entity (NME). The NME is configured to retrieve capability and configuration data from the mesh points. The NME configures at least one mesh point with respect to IEEE 802.11n channelization and legacy protection mode based on the capability and configuration data.
US08542610B2 Adaptive power saving for a mobile subscriber unit in a wireless communication network
A method and apparatus for adaptive power saving for a mobile subscriber unit in a wireless communication network includes receiving beacons from an access point, measuring timing periods between received beacons, determining a delay in timing periods, and associating the delay in timing periods to a change in a quality of a communication link. The link quality can be quantified and used for reconfiguring power-save parameters in response to a change in link quality.
US08542607B2 Enhanced recovery procedure
A method and apparatus is provided for performing normal reordering or timer based stall avoidance or window based stall avoidance, for instance for a 3GPP HSPDA compliant user entity; the method furthermore comprising the steps of deriving an accumulated quality measure pertaining to the packet data being communicated from the transmitter entity to the receiver entity; comparing the accumulated quality measure with a predetermined threshold value; if the accumulated quality measure meets predefined criteria, moving the window corresponding to the highest received value forward to a position corresponding to the received sequence number; and setting the next expected value in the receiver window forward to a position corresponding to a rear position of the window determined by the window size.
US08542594B2 Traffic control method and apparatus for wireless communication
A throughput detector 101 detects a throughput R0. A threshold value Rref of the throughput R0 at which a network side can be presumed to be congested is stored in a threshold value storage unit 102. A comparator 103 compares the current throughput R0 with the threshold value Rref. A release request unit 104 requests release of a wireless resource when the throughput R0 falls below the threshold value Rref. In response to the release request, a controller 100 suitably disconnects a physical layer or a logical layer of a wireless section to release the wireless resource. A release term determining unit 105 determines a release term of the wireless resource. A resource request unit 106 makes the released wireless resource be acquired anew after the elapse of the release term to reconnect the wireless communication.
US08542589B2 Method and apparatus for providing beamforming feedback in wireless communication systems
Techniques for quickly sending feedback information for beamforming are described. A transmitter/initiator sends a first frame comprising training symbols. A receiver/responder receives the first frame, determines the amount of time to generate feedback information, and determines the amount of time to send the feedback information. The receiver then determines the length of a second frame carrying the feedback information based on the amounts of time to generate and send the feedback information. The receiver sends the second frame after waiting a short interframe space (SIFS) period from the end of the first frame, without performing channel access. The receiver generates the feedback information based on the training symbols and sends the information in the second frame when ready. The transmitter receives the second frame, derives at least one steering matrix based on the feedback information, and sends a third frame with the at least one steering matrix.
US08542579B2 Method and system for cooperative transmission in wireless multi-hop networks
User cooperation in wireless networks implemented on the Network Protocol layer level attains a higher stable throughput and improved transmission delay. The cooperation is designed between a set of source user nodes transmitting to a common destination, where users with channels providing a higher successful delivery probability, in addition to their own traffic, relay packets of other source users whose transmissions to the destination fails. Each source user node is provided with an ample queue buffer having capacity to accumulate packets inadvertently received from other users in the system in addition to its own packets. Ranking mechanism facilitates in determining the “quality” of wireless channels, and the Acknowledgement mechanism facilitates in coordination of the transmissions in the system. The nodes exchange information on the queues status, and decision is made by a scheduling controller on the priority of transmission.
US08542578B1 System and method for providing a link-state path to a node in a network environment
An example method is provided and includes advertising information to network elements in a network environment. The information advertises a reachability characteristic of a first Internet protocol (IP) address associated with a first network element, and a second IP address associated with a second network element to which packets are to be sent instead of the first network element. The method also includes receiving the packets at the first network element, the packets being delivered from the second network element based on the information. In specific implementations, a preferred adjacency characteristic is identified in the information by a sub-TLV for routing the packets from the second network element to the first network element. If a failure occurs and a loop free alternate (LFA) protection mechanism is provisioned, the packets are sent via a label distribution protocol (LDP) label switched path (LSP) toward a designated interface of a network element.
US08542575B2 Multiple-input multiple-output transmission system
In a multiple-input multiple-output transmission system (MIMO system), a receive station detects whether or not there is an error in each data stream, estimates the state of the propagation path of each transmit antenna and reports, to the transmitting side, re-transmission necessary/unnecessary information, for every data stream, created based upon whether or not there is an error, and the state of the propagation path of each transmit antenna. A transmit station decides a transmit antenna that transmits a data stream requiring re-transmission, based upon the reported state of the propagation path of each transmit antenna, and re-transmits the data stream requiring re-transmission from the transmit antenna decided.
US08542573B2 Uplink baseband signal compression method, decompression method, device and system
Embodiments of the present invention disclose an RRU, which performs IDFT on a PUSCH signal that is obtained after resource block demapping, where due to a characteristic of an extremely low peak to average power ratio of SC-FDMA modulation, a signal after IDFT has an extremely low peak to average power ratio at this time, and an amplitude range of the signal changes slightly; amplitude/phase conversion is performed on the signal after the IDFT, where the signal after the IDFT is represented by using amplitude and phase, and then amplitude quantization and phase quantization are performed respectively to obtain a quantized amplitude signal and a quantized phase signal respectively.
US08542571B2 Cell search method, forward link frame transmission method, apparatus using the same and forward link frame structure
Provided are a cell search method, a forward link frame transmission method, an apparatus using the methods, and a forward link frame structure. The cell search apparatus includes a sync acquirer acquiring synchronization of sync channel symbols using a sync channel of a forward link, and a group detector detecting at least one hopping codeword element belonging to a hopping codeword of a target cell from a forward link signal containing sync channel symbols sequence-hopped using a hopping codeword corresponding to a code group to which a scrambling code of each cell belongs based on the acquired synchronization, and detecting a code group of the target cell based on the detected hopping codeword element, wherein the hopping codewords are orthogonal to a cyclic shift operation. Accordingly, a cell search time and the complexity of the cell search can be reduced.
US08542568B2 Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
According to one embodiment, an information storage medium includes an organic dye material which records information with a light beam having a wavelength equal to or smaller than 620 nm.
US08542564B2 Method for designating disk recording capacity and apparatus therefor
A method of designating a disk recording capacity and an optical disk recording apparatus using the method, where a maximum recording capacity is designated by measuring an external disturbance for disk regions. The method of designating a disk recording capacity includes: partitioning a disk into a plurality of disk regions, and measuring external disturbance at the disk regions; setting a disk speed based on the measured external disturbance, and designating disk regions excluding the disk regions where the external disturbance is measured as recordable disk regions; and calculating a maximum disk recording capacity based on the designated recordable disk regions.
US08542563B2 Recording method for optical disk and optical disk recording reproduction device
There is proposed an optical disk recording method that can prevent degradation of recording quality due to occurrence of thermal interference, and an optical disk recording reproduction device used in this recording method. The recording method has a step of executing a test record on an output proofing area of the optical disk 150 while a spot diameter of the recording laser beam is varied, and deriving the relationship between the spot diameter and a characteristic value representing recording quality, a step of deriving a permissible range of a variation amount of the spot diameter on the basis of the derived relationship between the spot diameter and the characteristic value representing the recording quality; a step of irradiating a record region of the optical disk with the recording laser beam to detect spherical aberration while executing recording; and a step of executing aberration correction, in case the spherical aberration occurs, such that a variation amount of the spot diameter falls into the derived permissible range.
US08542562B2 Optical disc drive and recording method
An optical disc drive includes a memory stored a write strategy, a converting unit which converts a recording data into a recording pulse based on the write strategy stored in the memory, an inspection unit which inspects a state of the recording data from a reproducing signal, a recording controller which executes a recording operation to record the recording data by applying a laser beam corresponding to the recording pulse to an optical disc, suspends the recording operation, judges whether correction of the write strategy according to an inspection result of the inspection unit is necessary, and restarts the recording operation after the write strategy saved in the memory is collected, and a correction unit which corrects the write strategy saved in the memory when the correction of the write strategy according to an inspection result of the inspection unit is necessary.
US08542561B1 Method and apparatus for reading a storage medium
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method. The method includes receiving regional quality information of a region on a storage medium, and adjusting a fill level threshold of a buffer based on the regional quality information. The fill level threshold is used to trigger filling the buffer with data read from the region.
US08542554B2 Method for velocity model building and analysis
Method for velocity model building and analysis using wavefield-coordinates reflection operators in wave-equation migration or reverse-time migration.
US08542544B2 Semiconductor device having a plurality of memory regions and method of testing the same
A semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, first and second memory regions, and first to fifth control circuits. The first and second memory regions are mutually exclusive at the same time. The first control circuit performs a first access to the first memory region. The second control circuit performs a second access to the second memory region. The third control circuit controls activation and deactivation of the first and second control circuits based on a first logic received from a plurality of first external terminals. The fourth control circuit switches between the first and second accesses based on at least a second logic received from a second external terminal. The fifth control circuit controls validation and invalidation of the fourth control circuit.
US08542535B2 Controlling select gate voltage during erase to improve endurance in non volatile memory
A technique for erasing a non-volatile memory applies a p-well voltage to a substrate and drives select gate voltages to accurately control the select gate voltage to improve write-erase endurance. Source and drain side select gates of a NAND string are driven at levels to optimize endurance. In one approach, the select gates are driven at specific levels throughout an erase operation, in concert with the p-well voltage.
US08542532B2 Memory access method and flash memory using the same
A memory access method is applied in a memory controller for accessing an NAND memory array, including a number of respective select switches globally controlled with a string select signal. The memory access method includes the following steps. A stream bias signal and a selected word line signal are respectively provided on a selected stream and on a selected cell of the selected stream, and the rest of memory cells are turned on as pass transistors, in the setup phase. A discharge path is provided to eliminate coupling charge presented on unselected streams, in the setup phase. Then, the string select signal is enabled to have the selected stream connected to a sense unit via a metal bit line and according read the selected cell in a voltage sensing scheme, in a read phase, which does not overlap with the setup phase.
US08542526B2 Magnetic random access memory (MRAM) manufacturing process for a small magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) design with a low programming current requirement
A method of making a magnetic random access memory cell includes forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) on top of a wafer, depositing oxide on top of the MTJ, depositing a photo-resist layer on top of the oxide layer, forming a trench in the photo-resist layer and oxide layer where the trench has a width that is substantially the same as that of the MTJ. Then, the photo-resist layer is removed and a hard mask layer is deposited on top of the oxide layer in the trench and the wafer is planarized to remove the portion of the hard mask layer that is not in the trench to substantially level the top of oxide layer and the hard layer on the wafer. The remaining oxide layer is etched and the MTJ is etched to remove the portion of the MTJ which is not covered by the hard mask layer.
US08542515B2 Connection and addressing of multi-plane crosspoint devices
A multi-plane circuit structure has at least a first circuit plane and a second circuit plane, and each circuit plane has a plurality of row wire segments, a plurality of column wire segments, and a plurality of crosspoint devices formed at intersections of the row wire segments and the column wire segments. The row and column wire segments have a segment length for forming a preselected number of crosspoint devices thereon. Each row wire segment in the second circuit plane is connected to a row wire segment in the first circuit plane with no offset in a row direction and in a column direction, and each column wire segment in the second circuit plane is connected to a column wire segment in the first circuit plane with an offset length in both the row direction and the column direction. The offset length corresponds to half of the preselected number of crosspoint devices.
US08542514B1 Memory structure having SRAM cells and SONOS devices
A memory structure and method to fabricate the same is described. The memory structure includes a first memory cell having a first pair of non-volatile portions. The memory structure also includes a second memory cell having a second pair of non-volatile portions. The first and second pairs of non-volatile portions are disposed in an inter-locking arrangement.
US08542511B2 Single-phase voltage source AC/DC converter and interconnection system
A single-phase voltage source AC/DC converter according to the present invention generates a second axis voltage command from difference between a DC voltage detection value at a DC terminal and a DC voltage command value and controls a DC voltage by increasing and decreasing active power with the second axis voltage command. For example, the voltage at the DC terminal is increased by decreasing active power when the DC voltage detection value at the DC terminal is lower than the DC voltage command, while the DC voltage detection value at the DC terminal is decreased by increasing the active power when the DC voltage detection value at the DC terminal is higher than the DC voltage command.
US08542505B2 Precision switching for carrier based PWM
A voltage source converter station including a multilevel voltage source converter, for conversion of electrical power between AC and DC, and a control system. The voltage source converter includes a plurality of switching cells including switchable semiconductors, and the control system includes at least one main control unit for providing a voltage reference signal and a plurality of cell control units. Each cell control unit uses carrier based pulse width modulation for controlling the switching of a respective cell, where the main control unit is communicatively connected to the cell control units and provides the reference voltage signal to each cell control unit and each cell control unit creates a switching signal to each respective switching cell using the reference voltage signal and a carrier signal to effectuate the conversion.
US08542501B2 Switching power-supply apparatus
A switching power-supply apparatus includes a first converter 3, a second converter 4, an output smoothing capacitor Co1, a series resonance circuit 1 and a control circuit 11. The first converter 3, in which switching elements Q11 and Q12 are connected to both ends of a direct-current power-supply Vin in series, and a capacitor Ci1 and a primary winding Np1 of a transformer T1 including an auxiliary winding Na1 are connected to both ends of the switching element Q12 in series, includes diodes D11 and D12 that rectify voltages generated in secondary windings Ns11 and Ns12 of the transformer T1. The second converter 4, in which switching elements Q21 and Q22 are connected to the both ends of the direct-current power-supply Vin in series, and a capacitor Ci12 and a primary winding Np2 of a transformer T2 are connected to both ends of the switching element Q22 in series, includes diodes D21 and D22 that rectify voltages generated in secondary windings Ns21 and Ns22 of the transformer T2. The output smoothing capacitor Co1 smoothes currents output from the diodes D11, D12, D21 and D22. The series resonance circuit 1 includes a resonance reactor L1 and a resonance capacitor C1 connected to the auxiliary winding Na1 in series. The control circuit 11 turns on/off the switching elements Q21 and Q22 according to a current flowing in the series resonance circuit 1.
US08542493B2 Flat display apparatus and high-voltage power supply
A flat display apparatus has a flat display panel; a frame that is installed on a rear face side of the display panel; a cover that covers at least a rear face side of the frame; and a high-voltage power supply that applies high voltage to the display panel. The high-voltage power supply has a plurality of cases, each of which encloses one or more transformers and rectifier circuits, and obtains high voltage by connecting the plurality of cases in series, and the plurality of cases are arranged in a space created between the frame and the cover so as to be disposed on a plane in parallel with a screen of the display panel.
US08542484B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus includes a circuit board; a housing which incorporates the circuit board and includes, on the bottom surface of the housing, an opening, through which a portion of one surface of the circuit board is visible, and a fastening hole; an electronic component mounted in the opening and accommodated in the housing; and a fastening member inserted into the fastening hole and fixing the housing. The housing has a rib formed along the entire circumference of the opening, and the rib extends from the circumferential edge of the opening toward the circuit board and prevents the fastening member that has fallen into the opening from entering the housing.
US08542483B2 Memory stick having a lock device
A memory stick having a metal housing, a PC board, a tray carrying the PC board, a lock body, and a locking mechanism. The lock body includes a positioning block press-fitted into a top opening of the metal housing and a locating block engaged into a top notch of the metal housing and adapted for accommodating an upper part of the tray and a part of an IC package circuit of the PC board for enabling the USB interface circuit to be suspending in a bottom opening of the metal housing. The locking mechanism enabling the memory stick to be locked to an external object.
US08542482B2 Key assembly and electronic device using key assembly
A key assembly includes a key member, the key member includes a main body and a securing portion extending from each end of the main body; and a pressing member for operating the key, the pressing member defines a receiving groove for receiving the main body.
US08542481B2 Liquid crystal display module for portable terminal
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module for use in a portable terminal is provided. The LCD module includes a reinforcement plate of a metal material having a bottom surface, and a side surface bent and extended at a substantially constant height along an edge from the bottom surface, a backlight unit laminated onto an upper part of the reinforcement plate, and having a frame of a synthetic resin material that is formed along an edge to insert-mold the reinforcement plate, and an LCD panel fixed by a double sided tape at an upper part of the backlight unit. A portion of the side surface of the reinforcement plate is sequentially twice bent back onto itself on the outside of the reinforcement plate such that its end has a substantially constant width in contact with the bottom surface of the reinforcement plate.
US08542468B2 Fault condition protection
A switched mode power supply includes a transformer and an integrated circuit regulator. The integrated circuit regulator is coupled to the transformer and includes switching regulator logic, a counter, and a switching transistor. The regulator logic generates a switching signal in response to the feedback signal. The counter receives the feedback signal, where the feedback signal periodically cycles between a first state and a second state when the switched mode power supply operates normally. An output of the counter indicates an auto-restart mode of the regulator in response to the feedback signal remaining in the first state for a predetermined count due to a fault condition. The switching transistor is coupled to be turned on and off in response to the switching signal when the output of the counter does not indicate the auto-restart mode and is disabled when the output of the counter indicates the auto-restart mode.
US08542463B2 Non-uniform write gap perpendicular writer for shingle writing
A PMR writer is disclosed that includes at least one of a recessed center section in the write pole trailing edge and a center recessed trailing shield to improve the field gradient at track edge. In all embodiments, there is a non-uniform write gap between the trailing edge and the trailing shield. The recessed portion of the write pole trailing edge and/or center recess of the trailing shield has a thickness from 10 to 40 nm in a down-track direction and a width in a cross-track direction of 20 to 200 nm. The distance between the center recess and a corner of the trailing edge is from 20 to 80 nm. A sequence of steps is provided to fabricate the two embodiments of the present invention.
US08542458B2 Magnetic disk drive and method for controlling microactuator in magnetic disk drive
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a disk, a first microactuator, a second microactuator and a servo controller. The disk comprises a first surface and a second surface. The first and second microactuators allow first and second heads associated with the first and second surfaces to make micromotion based on first and second operation amounts, respectively. The servo controller provides a third operation amount to the first microactuator as the first operation amount and provides an operation amount obtained by inverting a polarity of a frequency component with a particular frequency contained in the third operation amount, to the second microactuator as the second operation amount, if the third operation amount is generated as an operation amount to be provided to the first microactuator in a particular mode in which the first surface is used as a tracking surface.
US08542451B2 Vehicular camera and lens assembly
Low cost constructions of vehicular cameras employ various means for aligning and mounting the camera lens with respect to the imager. Such means include adhesive mounting using a UV curable adhesive, wherein the lens may be focused prior to cure of the adhesive. Other means include directly attaching the lens to the imager by adhesive; integrating the lens barrel and camera lens holder; dropping the lens barrel onto the surface of the imager; focusing the lens utilizing PCB mounting and focusing Screws; and focusing the lens by the relative positioning of camera front and back housings. Costs can also be contained by utilizing matching the resolution of the lens in conformance to human contrast sensitivity function, and by replacing optical chromatic aberration with digital chromatic aberration.
US08542445B2 Optical device with membrane that can be deformed by electrostatic actuation
An optical device with a deformable membrane including an anchoring area on a support helping to contain a constant volume of liquid in contact with one of its faces, a substantially central area, configured to be deformed reversibly from a rest position, and an actuation mechanism displacing the liquid in the central area stressing the membrane in at least one area situated strictly between the central area and the anchoring area. The actuation mechanism is electrostatic and includes at least one pair of opposing electrodes, one of the electrodes of the pair being at the level of the membrane, the other being at the level of the support, the electrodes being separated by dielectric, the dielectric being formed at least by the liquid.
US08542443B2 Light reflector and planar light source device
A light reflector of which the bidirectional reflectance R1 is from 90 to 120% when the light entrance angle is 15° and the light acceptance angle is 0°, and the bidirectional reflectance R2 is from 85 to 110% when the light entrance angle is 75° and the light acceptance angle is 0°. The light reflector has high reflectivity, and attains brightness improvement even in underlight-type backlights.
US08542439B2 Method and device for scanning-microscopy imaging of a specimen
A method and a device for scanning-microscopy imaging of a specimen (28) are described. Provision is made that a plurality of specimen points are scanned by means of a scanning beam (14) in successive scanning time intervals, the intensity of the radiation emitted from the respectively scanned specimen point is repeatedly sensed within the associated scanning time interval, an intensity mean value is determined, as a mean value image point signal, from the intensities sensed in the respectively scanned specimen point, and the mean value image point signals are assembled into a mean value raster image. Provision is further made for additionally determining an intensity variance value, as a variance image point signal, from the intensities sensed in the respectively scanning specimen points, and for assembling the variance image point signals into a variance raster image signal.
US08542434B2 Optical waveguide devices and harmonic wave generating devices
An optical waveguide device includes a ferroelectric layer having a thickness of 4 μm-7 μm; a supporting body; and an adhesive layer adhering a bottom face of the ferroelectric layer and supporting body. The ferroelectric layer includes a ridge comprising a channel optical waveguide, first and second protuberances on opposite sides of the ridge, inner grooves between the ridge and protuberances, respectively, and outer grooves outside of the protuberances, respectively. The outer groove is deeper than the inner groove. The ridge portion has a width of 6.6 μm-8.5 μm, a distance of an outer edge of the first protuberance and an outer edge of the second protuberance is 8.6 μm-20 μm, the inner groove has a depth of 2.0 μm-2.9 μm, and the outer groove has a depth of 2.5 μm-3.5 μm.
US08542430B2 Electrophoretic device, display unit, and electronic unit
An electrophoretic device includes: an electrophoretic particle; a porous layer formed of a fibrous structure containing a non-electrophoretic particle having optical reflection characteristics different from those of the electrophoretic particle; and a dividing wall adjacent to the porous layer. The electrophoretic particle, the porous layer, and the dividing wall are in an insulating liquid. Volume resistivity of the fibrous structure is larger than volume resistivity of the insulating liquid, and volume resistivity of the dividing wall is larger than the volume resistivity of the insulating liquid.
US08542429B1 Techniques for protecting imaging access of electronic paper
Techniques for protecting imaging access of electronic paper are described herein. For example, an electronic paper device with protected imaging access includes a substrate, an e-paper surface disposed on the substrate, a removable cover to prevent alteration of the e-paper surface when the cover is disposed over the e-paper surface, and a reversible locking mechanism engaging with the cover to secure the cover in place over the e-paper surface. A method for secure writing to e-paper is also provided.
US08542415B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus capable of reading an image recorded on a first surface and a second surface of a sheet, the image processing apparatus comprising a conveying path comprising a first conveying path formed in a substantially plate shape, a second conveying path disposed below the first conveying path and a curved conveying path disposed between the first conveying path and the second conveying path, a conveying mechanism configured to convey the sheet along a conveying direction from the first conveying path to the second conveying path through the curved conveying path, a first image reading section disposed below the first conveying path and comprising a first image sensor which reads the image recorded on the first surface of the sheet conveyed along the first conveying path at a first image reading position, a second image reading section comprising a second image sensor which reads the image recorded on the second surface of the sheet conveyed along the second conveying path from below the second conveying path at a second image reading position, and an upper cover configured to rotate between a closed position where the first conveying path is partly covered and an open position where the first conveying path is exposed, wherein at least the first conveying path is exposed when the upper cover is in the open position.
US08542406B2 Data processing apparatus capable of calibrating print data to reduce ink consumption
An ink reduction rate is set in accordance with the type of image and the type of recording medium. For example, when a photograph is to be printed on a glossy paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 10%. When a photograph is to be printed on a plain paper with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 25%. When a document is to be printed with low resolution, the ink reduction rate is set to 50%, irrespective of the type of recording paper.
US08542404B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming apparatus control method, and storage medium storing program
An image forming apparatus acquires information indicating each of a plurality of profiles, selects one profile based on the pieces of information, and transmits, to an information processing apparatus, identification information for identifying the selected profile. The image forming apparatus receives, from the information processing apparatus, an image reading instruction complying with a setting for reading an image, included in the profile identified based on the identification information. The image forming apparatus determines whether a setting indicated by the received instruction and a setting for reading the image, included in one selected profile correspond to each other. When it is determined that the settings do not correspond to each other, the image forming apparatus reads the image to generate image data in accordance with the setting for reading the image, included in one selected profile.
US08542402B2 Selection of samples for spanning a spectral gamut
Determining a spectral gamut of a device by designating a spanning set of samples which span the spectral gamut. A first crude spanning set of samples is established by specifying one or more corresponding device values in a device color space. The first crude spanning set is refined by processing a plurality of new samples in a predetermined order. The processing includes, for each new sample, determining if the new sample differs in an objective function value by more than a predetermined threshold from all samples in the first crude spanning set and adding the new sample to the first crude spanning set if the new sample differs in the objective function value by more than the predetermined threshold. The resulting first crude spanning set is designated as the spanning set of samples.
US08542400B2 Printing system
A printing system includes a printing unit and a print controlling unit. The printing unit is configured to print a primary image and a secondary image on a recording medium and that is capable of switching between a multicolor printing mode and a monochrome printing mode. The print controlling unit includes a determining unit and a color restricting unit. The determining unit determines whether the secondary image has an attribute indicating the monochrome printing mode. The color restricting unit controls the printing unit to print the primary image and the secondary image in the monochrome printing mode if the determining unit determines that the secondary image has the attribute indicating the monochrome printing mode.
US08542398B2 Method and system to select a trim size
In one embodiment, a digitized document, formatted as an image file and representing a scanned original page with a page boundary, is received. An image resolution for the digitized document is identified. A height and width of the page boundary, measured in pixels, is identified. A desired trim size for the digitized document is determined based on a function of the identified page boundary height and width and the image resolution. An available trim size that is closest to the desired trim size is selected for printing of the digitized document, via data indicative of available trim sizes stored in a computer-readable medium.
US08542396B2 System of making a personalized photo album
A personalized photo album preparing system edits digital photos according to the page format of a photo album and allows people to browse or print on a network after saving them. The system includes a processing unit, a displaying unit, a human-machine interface, and an outputting unit. The processing unit is built in with design software. One can manipulate the design software via the human-machine interface to selectively edit the page format and digital photos in the album. The user can further output the digital photos that are edited and saved. Therefore, the invention enables its user to create a desired page format and digital photos.
US08542393B1 Print control apparatus, image forming system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
A print control apparatus includes an accepting unit, a generating unit, a transmission unit, a display, a determination unit, and a display controller. The accepting unit accepts a print request. The generating unit generates, on the basis of the print request, print data for outputting an image onto printing paper. The transmission unit transmits the print data to a printing apparatus. The display displays a display screen of a list of print requests accepted by the accepting unit, together with process states of the print requests. The determination unit determines whether a progress speed with which processes based on the print requests are to be completed is not lower than a value. When the progress speed is lower than the set value, the display controller updates the display screen at first time intervals, and, otherwise, updates the display screen at second time intervals longer than the first time intervals.
US08542385B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing system, and computer-readable recording medium thereof
An image processing apparatus is disclosed, including: a managing part, a use amount storing part, a setting part, and a determining part. The managing part manages a group threshold of a group including multiple members allowed to use the function for a use amount of the function. The use amount storing part stores a value of the use amount for each member. The setting part allocates the group threshold to the multiple members based on a value of a priority for each member in the group, and sets a member threshold for each member. The determining part determines whether a restriction concerning a use of the function is applied to a process of a use request, based on a result from comparing the value of the use amount with the member threshold for the request originator in response to the use request of the function.
US08542377B2 Image forming apparatus for enabling printing of confidential image data
When new image data is received by a communication I/F portion, a determination portion determines whether or not a password set to image data stored in the storage portion coincides with a password set to new image data received by the reception portion. A second image forming control portion does not execute image formation based on the new image data with a first image forming control portion when the determination portion determines that a password set to image data stored in the storage portion coincides with a password set to new image data received by the communication I/F portion.
US08542376B2 Pre-paid document processing devices and operating methods
Document processing devices and methods are presented, in which the device stores a remaining print unit value in its memory that represents the amount of print units currently available to enable the device to perform the document processing operations, and a programmable computer of the device selectively performs document processing jobs for users and decrements the remaining print unit value until the value reaches zero and the device provides for expenditure of print units according to color content and/or coverage levels determined for a given job.
US08542369B2 Printing system and method to eliminate excess blank space between print positions
A printer having multiple stages of nozzles is controlled to avoid or minimize blank space between print portions when printing on roll paper. A controller in communication with the printer is configured to determine if last partial print data to be printed contains blank raster data. If so, the controller calculates the difference between a total number of rasters in the first through the last partial print data and the number of blank rasters in the last partial print data, prints the last partial print data, and controls the paper transportation mechanism to advance the roll paper only the calculated distance to eliminate excess blank space between print portions. The functionality of the controller is also embodied in a method for controlling a printer as described above.
US08542359B2 Digital filter spectrum sensor
A spectrum sensing method includes (a) receiving an incident radiation simultaneously through a filter array composed of multiple bandpass filters, (b) digitizing spectral responses of the filter array, and (c) generating an estimate of spectral profile of the incident radiation based on digitized spectral responses of the filter array.
US08542357B2 Method and device for measuring circular dichroism spectra
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems by using an optical arrangement that is totally different from the conventional CD spectra measuring method, and to provide a method and device for measuring circular dichroism spectra, which can measure the CD spectrum in much shorter time even with the use of a small light source. The method for measuring circular dichroism spectra according to the present invention comprising the steps of irradiating a white light projected from a white light source to a sample without dispersing the light into a monochromatic light, dispersing the light output from the sample, detecting a light intensity of the dispersed light by a detector having a sensor consisting of a charge-coupled device, and then measuring a circular dichroism spectrum of the sample on the basis of a result of the detection by the detector (FIG. 1).
US08542348B2 Color sensor insensitive to distance variations
A system for calibrating a color sensing pixel based upon the distance between the color sensing pixel and an object. The distance is determined by measuring the phase shift of electromagnetic radiation as reflected from the surface of the object compared with the wave profile of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the object surface. The color sensing pixel is associated with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) pixel which is employed to determine the distance of the color sensing pixel. The electromagnetic radiation can be from any part of the electromagnetic spectrum, in particular the infrared and visible light portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The color sensing pixel and the ToF pixel can reside on the same semiconductor or on disparate semiconductors.
US08542340B2 Illumination optimization
A method of optimizing an illumination pupil shape for a lithographic process comprises identifying a target pattern to be imaged by said lithographic process. It further comprises identifying at least one optimization point in said target pattern and identifying at least one design for manufacturing metric per optimization point. Additionally, it comprises selecting a set of illumination source points based on the identified at least one design for manufacturing metric and determining the illumination pupil shape based on the selected set of illumination source points.
US08542337B2 Pixel structure of active matrix organic light emitting display and manufacturing thereof
An embodiment of the invention provides a pixel structure of an active matrix organic light emitting display comprising a gate line, a common electrode line, a signal line, a power line, a first thin film transistor which is used as an addressing element, and a second thin film transistor which controls the organic light emitting display. A short-circuit-ring structure is connected between the common electrode line and the signal line and the short-circuit-ring structure communicates the signal line and the common electrode line in the case where a large current flows.
US08542334B2 Variable contrast, wide viewing angle LCD light-switching filter
A new concept of the LCD light-switching optical filter allowing for very high, electrically controlled, continuously variable light attenuation (up to ≧100,000) optimized/symmetrized for the light incidence along the normal to the LCD plane is proposed. The new LCD light-switching optical filter also exhibits very low light attenuation dependence for the oblique incidence of light within a limited cone of angles off the normal incidence direction in compliance with the international safety and quality regulation EN 379 for personal protection equipment. According to the invention the problem is solved by specific, novel modification of the general principle of highly twisted nematic LCDs, allowing for the adaptation of the light transmission/driving voltage characteristics to specific requirements of the driving electronics as well as “symmetrizing” the overall optical birefringent properties, which in turn results in a high degree of their angular compensation.
US08542332B2 Liquid crystal display device comprising a protection sheet attached to a reflector and including a protruding part that extends along a first direction from an edge of the protection sheet
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel; a main frame surrounding sides of the liquid crystal panel; a backlight unit disposed under the liquid crystal panel and surrounded by the main frame, the backlight unit including a light guide plate, a lamp at a side of the light guide plate, a reflector under the light guide plate and an optical sheet on the light guide plate, wherein a rear surface of the reflector is exposed through an opening of the main frame; and a protection sheet attached to the rear surface of the reflector to protect the rear surface of the reflector and including a protruding part at a side of the protection sheet, the protection sheet has a rectangular shape.
US08542330B2 Liquid crystal display device
The present invention has a pixel which includes a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a first resistor, a second resistor, a first liquid crystal element, and a second liquid crystal element. A pixel electrode of the first liquid crystal element is electrically connected to a signal line through the first switch. The pixel electrode of the first liquid crystal element is electrically connected to a pixel electrode of the second liquid crystal element through the second switch and the first resistor. The pixel electrode of the second liquid crystal element is electrically connected to a Cs line through the third switch and the second resistor. A common electrode of the first liquid crystal element is electrically connected to a common electrode of the second liquid crystal element.
US08542327B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device, which is configured such that a liquid crystal layer is held between a pair of substrates, includes scanning lines extending in a row direction of matrix-arrayed pixels; and signal lines extending in a column direction of the pixels, wherein a pixel between a pair of ones of the signal lines, which neighbor in the row direction, includes, on an identical one of the pair of substrates, a first electrode which is connected to one of the pair of ones of the signal lines, and a second electrode which is opposed to the first electrode via an interlayer insulation film and is connected to the other of the pair of ones of the signal lines.
US08542326B2 3D shutter glasses for use with LCD displays
A viewing system for viewing video displays having the appearance of a three dimensional image.
US08542322B2 Motion compensated interpolation system using combination of full and intermediate frame occlusion
In one embodiment of the present invention, motion compensated interpolation is performed by locating full frame conceal and reveal areas, determining intermediate frame occlusion areas of an interpolated frame of the displayable output by locating intermediate frame conceal areas based on projected locations of pixels within the full frame conceal areas using primary forward motion vectors and information about a time slot for the interpolated frame, and by locating intermediate frame reveal areas based on projected locations of pixels within the full frame reveal areas using primary backward motion vectors and information about the time slot for the interpolated frame. The intermediate frame conceal areas are then modified by projecting locations of pixels using secondary forward motion vectors and the intermediate frame reveal areas are modified by projecting locations of pixels using secondary backward motion vectors.
US08542319B1 Interlaced video pre-processor
Methods and systems for pre-processing a progressive scan signal comprise: receiving by a processor thea progressive scan signal; detecting an amount of vertical motion present in the progressive scan signal; low pass filtering the progressive scan signal in a vertical domain as a function of the amount of vertical motion present to generate a pre-filtered progressive signal; and interlacing the pre-filtered progressive signal to generate an interlaced signal having a minimal amount of artifacts.
US08542312B2 Device having image reconstructing function, method, and storage medium
A reconstructed image with less noise is reconstructed from a lens array image. An image reconstructing device acquires the lens array image formed by a lens array comprising an array of multiple sub-lenses for an optical image of an object formed by a main lens. The image reconstructing device comprises an interpolation part interpolating a third sub-image formed by a third sub-lens based on the first sub-image and the second sub-image constituting the acquired lens array image, wherein the third sub-lens is positioned between the first sub-lens forming the first sub-image and the second sub-lens forming the second sub-image. The image reconstructing device comprises a reconstructing part reconstructing an image of the object formed by the main lens focused on a point at a given distance from the interpolated third sub-image, the first sub-image and the second sub-image.
US08542309B2 Wafer-level lens array, method of manufacturing wafer-level lens array, lens module and imaging unit
Disclosed are a wafer-level lens array, a method of manufacturing a wafer-level lens array, a lens module, and an imaging unit that can prevent the influence of, for example, the shrinkage of a forming material, prevent the positional deviation between lenses when the wafer-level lens arrays overlap each other or when the wafer-level lens array overlaps an imaging element array, and be easily designed.A method of manufacturing a wafer-level lens array including a substrate unit and a plurality of lens units that is arranged on the substrate unit includes: forming the substrate unit; and integrally forming the lens units that are made of a resin having substantially the same optical characteristics as a material forming the substrate unit with the substrate unit.
US08542297B2 Method for automatically adjusting the levels of illumination sources in an optical measurement machine
A process for pre-calibrating illumination sources permits illumination light intensities to be set to a near optimal level during training of an optical inspection system. Applicants have found that the illumination source intensities for a category of illuminators are sufficiently constant from machine to machine that the data collected during calibration of an illumination source on a machine using a particular type of source may be used on other machines of the same type using the same type of illumination source when combined with the reticle light intensity data for different zoom magnification's of the particular machine being used. That is, using known data for particular machine and the illumination source light intensity data for the same type of machine and illumination source permits accurate presetting of an illumination source.
US08542296B2 Super-resolution digital zoom
When a user selects digital zooming in a camera such as might be included in a wireless telephone or PDA, a series of images are automatically obtained and superimposed using super-resolution techniques to produce an improved digital zoom image transparently to the user.
US08542292B2 Flicker correction device, flicker correction method and flicker correction program
An average value calculation section 100 calculates an average value of each line during the validity period of an input image signal. A three-field average value calculation section 104 calculates a 50 Hz flicker signal from which the light and shade of a subject is removed. A difference value calculation section 105 subtracts an n-field preceding field line average value from the line average value of the present frame. Then, a 60 Hz flicker signal, from which the light and shade of the subject is removed, is calculated by dividing the difference value by the line average value of the present frame. A flicker determination section 112 determines whether flicker exists or not, and whether the flicker frequency is 50 Hz or 60 Hz, on the basis of the extraction results of the 50 Hz flicker component extraction section 108, and of the 60 Hz flicker component extraction section 109.
US08542276B2 Object Tracking method and apparatus for a non-overlapping-sensor network
An object tracking method for a non-overlapping-sensor network works in a sensor network. The method may comprise a training phase and a detection phase. In the training phase, a plurality of sensor information measured by the sensors in the sensor network is used as training samples. At least an entrance/exit is marked out within the measurement range of each sensor. At least three characteristic functions including sensor spatial relation among the sensors in the sensor network, difference of movement time and similarity in appearance, are estimated by an automatically learning method. The at least three characteristic functions are used as the principles for object tracking and relationship linking in the detection phase.
US08542275B2 Method and apparatus for cross-section processing and observation
A cross-section processing and observation method includes: forming a first cross section in a sample by etching processing using a focused ion beam; obtaining image information of the first cross section by irradiating the focused ion beam to the first cross section; forming a second cross section by performing etching processing on the first cross section; obtaining image information of the second cross section by irradiating the focused ion beam to an irradiation region including the second cross section; displaying image information of a part of a display region of the irradiation region from the image information of the second cross section; displaying the image information of the first cross section by superimposing it on the image information being displayed; and moving the display region within the irradiation region. Observation images in which display regions are aligned can be obtained while reducing damage to the sample.
US08542269B2 Charge coupled device for obtaining a 3-dimensional digital image
The present invention relates to a charge coupled device, which is improved to obtain a distinct and clear 3-dimensional image without requiring separate equipment. The charge coupled device for obtaining a 3-dimensional image according to the present invention includes a main body (101), having an open top and a cavity formed therein, and having a chip pin formed on an outer surface thereof to transfer information to an electronic element of a digital image recording device. A light receiving element (102) is mounted on a bottom surface of interior of the main body and consists of a set of a plurality of optical sensors, which are sensitive to light. A slit plate (110) is configured to cover an opening of the cavity of the main body, and is formed such that transparent parts and opaque parts are arranged to alternate.
US08542261B2 Method for color erasing process and color erasing device
According to an embodiment, a method for color erasing process includes the steps of: supplying a power to a heat source configured to heat a sheet having an image formed thereon using a color erasable material so as to cause heat generation as warming-up control; stopping the power supply to the heat source for a predetermined period of time in the warming-up control if the temperature of the heat source is increased starting from a temperature lower than a predetermined reference value that is lower than a color erasing temperature of the color erasable material and exceeds the predetermined reference value; performing maintenance control that is power supply control to maintain the temperature of the heat source at the target temperature; and performing, after the passage of the predetermined period of time, a color erasing process by the heat source.
US08542259B2 Printing medium, printing method, and printing apparatus using photonic crystal characteristic
The present invention provides a printing medium, a printing method, and a printing apparatus using a photonic crystal characteristic. According to the present invention, the printing medium using the photonic crystal characteristic comprises a medium in which a plurality of particles having electric charges are dispersed, wherein the inter-particle distances of the particles are controlled as a result of at least one of electric fields and magnetic fields are applied to the medium, and the inter-particle distances of the particles are fixed as the energy is applied to the medium.
US08542256B2 Digital gamma correction system and method
A digital gamma correction system for detecting a brightness of a liquid crystal panel, and correcting a gamma voltage, based on the detected brightness, includes an offset setter for setting the number of detection gray levels and a first detection area, for the detection of the brightness of the liquid crystal panel, a plurality of brightness detectors for detecting brightness values output from the first detection area for the detection gray levels, a controller for processing the brightness values detected by the brightness detectors, a non-linear interpolation data processor for processing a brightness value supplied from the controller, thereby generating non-linear interpolation data as a brightness variation rate according to the gray levels, a brightness corrector for generating gamma correction data for brightness values obtained by interpolating brightness values detected in a second detection area of another liquid crystal panel for a second number of detection gray levels, based on the non-linear interpolation data, and a memory for storing the gamma correction data generated from the brightness corrector.
US08542253B2 Magnification engine
An improved graphics processing system and method are described for magnifying visual output information for printing, display, or other output. A graphics engine transforms display information so as to magnify one or more components or areas of an output image for display via output hardware such as a screen or printer. Magnification parameters are supplied to the graphics engine by one or more magnification applications. In an embodiment of the invention, the graphics engine performs compositing of magnified and unmagnified content for display. In an alternative embodiment, the graphics engine outputs corresponding scaled image material to the appropriate magnification application for rendering. In a further embodiment, the graphics engine may operate in both modes. The magnified output according to various embodiments of the invention enhances the accessibility of the computer system for visually handicapped or impaired users by providing high quality magnification and increased system and application stability.
US08542240B2 Electronic device having switchable graphics processors
An electronic device comprises at least two graphics processors, referred to herein as an integrated graphics processor and a discrete graphics processor. In some circumstances, the device may be switched between the integrated graphics processor and the discrete graphics processor. In some embodiments, techniques are implemented to lock temporarily the screen display on the output of a controller while the device executes a switch between graphics processors, thereby eliminating, or at least reducing, the presence of a blank output display on the electronic device. Other embodiments may be described.
US08542236B2 Generating animation libraries
A computer-implemented method includes transferring motion information from one or more motion meshes to an animation mesh. The motion mesh represents the motion of surface features of an object. A shape mesh provides a portion of the shape of the object to the animation mesh.
US08542235B2 System and method for displaying complex scripts with a cloud computing architecture
A system and method for displaying complex scripts with a cloud computing architecture may include a client device and a cloud computing server. The client device accesses a web application via the internet and transmits a request containing complex scripts to the cloud computing server. The cloud computing server parses the text and breaks the text down to a sequence of characters of a particular script, and maps the Unicode of each character to a particular glyph to obtain a glyph ID for each character making a one to one relationship. The cloud computing server analyzes each character, assigns, and applies specific font related operations to each glyph. The cloud computing server optimizes and compresses the glyph ID and positioning data, and transmit the compressed data back to the client device to be rendered on the display of the client device.
US08542225B2 Emission control line drivers, organic light emitting display devices using the same and methods of controlling a width of an emission control signal
An emission control line driver includes even-numbered stages that are connected to even-numbered emission control lines, respectively, and are driven by a first clock signal, and odd-numbered stages that are connected to odd-numbered emission control lines, respectively, and are driven by a second clock signal, wherein each of the stages includes an input unit adapted to receive a control signal and an inverted control signal output from a previous one of the even and odd numbered stages or from an external source, the input unit being adapted to control voltages of a first node and a second node, a first output unit adapted to generate an emission control signal based on the voltages of the first node and the second node, and a second output unit adapted to generate an inverted emission control signal based on the voltages of the first node and the second node.
US08542215B2 Mutual capacitance measurement in a multi-touch input device
Systems and methods for determining multiple touch events in a multi-touch sensor system are provided. The system may include a capacitance measurement unit, a pulse drive unit, and a touch sensor having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of electrodes comprising at least two sets of electrodes. The method may include connecting a first electrode in a first set to the capacitance measurement unit, the pulse drive unit driving a voltage or current pulse onto a second electrode in a second set of electrodes. The method may further include the capacitance measurement unit measuring the mutual capacitance at a node corresponding to the first and second electrodes. The method may include comparing the measured mutual capacitance at the node with a previously measured mutual capacitance for the node, and reporting that the node has been touched if there has been a deviation from the previously measured mutual capacitance.
US08542208B2 Multi-touch auto scanning
A system and method for autonomously scanning a sensor panel device is disclosed. A sensor panel processor can be disabled after a first predetermined amount of time has elapsed without the sensor panel device sensing any events. One or more system clocks can also be disabled to conserve power. While the processor and one or more system clocks are disabled, the sensor panel device can periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel for touch activity. If one or more results from the autonomous scans exceed a threshold, the sensor panel device re-enables the processor and one or more clocks to actively scan the sensor panel. If the threshold is not exceeded, the sensor panel device continues to periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel without intervention from the processor. The sensor panel device can periodically perform calibration functions to account for any drift that may be present in the system.
US08542203B2 Touchpad with strip-shaped input area
A touchpad with an input area having a straight or curved main line of extension comprises a support element, a cover having a first surface facing away from the support element and a second surface facing towards the support element and one or more spacers arranged at a periphery of the input area. The one or more spacers mount the cover on the support element in such a way that the cover spans over the support plate in the input area while it is depressible towards the support element by a force acting on the input area of the touchpad. A resistive trace is so arranged on the support element that it extends along the main line of extension of the input area. At least one terminal contacts the resistive trace at a particular point of the main line of extension of the input area and a set of detection electrodes is arranged on the second surface of the cover in facing relationship with the resistive trace. The detection electrodes are configured and arranged for capacitively detecting a position of a user's finger or stylus when the user's finger or stylus is in proximity of or in light touch with the first surface of the cover, and for resistively detecting a position of a user's finger or stylus when the user's finger or stylus depresses the cover and so brings at least one of the detection electrodes into electrical contact with the resistive trace.
US08542199B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an image processing unit for performing the image processing function by changing its execution parameter for the image processing function, which is associated with a processing result display area for displaying an image processing result acquired from applying a predetermined image processing function to specified image data, based on at least one of a surface area size of an operator contacting the processing result display area or contact duration in which the operator contacts the processing result display area.
US08542195B2 Method for optimization of soft keyboards for multiple languages
A method, and program product for optimizing soft keyboards with multiple languages is disclosed. The text of multiple languages may be analyzed for optimization. Constraints may be chosen for key positions on the keyboard. A mean time of inputting a character in each of the multiple languages may be calculated, which may result in mean times for inputting the character in the languages. The average of the mean times may be determined and minimized. The keys on a soft keyboard may be arranged in a manner for optimal input on the soft keyboard for the multiple languages.
US08542185B2 Method and apparatus for operating mobile terminal
A method for operating a mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a pressure sensor and an orientation sensor. While a pressure event is detected by the pressure sensor, functions related to content classification, content storage, content display, and menu navigation can be executed in response to a direction event detected by the orientation sensor. Hence, the mobile terminal is capable of operating in a dynamic and a flexible manner.
US08542180B2 Method of driving display panel and display apparatus for performing the same
A method of driving a display panel includes generating a gate on voltage, a first gate off voltage and a second gate off voltage. A clock signal is generated based upon the gate on voltage and the second gate off voltage. A first panel gate off voltage substantially the same as the first gate off voltage and a second panel gate off voltage substantially the same as the second gate off voltage are generated in a first operating mode. A first panel gate off voltage greater than the first gate off voltage and a second panel gate off voltage greater than the second gate off voltage are generated in a second operating mode. A gate signal is generated based upon the clock signal and the first and second panel gate off voltages to a gate line of the display panel.
US08542177B2 Data driving apparatus and display device comprising the same
A data driving apparatus includes a horizontal synchronization start signal generation circuit and data driving circuit. The horizontal synchronization start signal generation circuit generates a horizontal synchronization start signal using image data signals. The data driving circuit samples the image data signals in response to the horizontal synchronization start signal and supplies a plurality of data signals using the sampled image data signals in response to a load signal. The horizontal synchronization start signal generation circuit is disabled in response to the load signal.
US08542161B2 Display device
A display device includes a substrate, gate lines, data lines, gate tracking lines, and dummy gate tracking lines. The gate lines and the data lines are arranged perpendicularly. Each gate tracking line is disposed between one parts of two adjacent data lines, and substantially parallel to the data lines. Each dummy gate tracking line is electrically disconnected to the gate lines, disposed between other parts of two adjacent data lines, and substantially parallel to the data lines.
US08542156B2 Pedestal for tracking antenna
A pedestal for tracking antenna includes a horizontal isolation assembly dimensioned and configured to isolate the support plate from horizontal vibration and shock of the base ring, a hub assembly including a support mounted on the horizontal isolation assembly rotatably supporting a rotating frame about a first azimuth axis, a vertical isolation assembly including an upright frame and a cross-level axis support slidably interconnected with a linear bearing assembly, the linear bearing assembly having a profiled rail slidably received within a complementary shaped bearing block, wherein the profiled rail can not twist axially relative to the bearing block, a cross-level frame pivotally mounted on the cross-level axis support about a second cross-level axis, and/or an elevation frame assembly supporting the tracking antenna and pivotally mounted on the cross-level frame about a third elevation axis.
US08542150B2 Planar broadband antenna
A planar antenna comprising a planarly configured inner radiation element that is surrounded by an outer radiation element, wherein the inner and outer radiation elements each have a feed point. A continuous or discontinuous modification of the distance, which is equal in relation to a symmetrical axis of the inner radiation element, exists between the inner radiation element and the outer radiation element. The distance between the outer and the inner radiation element is different in the area of the two feed points from that in the area facing away from the feed points.
US08542148B1 Polarization control for cell telecommunication system
A base station for use in a wireless communications system is disclosed, including transceiver circuitry for transmitting and receiving with at least one mobile device over at least one communications channel. Polarization control logic is included for controlling a polarization of signals transmitted over the at least one communications channel. The polarization control logic adjusts a polarization of the signal transmitted on the at least one communications channel responsive to at least one parameter received from the mobile device relating to a quality of signal received on the at least one communications channel.
US08542139B2 Current switch driving circuit and digital to analog converter
Provided are a current switch driving circuit generating a signal for driving a current switch, and a digital-to-analog converter using the same. The current switch driving circuit includes a first PMOS transistor in which a source terminal is connected to a power supply terminal, a gate terminal receives an input signal, and a drain terminal outputs a driving signal, an NMOS transistor in which a drain terminal is connected to the drain terminal of the first PMOS transistor, and a gate terminal receives the input signal, a second PMOS transistor in which a source terminal is connected to a source terminal of the NMOS transistor, a gate terminal is connected to a bias voltage terminal, and a drain terminal is connected to a ground terminal, and a control current source allowing the second PMOS transistor to be maintained constantly in an ON state.
US08542135B2 Compression algorithm incorporating automatic generation of a bank of predefined huffman dictionaries
A system and method of selecting a predefined Huffman dictionary from a bank of dictionaries. The dictionary selection mechanism of the present invention effectively breaks the built-in tradeoff between compression ratio and compression rate for both hardware and software compression implementations. A mechanism is provided for automatically creating a predefined Huffman dictionary for a set of input files. The dictionary selection mechanism achieves high compression rate and ratio leveraging predefined Huffman dictionaries and provides a mechanism for dynamically speculating which predefined dictionary to select per input data block, thereby achieving close to a dynamic Huffman ratio at a static Huffman rate. In addition, a feedback loop is used to monitor the ongoing performance of the preset currently selected for use by the hardware accelerator. If the current preset is not optimal it is replaced with an optimal preset.
US08542125B2 System for verifying the integrity of an electrical union
A system is provided for verifying the performance of an electrical union. The electrical union provides electrical connectivity across an interface between first and second elements which rotate relative to each other. The system includes a signal source associated with the first element. The signal source is adapted to send an electrical signal over the union to the second element using a first signal frequency. The system further includes a frequency modulator associated with the second element. The frequency modulator is adapted to return the electrical signal over the union to the first element using a different second signal frequency. The system further includes a comparator which compares the signal sent by the data source to the signal returned by the frequency modulator. The comparator provides an output which identifies whether a discrepancy exists between the contents of the sent and returned signals.
US08542123B2 Multi-mode communication ingestible event markers and systems, and methods of using the same
Aspects of the invention include multi-mode communication ingestible event marker devices. Ingestible event marker devices of the invention include an ingestible component comprising a conductive communication module and at least one additional non-conductive communication module. The non-conductive communication module may be integrated with the ingestible component or at least a portion or all of the non-conductive communication module may be associated with a packaging component of the ingestible event marker device. Additional aspects of the invention include systems that include the devices and one or more receivers, as well as methods of using the same.
US08542119B2 Combination non-programmable and programmable key for security device
A combination non-programmable and programmable key for a security device of the type used to display items of merchandise includes a non-programmable portion for cooperating with a mechanical lock of the security device and a programmable portion for cooperating with a sensor of the security device that is operatively coupled to an alarm for indicating a security threat to the security device or to an item of merchandise displayed on the security device. The non-programmable portion includes a side assembly having a magnet that cooperates with a magnetically attractable locking pin to unlock the mechanical lock of the security device. The programmable portion emits an energy signal that cooperates with the sensor of the security device to disarm the alarm and thereby permit the security device to be removed or an item of merchandise to be removed without the alarm indicating a security threat.
US08542117B1 Predictive alert targeting for mass notification systems
A system and a method are disclosed for predicting potential reach of an alert to a targeted audience, targeted personal delivery devices and targeted non-personal notification delivery devices in an emergency mass notification system. The method includes receiving recipients and alert delivery devices data which define a targeted audience and devices of an emergency alert. The method further comprises evaluating contact and configuration data targeting quality rating, tracking data targeting quality rating and real-time data targeting quality rating based on the received recipients and devices data and a data sources repository. Responsive to the targeting quality ratings and prediction weighting data (e.g., numeric weights and descriptive thresholds), the method generating one or more predictions of the potential reach of the alert based on the targeting quality ratings.
US08542114B2 Cap-lamp and communications support system
An underground radio communications and personnel tracking system uses a cap-lamp worn by a miner when underground in a mine. A cap-lamp transceiver provides voice and text communication on ultra-low frequency (ULF) to ultra-high frequency (UHF) carrier frequencies and modulation adapted by programming of a software defined radio to making selective and agile radio contacts via through-the-earth, conductor/lifeline, coal seam, tunnel, and ionosphere/earth-surface waveguides for transmission of electromagnetic waves. These waveguides comprise layered earth coal and mineral deposits, and manmade mining complex infrastructures which serendipitously form efficient waveguides. Ultra-Low Frequency F1/F1 repeaters are placed underground in the mine, and providing for extended range of communication of the cap-lamp transceiver with radios and tracking devices above ground of the mine.
US08542113B2 Apparatus and method for determining location and tracking coordinates of a tracking device
A device and method to monitor location coordinates of an electronic tracking device are disclosed here. The device includes circuitry to receive at least one portion of a receive communication signal comprising location coordinates information; accelerometer circuitry to measure differential positioning of the portable electronic tracking device; and a battery power monitor configured to selectively activate and deactivate at least one portion of the transceiver circuitry and location tracking circuitry. The method includes receiving at a portable electronic tracking device at least one portion of a receive communication signal comprising location coordinates information; measuring differential positioning of the portable electronic tracking device; and activating and deactivating at least one portion of the transceiver circuitry and location tracking circuitry.
US08542112B2 Navigation system with physical activity safety mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: monitoring a participant's movement, the participant's movement is movement to a sequence of locations; identifying a movement area based on the participant's movement in a physical activity; generating a safety zone encompassing the movement area; monitoring an intrusion into the safety zone; and generating a notification of a dangerous situation based on the intrusion for displaying on a device.
US08542111B2 Programmable communicator
A programmable communicator device is disclosed having a wireless communications circuit, including an antenna, configured to receive a transmission, and an identity module having a unique identifier. The programmable communicator further includes a processing module including program code configured to determine if the transmission is from an authenticated caller by determining whether a received transmission contains the unique identifier, and memory configured to store telephone numbers or IP addresses received in transmissions from an authenticated caller.
US08542108B1 Dynamic dashboard display
A dashboard for use in a vehicle is provided. The dashboard comprises a dashboard display screen and a processor. The dashboard display presents a plurality of information components to a vehicle occupant and the processor determines a condition. The condition is comprised of at least one of a fuel condition, a brake fluid condition, a speed condition, a tire pressure condition, an oil condition, an engine condition, an instrument condition, a washer fluid condition, an anti-lock brake system condition, a traction control system condition, a windshield wiper motor condition, a safety restraint system condition, and a weather condition. The processor adapts a first display signal based on the condition and sends the first display signal to the dashboard display screen to command presentation by the dashboard display screen of the information components. Adapting the first display signal comprises at least one of changing size, changing location, and changing the scale of at least one information component presented on the dashboard display screen.
US08542107B2 Vapor alarm in flotation fob
An apparatus includes an alarm device, enclosed in a water tight container adapted to buoyantly support the alarm device and a wireless receiver, the water tight container adapted to couple with a key ring, including hardware logic and-or logic embodied in machine readable memory to receive information from a remote vapor sensor and to activate the alarm if the information indicates a hazardous vapor condition.
US08542104B2 RFID edge server having a programmable logic controller API
An RFID edge server is adapted to receive RFID data from RFID readers. The RFID edge server can have a PLC API to allow the RFID edge server to control and receive data from devices.
US08542103B2 Radio frequency identification reading by using error correcting codes on sets of tags
A method and a system are described for improved reading of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags using correcting codes on sets of electronic tags. A reading device requests information from each of a set of electronic tags. The information includes an identification code and a portion of a codeword, the codeword contains a coded message with identification codes of all tags in the set. The information is received from a subset of the set of tags. Portions of the codeword from the received tag information of the subset of tags are assembled. A decoding component to decode the assembled portions and to construct the coded message from the assembled portions of the codeword. Information is individually received from a remaining set of the tags in the set of tags. An enterprise system processes the received information from all tags in the set.
US08542093B2 Networked movable barrier operator system
A network operator radio module (NORM) configured to be removably attached to a barrier operator comprises a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna, a transceiver antenna, and a microcontroller. The module communicates with a communication network that comprises various nodes configured by a network controller module and a network communication module. Each node may be associated with a network appliance, and may be remotely controlled by sending a suitable function code to the module via local command signals. Furthermore, various local remote transmitters and keyless entry transmitters are configured to transmit function codes to control the module and the associated various network appliances.
US08542091B2 Control of transmitter peak power and duty ratio in a wireless system to maintain average transmitter power and increase communication range
When supplying a power from a base station to a terminal station on radio and a distance from a base station to a terminal station is long, it becomes impossible for the terminal station to rectify the power. The feature of the present invention is found in a wireless communication system in which the peak value and duty ratio of a transmission power are controlled simultaneously, keeping the transmission power of a base station below a fixed value, thereby allowing a voltage to be applied to a diode, which is a component of a rectifier circuit possessed by a terminal station, always in excess of a threshold voltage of the diode, and energy is exchanged between the base station and the terminal station below a limit power.
US08542086B2 Conductive polymer electronic devices with surface mountable configuration and methods for manufacturing same
Surface-mountable conductive polymer electronic devices include at least one conductive polymer active layer laminated between upper and lower electrodes. Upper and lower insulation layers, respectively, sandwich the upper and lower electrodes. First and second planar conductive terminals are formed on the lower insulation layer. First and second cross-conductors are provided by plated through-hole vias, whereby the cross-conductors connect each of the electrodes to one of the terminals. Certain embodiments include two or more active layers, arranged in a vertically-stacked configuration and electrically connected by the cross-conductors and electrodes in parallel. Several embodiments include at least one cross-conductor having a chamfered or beveled entry hole through the upper insulation layer to provide enhanced adhesion between the cross-conductor and the insulation layer. Several methods for manufacturing the present surface-mountable conductive polymer electronic devices are also provided.
US08542085B2 High frequency rotary transformer for synchronous electrical machines
A high frequency rotary transformer for an electrical machine includes a primary transformer component having a primary transformer winding, and a secondary transformer component having a secondary transformer winding. The primary transformer winding is configured to be coupled to a DC power source via a DC to AC converter. The secondary transformer winding is configured to be coupled to a winding of the rotor. Each of the primary and secondary transformer components are mechanically coupled to either the stator or the rotor. The secondary transformer component is configured to rotate with respect to the primary transformer component to produce a magnetic flux via the primary transformer winding and the secondary transformer winding.
US08542083B2 Collapsible mechanism for circuit breakers
A device can be installed inside a circuit breaker assembly to reduce friction between an armature and a cradle, which in turn, allows the circuit breaker to trip without requiring significant force. Such device can be a collapsible mechanism configured to swivel about its hinged connection to the armature.
US08542073B2 Variable-capacitance device
A variable-capacitance device includes a first capacitance element coupled between a first power supply terminal and an output terminal, a capacitance selection switch that is turned on and off in accordance with a capacitance switching signal, a second capacitance element coupled in parallel to the first capacitance element and in series to the capacitance selection switch, and an error correction circuit configured to operate such that in a state in which the capacitance selection switch is in an OFF state, in response to a charge reset signal that causes a voltage at the output terminal to be reset to a reset voltage, the error correction circuit substantially eliminates a difference between the voltage at the output terminal and a voltage at a capacitance switching node at which the second capacitance element is coupled to the capacitance selection switch.
US08542063B2 Adaptive amplification circuit
An adaptive amplification circuit is disclosed, which includes an operational amplifier including a variable bias current source for providing a variable bias current for the operational amplifier, a simulation unit for simulating operational characteristics of the operational amplifier and transforming a simulation input voltage to a simulation output voltage, and a bias control unit for generating a bias control signal to the variable bias current source according to the simulation output voltage so as to adjust the variable bias current.
US08542062B2 Adaptive digital pre-distortion method and device to enhance the power utility of power amplifiers in wireless digital communication applications
The present invention concerns the field of power amplifiers and in particular the enhancement of the performance of the amplifier by a feedback loop acting on the input signal. It describes a method for linearizing a power amplifier circuit having a digital base-band input signal, a power output signal, a power amplifier and a linearizer module (LM), this method comprising the steps of: extracting a feedback signal from the power amplifier (PA) output signal, down-converting the feedback RF-signal to feedback IF-signal, filtering the feedback IF-signal with a band-pass filter, A/D converting the filtered feedback IF-signal into a feedback digital signal, converting the feedback digital signal into frequency-domain using fast-Fourier transform FFT on a block of n-samples to obtain a feedback FB-FFT block, converting the input base-band digital signal into frequency-domain using fast-Fourier transform FFT on a block of n-samples to obtain a input FF-FFT block, dividing the input FF-FFT block with the feedback FB-FFT block to obtain FFT correction samples blocks, averaging at least two blocks of FFT correction samples to obtain FFT correction coefficient values, applying the FFT correction coefficient values to a digital complex multiplier, converting the output of the multiplier from frequency domain into time domain with an inverse FFT module to obtain a corrected digital input signal, converting the corrected digital input signal to analog IF signal with a digital to analog converter to obtain a corrected IF input signal, applying the band-pass filter to the corrected IF input signal, up-converting the filtered corrected IF input signal to obtain a corrected RF input signal, applying the corrected RF input signal to the power amplifier.
US08542059B2 Ultra-low-power power supply system for an IC chip
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a power supply system that uses a capacitive voltage divider to selectively monitor various power supplies on an IC chip. The power supply system may sample a monitored power supply to a capacitor and select certain capacitors from a set of switched capacitors to divide down the sampled voltage. The resulting voltage may be compared to a voltage reference. Using different selections of switched capacitors, the monitored power supply may be compared for different voltage levels. The ratio of the sampling capacitor to the selected capacitors may determine a voltage level the comparator will trigger. Further, based on the monitored power supply level, the power supply system may turn on a switch between an external power supply and a regulated digital power supply to charge the regulated digital power supply while a main LDO is turned off.
US08542058B2 Semiconductor device including body connected FETs
A semiconductor device includes: a first field-effect transistor (FET); and a second FET of similar polarity to the first FET, wherein a body of the first FET is electrically coupled to a body of the second FET, and a source of the first FET is electrically coupled to a source of the second FET, such that a body voltage of the second FET controls a body voltage of the first FET.
US08542048B2 Double edge triggered flip flop
A dual edge triggered flip flop circuit uses clock signals that are delayed from a first clock signal and from one another by respective intervals. A first set of the plurality of clock signals are used to operate a first latch circuit to allow first data to be conducted to a storage element for a period of time after a rising edge of a first clock signal. The clock signals are further used to operate a second latch circuit to allow second data to be conducted to the storage element for a period of time after a falling edge of the first clock signal.
US08542043B2 High speed DLL offset cancellation
In an embodiment, a primary charge pump and replica charge pump may be coupled to matching control mechanisms and loads. In an embodiment, the replica charge pump may produce an error current originating from charge pump timing mismatches in a steady locked loop state. The error current produced by the replica charge pump may be measured by a difference amplifier to adjust at least one current source to compensate for the error current originating from the timing mismatches. To adjust the current sources, the amplifier may cause the current source to produce an equal but opposite current to cancel the effects of the error current, resulting in a constant output voltage.
US08542041B2 Semiconductor device and system
A first transistor has one end and a gate coupled to a first power supply line and other end coupled to a first node. A second transistor has a gate coupled to a second node, one end coupled to the first node, and other end coupled to a third node. A third transistor has one end coupled to a second power supply line, a gate coupled to a fourth node, and other end coupled to the third node. A first bias voltage generation circuit supplies a first bias voltage to the second node. A second bias voltage generation circuit supplies a second bias voltage to the fourth node. Accordingly, the power supply voltage at which the third node is changed from a certain level to another level is set high, and an internal node in a semiconductor device is securely initialized when the power supply voltage is decreased.
US08542016B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for imaging a plurality of different slice planes having pre-pulse applying means configured to apply a pre-pulse for affecting in-plane magnetization of all slices of a measurement target, measuring means configured to make a measurement for applying one phase encode amount for one slice plane to obtain an echo signal and dispose the echo signal in a k space, and control means configured to control operations of the pre-pulse applying means and the measuring means. The control means has first control means configured to control to repeat an operation of executing the measurement once according to a predetermined order for all slice planes of the measurement target after a first pre-pulse is applied while a phase encode amount is varied in a predetermined order until all k spaces of all slices are filled, and second control means configured to control the pre-pulse applying means so that the pre-pulse is applied every time the measurement is executed at a frequency which is different from the number of the slices of the measurement target and a multiple number of the number of the slices, and the first control means sets an initial phase encode amount of each slice so as to measure a low spatial frequency area of the k space at a timing having a large effect of the pre-pulse.
US08542004B2 Semiconductor device and driving method of the same
An object is to provide a semiconductor device with a novel structure in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied, and the number of times of writing is not limited. The semiconductor device is formed using a wide gap semiconductor and includes a potential change circuit which selectively applies a potential either equal to or different from a potential of a bit line to a source line. Thus, power consumption of the semiconductor device can be sufficiently reduced.
US08542003B2 Test apparatus to test a data signal and a clock signal output from a device under test
A first timing comparator TCP1 latches a data signal at a timing that corresponds to each edge of a first strobe signal. A first delay element delays a first strobe signal so as to output a first delayed strobe signal. A first clock recovery unit makes a comparison between the phase of the first delayed strobe signal and a clock signal, and outputs a first reference strobe signal which is used to perform phase adjustment such that the phases of these signals match each other. A third delay element delays a first reference strobe signal, and outputs the signal thus delayed as the first strobe signal. A delay amount that corresponds to the amount of skew that occurs between the data signal and the clock signal is set for the third delay element.
US08541997B2 Current sensing signal comparing device, and current sensing signal comparing method
Provided is a current sensing signal comparing device and current sensing signal comparing method. The current sensing signal comparing device includes a current sensing circuit for detecting a current signal of a switching circuit and thereby generating a current sensing signal, a control unit for outputting a control signal, and a compensating circuit for compensating the current sensing signal according to the control signal. The compensated current sensing signal is compared with a constant current reference signal in order to issue a constant current control signal. The device can also be provided to configure the compensating circuit to compensate the constant current reference signal, such that the current sensing signal is compared with the compensated constant current reference signal in order to issue a constant current control signal.
US08541996B2 Power control device, power supply device, and power control method
A power control device for performing switching control for an output voltage of a power supply device includes a signal generation circuit for comparing a difference between a value of the output voltage and a value of a first reference voltage with a value of a second reference voltage, and for stopping the switching control when a value of the difference is less than or equal to the value of the second reference voltage, and an adjuster circuit for adjusting the second reference voltage based on a ratio between a value of an input voltage and the value of the output voltage.
US08541986B2 Charging method and charger for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
In a charging method for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which includes a positive electrode including a lithium-containing composite oxide as an active material, a negative electrode including an alloy-formable negative electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, a voltage of the secondary battery is detected. When the detected value is smaller than a predetermined voltage x, charging is performed at a comparatively small current value B. When the detected value is equal to or greater than the predetermined voltage x and smaller than a predetermined voltage z, charging is performed at a comparatively great current value A. When the detected value is equal to or greater than the predetermined voltage z and smaller than a predetermined voltage y, charging is performed at a comparatively small current value C. When the detected value is greater than the predetermined voltage y, constant-voltage charging is performed or charging is terminated. Here, x
US08541976B2 Vehicle mounted personal device battery charging station and operating methods to avoid interference
A method and apparatus are presented for inductive charging of battery operated devices in a motor vehicle, in which a passive vehicle entry and/or starting system selectively disables or reduces provision of power to a primary coil of an inductive charging station while the passive system communicates with an external user device such as a key fob controller to avoid or mitigate electromagnetic interference.
US08541975B2 System and method for efficient wireless charging of a mobile terminal
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for efficient wireless charging of a mobile terminal. The method includes detecting the mobile terminal by a charging apparatus, receiving a unique identifier of the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal and determining if the mobile terminal is a rechargeable device, when the mobile terminal is a rechargeable device, applying a direct voltage to a first coil of the charging apparatus and arranging the charging apparatus and the mobile terminal, and terminating an application of the direct voltage and then applying an alternating voltage, to supply charging power required for the mobile terminal.
US08541974B2 Movable magnetically resonant antenna for wireless charging
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power. A method may include reorienting at least one transmit antenna to reduce orthogonality with a receive antenna of at least one chargeable electronic device in response to receiving the at least one electronic device in a holder. The method may further include wirelessly transferring power from the at least one transmit antenna to the receive antenna.
US08541973B2 Single stage low boost/buck ratio stand-alone solar energy power generating circuit and system thereof
A single stage low boost/buck ratio stand-alone solar energy power generating circuit with a system thereof is a simplification of a two-stage type circuit. The two-stage circuit, which has a storage unit, a charging converter circuit for charging the storage unit, and a discharging converter circuit for discharging the stored power to a load, is analyzed and categorized such that a circuit structure is selected via a suitable simplified combination to commonly use the elements constituting the charging and the discharging converter circuits so as to form the single stage circuit with less elements, volume and weight for reducing the production cost of the circuit.
US08541967B2 Steering control apparatus
A steering control apparatus includes a direct current power source, a three-phase alternating current motor, and a motor driving circuit. An emergency switching element is provided on at least two phases of a three-phase power supply line connected to the three-phase alternating current motor within the motor driving circuit, and the emergency switching element is turned off when an abnormality occurs such that the motor driving circuit is disconnected from the three-phase alternating current motor. The emergency switching element is a MOSFET, and the MOSFETs are provided in pairs in each of the two phases of the three-phase power supply line. Further, parasitic diodes of the pairs of MOSFETs are disposed in opposite orientations to each other.
US08541954B2 Light source apparatus
A first energy ratio A/B of a first alternating current of a steady frequency supplied to a lamp is set to a value C, when the lamp is horizontally placed. A second alternating current of a lower frequency, whose second energy ratio A/B is set to the value C, is inserted. When the lamp is vertically placed, a first energy ratio A′/B′ is set to the value C or a value D, which is smaller than the value C. A second ratio A′/B′ is set to the value D or a value E, which is lower than the value C. A and A′ each represents an energy that flows from a first electrode of a pair of electrodes of the lamp to a second electrode of the pair. B and B′ each represents an energy that flows from the second electrode to the first electrode.
US08541945B2 Lighting device
Embodiment of the invention include a lighting device having a tubular current-conductive housing, a lamp assembly, an insulator sleeve, and a diffuser globe. The lamp assembly can include one or more lamps such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). The diffuser globe is preferably a fumed blown glass diffuser globe having a concentrated region for refracting and diffusing light. The diffuser globe can include an internal diffuser for further refraction and control of the light. Embodiments also include a solar powered hook-shaped luminaire having a solar panel, a body member, and a diffuser globe. Embodiments further include a shatter resistant, portable, remote controllable, programmable, rechargeable, and floatable lighting device and/or globe luminaire, which can be automatically, manually, remotely, and/or locally controlled.
US08541941B2 Light emitting element
A light emitting element includes a resonator structure which has a first reflecting member, a second reflecting member, and a light emission layer placed between the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member, and part of light resonated between the first reflecting member and the second reflecting member is transmitted through the first reflecting member or the second reflecting member in the resonator structure. A wavelength at which a resonator output spectrum from the resonator structure has a maximum value is located between a wavelength at which an inner light emission spectrum of the light emission layer has a maximum value and a wavelength at which relative luminous efficiency has a maximum value.
US08541938B2 Electronic paper display device and method of manufacturing the same
There are provided an electronic paper display device and a method of manufacturing the same. The electronic paper display device includes: a lower substrate having lower barrier ribs formed thereon, the lower barrier ribs forming cells for receiving electronic paper display elements; electronic paper display elements mounted in the cells of the lower substrate and having optical and electrical anisotropy; and an upper substrate formed to cover the lower substrate and including upper patterns bonded to the lower barrier ribs so as to secure a fluid moving path of the cell.
US08541932B2 Lamp with heat dissipater
A lamp includes a heat dissipater having a base and an engaging member. The base includes a first air guiding portion and a fixing portion. The engaging member is mounted to an outer periphery of the base. A second air guiding portion is formed between the engaging member and the base. A lighting element is mounted to the base of the heat dissipater. A housing is engaged with the engaging member of the heat dissipater. The housing and the heat dissipater together define a compartment in communication with the first and second air guiding portions. A cooling fan is mounted to the fixing portion of the base. A circuit board is mounted in the compartment and electrically connected to the lighting element and the cooling fan. The circuit board is electrically connected to an electrically conductive member having an end extending out from the housing.
US08541929B2 Piezoelectric devices and methods for manufacturing same
Piezoelectric devices and method for making them are disclosed. An exemplary piezoelectric device has a package base defining a cavity on a first surface thereof. An opposing second surface of the package base has at least one through-hole, a mounting electrode on which a piezoelectric vibrating piece is attached, and a respective sealing electrode sealing each through-hole. At least one external electrode is on the second surface, and a lid is bonded to the package base to enclose the piezoelectric vibrating piece. The mounting electrode, sealing electrodes, and external electrodes are formed integrally.
US08541919B2 Rotor structure for interior permanent magnet electromotive machine including laminations profiled along a segment of a bridge to define a concave and curved bridge profile
A rotor structure for an interior permanent magnet (IPM) electromotive machine is provided. The rotor structure may include at least one rotor lamination, which in turn may include at least one slot arranged to receive at least one permanent magnet. The slot divides the rotor lamination into a pole region and a yoke region. At least one bridge is arranged to connect the pole region to the yoke region at an outer edge of the lamination. The outer edge of the lamination is profiled along a segment of the bridge to define a concave curved profile for the bridge. The concave curved profile for the bridge allows to selectively size a thickness of the bridge to affect at least some electromagnetic and/or mechanical characteristic of the machine.
US08541916B2 Nut securing arrangement for electrical generator
A system for securing a nut (24) used to compress a compliant seal (23) surrounding a radial conductor lead (21) of an electric generator (10). The generator has a rotor (11) with the radial conductor lead arranged in a radial lead bore (20) of the rotor and the seal coaxially arranged surrounding the radial lead. A receiving pocket (15) is arranged in a body of the rotor adjacent to the radial lead bore. The nut is arranged coaxially with the radial conductor lead, the nut including a seal contacting surface (35) and a ligament (26) arranged opposite the seal contacting surface, wherein a portion of the ligament is deformed into the receiving pocket to lock the nut against rotation, thereby maintaining a desired degree of compression on the seal.
US08541908B2 Powered device capable of working in continuation in case of power failure
An exemplary powered device (PD) connected to a local power source and a power sourcing equipment (PSE) includes a constant current source drawing at least 10 mA direct current from the PSE when the local power source is in operation. The PD includes a first conversion circuit, a first diode, and a second diode. The first conversion circuit comprises a first input and is configured for converting a voltage input to the first input into the rated working voltage of the PD. The positive terminal of the first diode is connected to the local power source and the negative terminal thereof is connected to the first input. The voltage of the local power source is higher than that of the PSE.
US08541906B2 Polyphase power distribution and monitoring apparatus
A polyphase power distribution and monitoring apparatus having sets of outputs for each phase of power and monitors for each phase of power disposed in the housing. Each monitor provides a visible display of current for an associated phase of power and an audible alarm for each phase of power if the current exceeds a predetermined value or falls below a predetermined value. In three-phase wye power systems, the apparatus preferably includes a neutral line monitor, including a neutral line current display and audio alarm, for the neutral line of the wye power circuit. The apparatus preferably is lightweight, elongated, portable, and mountable to the side of an electronic equipment rack. It may also include additional power monitoring systems such as network power monitoring tools for remotely monitoring the apparatus.
US08541905B2 Bi-directional battery voltage converter
A method of balancing current in a vehicle electric system having a system bus, a first battery, a first bi-directional battery voltage converter selectively transferring a first current between the first battery and the system bus, a second battery, a second bi-directional battery voltage converter selectively transferring a second current between the second battery and the system bus, and a controller controlling the first bi-directional battery voltage converter and the second bi-directional battery voltage converter. The method includes sensing the first current and sensing the second current. The first bi-directional battery voltage converter and the second bi-directional battery voltage converter are controlled so that the first current and the second current are equal portions of a load current supplied to an electrical load connected to the system bus.
US08541897B2 Generation of electric energy using cable-supported windmills
An electric energy generation system may include a plurality of windmills, a windmill support system, an electric generator, and a coupling system. The windmills may each be configured to transform wind energy into rotational energy. The windmill support system may support the windmills in positions that are spaced apart from one another. The electric generator may be configured to transform rotational energy into electric energy. The coupling system may be configured to couple the rotational energy generated by each of the windmills to the electric generator in a manner that permits the windmills to rotate at different speeds during operation of the electric energy generation system. Other configurations are also disclosed.
US08541896B2 Deep water power generation system and apparatus
A system for generation of power using an apparatus in deep water is disclosed. The system includes a ballast buoy configured to achieve a desired depth in the deep water, a substantially vertical hollow tube attached to the ballast buoy that is submerged under water when the ballast buoy achieves the desired depth in the deep water, and a converter for converting the physical environment created in the substantially vertical hollow tube by placement of the ballast buoy at the desired depth in the deep water.
US08541895B2 Energy regenerating damper
An energy-regenerating damper including a piston provided with a housing fitted inside a cylinder so as to be able to slide against the inner surface of the cylinder, a stator contained in/fixed to the inside of the housing, a rotor supported so as to be able to rotate inside the stator, and damping valves provided at the top and bottom ends of the housing. The housing includes an upper half and a lower half fastened together by bolts, and a damper rod is fixed to the top end of the upper half. The upper half and the lower half each contain a bearing for supporting the rotor. A plurality of orifices through which a hydraulic oil circulates are drilled towards the outsides of the upper half and lower half, and circulation holes through which the hydraulic oil circulates are drilled towards the insides of the upper half and lower half.
US08541887B2 Layered chip package and method of manufacturing same
A layered chip package includes a main body, and wiring that includes a plurality of wires disposed on a side surface of the main body. The main body includes: a main part including first and second layer portions; and a plurality of first and second terminals that are disposed on the top and bottom surfaces of the main part, respectively, and are electrically connected to the plurality of wires. Each layer portion includes a semiconductor chip having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto, and includes a plurality of electrodes. The electrodes are disposed on a side of the semiconductor chip opposite to the second surface. The first and second layer portions are bonded to each other such that the respective second surfaces face each other. The first terminals are formed by using the electrodes of the first layer portion, and the second terminals are formed by using the electrodes of the second layer portion.
US08541881B2 Package structure and manufacturing method thereof
A manufacturing method of a package structure is provided. A seed layer is formed on a upper surface of a metal substrate. A patterned dry film layer is formed on a lower surface of the metal substrate and the seed layer. A portion of the seed layer is exposed by the patterned dry film layer. The patterned dry film layer is used as an electroplating mask to electroplate a circuit layer on the portion of the seed layer exposed by the patterned dry film layer. A chip is bonded to and electrically connected to the circuit layer. A molding compound is formed on the metal substrate. The molding compound encapsulates the chip, the circuit layer and the portion of the seed layer. A portion of the metal substrate and a portion of the seed layer are removed so as to expose a portion of the molding compound.
US08541876B2 Microelectronic package having direct contact heat spreader and method of manufacturing same
A method of fabricating a microelectronic package having a direct contact heat spreader, a package formed according to the method, a die-heat spreader combination formed according to the method, and a system incorporating the package. The method comprises metallizing a backside of a microelectronic die to form a heat spreader body directly contacting and fixed to the backside of the die thus yielding a die-heat spreader combination. The package includes the die-heat spreader combination and a substrate bonded to the die.
US08541875B2 Integrated three-dimensional module heat exchanger for power electronics cooling
Embodiments discussed herein are directed to a power semiconductor packaging that removes heat from a semiconductor package through one or more cooling zones that are located in a laterally oriented position with respect to the semiconductor package. Additional embodiments are directed to circuit elements that are constructed from one or more modular power semiconductor packages.
US08541874B2 Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device 100 comprises a first semiconductor element 113 provided on a face on one side of a flat plate shaped interconnect component 101, an insulating resin 119 covering a face of a side where the first semiconductor element 113 of the interconnect component 101 is provided and a side face of the first semiconductor element 113, and a second semiconductor element 111 provided on a face on the other side of the interconnect component 101. The interconnect component 101 has a constitution where an interconnect layer 103, a silicon layer 105 and an insulating film 107 are sequentially formed. The interconnect layer 103 has a constitution where the interconnect layer 103 has a flat plate shaped insulating component and a conductive component extending through the insulating component. The first semiconductor element 113 is electrically connected with the second semiconductor element 111 through the conductive component.
US08541869B2 Cleaved facet (Ga,Al,In)N edge-emitting laser diodes grown on semipolar bulk gallium nitride substrates
A III-nitride edge-emitting laser diode is formed on a surface of a III-nitride substrate having a semipolar orientation, wherein the III-nitride substrate is cleaved by creating a cleavage line along a direction substantially perpendicular to a nonpolar orientation of the III-nitride substrate, and then applying force along the cleavage line to create one or more cleaved facets of the III-nitride substrate, wherein the cleaved facets have an m-plane or a-plane orientation.
US08541864B2 Compact thermally controlled thin film resistors utilizing substrate contacts and methods of manufacture
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a resistor on an insulator layer over a substrate, and forming at least one dielectric layer over the resistor. The method also includes forming a substrate contact through the at least one dielectric layer, through the resistor, through the insulator layer, and into the substrate. The substrate contact comprises a high thermal conductivity material.
US08541863B2 Data retention in a single poly EPROM cell
An electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM) BIT cell structure formed on a semiconductor substrate comprises an N-type epitaxial layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, an N-type well region formed in the epitaxial layer, LOCOS field oxide formed at the periphery of the well region to define an active device region in the well region, a field oxide ring formed in the active region and space-apart from the LOCOS field oxide to define an EPROM BIT cell region, and an EPROM BIT cell formed in the EPROM BIT cell region.
US08541860B2 Antireflective coating
Device and method for an antireflective coating to improve image quality in an image display system. A preferred embodiment comprises a first high refractive index layer overlying a reflective surface of an integrated circuit, a first low refractive index layer overlying the first high refractive index layer, a second high refractive index layer overlying the first low refractive index layer, and a second low refractive index layer overlying the second high refractive index layer. The alternating layers of high refractive index material and low refractive index material form an optical trap, allowing light to readily pass through in one direction, but not so easily in a reverse direction. The dual alternating layer topology improves the antireflective properties of the antireflective layer and permits a wide range of adjustments for manipulating reflectivity and color point.
US08541857B2 Backside illumination CMOS image sensors and methods of manufacturing the same
Backside illumination CMOS image sensors having convex light-receiving faces and methods of manufacturing the same. A backside illumination CMOS image sensor includes a metal layer, an insulating layer and a photodiode. The insulating layer is on the metal layer. The photodiode is on the insulating layer, and a top face of the photodiode, which receives light, is curved. A method of manufacturing a backside illumination CMOS image sensor including a photodiode having a convex surface includes forming an island smaller than the photodiode on a portion of a light-receiving face of the photodiode, and annealing the island to form the photodiode having the convex light-receiving face.
US08541853B1 High frequency CMUT
A high-frequency capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) has a silicon membrane and an overlying metal silicide layer that together form a conductive structure which can vibrate over a cavity. The CMUT also has a metal structure that touches a group of conductive structures. The metal structure has an opening that extends completely through the metal structure to expose the conductive structure.
US08541851B2 MEMS package
An apparatus and method for manufacturing a micro-electrical mechanical system (MEMS) package comprising a first molded body having a first acoustic port, a second molded body connected to the first molded body, a leadframe at least partially integral with at least one of the first and second molded bodies, a die cavity provided on at least one of the first and second molded bodies and having a second acoustic port, a MEMS die provided on the die cavity, a channel connecting the first and second acoustic ports, the first molded body sealing at least a portion of the channel, and a lid attached to the second molded body and sealing at least a portion of the die cavity.
US08541848B2 High-voltage MOSFETs having current diversion region in substrate near fieldplate
To limit or prevent current crowding, various HV-MOSFET embodiments include a current diversion region disposed near a drain region of an HV-MOSFET and near an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. In some embodiments, the current diversion region is disposed near a field plate of the HV-MOSFET, wherein the field plate can also help to reduce or “smooth” electric fields near the drain to help limit current crowding. In some embodiments, the current diversion region is a p-doped, n-doped, or intrinsic region that is at a floating voltage potential. This current diversion region can push current deeper into the substrate of the HV-MOSFET (relative to conventional HV-MOSFETs), thereby reducing current crowding during ESD events. By reducing current crowding, the current diversion region makes the HV-MOSFETs disclosed herein more impervious to ESD events and, therefore, more reliable in real-world applications.
US08541843B2 Nonvolatile nanotube programmable logic devices and a nonvolatile nanotube field programmable gate array using same
Field programmable device (FPD) chips with large logic capacity and field programmability that are in-circuit programmable are described. FPDs use small versatile nonvolatile nanotube switches that enable efficient architectures for dense low power and high performance chip implementations and are compatible with low cost CMOS technologies and simple to integrate.
US08541836B2 Recessed access device for a memory
Semiconductor memory devices having recessed access devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming the recessed access device includes forming a device recess in a substrate material that extends to a first depth in the substrate that includes a gate oxide layer in the recess. The device recess may be extended to a second depth that is greater that the first depth to form an extended portion of the device recess. A field oxide layer may be provided within an interior of the device recess that extends inwardly into the interior of the device recess and into the substrate. Active regions may be formed in the substrate that abut the field oxide layer, and a gate material may be deposited into the device recess.
US08541823B2 Field effect transistor
A transistor. The transistor including: a well region in a substrate; a gate dielectric layer on a top surface of the well region; a polysilicon gate electrode on a top surface of the gate dielectric layer; spacers formed on opposite sidewalls of the polysilicon gate electrode; source/drain regions formed on opposite sides of the polysilicon gate electrode in the well region; a first doped region in the polysilicon gate electrode, the first doped region extending into the polysilicon gate electrode from a top surface of the polysilicon gate electrode; and a buried second doped region in the polysilicon gate electrode.
US08541818B2 Semiconductor heterostructure diodes
Planar Schottky diodes for which the semiconductor material includes a heterojunction which induces a 2 DEG in at least one of the semiconductor layers. A metal anode contact is on top of the upper semiconductor layer and forms a Schottky contact with that layer. A metal cathode contact is connected to the 2 DEG, forming an ohmic contact with the layer containing the 2 DEG.
US08541807B2 Semiconductor light emitting device and light emitting apparatus having the same
A semiconductor light emitting device and a light emitting apparatus having the semiconductor light emitting device are provided. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a substrate, a light emitting structure disposed on the substrate and comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the active layer, a second electrode electrically connected to the second conductive type semiconductor layer, a plurality of first electrodes disposed on a plurality of sidewalls of the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and wherein the plurality of first electrodes are spaced apart from each other.
US08541801B2 Light-emitting-device package and a method for producing the same
A light emitting device package includes: a substrate with a mounting surface; a light emitting device bonded to the mounting surface of the substrate; a light reflecting resin part containing a high reflective material, filled on the substrate around the light emitting device so as to extend in a space between the light emitting device and the substrate; and a packing resin part hermetically sealed to cover the light emitting device and the light reflection resin part.
US08541796B2 Nitride semiconductor light emitting device and method of fabricating nitride semiconductor laser device
There is provided a nitride semiconductor light emitting device having a light emitting portion coated with a coating film, the light emitting portion being formed of a nitride semiconductor, the coating film in contact with the light emitting portion being formed of an oxynitride film deposited adjacent to the light emitting portion and an oxide film deposited on the oxynitride film. There is also provided a method of fabricating a nitride semiconductor laser device having a cavity with a facet coated with a coating film, including the steps of: providing cleavage to form the facet of the cavity; and coating the facet of the cavity with a coating film formed of an oxynitride film deposited adjacent to the facet of the cavity and an oxide film deposited on the oxynitride film.
US08541793B2 Light emitting diode device and method for fabricating the same
A light emitting diode device includes: at least one light emitting diode chip, which includes a semiconductor unit, two electrodes that are disposed on an electrode-mounting surface of the semiconductor unit, a light-transmissive insulating layer that is disposed on the electrode-mounting surface and that has two via holes, a reflective metal layer disposed on a portion of the light-transmissive insulating layer, a protective insulating layer that is disposed on the reflective metal layer, a conductor-receiving insulating layer that has two conductor-receiving holes respectively in communication with the via holes, and two conductor units that are formed respectively in the conductor-receiving holes; and a light-transmissive envelope layer that covers a surface of the light emitting diode chip opposite to the electrode-mounting surface, that extends to cover outer lateral surfaces of the light emitting diode chip, and that is doped with a fluorescence powder.
US08541785B2 Display device
An object is to reduce an occupied area of a protection circuit. Another object is to increase the reliability of a display device including the protection circuit. The protection circuit includes a first wiring over a substrate, an insulating film over the first wiring, and a second wiring over the insulating film.
US08541782B2 Method for evaluating oxide semiconductor and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
Many of the principles of an oxide semiconductor are still unclear and therefore there is no established method for evaluating an oxide semiconductor. Thus, an object is to provide a novel method for evaluating an oxide semiconductor. Carrier density is evaluated, and hydrogen concentration is also evaluated. Specifically, a MOS capacitor (a diode or a triode) is manufactured, and the C-V characteristics of the MOS capacitor are obtained. Then, the carrier density is estimated from the C-V characteristics obtained.
US08541777B2 Color conversion film and multicolor-emitting, organic electroluminescent device comprising the color conversion film
A color conversion film is disclosed that absorbs light from an organic electroluminescent part emitting blue-green light and converts the light to visible light at a longer wavelength. The color conversion film includes two different dyes. A first dye is a polymer dye with an average molecular weight of 1000 to 1,000,000 that absorbs light incident on the color conversion film and transfers the energy of the light to a second dye. The second dye is a dye that receives the energy from the first dye and emits light. With a multicolor-emitting, organic electroluminescent device including the color conversion film, it is possible to achieve excellent conversion efficiency without increasing the thickness of the color conversion film as in a conventional device using a binder resin.
US08541763B2 Modifiable layered shield assembly
A shield for absorbing radiation emitted by a target during operation of a cyclotron. The shield includes an inner box structure having a recess for receiving the target. In addition, the shield includes a first plurality of shield elements arranged in a layered configuration about the inner box structure. The shield also includes an outer box structure for receiving the inner box structure and the first plurality of shield elements. Further, a second plurality of shield elements is arranged in a layered configuration about the outer box structure. The shield elements are arranged in both horizontal and vertical orientations and are removable.
US08541761B2 Portable dosimeter
A radiation dosimeter including one or more optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensors.
US08541758B1 Ultraviolet reactor
An ultraviolet reactor for irradiating a flow of fluid includes a set of UV lamps and baffles spaced along the ramps. The baffles generate helical flow of the fluid flowing along the lamps to enhance exposure of microorganisms carried in the fluid to UV radiation.
US08541753B2 Measurement apparatus and method for detecting contamination on a moving object
A method for detecting contamination on a moving object moving in a longitudinal direction past a plurality of detectors, wherein a count rate is captured repeatedly by each of the detectors during the movement of the object past the detectors, the captured count rates are weighted in that the count rates of the detector(s) that have a greater separation distance from the object to be measures are weighted lower than the count rates of the detector(s) that have a smaller separation distance from the object to be measured.
US08541749B2 Portable reader for a dosimeter
Described is a dosimeter reader for reading a plurality of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) sensors of a dosimeter sled and for reading an RFID tag on the dosimeter sled.
US08541747B2 Solid-state image sensor and image sensing apparatus
A solid-state image sensor, comprises: a photoelectric conversion layer on which photoelectric conversion elements are arranged; and an wiring layer including at least one layer of a metal film, and an interlayer insulating film which fills a surrounding portion of the metal film, wherein the wiring layer is arranged at a position deeper than the photoelectric conversion layer on a side opposite to a light incidence side with respect to the photoelectric conversion layer, and at least a first metal film arranged at a position closest to the photoelectric conversion layer of the metal film of the wiring layer is arranged on a region which is not irradiated with light rays in a predetermined wavelength range, which light has passed through the photoelectric conversion layer.
US08541741B2 Photonic measurement instrument using fiber optics
A photonic measurement system, such as an atomic absorption spectrometer, includes source, sample and detection modules that are interconnected by fiber optic cables. A first set of fiber optic cables guides light from one or more light sources in the source module to each of at least two analysis chambers in the sample module. A second set of fiber optic cables guides light from the analysis chambers to a detector in the detection module. The detector provides to a processing sub-system signals that correspond to intensities of the guided light. One analysis chamber is selected to perform a sample analysis at a given time, and the processing sub-system processes the signals associated with the selected analysis chamber as measurement signals. The processing sub-system may further process the signals associated with a given non-selected analysis chamber as reference signals.
US08541740B2 Device and method for electron beam energy verification
The present invention is directed to a device and system for verifying the electron beam kinetic energy spectrum and determining changes in kinetic electron beam energy spectrum that comprises a radiation-absorbing mass defined by a top surface, a bottom surface, and side walls, said mass having at least four separate slots containing one or more of dosimeter strips, wherein said slots are located at different depths within the mass as measured from the top surface of the mass, and said slots are positioned substantially parallel to the top surface of the mass. The present invention also relates to a method of determining and comparing changes in a kinetic electron energy spectrum.
US08541739B2 Precession diffraction charged particle beam system
A charged particle beam system for performing precession diffraction includes a lens 11 for focusing a beam 5 in an object plane 9, and an objective lens 13 having a diffraction plane 27. A doublet 53 of lenses 35, 63 images the diffraction plane 27 into an intermediate diffraction plane 69 where a multipole 55 is located. A doublet 57 of lenses 65, 93 images the intermediate diffraction plane 69 into an intermediate diffraction plane 71 where a multipole 59 is located. A first deflection system 15 upstream of the object plane 9 can tilt to change an angle of incidence of the beam on the object plane. A second deflection system 37 between lenses 35 and 63 tilts the beam such that the change of the angle of incidence of the charged particle beam on the object plane is compensated.
US08541737B2 System and method for collisional activation of charged particles
A collision cell is disclosed that provides ion activation in various selective modes. Ion activation is performed inside selected segments of a segmented quadrupole that provides maximum optimum capture and collection of fragmentation products. The invention provides collisional cooling of precursor ions as well as product fragments and further allows effective transmission of ions through a high pressure interface into a coupled mass analysis instrument.
US08541730B2 Solid-state imaging device, imaging apparatus, and method for manufacturing solid-state imaging device
A solid-state imaging device is provided and includes: a substrate; a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array above the substrate, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements being divided into a plurality of photoelectric conversion element groups; a plurality of semiconductor substrates between the substrate and the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, each of the plurality of semiconductor substrates corresponding to each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion element groups; and a signal output section in the plurality of semiconductor substrates. The signal output section outputs a signal corresponding to an electric charge generated in each photoelectric conversion elements of a photoelectric conversion element group corresponding to a semiconductor substrate.
US08541719B2 System for reduced peak power consumption by a cooking appliance
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for reducing peak power consumption in an electromechanically controlled cooking appliance is provided. The system comprises a surface heating unit comprising at least one duty cycle controlled surface heating element, a temperature controlled oven heating element, a controller configured to receive and process utility state signals indicative of the operating state of an associated utility, and a switch responsive to the controller, switchable between a first state and a second state for selectively coupling the oven heating element to a first relatively high voltage power supply and a second relatively low voltage power supply respectively. The controller is configured to switch the switch to the first and second states as a function of the utility state signal.
US08541716B2 Heater control with high-limit thermal safety shutdown
A multiple heater control system includes cables, connectors, and junction boxes for user-friendly daisy chain connections of heater controllers and heaters in various configurations or combinations of individually controlled heater series and/or master and slave heater series. The heater controllers include process control of AC power to the heaters and upper-limit safety shutoff that is substantially independent from the process control. The heater controllers also have variable levels of control, adjustment, display, and communications functionality in a base module that is expandable to various levels with expansion modules that are attachable to and detachable from the base module. Connector, cable, and junction configurations, adapters, and latch features enhance user friendliness.
US08541712B2 Electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch and contact start plasma arc torch employing such electrodes
An electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch includes an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material. The electrode body is movable relative to the torch. The electrode and torch can include a contact element having a first surface in electrical communication with the power contact and a second surface characterized by (i) physical contact with the electrode body during transferred arc mode and (ii) absence of physical contact with the electrode body during initiation of a pilot arc.
US08541708B2 Button switch
A button switch includes a main body. The main body includes a switch member therein. The switch member has a start portion and a stop portion to connect with a start button and a stop button, respectively. The stop button has a first position and a second position. In a normal state, the stop button is located at the first position and doesn't drive the stop portion. When the stop button is at the second position, the stop button will drive the stop portion. Thus, the operator is enforced to press the stop button again and the stop button is returned to the first position to start the switch member, preventing the operator to press the start button unexpectedly to start the switch member.
US08541707B2 Keypad with long key travel and improved touch feeling
A keypad includes at least one push-button switch and a key to operate the switch along a translational axis. The geometric dispersions of the keypad are accounted for, to the lengthening of the travel of the key and to the enhancement of the tactile sensation when the key is pressed to operate the switch. The keypad includes a plunger, interposed between the key and the switch, of which a stiffness along the translational axis increases continuously with an increase in the compression of the plunger. A slight stiffness at the beginning of compression allows a long travel of the key, while a greater stiffness at the end of compression gives a good tactile sensation with an assured contact even when there are off-center pressures on the key.
US08541701B2 Switch
A switch for detecting a tilting operation is constructed easy to assemble. A tilt detecting section A is provided on an upper surface of an intermediate wall portion 12B of an upper case 12, a depression detecting section B is provided in a central position of an upper surface of a bottom wall portion 13B of a lower case 13, and a rotation detecting section C is provided around the depression detecting section. A top cover 11 is provided to cover an upper end of the upper case 12 to which the upper case 12 is engageably connected. The lower case 13 is engageably connected to the upper case 12.
US08541693B2 Wiring board and method for manufacturing the same
A wiring board includes a core substrate, a first laminated structure formed on a surface of the substrate and including conductive and insulation layers, and a second laminated structure formed on the opposite surface of the substrate and including conductive and insulation layers. The substrate has a connection conductor made of a plating. The insulation layers of the first laminated structure have connection conductors stacked one over another and made of platings. The insulation layers of the second laminated structure have connection conductors stacked one over another and made of platings. The connection conductors of the laminated structures are stacked on the connection conductor of the substrate. The connection conductors of the laminated structures include outer-layer connection conductors which have positions shifted in a substantially same direction from the position of the connection conductor of the substrate.
US08541685B2 Flexible harness and electrical connector cable using same
There is provided a flexible harness adapted to be detachably connected to electrode pads of an electric/electronic component. The flexible harness according to the present invention comprises: a flexible insulator film; a conductor pattern formed on the flexible insulator film; a terminal plane which is an end region of the conductor pattern; and ball-like contact bumps formed on the terminal plane. Each contact bump includes a core made of an elastically deformable resin and an electrical conductor layer surrounding the core.
US08541681B2 Cable fixing member
A cable fixing member formed of one belt-like metal plate bent to fix three cables to a structure includes two flanges formed at both ends of the metal plate, two C-shaped holding portions formed to be bent into C-shapes in cross section on both sides respectively of a reference portion of the metal plate to hold two of the three cables in the C-shaped holding portions respectively, and two semicircular arc portions formed to be bent into semicircular arc shapes in cross section between the C-shaped holding portions and the flanges on both the sides respectively of the reference portion of the metal plate so that the two semicircular arc portions face each other to hold one of the three cables therebetween. The three cables are held so that the three cables are arranged to form a triangular shape in transverse cross sectional view.
US08541680B2 Photovoltaic cells including peaks and methods of manufacture
Photovoltaic module and methods for the manufacture of photovoltaic modules are described. Operative layers of the photovoltaic cell are deposited onto a superstrate having one or more of at least one peak allowing for electrical isolation of a portion of a photovoltaic module and at least one ramp creating a series connection between individual photovoltaic cells with minimal loss of the efficiency due to dead space between the cells.
US08541676B1 Method for extracting individual instrumental parts from an audio recording and optionally outputting sheet music
A method and computer based program which performs a series of steps for automatically and accurately determining each note played in a song for each instrument and vocal. The method and program can transcribe or create sheet music for each individual instrument, as well as provide the ability to remove any combination of or individual instruments or vocal track basically from nearly any existing song, or future songs.
US08541669B1 Inbred corn line MXD03
An inbred corn line, designated MXD03, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line MXD03, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line MXD03 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line MXD03 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line MXD03, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line MXD03 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US08541668B1 Maize variety inbred PH1828
A novel maize variety designated PH1828 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1828 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1828 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1828 or a locus conversion of PH1828 with another maize variety.
US08541667B1 Maize variety inbred PH1C98
A novel maize variety designated PH1C98 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1C98 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1C98 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1C98 or a locus conversion of PH1C98 with another maize variety.
US08541663B1 Soybean cultivar S110146
A soybean cultivar designated S110146 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S110146, to the plants of soybean cultivar S110146, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S110146, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S110146. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110146. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110146, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S110146 with another soybean cultivar.
US08541661B2 Soybean variety XB17M11
A novel soybean variety, designated XB17M11 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB17M11, cells from soybean variety XB17M11, plants of soybean XB17M11, and plant parts of soybean variety XB17M11. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB17M11 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB17M11, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB17M11, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB17M11. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB17M11 are further provided.
US08541653B2 Transformation of soybean
The present invention relates to improved methods for the incorporation of DNA into the genome of a soybean (Glycine max) plant utilizing meristematic cells of primary or higher leaf nodes as target tissue by means of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and subsequent regeneration of the transformed cells into a whole plant.
US08541639B2 Process for producing para-xylene
A process for producing a PX-rich product, the process comprising: (a) providing a PX-depleted stream; (b) isomerizing at least a portion of the PX-depleted stream to produce an isomerized stream having a PX concentration greater than the PX-depleted stream and a benzene concentration of less than 1,000 ppm and a C9+ hydrocarbons concentration of less than 5,000 ppm; and (c) separating the isomerized stream by selective adsorption.
US08541638B2 Process to remove dissolved AlCl3 from ionic liquid
Disclosed herein are processes in which precipitation permits removal of metal halides (e.g. AlCl3) from ionic liquids. After precipitation, the precipitated metal halides can be physically separated from the bulk ionic liquid. More effective precipitation can be achieved through cooling or the combination of cooling and the provision of metal halide seed crystals. The ionic liquids can be regenerated ionic liquid catalysts, which contain excess metal halides after regeneration. Upon removal of the excess metal halides, they can be reused in processes using ionic liquid catalysts, such as alkylation processes.
US08541637B2 Process and system for thermochemical conversion of biomass
A system and method for converting biomass into fluid hydrocarbon products to minimize the use of fossil fuels, provide energy and chemical feedstock security, and sustainable and/or carbon neutral electric power, are disclosed. For example, fast pyrolysis can be performed on biomass to produce pygas and char using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. The pygas is provided to an independent reactor without the addition of an oxidizing agent for catalytically converting the pygas to hydrocarbons using a maximum processing temperature of about 650° C. A system comprising fast pyrolysis means producing a pygas and char, independent catalytic conversion means downstream of the fast pyrolysis for converting the pygas to hydrocarbons, and a hydrogen source, external to the system and/or produced by a steam reformer by steam reformation of at least a portion of the hydrocarbons, coupled to catalytic conversion means, also are described.
US08541635B2 Diesel fuel compositions
Fuel compositions containing a hydrocarbon blend having a cetane number of at least 62, a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of greater than 3.0 cSt and a density at 15° C. of greater than 830 kg/m3 is disclosed. The Wear Scar value of the fuel composition is below 350 microns as determined by CEC-F-06-A-96 and/or contains (b) a paraffinic fuel boiling in the gas oil range comprising more than 90 wt % paraffins and having a cetane number of between 70 and 85 in combination with (a) a mineral derived gas oil having a density at 15° C. of between 800 and 860 kg/m3 and a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of between 1.5 and 15 cSt (mm2/s) and/or (c) a naphthenic rich blending component boiling in the gas oil range having a density at 15° C. of greater than 860 kg/m3 and having a pour point of below −30° C.
US08541634B2 Azeotrope-like compositions of (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and hydrogen fluoride
Disclosed are azeotropic and azeotrope-like mixtures of (Z)-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233zd(Z)) and hydrogen fluoride. Such compositions are useful as an intermediate in the production of 1233zd(Z). The latter compound is useful as a nontoxic, zero ozone depleting fluorocarbon useful as a solvent, blowing agent, refrigerant, cleaning agent, aerosol propellant, heat transfer medium, dielectric, fire extinguishing composition and power cycle working fluid.
US08541632B2 Process and apparatus for producing chlorohydrin
A process and apparatus for producing chlorohydrin comprising reacting a multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon-containing stream with a stream of a first effluent exiting from a hydrochlorination reactor in at least one vessel wherein the vessel exhibits a plug flow residence time characteristic, under conditions such that at least a portion of any unreacted HCl component present in the first effluent is reacted with the multihydroxylated-aliphatic hydrocarbon present in the multihydroxylated aliphatic hydrogen-containing stream to from an amount of monochlorohydrin in a stream of a second effluent exiting from the plug flow vessel; recovering said second effluent; and then optionally using the second effluent from the plug flow reactor in a subsequent processing operation.
US08541631B2 Surface treatment method for solid material
A solid material is subjected to surface treatment by chemically bonding onto a surface of the solid material a stabilized monofunctional silanol represented by R1R2R3SiOH. R1, R2 and R3 may be the same or different, and each represent a substituent group independently selected from a substituted or unsubstituted, monovalent hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted, monovalent heterocyclic group having from 1 to 100 carbon atoms. The monofunctional silanol has a dehydrative self-condensation rate lower than triethylsilanol.
US08541625B2 Cyclopropenones and the photochemical generation of cyclic alkynes therefrom
Cyclic alkynes (e.g., cyclooctynes such as dibenzocyclooctynes) can be photochemically generated from cyclopropenones as disclosed herein. The cyclic alkynes can be reacted (e.g., in situ) with materials having alkyne-reactive groups (e.g., azide groups in a “click” reaction). In preferred embodiments, the generation and reaction of the cyclic alkyne can proceed in the absence of a catalyst (e.g., Cu(I)). These reactions can be useful, for example, for the selective labeling of living cells that are metabolically modified with azido-containing surface monosaccharides, or for light-directed surface patterning.
US08541618B2 Indane acetic acid derivatives and their use as pharmaceutical agents, intermediates, and method of preparation
This invention relates to novel indane acetic acid derivatives which are useful in the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerotic diseases. The invention also relates to intermediates useful in preparation of indane acetic derivatives and to methods of preparation.
US08541614B2 Process for the preparation of (−)-(4-chloro-phenyl)-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-acetic acid 2-acetylamino-ethyl ester
The present invention is directed to a novel process for the preparation of (4-chloro-phenyl)-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-acetic acid 2-acetylamino-ethyl ester, useful in the treatment of metabolic disorders and further to a process for the preparation of (4-chloro-phenyl)-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-acetic acid, a synthesis intermediate.
US08541610B2 Preparation of substantially quaternized ammonium organosilane composition and self-stabilizing aqueous solution thereof
This invention relates to the preparation of a partially quaternized ammonium organosilane composition, and a self-stabilizing aqueous solution of said composition, which serves to yield an antimicrobial polysilsesquioxane coating upon thermal curing. By way of this invention, an aqueous solution is prepared, comprised in part by a partially quaternized ammonium organosilane hydrolysate, characterized in that no further manipulation or addition of potentially costly ingredients are required to yield a stable and hence marketable product.
US08541603B2 Substituted cyclopentanes or cyclopentanones as therapeutic agents
Therapeutic compounds, methods, and compositions are disclosed herein for treating glaucoma and baldness in mammals. The specific compounds are described herein and are modified prostaglandin derivates.
US08541599B2 Supports for oligomer synthesis
Universal linkers, their facile processes of manufacture and methods of using the same are provided.
US08541585B2 N-acyl cyclic amine derivative or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof
The present invention provides compounds which show high effectiveness against positive symptoms, negative symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and reduce conventional side-effect risks as well as have remarkable effects for central neurological diseases associated with cognitive dysfunction other than schizophrenia. N-Acyl cyclic amine derivatives of formula (1): wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are aryl or heteroaryl; V is nitrogen, or CR3; W1 is a single bond, —C(O)—, etc.; W2 is C1-alkylene; W3 is a single bond, methylene, —NH—, —CR4═CR5—, etc.; Ring Q is a group of formula (a) in which n is 0 or 1; m is 0 to 2; k is 1 to 3; Z is a single bond, methylene, oxygen, etc.; R1a, R1b and R1c are each, same or different, hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, cyano, C1-6 alkyl, etc.; or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided.
US08541583B2 Monofunctionalized perylenetetracarboxylic acid bismides
The invention relates to novel perylenetetracarboxylic acid bisimide derivatives with improved performance properties.
US08541569B2 Phosphoramidites for synthetic RNA in the reverse direction, efficient RNA synthesis and convenient introduction of 3'-end ligands, chromophores and modifications of synthetic RNA
The present invention provides building blocks and methods for synthesizing very pure RNA in a form that can efficiently be modified at the 3′ end. Reverse RNA monomer phosphoramidites have been developed for RNA synthesis in 5′→3′ direction, leading to very clean oligo synthesis that allows for the introduction of various modifications at the 3′-end cleanly and efficiently. Higher coupling efficiency per step have been observed during automated oligo synthesis with the reverse RNA amidites disclosed herein, resulting in a greater ability to achieve higher purity and produce very long oligonucleotides. The use of the reverse RNA phosphoramidites in the synthetic process of this invention leads to oligonucleotides free of N+1 species.
US08541566B2 Promoter inducible by reactive oxygen species and vector comprising the same
The invention provides promoters inducible by reactive oxygen species (ROS), capable of driving the expression of a gene of interest, particularly in a tumor cell. More particularly, it refers to promoters inducible by reactive oxygen species, that may be used to drive the expression of a gene of interest, such as a therapeutic gene, or a reporter gene for use in image diagnosis. The promoters comprise at least a fragment of a promoter sequence responsive to said reactive oxygen species, and corresponding to a gene highly expressed in cancer cells, wherein the fragment of the promoter sequence responsive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) is selected from the group of: the VE element of the VEGF promoter, the E6 element of the promoter of the EGR-1 gene, the MMP-1 element and a chimeric promoter containing an E6 element and a VE element. It also provides vectors carrying a human therapeutic or non therapeutic gene of interest, operably linked to said promoter sequence and compositions comprising the same.
US08541564B2 Chemokine-immunoglobulin fusion polypeptides, compositions, method of making and use thereof
This application is directed to chemokine-immunoglobulin fusion polypeptides and chemokine-polymer conjugates. The fusion polypeptides and conjugates can be used for treating chemokine receptor-mediated disorders and modulating inflammation, inflammatory cell motility, cancer cell motility, or cancer cell survival.
US08541553B2 Antibodies specific for the melanoma-associated endogenous retrovirus (MERV) envelope glycoprotein
The present invention provides antibodies, or fragments thereof, for isolating and/or identifying epitopes of an endogenous retrovirus, preferably of a melanoma associated endogenous retrovirus, and hybridoma cells producing said antibodies. The antibodies are useful especially for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. Further, the present application covers diagnostic kits for the detection of cancer cells, especially of melanoma cells and methods for cancer diagnosis using said antibodies.
US08541550B2 Methods and compositions for delivering polynucleotides
Methods and compositions for delivering polynucleotides are provided. One embodiment provides a non-viral vector comprising a recombinant polynucleotide-binding protein comprising a protein transduction domain operably linked to a targeting signal. Methods for modifying the genome of non-nuclear organelles are also provided.
US08541548B2 Compounds and methods for reversible modification of biologically active molecules
The present invention is directed compounds for reversibly modification of biologically active molecules. Described are polyconjugates systems that incorporate targeting, anti-opsonization, anti-aggregation, and transfection activities into small biocompatible in vivo delivery conjugates. The use of reversible modification provides for physiologically responsive activity modulation.
US08541545B2 Stabilized melanocortin ligands
Compositions and methods are disclosed for a non-naturally occurring melanocortin ligand comprised of a melanocortin analog coupled to a degradation-resistant C-terminal extension and, optionally, an N-terminal extension, to produce a stable melanocortin ligand having diminished or abolished cardiovascular activity while retaining desired melanocortin regulatory activity.
US08541542B2 Process for reducing residuals content in vinyl aromatic polymers
The present invention relates to a process for reducing residuals content in a vinyl aromatic polymer, said residuals comprising essentially unpolymerized vinyl aromatic monomer, wherein the vinyl aromatic polymer in the molten state is brought in contact with a solid in powder capable to catalyze the alkylation of said residual vinyl aromatic monomer on the vinyl aromatic polymer. Advantage of the present invention is a sharp reduction of the unpolymerized vinyl aromatic monomer in the vinyl aromatic polymer without generating a new residual and without inducing a colored vinyl aromatic polymer. The present invention also relates to said vinyl aromatic polymer having a low residuals content.
US08541541B2 Conductive block copolymers
The invention relates to the synthesis of polythiophene (PAT) copolymers, and their use as conductive polymers in final applications. Specifically, copolymers of PAT with (meth)acrylates, or amides are useful as additives in blends of different polymer matrices in many commercial applications.
US08541539B2 Method for preparing a water-soluble polyamide
A method for preparing a water-soluble polyamide, includes copolymerizing reactive monomers including caprolactam; ethylene glycol bis(2-aminoethyl)ether or ethylene glycol bis(3-aminopropyl)ether; and 5-sulfoisophthalic acid monosodium salt, wherein a molar ratio of caprolactam:ethylene glycol bis(2-aminoethyl)ether or ethylene glycol bis(3 -aminopropyl)ether:5-sulfoisophthalic acid monosodium salt is about 0:1:1 to about 5:1:1, advantageously about 1.85:1:1. Copolymerizing takes place at a copolymerization temperature of about 222-250° C. and a copolymerization pressure of about 3 Bar. The method further includes maintaining a temperature of about 222-250° C. for about 2-3 hours under normal pressure after the copolymerization step. The water-soluble polyamide has a solubility in water of about 10-70%.
US08541538B2 Adsorbent for the removal of blood cells
An adsorbent for the removal of blood cells, which is formed from a hydrophobic polymer resin and has a surface center line average roughness of 5 to 100 nm. The hydrophobic polymer resin is preferably a polyarylate resin (PAR), polyethersulfone resin (PES), polysulfone resin (PSF), or a polymer alloy consisting of two or more of these resins. The adsorbent for the removal of blood cells can take the form of beads, hollow fibers, or solid fibers.
US08541532B2 Silane compound, production method thereof, and resin composition containing silane compound
A siloxane compound comprising a structure unit formed by connecting at least one organic skeleton having an imido bond to a silicon atom forming a siloxane bond, wherein the silane compound is defined by the following average formula: XaYbZcSiOd. X denotes groups including an organic skeleton having an imido bond, represented by formula (1) in the specification; Z denotes an organic groups having no imido bond; Y denotes at least one of hydrogen, hydroxyl, halogen, and OR; R denotes at least one of alkyl, acyl, aryl, and unsaturated aliphatic residual groups and may have a substituent; a is ≦3 and >0; b is 0≦3; c is 0≦3; d is ≦2 and >0; and a+b+c+2d=4, R1 denotes at least one from aromatic, heterocyclic, and alicyclic rings; x and z independently ≧0 and ≦5; and y is 0 or 1.
US08541516B2 Phosphorus-containing compounds useful for making halogen-free, ignition-resistant polymers
Phosphorus-containing compounds useful for flame retardant epoxy resins are disclosed. The flame retardant epoxy resins may be used to make electrical laminates. This invention is particularly useful in end use applications in which a low bromine or low halogen content is required or desired.
US08541507B2 High flow polypropylene composition
The present invention relates to a high flow polypropylene composition comprising (A) a low molecular weight propylene homopolymer fraction and (B) a high molecular weight propylene copolymer fraction, having a comonomer content of not higher than 8 wt %, wherein the ratio between the MFR2 of fraction (A) and the MFR2 of fraction (B) is at least 3 and wherein the MFR2 of the entire composition is at least 5 g/10 min, the values of MFR2 being measured according to ISO 1133 (230° C., 2.16 kg load), and to processes for producing such compositions and to articles made there from.
US08541504B2 Impact absorber composition
Provided in this invention is an impact absorber composition comprising a copolymer containing an aromatic vinyl compound, wherein the peak of tan δ of the copolymer obtained from the measurement of the dynamic viscoelasticity is in the range of more than 0° C. to 20° C. or less, the value of tan δ is 0.4 or more in the whole temperature range of 5° C. to 15° C., and the value of tan δ at 15° C. is 0.5 or more.
US08541502B2 Two/three component compatible polyolefin compounds
A polyolefin compound including: A) at least one thermoplastic olefin copolymer including the reaction product of olefin 1 and olefin 2, wherein: olefin 1 is a C2 based olefin and olefin 2 is a C3 to C8 α-olefin or olefin 1 is a C3 based olefin and olefin 2 is a C4 to C8 α-olefin; B) at least one functional polymer, the functional polymer content in the polyolefin compound being between 1 and 75 weight percent of the combined components A and B; wherein the thermoplastic olefin copolymer and the functional polymer form a co-continuous phase; wherein: a) an 12 melt index of the polyolefin compound is from about 1 to about 15 as measured using ASTM D 1238; b) a Shore A hardness of the polyolefin compound is from about 55 to about 100 as measured using ASTM D2240; c) a flexural modulus of the polyolefin compound is from about 0.8 to about 30 kpsi as measured using ASTM D790.
US08541498B2 Lubricious coatings for medical devices
Substrates may be coated with copolymers of N-vinyl pyrrolidinone and aryl ketones. Processes are described for making the copolymers at high molecular weight with the ketones randomly dispersed on the copolymer.
US08541494B2 Composites of inorganic microparticles having a phosphated surface and alkaline earth carbonate nanoparticles
The present invention relates to composites comprising inorganic micro pigments and/or fillers in the form of surface-phosphated microparticles, whose surface is at least partially coated with finely divided with alkaline earth carbonate nanoparticles by means of binders based on copolymers comprising as the monomers one or more dicarboxylic acids and one or more monomers from the group of diamines, triamines, dialkanolamines or trialkanolamines and epichlorohydrin, a method for producing such composites, aqueous slurries thereof and the use thereof in papermaking or in the field of production of paints and plastics as well as the use of the binders for the coating of microparticles with nano alkaline earth carbonate.
US08541490B2 Aliphatic polyester resin composition and process for production thereof
A process for producing an aliphatic polyester resin composition, wherein an aliphatic polyester resin is melt-kneaded with a phosphoric acid ester having a reduced moisture content of 1.5 wt. % or less. As a result, an aliphatic polyester resin composition having an improved moisture resistance is provided.
US08541487B2 Materials, methods and compositions for a composite building material
A solid composite material is suitable for construction and industrial uses. The solid composite material consists of at least an effective amount of assorted agricultural remnants with additives of calcium carbonate and antimony trioxide bound in an effective volume of cured resin. The cured material tolerates wet environments, is fire resistant, resistant to caustic substances and can be finished to provide a product having a desired appearance.
US08541481B2 Gentle to skin adhesive
Electron beam and gamma radiation crosslinked, silicone gel adhesives are described. Both nonfunctional and functional poly diorganosiloxanes are used. Methods of forming the adhesives, and medical articles incorporating such adhesives are also described.
US08541471B2 Water-soluble strontium salts for use in treatment of cartilage and/or bone conditions
Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cartilage and/or bone conditions and for methods of treating such condition. The compounds are salts of strontium that have a water-solubility of from about 1 g/l to about 100 g/l at room temperature, especially amino acid salts of strontium or dicarboxylic acid salts of strontium. Examples of novel water-soluble strontium salts are e.g. strontium glutamate and strontium alpha-ketoglutarate. The present invention also relates to an improved method for preparing the strontium salt of glutamic acid.
US08541461B2 Pharmaceutical combinations comprising pyrazole derivatives as protein kinase modulators
The invention provides a combination comprising an ancillary compound (e.g. one, two or more ancillary compounds) and a compound of the formula (I) having protein kinase B inhibiting activity: wherein A is a saturated hydrocarbon linker group containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, the linker group having a maximum chain length of 5 atoms extending between R1 and NR2R3 and a maximum chain length of 4 atoms extending between E and NR2R3, wherein one of the carbon atoms in the linker group may optionally be replaced by an oxygen or nitrogen atom; and wherein the carbon atoms of the linker group A may optionally bear one or more substituents selected from oxo, fluorine and hydroxy, provided that the hydroxy group when present is not located at a carbon atom α with respect to the NR2R3 group and provided that the oxo group when present is located at a carbon atom α with respect to the NR2R3 group; E is a monocyclic or bicyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic group; R1 is an aryl or heteroaryl group; and R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the claims. Also provided are patient packs, pharmaceutical kits and packs and compositions containing the combinations, methods for preparing the combinations and their use in combination therapy as anticancer agents.
US08541458B2 Oxabicycloheptanes and oxabicycloheptenes, their preparation and use
This invention provides compounds having the structure which may be used for the treatment of tumors.
US08541448B2 Compounds and methods for inhibiting NHE-mediated antiport in the treatment of disorders associated with fluid retention or salt overload and gastrointestinal tract disorders
The present disclosure is directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of disorders associated with fluid retention or salt overload, such as heart failure (in particular, congestive heart failure), chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, liver disease, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonist-induced fluid retention. The present disclosure is also directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of hypertension. The present disclosure is also directed to compounds and methods for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders, including the treatment or reduction of pain associated with gastrointestinal tract disorders.
US08541446B2 (2S,3R)-N-(2-((3-pyridinyl)methyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl)benzofurn-2-carboxamide, novel salt forms, and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to (2S,3R)—N-(2-((3-pyridinyl)methyl)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl)benzofuran-2-carboxamide, novel salt forms thereof, methods for its preparation, novel intermediates, and methods for treating a wide variety of conditions and disorders, including those associated with dysfunction of the central and autonomic nervous systems.
US08541444B2 Triazolopyridine 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors
Novel compounds are provided which are 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors. 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases requiring 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitor therapy. These novel compounds of formula I: or stereoisomers or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein G, Q, X, Y, R3, R3a, and R3b are defined herein.
US08541437B2 Substituted 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoles, methods for the production and use thereof
The invention relates to antagonists of serotonin 5-HT6 receptors simultaneously regulating homeostasis of Ca+2 ions in cells, representing substituted 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoles of the general formula 1, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or hydrate thereof. In the general formula 1: R1 represents amino group substituent selected from optionally substituted C1-C5 alkyl; R2i is one or more substituents selected from hydrogen, halogen, C1-C3 alkyl, CF3, OCF3; Ar is phenyl optionally substituted with halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, substituted amino group, or CF3; or optionally substituted aromatic 6-membered heterocycle comprising 1-2 nitrogen atoms in the cycle; W represents ethylene group —CH2—CH2—, ethenyl group —CH═CH—, or ethynyl group —C≡C—. The invention also relates to the novel compounds selected from the compounds of the general formula 1, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of their use.
US08541428B2 Heterocyclic derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to novel quinoxaline, quinazoline and phthalazine derivatives as well as multimeric derivatives, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions including such compounds, and methods of using these compounds for the treatment and prevention of brain damage resulting from brain injury, especially secondary brain damage due to traumatic brain injury (TBI). The compounds of the invention are also useful in treating and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.
US08541413B2 Sustained release eye drop formulations
This invention provides for biocompatible, biodegradable eye drop pharmaceutical formulations useful for the treatment of ocular indications. In particular, tocopherols and their esters of low water solubility, notably α-tocopheryl acetate, are exceptional vehicles for biocompatible, nonirritating topical eye drop formulations that provide sustained release of active agents.
US08541410B2 Sulfur substituted sulfonylaminocarboxylic acid N-arylamides, their preparation, their use and pharmaceutical preparations comprising them
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I wherein A1, A2, R1, R2, R3, X and n are as defined in the claims, which are valuable pharmaceutically active compounds for the therapy and prophylaxis of diseases, for example of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, angina pectoris, cardiac insufficiency, thromboses or atherosclerosis. The compounds of the formula I are capable of modulating the body's production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and are generally suitable for the therapy and prophylaxis of diseases which are associated with a disturbed cGMP balance. The invention furthermore relates to processes for preparing compounds of the formula I, to their use for the therapy and prophylaxis of the abovementioned diseases and for preparing pharmaceuticals for this purpose, and to pharmaceutical preparations which comprise compounds of the formula I.
US08541408B2 Aminodihydrothiazine derivatives substituted with a cyclic group
This invention provides a compound of the formula (I): wherein the ring A is an optionally substituted carbocyclic group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R1 is optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted lower alkenyl, optionally substituted lower alkynyl; R2a and R2b are each independently hydrogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl or optionally substituted acyl; R3a, R3b, R3c and R3d are each independently hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy or optionally substituted lower alkyl etc.; a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, which is useful for treating diseases induced by production, secretion and/or deposition of amyloid β protein.
US08541406B2 Thiadiazole derivatives for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
This invention provides specifically substituted 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives for use in the treatment of an α-synucleopathy such as Parkinson's disease, diffuse Lewy body disease, traumatic brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Niemann-Pick disease, Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome, Down syndrome, neuroaxonal dystrophy, multiple system atrophy and Alzheimer's disease. This invention also provides various methods for producing such substituted 1,2,4-thiadiazole derivatives.
US08541404B2 Inhibitors of the human aldosterone synthase CYP11B2
The invention provides compounds of the general formula (I) which are inhibitors of the human aldosterone synthase, and also pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and a method of treating of hyperaldosteronism and/or disorders or diseases that are mediated by 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) with these compounds.
US08541370B2 Use of matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) for thrombolytic treatments
The present invention relates to the use of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-10 in the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition useful for thrombolytic therapy, it also being possible for said composition to contain a plasminogen activator. Additionally, the present invention relates to said pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of thrombotic disorders.
US08541369B2 Fibroblast growth factor 21 variants having improved pharmacological potency and/or improved pharmaceutical stability
This present invention relates to pharmacologically potent and/or stable variants of human fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), pharmaceutical compositions comprising FGF21 variants, and methods for treating type 2 diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, or metabolic syndrome, or any combination thereof, using such variants.
US08541368B2 Glucagon analogues
The present invention relates to novel glucagon peptides, to the use of said glucagon peptides in therapy, to methods of treatment comprising administration of said glucagon peptides to patients in need thereof, and to the use of said glucagon peptides in the manufacture of medicaments. The glucagon peptides of the present invention are of particular interest in relation to the treatment of hyperglycemia, diabetes and obesity, as well as a variety of diseases or conditions associated with hyperglycemia, diabetes and obesity.
US08541366B2 Synthetic AXMI-004 delta-endotoxin genes and methods for their use
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided, particularly synthetically-derived coding sequences. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:9, 11, 13, 15, or 18, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or 17, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
US08541354B2 Catalytic laundry detergent composition comprising relatively low levels of water-soluble electrolyte
A solid laundry detergent composition having multiple catalysts and water-soluble electrolyte, wherein the ratio of (i) the total reduction in activation energy in kilojoules per mole achieved by the catalysts to (ii) the electrolytic strength of the laundry detergent composition at a concentration of 1 g/l in de-ionized water and at a temperature of 25° C. in mScm−1 laundry detergent composition is at least 300.
US08541345B2 Compositions and methods for the identification and use of epigenetic markers useful in the study of normal and abnormal mammalian gametogenesis
The invention includes compositions comprising a S. cerevisiae yeast library, and methods of identifying an epigenetic marker for the diagnosis of infertility or a disorder associated with gametogenesis in an individual.
US08541339B2 Reversible thermosensitive recording medium and method for producing the same
A reversible thermosensitive recording medium including: reversible thermosensitive recording layer; first sheet-shaped base; second sheet-shaped base; first resin layer; second resin layer; and electronic information recording module containing module substrate, and electronic information recording element and antenna circuit disposed on the substrate, wherein the recording layer is provided adjacent to the first sheet-shaped base; the first or second sheet-shaped base has concave portion in which the element is disposed in depth direction thereof; the module is provided between the first and second sheet-shaped bases, where the first resin layer is provided between the module and the sheet-shaped base having the concave portion and the second resin layer is provided between the module and the sheet-shaped base having no concave portion; and inner side surface of the concave portion is tapered surface where maximum opening diameter of the concave portion decreases from opening edge thereof towards bottom surface thereof.
US08541336B2 Metal-carbon compositions
A tin-carbon compound that is a reaction product of tin and carbon, wherein the tin and the carbon form a single phase material that is meltable. The compound is one in which the carbon does not phase separate from the tin when the single phase material is heated to a melting temperature.
US08541330B2 Method of producing transparent ceramics
The method of making a transparent ceramic includes making a molded body from a powder mixture of starting materials, which include one or more sintering aids. The sintering aids can include SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, HfO2, Al2O3 and/or fluorides. The transparent ceramic is made by pre-sintering the molded body at temperatures between 500° C. to 900° C., subsequently sintering in vacuum at temperatures between 1400° C. and 1900° C. and then pressurizing the sintered molded body at a pressure of from 10 to 198 MPa followed by annealing. The optoceramic material contains crystals with a stoichiometry of A2+XBYBYDZE7, wherein −1.15≦x≦+1.1, 0≦y≦3, 0≦z≦1.6 and 3x+4y+5z=8; and wherein A is a trivalent rare earth cation, B is a tetravalent cation, D is a pentavalent cation and E is a divalent anion.
US08541325B2 Low expansivity, high transmission titania doped silica glass
In one embodiment the present disclosure is directed to a silica-titania glass with an internal transmission of >90%/cm at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In another embodiment the internal transmission is >93%/cm at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In a further embodiment the internal transmission is >95%/cm at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In another embodiment the disclosure is directed to a silica-titania glass with an overall transmission through an optic made of the glass is >84% at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In another embodiment overall transmission through an optic made of the glass is >86% at wavelengths from 340 nm to 840 nm. In a further embodiment the overall transmission through an optic made of the glass is >88% at wavelengths from 330 nm to 840 nm. In a further embodiment the silica-titania glass has a Ti+3 concentration level [Ti3+] less than 3 ppm by weight.
US08541324B2 Pergallous alkaline earth selenogermanate glasses
IR-transmitting alkaline earth selenogallo- and/or selenoindo-germanate glasses that are capable of hosting luminescent rare earth dopants. The relatively high Ga and/or In content of most compositions serves to eliminate the typical clustering tendency of rare earth dopants in chalcogenide glasses, resulting in improved luminescence.
US08541323B2 Splittable conjugate fiber, aggregate thereof, and fibrous form made from splittable conjugate fibers
A splittable conjugate fiber comprising a polyester segment and a polyolefin segment, wherein the splittable conjugate fiber comprises two or more parts of the polyester segment extending from a center of the fiber toward an outer edge of the fiber in a cross-sectional configuration perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, in which at least one of the two or more parts of the polyester segment extending from the center of the fiber toward the outer edge of the fiber is exposed at the outer edge of the fiber and at least one of the two or more parts of the polyester segment extending from the center of the fiber toward the outer edge of the fiber is unexposed at the outer edge of the fiber.
US08541308B2 Polishing method and method for forming a gate
A polishing method and a method for forming a gate are provided. The method includes forming a dummy gate on a semiconductor substrate including a sacrificial oxide layer and a polysilicon layer which covers the sacrificial oxide layer, forming spacers around the dummy gate, and successively forming a silicon nitride layer and a dielectric layer covering the silicon nitride layer. The method further includes polishing the dielectric layer until the silicon nitride layer is exposed, polishing the silicon nitride layer on a fixed abrasive pad until the polysilicon layer is exposed by using a polishing slurry with a PH value ranging from 10.5 to 11 and comprising an anionic surfactant or a zwitterionic surfactant. Additionally, the method includes forming an opening after removing the dummy gate, and forming a gate in the opening. The method eliminates potential erosion and dishing caused in the polishing of the silicon nitride layer.
US08541305B2 3D integrated circuit and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a 3D integrated circuit and a manufacturing method thereof. The circuit structure comprises: a semiconductor substrate; at least one semiconductor device formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate; a through-Si-via through the semiconductor substrate and comprising an insulating layer covering sidewalls of the through-Si-via and conductive material filled in the insulating layer; an interconnection structure connecting the at least one semiconductor device and the through-Si-via; and a diffusion trapping region formed on the lower surface of the semiconductor substrate. The present invention is applicable in manufacture of the 3D integrated circuit.
US08541295B2 Pad-less gate-all around semiconductor nanowire FETs on bulk semiconductor wafers
A non-planar semiconductor device is provided including at least one semiconductor nanowire suspended above a semiconductor oxide layer present within a portion of a bulk semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor oxide layer has a topmost surface that is coplanar with a topmost surface of the bulk semiconductor substrate. A gate surrounds a portion of the at least one suspended semiconductor nanowire, a source region located on a first side of the gate, and a drain region located on a second side of the gate. The source region is in direct contact with an exposed end portion of the at least one suspended semiconductor nanowire, and the drain region is in direct contact with another exposed end portion of the at least one suspended semiconductor nanowire. The source and drain regions have an epitaxial relationship with the exposed end portions of the suspended semiconductor nanowire.
US08541293B2 Method of controlled lateral etching
A method of controlled lateral etching is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may comprise: forming on a first material layer, which comprises a protruding structure, a second material layer; forming spacers on outer surfaces of the second material layer opposite to vertical surfaces of the protruding structure; forming a third material layer on surfaces of the second material layer and the spacers; forming on the third material layer a mask layer which extends in a direction lateral to a surface of the first material layer; and laterally etching portions of the respective layers arranged on the vertical surfaces of the protruding structure.
US08541290B2 Optoelectronic substrate and methods of making same
A method of fabricating a device by providing an auxiliary substrate having a metal nitride layer disposed thereon where the nitride layer has a nitrogen face and an opposite face and a dislocation density that is less than about 106, with the nitrogen face of the nitride layer facing the auxiliary substrate; depositing at least one epitaxial nitride layer on the exposed opposite face of the nitride layer of the structure; depositing a further metal layer over at least a portion of the epitaxial nitride layer(s); bonding a final substrate on the deposited metal layer; and removing the auxiliary substrate to form the device from the final substrate and deposited layers. Preferably, the device that is formed includes a LED or laser.
US08541285B2 Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor memory device including: a semiconductor substrate having: first device regions divided by first isolation films and second device regions divided by second isolation films a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate; a first element including: a first gate formed on the gate insulating film in the first device regions, a first inter-electrode insulating film formed on the first gate and on the first isolation films, and a second gate formed on the first inter-electrode insulating film; and a second element including: a third gate formed on the gate insulating film in the second device regions, and a fourth gate formed on the third gate and on the second isolation films; wherein a thickness of the third gate is larger than a thickness of the first gate.
US08541281B1 Replacement gate process flow for highly scaled semiconductor devices
A method disclosed herein includes forming sacrificial gate structures for a PFET and NFET transistor, removing the sacrificial gate structures and forming a replacement P-type gate structure for the PFET transistor and a replacement N-type gate structure for the NFET transistor, forming P-contact openings and N-contact openings in at least one layer of insulating material, wherein the P-contact openings expose portions of a P-active region and the N-contact openings expose portions of an N-active region, forming a masking layer that covers the exposed portions of the N-active region, performing an etching process though the P-contact openings in the layer of insulating material to define source/drain cavities in the P-active region proximate the replacement gate structure of the PFET transistor, and performing an epitaxial deposition process through the P-contact openings to form source/drain regions comprised of a semiconducting material in at least the source/drain cavities of the PFET transistor.
US08541279B2 Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having high-voltage and low-voltage transistors
By covering ends of a field insulating film in a region where a MOS transistor having a relatively thin gate insulating film is formed with a relatively thick gate insulating film, a channel region of the MOS transistor having the relatively thin gate insulating film is set apart from an inversion-preventing diffusion layer formed under the field insulating film so as not to be influenced by film thickness fluctuation of the field insulating film, etching fluctuation of the relatively thick gate insulating film, and impurity concentration fluctuation at both sides of the channel due to the inversion-preventing diffusion layer.
US08541275B2 Single metal gate CMOS integration by intermixing polarity specific capping layers
A method for forming a complementary metal oxide semiconductor device includes forming a first capping layer on a dielectric layer, blocking portions in the capping layer in regions where the capping layer is to be preserved using a block mask. Exposed portions of the first capping layer are intermixed with the dielectric layer to form a first intermixed layer. The block mask is removed. The first capping layer and the first intermixed layer are etched such that the first capping layer is removed to re-expose the dielectric layer in regions without removing the first intermixed layer.
US08541274B1 Methods of forming 3-D semiconductor devices with a nanowire gate structure wherein the nanowire gate structure is formed after source/drain formation
In one example, the method disclosed herein includes forming a fin comprised of a semiconducting material, wherein the fin has a first, as-formed cross-sectional configuration, forming a sacrificial gate structure above the fin, forming sidewall spacers adjacent at least a portion of the sacrificial gate structure and removing the sacrificial gate structure to thereby define a gate cavity that exposes a portion of the fin. The method also includes the steps of performing a fin reflow process on the exposed portions of the fin to define a nanowire structure having a cross-sectional configuration that is different from the first cross-sectional configuration and forming a replacement gate structure in the gate cavity and at least partially around the nanowire structure.
US08541272B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device with offset sidewall structure
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with NMOS and PMOS transistors is provided. The semiconductor device can lessen a short channel effect, can reduce gate-drain current leakage, and can reduce parasitic capacitance due to gate overlaps, thereby inhibiting a reduction in the operating speed of circuits. An N-type impurity such as arsenic is ion implanted to a relatively low concentration in the surface of a silicon substrate (1) in a low-voltage NMOS region (LNR) thereby to form extension layers (61). Then, a silicon oxide film (OX2) is formed to cover the whole surface of the silicon substrate (1). The silicon oxide film (OX2) on the side surfaces of gate electrodes (51-54) is used as an offset sidewall. Then, boron is ion implanted to a relatively low concentration in the surface of the silicon substrate (1) in a low-voltage PMOS region (LPR) thereby to form P-type impurity layers (621) later to be extension layers (62).
US08541271B1 Monolithic integration of multiple compound semiconductor FET devices
Various aspects of the technology provide a dual semiconductor power and/or switching FET device to replace two or more discrete FET devices. Portions of the current may be distributed in parallel to sections of the source and drain fingers to maintain a low current density and reduce the size while increasing the overall current handling capabilities of the dual FET. Application of the gate signal to both ends of gate fingers, for example, using a serpentine arrangement of the gate fingers and gate pads, simplifies layout of the dual FET device. A single integral ohmic metal finger including both source functions and drain functions reduces conductors and contacts for connecting the two devices at a source-drain node. Heat developed in the source, drain, and gate fingers may be conducted through the vias to the electrodes and out of the device.
US08541269B2 Native devices having improved device characteristics and methods for fabrication
A method for fabricating a native device is presented. The method includes forming a gate structure over a substrate starting at an outer edge of an inner marker region, where the gate structure extends in a longitudinal direction, and performing MDD implants, where each implant is performed using a different orientation with respect to the gate structure, performing pocket implants, where each implant is performed using a different orientation with respect to the gate structure, and concentrations of the pocket implants vary based upon the orientations. A transistor fabricated as a native device, is presented, which includes an inner marker region, an active outer region which surrounds the inner marker region, a gate structure coupled to the inner marker region, and first and second source/drain implants located within the active outer region and interposed between the first source/drain implant and the second source/drain implant.
US08541268B2 Method for manufacturing thin film transistor
A thin film transistor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. A top-gate thin film transistor is fabricated by a process using two gray-tone photomasks and a lift-off method. Therefore, the method can save cost of photomasks and processes comparing to a conventional fabrication method.
US08541267B2 FinFET transistor with high-voltage capability and CMOS-compatible method for fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a FinFET on a substrate. The method comprises providing a substrate with an active semiconductor layer on an insulator layer, and concurrently fabricating trench isolation regions in the active semiconductor layer for electrically isolating different active regions in the active semiconductor layer from each other, and trench gate-isolation regions in the active semiconductor layer for electrically isolating at least one gate region of the FinFET in the active semiconductor layer from a fin-shaped channel region of the FinFET in the active semiconductor layer.
US08541266B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
In a method for manufacturing a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, a gate electrode is formed and then an aluminum oxide film, a silicon oxide film, and the oxide semiconductor film are successively formed in an in-line apparatus without being exposed to the air and are subjected to heating and oxygen adding treatment in the in-line apparatus. Then, the transistor is covered with another aluminum oxide film and is subjected to heat treatment, so that the oxide semiconductor film from which impurities including hydrogen atoms are removed and including a region containing oxygen at an amount exceeding that in the stoichiometric composition ratio. The transistor including the oxide semiconductor film is a transistor having high reliability in which the amount of change in threshold voltage of the transistor by the bias-temperature stress (BT test) can be reduced.
US08541264B2 Method for forming semiconductor structure having protection layer for preventing laser damage
A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided to prevent energy that is used to blow at least one fuse formed on a metal layer above a semiconductor substrate from causing damage on the structure. The semiconductor structure includes a device, guard ring, protection ring, and at least one protection layer. The device is constructed on the semiconductor substrate underneath the fuse. A seal ring, which surrounds the fuse, is constructed on at least one metal layer between the device and the fuse for confining the energy therein. The protection layer is formed within the seal ring, on at least one metal layer between the device and the fuse for shielding the device from being directly exposed to the energy.
US08541259B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A disclosed semiconductor device includes a wiring board, a semiconductor element mounted on a principal surface of the wiring board with flip chip mounting, a first conductive pattern formed on the principal surface along at least an edge portion of the semiconductor element, a second conductive pattern formed on the principal surface along the first conductive pattern and away from the first conductive pattern, a passive element bridging between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern on the principal surface of the wiring board, and a resin layer filling a space between the wiring board and the semiconductor chip, wherein the resin layer extends between the semiconductor element and the first conductive pattern on the principal surface of the wiring board.
US08541253B2 III-nitride semiconductor laser device, and method of fabricating the III-nitride semiconductor laser device
A method of fabricating a III-nitride semiconductor laser device includes: preparing a substrate with a semipolar primary surface, the semipolar primary surface including a hexagonal III-nitride semiconductor; forming a substrate product having a laser structure, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, the laser structure including a substrate and a semiconductor region, and the semiconductor region being formed on the semipolar primary surface; after forming the substrate product, forming first and second end faces; and forming first and second dielectric multilayer films for an optical cavity of the nitride semiconductor laser device on the first and second end faces, respectively.
US08541249B2 Method for manufacturing light emitting device package and frame for manufacturing light emitting device package
A method for manufacturing a light emitting device package includes: preparing a base frame including an annular base part, at least a pair of lead parts extending to an inner side of the base part, and at least one support part extending to the inner side of the base part in a direction different from that of the lead parts and having a step structure formed on at least one surface of an end thereof; forming a package main body such that the package main body is combined to the step structure of the support part; separating the lead parts from the base part; disposing a light emitting device on at least one of the lead parts; and separating the package main body from the support part.
US08541248B2 Methods for fabricating planar heater structures for ejection devices
Methods and apparatus teach a substrate wafer having a plurality of plugs configured there within. The method also includes depositing and patterning a layer of a second metallic material over the substrate wafer, providing a layer of a dielectric material of a predetermined thickness over the patterned layer of the second metallic material, and conducting chemical mechanical polishing of the layer of the dielectric material to form a planarized top surface while exposing the patterned layer of the second metallic material. The method further includes cleaning the planarized top surface, depositing and patterning a resistor film over the planarized top surface, depositing one or more blanket films over the patterned resistor film, and patterning and etching the one or more blanket films. Further disclosed are planar heater structures and additional methods for fabricating the planar heater structures.
US08541245B2 Method for assessing oocyte maturation
The present invention provides methods and kits for assessing the state of oocyte maturation in a female mammal based on the level of PAPP-A found in the female's bodily fluid sample.
US08541235B2 Modified reconstituted basement membrane composition for assay system
A modified reconstituted extracellular matrix composition is provided herein. The composition includes an extracellular matrix and at least one exogenous component selected from heparin, fibronectin and laminin. The composition may have a basic pH. Additionally, provided herein is a cell culturing system including a substrate and a coating thereon of the composition to assess potential stimulators and/or inhibitors for their effects on various cell cultures while increasing the signal dynamic range.
US08541223B2 Lactic acid bacteria having action of lowering blood uric acid level
Various types of lactic acid bacteria were cultured in the presence of a purine, the amount of the purine consumed and the amount of purine degradation products produced were measured, and several lactic acid bacteria showing remarkable purine-decomposing ability were selected. Lactic acid bacteria that were assessed to have high purine-decomposing ability according to the above-mentioned selection were orally administered to rats reared on purine-containing feed, the general status and serum uric acid level of the rats were measured, and the effect of lactic acid bacteria administration on serum uric acid levels was examined. As a result, lactic acid bacteria that significantly suppress the increase of serum uric acid levels, Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2959 and Lactobacillus oris OLL2779, were found.
US08541212B2 Genetic modification for production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid
A method of increasing 3-HP production efficiency by inhibiting expression of a lactate dehydrogenase, a phosphotransacetylase, and an alcohol dehydrogenase in production of 3-HP using a malonic semialdehyde reduction pathway to prevent metabolite leak and increase a malonyl-CoA pool is disclosed.
US08541208B1 Process for the production of fine chemicals
The present invention relates to a process for the production of fine chemicals in a microorganism, a plant cell, a plant, a plant tissue or in one or more parts thereof. The present invention relates further to a process for the control of the production of fine chemicals in a microorganism, a plant cell, a plant, a plant tissue or in one or more parts thereof. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, antisense molecules, antibodies, host cells, plant tissue, propagation material, harvested material, plants, microorganisms as well as agricultural compositions and to their use.
US08541204B2 Polypeptide producing cells
The current invention describes a nucleic acid comprising in a 5′ to 3′ direction a) a first nucleic acid encoding a heterologous polypeptide without an in frame stop codon, b) a second nucleic acid beginning with a 5′ splice donor site and terminated by a 3′ splice acceptor site comprising an in frame translational stop codon and a polyadenylation signal, and c) a nucleic acid encoding i) at least a fragment of a transmembrane domain, or ii) a signal peptide for a GPI-anchor.
US08541202B2 Method for inducing cell lysis with immunogenic portions of NY-ESO-1 protein
The invention relates to peptides which bind to MHC Class I and to MHC Class II molecules. These peptides are useful in different therapeutic and diagnostic contexts.
US08541199B2 Mutant penicillin G acylases
The present invention relates to a mutant prokaryotic penicillin G acylase derived from a wild-type penicillin G acylase characterized in that the mutant is having an amino acid substitution at one or more amino acid positions selected from the group consisting of amino acid positions A3, A77, A90, A144 A192, B24, B109, B148, B313, B460 and B488 according to the amino acid numbering of the Escherichia coli penicillin G acylase having the amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID No: 1.
US08541197B2 Targets, including Yap1, for antifungal drug discovery and therapy
The present invention is based on the discovery of a two organism model system that can be used to identify virulence factors. The system is also useful in the process of drug delivery. More specifically, we have established valid fungal infection in caenorhabditis elegans with an invading pathogen, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Because both species are genetic model organisms, the assay can be used to identify host and virulence factors involved in such interactions.
US08541194B2 Detecting micro-organisms in an electrocoating process
Use of a micro-organism detection device to rapidly evaluate the presence of microorganisms in an electrocoating process.
US08541193B2 Cationic anti-microbial peptides and methods of use thereof
Described herein are methods of detecting a wound infection and for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms, for example, wound pathogens in a sample, by contacting a sample with a cationic anti-microbial peptide that is degradable by an enzyme produced and/or secreted by a microorganism, and detecting degradation or the absence of degradation of the peptide, as an indicator of the presence or absence of the enzyme in the sample, and thus indicative of the presence or absence of a microorganism in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of a microorganism in a sample.
US08541192B2 Methods to identify USP1 deubiquitinating enzyme complex inhibitors
The invention provides methods used to identify new inhibitors of USP1 deubiquitinase. The inhibitors can be identified by contacting isolated USP1 with a test compound in the presence of monoubiquitinated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), monoubiquitinated human Fanconi anemia group D2 (FANCD2), or ubiquitin-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin, and detecting the deubiquitination of said PCNA, FANCD2, or ubiquitin-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin using an antibody or fluorescence, wherein a decrease in the deubiquitination of said PCNA, FANCD2, or ubiquitin-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin in the presence of the test compound relative to the absence of the test compound identifies said test compound as an inhibitor of USP1 deubiquitinase.
US08541186B2 Cancer detection methods and techniques
A method is provided for detecting and/or measuring the occurrence of an enzyme in the form of CYP1B1 in a patient for the detection of cancer in said patient. The method includes the steps of administering a reporter substrate to a patient; taking a bodily fluid and/or tissue sample from the patient after one or more pre-determined periods of time; and analyzing the bodily fluid and/or tissue sample in vitro for the occurrence and/or measurement of a metabolite of the reporter substrate caused as a result of metabolism of the reporter substrate by said enzyme in said patient during said pre-determined period of time.
US08541177B2 Treatment and diagnosis of abnormal bone density with an inhibitor of the glypican-sclerostin interaction
Compositions and methods of treatment for abnormal bone density are disclosed based upon the finding that sclerostin must be bound to glypican in order to inhibit bone deposition. Methods for identifying agents that inhibit the glypican-sclerostin interaction are disclosed for treatment of bone deposition disorders. Diagnostic methods are also disclosed.
US08541174B2 Multi-array, multi-specific electrochemiluminescence testing
Materials and methods are provided for producing patterned multi-array, multi-specific surfaces for use in diagnostics. The invention provides for electrochemiluminescence methods for detecting or measuring an analyte of interest. It also provides for novel electrodes for ECL assays. Materials and methods are provided for the chemical and/or physical control of conducting domains and reagent deposition for use multiply specific testing procedures.
US08541169B2 Prostate cancer-specific alternations in ERG gene expression and detection and treatment methods based on those alterations
The disclosure describes alterations in ERG gene expression. ERG isoforms and promoter sequence of the ERG gene that are involved in, or associated with, prostate cancer are provided. The disclosure further provides therapeutic compositions and methods of detecting, diagnosing, prognosing, and treating prostate cancer, including biomarkers for detecting the expression of two or more of the following genes: PSA/KLK3, PMEPA1, NKX3.1, ODC1, AMD1, and ERG.
US08541168B1 Multi-array, multi-specific electrochemiluminescence testing
Materials and methods are provided for producing patterned multi-array, multi-specific surfaces which are electronically excited for use in electrochemiluminescence based tests. Materials and methods are provided for the chemical and/or physical control of conducting domains and reagent deposition for use in flat panel displays and multiply specific testing procedures.
US08541158B2 Positive resist compositions and patterning process
A positive resist composition is provided comprising an acid generator, a resin component which generates resin-solubilizing groups under the action of acid so that the resin component becomes soluble in an alkaline developer, at least some resin-solubilizing groups being carboxyl groups, and a compound for activating or condensing a carboxyl group. When processed by the lithography, the resist composition forms a resist pattern having a very high resolution and good mask fidelity.
US08541155B2 Resin-coated carrier for electrophotographic developer, and electrophotographic developer
There are provided a resin-coated carrier for an electrophotographic developer, in which a magnetic particle is coated with a resin on its surface, and the coating resin contains a carbon nanotube having a carbon content of 75% by weight or more, and an electrophotographic developer using the resin-coated carrier.
US08541153B2 Toner for developing electrostatic image, developer for electrostatic image, toner cartridge, process cartridge, image forming method, and image forming apparatus
A toner for developing an electrostatic image contains at least one of an oxidation polymerizable monomer and a polymer having an ethylenically unsaturated group, and an oxidation polymerization catalyst in a form of a composite with inorganic particles, wherein a temperature T(10 Mpa) and a temperature T(1 Mpa) satisfies the following expression (1): 20° C.≦T(1 MPa)−T(10 MPa)  (1) wherein, the temperature T(10 Mpa) is a temperature at which a viscosity of the toner under a pressure of 10 Mpa applied with a flow tester becomes 104 Pa·s, and the temperature T(1 Mpa) is a temperature at which a viscosity of the toner under a pressure of 1 Mpa applied with a flow tester becomes 104 Pa·s.
US08541134B2 Electrode using three-dimensional network aluminum porous body, and nonaqueous electrolyte battery, capacitor and lithium-ion capacitor with nonaqueous electrolytic solution, each using the electrode
In an electrode according to the present invention including a three-dimensional network aluminum porous body as a base material, the electrode is a sheet-shaped electrode, and a cell of the three-dimensional network aluminum porous body has an elliptic shape having a minor axis in the thickness direction of the electrode in a cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction and thickness direction of the electrode, and a cell of the three-dimensional network aluminum porous body has an elliptic shape having a minor axis in the thickness direction of the electrode in a cross section parallel to the width direction and thickness direction of the electrode. The electrode is preferably obtained by subjecting the three-dimensional network aluminum porous body to at least a current collecting lead welding step, an active material filling step and a compressing step.
US08541125B2 Battery pack
A battery pack that prevents a circuit module from being bent and improves durability against an external impact. The battery pack includes a bare cell on which an electrode terminal protrudes from a surface thereof, a circuit module disposed on the surface of the bare cell, a first lead plate coupled to a side of the circuit module, the first lead plate being connected to the surface of the bare cell, and a first holder disposed between the circuit module and the surface of the bare cell, the first holder being coupled to the first lead plate.
US08541118B2 Lithium-ion battery and method for regenerating the same
This invention provides a lithium-ion battery in which a coating film forming agent degradation reaction is prevented. A lithium-ion battery 100 in which electrodes 1 and 2 and an electrolyte are accommodated in a battery container 13 , and which has a means of for adding a coating film forming agent 20 for adding a coating film forming agent 21 that forms a coating film on the surface of each of electrodes 1 and 2 to an electrolyte in a battery container 13 is provided. With the use of such means of adding a coating film forming agent 20, a reaction of electrochemical degradation of a coating film forming agent 21 is prevented, allowing long-term preservation. Also, with the addition of a coating film forming agent 21 to an electrolyte, a deteriorated coating film on the surface of each of electrodes 1 and 2 is repaired such that a lithium-ion battery 100 can be regenerated, resulting in extension of battery life.
US08541117B2 Low noise battery with a magnetic compensation structure for wireless mobile communication device
A battery has an electrode assembly that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a layer of electrolyte between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. An electric current flow in the positive electrode is unmatched to an electric current flow in the negative electrode, thereby producing a first magnetic field. A magnetic compensation structure is adjacent to the electrode assembly and has body of electrically conductive material connected to one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electric current flowing through the electrode assembly also flows through the body in a pattern that matches the pattern of unmatched electric current in the electrode assembly. As a result a second magnetic field is produced by the magnetic compensation structure that opposes the first magnetic field thereby mitigating magnetic noise from the battery.
US08541104B2 Intermediate transfer member
There is described an intermediate transfer member including a substrate layer comprising a polyimide and a surface layer. The surface layer includes a functionalized polyfluoropolyether and functionalized polybutadiene in a weight ratio of functionalized polyfluoropolyether/functionalized polybutadiene of from about 20/80 to about 80/20 and conductive particles. The method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer member is also described.
US08541103B2 Silicone polymer particle and silicone composition containing same
The present invention provides silicone polymer particles having excellent tensile properties and excellent transparency and also provides a silicone composition. The present invention relates to silicone polymer particles having a silicone core-alkoxysilane condensate shell structure in which silicone particles with a volume-average particle diameter of 0.001 μm to 1.0 μm are coated with an alkoxysilane condensate, and also relates to a silicone composition containing (A) the silicone polymer particles, (B) a polyorganosiloxane having at least one alkenyl group in its molecule, and (C) a curing agent. The present invention further relates to respective manufacturing methods of the silicone polymer particles and the silicone composition.
US08541102B2 (Li, Na, K, Bi)(Nb, Ta)O3 based piezoelectric material and manufacturing method of the same
Piezoelectric materials having improved electrical properties, and manufacturing methods of the same, are provided. In (Li, Na, K, Bi)(Nb, Ta)O3 based piezoelectric materials, the surface microstructures of sintered bodies include microscopic grains having grain diameters of less than 5 μm, intermediate grains having grain diameters of 5 μm or more and less than 15 μm, and coarse grains having grain diameters of 15 μm or more and 100 μm or less.
US08541097B2 Polyester laminated film and transfer foil
A polyester laminated film includes at least a polyester layer, and a highly crystalline polyester layer including a highly crystalline polyester having a crystallinity parameter ΔTcg of 35° C. or lower, wherein both the polyester layer and the highly crystalline polyester layer have a planar orientation coefficient of 0.00 to 0.03.
US08541093B2 Method for high resolution ink-jet print using pre-patterned substrate and conductive substrate manufactured using the same
A method for high resolution ink-jet print using a pre-patterned substrate employs an ink-jet printing device including an ink-jet head for discharging conductive ink droplets and a driving stage for supporting a substrate to which the conductive ink droplets are hit, to draw a fine line width pattern on the substrate. The method includes (A) forming a stripe pattern with repeated stripes on a substrate surface on which a fine line width pattern will be formed, thereby preparing a pre-patterned substrate; (B) loading the substrate to the ink-jet printing device; and (C) injecting conductive ink droplets to a substrate region where the stripe pattern is formed. An equivalent interval (d) of the stripe pattern and a fine line width (D) of the drawn fine line width pattern satisfy a relation of d<
US08541074B2 Packaging materials with enhanced thermal-insulating performance
A packaging material including a paper-based substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a thermal-insulating composition on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the thermal-insulating composition includes, based on the total weight of the composition, filler in an amount of 20% to 70% by weight, organic binder in an amount of 15% to 70% by weight, and plasticizer in an amount of 0.5% to 10% by weight.
US08541073B2 Composition comprising ethylene copolymers and polyolefin
Disclosed are compositions of ethylene/(meth)acrylate copolymers, polyolefins (e.g., polyethylene and polypropylene), optional tackifier resins and optional fillers that provide very strong, tight hermetic heat seals yet are easily peelable. These compositions are useful as an adhesive layer in multilayer structures that are useful as packaging lidding films. Also disclosed are packages that comprise these multilayer structures.
US08541064B2 Methods and systems for producing thermoplastic coated optical fibers
A method for producing a coated optical fiber may include drawing an optical fiber from a draw furnace along a first vertical pathway. The optical fiber may then be routed through at least one fluid bearing thereby redirecting the optical fiber along a second vertical pathway. Thereafter, a thermoplastic coating may be applied to the optical fiber with a thermoplastic coating system. The optical fiber may then be wound onto a fiber storage spool with a fiber take-up system. The fiber take-up system may be space apart from the thermoplastic coating system such that the thermoplastic coating may be cooled before the optical fiber is wound onto the fiber storage spool.
US08541044B1 No bake granola product and methods of preparation
The invention generally provides novel no-bake grain products and methods of preparation of the same. Specifically a no-bake food product with a toasted appearance and flavor and a method of providing a toasted appearance and flavor to a no-bake food product. The no-bake food product includes granola bars, clusters, cereal, instant hot cereal and snacks.
US08541040B2 Process for producing protein microparticles
The present invention relates to a process for producing protein microparticles in dilute organic acid solutions and in the absence of an alcohol such as ethanol. The microparticles are formed by dissolving a cereal prolamin protein in a concentrated organic acid solution with agitation and then diluting the solution with an aqueous solution. Protein microparticles having vacuoles are thus formed. The protein microparticles may be used to form powders, films, coatings, matrices, scaffolds and the like. Complete films can be formed from the protein microparticles of the invention.
US08541037B2 Packaged bottle beverage having an ingredient release closure with improved additive release and method and apparatus thereof
A packaged bottle beverage has a base component of the beverage in a container wider vacuum separate from an additive in a sealed compartment of an ingredient release closure. Upon opening the sealed compartment, suction is created forcing the additive to quickly and thoroughly exit the ingredient release closure, a region of relatively higher pressure, and flow into the base component in the container, a region of relatively lower pressure.
US08541033B2 Production of human antibodies using NOD/SCID/γcnull mice
The present invention provides an immunodeficient mouse (NOG mouse) suitable for engraftment, differentiation and proliferation of heterologous cells, and a method of producing such a mouse. This mouse is obtained by backcrossing a C.B-17-scid mouse with an NOD/Shi mouse, and further backcrossing an interleukin 2-receptor γ-chain gene-knockout mouse with the thus backcrossed mouse. It is usable for producing a human antibody and establishing a stem cell assay system, a tumor model and a virus-infection model.
US08541030B2 Preparation method of sustained-release microcapsules having initial burst inhibiting property and the microcapsules thereby
Disclosed is a method for preparing a longer sustained-release formulation containing bioactive substances. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for preparing longer sustained-release microcapsules comprising: adding an emulsion including bioactive substances, biocompatible polymer and polyvinylpyrrolidone to an aqueous solution.
US08541029B2 Article and method for focused delivery of therapeutic and/or diagnostic materials
A microfiber extrudate and delivery process includes a bio-compatible polymer matrix forming a body of the microfiber extrudate, an exogenously excitable material arranged within the body, and an active load arranged within the body.
US08541025B2 Co-crystals and pharmaceutical formulations comprising the same
An immediate release formulation of an active ingredient.
US08541022B2 Method of treating burns using avermectin compound
A method of treating a superficial or partial thickness burn caused by heat, or by UV or laser radiation is disclosed. The method includes topically applying a topical composition containing an avermectin compound to an affected area immediately after a burn occurs. The method further includes cooling the affected area with ice or water prior to application of the topical composition. Additionally, the method includes topically applying a second topical composition containing fluocinonide and salicylic acid on the affected area to further enhance anti-inflammatory effect of the avermectin compound on the damaged skin.
US08541015B1 Three-dimensional biological scaffold and method of making the same
A three-dimensional biological scaffold. The scaffold includes at least three sets of polymer waveguides extending along at least three respective directions. The at least three sets of polymer waveguides interpenetrate each other at a plurality of nodes to form a self-supporting structure. In some embodiments, the polymer waveguides may be bio-degradable. In still some embodiments, the three-dimensional biological scaffold may include one or more coating layers for covering surfaces of the polymer waveguides.
US08541013B2 Temperature and pH sensitive copolymers
The invention is directed to a copolymer comprising at least three types of monomeric units, said three types of monomeric units comprising: a temperature-sensitive unit, a hydrophilic unit, and a hydrophobic unit comprising at least one pH-sensitive moiety; wherein said hydrophobic monomeric unit is derived from a copolymerizable unsaturated fatty acid.
US08541010B2 Cosmetic composition comprising double-shell nano-structure
Disclosed is a cosmetic composition having a double-shell type nano-structure. More particularly, the nano-structure of the cosmetic composition includes: a water-soluble bioactive ingredient core; a core shell containing poly(ethyleneglycol)-poly(caprolactone)-poly(ethyleneglycol) (PE-PCL-PEG) triblock copolymer in order to include the bioactive ingredient core therein; and an outer shell containing phospholipids or derivatives thereof in order to enclose the core shell therein. Such a cosmetic composition improves stability of active components which are prone to oxidation, light degradation, heat degradation, etc., is formed in a nanoparticle size which in turn shows high transdermal absorption and is very useful to prepare a cosmetic composition stably encapsulating various bioactive ingredients with anti-wrinkle effects, whitening effects, and so forth.
US08541009B2 Cosmetic
A cosmetic composition contains the following components (A), (B) and (C): (A) from 0.1 to 30 wt. % of a vinyl-based polymer having a carbosiloxane dendrimer structure in a side chain thereof, (B) from 0.1 to 30 wt. % of a nonvolatile cosmetic oil, which is in a liquid form at 25° C. and has a solubility parameter of 16.5 or greater, and (C) from 0.1 to 30 wt. % of a hydrophobic powder, and a weight ratio of the component (A) to the component (B), (A)/(B), is from 0.3 to 5.
US08541001B2 Bacterial cellulose based ‘green’ composites
‘Green’ composites are fabricated using resins, such as soy-based resins, and reinforced with crystalline high strength bacterial cellulose (BC) fibers. Bacterial cellulose is produced by providing a bacterial cellulose-producing bacterium such as Acetobacter xylinum; providing an inexpensive bacteria nutritional medium; culturing the bacterium in the bacteria nutritional medium under conditions to produce bacterial cellulose; and isolating bacterial cellulose produced by cultured bacteria from the bacteria nutritional medium. The bacteria nutritional medium comprises an inexpensive carbon source that is a plant-based seed extract. The seed extract is derived from a plant-based seed comprising soluble sugars.
US08540997B2 Complement receptor 1 and 2 fusion proteins
Modulation of the complement system represents a therapeutic modality for numerous pathologic conditions associated with complement activation. In a strategy to prepare complement inhibitors that are targeted to sites of complement activation and disease, compositions comprising a complement inhibitor linked to complement receptor (CR) 2 are disclosed. The disclosed are compositions can be used in methods of treating pathogenic diseases and inflammatory conditions by modulating the complement system.
US08540993B2 Methods of treatment using IL-18 receptor antigen binding proteins
Provided herein are IL-18 receptor antigen binding proteins and polynucleotides encoding the same. Expression vectors and host cells comprising the same for production of the antigen binding proteins are also provided. In addition, provided are compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating diseases mediated by IL-18 receptor.
US08540991B2 Monoclonal antibodies against PCBP-1 antigens, and uses therefor
The present invention provides and includes monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs or mAbs) specific or preferentially selective for PCBP-1 antigens, hybridoma lines that secrete these PCBP-1 antibodies or antibody fragments, and the use of such antibodies and antibody fragments to detect PCBP-1 antigens, particularly those expressed by cancer cells. The present invention also includes antibodies that are specific for or show preferential binding to a soluble form of PCBP-1. The present invention further includes chimeric and humanized antibodies, processes for producing monoclonal, chimeric, and humanized antibodies using recombinant DNA technology, and their therapeutic uses, particularly in the treatment of cancer. The present invention further includes methods and kits for the immunodetection and immunotherapy of cells for samples which express PCBP-1 antigens.
US08540987B2 Composition for neutralizing botulinus toxin type-A, and human anti-botulinus toxin type-A antibody
Provided herein is a means which is effective for botulism diseases and the prevention of the botulism diseases. Specifically provided is a plurality of human anti-botulinum toxin type-A antibodies having different epitopes from one another. Also specifically provided is a composition for neutralizing botulinum toxin type-A, which comprises a combination of two or more of the antibodies and which has a high neutralizing activity.
US08540978B2 Treatment composition comprising physically disrupted tooth pulp and non-cultured stem cells in a matrix
A medical implant comprising in components from a tooth and stem cells harvested from at least one tooth. Tooth stem cells may be harvested from the dental pulp of mammalian teeth, such as unerupted third molars in humans. After the stem cells are removed and isolated from the other teeth tissue, the hard tooth may be ground into a base material for the manufacture of a porous matrix into which the tooth stem cells can be added. Additionally, soft tissue from the harvested tooth may be used as a carrier scaffold for soft tissue applications such as meniscal or cartilage repair.
US08540974B2 Aqueous dispersions of water-soluble and/or water-swellable anionic polymers, method for their production and use thereof
Aqueous dispersions of water-soluble and/or water-swellable anionic polymers which are obtainable by free radical polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated, anionic monomers in an aqueous medium in the presence of at leas one stabilizer, the polymerization being carried out in the presence of at least one water-soluble polymer of the groups consisting of (a) graft polymers of vinyl acetate and/or vinyl propionate on (i) polyethylene glycols or (ii) polyethylene glycols or polypropylene glycols blocked at one or both terminal groups with alkyd carboxyl or amino groups, polyalkylene glycols, polyalkylene glycols blocked at one or both terminal groups with alkyl carboxy or amino groups and (b) water-soluble copolymers of (b1) nonionic monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, (b2) cationic monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and if appropriate (b3) anionic monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, the fraction of the interpolymerized cationic monomers being greater than that of the anionic monomers, as a stabilizer, said aqueous dispersions are prepared by free radical polymerization of the anionic monomers in an aqueous medium in the presence of the abovementioned water-soluble polymers (a) and (b) and said aqueous dispersions are used as thickeners for aqueous systems.
US08540971B2 Oral care composition with cross-linked polymer peroxide
Oral care compositions comprising: (a) a peroxide complex comprising a peroxide component and an N-vinyl heterocyclic polymer (e.g., poly-N-vinyl polylactam, or poly-N-vinyl-polyimide); (b) a whitening agent (e.g., hydrogen peroxide); and (c) an orally acceptable carrier. In one embodiment, the carrier comprises a film forming material. Methods are also provided for making an oral care composition comprising: (a) mixing a whitening agent, silicone adhesive and carrier fluid to form a homogenous mixture; (b) adding a peroxide complex to said homogenous mixture, wherein said complex comprises hydrogen peroxide and an N-vinyl heterocyclic polymer; and (c) mixing under vacuum.
US08540968B2 Phospholipid ether analogs as agents for detecting and locating cancer, and methods thereof
The present invention provides methods for treating, detecting and locating recurrence of cancer, radiation and chemo insensitive cancer or metastasis of cancer selected from the group consisting of Lung cancer, Adrenal cancer, Melanoma, Colon cancer, Colorectal cancer, Ovarian cancer, Prostate cancer, Liver cancer, Subcutaneous cancer, Squamous cell cancer, Intestinal cancer, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Retinoblastoma, Cervical cancer, Glioma, Breast cancer and Pancreatic cancer in subject using phospholipid ether analogs.
US08540962B2 Method for producing hydrogen by means of thermochemical water-splitting, and device for producing hydrogen
The disclosed method for producing hydrogen by means of thermochemical water-splitting can efficiently use solar energy obtained by means of a beam-down typed light collecting system. Further disclosed is a device for producing hydrogen. While circulating within a reactor (1) a fluidized bed (2) made of metal oxide particles, two reactions are simultaneously caused to proceed: a thermal reduction reaction, which is an oxygen evolution reaction wherein a portion of the fluidized bed (2) is heated by solar light (S) in a nitrogen atmosphere, which is a low oxygen partial pressure gas, releasing oxygen from the metal oxide; and a thermochemical water-splitting reaction, which is a hydrogen evolution reaction wherein water vapor is brought into contact with the metal oxide after oxygen has been released, generating hydrogen.
US08540959B2 Bulk cutting of carbon nanotubes using electron beam irradiation
According to some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for attaining short carbon nanotubes utilizing electron beam irradiation, for example, of a carbon nanotube sample. The sample may be pretreated, for example by oxonation. The pretreatment may introduce defects to the sidewalls of the nanotubes. The method is shown to produces nanotubes with a distribution of lengths, with the majority of lengths shorter than 100 tun. Further, the median length of the nanotubes is between about 20 nm and about 100 nm.
US08540956B2 Method for preparing titanium-silicalite molecular sieve and method for preparing cyclohexanone oxime using titanium-silicalite molecular sieve
The present invention provides a method for preparing large particles of titanium-silicalite molecular sieves. The method of the present invention includes the steps of preparing a dispersion solution of a primary crystalline molecular sieve; forming an aggregated particle solution by adding a flocculating agent and a coagulating agent into the dispersion solution; mixing the aggregated particle solution with a synthesis gel to form a mixture; and heat-treating the mixture. The average diameter of the titanium-silicalite molecular sieves in the present invention is more than 5 μm. In the preparation of cyclohexanone oxime using the molecular sieve of the present invention as the catalyst, the selectivity and conversion rate of cyclohexanone oxime are high, the usage of hydrogen peroxide is enhanced, and the catalyst is easy to be recovered.
US08540949B2 Apparatus for hydroprocessing hydrocarbons
An apparatus and process is disclosed for hydroprocessing hydrocarbon feed in a hydroprocessing unit and hydrotreating a second hydrocarbon. A warm separator sends vaporous hydrotreating effluent to be flashed with liquid hydroprocessing effluent to produce a vapor flash overhead that can be recycled to the hydrotreating unit to provide hydrogen requirements.
US08540948B2 Lidded container
A lidded container having a tubular container which at the bottom has a container base, at the top a container opening and below the container opening a sealing region on the internal wall, a lid which comprises a lid base and a plug protruding from the inside of the lid base, and which may be inserted through the container opening into a sealing position in the sealing region, and locking means for releasably locking the lid to the container comprising at least one latching projection projecting radially outward at the top edge of the container, at least one flexible and elastic connecting link projecting from the bottom side of the lid base on which a latching edge is arranged at a distance from the lid base vertically below the connection of the connecting link to the lid base.
US08540944B2 Vascular access device time sensitive status indication
A vascular access device for communicating with the vascular system of a patient may include a status indicator. The status indicator may detect and signal that a period of time has elapsed in relation to the use of the vascular access device.
US08540937B2 Formulating chemical solutions based on volumetric and weight based control measurements
A system and/or method formulates a chemical solution using both volumetric and weight based measurements of components of the chemical solution. The components of the chemical solution include water and at least one other component, which may take any form, such as, without limitation, liquid, solid, powder or gaseous form. Formulation of the chemical solution is administered by combining water with the one or more other components at an output port, from which this combination is dispensed to a solution storage tank. In response to a user's request to formulate a specified amount of the chemical solution, the volume of water provided to the output port is monitored by a flow meter and the weight of the other component(s) provided to the output port is monitored by one or more load cells. Based on such monitoring, appropriate amounts of water and the other component(s) are combined together to formulate the specified amount of the chemical solution in the solution storage tank.
US08540936B2 Turbine blade erosion sensor
An erosion sensor that can separately monitor erosion and corrosion of a substrate, such as a wind turbine blade or a turbine blade used in devices such as gas turbines, aircraft engines, microturbines, steam turbines, and the like is disclosed. The sensor can include a first element or “erosion part” that is made of a corrosion resistant material. The first element of the sensor has similar erosion properties to the substrate being monitored. The sensor can further include a second element or a “corrosion part” that is made of a material having similar erosion and corrosion properties to the substrate. The sensor can provide an erosion indicator based on the erosion of the first element and a corrosion indicator based on the erosion and corrosion of the second element.
US08540935B2 System and method for coding information on a biosensor test strip
The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a concentration of an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, wherein the test strip may be encoded with information that can be read by a test meter into which the test strip is inserted. In one embodiment, a first test strip comprises: a first measurement electrode connectable to a test meter; a first trace loop with a first associated resistance, where the first trace loop is connectable to the test meter; and a second trace loop with a second associated resistance, where the second trace loop is connectable to the test meter. The test meter is adapted to: receive the first test strip; connect to the first measurement electrode, the first trace loop, and the second trace loop; and obtain a first resistance ratio by comparing the first and second associated resistances.
US08540924B2 Method and device for preheating a pressed material mat during manufacture of wood material boards
The invention relates to a method for preheating a pressed material mat (14) spread on an endlessly and continuously circulating molding band (6) during manufacture of wood material boards, wherein microwaves from one or both press surface sides are beamed into the pressed material mat (14) to preheat the pressed material mat (14) and the pressed material mat (14) is compacted and hardened by application of pressure and heat after transfer to a continuously operating press (1). The invention consists of microwaves in a frequency range of 2400-2500 MHz being used to heat the pressed material mat (14), wherein the microwaves for each press surface side are generated from 20 to 300 microwave generators (26) with magnetrons (20) of a respective output of 3 to 50 kW. A device for preheating pressed material mats (14) is also provided, in which 20 to 300 microwave generators (26) with magnetrons (20) with an output of 3 to 50 kW and with a frequency range of 2400-2500 MHz are arranged in a conveyor furnace (4) per area side.
US08540918B2 Method of producing a tooth-cleaning device
The wire of the interdental treatment part is inserted into a shaft opening of the injection molding tool, preferably into a strip of the injecting molding tool such that said treatment part projects with a mounting section thereof into a cavity connected to the shaft opening. Preferably, a first cavity section is configured is configured on the strip, and a second cavity section is configured on a cavity body, to with the strip abuts at least during the injection molding process. After injection of plastic into the cavity, and after the at least partial curing thereof, the handle part thus formed is moved by a distance in the direction against the cavity along with the interdental treatment part, and the handle part is removed from the opened injection molding tool.
US08540916B2 Curved structural part made of composite material and a process for manufacturing such a part
A process for manufacturing a curved structural part includes fabricating a mold of the curved structural part having at least two faces that form a male mold section between a minimum radius of curvature of the curved structural part and another radius of curvature belonging to one of the two faces, preparing a stack of multidirectional fibers of one or more fiber plies oriented ±α or 90° in relation to a longitudinal direction of the curved structural part, cutting a first multidirectional strip in the stack extending longitudinally and having a width at least equal to a maximum width of the curved structural part, applying the first multidirectional strip over the mold to gradually conform the first multidirectional strip to the mold, applying the first multidirectional strip on the face having the minimum radius of curvature, and pressing and tightening the first multidirectional strip over the other faces.
US08540915B2 Concrete block and method of making same
Molds and processes that permit high-speed, mass production of retaining wall blocks having patterned or other processed front faces, as well as retaining wall blocks formed by such processes. The invention permits the front face of the block to be impressed with a pattern or otherwise directly processed, to allow the formation of pre-determined block front faces, while at the same time facilitating high-speed, high-volume production of blocks. A mirror image of the desired pattern can be created on a stripper shoe by selecting a desired three-dimensional surface from a naturally occurring or man made object and digitally scanning the selected three-dimensional pattern to create scanned data. The scanned data can then be used to machine a face of the stripper shoe that is the mirror image of the selected pattern.
US08540911B2 Methods of manufacturing polymer pipettes
A method of generating a plurality of pipettes. The method comprises providing a tubular element, cutting the tubular element to form a plurality of two pipettes length components each having a length of about two target pipettes, simultaneously rotating the plurality of two pipettes length components, heating a central portion of each one of the rotated two pipettes length components, stretching each two pipettes length component to extend the respective central portion, and dividing each two pipettes length component at the extended central portion to form the two target pipettes.
US08540910B2 Method for producing a refractory material from aluminum residues
Disclosed is a method for making a refractory material from aluminum residues of aluminum recycling. At first, the aluminum residues is mixed with adhesive solution so that the percentage by weight of the adhesive solution is 5 wt % to 10 wt %. The mixture is granulated into grains. The grains are filled in a mold, pressed and then removed from the mold so that the grains are turned into a green body. The green body is heated in a furnace at a range of temperature from 1100° C. to 1400° C. so that the grains are sintered and become a refractory material.
US08540909B2 Method of reworking an area of a composite structure containing an inconsistency
A patch for reworking an inconsistent area in a composite structure includes a composite laminate patch adapted to cover the inconsistent area and bonded to the structure by a layer of adhesive. The patch includes a plurality of composite plies having a tapered cross section, and at least first and second regions respectively having differing fracture toughnesses.
US08540903B2 Electrically conductive paste, and electrical and electronic device comprising the same
Disclosed is an electrically conductive paste which enables to reduce the level of void growth in a conducting pathway formed in a joint part produced after curing the electrically conductive paste in the implementation of an electronic component on a circuit board by using the electrically conductive paste, and which contains a reduced amount of a viscosity-adjusting/thixotropy-imparting additive. Two Sn-containing low-melting-point alloy particles having different melting points and different average particle diameters are selected as electrically conductive filler components to be used in an electrically conductive paste, and the two alloy particles are mixed at a predetermined ratio for use.
US08540902B2 Carbon nanotube based pastes
Carbon-nanotube based pastes and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. Carbon nanotubes are dispersed via milling; resultant paste has Hegman scale of greater than 7. The pastes can be used as electro-conductivity enhancement in electronic devices such as batteries, capacitors, electrodes or other devices needing high conductivity paste.
US08540901B2 Aqueous fluororesin dispersion and method for producing the same
The present invention provides an aqueous fluororesin dispersion comprising a melt-processable fluororesin which is low in fluorinated surfactant concentration and excellent in dispersion stability even when the concentration of the melt-processable fluororesin is high. The present invention is related to an aqueous fluororesin dispersion comprising a melt-processable fluororesin particle dispersed in an aqueous medium, wherein a concentration of the melt-processable fluororesin is 55 to 75% by mass relative to the aqueous fluororesin dispersion, and a fluorinated surfactant content in the aqueous fluororesin dispersion is not higher than a level corresponding to 100 ppm of the melt-processable fluororesin.
US08540887B2 Feedwells
The invention provides several improvements in feedwells, one of which being a feedwell (100) comprising a mixing zone (49) for dissipating the kinetic energy of a fluid comprising pulp, a settling zone (50) for promoting flocculation of the pulp and at least one inclined deflecting element (101) for at least partially separating the mixing zone from the settling zone. Other improvements include a shelf (3) at least partially defining an inclined path (4) for removing material from the shelf into a feedwell chamber; at least two outlets (111, 112) arranged in a substantially concentric relationship with respect to each other; a portion (123) of a second conduit (121) varies in its cross-sectional size and/or shape so as to connect a feed inlet (110) to a first conduit (120); and a partition (133) for partially separating an outer mixing zone (131) and an inner settling zone (132).
US08540881B1 Pretreatment, esterification, and transesterification of biodiesel feedstock
Process and steps for the production of biodiesel and/or glycerin from feedstock are provided.
US08540877B2 Ballasted sequencing batch reactor system and method for treating wastewater
A ballasted sequencing batch reactor system for treating wastewater including one or more sequencing batch reactors. A weighting agent impregnation subsystem is configured to mix biological flocs and weighting agent to form weighted biological flocs. A weighting agent recovery subsystem is configured to recover weighting agent from the weighted biological flocs and reintroduce the recovered weighting agent to the weighting agent impregnation subsystem.
US08540876B2 Permeate adapter for multi-tube pressure vessel
A permeate adapter is provided. The permeate adapter may be used within a pressure vessel. The permeate adapter includes a front portion and an oppositely disposed back portion. The front portion includes a permeate opening for receiving an end of a permeate passage tube of a membrane cartridge and for being in fluid communication with a permeate reservoir. The front portion and the back portion each include one or more fluid openings. Fluid passageways are connected between the one or more front portion fluid openings and the back portion fluid openings. The fluid passageways receive an end of a membrane cartridge at the front portion. At the back portion, the fluid passageways are in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir adjacent the back portion of the permeate adapter.
US08540869B2 Method for forming finished lubricants
A method for forming a finished lubricant comprises selecting a target high temperature viscosity for the finished lubricant. A target high temperature viscosity for a base oil blend is selected. The target high temperature viscosity for the base oil blend is less than the target high temperature viscosity for the finished lubricant. At least two base oils from at least three viscosity grades of base oils are selected and mixed to form a base oil blend that meets the target high temperature viscosity for the base oil blend. The base oil blend is mixed with performance additive package and viscosity modifier to provide a finished lubricant that meets the target high temperature viscosity for the finished lubricant. The at least two base oils for the base oil blend having the target high temperature viscosity are selected such that less viscosity modifier is needed to meet the target high temperature viscosity of the finished lubricant.
US08540868B2 Methods and apparatus for detecting molecular interactions using FET arrays
Methods and apparatuses relating to large scale FET arrays for analyte detection and measurement are provided. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes.
US08540866B2 Methods and apparatus for detecting molecular interactions using FET arrays
Methods and apparatuses relating to large scale FET arrays for analyte detection and measurement are provided. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes.
US08540865B2 Methods and apparatus for detecting molecular interactions using FET arrays
Methods and apparatuses relating to large scale FET arrays for analyte detection and measurement are provided. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes.
US08540861B2 Method for producing gear wheels
A method for manufacturing gear wheels, specifically transmission gear wheels, is disclosed. An embodiment of the method includes the following steps: a) preparation of a base body for a gear wheel, b) electrochemical processing of the base body by a precise electrochemical machining process (PECM process), where several recesses running between the teeth of the gear wheel are made simultaneously electrochemically to manufacture the teeth of the gear wheel.
US08540854B2 Apparatus and method for plating substrate
Provided are a substrate plating apparatus and a substrate plating method. In the substrate plating apparatus, a substrate support member supports a substrate to allow a plating surface to look up. A plating solution containing positive ions dissolved from a positive electrode is supplied from a plating solution supply member onto the substrate at an upper side of the substrate support member. A plating bath surrounds the substrate support member. The substrate support member is rotated in a state where it is immersed into the plating solution and an additive. The substrate can be supported by the substrate support member without reversing the substrate. Also, a pattern defect due to bubbles generated during a plating process can be prevented.
US08540851B2 Physical vapor deposition with impedance matching network
A method of physical vapor deposition includes applying a radio frequency signal to a cathode in a physical vapor deposition apparatus, wherein the cathode includes a sputtering target, electrically connecting a chuck in the physical vapor deposition apparatus to an impedance matching network, wherein the chuck supports a substrate, and wherein the impedance matching network includes at least one capacitor, and depositing material from the sputtering target onto the substrate.
US08540850B2 Target arrangement for mounting / dismounting and method of manufacturing
So as to provide a target arrangement with improved mounting and dismounting ability, the target arrangement comprises a plate along a plane (E) which has a border (7) defined by a first wedge surface (5u) angled to the addressed general plane (E) and a second wedge surface (5l) which is substantially planar as well and angled with respect to the generic plane (E). The two wedge surfaces mutually convert in a direction along the addressed plane (E) and from a more central area of the plate outwardly.
US08540848B2 Method and device for a de-acidifying paper
For decades books and other paper documents have been deteriorating in archives and libraries around the world because the acidity of the paper is increasing so much (wherein the pH decreases) that the paper cellulose is decomposing so that the paper loses its cohesion and thereby degenerates in terms of quality. The invention relates to an improved method for de-acidifying paper. The invention also relates to a device for applying such a method.
US08540847B2 Methods and apparatus for processing cellulosic biomass
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatus and methods for the substantially continuous processing of cellulosic biomasses with a supercritical, critical or near critical fluid to produce ethanol, bio-fuels and high value end products.
US08540845B2 Method and system for stabilizing dry-based density of wood chips to be fed to a chip refining process
A method and system for stabilizing dry-based density of wood chips from several sources feeding a chip processing stage upstream of a chip refining process, perform on-line estimation of a set of wood chip properties characterizing the wood chips, including light reflection-related property, moisture content and dry-based density, which are used by a reference model capable of comparing the estimated dry-based density with a predetermined target to produce error data, and selectively modifying discharge rate set points of one or more of the wood chip sources to minimize the error data within fluctuation limits around the target. The discharge rate of the wood chip sources is controlled in accordance with the set points to substantially stabilize the dry-based density of the wood chips.
US08540842B2 Formable light weight composites
The present invention relates to light weight composite materials which comprise a metallic layer and a polymeric layer, the polymeric layer containing a filled thermoplastic polymer which includes a thermoplastic polymer and a metallic fiber. The composite materials of the present invention may be formed using conventional stamping equipment at ambient temperatures. Composite materials of the present invention may also be capable of being welded to other metal materials using a resistance welding process such as resistance spot welding.
US08540838B2 Method for manufacturing inflatable footwear or bladders for use in inflatable articles
The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable articles, or bladders for inflatable articles, that is time-efficient, simple, inexpensive and permits the uninterrupted manufacture of numerous and even customized article or bladder configurations and sizes, without expensive configuration-specific, metal tooling. The method includes the steps of applying a barrier material to a side of a first film, providing a second film with the first film so that the barrier material is disposed between the first and second films, adhering the first film to the second film so that the films are sealed together in areas except where the barrier material has been applied to form at least one inflatable compartment and sealed peripheral edge, and cutting along the sealed peripheral edge to form an inflatable article or bladder for use in an article of manufacture. The barrier material may be a paint, ink, paper or surface treatment that effectively prevents the first film from adhering to the second. The inflatable article or bladder of the present invention may be used as or in athletic equipment, for example, including footwear.
US08540836B1 Method for applying coded labels to cable
Flexible indicia bearing labels are placed on armored electrical cable at spaced apart intervals while the cable is being moving continuously from an armoring station to a takeup reel or accumulator. A label dispenser places labels in a U shaped recess of a body which is moveable toward engagement with the cable. Opposed rollers fold one edge of the label over into engagement with the surface of the cable and the other edge of the label over onto itself in overlapping relationship. The cable is passed through a heat tunnel to shrink the labels into tight engagement with the cable. A controller monitors movement of the cable and controls actuators for applying and folding labels onto the cable at spaced apart intervals.
US08540832B2 Laminated ceramic electronic component and manufacturing method therefor
Changes in states giving rise to electrode breakage and ball formation are made less likely during firing step for sintering the laminated body, and the improvement in DC bias characteristics is achieved in laminated ceramic electronic components with a laminated body which has internal electrodes, even when ceramic layers and the internal electrodes are reduced in thickness. The laminated body is divided into a large grain region in which the ceramic has a relatively large grain diameter and a small grain region in which the ceramic has a relatively small grain diameter. The large grain region is located outside the small grain region, and a boundary surface between the large grain region and the small grain region is located inside the outer surface of the laminated body while surrounding a section in which the internal electrodes are present in the laminated body. In order to obtain the laminated body, a heat treatment is carried out in the firing step with a temperature profile in which the average rate of temperature increase from room temperature to the maximum temperature is 40° C./second or more.
US08540831B1 Method of manufacturing a cell tag
A method of manufacturing a cell tag incorporating a call sign visible under low light and dark conditions, includes steps of providing a first sheet having peripheral edge portions defining at least one aperture comprising all or part of one or more symbols or characters of the call sign, providing a second sheet having a photoluminescence material or a thermal reflective material, and fixedly attaching the first sheet to the second sheet using a non-heat activated adhesive closely about the peripheral edge portions. The second sheet can have peripheral edge portions defining the at least one aperture therethrough marginally smaller than the aperture or apertures through the first sheet, to be visible through the aperture or apertures of the first sheet, and a third sheet can be attached to be visible through the aperture or apertures of the second sheet, and can include a photoluminescence or thermal reflective material.
US08540829B2 Electrically initiated device and system incorporating same
An electrically initiated security device includes a first energetic sheet, a second energetic sheet, and a corrugated energetic sheet disposed between the first energetic sheet and the second energetic sheet. A first surface of the corrugated energetic sheet defines at least one channel and a second surface of the corrugated energetic sheet defines at least one channel. The electrically initiated security device further includes a first constituent portion disposed in the at least one channel defined by the first surface and a second constituent portion disposed in the at least one channel defined by the second surface. The first constituent portion and the second constituent portion, when mixed, comprise an energetic material.
US08540821B2 Teat cup cleaning device and method
A teat cup cleaning device comprises a heating chamber provided with a discharge outlet that is closable by a valve and arranged for connection to a teat cup. A filling device is arranged for filling the heating chamber with an amount of cleaning liquid and retaining a given quantity of gas. The chamber is provided with a heating arrangement arranged to heat the contents of the heating chamber to a temperature T higher than the boiling point Tk of the cleaning liquid at ambient pressure. On operation of the valve superheated cleaning liquid is discharged to clean a teat cup.
US08540800B2 Microporous UZM-5 inorganic zeolite membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations
The present invention discloses microporous UZM-5 zeolite membranes, methods for making the same, and methods of separating gases, vapors, and liquids using the same. The small-pore microporous UZM-5 zeolite membrane is prepared by two different methods, including in-situ crystallization of one or more layers of UZM-5 zeolite crystals on a porous membrane support, and a seeding method by in-situ crystallization of a continuous second layer of UZM-5 zeolite crystals on a seed layer of UZM-5 zeolite crystals supported on a porous membrane support. The membranes in the form of disks, tubes, or hollow fibers have superior thermal and chemical stability, good erosion resistance, high CO2 plasticization resistance, and significantly improved selectivity over polymer membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations.
US08540799B2 Method and device for degassing the transport chamber of a metering pump
A method is provided for degassing a transport chamber (1) of a metering pump. The method is based on performing impulse generation, wherein gas bubbles arising from the gas-forming fluid and adhering to the inner surfaces in the transport chamber (1) are released from the surfaces, wherein the gas bubbles (4.4′, 8.8′) present in the transport chamber (1) accumulate, perform a motion (c) in the direction of the pressure valve (6), and form an accumulated gas bubble (7) on the transport chamber side of the pressure valve (6). An increase in pressure causes the accumulated gas bubble present at the pressure valve (6) to escape from the transport chamber (1) as discharged gas bubbles (7′) into the pressure line. A metering pump having a device present in the transport chamber for performing the impulse generation is also provided.
US08540798B2 Systems and methods for recycling steelmaking converter sludge
Systems and methods for processing sludge from a fume scrubbing system that scrubs fumes from a steelmaking converter in a manner that separates/isolates a significant portion of the metallic iron particles in the sludge and prepares these particles for convenient handling. In an exemplary system, the system includes separating equipment that isolates metallic iron particles in the sludge and forming equipment that forms the isolated particles into briquettes that have relatively high mechanical resistance that allow the briquettes to maintain their integrity during handling and storage. The high-metallic-iron-content briquettes can be recycled in the steelmaking process, for example, as charging material for a basic oxygen converter or an electric arc furnace. Water used in the system can be recycled and reused within the system, thereby making the system environmentally friendly.
US08540787B2 Filter element with percussion band
A filter element has a reinforcement band or ring along at least a portion of the perimeter thereof and performing a support function thereat preventing or minimizing damage upon attempted percussive cleaning of the filter element by service personnel striking the perimeter against an impact surface. Alternatively, a failure band or ring is provided along at least a portion of the perimeter and performs a designated failure function to a failure condition thereat upon attempted percussive cleaning, with the failure condition providing at least one of: a) an indication to service personnel that the filter element has been damaged and should not be re-installed; and b) a deformed condition preventing re-installation.
US08540771B2 Prostheses for spine discs having fusion capability
The present invention provides both a device and a method. The device is a human made replacement for the soft discs in the spine. A fabric pouch encloses a central hydraulic element made up of small soft beads. Two pouches with beads are implanted into a prepared disc space to function as an intervertebral disc. The method is conversion of the device into a fusion element.
US08540768B2 Cardiac valve prosthesis
A cardiac valve prosthesis includes a frame and a set of prosthetic valve leaflets supported by the frame. The frame defines a principal axis of the cardiac valve prosthesis and includes first and second annular elements expandable from a radially contracted state to a radially expanded state, a plurality of valve supports supporting the leaflets, and a plurality of connecting members. The valve supports are angularly spaced from one another about the principal axis of the cardiac valve prosthesis, and the connecting members extend between and connect the first and second annular elements. When the annular elements are in the radially expanded state each of the connecting members arches radially outward with respect to the annular elements and is configured to project into one of the Valsalva sinuses when implanted. The connecting members are angularly spaced from the valve supports about the principal axis.
US08540766B2 Biofilm formation inhibitor and treatment device thereof
A treatment device such as a biliary stent, capable of effectively and continuously inhibiting biofilm formation, and a biofilm formation inhibitor suitable for coating on the treatment device by killing all bacteria including E. coli and by suppressing the growth of these bacteria, are provided. A biofilm formation inhibitor having an effective amount of catechin for inhibiting biofilm formation and a carrier that is suitable for adhesion of said catechin to a treatment device to be placed in the living body, are provided.
US08540764B2 Mobile external coupling for branch vessel connection
An endovascular prosthesis includes a tubular body and a mobile external coupling. The tubular body includes a graft material and stents coupled thereto, a forms a lumen therethrough. The mobile external coupling extends outwardly from the tubular body. The mobile external coupling includes a graft material and is generally frustoconically shaped. The mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body, a top spaced from the tubular body, and a coupling lumen disposed between the base and the top, wherein the coupling lumen is in flow communication with the body lumen. The coupling graft material is a woven fabric with warp yarn which run generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mobile external coupling including a shape memory material.
US08540759B2 Stent delivery catheter with rapid exchange capabilities
A stent delivery system having rapid exchange capabilities for delivering a self-expandable stent. The system includes a delivery catheter and a sheath positionable in the lumen of the delivery catheter. The delivery catheter includes an elongate shaft extending distally from a hub assembly. The elongate shaft includes a lumen extending therethrough and a guidewire port providing access to the lumen at a location intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the elongate shaft. The sheath is positionable in the lumen of the delivery catheter such that the sheath extends across the guidewire port to close off the guidewire port to allow a stent to be passed through the sheath from proximal of the guidewire port to distal of the guidewire port.
US08540750B2 Dual lumen bond for vascular closure device and methods
A vascular closure device that includes an inflation tube, a flashback tube, a dual lumen tube, a bond portion, and an inflatable balloon. The inflation tube defines an inflation lumen. The flashback tube defines a flashback lumen. The dual lumen tube has first and second lumens and is positioned distal of the inflation tube and flashback tube. The inflation tube and flashback tube are integrally connected to the dual lumen tube at the bond portion with the inflation lumen in fluid communication with the first lumen and the flashback lumen in fluid communication with the second lumen. The inflatable balloon is mounted at a distal end of the dual lumen tube and is in fluid communication with the inflation lumen.
US08540737B2 Method of arthroscopic or open rotator cuff repair using an insertional guide for delivering a suture pin
A method is disclosed for arthroscopic or open rotator cuff repair by advancing a suture pin and a suture which the pin carries through a humerus, rotator cuff and adjacent soft tissue and skin using an insertional guide and thereafter tensioning and securing the suture.
US08540731B2 Skin treating device
A hand held device for removing hard skin from calluses comprises a handle (1) and a cutting head (2) having a base plate (8), and several tubular cutting elements (10) inclined so that their cutting edges lie in inclined planes at an angle of 5° to 45° to a skin contact plane defined by the extremities of the cutting elements. The cutting elements can be arranged in an array of staggered rows.
US08540728B2 Catheter insertion device
Embodiments of a catheter insertion device are discussed comprising: an approximately hollow cylindrical catheter sleeve, at whose distal end a catheter is attached: a needle sleeve with a hollow needle, which is attached thereto and which, when ready for use, extends through the catheter sleeve and the catheter, and; a needle protective element that is arranged inside the catheter sleeve while being able to move on the needle. Said needle protective element has an engaging section that engages with an engaging device, which is formed in the vicinity of the needle tip, when the hollow needle is withdrawn from the catheter sleeve. A check valve is placed inside the catheter sleeve between the catheter and the needle protective element. The hollow needle, when ready for use, extends through said check valve, and the check valve automatically closes once the needle is withdrawn.
US08540724B2 Anterior distractor-inserter with linear countersink adjustment
An embodiment of a method includes selecting a countersink depth setting with a linear countersink adjustment mechanism of a distractor-inserter, positioning distal ends of blades of the distractor-inserter between the two vertebral bodies to be separated, driving a head block assembly of the distractor-inserter forward until the retraction members of the distractor-inserter engages respective outer faces of the vertebral bodies, and retracting the distal ends of the blades and the tip from between the vertebral bodies, wherein the vertebral bodies compress the disc implant and hold the disc implant between the vertebral bodies at the countersink depth. A distractor-inserter includes first and second retraction members disposed within channels of the blades, and a countersink adjustment mechanism configured to linearly adjust a distance between a tip and the retraction members to thereby linearly adjust a countersink depth of an implantable element inserted between two distracted elements.
US08540710B2 Methods and apparatuses for tissue treatment
Disclosed in the present application are devices for localized delivery of energy and methods of using such devices, particularly for therapeutic treatment of biological tissues. The disclosed methods may involve positioning and deploying the energy delivery members in a target site, and delivering energy through the energy delivery members. The disclosed devices may also be used to create a tissue tract within a biological tissue and to ablate the tissue tract.
US08540705B2 Devices and methods for percutaneous energy delivery
The invention provides a system and method for percutaneous energy delivery in an effective, manner using one or more probes. Additional variations of the system include array of probes configured to minimize the energy required to produce the desired effect.
US08540697B2 Push/pull wire anchor
A method for making a deflectable catheter includes positioning a flexible element along a catheter liner. A flexible element distal portion extends along at least a portion of a deflectable distal end portion of the catheter liner. At least one anchor is engaged to the flexible element distal portion. The flexible element resides radially between the catheter liner and a band extending at least part way around a perimeter of the liner. An encapsulant, positioned around at least the flexible element distal portion, forms at least a portion of a sidewall of the deflectable distal end portion of the liner. The anchor and band are within the sidewall so that the encapsulant transmits pushing and pulling forces from the at least one anchor to the deflectable distal end portion of the liner.
US08540693B2 Device for substantially germ-free provision of a fluid medium
A method for removing a fluid medium from a container. The method comprises providing a removal device with a closed-off, sterilizable interior, with a needle element being held in the interior, the interior being closed off by a perforable sealing element; providing the container which contains the fluid medium, the container having a container wall with a perforable section; connecting the removal device and the container, the perforable section and the perforable sealing element being interconnected such that a protected region is created between the perforable section and the perforable sealing element, the protected region being closed off with respect to the surroundings in a substantially germ-free fashion as a result of the connection; and perforating the perforable sealing element and the perforable section by means of the needle element, the needle element penetrating the protected region.
US08540687B2 Wound treatment apparatus
A wound treatment apparatus comprises: a fluid drainage tube configured to be coupled to a fluid drainage passageway of a wound bandage; first and second fluid drainage receptacles coupled to the drainage tube; and first and second valves coupled between the fluid drainage tube and the first and second fluid drainage receptacles, respectively.
US08540683B2 Syringe device and injector system including a vent for relieving a vacuum within a syringe
A syringe device and injector system including a vent for relieving a vacuum within a syringe is provided. Embodiments provide a syringe device including a reservoir having a sidewall. The reservoir includes a dispensing distal end a proximal end. The syringe device also includes a piston in movable sealing engagement with the sidewall. Furthermore, the sidewall defines a vent extending from the proximal end of the reservoir. The vent is configured to interrupt the sealing engagement between the piston and the sidewall so as to allow a gas to enter the reservoir through the proximal aperture and past the piston member as the piston member is moved from the distal end to the proximal end of the tubular aperture.
US08540671B2 Vasoocclusive coil with enhanced therapeutic strand structure
A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature. The stretch resistant member may be formed from a therapeutic and/or bioactive non-metallic material to enhance the therapeutic properties of the vasoocclusive coil.
US08540670B2 Passive reuse prevention syringe that uses a retaining ring lock
A syringe assembly includes a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber and an outlet. A plunger assembly is disposed within the syringe barrel and includes an elongate plunger rod having a distal end surface, a plunger head having a distal sealing surface and a proximal end surface having a continuous perimeter, and a breakable neck portion integrally connecting the plunger rod and the plunger head. A retaining ring lock is disposed on the inside surface of the barrel and defines an engagement surface about a perimeter of the chamber. The retaining ring lock is adapted to engage and retain the plunger head in a locked position within the chamber. The engagement surface of the retaining ring lock engages the continuous perimeter of the proximal end surface of the plunger head in a perimetrical engagement when the plunger head is in the locked position.
US08540664B2 Probablistic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling
The subject matter disclosed herein provides a response to a dose of a substance and/or controls the administration of the dose. In one aspect, there is provided a system. The system may include a processor and at least one memory configured to provide a response determinator. The response determinator may receive therapeutic and wellness data. Moreover, the response determinator may determine a response based on the received therapeutic and wellness data. The response may represent a reaction to a substance integrated with an ingestible event marker. The determined response may be provided to, for example, a therapy controller. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
US08540663B2 High flow rate dialysis catheters and related methods
High flow rate catheters, and related methods, are useful in dialysis and other procedures. A catheter according to the invention comprises a hub and a generally elongated conduit. The conduit has a substantially continuous and smooth wall. The conduit also defines at least one lumen and has a length extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the conduit. The proximal end is coupled to a hub and the distal end has an opening in communication with the lumen. The conduit has a conical shape which tapers along the length.
US08540656B1 Apparatus and method for the treatment of fractures of the distal radius
An apparatus and method for the treatment of fractures of the distal radius having a means for applying traction to a fractured forearm using a resilient cantilever spring digit gripping device to assist in the manipulative reduction of the fracture, and a means for maintaining the reduced fracture of the distal forearm in a determinable position of flexion, ulnar deviation and pronation enabling the application of a closely fitting, well molded immobilization means such as a cast.
US08540653B2 Apparatus for mechanically ventilating a patient
An apparatus for mechanically ventilating a patient is provided to have two separate components movably arranged with respect to one another within a flexible, air-tight covering fit about the torso of a patient. When the components move away from one another within the air-tight covering, negative pressure is generated which causes the patient to draw air into the lungs. Conversely, when the components stop moving away from one another within the air-tight covering, the patient's natural exhalation recoil takes over to allow the patient to expel the air from within the patient's lungs. A ventilator for helping a patient such as a premature infant breathe when placed in a chamber, is also provided.
US08540651B2 Physiological and behavioral sensors and methods
In various embodiments, a physiological or behavioral signal is derived from a vertical force resulting from the entire weight of a subject. A system for measuring physiological and behavioral signals in a human subject may include a measurement platform for bearing the subject, at least one force sensor for measuring vertical force imparted by an entire weight of the subject, and a signal processor for deriving at least one physiological or behavioral signal, such as a ballistocardiogram, from the measured force. The force sensor(s) may support the measurement platform and be disposed between the measurement platform and a support surface.
US08540645B2 Needle biopsy device and related method
A needle biopsy device is disclosed. The biopsy device includes a housing, a needle set and an actuator assembly. The needle set includes a needle having a tissue receiving opening and a cutting element adapted to pass over or through the tissue receiving opening to sever tissue extending therein. The actuator assembly includes a first magnetic member fixed in a stationary position in the housing and a second magnetic member arranged in the housing so that the second magnetic member is either magnetically attracted toward or repelled from the first magnetic member. The second member is coupled to a respective one of the needle and cutting member so that movement of the second magnetic member effectuates movement of one of the needle and cutting element.
US08540639B2 Ultrasonographic identification of a sentinel lymph node
A method of detecting at least one axillary sentinel lymph node using ultrasonography is described. The method comprises injecting an iron hydroxide compound into a patient at or near a suspected tumor site in the breast and waiting an amount of time required for the iron hydroxide compound to enter cells of the sentinel lymph node. The axillary area near the injection site may then be analyzed using ultrasonography to identify at least one sentinel lymph node. Once identified, a small sample of tissue from the identified sentinel lymph node may be taken for pathological analysis to aid in determination of the stage or extent of breast cancer.
US08540630B2 Method and medium for synchronizing vital signal data received from plural measuring apparatuses and system of enabling the method
A method of synchronizing a user's biosignal data received from a plurality of measurement devices is provided, including: transmitting a time set command to each of the plurality of measurement devices; receiving the user's first biosignal data from each of the plurality of measurement devices, the first biosignal data including a time axis and the time axis including a measurement start time and a measurement termination time; comparing the measurement start time and the measurement termination time with a standard time; and generating second biosignal data from corrected first biosignal data, corrected by referring to the standard time, when the comparison results in an error; and synchronizing a plurality of the second biosignal data and generating third biosignal data, wherein each of the plurality of measurement devices receives the time set command and generates the first biosignal data.
US08540626B2 Endoscope beam source apparatus and endoscope system
The endoscope beam source apparatus includes a beam source for emitting a radiation beam to be supplied to the endoscope, and a beam source control unit for controlling the emission beam intensity of the beam source according to a beam quantity specified value input therein. The beam source control unit specifies the emission beam intensity corresponding to the beam quantity specified value based on at least three of control amounts. The control amounts include a control amount corresponding to pulse number modulation (PNM) control for changing lighting time of the beam source, a control amount corresponding to pulse width modulation (PWM) control for changing a plus width which indicates the lighting or lighting-out time within a control cycle, a control amount corresponding to pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) control for changing the lighting intensity, and a control amount corresponding to pulse density modulation (PDM) control for changing a lighting interval.
US08540622B2 Endoscope
An endoscope includes: a distal end opening of a treatment instrument insertion channel opened at a side surface of a distal end portion; a treatment instrument elevator base that is provided at a position facing the distal end opening in the treatment instrument insertion channel and leads a distal end of a treatment instrument protruding from the distal end opening, to a desired position; a first wall portion along the insertion direction of the distal end opening; and a second wall portion at a proximal end side of the insertion direction of the distal end opening and provided with a groove in which a part of the treatment instrument elevator base is fitted when the treatment instrument elevator base is raised, and as the treatment instrument elevator base is raised, a guide wire protruding from the distal end opening is releasably engaged by contacting the treatment instrument elevator base, the first wall portion, and a surface constituting the groove of the second wall portion.
US08540617B2 Extracorporeal pumping methods
An extracorporeal pumping method includes receiving an inlet fluid into a compressible-expandable bladder sealably mounted within a housing and moving an actuating member mounted within a fluid chamber of a hydraulic actuating sub-assembly. A pressure transmissive fluid is displaced from the fluid chamber into the housing. The method includes compressing a volume of the bladder in the housing using the transmissive fluid displaced into the housing, the compressed bladder ejecting the inlet fluid from the bladder to provide an outlet fluid under pulsatile pressure. The actuating member is moved within the fluid chamber and the displaced transmissive fluid is returned from the housing into the fluid chamber. The method includes expanding the compressed bladder in the housing and receiving additional inlet fluid into the bladder. The movement of the actuating member is controlled such that the outlet fluid exhibits a predetermined pulse rate, stroke volume, and upstroke rise time.
US08540613B2 Centrifugal separator with protected bearing
To enable centrifugal filtration of fluids which contain abrasive contaminant particles the rotor bearings (3) must be isolated from the fluid which passes into and through the rotor chamber (21). This is achieved by a design in which the spindle (4) is connected to the rotor so as to rotate in unison with the rotor (5, 6, 7) relative to the base (1). The bearings (3) for the spindle (4) are provided in a bearing housing (2) which is fixedly mounted to the base (1) and a sealing arrangement, preferably a spring-loaded axial seal (14, 15), is provided between the spindle (4) and the base (1) at a location below the bearings (3) in the bearing housing (2).
US08540607B2 Variable resistance system
A method and apparatus for providing variable resistance in connection with exercise equipment uses vertically oriented weight plates that rare in a side-by-side arrangement and are selected by selectors in a selector assembly. A set of actuators are controlled by a computer processor and force the selectors into positions that engage and disengage with a corresponding set of weights. The computer is connected to a user interface that accepts input from a user and instructs the computer to adjust the amount of weight using the actuators and the corresponding selectors. The computer is also in communication with sensors that indicate whether the weights have been lifted successfully and automatically select a lower weight when the weights are not lifted successfully.
US08540595B1 Ball inflation valve
A ball inflation valve includes a valve body extended into an inflatable inner bladder of a ball and having an axial bore and an annular flange portion; a valve core partially held in the axial bore of the valve body and having an air hole; a canvas superimposing layer flatly superimposed on the annular flange portion of the valve body to locate around the valve core; and a protective top including a sleeve portion enclosing a length of the valve core exposed from the valve body and a locating flange portion radially outward extended from the sleeve portion to locate between a surface cover of the ball and the valve body and the valve core, so that any sulfide from the valve body and the valve core will attach to an inner side of the protective top without forming a yellowing smudge on the ball surface cover.
US08540592B1 Ball target assembly
A ball target assembly includes a support that includes a front wall having a front side, a back side and a perimeter edge extending between the front and back sides. The front wall has an opening therein extending into the front side and outwardly of the back side. A rear wall is hingedly coupled to the front wall along an upper edge of the front wall and an upper edge of the rear wall. A ball catch is mounted to the back side and covers the opening. The ball catch is formed of a loose material configured to catch and retain a ball thrown through the opening.
US08540587B2 Golf club head with sound tuning
A golf club head with sound tuning. The golf club head includes a hollow body that defines an interior cavity and at least one tuning member extends across the interior cavity. The tuning member dimensions, stiffness and dampening characteristics are selected to alter the vibration behavior of the golf club head.
US08540554B2 Meat processing assembly
An improved processing assembly having a meat emulsion pump connected to a stuffing horn. The stuffing horn positioned to fill casings with meat emulsion which form a strand of processed meat that is received by a twister, then a linker, and subsequently deposited on a conveyor.
US08540551B2 Glass edge finish system, belt assembly, and method for using same
A glass edge finishing system, a belt assembly and a method are described herein for finishing an edge of a glass sheet. The glass edge finishing system comprises: (a) a base; and (b) one or more belt assemblies located on the base, where each belt assembly includes: (i) a support frame; (ii) a motor; (iii) a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted on the support frame and driven by the motor; (iv) a belt engaged to and driven by the pair of pulleys, where the belt contacts and finishes the edge of the glass sheet; (v) a belt cleaning device that removes glass debris from the belt as the belt moves past the belt cleaning device; and (vi) a cleaning containment enclosure within which there is located the belt cleaning device, where the cleaning containment enclosure contains the glass debris removed from the belt by the belt cleaning device.
US08540546B2 Toys
A toy is provided comprising: a transceiver (24, 28) for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless link; a processor (18, 32) a memory (34) for storing expressive responses; and an output (22, 38) for expressive responses; the toy being operable to receive trigger data relating to expressive responses, select an expressive response when trigger data is received, express the expressive response through the output; and to broadcast trigger data indicative that a response has been output. A method of communication between first (10) and second (12) toys is provided comprising: activating a first expressive response from the first toy (10) in the presence of the second toy (12); sending trigger data from the first toy (10) indicative of the first expressive response to the second toy (12); the second toy (12) selecting a second expressive response from memory (34) on receipt of said data, activating the second expressive response, and sending data indicative the second expressive response to the first toy (10).
US08540535B2 Cable lug with shell-shaped part and fastening device
The invention relates to a method and a system for fastening a round conductor 200 to a connection element 100, 100′, 100″, comprising a connection element 100, 100′, 100″ that comprises at one end an at least partially shell-shaped part 110, and a round conductor 200 closed with a contact element 210, the contact element 210 being adapted to contact the connection element 100, 100′, 100″, and a fastening device 400, 510, 520, 610, 620, 660, 710, 810, which is adapted to fasten in a frictional manner (force-fit) an end region 210 of the round conductor 200 lying in front of the contact element 210 in the region of the shell-shaped part 110 of the connection element 100, 100′, 100″, to the connection element 100, 100′, 100″.
US08540531B2 EMI connector ferrule and assembly combination therewith
A ferrule configured to couple a textile sleeve to an electrical has a cylindrical wall with an inner surface providing a cavity sized for receipt of an elongate electrical member therethrough. The cylindrical wall extends between a first end configured for attachment within a cavity of the textile sleeve and a second end having a radially outwardly extending annular rim configured for attachment to the electrical connector. The cylindrical wall has at least one radially outwardly extending annular bead adjacent the first end with the annular bead providing a radially inwardly facing annular pocket. At least one seal member is disposed in the cavity for sealed abutment with the inner surface and the elongate electrical member.
US08540528B2 Flat cable electrical connector
An electrical connector for connecting a flat conductive member includes a housing including a receiving section for receiving the flat conductive member in a first direction and a terminal arranged in the housing. The terminal includes a first contact section for contacting with the flat conductive member, a second contact section for contacting with the flat conductive member, an extending arm portion, and a first flexible contact arm portion extending from the extending arm portion toward the second contact section. The first contact section is disposed at a distal end portion of the first flexible contact arm portion. The electrical connector further includes a pressing portion for contacting the flat conductive member with the first contact section and the second contact section.
US08540525B2 Resonance modifying connector
A connector assembly is provided that is suitable for modifying the resonant frequency of ground terminals used in conjunction with high data rate signal terminals. Ground terminals may be interconnected with a conductive bridge so as to provide ground terminals with a predetermined maximum effective electrical length. Reducing the effective electrical length of the ground terminal can move the resonance frequencies of the connector outside the operational range of frequencies at which signals will be transmitted.
US08540505B2 Core-shell solid freeform fabrication system
A method for creating a three-dimensional solid freeform fabrication object includes spreading a reactive powder on a substrate, selectively dispensing a core binder in the reactive powder to form a core material, and selectively dispensing a shell binder in the reactive powder to form a shell on the core material.
US08540504B2 Equipment for electrospinning
An electrospinning equipment is provided. The electrospinning equipment includes a power supply, a collector and a material supply electrically connected to the power supply facing the collector and having a spinneret and a guide unit coupled to the spinneret and bent toward the collector, and the spinneret is configured at a central portion of the guide unit.
US08540502B2 Adjustable shoe mold set
A shoe mold set includes a mold, a movable block and an adjustment unit. The mold is connected to the movable block, and both are slidably between two rail members of the replacement unit. The replacement unit is connected with the adjustment unit which is adjustably located between the top board and the bottom board of the replacement unit. The mold is micro-adjustable by operation of the adjustment unit.
US08540494B2 Fan structure and stator module therefor
A fan structure comprises a stator module and a fan frame, the stator module comprises a fixing plate, an insulating holder, and a stator core. The fixing plate has a first surface, an opposite second surface and at least one fixing portion formed on the second surface and having a first engaging portion. The insulating holder has a first side facing the second surface of the fixing plate, an opposite second side and at least one catching member formed on the first side and having a second engaging portion. The stator core is coupled to the insulating holder. The fan frame has a base, the base is located between the fixing plate and the insulating holder, wherein the first engaging portion of the fixing member is engaged with the second engaging portion of the catching member.
US08540492B2 Intake cone in a fiber compound material for a gas-turbine engine
The intake cone for a gas-turbine engine is wound in one piece from fiber compound material with fiber layers crossing one another. It is provided with a fiber compound belt, wound in the circumferential direction of the intake cone, in the connecting area with a mounting flange, which is of segmented design and thus features reduced circumferential stiffness, of a metallic retaining ring attached to a fan rotor disk. The intake cone is easily manufacturable with almost constant wall thickness and in high quality, can reliably be subjected to non-destructive testing and, in combination with the mounting flange, which is flexible in the radial direction, ensures safe connection of the two components despite the different thermal and elastic behavior of the respective materials.
US08540488B2 Turbine blade damping device with controlled loading
A damping structure for a turbomachine rotor. The damping structure including an elongated snubber element including a first snubber end rigidly attached to a first blade and extending toward an adjacent second blade, and an opposite second snubber end positioned adjacent to a cooperating surface associated with the second blade. The snubber element has a centerline extending radially inwardly in a direction from the first blade toward the second blade along at least a portion of the snubber element between the first and second snubber ends. Rotational movement of the rotor effects relative movement between the second snubber end and the cooperating surface to position the second snubber end in frictional engagement with the cooperating surface with a predetermined damping force determined by a centrifugal force on the snubber element.
US08540484B2 Low mass diffuser vane
A wedge-type diffuser includes a diffuser floor and a plurality of wedge-shaped vanes. The wedge-shaped vanes extend from the diffuser floor and have a top surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge. Each of the wedge-shaped vanes has a slot extending from the trailing edge toward the leading edge.
US08540462B2 Shim plate for tools for cutting machining as well as a tool
A shim plate for mounting in a cutting tool for rotary chip removing machining, the cutting tool including a basic body having a rotational axis, a peripheral envelope surface concentric with the rotational axis, a front end surface, and at least one insert seat including a seat surface, the basic body being rotatable in a direction of rotation and arranged to, in each insert seat against the seat surface, receive the shim plate and a mountable cutting insert adjacent to the shim plate. The shim plate includes a bottom surface adapted to adjoin to the seat surface of the basic body, a contact surface opposite to the bottom surface and adapted to adjoin to the cutting insert, and at least one side surface that extends between the bottom surface and the contact surface. In a radial cross-section orthogonal to the rotational axis and traversing the shim plate, an imaginary straight line (a) associated with the bottom surface, intersecting a point (a1) of the cross-section where the bottom surface is closest to the envelope surface of the basic body and a point (a2) of the cross-section where the bottom surface is closest to the rotational axis of the basic body, and an imaginary straight line (b) associated with the contact surface, intersecting a point (b1) of the cross-section where the contact surface is closest to the envelope surface of the basic body and a point (b2) of the cross-section where the contact surface is closest to the rotational axis of the basic body, diverge toward the envelope surface of the basic body and form an angle α with each other.
US08540456B2 Containment system
A modular dike or barrier assembly includes straight and curved members that may be interconnected to form a barrier or dike wall surrounding a primary container. The members are hollow and include opposed side walls having integrally formed reinforcing ribs. The side walls extend at an acute angle relative to the base of the barrier to contain and redirect a surge flow directed toward the dike or barrier assembly. The interior surfaces of the side walls are closely spaced at locations spaced from the ribs and tend to abut for added wall reinforcement upon application of wall deflecting loads.
US08540452B2 Flexible joint arrangement incorporating flexure members
Flexible joint arrangements employ at least one flexure member that interfaces with wrapping surfaces defined on the bases to which the ends of the flexure member are connected. The flexure members are configured to define a traveling instantaneous axis of rotation that moves along a path defined by the interface of the flexure and the wrapping surfaces as the bases move relative to each other. The flexure members and the bases can be constructed of a monolithic material. The wrapping surfaces of the bases can be asymmetric in cross-sectional shape. The radius of curvature of the traveling instantaneous axis of rotation can be configured to change only in discrete quantum steps without reversals. The flexible joint arrangement can be configured as one or more three bar linkages in which the middle bar is rigid and the outer bars are flexure members in accordance with the various embodiments.
US08540449B2 Fluid-material spread apparatus having double roller
An apparatus for liquid material application with a dual roller structure includes a body having a space for holding contents therein, with a first discharge port being formed on an upper portion of the body to discharge the contents; a roller support mounted on an upper portion of the body, and having, on a lower surface thereof, a second discharge port which communicates with the first discharge port; a first roller unit rotatably mounted on a lower portion of the roller support, and making contact with the contents which are discharged from the second discharge port; and a second roller unit rotatably mounted on an upper portion of the roller support in such a way as to be put in contact with the first roller unit to discharge the contents that are discharged from the first roller unit.
US08540447B2 Device for applying a fluid, gel-like, pasty or powder product
A device for applying a fluid, gel-like, pasty or powder product, in particular a cosmetic product, comprising an applicator held on a wand, a container for storing the product and for receiving the applicator in a rest position, and a wiper which in the rest position surrounds the wand in an annular shape in a contact region and bears thereagainst.
US08540443B2 Printer and printing method which prevents a decurling unit from deteriorating a print quality
A printer is provided that includes a conveyance unit configured to nip and simultaneously convey the roll recording medium; a print unit configured to print an image by sequentially transferring a plurality of color inks on the recording medium while nipping the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; a decurling unit disposed between the conveyance unit and the print unit, and configured to include a raised portion that decurls the recording medium by contacting the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; and a control unit configured to control the conveyance unit to convey the recording medium to a waiting position after ending the transfer of one color ink, wherein the waiting position is a position where an area on a leading edge side of the recording medium is in contact with the raised portion.
US08540440B2 Image capture lens, wafer lens, wafer lens laminate, method of manufacturing image capture lens, image capture lens intermediate product, method of manufacturing image capture lens intermediate product
An image capture lens is equipped with: a diaphragm which is formed on a substrate, adjusts a light quantity, and has a predetermined aperture; an inorganic or organic adhesion layer formed on the substrate such that the diaphragm is exposed; and a resin part which has a lens part made from a curable resin. The resin part is directly joined to the inorganic or organic adhesion layer and diaphragm. The surface of the substrate on which the diaphragm is formed is subjected to a modification treatment so that a water contact angle is within a range of 3° to 30°.
US08540439B2 Blade drive device
A blade drive device includes: a blade; a drive source that drives the blade; and a chassis that has an opening opened and closed by the blade and that houses the blade and the drive source. The drive source includes: a rotor that is rotatably supported; a stator around which a coil for excitation is wound and which applies a rotational force to the rotor. The stator is arranged to surround a periphery of the opening and has a rectangular shape.
US08540427B2 Gusseted package with impact barrier
A package having a gusseted panel portion is depicted and described. The package generally includes opposing panel portions that at least partially define an interior cavity or compartment therebetween that is accessible through an access device. The gusseted panel portion provides a material impact barrier within the interior cavity or compartment of the package to assist in protecting the access device from the impact or load of material contents within the package.
US08540421B2 Analysis of effects of cargo fire on primary aircraft structure temperatures
Systems for analyzing effects of cargo fire on primary aircraft structure are provided. A particular system includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to access a thermal profile of a suppressed fire in a physical model of a cargo compartment of an aircraft. The instructions are also executable to analyze heat transfer resulting from applying the thermal profile of the suppressed fire to a structure of the aircraft surrounding the cargo compartment to determine a predicted temperature reached by one or more parts of the structure surrounding the cargo compartment as a result of the suppressed fire. The instructions are also executable to generate an output including the predicted temperature reached by the one or more parts of the structure surrounding the cargo compartment.
US08540408B2 Lamp light source with improved heat dissipation
A lamp light source comprises: a light-emitting unit having a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements arranged as a ring on a front face of a mount so as to principally emit light in a frontal direction; and a circuit unit converting externally-supplied electrical power to cause the semiconductor light-emitting elements to emit the light, wherein a through-hole passes vertically through the light-emitting unit at a point inside the ring of semiconductor light-emitting elements, the circuit unit is at least partly arranged within the through-hole, and a space is provided between the circuit unit and the light-emitting unit.
US08540404B2 Flashlight with retractable cord and attachment device
A flashlight with an extendable and retractable cord is provided, and the flashlight comprises: a housing with an internal cavity leading to an aperture, a light bulb, a power source, an extendable and retractable cord scrollably received within a portion of the internal cavity of the housing, one end of the cord is attached to a portion of the internal cavity of the housing and the second end extending through said aperture and being connected to an attachment device.
US08540402B2 LED housing with heat transfer sink
An illustrative thermally managed light includes a light source, for example an LED array, a heatsink having a tapered outer surface, the light source thermally coupled with the heatsink, a housing having a tapered interior surface portion, and a securing device coupling the heatsink and the rear end of the housing. The securing device, for example a tensioning device, adapted to retain the outer surface of the heatsink in thermal contact with the tapered interior surface of the housing, thus transferring and dissipating the heat from the light source into the environment around the housing.
US08540398B2 Multidirectional light emitting fixture
Lighting fixtures, apparatuses, methods, systems, computer readable media and other means are provided for a scalable light fixture design that allows a lighting manufacture to easily create custom multidirectional lighting fixtures. The approach may be easily modified and adjusted without departing from the general design and without incurring the otherwise larger redesigning costs often associated with the creation of light fixtures customized for a particular lighting design application.
US08540391B2 Light emitting diode interconnection system
A light emitting diode (LED) interconnection system is provided. The system includes a cable having a driver end and a termination end. The cable has conductive pathways extending between the driver end and the termination end. The driver end is configured to engage a driver to carry an electrical current to the conductive pathways. The termination end is configured to terminate the conductive pathways. A connector is provided having a cable contact and a LED contact joined to the cable contact. The cable contact pierces the cable and engages the conductive pathways to electrically join the connector to the conductive pathways. A LED board is provided having a circuit board including circuit board contacts. A LED is positioned on the circuit board and electrically joined to the circuit board contacts. The LED contact of the connector engages the circuit board contacts to electrically join the connector to the LED.
US08540389B2 Glove and an illuminating indicating system
A glove and illuminating indicating system is provided. The system includes a reed switch in the middle finger of the glove, a magnet connected to the thumb of the glove, and a lighting means. The system is configured such that bringing the reed switch and the magnet within a threshold distance from each other causes the reed switch to effect illumination of the lighting means.
US08540387B2 Light emitting device package, and display apparatus and lighting system having the same
Disclosed are a light emitting device package, and a display apparatus and a lighting system having the same. The light emitting device package includes a body having a recess, a light emitting device received in the recess, and a lead frame connected to the light emitting device. The lead frame includes a bottom frame formed on a bottom surface of the recess, a first side-wall frame formed on a side wall of the recess, and a second side-wall frame formed on a side wall of the recess and bent at a predetermined angle. The second side-wall frame includes a side-wall portion positioned on the side wall of the recess and a protrusion portion bent from the side-wall portion, and the protrusion portion of the second side-wall frame is positioned on a top surface of the body.
US08540386B2 Backlight module and display apparatus
The present invention provides a backlight module and a display apparatus. The backlight module comprises a heat dissipation plate, a back bezel and at least one light source. The heat dissipation plate includes a plurality of fluid channels and a heat dissipation fluid, wherein the heat dissipation fluid flows in the fluid channels. The back bezel is disposed on the heat dissipation plate. The at least one light source disposed on the back bezel. The display apparatus comprises the backlight module and a display panel. The present invention can raise the heat dissipation efficiency of the backlight module.
US08540383B2 Flexible strip with light elements for providing illumination suitable for image capture
A lighting apparatus comprises a light panel having a panel frame, and a plurality of LEDs or other light elements secured to the panel frame. A self-contained battery unit securably attaches to the outside of the panel frame. The light panel may have a dimmer switch, and may also be capable of receiving power from a source other than the self-contained battery unit. The lighting apparatus can be mounted to a camera or a stand through adapters. Diffusion lenses or color gels can be integrated with or detachable from the light panel. The lighting apparatus may conveniently be provided in the form of a kit, with one or more of a light panel, self-contained battery unit, compact stand, connecting cable(s), adapter(s), lenses or color gels, and so on, provided in a single package.
US08540372B2 Waveplate compensation in projection polarization conversion systems
Three dimensional projection systems may be single projector or multiple projector systems. These 3D projection systems may include a one or more polarization conversion systems (PCS). Each PCS may be designed for relatively small throw ratios and thus, may be designed to accommodate the small throw ratios. Each PCS may include a polarizing beam splitter, a first optical stack, a reflector and a second quarter wave retarder. The first optical stack may include a rotator, a polarizer, a polarization switch and a first quarter wave retarder. Each PCS may receive light from a respective projector, and the PBS in each PCS may direct the light toward the first optical stacks. The light may be converted to a different polarization state as it passes through the first optical stack. The converted light may then be re-directed by a reflecting element to a second quarter wave retarder. The second quarter wave retarder may convert linearly polarized light to circularly polarized light.
US08540365B2 Ophthalmic lens element
An ophthalmic lens element is disclosed. The lens element includes a front surface and a rear surface, at least one which includes a horizontal meridian and a vertical meridian. A central region of the lens element includes a foveal vision zone providing a first power for providing clear foveal vision for a wearer. A peripheral region of positive power relative to the first power is also included. The peripheral region includes dual progressive zones located bilaterally of the vertical meridian and extending radially outwardly from the central region. The lens element provides a distribution of surface astigmatism which provides, on the horizontal meridian, a relatively low surface astigmatism in the central region and the progressive zones.
US08540353B2 Printhead coupling having cam driven mechanism
A coupling assembly for distributing fluid to a printhead, the coupling assembly having a housing, a port plate movably mounted to a shaft which passes through the port plate and housing, a compression spring mounted on the shaft by a washer so as to be compressed between the washer and the port plate and an arm pivotally connected to the shaft at one of its longitudinal ends and pivotally connected to a coupling drive mechanism at its other longitudinal end.
US08540349B2 Printhead having isolated heater
A liquid ejector includes a substrate, a heating element, a dielectric material layer, and a chamber. The substrate includes a first surface. The heating element is located over the first surface of the substrate such that a cavity exists between the heating element and the first surface of the substrate. The dielectric material layer is located between the heating element and the cavity such that the cavity is laterally bounded by the dielectric material layer. The chamber, including a nozzle, is located over the heating element. The chamber is shaped to receive a liquid with the cavity being isolated from the liquid.
US08540337B2 Image forming apparatus and foam application device
A disclosed image forming apparatus is capable of solving the problems of deterioration of a foam application function and driving systems caused by the dried and fixed foam remaining without being applied. The image forming apparatus includes a foam forming section forming foam, a reservoir section supplying foam formed by the foam forming section to an application roller, a discharge channel through which extra foam is collected from the reservoir section, and a heating unit for heating the extra foam to return the extra foam to a liquid form. The discharged liquid prepared by defoaming the foam discharged through the discharge channel is returned to a container containing the defoamed liquid.
US08540328B2 Control mechanism for drawer slide assembly
A control mechanism for a drawer slide assembly which includes a first slide member and a second slide member. The control mechanism includes an adjustment member and a pair of stop members. The adjustment member is rotationally connected to the second slide member, and the pair of stop members are connected to the adjustment member and each have a stop portion located corresponding to the first slide member. The first slide member includes a catch portion which is located corresponding to one of the stop portions. The pair of the stop members are moved by rotation of the adjustment member. When the second slide member is retracted relative to the first slide member, the first and second stop portions are respectively adjusted and are engaged with the catch portion of the first side member to position the second slide member.
US08540322B2 Rear wheel assembly for a bicycle
A wheel and rear hub gearbox assembly for single-sided mounting to a bicycle frame, with the gearbox mounted to the frame by a bearing situated intermediate the axial extent of the gearbox casing. The wheel is detachably mounted to the gearbox casing by cooperating mounting formations on the wheel and at one end of the casing. The wheel is positioned relative to the gearbox such that when the wheel is mounted to the gearbox casing, the bearing is central, in the axial direction, relative to the wheel.
US08540316B2 Scissors-type frame for a vehicle seat and method for producing a substructure of a vehicle seat
To be able to produce a scissors-type frame of a vehicle seat in a quick and easy manner, the present invention is directed to a scissors-type frame for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, comprising a first scissors element and a second scissors element, wherein the scissors-type frame is height-adjustable by means of the two scissors elements, and wherein the scissors-type frame is characterized in that one of the two scissors elements passes through the other of the two scissors elements.
US08540313B2 Seat structure
Follow-up performance to respiratory movements is made higher than that of the prior art without obstructing movements of the pelvis of a person. A configuration is adopted that a cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat back 34, 140 and a cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat cushion are displaced according to load fluctuation to a cushioning member for a seat back 40, 150 or a cushioning member for a seat cushion 20. That is, such a configuration is adopted that the cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat back 34, 140 or the cushioning member for a seat cushion 20 not only moves according to load fluctuation but also frames themselves supporting them move via tension structure members spread over the frames (a cushioning member for a seat back and a cushioning member for a seat cushion). Accordingly, when a person lays his/her pelvis at his/her sitting position for deep breathing, the cushioning member arrangement frame for a seat back is displaced to push the vicinity of an upper portion of the cushioning member for a seat back, so that the vicinity of a lower portion of the cushioning member for a seat back is pushed forward to enrich support of the sacrum of the person.
US08540311B1 Magnetically suspended chair device
The magnetically suspended chair device provides cushioned seat suspension above the base, as well as a unique aesthetic appeal. As proximity of the magnets increases repulsive forces, the second electromagnet of the seat bottom will not contact the first electromagnet of the seat base. Depending upon the seat bottom and seat back design, and the load imposed by a user thereon, the electromagnets are either centrally or off-center disposed. The arm assemblies guide the seat assembly in upward and downward movement away from and toward the base.
US08540295B2 Sling with protective covering
A synthetic roundsling which has an endless load-bearing core with a plurality of loops of synthetic fibers for use in harsh environments. A tubular cover is provided for loosely containing the load-bearing core so that the fibers in the core are movable relative to each other and to the cover. The cover is waterproof to prevent the core from absorbing liquid. The core is prevented from increasing in weight and decreasing in flexibility due to liquid being absorbed by the core, thereby insuring that the roundsling will stay light and flexible even in harsh environmental conditions. A second, outer cover may provide additional protection to the core to protect the core from physical damage.
US08540294B2 Removable ladder handle
A removable ladder handle allows a user to carry a ladder comfortably with one hand or a shoulder strap. The removable ladder handle has a bar, one or more compression springs and one or more spring clips that have a concave downward shape. A middle section of each spring clip is coupled to the bar. The compression springs are coupled to the bar facing downward. Both end sections of each spring clip have inside hooks that face inward and upward. The spring clips and inside hooks are configured to fit over one of the side rails of a ladder and snap on to inner edges of the side rail when the removable ladder handle is engaged to the ladder by a user pushing the removable ladder handle down onto the side rail.
US08540284B2 Snowboard simulation riding device
A wheeled riding device has a body with an elongate front arm, a turning tail, and a joint part pivotally connecting the turning tail and front arm relative to one another. A front wheel is carried by a forward end of the front arm. Rear wheels are carried by a rear end of the turning tail. A standing platform is supported over the front arm and turning tail. The rear wheels and turning tail can pivot laterally side to side relative to the front arm. The front wheel and front arm can pivot vertically up and down relative to the standing platform. The front wheel, during a turn, is cambered inward into the turn. The device is controlled by the rider using body movements and skills required to ride a snowboard.
US08540275B2 Aircraft airbag, airbag device, and aircraft
Provided are an aircraft airbag that inflates across a plurality of seats, an airbag device including this airbag, and an aircraft equipped with this airbag device. The airbag has a bag main body extending across three seats and in the left-right direction of the aircraft body, and partition panels that partition the inside of the bag main body into small chambers and corresponding to the seats. Gas from the inflator flows into the small chamber in the middle, and flows into the small chambers through the communication portions above and below the partition panels. When occupants are caught and thereby the pressures in the small chambers reach a predetermined value or more, vent holes open.
US08540268B1 Aero seat post mounting device
An aerodynamically shaped seat post fabricated from carbon fiber is mountable to a seat tube by placing left and right bushings within the hollow center of the seat post. These bushings are accessible and engageable to left and right bolts when the desired height of the seat post is reached. In particular, the left and right bolts are fed through left and right holes formed in the seat tube. The seat post has left and right elongate slots which provide access to the bushings, and more particularly, to the threaded holes of the bushings so that the left and right bolts may engage those threaded holes and clamp the left and right sidewalls of the seat post and the left and right sidewalls of the seat tube together, respectively. This seat post mount eliminates stress concentrations to the seat post. Moreover, the seat post is not clamped down with opposed forces placed on the left and right sidewalls of the seat post.
US08540263B2 Rear bogie-type suspension
The present patent of invention refers to a rear bogie-type suspension used preferably in trucks, having a pivoting bearing (1) disposed on upper part of the spring pack (2), positioned between the two axles and laterally on each side of the chassis (5), said pivoting bearing (1) comprised of an anchor pin (3) fastened to a hanger (4) and to the chassis (5), in a robust manner to withstand the extreme strains to which this kind of suspension is normally submitted, also favoring assembly conditions, weight reduction, reduced consumption of materials and labor, also having an axle rebound stop (6) in combination with spring pack (2) in order to provide greater safety and durability to its components.
US08540245B2 Reel strip attachment
A releasable reel strip attachment assembly including an attachment strip with snap rivets that snaps through corresponding apertures in a reel strip and into apertures in a reel cage. The attachment strip includes an adhesive layer protected by a release backing that is removed to expose the adhesive layer. The reel strip is positioned over the reel cage so that the apertures in the reel strip co-align with those of the reel cage, and the snap rivets are inserted through the aligned apertures to attach the reel strip to the reel cage in a reliable, precise, and consistent manner. The reel strip is wound around the reel cage and the free end of the reel strip is pressed onto the exposed adhesive layer of the attachment strip.
US08540236B2 Paper feeding device and image forming apparatus
A remaining amount detector measures beforehand a distance H where there is one sheet. A motor displaces a lifting plate to a paper-feeding position upon storing paper in the feeding unit. The remaining amount detector measures a distance y1 to the lower face of a paper stack. Thereafter, upon transport of paper from the stack, a control unit causes the remaining amount detector to measure a distance y2 for every predetermined number n of fed sheets. A remaining sheet calculation unit calculates a displacement y1−y2=Δy to the bottom of the paper stack S, and calculates the thickness of one sheet on the basis of the displacement Δy and the number n of fed sheets (t=Δy/n). The remaining sheet calculation unit divides the thickness (H−y2) of the paper stack by the thickness t of one paper sheet, and calculates the number of remaining sheets m as (m=((H−y2)/t)+1).
US08540214B2 Vehicle lift
The present invention is a vehicle lift. In particular, the present invention is directed to a vehicle lift that can be mounted to the rear of a vehicle or used as a stand-alone lift. A preferred embodiment of the lift comprises a vehicle platform mounted to two platform saddles supported by two lifting arms and two support arms. The lifting arms and support arms are pivotally attached to a mount frame at one end and the platform saddles on the other end. A spacer sleeve is attached between the lifting arms and has a lock bar inserted through it. Lift locks are attached to each end of the lock bar and can lock the lift. Two drives are attached to the mount frame at one end and to the spacer sleeve at the other end. When the platform is in a raised position, the drives are extended.
US08540205B2 Electronic device having adjustable table stand
An electronic device includes a main body and a table stand connected to the main body for supporting the main body. The main body comprises a positioning member. The table stand defines at least two positioning holes. The table stand is operable to rotate relative to the main body. The positioning member is operable to be selectively inserted into either one of the at least two positioning holes, such that the table stand is operable to form a corresponding predetermined angle with the main body.
US08540204B2 Method for servicing a turbine engine cover plate assembly
A holding structure associated with a lifting device for supporting a removed turbine engine cover plate assembly. The holding structure includes an upper support member and a lower support member. The upper support member is formed with a plurality of service areas, where each service area is configured for servicing a cover plate assembly. Each service area includes a plurality of slots extending inwardly from a peripheral edge of the upper support member to receive and support components of the cover plate assembly during a disassembly and service operation.
US08540203B2 Longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat with spindle and spindle holder
A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat (1) with a spindle (13), which is arranged in a hollow space formed by a pair of rails (5, 7), and with spindle holders (15). The area of connection of at least one of the spindle holders (15a) to one of the rails (5) lies outside of the hollow space formed by the rails (5, 7). The spindle holder (15a) extends with a partial area, with which it is connected to an end (13a) of the spindle (13), into the hollow space.
US08540201B2 Brackets and bracket system for assembling playground equipment
A bracket system for assembling playground equipment includes a plurality of deck support brackets, at least two vertical frame brackets, at least two horizontal frame brackets, a swing bracket, and at least two ladder brackets. The deck support brackets secure horizontal deck support beams to vertical frame beams at first points along the vertical frame beams. The vertical frame brackets attach to at least two adjacent vertical frame beams at second points above the first points. The at least two horizontal frame brackets fix at least one horizontal frame beam to the at least two adjacent vertical frame beams at the second points; the horizontal frame brackets and the vertical frame brackets interconnect. The swing bracket fastens a swing support beam to the at least one horizontal frame beam at a third point along the at least one horizontal frame beam. The at least two ladder brackets connect a ladder to one of the horizontal deck support beams.
US08540200B2 Soft padeye
A soft padeye is shown and disclosed. The soft padeye has a spindle that runs through the deck of the ship or boat or other surface. The fastener is then screwed on the shaft and secured against the deck securing the fastener and the spindle to the deck. The spindle has a hole through it allowing the passage of a loop of line. The loop remains above deck while the two ends of the loop are fed through the shaft and tied in a knot that will not pull through the shaft. This allows the user to secure line or other hardware to the loop.
US08540195B2 Bag holding apparatus
Disclosed is a bag holder frame having a first rectangular ring-shaped member and a second rectangular ring-shaped member. The first rectangular ring-shaped member may have a first cross-member and a second cross-member connected together via a first base and a first top portion, wherein the first top portion has a first slot and a second slot. The second rectangular ring-shaped member may have a third cross-member and a fourth cross-member connected together via a second base and a second top portion, wherein the second top portion has a third slot and a fourth slot. In addition, the first cross-member and the third cross-member are connected via a first hinge present at a medial portion of the first cross-member and the third cross-member, wherein the second cross-member and the fourth cross-member are connected via a second hinge present at a medial portion of the second cross-member.
US08540194B2 Pipe support base
To provide a pipe support base light in weight and with good workability, to which loads may given according to need. This problem may be overcome with a hollow cylindrical body with a rectangular cross section and with four sides. A through passage is provided in the center portion thereof. Further, a cross-shaped rib is provided at an approximately central position thereof. Additionally, grooves are formed parallel to the aforementioned through passage on at least any of the surfaces, upon the edges of which are provided engagement plates protruding into the cross sections of the grooves.
US08540165B2 Laminated electronic card assembly
An electronic card is assembled from top and bottom graphic layers, top and bottom thermal sensitive adhesion tapes and an inlay assembly laminated together. The inlay assembly is made of a sub-assembly of a PCB base with one or more electronic components mounted to it, thermal sensitive adhesion tape and a stiffening substrate, all laminated together, while a battery insert and possible additional inserts made of PVC are mounted in openings in the sub-assembly around electronic components such as the battery. The stiffening substrate has a thermal coefficient substantially the same as that of the PCB base. The card need not contain any solder connections and is ISO 7810 compliant. Lamination is performed at a warm, not hot, temperature that does not damage the battery or melt any components together.
US08540154B2 System and method for registration of an electronic device
A method for registering an electronic device includes receiving a transaction code and purchaser information associated with a purchase of an electronic device. While the transaction code is associated with the purchase of the electronic device, it does not uniquely identify the electronic device purchased. The method also includes receiving from the electronic device the transaction code and a device identifier that uniquely identifies the electronic device. The device is registered by associating the purchaser information and the device identifier via the transaction code.
US08540151B1 Method and system for optimizing the usefulness of a credit and debit card portfolio
A method, for maximizing the financial benefits that accrue to one from optimally taking advantage of the incentives offered by the various providers of credit cards, includes the steps of: (1) collecting card provider information regarding currently offered incentives, (2) collecting one's information regarding past and proposed card purchases, (3) analyzing this information to determine the benefits that would accrue to one from making the proposed purchase with each of one's available cards, (4) communicating the results of this analysis so as to enable it to be used in selecting the card to be used in one's next purchase, (5) presenting the incentives of other cards which are not in the one's card portfolio, and (6) if one is considering adding one of these other cards to one's portfolio in order to take advantage of its incentives, advising of the impact on one's credit rating of applying for a new card.
US08540150B2 Anonymous transaction card
A system and method for substantially immediate issuance of transaction cards includes at least one unassigned transaction card including a storage medium having a card number encoded thereupon. The system also includes a computing system configured to receive application information from an applicant that has been provided said unassigned transaction card, and to activate the unassigned transaction card so that access to monetary funds is extended to the applicant through said unassigned transaction card, upon an evaluation of said application information indicating that the applicant has been approved for access to the monetary funds. The unassigned transaction card bears no visible marking presenting information concerning the applicant and encodes no information concerning said applicant upon the storage medium of said unassigned transaction card.
US08540142B1 Banking machine controlled responsive to data read from data bearing records
A banking system operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system includes an automated banking machine comprising a card reader. The card reader includes a movable read head that can read card data along a magnetic stripe of a card that was inserted long-edge first. The card reader includes a card entry gate. The gate is opened for a card that is determined to be properly oriented for data reading. The card reader can encrypt card data, including account data. The machine also includes a PIN keypad. The card reader can send encrypted card data to the keypad. The keypad can decipher the encrypted card data. The keypad can encrypt both deciphered card data and a received user PIN. The card data and the PIN are usable by the machine to authorize a user to carry out a financial transfer involving the account.
US08540137B1 Adhesiveless welding purge dam
A water-degradable welding purge dam for purging a weld zone of a pipe assembly comprising first and second pipes having respective first and second ends to be welded together at a root gap. The purge dam includes a blocking plate comprising one or more plate members. The one or more plate members include a friction plate member having a plurality of flexible members on its periphery adapted to flexibly engage an inside wall of one of the first or second pipe ends in a self-retaining manner. The purge dam comprises one or more water degradable materials so that it can be flushed from the pipe assembly following welding.
US08540127B2 Vehicle instrument display support and storage apparatus
A vehicle instrument support and storage apparatus for a vehicle driven by a human driver who occupies a driver's seat of the vehicle provides a frame having a plate configured for attachment to a selected vehicle. The frame has a plurality of docking station positions. A rotary bearing is attachable to the vehicle. An instrument support includes a support panel and an arm having an inner and outer end portions, the arm inner end portion being connected to the rotary bearing. The instrument support panel is affixed to the outer end portion of the support arm. An interlock of the instrument support with one docking station places the instrument support panel in front of the driver of the vehicle. An interlock of the instrument support with the other docking station places the instrument support in a position that is spaced away from (laterally, circumferentially and/or radially) first position.
US08540118B2 Water dispenser and method of operating it
A water dispenser is fluidly connectable to a water source. The water dispenser includes a water tank; a faucet fluidly connected to the water tank and configured to generate an activation signal after being activated; a valve fluidly connectable to the water source and fluidly connected to the water tank; a first float switch movably disposed in the water tank and configured to generate an open signal after moving away from a predetermined position; and a controller operatively connected to the faucet and the first float switch. The controller is configured to open the valve to refill the water tank with water from the water source after the controller receives both the activation signal from the faucet and the open signal from the first float switch. A method of operating the water dispenser is also disclosed.
US08540114B2 Container apparatus with a body, plate, and lid
A container apparatus and a method for using the container apparatus is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus can be implemented in a wide variety of ways, including but not limited to that of a food or beverage container. The container apparatus can include a lid and a body that are integral to each other.
US08540088B2 Accessory merchandiser
An accessory merchandiser for displaying products. The accessory merchandiser includes a modular unit including a plurality of first members and a plurality of second members, wherein the first and second members form a grid structure, a plurality of indicator marks formed on each second member, and a plurality of coupling members configured to removably couple the modular unit to a fixture. The plurality of indicator marks form a marking grid.
US08540077B2 Compact case built-in with hinge unit and method of manufacturing compact case built-in with hinge unit
[Problem to be solved] To provide a compact case built-in with a hinge unit that can be easily assembled while reducing manufacturing costs of parts.[Solving Means] A compact case 1 with a lid body 20 connected, in an openable and closable manner, via a hinge using at least one or more hinge unit 30, to a back end of a flat box shaped container body 10, the compact case includes a frame body 41 of a plate-like member having a flat shape along a peripheral shape of an upper opening of the container body, the back end of the container body is formed with a hinge storing section 11 for storing a case section of the hinge unit so that a shaft section of the hinge unit is protruded, a back end of the lid body is formed with a receiving hole 21a in which the shaft section of the hinge unit is to be inserted, the frame body is attached to the container body so as to cover up the hinge storing section, the shaft section of the hinge unit is inserted in the receiving hole in a state the case section of the hinge unit is fixed to the container body, and the container body and the lid body are connected in an openable and closable manner.
US08540075B2 Square cigar tube
Disclosed is a square cigar tube, comprising a first square tube part (1) and a second square tube part (2). The first square tube part and the second square tube part are connected; a through hole (11) is arranged in the first square tube part, and a through hole (21) is arranged in the second square tube part; a first magnet accommodating space (12) is arranged on an end surface of the first square tube part connected to the second square tube part, and a first tube lid (3) is arranged on the other end; a second magnet accommodating space (22) is arranged on an end surface of the second square tube part connected to the first square tube part, and a second tube lid (4) is arranged on the other end; a first magnet (8) is arranged in the first accommodating space, and a second magnet (9) is arranged in the second accommodating space. The square cigar tube makes it easy to take out or put in a cigar, is accurate in positioning, and is convenient to clean.
US08540072B2 Packaging system for detonating cords for X-ray examination and safe shipping
The invention relates to a packaging for a detonation cord that is used especially for igniting shaped charged perforators in perforation guns utilized in the oil and natural gas industry. According to the invention, the detonation cord is wound on one plane as a flat coil. Also disclosed is a method for examining whether a detonation cord has faulty points. Said method is characterized in that the detonation cord is subjected to an x-ray examination in the packaging before being delivered.
US08540063B2 Wheeled luggage with extendable supportive tongue
Wheeled luggage including an extendable tongue permits use as a hand-truck to transport an additional piece of luggage supported on the extended tongue. The wheeled luggage may be similar to conventional wheeled luggage, but further includes a tongue movable between an inactive and active positions. In the inactive position, the tongue is positioned within a footprint of a bottom of the luggage. In the active position, the tongue extends beyond an outer edge of a bottom of the body to provide supportive structure on which the additional luggage may be placed. The structure of the extendable tongue may have various suitable configurations. A mechanism may be provided for moving the tongue between the inactive and active positions while the user and luggage are in an upright position. An optional strap and/or strap retraction mechanism may be provided to securing the additional luggage.
US08540060B2 Disk brake
There is provided a disk brake comprising: a mounting member axially extending over a disk periphery, the mounting member including a pad guide where a friction pad travels; a caliper; and a return spring between the friction pad and the mounting member and urges the friction pad into a return direction separating from the disk, wherein the return spring includes: a first extended portion where a base end side thereof is fixed to a back plate of the friction pad while a top end side thereof extends separating from the disk; and a second extended portion folded from the top end side of the first extended portion toward the mounting member, a top of the second extended portion extending to elastically abut to the side of the mounting member, and a plate thickness direction of the first extended portion extends to be approximately a radial direction of the disk.
US08540054B2 Integrated rotary valve
A system in some embodiments includes a machine block comprising features configured to support moving machine components within a lubricating fluid, wherein the machine block includes an integral valve block configured to route the lubricating fluid through a first filter without a second filter and configured to route the lubricating fluid through the second filter without the first filter. Further embodiments include a method that includes switching circulation of a lubricant between a first filter and a second filter in response to an angular position of a valve disposed in a valve block integral to a machine block having moving components lubricated by the lubricant.
US08540050B2 Glazing unit with improved vibroacoustic damping properties, method for making such a glazing unit and method for acoustic protection in a vehicle passenger compartment
A glazing unit having improved vibroacoustic damping properties, including: at least one glass sheet; at least one vibroacoustic damping strip, the strip including at least one element made of damping material and the strip being fastened to one of the faces of the glass sheet. The face of the strip facing the glass sheet has a surface area in contact with the glass sheet which is strictly inferior to the surface area of the face of the strip facing the glass sheet. The glazing unit makes it possible to damp noise and vibrations while taking up little space.
US08540030B2 Riser lifecycle management system, program product, and related methods
Methods, systems, and program product for monitoring and managing a plurality of marine riser assets are provided. An example of a method includes tracking the subsea deployment and retrieval of each of a plurality of riser joints. This can include deploying the plurality of riser joints from a vessel to form an operationally deployed marine riser string, reading riser joint identification data from a riser joint identification indicator connected to the respective riser joint during the operational deployment thereof, and identifying the respective riser joint being operationally deployed to thereby track the deployment thereof. The method can also include retrieving one or more of the operationally deployed riser joints, reading riser joint identification data from the riser identification indicator of the respective riser joint during retrieval thereof, identifying the respective one or more riser joints being retrieved to thereby track the retrieval thereof.
US08540027B2 Method and apparatus for selective down hole fluid communication
Methods and apparatus for perforating a formation in a wellbore without perforating a well bore casing. The methods and apparatus include an external casing perforating device configured so as not to perforate the casing. The interior of the perforating device serves as a fluid flow path between the casing and the formation following perforation and a valve in the casing selectively opens and closes the flow path.
US08540024B2 Perforation strategy for heterogeneous proppant placement in hydraulic fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing an individual reservoir fracturing layer of a subterranean formation to produce heterogeneous proppant placement is given in which pillars of proppant are placed such that the pillars do not extend the entire height of the fracture (for a vertical fracture) but are themselves interrupted by channels so that the channels between the pillars form pathways that lead to the wellbore. The method combines methods of introducing slugs of proppant-carrying and proppant-free fluids through multiple clusters of perforations within a single fracturing layer of rock, with methods of ensuring that the slugs exiting the individual clusters do not merge.
US08540021B2 Release assembly for a downhole tool string and method for use thereof
A release assembly (200) for releasing a portion of a tool string in a wellbore. The release assembly (200) includes an outer housing (202) having a fishing receptacle (206) disposed therein. The fishing receptacle (206) includes a fishing neck (208). A support assembly (214) is disposed within the housing (202). The support assembly (214) has a first position wherein the support assembly (214) engages the fishing neck (208) to prevent separation of the fishing receptacle (206) from the housing (202) and a second position wherein the support assembly (214) is disengaged from the fishing neck (208) no longer preventing separation of the fishing receptacle (206) from the housing (202). An actuator (224), disposed within the housing (202), maintains the support assembly (214) in the first position until actuation thereof allows the support assembly (214) to shift to the second position.
US08540017B2 Method and system for sealing a wellbore
Systems and methods for sealing a wellbore are provided. The wellbore has a pipe therein for the passage of fluid therethrough. The system is provided with a BOP positionable about the pipe and at least one seal assembly positionable about the BOP. Each of the seal assemblies has a plurality of blocks positionable within the BOP, at least one actuator for selectively moving the blocks to a contact position surrounding the pipe, and a plurality of pipe seals carried by the blocks for creating a seal about the pipe of the wellbore. Each block has an opening extending into a cavity therein. Each pipe seal is positionable in one of the cavities and flowable through the opening thereof as the blocks are moved into the contact position whereby at least a portion of a pressure applied to the pipe seals is released from the blocks.
US08540015B2 Apparatus and method for treating a subterranean formation using diversion
Apparatus and method comprising a plurality of particles which are magnetically attracted to one another in response to exposure to a magnetic field, and which maintain attraction to one another after removal of the magnetic field, the attraction being disabled when the particles are demagnetized, whereby the particles operate to alter the rheological properties of a fluid in which the particles are mixed when the attraction is enabled or disabled is disclosed.
US08540006B1 Apparatuses, systems and methods for locking lift cords used to lift architectural opening coverings
A locking member to be used in conjunction with a guide ring and a lift cord configured to raise of lower a covering for an architectural opening, such as a window, door or the like, is disclosed. The locking member is configured to engage the guide ring and the lift cord in such a way that the locking member has a selective rotative ability, which allows the lift cord to freely move in a first direction to raise or lower the covering, but the locking member will move or rotate about the guide ring when the lift cord is pulled in a second direction to pinch the lift cord between the locking member and the guide ring so that the lift cord is prevented from being pulled away from the covering far enough to create a loop of a certain diameter.
US08540005B2 Apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling a covering for an architectural opening
An apparatus and method associated with the extension and retraction of a covering for an architectural opening. More particularly, an apparatus and method which monitors the extension of a shade to control the extension and position when the extension motion of the shade is interrupted.