Document	Document Title
US08541984B2	Charging systems capable of determining the kind of coupled device and related methods thereof Disclosed is a method for controlling charging current to a battery of a charging system, performed by a control unit of the charging system. The method includes: (a) detecting that a device is coupled to the charging system and determining what kind of the device the charging system is coupled to; (b) adjusting the charging current to a level according to the coupled device. The charging current is generated by the coupled device.
US08541980B2	System and method for cell balancing and charging An apparatus for charging a plurality of series connected battery cells includes first and second input terminals for providing a charging voltage to the plurality of series connected battery cells. A transformer includes a primary side associated with the charging voltage and a secondary side including a plurality of portions. Each of the plurality of portions connected across at least two of the plurality of series connected battery cells. A first switch in series between each of the plurality of portions of the secondary side and a first battery cell of the at least two of the plurality of series connected battery cells provides a charging current to the first battery cell during a first portion of a cycle of a current in the primary side of the transformer. A second switch in series between each of the plurality of portions of the secondary side and a second battery cell of the at least two of the plurality of series connected battery cells provides a charging current to the to the second battery cell during a second portion of the cycle of the current in the primary side of the transformer.
US08541966B2	PWM control circuit and PWM control method The PWM control circuit includes a polarity determination unit, a full wave rectification unit, an adjustment unit that generates an adjusted waveform signal by adjusting waveform of the full wave rectification signal, and a carrier signal generating unit that generates a fixed frequency carrier signal. The PWM control circuit further includes a comparator that generates an original PWM signal by comparing the adjusted waveform signal and the carrier signal, and a PWM waveform shaping unit that generates a first PWM signal for the positive polarity section and a second PWM signal for the negative polarity section, by shaping the original PWM signal according to the polarity signal.
US08541961B2	Electron beam switch The present invention is directed to an electron beam crossbar switch for interconnection between communication units. The crossbar switch includes an array of electrically charged particle emitter source devices with an input connected to a slow wave structure coupled to the emitter source. An array of detectors is positioned relative to the array of emitter devices for receiving charged particles from various of the emitter devices. X and y deflection means are positioned adjacent each of the emitters for directing the charged particles from each of the emitters to at least one of the detectors to provide more signal output and a reduction in deflection accuracy.
US08541955B2	Discharge lamp lighting device, projector, and discharge lamp lighting device control method Provided is an electric discharge lamp lighting device (10) including a control section (40) which performs first control operation for controlling at least the current value, frequency, duty ratio or waveform of a driving current (I) for driving an electric discharge lamp (90). The electric discharge lamp lighting device also includes a signal receiving section (50) for receiving a drive control signal (S) which can control at least the current value, frequency, duty ratio or waveform of the driving current (I) in mode different from the first control operation. The control section (40) performs second control operation for controlling at least the current value, frequency duty ratio or waveform of the driving current (I) based on the drive control signal (S), in the case where the signal receiving section (50) has received the drive control signal (S).
US08541950B2	Apparatus and method of energy efficient illumination An illumination system reduces a level of light output, and hence power consumption, at a time after turning ON a light source, and increases the level of light output at a time prior to turning OFF the light source. A control subsystem can determine when to increase the level of light based on a predicted time when the light source will be turned OFF. The control subsystem may determine an average or median length of time that the light source has been turned on for a number of recent daily cycles. A control subsystem may be an integral part of a luminaire or may be a retrofit.
US08541946B2	Variable electric field strength metal and metal oxide microplasma lamps and fabrication Preferred embodiments of the invention provide microcavity plasma lamps having a plurality of metal and metal oxide layers defining a plurality of arrays of microcavities and encapsulated thin metal electrodes. Packaging encloses the plurality of metal and metal oxide layers in plasma medium. The metal and metal oxide layers are configured and arranged to vary the electric field strength and total gas pressure (E/p) in the lamp. The invention also provides methods of manufacturing a microcavity plasma lamp that simultaneously evacuate the volume within the packaging and a volume surrounding the packaging to maintain an insignificant or zero pressure differential across the packaging. The packaging is backfilled with a plasma medium while also maintaining an insignificant or zero pressure differential across the packaging.
US08541936B2	Composite layer containing a layer of phosphors and related electroluminescent device Solutions to improve the properties of the phosphors and electroluminescent devices are described, using phosphors in combination with zeolites for converting UV or Blue radiation into visible radiation.
US08541930B2	Piezoelectric component A piezoelectric component includes a stack of piezoelectric layers arranged one on top of the other and first and second electrode layers arranged therebetween. The stack includes at least one first piezoelectric layer having a first electrical coercive force and directly adjacent thereto at least one second piezoelectric layer having a second electrical coercive force different from the first coercive force.
US08541922B2	Magnetic transmission assembly A magnetic transmission assembly is adapted to integration with a motor or generator. The magnetic transmission assembly includes a rotor, a stator, and a magnetically conductive element. The rotor and the stator are sleeved coaxially and respectively have R and ST1 pole pairs. The magnetically conductive element is located between the rotor and the stator, and has permeable regions. When the magnetically conductive element is actuated, the magnetically conductive element selectively enables PN1 or PN2 permeable regions to be corresponding to the rotor and the stator. The permeable regions corresponding to the rotor and the stator interact with magnetic fields of the R and ST1 pole pairs to generate a predetermined variable-speed ratio. The magnetic transmission assembly can be integrated into the motor, so as to improve the drive power density.
US08541917B2	Rotary electrical machine A stator assembly structure of a rotary electrical machine for assembling a stator on a case includes the stator including a stator holder and a stator core, the stator holder including a flange portion that includes a plurality of positioning bores arranged at intervals and a fixing portion fixing the stator to the case, the case including a positioning pin having an outer diameter smaller than a diameter of each of the positioning bores and being engageable with each of the positioning bores, the case further including a fixing seat, and each of the positioning bores including at least three bending portions that extend from a peripheral edge of the positioning bore towards a radially inward side, each of the bending portions being formed to be bent at a portion in a length direction from the peripheral edge towards the radially inward side relative to the flange portion.
US08541915B2	Drive module and manifold for electric motor drive assembly A coolant fluid distributing manifold for a drive module in an electric motor drive assembly includes a body and passageways in the body for distributing coolant fluid to components of the drive module. The passageways define a delivery conduit and a return conduit.
US08541901B2	Wave power generating installation based on the principle of the oscillating water column To increase in particular the level of efficiency in the conversion of sea wave energy into electrical energy there is proposed a wave power generating installation having a chamber for the positive guidance of an oscillating water column, wherein the chamber which is closed in itself below the surface of the water has an opening through which water flows into the chamber and then out again, and a means for taking mechanical energy from the oscillating water column and for converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy. The generating installation according to the invention is distinguished in that the means includes a float body device carried by the water column and a linear generator having a stator and an actuator, wherein the float body device is mechanically operatively connected to the actuator of the linear generator and the actuator for generating electrical energy is reciprocatingly movable by the movement of the float body device relative to the stator of the linear generator.
US08541900B2	Fluid turbine A fluid turbine includes stator fitted with fluid inlet and outlet, and a rolling rotor installed inside the confusor part of the stator at one end of a shaft, with the other end fixed in a clamp of a clamping mechanism on the stator. The shaft of the rolling rotor is fixed in the clamp of the clamping mechanism non-rotationally with the possibility of angular deflection in all directions. A generator is connected to the shaft.
US08541892B2	Bonding connection between a bonding wire and a power semiconductor chip A bonding connection between a bonding wire and a power semiconductor chip is disclosed. The power semiconductor chip has a semiconductor body arranged in which is an active cell region with a multiplicity of cells arranged one following the other in a lateral direction and connected electrically in parallel. The semiconductor body has a surface portion arranged above the active cell region in a vertical direction perpendicular to the lateral direction. Applied to the surface portion is a metallization layer onto which a bonding wire is bonded. The bonding wire comprises an alloy containing at least 99% by weight aluminum and at least one further alloying constituent. The aluminum has a grain structure with a mean grain size which is less than 2 μm.
US08541891B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device having a first rectangular chip on which wires, electrode pads and chip mounting area are provided, a first dame formed on the first rectangular chip around the electrode pads and the chip mounting area so as to cover the wires and an under fill formed by filling liquid resin between a second rectangular chip mounted on the chip mounting area in a flip-chip manner and the first rectangular chip.
US08541888B2	Pad layout structure of a driver IC chip A pad layout structure of a driver IC chip to be mounted to a liquid crystal display panel. The pad layout structure includes power pad sections placed at respective four corners of the driver IC chip and each having a first power pad for supplying first power to the driver IC chip, a second power pad for supplying second power to the driver IC chip, a third power pad for supplying third power to the driver IC chip and a fourth power pad for supplying fourth power to the driver IC chip.
US08541884B2	Through-substrate via having a strip-shaped through-hole signal conductor A TSV structure suitable for high speed signal transmission includes a metal strip portion that extends through a long and small diameter hole in a substrate. In one example, the metal strip portion is formed by laser ablating away portions of a metal sheath that lines a cylindrical sidewall of the hole, thereby leaving a longitudinal section of metal that is the metal strip portion. A second metal strip portion, that extends in a direction perpendicular to the hole axis, is contiguous with the metal strip portion that extends through the hole such that the two metal strip portions together form a single metal strip. Throughout its length, the single metal strip has a uniform width and thickness and therefore can have a controlled and uniform impedance. In some embodiments, multiple metal strips pass through the same TSV hole. In some embodiments, the structure is a coaxial TSV.
US08541883B2	Semiconductor device having shielded conductive vias The present invention relates to a semiconductor device having a shielding layer. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, an inner metal layer, a shielding layer, an insulation material, a metal layer, a passivation layer and a redistribution layer. The inner metal layer is disposed in a through hole of the substrate. The shielding layer surrounds the inner annular metal. The insulation material is disposed between the inner metal layer and the shielding layer. The metal layer is disposed on a surface of the substrate, contacts the shielding layer and does not contact the inner metal layer. The redistribution layer is disposed in an opening of the passivation layer so as to contact the inner metal layer.
US08541880B2	Method and system to reduce area of standard cells A signal routing grid. A first metal layer has wires running in a first direction. A second metal layer, spaced from and substantially parallel to the first metal layer, has wires running in a second direction different to the first direction, such that the wires of the first and second metal layers appear from above or below to form virtual intersections. Vias or contacts are coupled between the first and second metal layers and configured to route signals between the first and second metal layers. Pins are coupled to the first metal layer and configured to provide input signals or receive output signals from a standard cell, the pins being positioned along the wires in the first metal layer so as to be spaced from the virtual intersections.
US08541870B1	Semiconductor package utilizing tape to reinforce fixing of leads to die pad Disclosed is a semiconductor package utilizing a tape to reinforce fixing of leads to a die pad having a through hole. The package primarily comprises a leadframe having the plurality of leads and the die pad, a tape, at least a chip, and an encapsulant. The die pad. The tape is attached beneath the leadframe adjacent to the inner fingers of the leads to fix the leads and the die pad for wire-bonding. Additionally, the tape does not completely cover the through hole. The chip is disposed on the leads and the die pad and electrically connected to the inner fingers. The encapsulant encapsulates the die pad, the tape and the chip with the leads being insulatedly bonded where the encapsulant further completely fills into the through hole through its opening without completely covered by the tape.
US08541862B2	Semiconductor device with self-biased isolation A device includes a semiconductor substrate including a surface, a drain region in the semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, a well region in the semiconductor substrate on which the drain region is disposed, the well region having the first conductivity type, a buried isolation layer in the semiconductor substrate extending across the well region, the buried isolation layer having the first conductivity type, a reduced surface field (RESURF) region disposed between the well region and the buried isolation layer, the RESURF region having a second conductivity type, and a plug region in the semiconductor substrate extending from the surface of the substrate to the RESURF region, the plug region having the second conductivity type.
US08541852B2	Acoustic sensor A diaphragm for sensing sound pressure faces a back plate including a plate portion and a fixed electrode film to form a capacitance type acoustic sensor. The back plate is opened with acoustic holes for passing vibration, and is arranged with a plurality of stoppers in a projecting manner on a surface facing the diaphragm. The stopper arranged in an outer peripheral area of the back plate has a small diameter, and the stopper arranged in an internal area has a large diameter. Thus, sticking of the diaphragm is prevented, and the diaphragm is less likely to break by impact when the sensor is dropped.
US08541847B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same The present invention provides a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same, wherein the method comprises: providing a germanium-based semiconductor substrate having a plurality of active regions and device isolation regions between the plurality of the active regions, wherein a gate dielectric layer and a gate over the gate dielectric layer are provided on the active regions, and the active regions include source and drain extension regions and deep source and drain regions; performing a first ion implantation process with respect to the source and drain extension regions, wherein the ions implanted in the first ion implantation process include silicon or carbon; performing a second ion implantation process with respect to the source and drain extension regions; performing a third ion implantation process with respect to the deep source and drain regions; performing an annealing process with respect to the germanium-based semiconductor substrate which has been subjected to the third ion implantation process. According to the method for fabricating a semiconductor device, through the implantation of silicon impurities, appropriate stress may be introduced into the germanium channel effectively by the mismatch of lattices in the source and drain regions, so that the mobility of electrons in the channel is enhanced and the performance of the device is improved.
US08541841B2	Semiconductor devices and semiconductor device manufacturing methods Semiconductor devices and semiconductor device manufacturing methods. The semiconductor device manufacturing methods may form a memory cell having a silicon on insulator (SOI) structure only in one or more localized regions of a bulk semiconductor substrate by use selective etching. Accordingly, a different bias voltage may be applied to a peripheral device than to a memory cell having the SOI structure.
US08541838B2	Monolithically-integrated dual surge protective device A monolithically-integrated dual surge protective device and its fabrication method are disclosed. The exemplary dual surge protective device includes a LDMOS device and a diode assembly which is consisted of multiple diodes series-wound on back-to-back basis and whose one end is connected to drain electrode of the LDMOS device and the other end is connected to gate electrode of the LDMOS device. The diode assembly can be fabricated directly in the gate electrode area of the LDMOS device after fabrication of the LDMOS device is completed. The protective device is equivalent to combination of diodes and LDMOS in respect to operating principles and structures, with the advantage of enhanced effect of surge prevention and cost reduction of surge device as it can be integrated into a chip.
US08541834B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region, a control electrode, a first main electrode, an internal electrode, and an insulating region. The control electrode is provided inside a trench. The first main electrode is in conduction with the third semiconductor region. The internal electrode is provided in the trench and in conduction with the first main electrode. The insulating region is provided between an inner wall of the trench and the internal electrode. The internal electrode includes a first internal electrode part included in a first region of the trench and a second internal electrode part included in a second region between the first region and the first main electrode. A spacing between the first internal electrode part and the inner wall is wider than a spacing between the second internal electrode part and the inner wall.
US08541833B2	Power transistor device vertical integration A semiconductor component includes a sequence of layers, the sequence of layers including a first insulator layer, a first semiconductor layer disposed on the first insulator layer, a second insulator layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer disposed on the second insulator layer. The semiconductor component also includes a plurality of devices at least partly formed in the first semiconductor layer. A first one of the plurality of devices is a power transistor formed in a first region of the first semiconductor layer and a first region of the second semiconductor layer. The first region of the first and second semiconductor layers are in electrical contact with one another through a first opening in the second insulator layer.
US08541831B2	Nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same A three-dimensional nonvolatile memory device and a method for fabricating the same include a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of active pillars, a plurality of gate electrodes, and a plurality of supporters. The semiconductor substrate includes a memory cell region and a contact region. The active pillars extend in the memory cell region perpendicularly to the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrodes intersect the active pillars, extend from the memory cell region to the contact region and are stacked on the semiconductor substrate. The supporters extend in the contact region perpendicularly to the semiconductor substrate to penetrate at least one or more of the gate electrodes.
US08541830B1	Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing the same A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment includes a plurality of cell array layers, each cell array layer including: a plurality of semiconductor layers that extends in a first direction; gate insulating layers; a plurality of floating gates arranged in the first direction; inter-gate insulating layers; and a plurality of control gates that extends in a second direction intersecting semiconductor layers, and faces the floating gates via the inter-gate insulating layers, in which, in the cell array layers adjacent each other in a stacking direction, the control gates of a lower cell array layer and the control gates of the an upper cell array layer are intersecting each other, and the floating gates within the lower cell array layer and the semiconductor layers within the upper cell array layer are aligned in position with each other.
US08541819B1	Semiconductor device and structure A semiconductor device including: a first mono-crystal layer and a second mono-crystal layer and at least one conductive layer in-between; where the at least one conductive layer includes a first conductive layer overlaying a second conductive layer overlying a third conductive layer, and where the second conductive layer having a predetermined second layer current carrying capacity greater than the current carrying capacity of the first conductive layer, and the second conductive layer current carrying capacity being greater than the current carrying capacity of the third conductive layer.
US08541815B2	High electron mobility transistor circuit A transistor circuit includes a first high electron mobility transistor and a second high electron mobility transistor having a negative threshold voltage, wherein a source of the second high electron mobility transistor is coupled to a gate of the first high electron mobility transistor, and a gate of the second high electron mobility transistor is coupled to a source of the first high electron mobility transistor.
US08541814B2	Minimizing leakage current and junction capacitance in CMOS transistors by utilizing dielectric spacers A semiconductor structure and method for forming dielectric spacers and epitaxial layers for a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (CMOS transistor) are disclosed. Specifically, the structure and method involves forming dielectric spacers that are disposed in trenches and are adjacent to the silicon substrate, which minimizes leakage current. Furthermore, epitaxial layers are deposited to form source and drain regions, wherein the source region and drain regions are spaced at a distance from each other. The epitaxial layers are disposed adjacent to the dielectric spacers and the transistor body regions (i.e., portion of substrate below the gates), which can minimize transistor junction capacitance. Minimizing transistor junction capacitance can enhance the switching speed of the CMOS transistor. Accordingly, the application of dielectric spacers and epitaxial layers to minimize leakage current and transistor junction capacitance in CMOS transistors can enhance the utility and performance of the CMOS transistors in low power applications.
US08541813B1	Homojunction type high-speed photodiode A homojunction type high-speed photodiode has an active area of greater than at least 50 microns (μm) or preferably greater than 60 microns (μm) in diameter, which has an p-i-n junction epitaxial layer formed on a semiconductor substrate and includes a first ohmic contact layer, an absorption layer, a collector layer and a second ohmic contact layer. No more absorbance occurs in the collector layer of InGaAs, by means of completely absorbing the photon energy in advance by the absorption layer in which the absorption layer has powerful optical absorption constant. Not only can the prior art problems be solved, such as surface absorbance, but also improved electron transport can be achieved by using InGaAs as the constructing material, compared to other materials. The resistance capacitance (RC) for the entire structure can be significantly reduced, and the limitations to the bandwidth resulted from the carrier transport time can be improved.
US08541810B2	Blue light emitting semiconductor nanocrystal materials A semiconductor nanocrystal includes a core including a first semiconductor material and an overcoating including a second semiconductor material. A monodisperse population of the nanocrystals emits blue light over a narrow range of wavelengths with a high quantum efficiency.
US08541795B2	Side-emitting optical coupling device An LED package includes a LED structure that outputs light in a pattern about an axis and an optical coupling device with a central axis. The coupling device is positioned relative to the LED structure and accepts light from the LED. The coupling device includes a first dielectric interface surface that is substantially cylindrical with respect to the central axis, and a reflecting surface. The first dielectric interface surface accepts a first portion of light from the LED structure and directs it toward the reflecting surface. The reflecting surface accepts the light from the first dielectric interface surface and directs it toward the first dielectric interface surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis.
US08541794B2	Nitride semiconductor light-emitting devices A nitride semiconductor device including a light emitting device comprises a n-type region of one or more nitride semiconductor layers having n-type conductivity, a p-type region of one or more nitride semiconductor layers having p-type conductivity and an active layer between the n-type region and the p-type region. In such devices, there is provided with a super lattice layer comprising first layers and second layers which are nitride semiconductors having a different composition respectively. The super lattice structure makes working current and voltage of the device lowered, resulting in realization of more efficient devices.
US08541792B2	Method of treating the surface of a soda lime silica glass substrate, surface-treated glass substrate, and device incorporating the same Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to methods of treating the surface of a soda lime silica glass substrate, e.g., a soda lime silica alkali ion glass substrate, and the resulting surface-treated glass articles. More particularly, certain example embodiments of this invention relate to methods of removing a top surface portion of a glass substrate using ion sources. During or after removal of this portion, the glass may then be coated with another layer, to be used as a capping layer. In certain example embodiments, the glass substrate coated with a capping layer may be used as a color filter and/or TFT substrate in an electronic device. In other example embodiments, the glass substrate with the capping layer thereon may be used in a variety of display devices.
US08541788B2	LED with current confinement structure and surface roughening A light emitting diode having a vertical orientation with an ohmic contact on portions of a top surface of the diode and a reflective layer adjacent the light emitting region of the diode. This light emitting diode includes a confinement structure. The confinement structure may be an opening in the reflective layer generally beneath the top ohmic contact that defines a non-contact area between the reflective layer and the light emitting region of the diode to encourage current flow to take place other than at the non-contact area to in turn decrease the number of light emitting recombinations beneath the ohmic contact and increase the number of light emitting recombinations in the areas not beneath said ohmic contact. The LED may include roughened emitting surfaces to further enhance light extraction.
US08541787B2	High breakdown voltage wide band-gap MOS-gated bipolar junction transistors with avalanche capability High power wide band-gap MOSFET-gated bipolar junction transistors (“MGT”) are provided that include a first wide band-gap bipolar junction transistor (“BJT”) having a first collector, a first emitter and a first base, a wide band-gap MOSFET having a source region that is configured to provide a current to the base of the first wide band-gap BJT and a second wide band-gap BJT having a second collector that is electrically connected to the first collector, a second emitter that is electrically connected to the first emitter, and a second base that is electrically connected to the first base.
US08541781B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film including a pair of first regions, a pair of second regions, and a third region; a pair of electrodes in contact with the oxide semiconductor film; a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and a gate electrode provided between the pair of electrodes with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The pair of first regions overlap with the pair of electrodes, the third region overlaps with the gate electrode, and the pair of second regions are formed between the pair of first regions and the third region. The pair of second regions and the third region each contain nitrogen, phosphorus, or arsenic. The pair of second regions have a higher element concentration than the third region.
US08541780B2	Semiconductor device having oxide semiconductor layer It is an object to manufacture a highly reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor whose electric characteristics are stable. An insulating layer which covers an oxide semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor contains a boron element or an aluminum element. The insulating layer containing a boron element or an aluminum element is formed by a sputtering method using a silicon target or a silicon oxide target containing a boron element or an aluminum element. Alternatively, an insulating layer containing an antimony (Sb) element or a phosphorus (P) element instead of a boron element covers the oxide semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor.
US08541778B2	Diffraction grating, organic EL element using the same, and manufacturing methods thereof A diffraction grating having a transparent supporting substrate; and a cured resin layer which is stacked on the transparent supporting substrate and which has concavities and convexities formed on a surface thereof, wherein when a Fourier-transformed image is obtained by performing two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processing on a concavity and convexity analysis image obtained by analyzing a shape of the concavities and convexities formed on the surface of the cured resin layer by use of an atomic force microscope, the Fourier-transformed image shows a circular or annular pattern substantially centered at an origin at which an absolute value of wavenumber is 0 μm−1, and the circular or annular pattern is present within a region where an absolute value of wavenumber is within a range of 10 μm−1 or less.
US08541765B2	Resistance variable memory cell structures and methods Resistance variable memory cell structures and methods are described herein. One or more resistance variable memory cell structures include a first electrode common to a first and a second resistance variable memory cell, a first vertically oriented resistance variable material having an arcuate top surface in contact with a second electrode and a non-arcuate bottom surface in contact with the first electrode; and a second vertically oriented resistance variable material having an arcuate top surface in contact with a third electrode and a non-arcuate bottom surface in contact with the first electrode.
US08541757B1	Accelerator on a chip having a cold ion source An assembly includes a cold ion source and a chip. The cold ion source is fixed to the chip so that ions from the ion source can enter an acceleration channel in the chip. In one specific example, the ion source includes an ion exchange membrane that produces cold ions in that the ions as produced have an energy of less than 30 eV. The chip includes a substrate (such as a semiconductor substrate or a glass substrate) and a dielectric layer disposed on substrate, where the acceleration channel is a channel formed into the dielectric layer. In one specific example, the assembly is part of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system. The DWOW printing system is useful in semiconductor processing in that it can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute.
US08541750B2	X-ray detector and fabrication method thereof A structure of X-ray detector includes a Si-rich dielectric material for serving as a photo-sensing layer to increase light sensitivity. The fabrication method of the X-ray detector including the Si-rich dielectric material needs less photolithography-etching processes, so as to reduce the total thickness of thin film layers and decrease process steps and cost.
US08541748B2	System and method for performing nuclear mammography imaging A system and method for performing molecular imaging of an anatomy of interest is provided. The molecular imaging system includes a gantry, a first gamma camera coupled to the gantry, and a second gamma camera coupled to the gantry, the first and second cameras are positionable in an L-mode imaging configuration, the first and second gamma cameras are configured to immobilize an anatomy of interest there between in the L-mode configuration. The molecular imaging system is also configured to operate in an H-mode imaging configuration wherein the first and second gamma cameras are configured to immobilize an anatomy of interest there between in the H-mode configuration.
US08541744B1	Method and apparatus for wavelength locking free optical frequency comb based differential absorption Lidar Methods and systems for wavelength locking free OFC based DIAL are disclosed, including generating electromagnetic radiation from a mode-locked fiber laser; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to an acousto-optic modulator; coupling the electromagnetic radiation to a power amplifier; collimating and coupling the amplified electromagnetic radiation into a scanner; steering the collimated and amplified electromagnetic radiation onto a target; using a telescope to collect a portion of the backscattered electromagnetic radiation from the target; coupling the collected portion of the backscattered electromagnetic radiation into a DWDM; using a photon counting receiver coupled to the DWDM to measure a multiple OFC on-resonant band intensity and a multiple OFC off-resonant band intensity; and comparing the multiple OFC on-resonant band intensity with the multiple OFC off-resonant band intensity in order to determine one or more concentrations of one or more molecules within the target. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08541736B2	Photoelectric conversion module having dual circuit board and dual dust proofing member A photoelectric conversion module includes a housing including a first wall and a second wall parallel to each other, a first circuit board and a second circuit board arranged between the first wall and the second wall, a spacer disposed between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, a first dust proofing member for sealing a gap between the first wall and the first circuit board and a gap between the spacer and the first circuit board, and a second dust proofing member for sealing a gap between the second wall and the second circuit board and a gap between the spacer and the second circuit board. The first circuit board includes a first holding portion for holding the first dust proofing member. The second circuit board includes a second holding portion for holding the second dust proofing member.
US08541725B2	Sunlight-tracking apparatus of a wall installation type having an opening and closing hinge bar pivotally connected in a hinge fixing bar Disclosed is an apparatus for tracking and condensing sunlight of a wall installation type which tracks the position of the Sun and efficiently condenses sunlight according to variations of an altitude or orbit of the sun by installing a sunlight condensing device for adjusting an angle onto a wall. An apparatus for tracking and condensing sunlight of a wall installation type, comprises: a wall means 100; a sunlight condensing means 200 for condensing sunlight by forming onto a side surface of the wall means 100; and an opening and closing means 300 for adjusting condensing angle by opening or closing an end of the sunlight condensing means 200.
US08541723B2	Induction heat cooking device An induction heat cooking device is provided that finishes preheating in a short time and maintains the temperature obtained at the finish of the preheating. The induction heat cooking device includes a heating coil for heating a cooking container by induction, an inverter circuit for providing a high frequency current to the heating coil, an operation unit including an operation mode setting unit for setting an operation mode of the inverter circuit, an infrared sensor for detecting an infrared light that is emitted from a bottom surface of the cooking container, a control unit for controlling an output of the inverter circuit based on an output of the infrared sensor and a setting inputted to the operation unit, and a notification unit.
US08541713B1	Subsurface glass reticles An optical instrument for light incoming along a principal optical axis includes a glass block and a subsurface object within the glass block. The subsurface object includes an arrangement of object marks. Each object mark includes a plurality of scattering layers stacked against the principal optical axis of the incoming light. First and second scattering layers of the plurality of scattering layers have different polarization responses.
US08541710B2	Method and apparatus for automatic gas control for a plasma arc torch A method and apparatus for controlling a gas supply to a plasma arc torch uses a proportional control solenoid valve positioned adjacent the torch to manipulate the gas flow to the torch, thereby extending electrode life during arc transfer and shutdown. Swirl ring design can be simplified and gas supply and distribution systems become less complicated. The invention also allows manipulation of shield gas flow to reduce divot formation when making interior cuts. The system can be controlled with a digital signal processor utilizing a feedback loop from a sensor.
US08541709B2	Method for electrostatically separating a granule mixture made of different materials, and device for implementing same A method and a device for electrostatically separating polyvalent granular insulating materials that have good properties, are energy efficient, and easily adapt to ambient atmospheric conditions and to physiochemical properties of the granules to be separated. The method includes: a) injecting a current of air between two electrodes in a separation chamber defined by walls and having an air inlet and outlet; b) placing the granule mixture, made of different materials, into the air current; c) controlling the air current so that the granules levitate in the air current in a turbulent mode and become electrically charged by contact therebetween and/or by contact with the walls of the separation chamber; d) generating an electric field between two electrodes, substantially perpendicular to the direction of the air current, such that the charged granules in c) move, either in the direction of the electric field if the granules are positively charged or in the opposite direction if the charge thereof is negative; e) adhering the charged granules to the surface of the electrodes; and f) discharging and collecting the granules adhering to each electrode.
US08541706B2	Electrical switch An electrical switch having a housing, with a contact system being located in the interior of the housing. A movable operating member, in particular in the form of a rocker, is arranged on the housing for switching action on the contact system. An opening is located in the housing, for the switching action of the operating member. An elastic seal for the opening is attached to the housing. The operating member comprises a moving inner part, which is located in the interior of the housing, in particular an inner rocker which can pivot, and a moving outer part, which is located on the exterior of the housing, in particular an outer rocker which can pivot. The seal completely covers the opening. The outer part moves the inner part, via the elastically moving seal, for switching action on the contact system.
US08541698B2	Base plate with sealing blocks The invention relates to a base plate (2) in a cable distribution cabinet. The base plate (2) is divided into two. The rear half (2a) can be folded down and the other half (2b) can also be inserted from the direction of the lower base chamber (3). The base plate (2) is sealed from the cables (15) with the help of sealing blocks (5) of a closed-cell foam and not by means of rubber grommets. The sealing blocks (5) have a height of several centimeters and, with that, a high sealing length. Any shifting of the sealing blocks (5) is prevented by threading them on guide rods (14).
US08541695B2	Wiring board and method for manufacturing the same A wiring board includes a substrate having first and second surfaces, a first penetrating hole penetrating through the substrate, a first through-hole conductor formed on the inner wall of the first hole, a filler filled inside the first conductor and forming a second penetrating hole, and a second through-hole conductor formed in the second hole, a first conductive circuit on the first surface of the substrate, a second conductive circuit on the second surface of the substrate, a first conductive portion on one end of the second hole, and a second conductive portion on the opposite end of the second penetrating hole. The first conductor is connecting the first circuit and the second circuit. The second conductor is made of a conductive material filled in the second hole and is connecting the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion.
US08541692B2	Printed wiring board There is provided a printed wiring board, including: plural first conductive patterns arranged adjacently in a first direction and separated by first gaps; plural conductive pattern rows comprising the plural first conductive patterns, adjacent conductive pattern rows being offset from each other in the first direction by a second gap; a conductive pattern group comprising the plural conductive pattern rows arranged adjacently in a second direction that intersects the first direction and separated by third gaps; plural second conductive patterns that are smaller than the first conductive patterns and that connect, in the first direction, each of the plural first conductive patterns to first conductive patterns adjacent thereto in the first direction; and plural third conductive patterns that are smaller than the first conductive patterns, and that connect, in the second direction, each of the plural first conductive patterns to first conductive patterns adjacent thereto in the second direction.
US08541691B2	Heat resistant substrate incorporated circuit wiring board A circuit wiring board including a wiring substrate, multiple electronic components provided on a surface of the wiring substrate, and a heat resistant substrate accommodated in the wiring substrate and having a core substrate and a built-up wiring layer formed over the core substrate. The built-up wiring layer includes a conductive layer and an interlayer resin insulating layer, and the electronic components are electrically connected to the conductive layer of the built-up wiring layer.
US08541687B2	Coreless layer buildup structure A substrate for use in a PCB or PWB board having a coreless buildup layer and at least one metal and at least one dielectric layer. The coreless buildup dielectric layers can consist of at least partially cured thermoset resin and thermoplastic resin.
US08541677B2	Music machine This application describes a method and an apparatus which enable one to compose music using hierarchical musical scales and harmonic sequences, where each harmonic sequence of a higher level is derived from the one on the lower level. Frequencies associated with harmonic sequence on each level above the first one are obtained as multiples of the corresponding frequencies on a lower level. The sets of multipliers used to scale the frequencies between the levels is restricted to respective groups of rational numbers, or musical scales, where each level in a hierarchy of harmonic sequences can be related to its own scale, or a single scale can be used for all levels. When composing for an orchestra of multiple instruments, harmonic sequences and musical scales can be assigned independently to each musical instrument.
US08541672B2	Pedal apparatus of electronic musical instrument A lever is supported by a lever supporting portion. The lever is urged by a first spring and a second spring. The urging force of the first spring varies over the entire operational range of the lever. The second spring and a third spring are provided serially through a movable supporting member. The displacement of the movable supporting member is restricted by a fixed supporting member. If the urging force of the second spring exceeds the urging force of the third spring, the restriction on the displacement of the movable supporting member is removed. Therefore, the present configuration provides a player with feeling similar to that the player perceives when he manipulates a damper pedal of an acoustic piano.
US08541652B2	Mutants of PHA synthase from Pseudomonas sp. 6-19 and method for preparing lactate homopolymer or copolymer using the same The present invention relates to polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase (PHA synthase) mutant originated from Pseudomonas sp. 6-19 (KCTC 11027BP) which can prepare lactate polymer and/or copolymer by using lactyl-CoA as a substrate. The present invention relates to a method for preparing lactate polymer and/or copolymer with the synthase mutant. The polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase mutants of the present invention originated from Pseudomonas sp. 6-19 can efficiently prepare lactate polymer and/or copolymer by using as a substrate lactyl-CoA which is difficult to be used as a substrate by conventional polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase.
US08541651B2	Cellobiohydrolase variants and polynucleotides encoding same The present invention relates to variants of a parent cellobiohydrolase II. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.
US08541649B2	Brassinosteroid regulated kinases (BRKs) that mediate brassinosteroid signal transduction and uses thereof The present invention identifies a novel family of kinases regulated by brassinosteroids, referred to as BRKs (brassinosteroid regulated kinases) or BSKs (brassinosteroid signaling kinases). The present invention provides methods for modulating the response of a plant cell to a brassinosteroid using BRKs.
US08541647B2	Papaver somniferum with high concentration of codeine The present invention is directed to an improved poppy straw, concentrate of poppy straw and opium of Papaver somniferum for the production of codeine containing little or no oripavine, morphine or thebaine. The present invention also provides plants, stands and seeds of Papaver somniferum and methods for the production of codeine.
US08541641B2	Aid for prevention of wound dehiscence A dehiscence preventive member is adapted to cover up a wound and surrounding tissues. A plurality of holding members are adapted to hold the dehiscence preventive member closely upon the wound and the surrounding tissues, and a contraction preventive member keeping the dehiscence preventive member suitably expanded in a dehiscence direction and of preventing the expanded dehiscence preventive member from contracting. The contraction distance of the dehiscence preventive member in the dehiscence direction is equal to or greater than a contraction distance of the holding member in the dehiscence direction. The dehiscence preventive is closely applied to the wound and surrounding tissues after expansion in the dehiscence direction such that the contraction distance of the dehiscence preventive member in the dehiscence direction is equal to or greater than the contraction distance of the dehiscence preventive member in a direction normal to the dehiscence direction.
US08541640B2	Process for the destruction of toxic residues via oxidation in presence of water and oxygen and continuous mobile unit to treat hazardous compounds Process for the destruction of toxic residues via oxidation in the presence of water and oxygen developed in homogenous phase at temperatures over 374° C. and pressure of at least 220 atmospheres and a continuous mobile unit easily transferred to treat effluents or contaminated media. This mobile unit is composed of a reactor, which includes pressurization, reaction, cooling, depressurization and sampling zones for the destruction of toxic residues like polychloride biphenyls (PCBs), pyridines, and other hazardous compounds.
US08541627B2	Hydroformylation process including catalyst recycle An improved hydroformylation catalyst cycle is disclosed wherein the cobalt catalyst is recycled to the hydroformylation reaction mainly as a water soluble carbonyl salt, obtained from extraction of the acidic form of the homogeneous cobalt carbonyl catalyst from the hydroformylation product with an aqueous solution of a salt of a weaker acid. The organic product after extraction is submitted to a further demetalling step in the presence of a dilute acid and an oxidant. The water from this further demetalling step is suitable for use in the upstream extraction step. A free water phase present in the hydroformylation reaction product may be separated upstream from the extraction step and is suitable for use in the further demetalling step, such that the catalyst cycle has no waste water stream.
US08541612B2	Unsaturated diphosphine monoxides The present invention relates to unsaturated diphosphine monoxides, to a process for preparation thereof and to the use thereof as flame retardants.
US08541609B2	Exemestane and its intermediates and methods of making the same A method is provided for preparing an aromatase inhibitor of formula (I) wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, independently, is hydrogen, halogen or C1-C6 alkyl. In one form, the aromatase inhibitor is exemestane wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4 is hydrogen. In the method, a compound of formula (II) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 are as defined above and R is alkylene, is reacted with a deprotonating agent and a compound of the formula R5SO2X wherein R5 is C1-C5 alkyl and X is halogen so as to obtain a compound of formula (III) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 are as defined above. The compound of Formula (III) is then reacted with a base to form an aromatase inhibitor of formula (I).
US08541607B2	Disulfide, sulfide, sulfoxide, and sulfone derivatives of cyclic sugars and uses thereof In the present invention there are disclosed new derivatives of dianhydrohexite mononitrate corresponding to formula (I), tautomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs and solvates thereof: as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and uses thereof.
US08541595B2	Imidazoisoindole neuropeptide S receptor antagonists The present invention is directed to imidazoisoindole compounds which are antagonists of neuropeptide S receptors, and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which the neuropeptide S receptor is involved. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which the neuropeptide S receptor is involved.
US08541593B2	Process for making substituted 2-amino-thiazolones The present invention relates to methods of making compounds that inhibit 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme (11-HSD1). One method comprises (a) contacting a compound of formula (II) sequentially with a chiral base in the presence of an amine, and an alkylating agent R3-LG, (b) contacting the product of (a) with an acid to form a salt, and (c) reacting the salt with a base to form the compound of formula (I), wherein Z, R1, R2, and R3 are defined herein.
US08541588B2	Sulfonamide derivatives The present invention relates to compounds of the formula and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or tautomers thereof, to processes for the preparation of, intermediates used in the preparation of, and compositions containing such compounds, and the uses of such compounds, in particular for the treatment of pain.
US08541582B2	Phenyl bicyclic methyl amine derivatives as sphingosine-1 phosphate receptors modulators The present invention relates to novel phenyl bicyclic methyl amine derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08541555B2	Hydrazone-based and oxime-based fluorescent and chromophoric/pro-fluorescent and pro-chromophoric reagents and linkers Conjugationally extended hydrazine compositions of the formula (RR2)N(H)n(NH2)n, fluorescent hydrazone compositions of the formula (RR2)NN═C(R1R2), methods of the formation of hydrazones from the reaction of conjugationally extended hydrazines with conjugationally extended carbonyls and methods of their use in assays systems are described. Use of these conjugationally extended hydrazine and oxime compositions for direct calorimetric and fluorometric assays wherein a chromophore or the fluorophore is incorporated into the linker that is positioned between a reactive linking moiety and a biotin molecule. More specifically the linker comprises one molecule of a high affinity binding pair such as for example biotin of the biotin/avidin high affinity binding pair, connected to a spacer molecule such as for example a length of polyethyleneglycol followed by a pro-chromophoric, chromophoric, pro-fluorescent or fluorescent moiety connected to an amino-, thiol- or carbohydrate-reactive moiety such as for example succinimidyl, maleimido or aminoxy group respectively, that may covalently link to a biomolecule.
US08541551B2	Immunogen and antivenom against violin spider venom The invention relates to the isolation, characterization and expression of DNA fragments encoding sphingomyelinases D from three species of Loxosceles genus spiders, namely L. boneti., L. reclusa and L. laeta, and the toxoids thereof. The invention also relates to the production of active sphingomyelinases D and the toxoids thereof using recombinant means and to the use of same as an immunogen for the production in vertebrates of antibodies that neutralize the corresponding venom and the respective fragments F(ab′)2. The invention further relates to the use of recombinant sphingomyelinases D as part of an antigen matrix which can be used in the immunopurification of antibodies and the fragments thereof or as part of any diagnostic device used to obtain clinical confirmation that the causal agent of poisoning in a patient is a spider of the Loxosceles genus. In addition, the invention includes molecular vectors for the expression of the DNA fragments, strains comprising same, which can express Loxosceles sphingomyelinases D, and methods for the express thereof.
US08541544B2	Molecular marker for cancer stem cell A molecular marker for detecting a cancer stem cell in a cell mass which is a subject of interest, wherein the molecular marker can be detected in a cancer stem cell contained in the subject of interest but cannot be detected in a normal cell and a cancer cell that is different from a cancer stem cell; a method for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell in a subject of interest by using the molecular marker as an measure; a kit for determining the presence or absence of a cancer stem cell, which comprises at least a reagent for detecting the molecular marker; a polypeptide encoded by the molecular marker; an antibody capable of recognizing an epitope of an expression product of a gene derived from the molecular marker; a nucleic acid capable of inhibiting the expression of the molecular marker; and a nucleic acid vaccine comprising a gene derived from the molecular marker.
US08541536B2	Coupling method for providing high molecular weight natural oil polyol Methods of coupling plant oil based polyols so as to synthesis high molecular weight plant oil polyols having a hydroxyl number between from about 40 to about 60. The resultant polyols may be directly reacted with polyisocyanates to produce polyurethanes.
US08541535B2	Thermoplastic polyurethane containing silane groups The invention relates to a thermoplastic polyurethane comprising the following structural unit: R2—CO—NH—R—Si(R1)3-x(OR1)x where: R is an aliphatic, araliphatic, or aromatic organic radical having from 1 to 20 hydrocarbon atoms, R1 is an alkyl radical or aryl radical having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R2 is —NR3—CO—R4 or —O—R5—O—, R3 is a section of the polymer chain of the thermoplastic polyurethane, in particular a radical which derives from the diisocyanate used to prepare the thermoplastic polyurethane, R4 is a section of the polymer chain of the thermoplastic polyurethane, in particular a radical which derives from the following compounds used to prepare the thermoplastic polyurethane: compounds (b) reactive toward isocyanates, or from the chain extender (c), R5 is an alkylene radical having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, preferably from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and x is 1, 2 or 3.
US08541520B1	Method of making high-density polyethylene with titania-iron nanofillers The method of making high-density polyethylene with titania-iron nanofillers involves mixing a TiO2/Fe titania-iron nanofiller with a vanadium (III) complex bearing salicylaldiminato ligands polymerization catalyst in a reactor. The reactor is then charged with toluene and heated to a temperature of about 30° C. Following heating, ethylene is fed into the reactor at a fixed pressure, and a methyl aluminum dichloride cocatalyst is added to initiate in situ polymerization. Polymerization is quenched to yield high-density polyethylene with titania-iron nanofillers, which is then washed and dried. Through the addition of a TiO2/Fe nanofiller, the molecular weight, the crystallinity and the melting temperature of high-density polyethylene are all increased, while the polydispersity index (PDI) is decreased.
US08541510B2	Thermosetting composition This invention relates to a thermosetting composition having an excellent thermosetting property, and more particularly to a thermosetting composition comprising (A) a diene-based polymer having two or more unsaturated bonds, (B) a polythiol derived from a mercaptocarboxylic acid, and (c) a thermally radical-generating agent.
US08541496B2	Energy absorbing composition and impact and sound absorbing applications thereof A substantially non-elastic incompressible composition, which substantially does not quickly self-level under standard operating conditions, includes: a suspending agent which reacts substantially as a solid when subjected to forces below a critical force, and which becomes substantially flowable when subjected to forces above said critical force; ceramic microparticulates dispersed within the suspending agent; flexible-walled microparticulates dispersed within the suspending agent; and celled macroparticulates dispersed within the suspending agent. The composition provides an incident energy absorbing property. The incident energy may include sound energy, and the microparticulates and macroparticulates may convert some of the sound energy into heat, or may diffract the sound energy.
US08541489B2	Flame resistant semiaromatic polyamide resin composition including zinc stannate, and articles therefrom Disclosed are polyamide compositions containing non-halogenated flame retardant and zinc stannate that have reduced corrosion effects on melt processing equipment.
US08541486B2	Coating compositions exhibiting corrosion resistance properties, related coated substrates, and methods Coating compositions are disclosed that include corrosion resisting particles such that the coating composition can exhibit corrosion resistance properties. Also disclosed are substrates at least partially coated with a coating deposited from such a composition and multi-component composite coatings, wherein at least one coating later is deposited from such a coating composition. Methods and apparatus for making ultrafine solid particles are also disclosed.
US08541484B2	PVA-PAA hydrogels The invention provides fabricated PVA-hydrogels, PVA-hydrogel-containing compositions, and methods of making the same. The invention also provides methods of implanting or administering the PVA-hydrogels, or the PVA-hydrogel-containing compositions to treat a subject in need. Methods of cross-linking pre-solidified or pre-gelled hydrogel particles and making cross-linked PVA-hydrogels, and cross-linked PVA-hydrogel-containing compositions also are disclosed herein.
US08541479B2	Low resilience flexible polyurethane foam and process for its production To provide a flexible polyurethane foam which is excellent in low resiliency and durability without using a plasticizer and which shows little change in hardness against a change in temperature and at the same time, has high air permeability. A process for producing a flexible polyurethane foam, which comprises reacting a polyol mixture comprising polyol (A), polyol (B) and monool (D) with a polyisocyanate compound in the presence of a blowing agent etc. at an isocyanate index of at least 90. Polyol (A) is a polyether polyol having an average of 2-3 hydroxyl groups and a hydroxyl value of from 10 to 90 mgKOH/g, obtained by ring-opening addition polymerization of an alkylene oxide to an initiator using a double metal cyanide complex catalyst; Polyol (B) is a polyether polyol having an average of 2-3 hydroxyl groups and a hydroxyl value of from 15 to 250 mgKOH/g, other than the polyol (A); and Monool (D) is a polyether monool having a hydroxyl value of from 10 to 200 mgKOH/g.
US08541477B2	Methods of depolymerizing terephthalate polyesters A method comprises forming a reaction mixture comprising a terephthalate polyester, a glycol comprising 2 to 5 carbons, and an amidine organocatalyst; and heating the reaction mixture at a temperature of about 120° C. or more to depolymerize the terephthalate polyester, thereby forming a terephthalate reaction product comprising a monomeric dihydroxy terephthalate diester; wherein the terephthalate reaction product contains terephthalate oligomers in an amount less than the amount of terephthalate oligomers that would result from i) substituting the amidine organocatalyst with an equimolar amount of a guanidine catalyst and ii) depolymerizing the terephthalate polyester under otherwise identical reaction conditions.
US08541475B2	MAO-B inhibitors useful for treating obesity The invention provides novel compounds of formulae I and II: that are monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors, which can be useful in treating obesity, diabetes, and/or cardiometabolic disorders (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemias, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance).
US08541469B2	Treatment of cell-mediated immune diseases 9-cis retinoic acid and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable hydrolyzable esters thereof, 9-cis retinal and pharmaceutically acceptable acetals thereof, and 9-cis retinol and pharmaceutically acceptable hydrolyzable esters thereof as well as metabolites of 9-cis retinoic acid have been found to be efficacious in treating T-helper cell type 1 mediated immune diseases in well tolerated doses. Preferably, the active ingredient is formulated as a medicament for oral or topical administration.
US08541466B2	Compositions and methods for treating hair loss using non-naturally occurring prostaglandins A method for treating hair loss in mammals uses compositions containing prostaglandin F analogs. The compositions can be applied topically to the skin. The compositions can arrest hair loss, reverse hair loss, and promote hair growth.
US08541455B2	Derivatives of 2-pyridin-2-yl-pyrazol-3(2H)-one, preparation and therapeutic use thereof as HIF activators The present invention relates to novel substituted dihydropyrazolone derivatives, to their preparation and to their therapeutic use as activators of the transcription factor HIF.
US08541449B2	Substituted isoquinolines and isoquinolinones as Rho kinase inhibitors The invention relates to substituted isoquinoline and isoquinolinones of the formula (I) useful for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases associated with Rho-kinase and/or Rho-kinase mediated phosphorylation of myosin light chain phosphatase, and compositions containing such compounds.
US08541443B2	Crystal of diamine derivative and method of producing same An object of the present invention is to provide a novel crystal form of a compound that has an inhibitory effect on activated blood coagulation factor X and is useful as a pharmaceutical compound for prevention and/or treatment of thrombotic and/or embolic diseases. The present invention provides a novel crystal form of N1-(5-chloropyridin-2-yl)-N2-((1S,2R,4S)-4-[(dimethylamino)carbonyl]-2-{[(5-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-2-yl)carbonyl]amino}cyclohexyl)ethanediamide p-toluenesulfonate monohydrate, and method for producing the same.
US08541442B2	Indole derivatives as anticancer agents The present invention provides compounds of formula (I), their use for the treatment of cancer as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds of formula (I).
US08541439B2	Formable aquatic coverings for preventing biofouling The instant invention describes an anti-biofouling structure for placement onto structures or surfaces that are exposed to aquatic environments. Embedded within the anti-biofouling structure are agents that can diffuse out of the structure and prevent the formation and/or accumulation of plant and animal species build-up that creates biofouling. The instant invention also describes a system for preventing biofouling of an object stored in an aquatic environment which includes the anti-biofouling structure, and a protective cover element constructed and arranged to fit various structures, such as boat propellers.
US08541436B2	Morphinan compounds This disclosure relates to novel morphinan compounds and their derivatives, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and hydrates thereof. This disclosure also provides compositions comprising a compound of this disclosure and the use of such compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are beneficially treated by administering a σ1 receptor agonist that also has NMDA antagonist activity.
US08541432B2	Heterobicyclic carboxamides as inhibitors for kinases The invention relates to novel organic compounds of formula (I) and their use in the treatment of the animal or human body, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I and to the use of a compound of formula I for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for use in the treatment of protein kinase dependent diseases, especially of proliferative diseases, such as in the treatment of tumour diseases and ocular neovascular diseases.
US08541431B2	Pyrimidine non-classical cannabinoid compounds and related methods of use Disclosed are compounds of the formula I: wherein R1, R2, V, W, X, Y and Z can be as defined herein. The compounds can be used in the treatment of disorders mediated by the cannabinoid receptors.
US08541425B2	Heteroaryl substituted pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines and pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidines as Janus kinase inhibitors The present invention provides heteroaryl substituted pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines and heteroaryl substituted pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyrimidines that modulate the activity of Janus kinases and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to activity of Janus kinases including, for example, immune-related diseases, skin disorders, myeloid proliferative disorders, cancer, and other diseases.
US08541422B2	Methods for the treatment or prophylaxis of thrombosis or embolism The present invention relates to a method of ameliorating the drawbacks of anti-platelet drug named clopidogrel. The method of the present invention comprises administration of an (S)oxo-clopidogrel or its derivative of the Formula IIA in its free or pharmaceutically acceptable salt form for alleviating the symptoms of thrombosis or embolism by inhibiting blood platelet aggregation. Compositions for use in such methods are also provided.
US08541420B2	Ketolide compounds having antimicrobial activity The invention relates to ketolide compound of Formula-I and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof having antimicrobial activity. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds of invention and methods of treating or preventing microbial infections with the compound of invention.
US08541411B2	Benzimidazole derivatives as PI3 kinase inhibitors This invention relates to the use of benzimidazole derivatives for the modulation, notably the inhibition of the activity or function of the phosphoinositide 3′ OH kinase family (hereinafter PI3 kinases), suitably, PI3Kα, PI3Kδ, PI3Kβ, and/or PI3Kγ. Suitably, the present invention relates to the use of benzimidazoles in the treatment of one or more disease states selected from: autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, allergy, asthma, pancreatitis, multiorgan failure, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, sperm motility, transplantation rejection, graft rejection and lung injuries. More suitably, the present invention relates to PI3Kβ selective benzimidazoles compounds for treating cancer.
US08541407B2	Substituted benzo-pyrido-triazolo-diazepine compounds The present invention relates to substituted benzo-pyrido-triazolo-diazepine compounds and methods of synthesizing these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing substituted benzo-pyrido-triazolo-diazepine compounds and methods of treating cell proliferative disorders, such as cancer, by administering these compounds or pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US08541393B2	Antimicrobial locking solutions comprising taurinamide derivatives and biologically acceptable salts and acids, with the addition of small concentrations of heparin The present invention relates to inhibiting or preventing infection and protecting against patency complications after a blood catheter has been inserted in a patient comprising administering to the device a pharmaceutically effective amount of a composition comprising (A) at least one taurinamide derivative, (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of biologically acceptable acids and biologically acceptable salts thereof; and (C) heparin at a low concentration.
US08541392B2	Polymer controlled induced viscosity fiber system and uses thereof The present invention relates generally to a method of blunting the postprandial glycemic response in a human by feeding an induced viscosity fiber system. The invention also relates to an induced viscosity fiber system and the liquid products that incorporate the induced viscosity fiber system. Further, the invention relates to a method of incorporating soluble fiber into a liquid product without the typical negative organoleptic or physical stability issues. The invention also relates to a method of inducing the feeling of fullness and satiety by feeding the induced viscosity fiber system.
US08541386B2	Cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptor gene promoter and unique RNA transcripts in B cells and methods of use Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) is expressed in B lymphocytes and is involved in immune regulation. Mouse splenic B cells express three CB2 transcripts utilizing two different first exons. Human peripheral blood B cells express one CB2 transcript utilizing one first exon. Alignment of sequenced RACE products to either the mouse or human genome reveals that isolated transcripts contain previously unidentified transcriptional start sites (TSS). B cells from mouse and human preferentially express one transcript, exon 1a in mouse and exon 1 in human. Multiple CB2 TSSs are utilized in mouse splenic B cells and one TSS in human peripheral blood B cells. The defining of the receptor gene TSSs in these cells provides materials and methods for therapeutically regulating immune function, including antibody isotype switching, using compounds such as inhibitory nucleic acids that down-regulate expression of the B cell CB2 gene (e.g., RNAi molecules).
US08541385B2	Chemically modified oligonucleotides for use in modulation micro RNA and uses thereof This invention relates generally to chemically modified oligonuceotides useful for modulating expression of microRNAs and pre-microRNAs. More particularly, the invention relates to single stranded chemically modified oligonuceotides for inhibiting microRNA and pre-microRNA expression and to methods of making and using the modified oligonucleotides. Also included in the invention are compositions and methods for silencing microRNAs in the central nervous system.
US08541378B2	Recombinant albumins fused with poly-cysteine peptide and the methods for preparing the same The present invention relates to recombinant albumins fused with poly-cysteine peptide and methods for preparing the same, more precisely recombinant albumins in which cysteines that can be used for drug binding are amplified at N-terminal and C-terminal of the albumin and methods for preparing the same. The recombinant albumin of the present invention demonstrates improved albumin-drug conjugation efficiency when it is used for drug delivery system, indicating that it can effectively deliver a large amount of drug to a target tissue. At the same time, the recombinant albumin of the present invention can be used as an excellent drug deliverer with reduced side effects, compared with the conventional albumin carriers, by regulating the amount of drug conjugated to each unit of albumin by regulating the number of cysteine fused thereto. In addition, the recombinant albumin of the present invention can be used for the screening of a novel drug and for the non-invasive real-time diagnosis and treatment of disease by combining with a fluorescent material or a contrast agent for molecular imaging.
US08541377B2	Optimized dengue virus entry inhibitory peptide (DN81) The invention relates peptide entry inhibitors and methods of determining such inhibitors that are bindable to regions of viruses having class II E proteins, such as the dengue virus E protein, as candidates for in vivo anti-viral compounds.
US08541371B2	Treatment of conditions related to cecal ligation shock Techniques, methods and lavages are disclosed for prevention or treatment of shock, particularly cecal ligation or cecal inoculation shock, by administering a specific therapeutic agent, which is able to use smaller volumes of reagent to achieve partial to complete inhibition, than other previously described techniques. The agent includes a combination of enzyme inhibitor, cytotoxic lipid binding protein, and antibiotic.
US08541365B2	Dendrimeric compounds comprising amino acids, hyperbranched core compound, process for preparation of dendrimeric compounds comprising amino acids and hyperbranched core compound, and use thereof The invention provides dendrimeric compounds of the formula 1 comprising amino acids, wherein n is an integer of 1-4, T is an alkylidene —(CH2)2CONH(CH2)2- group, R2 is an —NH2 group or a moiety of a primary organic amine, and P is an amino acid and/or peptide moiety, wherein at least one hydrogen atom of at least one amino group is optionally replaced by a protective group, and a hyperbranched core compound of the formula 3, wherein T and R2 are as defined above. The invention provides also a process for the preparation of a dendrimeric compound and a hyperbranched core, wherein the process employs addition reactions of alkyl acrylate and a basic amino acid, and use of a hyperbranched core for the preparation of a dendrimeric compound comprising amino acids. The invention provides also use of dendrimeric compounds for the preparation of the medicament for inhibiting growth of bacterial cells, fungi and tumor cells.
US08541357B2	Cleaning compositions with amphoteric polycarboxylate polymers Cleaning compositions and laundry detergents comprising amphoteric polymers are disclosed. The amphoteric polymers may be comb polymers having polycarboxylate backbones and polyalkoxylate tentacles. In particular, the amphoteric polymer includes: a cationic group structure unit derived from a cationic group-containing monomer; and a carboxyl structure unit derived from a carboxyl group-containing monomer. The cationic group structure unit may be present at a level of 1% to 99% by mass based on 100% by mass of all structure units derived from all monomers in the amphoteric polymer. The carboxyl structure unit may be present at a level of 1% to 99% by mass based on 100% by mass of all the structure units derived from all the monomers in the amphoteric polymer. The cleaning compositions have high anti-soil redeposition ability and solubility with surfactants.
US08541356B2	Water-activated “green” multi-functional wipe Multi-functional wipes with desirable ecological profiles and improved performances are disclosed. The wipes may include a substrate and a cleaning composition, a disinfecting/sanitizing composition, and an optional fragrance composition releasably associated with the substrate. The compositions may be separated from one another and may be impregnated in or coated on distinct sections of the substrate. Unlike “wet” wipes preloaded with a dilute cleaning liquid, the disclosed wipes may be substantially dry and water-activated just prior to its application on a target surface.
US08541355B2	Process to produce stable suspending system A process that degasses a structured surfactant composition that comprises at least one surfactant, water, and at least one suspending agent chosen from polysaccharides, gums, and celluloses. By degassing the composition, the suspending agent can form a structured system. Gas, such as air bubbles, disrupts the formation of the structuring system, which reduces the ability of the composition to suspend materials.
US08541348B2	Stabilization of emulsions containing resinous material for use in the field of oil or gas well treatments Emulsions for use in a well including: (a) a water-insoluble resinous material; (b) water; and (c) an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier comprises a non-ionic, a cationic, or a zwitterionic emulsifier; wherein the continuous phase of the emulsion comprises the water; wherein a dispersed phase of the emulsion comprises the resinous material; wherein the dispersed phase is in the form of droplets having a size distribution range such that at least 50% of the droplets have a size of 0.5 micrometers-500 micrometers; wherein the resinous material of the droplets is in a concentration of at least 5% by weight of the water; and wherein the composition of the droplets has a viscosity of less than 2,000 Poise measured at 20° F. Methods include the steps of: (a) forming an emulsion described above; and (b) introducing the emulsion into a portion of a subterranean formation.
US08541346B2	Methods of degrading subterranean filter cakes The present invention relates to bridging agents for use in subterranean formations, to well drill-in and servicing fluids comprising such bridging agents, and to methods of using such bridging agents and well drill-in and servicing fluids in subterranean drilling operations. An example of a well drill-in and servicing fluid of the present invention comprises a viscosified fluid, a fluid loss control additive, and a bridging agent comprising a degradable material.
US08541333B2	Catalyst component for olefin polymerization and a catalyst comprising the same A catalyst component for olefin polymerization comprising an α-cyanosuccinate compound as an internal electron donor, a catalyst comprising the catalyst component, and use of the catalyst in olefin polymerization. When used in propylene polymerization, the catalyst can exhibit good catalytic activity and good hydrogen response, and the resulting polymer can have a good isotacticity and a good molecular weight distribution.
US08541316B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device including sequentially forming first and second mask material layers and forming a dotted photoresist pattern on the second mask material layer In a method of forming a dense contact-hole pattern in a semiconductor device, the method uses a self-align double patterning technique including forming a square or triangular lattice dot pattern on double layers of mask materials, forming first holes in the upper mask material and second holes wider than the first holes in the lower mask material by double patterning, additionally forming an insulating layer to a thickness such that the first holes are closed such that voids are left in the second holes, and transferring the shape of the voids to a base layer.
US08541313B2	Method for etching a sacrificial layer for a micro-machined structure A method of etching a sacrificial layer for a micro-machined structure, the sacrificial layer positioned between a layer of a first material and a layer of a second material, the etching being carried out by an etching agent. The method includes: providing at least one species having an affinity for the etching agent greater than that of the layers of first material and second material and less than or equal to that of the sacrificial layer; and then etching the sacrificial layer by the etching agent, the etching being carried out to eliminate at least partially the sacrificial layer and then to eliminate at least partially the species.
US08541311B2	Integrated circuit fabrication methods utilizing embedded hardmask layers for high resolution patterning Embodiments of a method for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of depositing a dielectric layer over a semiconductor device, forming a plurality of trimmed hardmask structures at predetermined locations over the dielectric layer, embedding the plurality of trimmed hardmask structures in a surrounding hardmask layer, removing the plurality of trimmed hardmask structures to create a plurality of openings through the surrounding hardmask layer, and etching the dielectric layer through the plurality of openings to form a plurality of etch features therein.
US08541296B2	Method of manufacturing dummy gates in gate last process The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a dummy gate in a gate last process, which comprises the steps of forming a dummy gate material layer and a hard mask material layer sequentially on a substrate; etching the hard mask material layer to form a top-wide-bottom-narrow hard mask pattern; dry etching the dummy gate material layer using the hard mask pattern as a mask to form a top-wide-bottom-narrow dummy gate. According to the dummy gate manufacturing method of the present invention, instead of vertical dummy gates used conventionally, top-wide-bottom-narrow trapezoidal dummy gates are formed, and after removing the dummy gates, trapezoidal trenches can be formed. It facilitates the subsequent filling of the high-k or metal gate material and enlarges the window for the filling process; as a result, the device reliability will be improved.
US08541291B2	Thermo-compression bonded electrical interconnect structure and method An electrical structure and method for forming electrical interconnects. The method includes positioning a sacrificial carrier substrate such that a first surface of a non-solder metallic core structure within the sacrificial carrier substrate is in contact with a first electrically conductive pad. The first surface is thermo-compression bonded to the first electrically conductive pad. The sacrificial carrier substrate is removed from the non-solder metallic core structure. A solder structure is formed on a second electrically conductive pad. The first substrate comprising the non-solder metallic core structure is positioned such that a second surface of the non-solder metallic core structure is in contact with the solder structure. The solder structure is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the solder structure to melt and form an electrical and mechanical connection between the second surface of the non-solder metallic core structure and the second electrically conductive pad.
US08541286B2	Methods for fabricating integrated circuits Methods are provided for forming semiconductor devices. One method includes forming a first layer overlying a bulk semiconductor substrate. A second layer is formed overlying the first layer. A first plurality of trenches is etched into the first and second layers. The first plurality of trenches is filled to form a plurality of support structures. A second plurality of trenches is etched into the first and second layers. Portions of the second layer disposed between adjacent trenches of the first and second pluralities of trenches define a plurality of fins. The first layer is etched to form gap spaces between the bulk semiconductor substrate and the plurality of fins. The plurality of fins is supported in position adjacent to the gap spaces by the plurality of support structures. The gap spaces are filled with an insulating material.
US08541280B2	Semiconductor structure and method for manufacturing the same The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure, comprising the steps of: depositing an interlayer dielectric layer (105) on a semiconductor substrate (101) to cover a source/drain region (102) and a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate (101); etching the interlayer dielectric layer and the source/drain region, so as to form a contact hole (110) extending into the source/drain region; conformally forming an amorphous layer (111) on an exposed part of the source/drain region; forming a metal silicide layer (113) on a surface of the amorphous layer (111); and filling the contact hole (110) with a contact metal (114). Correspondingly, the present invention further provides a semiconductor structure. The present invention etches the source/drain region so that the exposed part comprises the bottom and a sidewall, thereby expanding the contact area between the contact metal in the contact hole and the source/drain region, and reducing the contact resistance. The present invention effectively eliminates EOR defects caused by the amorphous ion implantation by forming an amorphous substance by a selective deposition.
US08541273B2	Dielectric stack A method of forming a device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate and forming a device layer on the substrate having a formed thickness TFD. A capping layer is formed on the substrate having a formed thickness TFC. Forming the capping layer consumes a desired amount of the device layer to cause the thickness of the device layer to be about the target thickness TTD. The thickness of the capping layer is adjusted from TFC to about a target thickness TTC.
US08541262B2	Die edge contacts for semiconductor devices A semiconductor device utilizing die edge contacts is provided. An integrated circuit die has a post-passivation layer with a trench filled with a conductive material extending from a contact to a die edge, thereby forming a die edge contact. Optionally, a through substrate via may be positioned along the die edge such that the conductive material in the trench is electrically coupled to the through-substrate via, thereby forming a larger die edge contact. The integrated circuit die may be placed in a multi-die package wherein the multi-die package includes walls having a major surface perpendicular to a major surface of the integrated circuit die. The die edge contacts are electrically coupled to contacts on the walls of the multi-die package. The multi-die package may include edge contacts for connecting to another substrate, such as a printed circuit board, a packaging substrate, a high-density interconnect, or the like.
US08541257B2	Aligned polymers for an organic TFT A method for forming an electronic device having a semiconducting active layer comprising a polymer, the method comprising aligning the chains of the polymer parallel to each other by bringing the polymer into a liquid-crystalline phase.
US08541246B2	Sample plate systems and methods A sample plate comprising a sample well is disclosed. The sample well can comprise one or more bead retaining chambers. Also provided herein is a method of using the sample plate and kits comprising the sample plate.
US08541241B2	Fluid-specimen collecting and testing device and method for recording chromatographic assay test results A fluid specimen testing device having a removable lid which carries at least one testing strip behind a transparent top viewing window. Testing is initiated by tilting the device into a stable sideways orientation to allow the specimen to contact the sampling pad portion of the strip. The device is adapted to provide stability in the upright, tilted and inverted orientations. A roll-inhibiting feature also acts as an indicator for proper roll positioning in the tilted configuration. The strips are also oriented in the lid so that they are substantially vertical when the device is in the tilted position thereby enhancing a condition for proper capillarity. The strip is carried close to the upper surface which allows it to be copied on a flat glass copier providing for more objective recordation of the test results.
US08541233B2	Methods for collecting and processing autografts, processed autografts, kits for collecting and transporting autografts, and tools for preparing autografts The present invention is directed to methods for collecting and processing autografts, processed autografts, kits for collecting and transporting autografts, and tools for preparing autografts. It is also directed to autologous bone grafts, and methods of preparing them.
US08541225B2	System and method for using a pulse flow circulation for algae cultivation A system and method for using a pulse flow to circulate algae in an algae cultivation apparatus are provided. In order to counteract the negative effects of biofouling on algae cultivation equipment, a pulse flow is created to periodically move through an algae cultivation apparatus. The pulse flow will dislodge algae cells adhering to various surfaces of the apparatus, and it will also create turbulence to stir up any algae cells which may have settled onto the bottom of the apparatus. To produce an increased fluid flow rate required to create an effective pulse flow, a sump, which is periodically filled with drawn algal culture from the apparatus, is located at an elevated position above the apparatus. When released, the algal culture travels through a transfer pipe and into the apparatus with gravity causing the algal culture to flow at a very high rate.
US08541210B2	Producing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from biodiesel-derived crude glycerol Pythium, when cultured with crude glycerol as a carbon source, produces useful polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The crude glycerol is pretreated to remove soaps and methanol. An exemplary Pythium species for use in the production of EPA is Pythium irregulare.
US08541203B2	Activatable binding polypeptides and methods of identification and use thereof Activatable binding polypeptides (ABPs), which contain a target binding moiety (TBM), a masking moiety (MM), and a cleavable moiety (CM) are provided. Activatable antibody compositions, which contain a TBM containing an antigen binding domain (ABD), a MM and a CM are provided. Furthermore, ABPs which contain a first TBM, a second TBM and a CM are provided. The ABPs exhibit an “activatable” conformation such that at least one of the TBMs is less accessible to target when uncleaved than after cleavage of the CM in the presence of a cleaving agent capable of cleaving the CM. Further provided are libraries of candidate ABPs, methods of screening to identify such ABPs, and methods of use. Further provided are ABPs having TBMs that bind VEGF, CTLA-4, or VCAM, ABPs having a first TBM that binds VEGF and a second TBM that binds FGF, as well as compositions and methods of use.
US08541201B2	Thrombopoietic compounds The invention relates to the field of compounds, especially peptides or polypeptides, that have thrombopoietic activity. The peptides and polypeptides of the invention may be used to increase platelets or platelet precursors (e.g., megakaryocytes) in a mammal.
US08541189B2	Method for measuring the plasmine activity of microparticles present in a sample of blood or a blood component The invention relates to a method for measuring the plasmine activity of microparticles, in particular circulating microparticles, in a sample of a biological fluid, particularly a biological fluid in a flow situation, wherein said method can be used as a diagnosis method or a method for following a treatment.
US08541185B2	Method of predicting responsiveness to autologous adoptive cell transfer therapy A method of determining responsiveness to cancer treatment is disclosed. The method comprises analyzing a frequency of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) having a CD8+CD28−CD152− signature in a sample of the subject, wherein a frequency of TILs having the CD8+CD28−CD152− signature above a predetermined level is indicative of a positive responsiveness to cancer treatment. Other signatures reflecting responsiveness to cancer treatment are also disclosed. In addition, methods of treating cancer based on these signatures are also disclosed.
US08541182B2	Biological marker for inflammation Inflammatory state in a subject is assayed by determining the level of expression of A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) in white blood cells (WBC), e.g. circulating WBCs, from the subject. A high level of expression of A3AR is indicative of an inflammatory state in the subject. This assay can be used for determining the severity of inflammation in a subject and monitoring the efficacy of anti-inflammatory treatment. Also, the level of expression may be used for selecting patients to receive an anti-inflammatory treatment that comprises an A3AR agonist.
US08541180B1	Compositions and methods for assessing gastrointestinal health The present invention relates to kits designed for the collection of stool samples and methods of analyzing those samples for biological markers of maldigestion, inflammation, and imbalanced gut flora.
US08541178B2	Analysis of antibody drug conjugates by bead-based affinity capture and mass spectrometry Methods to detect, characterize, and quantitate biological samples after administration of antibody conjugates, antibody-drug conjugates of Formula I, antibodies, and fragments and metabolites thereof, by immunoaffinity bead separation, chromatography, and mass spectrometry are disclosed; Ab-(L-D)p I wherein Ab is an antibody; D is a drug moiety; L is a linker covalently attached to Ab, and covalently attached to D; and p is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.
US08541171B2	Assay for detection of human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid Nucleic acid oligomers specific for human parvovirus B19 genomic DNA are disclosed. An assay for amplifying and detecting human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid in biological specimens is disclosed. Compositions for detecting the presence of parvovirus B19 genomic DNA in human biological specimens are disclosed.
US08541165B2	Resin film forming method A resin film forming method for forming a resin film on a substrate includes forming an intermediate layer on the substrate which includes an inorganic composition as a main component to chemically bond the resin film to be formed on the substrate to the substrate, carrying out a treatment on the substrate to remove an edge of the intermediate layer from an edge of the substrate, forming the resin film on the substrate by spin coating, chemically bonding the resin film to the substrate and hardening the resin film, and removing an edge of the resin film from the edge of the substrate by applying vibrations to the hardened resin film.
US08541162B2	High resolution, solvent resistant, thin elastomeric printing plates The present invention relates to a printing element comprising at least one polymer layer on a substrate which has photoimagable constituents and a chemically functionalized polymer to make the polymer layer either more hydrophobic or hydrophilic. In one embodiment of the present invention, the printing element comprises two adjacent polymer layers on a substrate in which the photoimaged layer comprises a polymer chemically modified with hydrophobic fluoroalkyl side groups to provide differential wetting with hydrophilic inks.
US08541161B2	Actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, resist film using the same and pattern forming method Provided are an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition; a resist film using the composition; and a pattern forming method. The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (A) a resin capable of increasing the solubility in an alkali developer by the action of an acid, the resin containing a repeating unit represented by formula (I), a repeating unit represented by formula (II) and a repeating unit represented by formula (III), and (B) a compound capable of generating a fluorine atom-containing acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation: wherein each of R1 and R11 independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may have a substituent, and R12 represents a phenyl group which may have a substituent.
US08541154B2	Toner containing fluorescent nanoparticles A method for making toners to include at least one nanoscale fluorescent pigment particle composition and/or a fluorescent organic nanoparticle composition. The particles are incorporated into emulsion of toner and used in making toner via emulsion aggregation. Such toners may have a core and/or a shell and the clay composites may be included within the core, the shell or both. The fluorescent organic nanoparticle composition includes a polymeric matrix obtained by modified EA latex process and/or emulsion polymerization and one or more fluorescent dyes and the nanoscale fluorescent pigment particle composition includes pigment molecules with at least one functional moiety, and a sterically bulky stabilizer compound including at least one functional group, the functional moiety of the pigment associates non-covalently with the functional group of the stabilizer, and the presence of the associated stabilizer limits the extent of particle growth and aggregation, to afford nanoscale-sized pigment particles.
US08541152B2	Magnetic toner for single component developer A magnetic toner for a single component developer includes in a polyester resin at least a nigrosine dye that is immiscible with the polyester resin, a nigrosine dye that is miscible with the polyester resin, and a magnetic powder. The nigrosine dye that is immiscible with the polyester resin has an average diameter of 0.2 to 4 μm when dispersed in the polyester resin.
US08541149B2	Method of adhering lithographic pellicle and adhering apparatus therefor A method of adhering a lithographic pellicle includes steps of pressing the pellicle frame 6 toward the exposure stencil 5 by a pressure plate 2 via a bag 3 containing a low viscosity liquid being mounted on the surface of the pressure plate 2 facing the pellicle frame 6 so as to be along sides of the pellicle frame 6 and face the pellicle frame 6, the compressively deformable member being easily deformable when a pressure is applied thereonto.According to the thus constituted method of adhering a pellicle, it is possible to uniformize a pressure applied onto an exposure stencil 5 such as a photomask, a reticle or the like via a pellicle frame 6 when a pellicle is adhered onto the exposure stencil 5.
US08541147B2	System and method of selective optical pattern enhancement for semiconductor manufacturing System and method of selective optical pattern enhancement for semiconductor manufacturing. A method for performing a photolithography process includes providing a reticle pattern for a photomask, the reticle pattern including one or more active areas, the photomask including at least a first active area and a first insulation area. The method also includes identifying a first structure pattern defined by the reticle pattern. Additionally, the method includes defining a block area covering the first structure, the block area being positioned within the active area. The method further includes applying at least a first optical proximity correction to the reticle pattern to form a corrected pattern, the first optical proximity correction being restricted to the block area. Also, the method includes transferring the corrected pattern to a wafer.
US08541138B2	Perfluorinated membranes and improved electrolytes for redox cells and batteries The present invention describes an improved membrane for Redox Flow Batteries, in particular for Vanadium Redox Batteries and energy storage systems and applications employing the Vanadium Redox Cells and Batteries. Redox Flow Batteries involve the use of two redox couple electrolytes separated by an ion exchange membrane that is the most important cell component.
US08541135B2	Current collector for catalytic electrode The invention is an electrochemical cell with a catalytic electrode and an aqueous alkaline electrolyte within a cell housing having one or more ports for the passage of a gas to or from the catalytic electrode and a process for making the cell. The catalytic electrode includes a catalytic layer, containing a catalytic material, and a porous current collector, at least partially embedded in the catalytic layer. The current collector includes a substrate with an electrically conductive metal layer, in contact with the catalytic material on the side of the current collector facing the ports, and a coating including electrically conductive particles, in contact with the catalytic layer on the side facing the separator.
US08541128B2	Rechargeable lithium battery and method of fabricating same Disclosed is a rechargeable lithium battery comprising a negative electrode and a positive electrode capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte comprises a polyacrylate compound having three or more acrylic groups.
US08541126B2	Thermal barrier structure for containing thermal runaway propagation within a battery pack A battery pack is provided that includes one or more thermal barrier elements, the thermal barrier elements dividing the cells within the battery pack into groups of cells. The thermal barrier elements that separate the cells into groups prevent a thermal runaway event initiated in one group of cells from propagating to the cells within a neighboring group of cells.
US08541119B2	Lithium secondary battery and method of controlling short resistance thereof Provided is a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material, and a polymer electrolyte composition having a polymer electrolyte, a non-aqueous organic solvent, and a lithium salt. The content of the polymer electrolyte is 9 to 20 wt %, based on the total weight of the polymer electrolyte composition.
US08541116B2	Patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk drive and medium with patterned exchange bridge layer below the data islands A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk with discrete data islands of recording layer (RL) material includes a substrate, a patterned exchange bridge layer of magnetic material between the substrate and the islands, and an optional exchange-coupling control layer (CCL) between the exchange bridge layer and the islands. The exchange bridge layer has patterned pedestals below the islands. The exchange bridge layer controls exchange interactions between the RLs in adjacent islands to compensate the dipolar fields between islands, and the pedestals concentrate the flux from the write head. The disk may include a soft underlayer (SUL) of soft magnetically permeable material on the substrate and a nonmagnetic exchange break layer (EBL) on the SUL between the SUL and the exchange bridge layer. In a thermally-assisted recording (TAR) disk a heat sink layer may be located below the exchange bridge layer and the SUL may be optional.
US08541112B2	Organic electroluminescent element, display device and lighting device Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device having long life, while exhibiting high luminous efficiency. Also disclosed are an illuminating device and a display, each using such an organic electroluminescent device. In the organic electroluminescent device, a compound represented by the general formula (A) which is suitable as a host material for a phosphorescent metal complex is used at least in one sublayer of a light-emitting layer.
US08541108B2	Fuser member The present teachings provide a fuser member. The fuser member includes a substrate layer comprising a polyimide polymer and a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene. A method of manufacturing a fuser member containing a polyimide polymer and a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene is presented.
US08541095B2	Security film and process for preparation thereof Disclosed herein are an anti-counterfeiting film and process for preparation thereof. The anti-counterfeiting film comprises a directional retroreflective layer (1), an optical-angle-based color-changing information layer (2), a reflective layer (3) and a support layer (4) which are combined in this turn. The support layer (4) is made of a polymer resin material, the reflective layer (3) is made of a material with high reflectivity and has a thickness of nanoscale, the information layer (2) is made of an optical-angle-based color-changing chiral polymer material having a helical structure or made of an optical-angle-based color-changing cellulose material. The optical-angle-based color-changing chiral polymer material having a helical structure is a condensation product of a chiral compound and a compound with functional group. The optical-angle-based color-changing cellulose material is composed of a cellulose derivative and a polymerisable monomer. The directional retroreflective layer (1) is composed of spheres which are made of optical material, and is spherically embedded in the support layer (4), wherein the refractive index of the material for the directional retroreflective layer (1) is 1.9-1.93.
US08541092B2	Bonded honeycomb segment assembly A bonded honeycomb segment assembly has plurality of honeycomb segments each including cell structure having plurality of cells as fluid passages partitioned by porous partition walls and provided in parallel with one another, and outer wall provided in the outer periphery of the cell structure. The outer wall of each of the plurality of honeycomb segments is bonded to one another via bonding layers. Relation of M1
US08541091B2	Composite leg for landing gear assembly A composite leg for a landing gear assembly includes a composite compression cap including reinforcing fibers that provide strength in compression, and a tension cap including reinforcing fibers that provide strength in tension. At least some of the fibers are oriented at +α and −α with respect to a longitudinal axis of the leg, where α is between 2 and 8 degrees.
US08541086B2	Optical information recording medium and method for manufacturing the same An optical information recording medium including a recording layer that can record a large amount of information is manufactured using a simple system. A single recording layer is formed by bonding two optically transparent substrates on which the first photosensitive polymer and the second photosensitive polymer are spread such that the layers of the photosensitive polymers face each other. Furthermore, since the absorptivity of light in the recording layer increases as the focal point of light for information recording moves in a depth direction, information can be recorded without decreasing the recording transfer rate of the information.
US08541085B2	Bamboo composite board and beam product New engineered wood products are provided by adding adhesives to alternating layers of bamboo and cork or other lignocellulostic or recycled materials and varied appearances are attained through the use of stains and the vertical or horizontal cuts applied to the products.
US08541082B2	Laminated resin formed body, method for producing laminated resin formed body, and multilayer article It is an object of the present invention to provide a laminated resin molding which comprises a layer of a thermoplastic polymer such as a thermoplastic elastomer and a layer of a thermoplastic resin such as a fluorine-containing ethylenic polymer, is excellent in liquid chemical impermeability, chemical resistance and bacteria resistance, among others, and can be molded by coextrusion without causing foaming or deterioration of the thermoplastic elastomer and, further, has good interlaminar adhesive strength.The invention provides a laminated resin molding comprising a thermoplastic polymer layer (A), a polyamide-based resin layer (B) and a thermoplastic resin layer (C), wherein said thermoplastic polymer layer (A), said polyamide-based resin layer (B) and said thermoplastic resin layer (C) are laminated in that order and firmly adhered to one another, said thermoplastic polymer is to adhere to the polyamide-based resin by thermal fusion bonding, said polyamide-based resin has an amine value of 10 to 60 (equivalents/106 g), said thermoplastic resin contains a functional group and is to thereby firmly adhere to said polyamide-based resin by thermal fusion bonding, said functional group contains carbonyl group.
US08541080B2	Packaging material for battery case and battery case A packaging material for battery cases according to the present invention including a heat resistant resin oriented film layer 2 constituting an outer layer, a thermoplastic resin non-oriented film layer 3 constituting an inner layer, and an aluminum foil layer 4 disposed between both the film layers is characterized in that as the heat resistant resin oriented film, a heat resistant resin oriented film having a shrinkage percentage of 2 to 20% is used. With this packaging material, excellent formability can be secured without coating slip characteristics imparting components and sufficient volumetric energy density can be obtained.
US08541079B2	Injection-molded product with permeability Provided is an injection-molded product manufactured of a synthetic resin having light permeability, the injection-molded product including a pattern structure formed on an inner surface of the injection-molded product and a coupling structure formed on the pattern structure, in which the coupling structure is hidden by the pattern structure from an outer surface of the injection-molded product. The injection-molded product may be manufactured of a transparent material so that the coupling structure or reinforcing structure, can be hidden visually. Various colors can be used in the surface treatment, such as painting or deposition, on the injection-molded product.
US08541075B2	Glass-containing resin molded product Provide a glass-containing resin molded product having no skin layer formed on its surface and free from sink marks, warping and other forms of deformation, where such glass-containing resin molded product is characterized in that it is made of one type of resin selected from the group that includes polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyethylene terephthalate resin and polyamide resin, that it contains solid, spherical glass beads with an average particle size of 10 to 40 μm and the glass blending ratio of these solid, spherical glass beads is 40 to 70 percent by weight, and that in these ranges no skin layer is formed on the surface of such glass-containing resin molded product when measured by the laser Raman method.
US08541072B2	UV cured heterogeneous intermediate transfer belts (ITB) Exemplary embodiments provide an intermediate transfer member that can include a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in an ultraviolet (UV) curable polymer in an amount to allow a bulk curing of the UV curable polymer and to provide the cured polymer an electrical resistivity and/or a mechanical modulus useful for electrostatographic devices and processes.
US08541068B2	Process for producing an amorphous carbon film The process for producing an amorphous carbon film of the present invention is a process for producing an amorphous carbon film comprising contacting a surface of a substrate S with bubbles B which have been formed in a liquid L containing an organic compound and inside which plasma has been generated, so as to form an amorphous carbon film on the surface of the substrate S, and the liquid L contains one or more selected from phenols and alcohols having a carbon number of from 1 to 12. According to the present invention, a hard amorphous carbon film can be formed easily.
US08541065B2	Method for coating surfaces with microparticles and nanoparticles with the aid of plasma methods The invention relates to a method for coating surfaces with micro- and nanoparticles, the micro- and nanoparticles being chemically bonded to the surface, comprising the steps of pre-treatment of the surface with a plasma method, simultaneous or subsequent application of the micro- and nanoparticles to the surface, and subsequent fixation of the micro and nanoparticles on the surface using a plasma method, characterized in that the fixation of the micro- and nanoparticles takes place with the aid of anisothermal plasmas, the median electrical energy of which lies in the range of the bond dissociation energy of the micro- and nanoparticles, thus allowing the strength of the chemical bond between the surface and the micro- and nanoparticles to be variably set.
US08541063B2	Undercoat solution, ink-jet recording method and ink-jet recording device The present invention provides an undercoat solution including a radical-polymerizable compound having a phosphoric acid group, an ink-jet recording method including applying an undercoat solution containing a radical-polymerizable compound having a phosphoric acid group; partially curing the applied undercoat solution; and discharging an ink, which is curable by irradiation with an active energy ray, onto the partially cured undercoat solution to record an image, and an ink-jet recording device including an undercoat solution application unit which applies an undercoat solution containing a radical-polymerizable compound having a phosphoric acid group; an undercoat solution curing unit which partially cures the undercoat solution; and an image recording unit which discharges an ink onto the partially cured undercoat solution to record an image.
US08541062B2	Multi-layer anti-reflective coatings and processes therefor Methods for making multi-layered anti-reflective coatings are disclosed. Un-solgel precursor compositions may be prepared having inorganic oxide precursors and UV curable acrylic monomer mixtures, deposited on a substrate, and subsequently the coated substrate may be cured by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, such as UV radiation. The coating layers may be heated using a temperature sufficient to burn off organic content and form a multi-layer anti-reflective coating. Substrates comprising such coatings and photovoltaic devices comprising such substrates and coatings are also disclosed.
US08541057B2	Cyclohexane oxidation process byproduct derivatives and methods for using the same Disclosed are ester compositions, solvents, cleaning formulations, curing agents, reactive diluent solvents, controlled acid function release agents, polyol monomers, drilling mud and methods of making and using the same. Disclosed compositions include: a) about 10 to 60 weight percent methyl hydroxycaproate,b) about 20 to 80 weight percent dimethyl adipate;c) about 1 to 15 wt % of dimethyl glutarate;d) about 0.1 to 5 wt % of dimethyl succinate;e) about 0.1 to 7 wt % of at least one cyclohexanediot;and f) less than about 20 wt % oligomeric esters.
US08541048B1	Formation of photovoltaic absorber layers on foil substrates An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is then rapidly heated from an ambient temperature to an average plateau temperature range of between about 200° C. and about 600° C. and maintained in the average plateau temperature range 1 to 30 minutes after which the temperature is reduced.
US08541047B1	Polar antiseptic/antibacterial containing toothpick probes A toothpick probe molded of nylon 6 material and containing absorbed polar mouthwash antiseptic/antibacterial solution for probing between human teeth and probing of the gums holding the human teeth. The toothpick probe molded of nylon 6 material is captured immediately on ejection from the molding cavities and immersed in a polar antiseptic mouthwash solution and subsequently removed from the solution and free liquid removed from the toothpick probes for subsequent use of the toothpick probes, as a toothpick probe for human teeth and gums holding the teeth and in addition a molded nylon 6 material is captured and immersed in a polar solution of antiseptic/antibacterial for a sufficient time to absorb at least 10% of its weight of the antiseptic/antibacterial solution and a section of the molded nylon 6 material containing the absorbed polar antiseptic/antibacterial liquid, for in vivo application.
US08541045B2	Process for extracting cocoa polyphenols from cocoa beans Cocoa components having enhanced levels of cocoa polyphenols, processes for producing the cocoa components while conserving a significant amount of the cocoa polyphenols, compositions containing the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols, and methods of using the cocoa components or the cocoa polyphenols for improving the health of a mammal are described. The cocoa components include partially and fully defatted cocoa solids, cocoa nibs and fractions derived therefrom, cocoa polyphenol extracts, cocoa butter, chocolate liquors, and mixtures thereof. The invention provides processes for extracting fat from cocoa beans and for otherwise processing cocoa beans to yield a cocoa component having conserved concentrations of polyphenols relative to the starting materials.
US08541028B2	Methods for manufacturing delivery devices and devices thereof Described herein are methods for reducing and achieving the desired release of an agent from a delivery system. The desired release kinetics are achieved by exposing the surface of the delivery system with a fluid for a desired period of time.
US08541026B2	Sustained release formulations of opioid and nonopioid analgesics The present invention relates to SRSR solid dosage forms for administering pharmaceutical agents, particularly Hydrocodone and acetaminophen, methods for preparing the dosage forms, and methods for providing therapeutic agents to patients in need of treatment.
US08541016B2	Cell-adhesive, enzymatically crosslinked flavonoid hydrogels and methods for making same There are provided methods for producing a hydrogel that is capable of adhesion of cells and which comprises enzymatically cross-linked conjugates of a hydrogel forming agent and a flavonoid, formed from a reaction using peroxide and peroxidase. Hydrogels produced by such methods and methods of using the hydrogels are also provided.
US08541012B2	Aqueous dispersion comprising pesticide particles and dissolved saccharide The present invention relates to an aqueous dispersion comprising solid pesticide particles with a particle size of below 10 μm and a saccharide which is dissolved in the aqueous phase. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of a dispersion according to the invention by bringing a pesticide and a saccharide, which is a monosaccharide, a disaccharide or a mixture of mono- and disaccharide, into contact and dispersing them. A further subject matter relates to the use of a saccharide for slowing down the particle growth of pesticide particles with a particle size of up to 10 μm in aqueous dispersion, to the use of the dispersion or the solid composition for controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired vegetation and/or undesired attack by insects or mites and/or for regulating the growth of plants. Finally, the present invention also relates to seed, dressed with the dispersion or the solid composition.
US08541008B2	Pharmaceutical compositions and methods to vaccinate against candidiasis A Candida albicans bloodstream infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Filament formation and adherence to host cells are critical virulence factors of C. albicans. Multiple filamentation regulatory pathways have been discovered, however the downstream effectors of these regulatory pathways remain unknown. The cell surface proteins in the ALS group are downstream effectors of the filamentation regulatory pathway. Particularly, Als1p mediates adherence to endothelial cells in vitro and is required for virulence. The blocking of adherence by the organism is described resulting from the use of a composition and method disclosed herein. Specifically, a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a gene, gene product, or specific antibody to the ALS gene family is administered as a vaccine to generate an immune response capable of blocking adherence of the organism.
US08541002B2	Vaccine for treatment and prevention of herpes simplex virus infection The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of herpes virus infections. The invention provides antigenic peptides, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising complexes of antigenic peptides and adjuvants that can activate an immune response against herpes viruses. The invention also provides methods of making the antigenic peptides and complexes of antigenic peptides and adjuvants. Methods of use of the pharmaceutical compositions are also provided.
US08540992B2	Methods and vectors for generating asialylated immunoglobulins The properties of an Fc-containing protein, for example, an antibody, are controlled by altering the sialylation of the oligosaccharides in the Fc region by transfecting the cell line expressing the Fc-containing protein with a vector sequence encoding a sialidase. The modified Fc-containing proteins have therapeutic utility in diseases or conditions in which it is desirable to control the affinity for one or more of the FcγRI, FcγRIIA, and FcγRIIIA receptors, ADCC activity, macrophage or monocyte activation, serum half-life, and avidity.
US08540986B2	Toll-like receptor 3 antagonists Toll Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) antibody antagonists, polynucleotides encoding TLR3 antibody antagonists or fragments thereof, and methods of making and using the foregoing are disclosed.
US08540969B2	Aerosol dispersions of particles with active pharmaceutical ingredients Aerosols containing a plurality of aqueous droplets, each droplet containing on average at least one essentially-neutral particle sized to fit within the droplet are provided. Aerosols wherein an active pharmaceutical ingredient is attached to, or otherwise incorporated in the essentially neutral particles are also provided. Methods for administering an active pharmaceutical ingredient to a subject in need thereof via inhalation of these aerosols, preferably via nebulizer, are also provided.
US08540967B2	Porphyrazine optical and dual optical/MR contrast and therapeutic agents Porphyrazines capable of localizing in a tumor of a mammal are disclosed. The porphyrazines are used in methods of imaging a tumor and in methods of treating tumors, either alone or in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent and/or radiation.
US08540957B2	Method for preparing microtubular halloysite nanopowders The present invention provides a method for preparing microtubular halloysite nanopowders by cutting halloysite nanotubes at a high pressure, microtubular halloysite nanopowders prepared by the method, and a cosmetic composition comprising the microtubular halloysite nanopowders. According to the method of the present invention, it is possible to prepare the halloysite nanopowders with a tubular shape using natural halloysite and effectively select a halloysite nanopowder having a desired shape. The microtubular halloysite nanopowders can be used in many industrial fields and used as a container or a carrier for nanoparticles or organic materials such as drugs, air fresheners, cosmetics, agricultural chemical materials, etc.
US08540954B2	CO2—capture in molten salts The present invention concerns carbon dioxide capture from waste gas, where metal oxides dissolved in salt melts are used as absorbents.
US08540953B2	Exhaust gas control apparatus and reductant dispensing method for internal combustion engine Utilizing the finding that the state of adsorption of NH3 on a selective reduction type NOx catalyst includes a weakly adsorbed state in which the adsorbed NH3 is useful for a reduction reaction of NOx and a strongly adsorbed state in which the adsorbed NH3 is not useful for the reduction reaction of NOx unless the state of adsorption is changed into the weakly adsorbed state, the apparatus of the invention includes an actual weakly-adsorbed amount-calculation NH3 that is adsorbed on the selective reduction type NOx catalyst in the weakly adsorbed state, and a dispensation control portion that performs a dispensation control of the reductant dispensed by a reductant-dispensation portion, according to the actual weakly adsorbed amount calculated by the actual weakly adsorbed amount calculation portion.
US08540946B2	Portable sample analyzer cartridge A sample analyzer cartridge for use at a point of care of a patient such as in a doctor's office, in the home, or elsewhere in the field. By providing a removable and/or disposable cartridge with all of the needed reagents and/or fluids, the sample analyzer can be reliably used outside of the laboratory environment, with little or no specialized training.
US08540942B2	Continuous methods for treating liquids and manufacturing certain constituents (e.g., nanoparticles) in liquids, apparatuses and nanoparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s) therefrom This invention relates generally to novel methods and novel devices for the continuous manufacture of nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s). The nanoparticles (and/or micron-sized particles) comprise a variety of possible compositions, sizes and shapes. The particles (e.g., nanoparticles) are caused to be present (e.g., created and/or the liquid is predisposed to their presence (e.g., conditioned)) in a liquid (e.g., water) by, for example, preferably utilizing at least one adjustable plasma (e.g., created by at least one AC and/or DC power source), which plasma communicates with at least a portion of a surface of the liquid. At least one subsequent and/or substantially simultaneous adjustable electrochemical processing technique is also preferred. Multiple adjustable plasmas and/or adjustable electrochemical processing techniques are preferred. The continuous process causes at least one liquid to flow into, through and out of at least one trough member, such liquid being processed, conditioned and/or effected in said trough member(s). Results include constituents formed in the liquid including micron-sized particles and/or nanoparticles (e.g., metallic-based nanoparticles) of novel size, shape, composition, zeta potential and properties present in a liquid.
US08540939B2	Instrument and process for nanoparticles production in continuous flow mode A continuous flow system for the synthesis of nanoparticles includes a feeding unit connected to the first reactor a flow path, at least one first reactor unit possessing a heatable reactor-zone, a second reactor unit which follows the first reactor in the same cascade; a mixing unit and a second feeding unit between the reactor units, and feeding pumps connected to a raw material source and/or a control unit which is capable of controlling at least one pressure controller and/or controlling the temperature of at least one heatable reactor-zone; each heatable reactor-zone is followed by a cooling unit in the cascade. In addition, a process for the synthesis of nanoparticles, preferably metal-containing nanoparticles, and nanoparticles of biologically active organic molecules wherein the process is accomplished using the system.
US08540938B2	Fluid sample collecting and analyzing apparatus and method A spongy swab (16) is mounted against the distal face (15) of a piston (14) at the end of a push-rod (12). Once humected with a sample fluid, the swab and piston assembly is inserted into a tubular body (30) like the plunger of a syringe. As the swab is pushed and squeezed against the distal end (20) of the body up to a trippable stop, part of the fluid is excreted into a chromatographic immunoassay testing device (21) through a first aperture (19) in a distal section of the body. The remainder of the sample is kept in a sealed chamber (7) between the piston and the end wall of the tubular body until it is excreted through a second aperture (23) for a secondary test by pushing the piston beyond the trippable stop. That preserves the sample within the spongy swab that has been used to collect it; thus preventing the adsorption of the analytes on the surfaces of the sealed chamber, and to provide a convenient and rapid way to extract the remainder of the specimen in a syringe-like manner.
US08540932B2	Ferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron Ferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron includes: 3.1 to 3.5 percent by mass of carbon; 4.1 to 4.5 percent by mass of silicon; 0.8 percent by mass or below of manganese; 0.1 to 0.6 percent by mass of molybdenum; 0.1 to 1.0 percent by mass of chromium; 0.03 to 0.1 percent by mass of phosphorus; 0.03 percent by mass or below of sulfur; 0.02 to 0.15 percent by mass of magnesium; and iron.
US08540928B2	Process for the manufacture of containers which have an integral handle, and containers manufactured thereby A process for blow-molding a container, the container comprising a handle, whereby the process comprises the steps of: (i) introducing a preform (2) into a mold cavity and stretching the preform (2) with a stretch rod; (ii) increasing the pressure within the preform (2) so that the preform (2) expands within the mold cavity in a first blowing step, the pressure in the first blowing step is from 1 to 10 bar; (iii) inwardly moving jaws (3, 4) within the mold cavity so that the expanding preform (2) is partially gripped between the jaws in the handle region; (iv) subsequently increasing the pressure within the preform (2) wherein the maximum pressure in the second blowing step is greater than 10 bar, so that the preform (2) expands to the limits of the mold cavity in a second blowing step to form a container; and wherein the inward movement of the jaws (3, 4) is completed within the first blowing step.
US08540923B2	Method for curing resin with ultrasound A method for curing a resin includes the steps of placing the resin into a reaction vessel, drawing a vacuum in the reaction vessel, positioning the reaction vessel in a gaseous coupling fluid, and applying ultrasonic energy to the coupling fluid.
US08540922B2	Laser patterning of a carbon nanotube layer A method of patterning a carbon nanotube layer includes providing a substrate comprising a carbon nanotube layer. A laser beam is generated. The laser beam is directed onto a first surface of the carbon nanotube layer. Relative movement between the laser beam and the first surface is caused, thereby forming at least one cavity feature on the first surface.
US08540912B2	Process of making poly(trimethylene arylate) fibers A fine denier poly(trimethylene arylate) spun drawn fiber is characterized by high denier uniformity. A process for preparing uniform fine denier yarns at spinning speeds of 4000 to 6000 m/min is further disclosed. The poly(trimethylene arylate) fiber hereof comprises 0.1 to 3% by weight of polystyrene dispersed therewithin. Fabrics prepared therefrom are also disclosed.
US08540900B2	Intermediate transfer belts Provided are coating compositions for imaging components, methods of forming imaging components, and imaging components such as, for example, intermediate transfer belts, transfer belts, bias charge rolls, bias transfer rolls, and a magnetic roller sleeve. An exemplary imaging component can include an ultraviolet (UV) cured composite, the UV cured composite including a plurality of conductive species substantially uniformly dispersed in a UV cured acrylate polymer, wherein each of the plurality of conductive species can be selected from a group consisting of salts of organic sulfonic acid, esters of phosphoric acid, esters of fatty acids, ammonium salts, and phosphonium salts, and wherein the UV cured composite can have a surface resistivity in the range of about 107 Ω/square to about 1013 Ω/square.
US08540898B2	Catalyst for reverse shift reaction and method for producing synthesis gas using the same There are provided a catalyst for reverse shift reaction which has excellent durability at a high temperature, can suppress generation of a methanation reaction, and can efficiently generate a reverse shift reaction to produce a synthesis gas including carbon monoxide and unreacted hydrogen with a reduced methane content, and a method for producing a synthesis gas using the catalyst for reverse shift reaction. The composition of the catalyst for the reverse shift reaction includes a composite oxide containing at least one alkali earth metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba and at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ti and Zr. A raw material gas containing carbon dioxide and hydrogen is contacted with the catalyst for reverse shift reaction at a temperature of 700° C. or higher.
US08540891B2	Etching pastes for silicon surfaces and layers The invention relates to novel etching media in the form of etching pastes for etching selected areas or the entire area of silicon surfaces and layers, in addition to the use of said media.
US08540889B1	Methods of generating liquidphobic surfaces The present invention relates to methods of generating liquidphobic surfaces, and surfaces prepared by these methods. The methods include generating sub-micron-structured surfaces and coating these surfaces with a liquidphobic coating, such as a hydrophobic coating.
US08540888B1	Methods of patterning layered-material and forming imprinting mold Disclosed is a method of patterning a layered material. A layered material is provided, and a photoresist layer is formed thereon. The photoresist layer is patterned by a focused laser beam to expose a part of the layered material. The exposed layered material is etched to pattern the layered material.
US08540886B2	Dialysis cassettes and related systems and methods A method that includes conveying overheated dialysate through a cassette in a manner to reduce the temperature of the overheated dialysate, and a dialysis system including a control unit configured to cause overheated dialysate to be conveyed through a cassette in a manner to reduce the temperature of the overheated dialysate.
US08540884B2	Flotation apparatus with apertured plate A flotation apparatus (10) for the separation of solid particles from a suspension with formation of a fraction lacking in solid particles and a fraction rich in solid particles comprises a tank with an inlet (14) for the suspension, with an outlet (16) for the fraction lacking in solid particles, with an outlet (18) for the fraction rich in solid particles, and with at least one block of slats (20) composed of multiple overlapping slats (22), wherein the at least one block of slats (20) has a rear side oriented toward the tank wall and a front side arranged on the opposite side of the block of slats (20). On the rear side of the at least one block of slats, a plate (26) is arranged which extends over at least a part of the rear side of the block of slats, wherein the plate has a plurality of openings which facilitate the penetration of liquid through the plate. The sum of the areas of the individual openings (38) in the upper region, relative to the vertical axis, of the plate, per square centimeter of the plate, is greater than the sum of the areas of the individual openings in the lower region of the plate, per square centimeter of the plate.
US08540879B2	Steam-sterilizable blood separating device A device for separating blood into individual components and/or groups of components, in the form of a sterilizable system includes a filter arrangement forming inlet and outlet chambers using filter elements arranged therein, and respective receptacles for cellular blood components and for blood plasma. The inlet chamber can be connected to the blood source via a line on the inlet side to conduct the blood and is connected, on the outlet side, to the cellular blood components receptacle. The outlet chamber is connected to the blood plasma receptacle via a line on the outlet side. Thermal sterilization is used to sterilize the device by opening a respective line into the inlet-side line of the inlet chamber, into the inlet chamber and the outlet-side line of the outlet chamber, or into the outlet chamber, the line being connected to the exterior via a hydrophobic or hydrophilic filter.
US08540878B2	Structured packing module for mass transfer column and process involving same A cross-corrugated structure packing module is provided for use in mass transfer or heat exchange columns and has particular applicability in severe service applications in which fouling, coking, and erosion are of concern. The structured packing module has a plurality of upright, parallel-extending, corrugated plates. Spacer elements are used to maintain the corrugations of adjacent plates in spaced apart relationship to reduce the opportunity for solids to accumulate on the surfaces of the plates. The plates are also free of apertures or surface treatments that would increase the opportunity for solids to accumulate on the plates.
US08540873B2	Ring filter insert for a liquid filter A ring filter insert (3) which can be flowed through radially has, in at least one of its end disks (4, 5), at least one connecting channel (28) which runs radially between interior and exterior of this end disk (4; 5). With such a ring filter insert (3), through a liquid supply channel (14) which is conducted through the central inner space of the ring filter insert (3) which serves as the crude space or clean space, it is possible in construction and rational terms to pass liquid through the at least one connecting channel (28) in at least one of the two end disks (4, 5) of the ring filter insert (3) from the radial inside outward into one of the two crude spaces or clean spaces which are sealed from the other crude space or clean space and communicate only through the filter medium of the ring filter insert (3). The flow through the at least one connecting channel (28) in at least one of the two end disks (4, 5) may also be in the reverse direction from the radial outside inward.
US08540867B2	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.
US08540863B2	Electrocoagulation treatment process A method of improving electrocoagulation (“EC”) treatment processes for treating waste water and similar applications. The method includes providing a variable power supply that outputs an alternating current (“AC”) to one or more EC treatment cells. The alternating current from the variable power supply is rectified before delivery to the EC cell. As an intermediate step between the variable power supply and rectification, the method described and claimed here uses a variable step down transformer to modify the output delivered to the EC cell.
US08540860B2	Unit for producing sterilized water, cartridge comprising the unit and washing machine comprising the cartridge Disclosed is a unit for producing sterilized water. The unit comprises an electrode module, a pair of electrode rods and a frame. The electrode module includes a pair of electrode plates and a hollow electrode separator positioned between the electrode plates to separate the electrode plates from each other. Each of the electrode plates has a plurality of elongated slots formed therein. The electrode rods apply different voltages to the respective electrode plates. The frame is positioned at one side of the electrode module and has portions for receiving the respective electrode rods. Each of the electrode plates has a pair of holes formed at the circumference thereof. The electrode rods penetrate through the respective holes. The holes have different sizes. The electrode plates are stacked in such a manner that the holes having different sizes overlap each other. This stack enables the application of different voltages to the electrode plates through the respective electrode rods. The unit is easy to manufacture due to its simple structure and can produce sterilized water in high efficiency.
US08540859B2	Technical measure for gel electrophoresis shaping A technical measure for gel electrophoresis shaping that can make the gel electrophoresis generate no bubbles including in the gel, and can make a gradient gel being more accurate and more stable in quality. When liquid gel enters a collecting trough under continuous driving of a roller in the collecting trough to be injected into a carrier sheet set from a gel output port and a narrow seam, former injected liquid gel can be pushed upwards by latter injected liquid gel, and an accomplished product of gel can be obtained. If the collecting trough is input with two liquid basic materials, the liquid gel continuously output into the carrier sheet set can have a gradient.
US08540857B1	Plating method and apparatus with multiple internally irrigated chambers An apparatus for electroplating a layer of metal onto a work piece surface includes a membrane separating the chamber of the apparatus into a catholyte chamber and an anolyte chamber. In the catholyte chamber is a catholyte manifold region that includes a catholyte manifold and at least one flow distribution tube. The catholyte manifold and at least one flow distribution tube serve to mix and direct catholyte flow in the catholyte chamber. The provided configuration effectively reduces failure and improves the operational ranges of the apparatus.
US08540856B1	Hydrogen generator and method for the production of hydrogen An apparatus and method for generating hydrogen. The hydrogen generator of the present invention includes a closed body having a sidewall and two end plates defining a cavity therein. A plurality of electrodes and a plurality of proton exchange membranes are disposed within the cavity. Each proton exchange membrane is sandwiched between two electrodes thereby creating a plurality of hydrogen generating cells disposed along the inner wall of the sidewall. An inflated bladder insures intimate contact between the electrodes and proton exchange membranes. The hydrogen generating cells are operated in series by applying a DC voltage of opposite polarity to electrodes at opposing ends of the cells. Applying the voltage and admitting water into the generator enables hydrogen generation at 12 volts or higher while limiting the potential on each proton exchange membrane to 2 volts thereby protecting the proton exchange membranes from damage or failure by voltage overload.
US08540843B2	Plasma chamber top piece assembly A plasma processing system for processing a substrate is described. The plasma processing system includes a bottom piece including a chuck configured for holding the substrate. The plasma processing system also includes an induction coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field in order to create a plasma for processing the substrate. The plasma processing system also includes a cover covering at least the induction coil and a heating and cooling system. The top piece coupled to the bottom piece and at least partially covered by the cover, the top piece comprising a first shelf, a second shelf, and a wall; the wall being disposed between the first shelf and the second shelf; a cavity being formed between the first shelf and the second shelf, and between the wall and a portion of the cover; the heating and cooling system being disposed inside the cavity; Wherein, the heating and cooling system is substantially shielded from the electromagnetic field by the top piece, and the top piece substantially complies with a set of SEMI ergonomic safety standards for a part handled by a single person.
US08540827B2	Undercut crankshaft hardening coil Improved induction heating methods are presented for induction hardening undercut fillets of crankshafts or other workpiece recesses or undercuts in which an active turn is energized to induce current in a passive turn translated toward a workpiece undercut for heating the undercut.
US08540819B2	Ceramic heater A ceramic heater for a semiconductor substrate process includes a plate and a shaft. The plate includes a first base and a second base bonded to the first base. Defined on a mounting surface of the first base are: a first region having a surface contacting with a mounted substrate; a purge groove provided in the portion covered with the substrate and surrounds the first region; and a second region having a surface surrounding the purge groove. The first base has: an adsorber configured to adsorb the mounted substrate onto the surface of the first region; and multiple purge holes each penetrating from the bottom surface of the purge groove to the lower surface of the first base. The purge groove is supplied with a purge gas through the multiple purge holes. The surface of the second region is located lower than that of the first region.
US08540816B2	Aggregate and filler extracted from slag An aggregate and/or filler extracted from slag, a method for the production thereof, and the use thereof.
US08540815B2	Preparation for magnesium ammonium phosphate cements The invention relates to a preparation for a magnesium ammonium phosphate cement. There is provided a preparation comprising (a) a magnesium calcium phosphate of the formula MgxCay(PO4)2Oz, wherein x+y≦4, x>1, y>0, z=x+y−3 and z≧0; (b) an ammonium salt; and (c) water; wherein the ammonium salt and the water can be present partially or completely as an aqueous solution of the ammonium salt.
US08540814B2	Coatings for corrosion susceptible substrates Superior protective coatings for corrosion susceptible substrates are provided by lower alkoxysilane-epoxy polymeric compounds produced by sol-gel polymerization and cross-linked by reaction with an aromatic diamine cross-linking agent such as a phenylenediamine.
US08540805B2	Filter assembly for use in a turbine system In one aspect, a method for assembling a filtration system is provided. The method includes providing a filter including a retainer formed therewith. The method also includes coupling a gasket about the retainer such that the gasket circumscribes the retainer, such that the gasket is integrally formed with a clamp and such that the clamp is coupled to the retainer in a friction fit.
US08540795B2	Rotary cutter knife The present invention relates to a rotary cutter knife of a cemented carbide comprising a hard phase comprising WC and a binder phase wherein the cemented carbide comprises, in wt-%, from about 7 to about 12 Co+Ni, with a weight ratio Co/Ni of from about 0 to about 4, from about 0.5 to about 3 Cr and from about 0.1 to about 0.3 Mo.
US08540794B2	Method for reducing iron oxide and producing syngas A method and apparatus for reducing iron oxides using microwave heating in a furnace chamber which is sealed against the entrance of air reduces the energy required and produces a low temperature reduction and allows the recovery of combustible synthetic gas as a byproduct of the process. Avoidance of the reduction of sulfur, phosphorus and silica is also insured, as is the need to reduce the silica content of the feed material prior to reducing the ore. A continuous rotary hearth furnace, a rotary kiln, a linear conveyor and vertical shaft furnace chamber configurations are described. A secondary heating zone can also be included to process the reduced iron into iron nuggets or liquid metallic iron.
US08540792B2	Multi-purpose flexible cover with magnetic attachment A flexible cover having magnetic attachment is provided for sealing openings in a structure such as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning duct, an automobile window, or an automobile door handle or lock. Magnets or another suitable affixing device are attached at the periphery on one side of the cover. Alternatively, the magnets may be attached to one side of the cover by sandwiching the magnets between two opposing flexible covers. Gaps between the magnets permit the flexible cover to attach to objects having a curved or angular conformation. In operation, the cover is placed over the opening preventing the transmission of air, fluid material, or particulate material through the opening.
US08540789B2	Filter element constructions A filter element comprises a pleated filter (10), one end of which is received in an end cap (11), which is made up of a unitary molding comprising an end part (21) of a harder plastics material, and a lower part (22) of a softer plastics material, the plastics being compatible or of the same composition, differing only in hardness. A groove (24) engages with a support plate (14), the groove being formed in the softer material abutting the harder material so that the latter forms one face of the groove. A perforated support sleeve (29) can be inserted by dropping into the filter, and an end cap (12) at the other end of the filter either closes the end or is adapted for connection to a further similar filter.
US08540788B2	Separator unit Separation device or unit for separating liquid from an inlet flow which mainly contains gas, has a container or a pipe section with an outlet for gas from the container or the pipe section, an outlet for liquid from the container or pipe section and an inlet for the inlet flow to the container or pipe section. The device has a flow manifold arranged to receive and direct the inlet flow towards a porous pipe body extending towards the gas outlet and arranged to receive all or most of the inlet flow. Part of the flow is flowing through the tubular body to the gas outlet, while the remaining flow is flowing through the tubular body's porous wall, and an annular space including the volume between the tubular body and the container wall or pipe section is open for gas flow towards the gas outlet.
US08540785B2	Bonded abrasive tool and method of forming A bonded abrasive tool includes a bonded abrasive body having a bond matrix material including an organic bond material, abrasive grains contained within the bond matrix material, and chopped fiber bundles within the bond matrix material. The tool further has a porosity within the bonded abrasive body, wherein a majority of the porosity includes pores surrounding the chopped fiber bundles.
US08540782B2	Emulsion dyeing composition containing at least one quarternary amine, at least one nonionic surfactant and at least one carboxylic acid and method of using the same The present invention is drawn to a composition and method for coloring keratinous substrates containing: (a) at least one fatty quaternary amine compound; (b) at least one nonionic surfactant; (c) at least one compound chosen from an alkyl ether carboxylic acid, an alkyl ether carboxylate, a fatty acid having from about 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, and mixtures thereof; d) at least one dye chosen from oxidation dye precursors and direct dyes. The compositions of the present invention may optionally contain at least one thickening agent, at least one alkaline agent, at least one fatty substance, at least one salt, and at least one oxidizing agent.
US08540779B2	Product and methods for interlocking reverse hip and revision prosthesis A reverse hip prosthesis comprising an acetabular cup for implanting in an acetabular socket. The acetabular cup is secured to the acetabular socket of the pelvis using fasteners. The acetabular cup has a stem extending from the center of a concave portion thereof and an acetabular ball is attached to the stem, preferably by means of a Morse taper. A femoral implant is provided with a femoral cup attached to the proximal end thereof. The femoral cup has a stem which can be constructed in a modular fashion with several stem lengths in order to accommodate the various sizing requirements of different patients. After implantation of the acetabular cup and ball and the femoral cup, the members are assembled together so that the femoral cup can articulate on the acetabular ball. The prosthesis of the invention has a wide range of motion and substantially improved tribology. As the femoral cup is articulated, the edge of the femoral cup moves into a space located between the acetabular cup and the acetabular ball and thereby becomes restrained, thus reducing the likelihood of dislocation during extreme ranges of motion.
US08540778B2	Tibial insert having multiple keels A tibial insert includes a platform defining an upper bearing surface and plurality of keels of the tibial insert extend downwardly from the platform. A surgical method for knee arthroplasty is also disclosed.
US08540773B2	Prosthetic facet joint ligament A facet joint prosthesis for replacing a facet joint comprising superior and inferior facets, the prosthesis comprising: a) a superior facet joint component forming a superior endplate having a superior outer surface adapted to attach to the superior facet and an inner surface, b) an inferior facet joint component forming an inferior endplate having an inferior outer surface adapted to attach to the inferior facet and an inner surface, and c) a ligament adapted to constrain relative movement between the facets, wherein the ligament comprises an elastic core having a superior surface adapted to attach to the inner surface of the superior facet joint component and an inferior surface adapted to attach to the inner surface of the inferior facet joint component.
US08540772B2	Transpedicular, extrapedicular and transcorporeal partial disc replacement A nucleus replacement mimics a native annulus in shape and function for use in partial disc arthroplasty. The nucleus replacement includes a jacket having a compartment, a first anchoring limb on one side of the compartment, and a second anchoring limb on an opposite side of the compartment. The jacket is insertable into a disc space through an operating channel in at least one of the vertebral pedicle and the vertebral body. A shock absorbing material is injectable into the compartment after installing the jacket into the disc space. The shock absorbing material has characteristics that absorb loads on the replacement.
US08540757B2	Phototherapy apparatus using excimer radiation A phototherapy device using excimer radiation in which, by skillful use of the individual peak wavelength of 308 nm and of the emission range of shorter wavelengths than 308 nm, the therapy effect is enhanced, and in which, at the same time, harm can be reduced is achieved using a XeCl excimer lamp and in which diseased sites of skin disorders are irradiated with UV-B radiation with an optical filter being used for changing the spectral shape of the UV-B radiation with which the diseased sites are irradiated.
US08540751B2	Spine distraction implant and method A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
US08540741B2	Weasand-ligating clip A weasand-ligating clip (10) made as a one-piece molding, the clip comprising two portions (11) hinged together at one end by a film hinge (13), and including a closure system (15, 16) at the other end, the portions (11) having teeth that clamp against the weasand when the clip is closed, the clip being characterized by the fact that a major longitudinal dimension (L) of the clip measured from the film hinge to the closure system is less than 45 mm, or indeed less than 42 mm, and better less than 40 mm.
US08540735B2	Endoscopic suture cinch system A two-part suture cinch includes a collar and a plug. A cinch applicator is also provided, and includes an elongate tubular member, a plunger engaged within the distal end of the tubular member, a flexible shaft extending through the tubular member and plunger, and a proximal handle for moving the shaft longitudinally relative to the tubular member. The plunger includes a distal housing for the collar of the cinch, and the plug is coupled to the distal end of the flexible shaft. The suture is thread through the collar and a portion of the applicator. Operation of the applicator draws the plug into the collar and clamps the suture between the plug and collar. In addition, once the plug is coupled in to the collar, the plunger is displaced proximally to release the two-part cinch form the applicator. A method for applying the cinch is also provided.
US08540733B2	Surgical method and device having a first jaw and a second jaw in opposed correspondence for clamping, cutting, and stapling tissue A surgical device including a first jaw and a second jaw is presented. The surgical device also includes a biasing element that biases the distal end of the first jaw towards the distal end of the second jaw. The device also includes a first driver disposed in the second jaw and coupled to the first jaw. The first driver is configured to cause separation of the first jaw and the second jaw. The device further includes at least one of a cutting element and a stapling element disposed within the second jaw, preferably a blade rotatably mounted on a wedge. A second driver is configured to move the cutting element and/or the stapling element proximally from a distal end toward the proximal end of the second jaw to at least one of cut and staple a section of tissue disposed between the first and second jaws.
US08540729B2	Treatment and removal of objects in anatomical lumens A medical device can be used to entrain biological or foreign material during a medical procedure for the fragmentation of the material. The device also can be used to remove the material safely from the body. The device has a core element with a first portion extending substantially longitudinally and a second portion wound to form at least a helical coil in the shape of cone. A flat wire can substantially wrap the first and second portions of the core element, or a wire can substantially wrap the first portion and a sheath can substantially cover the second portion.
US08540727B2	Insertion system for corneal implants Provided therein are apparatuses, systems and methods for storing and retrieving a corneal implant and for delivering the corneal implant in or on the cornea. In an embodiment, a insertion system comprises an inserter for delivering a corneal implant to a desired location in or on the cornea. The inserter has a holding space at its distal end for holding a corneal implant therein. A solution may substantially fill the holding space with the corneal implant to keep the implant hydrated and to hold the implant in the holding space by the surface tension of the solution. The corneal implant may be preloaded in the holding space of the inserter and stored in a storage container filled with storage fluid, e.g., saline, until use. To deliver the corneal implant, the inserter is positioned at the desired location, and the corneal implant released from the holding space of the inserter.
US08540721B2	Adjustable apparatus and methods for inserting an implant Methods and apparatus for inserting an implant into an intervertebral cavity between adjacent vertebral bodies provide for: adjust an initial height between inner surfaces of respective first and second ramps of an inserter; simultaneously sliding first and second ramps of the inserter, and the implant, proximally, toward distal ends of the first and second ramps, such that the vertebral contact surfaces of the respective first and second ramps separate and distract the vertebral bodies and receive the implant into the intervertebral space with no compressive loading, while holding an initial angle between the ramps substantially constant; reversing the sliding of the first and second ramps to permit the vertebral bodies to compressively load the implant, again while holding the initial angle therebetween substantially constant; and withdrawing the distal ends of the first and second ramps from the intervertebral space.
US08540717B2	System and method for joint resurface repair A system for repairing a defect on a patient's articular surface comprising a guide, a guide pin, a reamer, and an implant. The guide is configured to be disposed about the defect and includes a passageway configured to establish a reference axis extending generally outwardly from the articular surface. The guide pin is configured to be received through the guide passageway along the reference axis and into bone beneath the articular surface. The reamer comprises a cannulated shaft configured to be advanced over the guide pin along the reference axis and further comprises a cutting surface configured to be rotated about the guide pin to form an excision site. The implant comprises a bone facing surface configured to be received in the excision site and a load bearing surface having a contour approximating a contour of the patient's articular surface.
US08540707B2	Template system and methods Template systems and methods for various procedures (e.g., tissue ablation procedures) are disclosed. An exemplary template system comprises a track having at least one suction port. The at least one suction port anchors the track to a tissue after the track is positioned adjacent a target area. The template system may further comprise a transducer operatively associated with the track. Exemplary transducers include imaging transducers and ablating transducers. The transducer is guided by the track adjacent the target area while the transducer is moved along the track for a procedure. One or more umbilical may provide a conduit to the track and/or transducer so that the template system may be positioned in a patient's body (e.g., for a procedure on the patient's heart) and operated remotely by a physician or other user from outside of the patient's body.
US08540706B2	Organ incision method A method of making an incision in an organ includes piercing, by a puncture needle having a proximal end and a distal end, an abdominal wall and an organ that is to be incised, disposing, via the puncture needle, an electrode, to which a first end of a cable is electrically connected, inside the organ, and disposing a second end of the cable outside a body, performing insufflation using a conduit so as to form a space between the abdominal wall and the organ, pulling the cable farther from the second end so that the electrode is placed in contact with an incision position of the organ, and the incision position of the organ is pulled into the space, and supplying power to the cable so that an incision is made by the electrode at the incision position of the organ.
US08540703B2	Methods for treating skin conditions using laser Methods of treating a portion of skin are disclosed. A carbon lotion is applied to a portion of skin comprising one or more enlarged pores or one or more indicators of aging. The carbon lotion is allowed to remain on the portion of skin for a period of time, and, upon expiration of the period of time, excess carbon lotion is removed from the portion of skin. The portion of skin is irradiated with one or more first laser pulses and one or more second laser pulses. A laser producing the first and second laser pulses has an oscillation wavelength of 1064 nm.
US08540700B2	Disposable tip assembly for laser surgical device A multi-component sterile, disposable tip apparatus for laser surgical devices is provided and features assembly for alignment of a self-contained optical fiber to the surgical device and releasably locking assembly between the tip and device.
US08540699B2	Reduced pressure wound treatment system A reduced pressure treatment appliance is provided for treating a wound on the body of a patient. In some embodiments, the appliance comprises an overlay, which is further comprised of cup members that may be detached or cut away from the overlay so that the overlay can be adjusted in size and shape. Also, in some embodiments, the overlay is further comprised of a pressure venting valve to maintain a predetermined level of reduced pressure at the site of the wound. In other embodiments, the wound treatment appliance also includes a vacuum system to supply reduced pressure to the site of the wound in the volume under the overlay. In yet other embodiments, the treatment appliance also includes wound packing means to prevent overgrowth of the wound or to encourage growth of wound tissue into an absorbable matrix comprising the wound packing means. In still other embodiments, a suction bulb may be used to provide a source of reduced pressure to an overlay that covers the wound. Finally, methods are provided for using various embodiments of the treatment appliance.
US08540698B2	Fluid delivery system including a fluid path set and a check valve connector A fluid path for use in a fluid delivery system is described. The fluid path may have a connecter member having a lumen, a luer member connected to the lumen, and an annular member around the luer member. The fluid path may further have a check valve in the lumen to limit fluid flow in one direction. The check valve may have a deformable stopper element and a retaining sleeve disposed in the lumen of the connecter member. The retaining sleeve may have a central bore and a distal end against which the stopper element sits to prevent fluid flow through the lumen until a sufficient fluid pressure is present to deform the stopper element and unseat the stopper from the retaining sleeve. One or more grooves may be present in the receiving cavity. The fluid path may further have a drip chamber, a second tubing section, and a spike.
US08540696B2	Deflectable catheter with a high modulus fiber puller element A deflectable catheter includes a catheter body, an intermediate section, a tip electrode and a control handle for deflecting the catheter by manipulation of a puller element that is made of a high modulus fiber material and extends through the catheter body and the intermediate section. The proximal end of the puller element is housed in the control handle and the distal end of the puller element is in a wrapped configuration and engages with a distal tip member or the intermediate section.
US08540690B2	Absorbent article A sanitary napkin comprises an absorbing body. The absorbing body includes a fluid-permeable top sheet, a fluid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorber arranged between the top sheet and the back sheet. The napkin comprises a cover sheet for covering the surface of the top sheet. A circumferential edge region of the cover sheet is joined to the absorbing body. A plurality of flaps for fixing the absorbing body to underwear are sectionalized by a sectionalizing line in the central region of the cover sheet. At the time of use, the flaps are folded in the folding regions and are expanded so as to be fixed to the underwear. The flaps include a front flat and a rear flap that expand in the back-and-forth direction, and a left flap and a right flap that expand in the right-and-left direction.
US08540677B2	Vascular access device chamber venting A vascular access device within an external environment may include a body and a septum at least partially housed within the body, a gas chamber housed within the body and the septum, and a vent adjacent the body capable of facilitating gas transfer between the gas chamber and the external environment. A method of venting a gas chamber within a medical device includes transferring gas between the gas chamber and an external environment of the device through a vent that is adjacent the body of the device.
US08540674B2	Devices, systems, and methods for transeptal atrial puncture using an engagement catheter platform Multichannel systems for engaging a bodily tissue and methods of using the same. In at least one embodiment of an exemplary multichannel system for engaging a tissue of the present disclosure, the system comprises an engagement catheter comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a first lumen and second lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an inducer sheath having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and defining a lumen extending therethrough, the inducer sheath configured for insertion into the second lumen of the engagement catheter, and a dilator defining a first channel and a second channel extending therethrough and a tapered tip at the distal end of the dilator, the dilator sized and shaped for inserted into the lumen of the inducer sheath.
US08540673B2	Disposable infusion device with actuation lock-out An infusion system includes a wearable infusion device, a safety assembly, and a tool. The device includes a liquid medicament dispenser having a base attachable to a patient's skin and that, when enabled, causes the liquid medicament to flow to beneath the skin of the patient, and an actuator that, when engaged, enables the dispenser. The safety assembly precludes unintended engagement of the actuator and the tool is arranged to disable the safety assembly.
US08540669B2	Catheter system providing step reduction for postconditioning A pre-assembled kit for administering ischemic postconditioning comprising a catheter and a handle having a fluid circuit to control and modulate flow of inflation fluid to and from a balloon wherein the catheter is free from additional assembly and preparation procedures such that it is ready-to-use within a variety of vessel sizes.
US08540666B2	Echogenic occlusive balloon and delivery system A vessel occlusion apparatus includes an elongate shaft having a fluid delivery lumen; and an expandable member carried on a distal end portion of the shaft, the expandable member comprising a body defining an interior region, the interior region in communication with the fluid delivery lumen, the body comprising a wall having one or more embedded fluid pockets therein, each of the one or more pockets containing a fluid capable of being imaged, e.g., having echogenic qualities for detection using ultrasound imaging.
US08540665B2	Particle cassettes and processes therefor An article for use in manufacturing particle cassettes comprising one or more single pieces of membrane having a plurality of gas flow passages bonded thereto. The article allows convenient manufacture of particle cassettes. Two such articles may be employed to provide a finished particle cassette and a production line in which a plurality of gas flow passages are conveyed on a single membrane is disclosed.
US08540657B1	Method and apparatus for equine plasmapheresis Methods of and apparatuses for equine plasma collection are provided. Modified plasmapheresis instruments and modified disposable plasmapheresis tubing are introduced. By using the modified procedures and instruments, a high-speed, high volume, continuous-flow process of automated equine plasmapheresis is developed. The modified closed systems remove whole blood from the donor horses, separate plasma from the cellular components of blood, and simultaneously returning concentrated cells back to the donor horses.
US08540650B2	Method and an apparatus for measuring and analyzing movements of a human or an animal using sound signals A method, an arrangement and a computer application for conducting measurements of sleep disorders by capturing and analyzing the sounds associated with movements of the subject during a long-term or overnight monitoring session. A small-sized consumer apparatus such as an MP3 recorder may be attached to the subject for capturing the emanating sounds. Specially selected materials can be used to alter the spectral content of the sound so as to optimize the reception at the recording apparatus.
US08540631B2	Apparatus and methods using acoustic telemetry for intrabody communications Systems and methods provide intrabody communication using acoustic telemetry. The system includes a first or control implant including a first acoustic transducer, and a second implant including a switch and a second acoustic transducer coupled to the switch. The second acoustic transducer receives acoustic signals from the first acoustic transducer for closing the switch to activate the second implant. The second implant may include a sensor for measuring a physiological parameter that is transmitted using acoustic signals including the physiological data to the first implant. For example, the second implant may measure pressure in the patient's heart that may be used by the first implant to control a pacemaker. Alternatively, the second implant may blood sugar concentration that may be used by the first implant to control an insulin pump. Alternatively, the first implant may store and transfer the data to an external device for monitoring the patient.
US08540624B2	Instrument for endoscopic surgery An instrument for endoscopic surgery, with a housing having a grip element and a shaft-receiving element, the grip element having a fixed grip part and a pivotable grip part, and the shaft-receiving element being intended to receive and lock the proximal end of a tubular shaft, with a tool at the distal end of the shaft, and with an actuation member extending through the shaft and being longitudinally movable therein, or with a slide piece acting on the actuation member. The actuation member engages in the shaft-receiving element of the housing and is coupled to the grip part mounted pivotably on the housing, so that a pivoting of the grip part causes a longitudinal movement of the actuation member and an actuation of the tool. The grip element of the housing is rotatable relative to the shaft-receiving element of the housing about a rotation axis extending perpendicular to the shaft.
US08540623B2	Apparatus, system and method to indicate in-vivo device location A system, apparatus and method may indicate in-vivo device location within a body utilizing for example illumination irregularities for calculation of location. There may be provided with an in-vivo imaging device a set of dedicated illumination source and a set of detectors located on an in-vivo device, such as a swallowable capsule.
US08540620B2	Transventricular implant tools and devices A method and implantation tools for placing a transventricular splint including a tension member. The method includes gaining access to the patient's hearts and identifying entry or exit points for the tension member, marking those locations and delivering the tension member. Anchors for the tension member are also delivered. The length of the tensions member is measured and the walls of the heart drawn together. The pads are secured to the tension member and the tension member is trimmed to length. The pads are secured to the heart surface.
US08540618B2	Stable aortic blood pump implant An aortic blood pump is described that can be inflated and deflated in response to selective communication with a source of pressurized fluid or air. The pump includes a structure adapted to maintain implant stability in the face of mechanical and fluid forces to which it is exposed in situ. The pump may include a wall adapted to maintain implant stability by connection of the wall to a stiffening element, such as a stent, a brace, a stiffener or any combination of these. Additionally, the pump optionally includes a wall adapted to maintain implant stability by configuring the interior volume to generally follow the contour of the native human aorta.
US08540605B2	Control of torque transfer between an engine and a manual transmission A system for controlling a transfer of torque from an engine to a manual transmission having a plurality of shiftable gears includes a selectively releasable and re-engageable clutch. The clutch is arranged inside the transmission and configured to transmit torque of the engine to the transmission when the clutch is in an engaged state. The system also includes a lever operatively connected to the transmission and movable to shift the gears. Additionally, the system includes an input device arranged on the lever and operable to selectively release and re-engage the clutch. A vehicle employing such a system is also provided.
US08540603B2	Vehicle power transmission control device In a state in which a vehicle travels while an internal-combustion-engine driving torque (Te) is transmitted to drive wheels, the internal-combustion-engine driving torque (Te) and a clutch torque (Tc) are decreased and an electric-motor driving torque (Tm) is increased based on the satisfaction of a shift-up condition (t1). During the time period from the satisfaction of the shift-up condition to time at which the clutch torque (Tc) becomes zero (t1 to t2), a load torque (Ts) of a power generator rotationally driven by an output shaft of the internal combustion engine is generated. In a hybrid vehicle equipped with an AMT, power consumption with the driving of an electric motor when a shift-up action is carried out using the assist of the electric-motor torque can be reduced.
US08540600B2	Multi-speed planetary transmission with three brakes and four clutches A multi-speed transmission includes an input member, an output member, a stationary member, and a first and a second compound planetary gear set. The first compound planetary gear set has a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth member. The second compound planetary gear set has a first, a second, a third, and a fourth member. The first member of the second compound planetary gear set is continuously connected for common rotation with the output member. An interconnecting member continuously connects the first member of the first compound planetary gear set for common rotation with the second member of the second compound planetary gear set. The transmission has seven torque-transmitting mechanisms, including three brakes and four rotating-type clutches, that are engagable to establish up to fourteen forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US08540590B2	Hollow golf club head There is provided a Ti alloy hollow club head which is more lightweight yet capable of realizing a better repulsion force by adjusting weight and thickness of a club head plate, with its strength ensured. Ribs are formed by chemically polishing the inner surface of a material of a crown plate to a 0.3 to 0.9 mm thickness, and a 0.3 to 4 mm width, and then first concave portions are formed to a 0.2 to 0.5 mm thickness. Thus, strength of the crown plate can be ensured by the ribs, while making the thickness thereof as thin as possible.
US08540583B2	System for tracking a golf ball and displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball A system for tracking a golf ball and displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball is disclosed. The system may display an enhanced image of the golf ball on a display such that the enhanced image is imposed upon a user's real world view. Displaying an enhanced image of the golf ball may help a user view the trajectory of the golf ball and find the golf ball after the golf ball lands. The system may display an enhanced image of the golf ball on a heads-up display configured to be worn on a person's head such that the user may view the enhanced image while remaining hands-free. The enhanced image may enable a user to compare the golf ball's trajectory with an ideal trajectory. The system may display other information, such as launch and flight information about the ball, on the heads-up display.
US08540580B2	Tool bit or tool holder for power tool A tool holder for use with a power tool includes an input shaft with a rear portion couplable to a power tool, and an output shaft with a front portion couplable to a tool bit. A clutch assembly releasably non-rotationally couples a front portion of the input shaft to a rear portion of the output shaft, and includes a recess in the front portion of the input shaft or the rear portion of the output shaft, an aperture in the other of the front portion of the input shaft or the rear portion of the output shaft, a roller received in the aperture, and a spring that biases the roller radially inwardly toward the recess. The spring enables release of the roller radially outwardly from the recess when a predetermined torque threshold is exceeded, such that torque is not transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft.
US08540576B2	Wide area program distribution and game information communication system Methods and apparatus are described for distributing gaming applications to a plurality of gaming sites located in a plurality of regulatory regions via a wide area network. Each regulatory region has a regulatory scheme associated therewith. A plurality of gaming applications are stored on at least one central server. A subset of the gaming applications are distributed from the at least one central server to at least one of the gaming sites located in one of regulatory regions via the wide area network, the subset of gaming applications being determined according to the associated regulatory scheme.
US08540573B2	Game object control using pointing inputs to rotate a displayed virtual object control device A vehicle simulation such as for example a driving game can be provided by displaying an image of a steering wheel on a touch sensitive screen. Touch inputs are used to control the rotational orientation of displayed steering wheel. The rotational orientation of the displayed steering wheel is used to apply course correction effects to a simulated vehicle. Selective application of driver assist and different scaling of touch inputs may be provided.
US08540564B2	Slot machine gaming device and method of play A method of playing a slot machine game in which a two level or stage play is conducted, the first level providing winnings in the normal stage of slots, but where the losers are automatically entered into a second stage of play as a bonus play in which there is a possibility of a large payout as well as the guarantee that there will be at least a small payout.
US08540561B2	Gaming system and method A computer-implemented method for gaming. The method comprising displaying a plurality of puzzle pieces on a display screen of a gaming machine, the plurality of puzzle pieces being associated with a jigsaw puzzle, receiving a player's selection of one of the plurality of puzzle pieces via the display screen, determining a prize associated with the selected puzzle piece; and displaying an animation of the selected puzzle piece and the determined prize on the display screen. This disclosure also includes an update gaming machine and a game controller to implement the method.
US08540558B2	Cooling auxiliary unit and cooling system A cooling auxiliary unit used for an accommodation room configured to accommodate an electronic apparatus includes a duct member that stands upon an ventilation hole provided on a raised floor, and has an air passage connected to the ventilation hole, and an opening connected to the air passage, and a fan that moves air along the air passage.
US08540548B2	Child's activity toy and disc dispenser therefor A child's activity toy comprises a plurality of dispensers which will dispense circular discs onto a flat magnetic surface. The circular discs are of different colors, each color having its own respective diameter, with the color being applied to each side of the discs. Each dispenser is specific to its own color, and is biased to its closed, non-dispensing condition. Pressing the dispensing end of a dispenser against the flat magnetic surface will dispense a circular disc; and moving the dispenser while it is pressed against the flat magnetic surface will dispense a series of circular discs. A frame is provided for the flat magnetic surface, and includes a graduated sorter so as to separate the discs of one color from the discs of any other color. The respective dispenser for each color can be filled with the discs from the respective sorter chamber.
US08540542B2	Transparent conductive nano-composites The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a method of forming an organic electric device that includes providing a plurality of carbon nanostructures; and dispersing the plurality of carbon nanostructures in a polymeric matrix to provide a polymeric composite, wherein when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a first concentration an interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix is characterized by charge transport when an external energy is applied, and when the plurality of carbon nanostructures are present at a second concentration the interface of the plurality of carbon nanostructures and the polymeric matrix are characterized by exciton dissociation when an external energy is applied, wherein the first concentration is less than the second concentration.
US08540541B2	Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same In a top emission structure, there has been a problem in that a wiring, a TFT, or the like is provided in regions other than a light emitting region so that light reflected by the wiring reaches eyes of an observer. The present invention prevents light that is reflected by a wire from reaching eyes of an observer by providing a light-absorbing multilayer film (61) in regions other than a light emitting region. Specifically, the light-absorbing multilayer film (61) is used as an upper layer of a partition wall (also called as a bank or a barrier) that covers ends of a first electrode (66b) whereas an organic resin film (67) is used as a lower layer of the partition wall. The partition wall in the present invention is characterized by being a laminate of three or more layers formed of different materials.
US08540539B2	Buoyancy aid with residual buoyancy A buoyancy aid for assisting in swimming lessons and for placing onto an arm, comprising: a) an element which is ring-shaped or which can be connected into a ring, and which can be arranged on an arm; b) an inflatable chamber which is attached to the ring-shaped element; wherein c) the chamber and/or the element which is ring-shaped or which can be connected into a ring comprise(s) a material having a density lower than the density of water.
US08540536B1	Systems and methods for cooling marine engines A cooling system for a marine engine has an elongated exhaust conduit comprising a first end receiving hot exhaust gas from the marine engine and a second end discharging the exhaust gas; and an elongated cooling water jacket extending adjacent to the exhaust conduit. The cooling water jacket receives raw cooling water at a location proximate to the second end of the exhaust conduit, conveys raw cooling water adjacent to the exhaust conduit to thereby cool the exhaust conduit and warm the raw cooling water, and thereafter discharges the warmed cooling water to cool the internal combustion engine.
US08540533B2	USB connector and USB device A USB connector for connecting with a USB female includes a rotating shaft assembly which is capable of rotating, metal legs, a connecting line, and a substrate. The rotating shaft assembly includes a rotating shaft, a rotating shaft sleeve and a rotating shaft support. The rotating shaft is disposed in the rotating shaft sleeve and is capable of rotating relative to the rotating shaft sleeve. The rotating shaft sleeve is located in a support hole of the rotating shaft support. The rotating shaft assembly with the rotating shaft support is fixed on the surface of the substrate by the rotating shaft support. The metal legs are formed on the surface of the substrate to ensure the connecting strength of the metal legs and reduce the thickness of the USB device.
US08540522B2	Utility control system and method Embodiments of the present invention provide for the control of a powered utility. A circuit board, an onboard controller located on the circuit board, and a daughterboard connector also located on the circuit board are utilized. The onboard controller is configured to provide a first level of control functionality to the system. The first level of control functionality includes the ability to transfer the powered utility between an operating state and an off state. The daughterboard connector is configured to accept a daughterboard, and that daughterboard is configured to increase the control functionality of the system above the first level of control functionality to a second level of control functionality.
US08540513B1	Expandable dental implant with improved mechanical retention A dental implant with expandable engagement portions hinged on the bottom of the implant. The expandable engagement portions may be made of gold and may have a smooth or contoured outer surface and expand outward when an expander is inserted into the implant. To receive the implant, an implant site is created in the jawbone which is wider at the bottom, having a shape similar to the implant when expanded, so that once the expandable engagement portions expand outward, they fill the bottom of the implant site and thereby result in strong mechanical engagement between the implant and the jawbone. The implant is further anchored by horizontal anchoring apparatus configured for insertion into the bone and the implant. Each of the horizontal anchoring apparatus may anchor the implant onto only one wall, making it possible to use such anchoring apparatus in the event that a wall is missing.
US08540508B2	Method for the combustion of a fluid fuel, and burner, especially of a gas turbine, for carrying out said method The invention relates to a method for burning a fluid fuel, in which fuel is reacted in a catalytic reaction, whereupon catalytically pre-reacted fuel continues to be burned in a secondary reaction. A swirling component is impressed onto the pre-reacted fuel, allowing the secondary reaction to be ignited in a spatially controlled manner, resulting in complete burnout. The invention further relates to a burner for burning a fluid fuel, in which the fuel outlet of a catalytic burner is disposed upstream of the fuel outlet of a primary burner in the direction of flow of the fuel within a flow channel such that the fuel is catalytically reacted. The catalytic burner is provided with a number of catalytically effective elements which are arranged such that a vortex is created in the flow channel. The invention can be applied particularly to combustion chambers of gas turbines.
US08540506B2	Semiconductor molding chamber A system and method for a semiconductor molding chamber is disclosed. An embodiment comprises a top molding portion and a bottom molding portion that form a cavity between them into which a semiconductor wafer is placed. The semiconductor molding chamber has a first set of vacuum tubes which hold and fix the position of the semiconductor wafer and a second set of vacuum tubes which evacuate the cavity of extraneous ambient gasses. The encapsulant may then be placed over the semiconductor wafer in order to encapsulate the semiconductor wafer.
US08540498B2	Compressor-expander set critical speed avoidance A control method and apparatus for critical rotational speed avoidance in a compressor-expander set in a gas refrigeration system. By varying an opening of an antisurge or recycle valve, a shaft power used by the compressor in the compressor-expander set may be varied, thereby varying the rotational speed of the compressor-expander set to move it away from its critical speed zone. Additionally, a feedforward signal may be provided by a compressor-expander set control system to cause an antisurge valve for a recycle compressor to open upon a trip or shutdown of one compressor-expander set.
US08540489B2	Pelton turbine wheel, method for making same and pelton turbine including such wheel The invention relates to a Pelton turbine that comprises a plurality of sub-assemblies arranged about the rotation axis of the wheel and each including a bucket (111) and an anchoring leg (112). At least one blocking pin (13) is provided in a direction (X13) parallel to the rotation axis (X1) of the wheel between two adjacent anchoring legs (112, 112′), wherein said pin is inserted into two housings (1126, 1127) respectively formed in the two anchoring legs (112, 112′). According to the method of the invention, the blocking pin (13) is placed by inserting the same into the two housings (1126, 1127) of two adjacent anchoring legs (112, 112′). The pins are placed into the housings with a clearance, thereby allowing the relative sliding of the anchoring legs (112, 112′) before blocking them with the pins (13).
US08540483B2	Turbine engine rotating cavity anti-vortex cascade A gas turbine engine rotor drum includes spaced apart discs providing a cavity between the discs. The discs are configured to rotate in a rotational direction about an axis. An annular support is mounted on at least one of the discs and within the cavity. A cascade of relatively short anti-vortex members is mounted circumferentially on the annular support. The anti-vortex members include an outer end having a concave surface extending within the cavity radially outward from the annular support. The concave surface faces the rotational direction and promotes swirl as the rotor drum rotates.
US08540481B2	Rotor blade assembly A rotor blade assembly is disclosed herein. The rotor blade assembly includes a composite blade portion extending a length from a root to a tip. A leading edge of the composite blade portion extends from the tip to an end point along the length between the tip and the root. The rotor blade assembly also includes a base portion fixed to the composite blade portion proximate to the root. The rotor blade assembly also includes a sheath extending around the composite blade portion. The sheath is positioned along the length adjacent to the base portion and between the root and the end point of the leading edge.
US08540479B2	Active retractable seal for turbo machinery and related method An active retractable seal assembly for use between rotating and non-rotating turbo machinery components including: a plurality of seal rings mounted to the non-rotating component, the seal rings movable toward and away from the rotating component between respective closed and open positions as a function of pressure drop across the seal rings, wherein the seal rings are normally in the open position; and a fluid bypass circuit for directing fluid around one or more of the plurality of seal rings to reduce the pressure drop across the one or more of the seal rings, thereby causing the one or more seal rings to move towards the open position under the action of spring(s) or actuator(s).
US08540478B2	Multistage high-pressure pump A multistage high-pressure pump according to the present invention includes a rotational shaft (1), impellers (3) secured to the rotational shaft, a casing (2) configured to house the impellers therein, a mechanical seal (20), a seal chamber (25) that houses the mechanical seal therein, an oil reservoir (30) configured to store oil therein, an oil supply line (26) providing fluid communication between the oil reservoir (30) and the seal chamber (25), an oil pump (31) configured to pressurize the oil from the oil reservoir (30) and supply the oil to the seal chamber (25), a pressure retaining mechanism (32, 34, 35) configured to retain pressure of the oil in the seal chamber (25), and an oil outlet line (27) for discharging the oil from the seal chamber (25). The pressure of the oil in the seal chamber (25) is higher than pressure of the fluid.
US08540474B2	Power lift and transfer system and method A power lift and transfer system and method are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the power lift and transfer system and method may be realized as a power lift and transfer system. The power lift and transfer system may move, stow, and carry a mobility device for a user with a disability, and then assist the person with the disability to transfer in and out of a vehicle. The power lift and transfer system may further transport the wheeled or other mobility device from a position in a rear or on top of the vehicle to passenger or driver areas of the vehicle, and then assist the user by means of a conveyor belt to transfer laterally into the automobile seat.
US08540464B2	Deburring knife for deburring even and uneven hole edges Deburring knife for deburring straight or nonround hole edges with a base body driven rotationally around its longitudinal axis, in which one or more bar blades are replaceably accepted into a swivel-mounted knife holder in a base body, by which the knife holder has at least one control recess located on its circumference, in which a spring component engages, which guides the rotation of the knife holder in the base body, characterized by the fact that for pivot bearing of the knife holder in the base body of the knife holder there are two drilled holes located across from one another vertically to the mounting hole of the bar blade, into each of which the end of a bearing bolt engages, whose other end goes into a transverse hole in the base body and serves to rotate the knife holder in the base body that one or more bar blades are thereby easily and replaceably mounted in the radial mounting hole in the knife holder, that at least one stop preventing axial displacement and one pullout safety device for security in the axial direction are in place for the bar blade.
US08540461B2	Circular pile head for underpinning a slab A circular pile head assembly that can facilitate the driving of the underpinning pile in a slab using a pile driving machine and locking-off the slab load to the underpinning pile is provided. A circular pile head assembly consists of the twin beam, the circular pile head and a section of an underpinning pile that is used in conjunction with a pile driving machine to drive, and lock-off the slab load to the underpinning pile.
US08540457B2	Systems, methods and processes for use in providing remediation of contaminated groundwater and/or soil The present embodiments provide methods, systems and processes for use in treating soil and/or ground water. Some of these embodiments provide systems for use in remediating contaminants, where the system comprises: a plurality of gas product sources positioned at a geographic location to be treated; a distribution manifold coupled with the plurality of product sources; a plurality of diffuser coupled with the distribution manifold and is positioned within separate wells within the soil; and a controller coupled with the plurality of product sources and the distribution manifold. The controller: activates one or more of the product sources to generate, locally at the geographic location, one of five different gas products in accordance with a first step of a treatment schedule; and communicates with the distribution manifold to direct the generated one of the five gas products to a predefined one of the diffuser.
US08540444B2	Cassette locking and ejecting arrangement A label printer comprising a cassette-receiving bay, said cassette-receiving bay having a base, a top opening opposite the base, and a locking mechanism extending from said base, said locking mechanism having a locking part, said locking part being movable in a first direction and biased in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said locking part having one or more projections such that a force thereon directed towards said base causes the locking part to move in the first direction and wherein said locking part is biased to move in said second direction when the force is removed.
US08540442B2	Adjustable print media path system and method An adjustable print media path system and method are disclosed. In one form, the print media path system incorporates a frame and a guide member that is moveably coupled to the frame between a cartridge position and an external media position. Inserting print media into the receptacle moves the guide member between the external media position and the cartridge position, thereby adjusting the print media path.
US08540434B2	Optical edge connector A connector assembly for optically coupling a first optical device mounted on a first substrate to a second optical device mounted on a second substrate, where the first and second substrates are orthogonally oriented to each other, is presented. The connector assembly includes two connectors. The first connector has an optical waveguide array. The optical waveguide array further includes multiple parallel optical waveguides that are continuously redirected by a mirror oriented at a 45 degree angle to the optical waveguides. Likewise, the second connector also has an optical waveguide array further include multiple parallel optical waveguides continuously redirected by a mirror oriented at a 45 degree angle to the optical waveguides. The first connector is oriented orthogonally to the second connector and the first and second connectors are optically welded together in a back-to-back configuration.
US08540430B2	Method for the production of a guide rail and guide rail The invention provides a method for the production of a guide rail of the type comprising at least two spaced apart guide faces which at corresponding sides are connected through a connecting web. A first step comprises manufacturing the guide rail in a configuration in which the guide faces, compared to their intended final position, are spaced apart further through an imaginary rotation around a part of the connecting web; a next step comprises moving the guide faces towards the intended final position. Further a guide rail is provided.
US08540423B2	Semiconductor temperature sensor with high sensitivity An temperature sensor circuit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor comprises an input circuit with a current mirror for forcing a current down a reference stage and an output stage. The reference stage and the output stage include P-N junctions (e.g., using bipolar transistors) with differing junction potentials. By tailoring the resistances in the reference and output stages, the input circuit produces two output voltages, one of which varies predictably with temperature, and one which is stable with temperature. The input circuit is preferably used in conjunction with an amplifier stage which preferably receives both the temperature-sensitive and non-temperature-sensitive outputs. Through various resistor configurations in the amplifier stage, the output of the temperature sensor can be made to vary at a higher sensitivity than produced by the temperature-sensitive output of the input circuit. Moreover, as a result of the non-temperature-sensitive output, the output of the temperature sensor is additionally and beneficially tailored in its offset voltage in a temperature-independent manner. The result is a flexible circuit that can achieve very high sensitivities and near-ideal performance even at lower power supply voltages.
US08540420B2	Gong mounting device for striking watch Gong mounting device designed to bear against a crystal (10) closing a striking-watch case. This device comprises a block (20) for immobilizing at least one end (1, 2) of a gong (T1, T2) inside the watch case, and a means (30) for mounting this block (20) on said crystal (10). The mounting means (30) is a clamping-type mounting means enabling the block (20) to exert pressure on the crystal (10).
US08540413B2	Backlight assembly and display device having the same A backlight assembly includes a light guiding plate, a driving board, a light emitting chip and a flexible board. The light guiding plate has a plate shape. The driving board is disposed substantially parallel with a side surface of the light guiding plate to face the side surface of the light guiding plate. The light emitting chip is formed on a surface of the driving board to generate light toward the side surface of the light guiding plate. The flexible board has a connection wiring that provides a power source to the driving board. The driving board is disposed on the flexible board.
US08540410B2	Submerged planar illumination device A submerged planar illumination device for providing specified, substantially uniform distribution of light in liquid from one or few light sources such as LED. The device comprises a light guiding plate having an entrance edge to which the LEDs are fixed, a collimator for redirecting the light and forming substrate light which is coupled to a light guiding plate having at least one light extracting surface. Light extracting surface are optionally on both large surfaces of the light guiding plate. Each light extracting surface is covered with a pattern of light extracting and scattering elements capable of collecting, scattering and extracting light propagating in the light guiding plate into the liquid ambient medium in which the device is submerged. A cover, sealed to the entrance edge of the light guiding plate, protects the light emitting element from the liquid ambient medium.
US08540409B2	Light guide and semiconductor luminaire In at least one embodiment, the light guide (10) comprises a single-pieced light guide body (1). The light guide body (1) includes a transparent material and a light entrance segment (2) having a first cross-section (11) with a polygonal shape. Furthermore, the light guide body (1) includes a light output segment (4) having a second cross-section (22) with a rotund, round, circular, oval or elliptic shape. A transition segment (3) is arranged adjacent to and between the light entrance segment (2) and the light output segment (4). Along the transition segment (3), the first cross-section (11) in particular continuously changes to the second cross-section (22).
US08540403B2	Illumination device, electronic apparatus including the same, and method of manufacturing illumination device An illumination device is provided including a light emitter; and a panel. The panel includes a recess configured to accept an optically transparent sealant that is illuminated by light from the light emitter. Moreover, the panel includes a hole in the recess that is sealed by the optically transparent sealant.
US08540399B2	Socket device A lighting fixture capable of efficiently radiating heat of a lamp device may be configured to be attached to a socket device. In some examples, by attaching the lamp device to the socket device, a cap portion of the lamp device is brought into contact with a fixture body, and pressed against and brought into close contact with the fixture body by an elastic body. Heat generated by lighting of LEDs of the lamp device is conducted from the cap portion to the fixture body and efficiently radiated.
US08540393B2	First and second light-emitting elements having identical peak emission intensities A light source apparatus includes a first light-emitting element to generate an illumination light with a first light emission intensity to be applied to a subject, and a second light-emitting element to generate an illumination light with a second light emission intensity, including at least light with a wavelength different from the illumination light generated from the first light-emitting element. The first light-emitting element and second light-emitting element are arranged, so that the peaks of the first emission intensity and second emission intensity become identical.
US08540392B2	Devices and systems for improved traffic control signal assembly Methods and apparatuses are provided for improved traffic control devices including a continuous central hanger support system that is integral to the traffic control device and provides a central load path. In an embodiment of the invention, the terminal housing and traffic signal housing of the traffic control device can be included in a single unit housing. A single unit housing can also include an integral backplate. Also provided are span wire clamps, tether clamps, and mast arm clamps that can be used to affix the continuous central hanger of the traffic control device to various fixtures such as a single span wire, two span wires, a pole or a mast arm. The continuous central hanger integrated with the single unit housing can provide the traffic control device with improved securement of electrical components and structural stability for survivability during high wind events as compared to conventional traffic signal devices.
US08540388B1	Lit billfold A lit billfold for displaying and illuminating checks in dimly lit restaurants includes front and back covers, a document securing means, and a document illuminating means. The document securing means includes a plurality of straps attached to the edge of the inner surface of one of the front or back covers. The document illuminating means includes a light guide panel with a light source and a switch means, which both electrically connect to a power source located in a power source housing. Folding the light guide panel open toggles the switch means and activates the light source. Folding the light guide panel closed again toggles the switch means and deactivates the light source.
US08540385B2	Backlight assembly, relay connector, and backlight unit Provided is a backlight assembly wherein a cost reduction is easier than conventional. A backlight assembly (1) has light-emitting element boards (23a to 23f) that are mounted with light-emitting elements (31) and provided on a frame (3b) around an upper surface (front surface) of a chassis (3), a power supply board (51) that is provided on a back surface of the chassis (3) and supplies power to the light-emitting element boards (23a to 23f), and a relay connector (21) that is held by the chassis (3) and electrically connects between the power supply board (51) and the light-emitting element boards (23a to 23f).
US08540381B2	Systems and methods for receiving information associated with projecting The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to transmitting and receiving information associated with projection.
US08540375B2	Offset projection distortion correction A system and method for correcting optical distortion in an off-axis system is provided. The offset between the center of a display plane and the optical axis of the projection lens system is configured such that the offset is greater than half the vertical dimension of the display plane. In this manner, the distortion, such as a pincushion-type or barrel-type of distortion, is not symmetrical about the horizontal axis. In this scenario, the display plane, the projection lens system, a folding mirror, and/or the spatial light modulator may be tilted such that a keystone effect is induced. This keystone effect may be used to offset the distortion, particularly the pincushion-type or barrel-type of distortions.
US08540371B2	Display device A display device includes: a wall defining a viewer-side space; an observed object arranged in an object-side space partitioned off the viewer-side space by a portion of the wall; an imaging optical system of real specular image including a semitransparent substrate with a plane of symmetry for defining the viewer-side space and the object-side space as the portion of the wall to image a real image of the observed object in the viewer-side space with light passing through the substrate; a screen surface having a function of diffuse reflection and provided with the substrate so as to face the viewer-side space; and a projector optical system projecting an image on the screen surface in the viewer-side space.
US08540367B2	Method of selecting a semi-finished ophthalmic lens according to a given spectacle frame A method of selecting a semi-finished ophthalmic lens according to a given spectacle frame comprising the steps of: providing the spectacle frame front face base data providing a list of semi-finished ophthalmic lenses with a plurality of front face bases, and selecting from the list of semi-finished ophthalmic lenses the semi-finished ophthalmic lens whose front base is the closest from the front base of the spectacle frame.
US08540359B2	Electronic inks Electronic inks are disclosed herein. The electronic ink includes a non-polar carrier fluid, a plurality of positively charged colorant particles dispersed in the non-polar carrier fluid, and a plurality of reverse co-micelles including a basic charge director and an acidic charge controlling agent. The basic charge director has a molecular weight that is within 5000 of a molecular weight of the acidic charge controlling agent.
US08540356B2	Printing machine A duplex printing machine 1 includes an inkjet head 27 with a piezoelectric element set for vibrations to propel out droplets of aqueous ink 50, an inkbottle 21 for supplying aqueous ink 50 to the inkjet head 27, a system of ink lines 28 having a lower tank 22, a circulation pump 23, a filter 25, and an upper tank 26, a degasser 24 having a degassing pump 24a for degassing flux of aqueous ink 50 being to be supplied to the inkjet head 27, and a controller 7 operable to control the degassing pump 24a, the controller 7 being adapted to operate, as a print time calculated from an image data set of a print job is equal to or greater than a prescribed value, for driving the degassing pump 24a to degas flux of aqueous ink 50.
US08540355B2	Fluid ejection device with circulation pump A fluid ejection assembly includes a fluid slot, a plurality of drop generators, and a fluid circulation pump to circulate fluid from the fluid slot through each drop generator individually and back into the fluid slot.
US08540352B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus is disclosed. The inkjet recording apparatus includes a droplet ejecting head which has multiple nozzles for ejecting ink, multiple head tanks which generate a negative pressure at the droplet ejecting head and temporarily store a predetermined amount of ink, an ink cartridge which stores the ink, multiple liquid sending pumps which perform a forward transfer liquid process which sends the ink from the ink cartridge to the multiple head tanks, or a backward transfer liquid process which sends the ink from the multiple head tanks to the ink cartridge, and an ink supply channel being branched from the ink cartridge to multiple head tanks to supply ink from the ink cartridge to multiple head tanks by the corresponding one of multiple liquid sending pumps.
US08540343B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus which includes a line head having a nozzle group in a two-dimensional matrix configuration, or a line head in which a plurality of head modules are joined together in a staggered matrix arrangement.
US08540331B2	Printing apparatus and printing method This invention corrects a print position error caused by the inclination of the nozzle array of a printhead without decreasing the printing speed. To accomplish this, print data of at least one column in the print medium conveying direction is read out for a predetermined number of bits from print data stored in a first storage unit. Print data of a plurality of columns read out in the reading step is written in a second storage unit which is higher in data input/output speed than the first storage unit, and can input/output data for each bit. It is controlled to read out print data belonging to different groups from a plurality of columns of the second storage unit, edit print data for a plurality of nozzles, and print based on the edited print data.
US08540325B2	Machine and track assembly for use therewith A track assembly for a machine includes a track having inner track seals, a rotatable track engaging element such as an idler or drive sprocket and a contact interface for protecting the seals during guiding the track about the rotatable element. The contact interface may include sacrificial wear material on the rotatable element and sacrificial wear material on corresponding track links. The contact interface may have a configuration based on a location of the seals, and is adapted to inhibit wear of the track links in regions adjacent the seals. In another aspect, the contact interface is a guide interface.
US08540318B2	Vehicle seating frame attachment assembly, and method of making the same In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates to a vehicle seat assembly comprising a seat frame made of structural foam and having a main body portion having a forward portion and a rearward portion, and a wire attachment bracket having a front attachment tab, a rear attachment tab, and a connecting portion extending between the front and rear attachment tabs. The front attachment tab can be securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the forward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan, and the rear attachment tab can be securable to a vehicle floor pan to secure the rearward portion of the seat frame to the vehicle floor pan. In at least one embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly further comprises a cushion supported on the frame, with the cushion being softer than the seat frame, and a trim material disposed over the cushion.
US08540314B2	Flex chair A chair having a seat, a first support base and an upright elongated support element. The upright elongated support element has a first point and a second point, with the first point connecting to the seat and the second point connecting to the first support base. The first support base is bolstered by a resilient component since the resilient component is disposed beneath the first support base. The resilient component is capable of providing cushioning to the first support base is also capable of providing a full axial rotation to said upright elongated support element.
US08540310B2	Deployable in-seat cup holder A deployable cup holder including linkage arranged such that a portion of the linkage is movable between a folded configuration positioned within a space defined in a seat, and a deployed configuration positioned forming a closed loop defining an opening between the linkage, the linkage including a ground link, first and second grounded links, and a coupler link, wherein the ground link and the coupler link are pivotably connected to each of the first and second grounded links to define a closed loop.
US08540305B2	Hollow torque rod for a closure panel A compartment includes a plurality of side walls and a floor configured to define a storage area. The compartment also includes a panel operatively connected to the floor or to at least one of the plurality of side walls. The panel is configured to selectively expand and restrict access to the storage area. The compartment additionally include a torque rod having a wall thickness, a hollow interior, a first end fixed relative to the storage area and a second end fixed relative to the panel. The torque rod is configured to store energy by being twisted when the panel is pivoted in a first direction relative to the storage area and release the stored energy when the panel is pivoted in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction to thereby assist operation of the panel. A vehicle employing such an enclosure is also provided.
US08540304B2	Rear aerodynamic device for a vehicle and vehicle equipped with such a device A rear aerodynamic device for a vehicle and vehicle equipped with such a device are provided. The aerodynamic device can be fastened under a rear end of a vehicle frame of a cargo body of an industrial vehicle, behind the wheels. It includes a nozzle having an inlet positioned on a lateral external face of the device and capable of canalising air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet positioned at the rear part of the device and capable of ejecting the air flow underneath a vehicle rear face.
US08540303B2	Cabriolet top for a cabriolet, and cabriolet with a cabriolet top A cabriolet top (8) for a cabriolet (1) has a roof (10) which, in a closed position (ST) of the cabriolet top, upwardly bounds a vehicle interior (9) and, for an open position of the cabriolet (1), is movable into a storage position (AS) in a storage space (21). The roof (10) has a main roof part (11) and closing roof parts (12, 13) which, in the closed position (ST), form a continuous roof surface. The main roof part (11) has at least one open-edged cutout (24, 25) that is closed by the closing roof part (12, 13) in the closed position (ST). However, the closing roof part (12, 13) is displaced relative to the main roof part (11) and opens the cutout (24, 25) in the storage position (AS).
US08540291B2	Device and method for unlocking a lock by use of monitoring of current A lock device is adapted to unlock a lock by transferring a lock catch from a locking position to a releasing position. The device has an electric motor mechanically connected to an axle by means of at least one transmission means, and rotation of said axle actuates the lock catch. The device is characterized in that it comprises means for monitoring the current consumed by the electric motor.
US08540289B2	Opening/closing structure for container for conveying thin plate An opening/closing structure for a thin plate-conveying container has engagement recesses with which engagement projections are engageable. The engagement recesses are formed facing the engagement projections formed on a cover member of a lid of a rotation plate, both at an engagement rotation position and at a disengagement rotation position. The engagement rotation position is the position of the rotation plate for engagement of an engagement section of a lock member with a container body, and the disengagement rotation position is the position of the rotation plate for disengagement of the lock member from the container body.
US08540287B2	Saddle tap connection and installation device Internal collars and external saddle taps can be used to install taps on a main duct in a manner that maintains duct section joint integrity. A saddle tap assembly may include an external slip tap, internal tap collar, a duct section, and adhesive. The external slip tap and the internal tap collar may each have a flange. The flanges may be curved. The flange of the internal collar may have a sheared portion permitting the flange of the internal collar to pass through an opening in a section of duct. The duct may have an opening with one or more notches. A method of installation can be more efficient and more cost-effective than prior solutions. An installation tool can be used for installing saddle tap assemblies while an adhesive cures.
US08540283B2	Apparatus for mounting seat belt to vehicle body An apparatus for mounting a seat belt to a vehicle body, may include a wire integrally having on a first end thereof a belt insert ring, an end of the seat belt being inserted into the belt insert ring, a wire installing unit coupled to a second end of the wire and secured to the vehicle body, and a belt restraining unit coupled to the vehicle body while slidably receiving the seat belt so as to restrain movement of the seat belt which may be inserted into the belt insert ring.
US08540281B2	Steering system A steering system for allowing an operator to control the direction of travel of a vehicle propelled on wheels. The steering system comprises a steering input device configured to include a handle pivotally coupled to a linkage assembly configured to swivel, wherein the handle is configured to move in the fore and aft direction, wherein the steering input device generates input data based on the position of the linkage assembly and/or the handle. The steering system further comprises a communication device to communicate the input data received by the steering input device to a lower steering system, wherein the lower steering system is configured to receive the input data from the steering input device and control the direction of the wheels based on the input data received.
US08540277B2	Passenger-side airbag folded body and passenger-side airbag apparatus There is provided a passenger-side airbag folded body in which an inflator opening is provided at a base end of an airbag and a vent hole is provided at each of right and left side surfaces of the airbag. Right and left end parts of the airbag are folded along vertical fold lines, thereby providing a vertically long primary folded body. The primary folded body is folded along lateral fold lines, thereby providing the passenger-side airbag folded body serving as a final folded body, and the vent holes are exposed at right and left end faces of the final folded body.
US08540276B2	Inflatable knee airbag assemblies with cushion fold pattern An airbag assembly can include a housing and an airbag cushion within the housing in a packaged state. The airbag cushion can include a rolled region and an accordion fold. The rolled region and the accordion fold can be positioned within the housing so as to provide a desired trajectory when the airbag cushion is inflated.
US08540270B2	Hitch coupler A hitch coupler includes a frame that includes a back plate, a first plate connected to the back plate, a second plate connected to the back plate at a position spaced from the first plate extending between the first plate and the second plate and cooperating therewith to define an interior space, and a third plate connected to the back plate spaced from the second plate, wherein the first, second and third plates each include an aperture extending therethrough. The frame also includes a pin extending through the first, second and third apertures, such that the pin extends through the interior space and is adapted to slide within the apertures between an extended position and a retracted position, and a spring member biasing the pin towards the extended position.
US08540269B2	Mechanical connection device between a motorized vehicle and working equipment The present disclosure relates to a mechanical connection device between a motorized vehicle and working equipment. According to the present disclosure, the device includes a rigid plate mounted by means of axles in the tow rings of the vehicle and bearing adjustable skids that are applied against a transverse surface of the vehicle, such as to abutt the connection device to the vehicle, thereby securing the same.
US08540266B2	Wheelchair A wheelchair comprises a main frame and a seat mounted on the main frame. A pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels are also mounted on the frame. A propulsion mechanism is provided for driving the rear wheels, the propulsion mechanism comprising an arm lever for forward and back movement and a gear train between the arm lever and the rear wheels.
US08540265B2	Manually propelled scooter A scooter with a foot platform, front and rear wheels at the forward and rear ends of the foot platform, and a bearing at the forward end of the platform; a steering column mounting sleeve attached to the bearing, a front wheel drive shaft slidable within the steering column mounting sleeve, a hub extension at the lower end of the steering column mounting sleeve supporting the front wheel, a drive extension having a drive member on the lower end of the front wheel drive shaft, a drive pinion coupled to the front wheel and engaged with the drive member and hand bars at the upper end of the steering column mounting sleeve operable by downward movement to slide the front wheel drive shaft downwardly through the steering column mounting sleeve for driving the front wheel.
US08540264B1	Stepper bike A four wheel stepper bike having a body with an internal chamber containing a drive mechanism for transmitting power to a wheel, a steering linkage, and a brake. Foot pedal units on opposite side of the body are moved by an operator's feet to apply force to the drive mechanism. A steering column with handles hinged to the body and connected to the steering linkage is selectively movable to steer the bike and move between upright and folded positions. Bumpers attached to an end of the body support the bike in an upright position on a support surface when the steering column is in the folded position.
US08540254B2	Device and method for the transport of objects/goods The present invention relates to a method and a device for the manual transport of objects/goods, preferably tables, beds and the like, which object comprises a flat-shaped part extending in the horizontal or vertical direction during use, wherein the transport of said objects takes place by means of a transport device comprising a platform (1), which at its bottom side is provided with at least three wheels (2) intended to enable movement/transport of the transport device with the platform (1) in a horizontal position, and which platform (1) at its upper side is provided with at least three supports (3, 4), and wherein the method implies that said object is turned, so that its flat-shaped part is positioned in a vertical position on the upper side of the platform (1) before the movement/transport, wherein, before the turning of the object is commenced, said supports (3, 4) are adapted in such a way that the platform (1) may be arranged at the object and thereafter turn said object 90°, wherein the platform (1) takes a horizontal position with said object loaded and supported on the upper side of the platform (1). The invention also relates to a runner device and a coupling device.
US08540253B2	Industrial truck comprising a pair of wheel arms An industrial truck comprising a pair of wheel arms, which at their free end in each case comprise a wheel arm end, each of which comprising a bearing body and a pair of load wheels, the load wheels in each case being rotatably mounted on a rocker, and the rocker being pivotably mounted on the bearing body in a region located between the load wheels, the bearing body comprising a bearing projection on which the rocker is mounted such that the rocker laterally defines the wheel arm end.
US08540252B2	Convertible cargo container An apparatus which is convertible from a portable cargo container to a wheeled vehicle. In particular, the present invention is a backpack or article of luggage that includes a deployable wheeled platform so that the backpack or luggage is convertible to a scooter type vehicle. The present invention is particularly useful for transporting relatively heavy loads along with a human operator, quickly and with minimal effort.
US08540249B2	Monitoring of a sealing arrangement, particularly of a gas compressor or gas expander To monitor a sealing arrangement for sealing a shaft relative to a stationary part having a shaft sealing ring with a shaft conductor surface arrangement, a stator sealing ring with a stator conductor surface arrangement that is insulated from the shaft conductor surface arrangement, and a capacitive measuring arrangement, the stator conductor surface arrangement has a first stator conductor surface and at least a second stator conductor surface that is electrically insulated from the latter, and the shaft conductor surface arrangement has at least one shaft conductor surface, and the measuring arrangement has a device for detecting an electric capacitance between two stator conductor surfaces of the stator conductor surface arrangement, the electric capacitance between two stator conductor surfaces of the stator conductor surface arrangement is detected during operation.
US08540247B2	Methods and devices for on-the-roll sports games A realistic professional team sports board game, including an On-The-Roll mechanism where, once play begins, real time play continues, generally against a clock, opposing teams continue to roll dice continuing sub-play actions or elements, until a play is completed, as by a touchdown, tackle and a series of rules and charts, based on statistical compilation that maps various combinations of offensive and defensive strategies and dice rolls into realistic game situations and the progression among them. Both teams: secretly choose a strategy, generally by selecting a card placed face down; roll dice; reveal strategy choices by turning cards face up; determine a situation chart to consult, and further determine which result is selected from within the chart, based on some combination of which cards were played and the results of the dice rolls. A variety of play cards affect the overall game momentum of either team.
US08540243B2	Pinch roller lifting mechanism The present invention is related to a pinch roller lifting mechanism. The pinch roller lifting mechanism includes drive rollers for holding and transferring a medium, the drive rollers arranged adjacent to each other along a first axis, pinch rollers for holding the medium with the drive rollers, a plate-like member extending along the first axis, wherein the plate-like member includes an opening, a support member having a first end section on which the pinch rollers are provided, a cam slidably provided on the plate-like member, the cam comprising a guide section that abuts against a second end section of the support member and engages the opening of the plate-like member, a pulley operationally connected to a drive motor for pulling the plate-like member in a first direction, and a spring that biases the plate-like member in a direction opposite to the first direction.
US08540240B2	Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus A sheet conveying apparatus has an upstream roller and a registration roller configured so that the sheet conveyed by the upstream roller abuts the registration roller to form a loop in the sheet to correct for skew. The skew of the sheet is corrected for by the leading edge of the sheet abutting the registration roller to bend the sheet so as to form the loop in the sheet. A resist sensor detects a time difference of passing time between the advanced leading edge and the retarded leading edge in the downstream leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the upstream roller, detects the skew amount of the sheet based on the time difference, and changes the backward rotation time of the registration roller depending on the skew amount.
US08540231B2	Paper stopper mechanism for paper-feeding apparatus A paper stopper mechanism for paper-feeding apparatus, which has simplified structure and commonly uses one motor to stop papers. The paper stopper mechanism includes a rotary shaft driven by a drive shaft via a gear assembly, a stopper plate disposed on the rotary shaft, which is movable between a first position and a second position along with the rotation of the rotary shaft, and a resilient member positioned between the rotary shaft and a transmission gear of the gear assembly. There is frictional force between the rotary shaft and the transmission gear, whereby the transmission gear can drive the rotary shaft to rotate. When the stopper plate and the rotary shaft stop at the second position, the transmission gear can still transmit power to a pickup roller to feed a paper into the paper-feeding apparatus without any error.
US08540230B2	Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus with curvature formation portion and reversely rotatable feeding roller When a sheet is fed, a feeding roller is rotated in the direction opposite to the direction in which the sheet is fed to draw out the uppermost sheet from a separation claw, and then the sheet is fed in such a manner that the feeding roller is rotated in the direction in which the sheet is fed to feed the drawn out sheet along the upper surface of a separation claw. When the sheet is fed, a curvature formation portion curves downward both ends in the width direction of the second and subsequent sheets to integrally lower pressing portions for pressing both ends in the width direction of the sheet along with the curved sheets and to separate the pressing portions from the uppermost sheet, thereby preventing the leading end of the uppermost sheet from catching the pressing portions.
US08540225B2	Quick change vise jaw system A master jaw assembly used in a vise including a locking jaw, a detachable jaw and a clamping device disposed in the locking jaw, securely clamping the detachable jaw to the locking jaw. The locking jaw has a groove extending along an inner surface of the locking jaw defined by a first and second edge. The second edge is tapered inward and downward toward the base. The detachable jaw has a dovetail protrusion along one side surface thereof. The clamping device includes a plurality of specially-shaped clamp-nuts having a downwardly tapered edge, said clamp-nuts designed to receive one end of a double-ended threaded stud. The detachable jaw becomes fixed to the locking jaw by inserting the protrusion into the groove and torquing the studs to tighten the clamp-nuts downward against the protrusion such that the protrusion is clamped between the taper of the second edge and the clamp-nuts.
US08540219B2	System and method for preventing scaling in a flue gas desulphurization system A system & Method for Preventing Scaling in a Flue Gas Desulphurization System is provided. The system includes an injector configured to direct a barrier fluid toward a surface that is otherwise susceptible to scaling when it comes in contact with super-saturated alkaline solutions such as slurry used to capture CO2 from a flue gas stream.
US08540215B2	Wire grip A wire grip comprising a stationary-side gripping portion provided with a body and having a substantially straight front shape, and a movable-side wire gripping portion arranged to face the stationary-side wire gripping portion and set movable back and forth with respect to the stationary-side wire gripping portion, whereby the linear object can be gripped between the stationary-side wire gripping portion and the movable-side wire gripping portion, wherein a first action portion for moving the movable-side wire gripping portion back and forth and a second action portion connected to the first action portion by a connecting rod are turnably attached at their individual ends to the body, wherein the other end of the first action portion and the other end of the second action portion are turnably attached to one end of the connection rod and an intermediate portion of the connection rod, respectively, wherein the other end of the connecting rod is pulled substantially parallel to the stationary-side wire gripping portion and the movable-side wire gripping portion so that the connecting rod, the second action portion and the first action portion are linked to act to move the movable-side wire gripping portion forward with respect to the stationary-side wire gripping portion.
US08540209B2	Active combustion flow modulation valve A flow modulation valve has a slidably translating hollow armature with at least one energizable coil wound around and fixably attached to the hollow armature. The energizable coil or coils are influenced by at least one permanent magnet surrounding the hollow armature and supported by an outer casing. Lorentz forces on the energizable coils which are translated to the hollow armature, increase or decrease the flow area to provide flow throttling action. The extent of hollow armature translation depends on the value of current supplied and the direction of translation depends on the direction of current flow. The compact nature of the flow modulation valve combined with the high forces afforded by the actuator design provide a flow modulation valve which is highly responsive to high-rate input control signals.
US08540206B2	Multi-stable actuation apparatus and methods for making and using the same Actuator apparatus having a multi-stable element actuated by memory alloy actuating elements. In one embodiment, the multi-stable actuator comprises a bistable (two-state) diaphragm element adapted to alternate between two stable configurations via forces exerted on the diaphragm by more than one memory alloy filaments in response to thermal activation. In another embodiment, the bistable diaphragm of the multi-stable actuator transitions from a first to a second stable configuration via forces exerted by a single filament in response to direct or indirect thermal activation. A portion of the assembly is displaced when the assembly is in the second configuration. The bistable diaphragm transitions back to the first stable configuration via application of mechanical force on a portion of the assembly which was displaced. Methods for making and using the bistable actuator apparatus are also disclosed.
US08540191B2	Device for holding an insulating blanket and for fastening two-parts systems A device for holding an insulating blanket and for fastening systems in an aircraft includes a base and at least one support. The base has two ends from each of which there extends an arm. One arm is a jointed arm that is jointed onto the base to be pivotable relative to the base. The at least one support is configured to accommodate a system. The base includes an elongated shape and defines a plane, the base includes two longitudinal edges, and at one end of the base, each longitudinal edge has a flange extending from the base on a same side of the base from which the arms extend.
US08540190B2	Connecting arrangement comprising a coupling element and two curved ribs of an aircraft or spacecraft A connecting device having two curved ribs of an aircraft or spacecraft, with: a coupling element which can be connected by means of predetermined coupling sections to respective connecting sections of the two ribs; wherein at least the predetermined coupling sections of the coupling element are rectilinearly designed; and wherein at least the respective connecting sections of the two ribs each have rectilinearly running inner belt regions for a respective rectilinear connection of the predetermined coupling sections of the coupling element.
US08540185B2	Modular air inlet lip with electric defrosting for a turbojet pod A lip of an air inlet of a turbojet pod intended to be fastened to an air inlet downstream structure includes at least one electric heating element for defrosting. The electric heating element being fitted with at least one electrical connector able to be connected to at least one corresponding electricity supply connector of the downstream structure. The lip breaks down into at least two identical structures set end-to-end on a periphery of the air inlet.
US08540181B2	Foil roll with wound stiffening core, apparatus for winding the roll and method A foil roll having a wound stiffener core formed from an initially flat sheet of stiffener material fed into a spiral roll winder simultaneously with a feed end of a foil web. An apparatus and method for spirally winding a foil roll with a wound stiffener core in which a stiffener sheet is fed into a roll winder in adjacent outward contact with a foil web and a leading edge of the stiffener slightly ahead of a feed end of a foil web. The stiffener sheet is outwardly disposed from the foil web and in adjacent contact with the roll starter guides to prevent contact between guides and the foil web during initial core formation. Roll starter guides are moved from contact with the outer periphery of the roll once the initial core is formed allowing a desired length of foil web to be spirally wound around the core without damage to the web. The apparatus is configured to receive a continuous supply of foil and stiffener web material, cut each to predetermined lengths, and sequentially form wound core foil rolls at an economically high rate.
US08540177B2	Vertical feed mixer having cutout edge In one aspect, the invention is directed to a vertical feed mixer including a hopper for holding a composition to be mixed that contains strands of feed material. A vertically oriented mixing member is positioned in the hopper, wherein the mixing member includes a helical member and a shaft and is rotatable about a vertical axis in a direction to promote an upward flow of the composition to be mixed proximate the shaft. The helical member has an outer helical edge, a cutting blade at the outer helical edge and a cutout at the outer helical edge. The cutout and the cutting blade cooperate with each other to reduce mixing power consumption and improve mixing action.
US08540167B2	Rotary tool for spreading particulate materials and method of using the same A rotary tool and method for spreading mulch outwardly from a mound of the same. The tool has an elongated shaft with a rotatable body mounted proximate a first end thereof. The body has a peripheral edge with a plurality of flexible fingers radiating outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The fingers may be individually securable to the body. In a second embodiment, a ring is detachably mounted to the body and the fingers are on the ring. When the tool is activated, the fingers engage the mulch mound and cause pieces of mulch to be flicked outwardly away from the body. The tool may also be used as a shovel-type device when the motor is not activated and the mulch can then be carried on the upper surface of the body.
US08540166B2	Vehicular air-conditioning system and control method of same An air-conditioner ECU sets the maximum flowrate or a set flowrate which is less than the maximum flowrate as a required flowrate Vr based on outside air temperature when a DEF mode is selected, and requires that coolant be circulated (steps 100 to 110). Also, when the coolant temperature Tw during heating is between a set temperature TS3 and a set temperature TS1, circulation of coolant at the minimum flowrate is required (steps 134, 130, 132). When a blower fan is stopped when the coolant temperature is equal to or less than the set temperature TS3 and a fresh air mode is selected, the circulation of coolant at the minimum flowrate is required when the vehicle speed Sv is above a set vehicle speed (steps 134 to 146). Cool air is prevented from being blown out of an air outlet and heating of the coolant is promoted by suppressing the speed of an electric pump while maintaining the ability to prevent fogging.
US08540162B2	Microcircuit device including a near-field communication antenna circuit This circuit (32) comprises a first antenna (34) connected to the microcircuit (14) and capable of supplying power to the microcircuit (14) by electromagnetic coupling with an external terminal and a second antenna (36) electromagnetically coupled to the first antenna (34) while remaining electrically isolated from the latter. In addition, the first (34) and second (36) antennas consist respectively of first and second windings having opposite winding directions as defined from the same observation point.
US08540157B1	Magnetic read head with flat-extending pins A magnetic read head includes a plurality of pins; circuitry for converting magnetic signals to electrical signals, where output of the circuitry is coupled to the plurality of pins; and a shield that encloses the circuitry, the shield having a front face through which magnetic signals pass to read the magnetic stripe, a base on a side of the shield opposite the front face, and one or more side surfaces between the base and the front face, and wherein the shield has an opening for each pin of the plurality of pins, wherein each pin is configured to pass through a respective opening, wherein the plurality of openings are positioned on the one or more side surfaces of the shield, where each pin extends from the shield along an axis that is parallel to a plane defined by the base of the shield.
US08540153B2	Systems, methods and computer program products for implementing processes relating to retail sales The present invention provides a system that facilitates the selection of purchasable items for use in an environs defined by the customer. In one aspect, the system includes a processing element capable of proposing a plurality of purchasable items to the customer for selection by the customer. The processing element also is capable of receiving data representing the environs and data representing at least one purchasable item selected by the customer. The processing element is further capable of generating and displaying a three-dimensional graphical representation of the environs and each purchasable item or items selected by the customer so that the customer can visualize the items in the environs.
US08540148B2	Unitary membership card Multiple membership accounts can be managed using a single, unitary membership card.
US08540147B2	Banking terminal that operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data bearing records A portable terminal operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records in the form of user cards. The user cards include credit and/or debit cards. Data corresponding to the card data is stored in memory of the terminal. The portable terminal includes a wireless communication device. The terminal operates to wirelessly communicate data corresponding to card data to one or more remote computers to cause financial transfers to or from selected accounts. The portable terminal also operates to provide outputs corresponding to account balances and to receive data corresponding to receipts.
US08540146B2	Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine includes a display and a printer to produce records of financial transactions carried out with the machine. The automated banking machine is also operative to receive secure communications from a host system that are operative to enable the automated banking machine to carry out banking transactions in response to an input of a personal identification number.
US08540141B2	Encoding method for encoding medical items A coding for a medical disposable item is proposed comprising at least one information component in encoded form. Associated encoding methods and devices, and associated decoding methods and devices, are also proposed. The coding generally comprises an optical information component comprising one or more fields filled with a gray-scale value up to a certain degree of filling. Each gray-scale value and degree of filling are associated as a value pair determined as part of a code generated to correlate to an information component desired to be applied to and conveyed from a medical disposable item to an associated device that utilizes such items.
US08540139B2	Outer boxes for storing and delivering medical devices used during surgical procedures and methods therefor A box for a medical device includes a first panel, a second panel hingedly connected with a lower edge of the first panel, a third panel hingedly connected with a lower edge of the second panel, a first side flap hingedly connected with a first side of the first panel, and a second side flap hingedly connected with a second side of the first panel. The third panel is folded over the second panel and the second panel is folded over the first panel for forming a first storage compartment and a separate second storage compartment. The first and second side flaps are folded over the second panel for closing the sides of the box. The box includes a cover foldable over and interlockable with the first side flap, the second panel, and the second side flap for holding the cover closed and closing the box.
US08540136B1	Methods for stud bump formation and apparatus for performing the same Methods for forming stud bumps and apparatuses for forming stud bumps are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a method includes clamping a wire with a clamp. The clamp includes at least two opposing plates, and at least one of the opposing plates includes a protruding feature that intersects the wire when the wire is clamped forming a first notch in the wire. The method further includes bonding the wire to a bonding surface, releasing the wire from the clamp, passing the wire a notch pitch distance through the clamp, clamping the wire with the clamp forming a second notch in the wire, and breaking the wire leaving a bonded portion of the wire on the bonding surface. The second notch is the notch pitch distance from the first notch along the wire.
US08540135B2	Bonding method, bonding apparatus, and manufacturing method of semiconductor device using the same Provided is a bonding apparatus capable of forming even loops at high speed. According to a bonding apparatus 1, a capillary 5 is lowered to a bonding position to bond an initial ball 10 to a pad 104 on an overhanging die 100. Here, a position of the capillary 5 in a Z direction and a load detected by a load sensor 7 are detected and stored every predetermined time period. A load change point is detected by referring to the stored load and the stored position. By subtracting the bonding position from a load changing position of the capillary 5 at the load change point, a movement amount Z of the capillary 5 from the load changing position to the bonding position is calculated. After the capillary 5 is lifted by the movement amount Z, a wire loop is formed between the pad 104 and a lead 105.
US08540131B2	Surgical staple cartridges with tissue tethers for manipulating divided tissue and methods of using same Surgical staple cartridges and methods for manipulating the severed ends of divided tissue. In various forms, the staple cartridge has at least one base material temporarily supported thereon that is oriented to be stapled to a corresponding end of the divided tissue. At least one elongated tether is non-removably affixed to each piece of base material. Once the base material is stapled to the corresponding piece of divided tissue, the clinician may manipulate that pieced of divided tissue by applying manipulation motions to the tether. Corresponding grooves or pockets may be provided on the cartridge body for temporarily supporting the tethers therein.
US08540130B2	Disposable motor-driven loading unit for use with a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus A self contained motor-powered disposable loading unit for use with a surgical cutting and stapling apparatus. The disposable loading unit may contain a battery that is retained in a disconnected position when the disposable loading unit is not in use and is moved to a connected position when the disposable loading unit is coupled to the surgical cutting and stapling apparatus to permit the motor to be selectively powered thereby. Indicators may be supported on the disposable loading unit to indicate when the axial drive assembly thereof is in a starting position and an ending position. Another indicator may be provided to indicate when the anvil assembly is in a closed position.
US08540126B2	Gun holster A holster for a long gun such as a shotgun or rifle that provides a safe firearm support and allows for quick aiming and firing of the firearm. Generally, the gun holster includes a base portion for securing to the user, such as to the user's belt, and a support portion for supporting the gun. The support portion includes a bottom wall portion that extends forwardly from a lower edge of the base portion. Several embodiments are disclosed. In some embodiments, the base portion and support portion are integrally formed of a folded fairly flexible material, such as leather.
US08540124B2	Dispensing pen The present invention is related to a dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a container; a dispensing opening located at one end of the container; a plunger located inside the container; a push button associated with the plunger; and a drive mechanism configured to drive the plunger linearly inside the container from a first position towards the dispensing opening when the push button is pressed and to hold the plunger at a second position, wherein the second position is closer to the dispensing opening than the first position.
US08540121B2	Dispensing actuator with flip-open lid A dispensing actuator for use on a container having pressurized contents is configured for convenient one-handed manipulation and use by consumers. The dispensing actuator includes a hingedly moveable flip-open lid, and a laterally moveable opening element, which can be manipulated so that the opening element cooperates with the lid to move the lid from a closed position to an opened position. The present dispensing actuator further includes an inner, downwardly deflectable actuating element, operatively connected with a dispensing valve of the associated container. Resilient, downward deflection of the actuating element, after opening of the dispensing actuator lid, permits the contents of the container to be conveniently dispensed. In one embodiment, the contents of the container are dispensed generally laterally of the dispensing actuator, while in alternate embodiments, the container's contents are dispensed generally upwardly, through the actuating element of the dispensing actuator.
US08540116B2	Non-round moisture-tight re-sealable containers with round sealing surfaces A hinged container is disclosed, including a base, a lid, and a hinge joining the base and lid, allowing the lid to pivot open or closed relative to the base. One of the base and the lid has a circular, outwardly tapered outer seal member disposed at least partially within its outer perimeter. The other of the base and the lid has a circular, inwardly-tapered inner seal member disposed at least partially within its outer perimeter. The inner and outer seal members are positioned to engage concentrically to wedge the inwardly and outwardly tapered surfaces together and form a seal when the base and the lid are closed, and to disengage concentrically to part the inwardly and outwardly tapered surfaces when the base and the lid are opened.
US08540109B1	Device stowing mechanism A stowing mechanism for a laptop or other device can secure different devices with varying thicknesses and widths within a compartment. The mechanism includes a cover which serves as the actuator for a jack mechanism. A pressure plate pivotally attached to the jack mechanism pushes against the device when the lid is closed, thereby securing the device within the compartment. The device can be released from the secure position by opening the cover. A buffer spring operating in conjunction with the jacking mechanism allows the mechanism to secure devices having different thicknesses and widths, while the pivotal pressure plate allows the plate to conform to devices having different shapes.
US08540106B2	Trash can with handles that graspably support a recycled plastic shopping bag as a liner A trash receptacle is configured to use a shopping bag as a liner by hanging the shopping bag handles over handles or other extensions of the trash receptacle. Separating features such as protruding handle appendages and/or recessed or horizontally offset receptacle rims provide grasping spaces below the suspended bag handles into which a user's hands can be inserted for easy grasping of the bag handles during bag removal. The receptacle extensions can be fixed or removably attachable to the trash receptacle, or can be fixed to a removable receptacle adaptor. They can be curved and/or slanted inward. They can pivot inward during bag removal to relieve strain on the bag handles. Pivoting handles can be conveniently released by a foot pedal or by actuating a hand trigger while lifting the bag handles. A receptacle lid can be included, and a foot pedal can be used to operate the lid.
US08540104B2	Optical lens case An apparatus for receiving and protecting interchangeable camera lenses includes a cylindrical body shell having a rigid wall with a soft lined interior surface, a base end cap positioned at a bottom end to form a closed-end floor, and a mouth member disposed at a top end to form an opening sized to receive a camera lens. A lid cap is removably engageable in a two-stage rotational interference fit with the mouth member. In a first stage of the fit, the lid cap is translatable along the axis of the body shell, with respect to the mouth member, between a non fluid tight position and a fluid-tight position; and in a second stage, the lid cap is retained in a fluid-tight position. A kit for creating a customized ring includes a stabilizing disk of an outer dimension to frictionally engage the interior of the body shell, and a guide member.
US08540099B2	Container sidewall connector Presented is a composite panel container sidewall construction that provides additional interior logistics slots in the sidewalls of the container for securing cargo loaded into the container. The sidewall is constructed from posts, outer sheets, inner liners, and logistics panels. The outer sheets have inward protrusions that are secured into pockets in the posts. The logistic panels may include logistic slots that may be used to secure cargo or tie downs to the sidewall of the trailer.
US08540097B1	Bottle with recessed movable handle A container enclosing a prescribed volume having a sidewall including at least one of recess, each recess including at least one socket portion. A handle element adapted to be received in each recess, each of the handle element including at least one ball portion received in the socket portion of the recess, the ball portion being pivotable within the socket portion so as to permit the handle element to be displaced from within the sidewall recesses to a position projecting outward from the sidewall sufficiently to permit the a middle portion of the handle element to be grasped in one hand by a user of the container.
US08540096B1	Bottle with recessed movable handle A container has a bottle enclosing a prescribed volume having a sidewall including a pair of recesses situated on opposite sides of a vertical midline, with at least one passage extending between the pair of recesses. A handle has first and second portions adapted to be received wholly within the pair of recesses in the sidewall. Connecting portions extend through the passage in a portion of the sidewall to connect the first and second handle portions to each other. The connecting portions include a hinge permitting the first and second portions to be displaced from within the sidewall recesses to a position projecting outward from the sidewall sufficiently to permit the first and second portions to be grasped in one hand by a user of the container.
US08540092B2	Hoisting crane with annular bearing structure This invention relates to a hoisting crane comprising a column, a jib and a jib connection member which is disposed on the column and to which the jib is connected pivotably. The crane further comprises an annular bearing structure extending around the column guiding and carrying the jib connection member rotatable about the column. The annular bearing structure comprises one or more column bearing parts connected to the column, comprising column bearing surfaces associated with the vertical column and one or more jib bearing parts connected to the jib connection member, comprising jib bearing surfaces associated with the jib connection member. A first column bearing surface is oriented substantially vertically and is arranged in a radial direction more inwards than a first jib bearing surface arranged opposite the first column bearing surfaces, to support radially inwards directed horizontal loads from the jib connection member to the column. A second column bearing surface is oriented substantially horizontally and is arranged below a second jib bearing surface arranged opposite the second column bearing surfaces to support downwardly directed vertical loads from the jib connection member to the column. According to a first aspect of the invention, a third column bearing surface is oriented substantially vertically and is arranged in a radial direction more outwards than a third jib bearing surface arranged opposite the third column bearing surface.
US08540089B2	Hanging closet A hanging closet includes closet body having a plurality of horizontal panels arranged at different elevations to divide the inside space of the closet body into multiple compartments and a plurality of horizontal splits on one or both of the two opposing sidewalls, and compartment support members each having a first support panel and a third support panel respectively insertable through two adjacent horizontal splits of the closet body into the inside of the associating horizontal panels to give a support and a flexible connection pocket connected between the first and third support panels that can be stuffed with a second support panel.
US08540082B2	Centrifugal assembly and method for ova detection A centrifugal assembly is provided that can be used in common laboratory fixed angle or swinging bucket centrifuges for the separation of material, such as parasitic ova, based on particle density. The centrifugal assembly allows the fluid level to be gently adjusted to form a meniscus without disruption of the buoyant matter, such as ova. The centrifugal assembly also enables a user to easily and hygienically collect and transfer a measured amount of a sample, such as fecal material, and to break apart and mix the sample with a floatation fluid contained in a centrifuge tube.
US08540081B2	Fluoropolymer hollow fiber membrane with fluoro-copolymer and fluoro-terpolymer bonded end portion(s) and method to fabricate A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device and its method of manufacture are disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer based materials. The potting method described herein, utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film. PTFE hollow fibers, and its respective fluoro-co and terpolymers as potting films, impart high packing densities, superb chemical resistance and temperature resistance without membrane contamination, or low fiber pull strength, as is sometimes observed with standard potting materials such as polyurethane and epoxy.
US08540080B2	Fluid filter system An endcap includes a first plate member having a radial inner portion, a radial outer portion, and defining a longitudinal axis. The endcap also includes a flange disposed between the radial inner and outer portions, and projecting axially along the longitudinal axis in a first direction. The endcap also includes a first seal member disposed adjacent the flange. The first seal member includes a first portion engaged with an axial facing surface of the first plate member and a second portion engaged with a radially facing surface of the flange. The endcap further includes a second plate member disposed radially outward of the radial outer portion and a second seal member disposed adjacent the second plate member including at least a portion axially spaced from the axially facing surface of the first plate member in a second direction along the longitudinal axis opposite the first direction.
US08540076B2	Stackable construction container Whether constructed of square or rectangular configuration with handles for lifting and carrying about, and with internal shelves or braces to receive and hold compartmentalized partitioned layers to accept the various tools of various trades, the container of the invention, when of a composition to support the weight of studs and boards placed upon them, provides a crate which cannot only carry the tools of the trade, but can serve as a workbench in performing needed work at a jobsite location, as well as to support the weight of a workman standing upon included boards and studs as a “step” to reach elevated heights in the doing of a required job.
US08540073B2	Balloons Arrangements are described for enabling a folded foil balloon to be supplied to a printer for enabling an image to be applied to a surface of the balloon. The balloon is first folded around a paper substrate, and a paper cover sheet is attached to the folded-over edge portions and tail portion of the balloon, so as to form a packaged balloon. The packaged balloon is formed with a tapered leading edge to facilitate insertion into a standard ink-jet printer. The packaged balloon may be in the form of a greetings card, with the fold of the card either along the left edge or the top edge of the card. The packaged balloon may be supplied with one or more light sources and/or power sources, either on the inside or outside of the balloon.
US08540070B2	Coil shift transfer car A system is disclosed for transferring a cylindrical coil suspended on a first stem projecting horizontally from a first base to a remotely positioned and axially aligned second stem projecting horizontally from a second base. The system comprises a track extending between the first and second stems, a carriage movable along the track, and a conveyor on the carriage, with a receiving end and a delivery end. The carriage is movable along the track to a first location at which the receiving end of the conveyor underlies the coil suspended from the first stem. The conveyor is vertically adjustable from a lowered position spaced beneath the coil to an elevated position at which the coil is lifted from the first stem and supported on the receiving end of said conveyor, with the conveyor then being operable to shift the coil to a position supported on the conveyor delivery end. The carriage is then shiftable to a second location at which the coil is axially inserted on the horizontally positioned second stem, with an end of the coil in contact with the second base. The conveyor is then lowered to deposit the coil on the second stem, thereby allowing the carriage to again move along the track to begin another coil transferring cycle.
US08540068B2	Money handling machine In a control unit (50), a predetermined amount of money of fund money that is the money to be dispensed as the change or the like (i.e., predetermined denominations and the number for each denomination or predetermined total amount of the fund money) is set in advance. The control unit (50) controls an insertion unit (12), a transport unit (16), a storing unit (22) and an escrow unit (20), so as to automatically perform a dispensing process for feeding the money corresponding to the predetermined amount of the fund money from the storing unit (22) to a dispensing unit (14), after the control unit (50) serves to perform a depositing process for taking the money into a casing (10) from the exterior thereof via the insertion unit (12), and then feeding the money taken in the casing (10) to the escrow unit (20).
US08540067B2	Power transmission arrangement A power transmission arrangement includes a differential gear adapted to transfer power from an input shaft to a first output shaft, and a first brake adapted to effect the first output shaft and a second brake adapted to effect the input shaft.
US08540059B2	Stroller and brake mechanism thereof A brake mechanism includes a first wheel base, a second wheel base, a linkage part, a passive brake device and an active brake device. The first wheel base and the second wheel base are installed on two feet of a stroller, respectively. A first wheel set and a second wheel set of the stroller are pivotally connected to the first wheel base and the second wheel base, respectively. The passive brake device and the active brake device are connected to a first end and a second end of the linkage part, respectively. The active brake device includes a first engaging part and a driving part. The driving part is rotatably disposed on the second wheel base. When the driving part rotates between a locking position and a releasing position, the driving part drives the first engaging part and drives the passive brake device to move via the linkage part.
US08540047B2	Passenger's weight measurement device for vehicle seat and attachment structure for load sensor A lower rail is fixed to a vehicle floor, and an upper rail is movable in a rear and front direction with respect to the lower rail. A load sensor is fixed to an upper surface of the upper rail. A rectangular frame is attached onto the load sensor, a rod of the load sensor sequentially penetrates a web of the rectangular frame and a spring holder upward, and a coil spring is wound around the rod. A nut is screwed to the rod, and the nut tightens a bottom of a cup portion of the spring holder. The coil spring is sandwiched between a flange of the spring holder and the web and is compressed by tightening the nut.
US08540042B2	Cooling structure for construction machine The construction machine including an engine room having an engine, a radiator ii for cooling the engine, and a hydraulic pump which are arranged therein, and a counterweight area which is located adjacent to the engine room and in which batteries are installed, a ventilation passage for cooling the engine room and a ventilation passage for cooling the batteries are formed separately and independently in the substantially same direction, and a flowing direction of cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage for cooling the engine room and a flowing direction of cooling air flowing in the ventilation passage for cooling the batteries are substantially parallel to each other.
US08540039B1	Accommodating structure with a belt transmission structure An accommodating structure with a belt transmission structure. Two tracks are fixed on a body by several joining elements. Several sliding teeth are provided around the tracks. A belt is fixed at the sliding teeth along the loop structure of the tracks. The belt winds around the tracks as the sliding teeth slide.
US08540029B2	System and apparatus for drilling riser conduit clamp A clamp for securing about annular casing via a centrally oriented aperture having a radius includes at least one aperture for grasping a longitudinally extending accessory disposed about the radius of the centrally oriented aperture and at least one fastening member for securing the longitudinally extending accessory about the clamp. At least one fastening member and at least one aperture act to secure a longitudinally extending accessory relative to the annular casing.
US08540028B1	Autonomous junk collecting sleeve for a riser An autonomous junk collecting sleeve for a riser is provided. The sleeve is constructed and arranged to be independently lowered and seated above a subsea tree section and, subsequently, raised and removed independent of the work string. The autonomous junk collecting sleeve includes a first cylindrical structure, a second cylindrical structure concentric to the first cylindrical structure and which are joined together in spatial relation at a bottom end to form an interior J-channel basket. The J-channel basket is operable to collect debris traveling up through the bottom end and over of the second cylindrical structure for deposit therein.
US08540020B2	Converting organic matter from a subterranean formation into producible hydrocarbons by controlling production operations based on availability of one or more production resources One or more methods, systems and computer readable mediums are utilized to provide treatment of a subterranean formation that contains solid organic matter, such as oil shale, tar sands, and/or coal formation. The treatment of the formation includes heating a treatment interval within the subterranean formation with one or more electrical in situ heaters. Available power, or other production resources, for the electrical heaters are determined at regular, predetermined intervals. Heating rates of the one or more electrical heaters are selectively controlled based on the determined available power at each regular, predetermined interval and based on an optimization model that outputs optimal heating rates for each of the electrical heaters at the determined available power.
US08540013B1	Heat exchanger with positive lock A heat exchanger with a plurality of heat transfer plates between a frame and a movable plate employs hydraulic rams connected above and below the heat transfer plates to move the movable plate toward or away from the frame in a releasable clamping action against the heat transfer plates. A positive lock maintains the movable plate in its operational position. Supports above and below the heat transfer plates support and guide the movable plate and heat transfer plates. Thus, the heat transfer plates are removable from between the stationary and follower plates for replacement and maintenance when the movable plate is moved away from the frame without further reconfiguration or dismantling of the plate heat exchanger.
US08540010B2	Sequential mold filling Method and apparatus for casting molten metal or alloy into a plurality of molds that are connected by mold ingate passages in melt flow communication to a melt supply passage which is configured in a manner to completely or partially fill the molds with the molten metal or alloy sequentially one after another. Filling of the molds in this manner provides uniform mold filling, reduces foreign matter in molds filled after the first-filled mold, and improves quality of the cast articles.
US08540009B2	Hollow sand cores to reduce gas defects in castings An exemplary method for forming a sand core includes forming a core insert; forming a sand core precursor around the core insert; and creating at least one passage within the sand core precursor by removing or otherwise transforming a portion of the core insert, wherein the at least one passage includes at least one exit point. The sand core may then be utilized in a casting mold assembly to form a cast part.
US08540002B2	System and method for completing lamination of rigid-to-rigid substrates by the controlled application of pressure The present invention is a process for performing rigid-to-rigid substrate lamination implementing pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA). The process may include pressurizing a first sealed cavity to a first pressure. The process may further include creating a vacuum within a second sealed cavity, the second sealed cavity being sealed from the first sealed cavity by a flexible membrane. The process may further include applying the first pressure to a laminate assembly stack via the flexible membrane, the laminate assembly stack including a first substrate, a second substrate, and a PSA layer, the PSA layer being positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate. The process may further include applying the vacuum created within the second sealed cavity to the laminate assembly stack. The applied first pressure and the applied vacuum promote intimate contact between the first substrate and the second substrate of the laminate assembly stack via the PSA layer.
US08539999B2	Tire with chafer The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire having a pair of spaced apart bead components, a connecting carcass between said bead components, and a rubber chafer positioned around at least a portion of each of said bead components and intended for contacting a rigid rim of a wheel, wherein said chafer comprises an outer skin layer intended for contacting the rigid rim and an inner core layer disposed radially inward of the skin layer.
US08539994B2	Valve with biasing member An apparatus and system for transferring a liquid, such as a liquid anesthetic, from a reservoir to a machine while minimizing the release of the liquid to the surrounding environment. The apparatus can include a frame member defining a frame passage extending from a first end of the frame member to a second end of the frame member and a nozzle connected to the frame member. The nozzle can be moveable between a first position and a second position relative to the frame member, and can define a plug member configured to block the second end of the frame passage when the nozzle is in the first position. The apparatus can further include a biasing member connected to the frame member and the nozzle.
US08539993B2	Fuel tank opening and closing device A fuel tank opening and closing device is equipped with a flap valve mechanism having an opening and closing member for opening and closing an inlet inside a tank opening forming member. The nozzle positioning guide mechanism has a first support mechanism of an opening peripheral edge of an introduction port of an insertion path of a tank opening forming member, a second support mechanism having an introduction guide surface formed on the top surface of the pressing member of the opening and closing member, and a positioning ridge line that has a curvature almost the same but slightly larger than the outer diameter of the fueling nozzle and which touches by line contact on the outer peripheral surface of the fueling nozzle at the insertion completion position, and a third support mechanism having a valve positioning member which regulates the degree of openness of the opening and closing member by touching the inner wall of the tank opening forming member.
US08539990B2	Vehicle port door with wirelessly actuated unlatching assembly A port door unlatching system is provided that may be used to open the door covering the charge port of an electric vehicle, or the door covering the fuel filler port of a conventional vehicle. The system includes a fuel delivery subsystem with a fuel coupler (e.g., a charging connector or a gas nozzle) designed to transfer fuel from the source to the vehicle via the vehicle's fuel port. The fuel coupler includes a switch that when toggled, causes a control signal to be wirelessly transmitted over a short distance. Upon receipt of the control signal by a receiver integrated into a vehicle that is in close proximity to the fuel port, an unlatching actuator within the vehicle unlatches the port door, thereby allowing it to open and provide port access.
US08539983B2	By-pass valve for heat exchanger A by-pass valve for a heat exchanger circuit. The by-pass valve includes a housing defining a serially communicating first bore, second bore and third bore substantially aligned along a central axis with a valve seat facing the first bore at a juncture between the first bore and second bore and a spring seat facing the second bore at a juncture between the second bore and third bore, the first bore, second bore and third bore forming at least a portion of a closable flow path between a first opening and a second opening in the housing. An actuator located in the housing has a reciprocating seal disposed for movement along the central axis for engaging the valve seat and closing a valve opening between the first bore and second bore. A coiled return spring is mounted in the housing for urging the reciprocating seal towards the first bore to open the valve opening, the return spring having a first end acting on the reciprocating seal and a second end engaging the spring seat. The second bore and third bore each have a different cross-sectional shape transverse to the central axis.
US08539982B2	Flow through isolation valve for high pressure fluid A flow through isolation valve having a stationary member; a movable member, with a surface of the stationary member interfacing with a surface of the movable member; and at least one pin isolation valve. The pin isolation valve has a flow through internal conduit and is movable so that the internal conduit can fluidically communicate with at least one blank opening in the movable member and with a flow through internal conduit in the movable member. Movement is by rotation, linear or curvilinear translation. At least one pin isolation valve is fluidically coupled typically to a sample loop of a face seal valve, or to a pump supplying high pressure liquid to or to a column discharging liquid from a face seal valve of a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system or directly to the face seal valve.
US08539980B2	Device for controlled operation of a surgical or dental drive unit A device for operation of a surgical or dental drive unit includes a control valve attached to a drive unit to control a flow rate of a compressed fluid flowing from a compressed fluid source to the drive unit. The control valve includes (a) a first control arrangement controlling a rate of flow of the compressed fluid through the control valve; (b) a control switch; and (c) a control sleeve controlled by the control switch to axially move along a longitudinal axis of the drive unit between a first configuration in which the control valve is locked and closed to fluid flow and a second configuration in which the control valve is unlocked and the first control arrangement controls the rate of flow therethrough.
US08539979B2	Two-stage solenoid valve for an electropneumatic valve control unit A two-stage solenoid valve for an electropneumatic valve control unit, e.g., a pilot control unit of a pressure modulator, includes a solenoid system to which a first and second current intensity can be applied as well as a solenoid valve device with a primary side connectable to a first compressed-air supply and a secondary side connectable to a second compressed-air supply. A primary valve encompassing an adjustable primary armature biased by a primary armature spring is provided on the primary side, and a secondary valve encompassing an adjustable secondary armature biased by a secondary armature spring is provided on the secondary side. The solenoid valve device can be a valve cartridge insertable from one side. Diameters of a front (in relation to insertion direction) region and a central region of the valve cartridge are smaller than or equal to the diameter of a rear region of the valve cartridge.
US08539975B2	Drill string valve and method Method and drill string valve for closing a conduit through which a high pressure fluid flows. The drill string valve includes an elongated housing having an inside cavity, a seal element attached to a first end of the elongated housing, the seal element being disposed within the inside cavity such that a flow of liquid through the inside cavity from the first end to a second end of the elongated housing is allowed, a sliding valve disposed within the inside cavity and configured to slide to and from the seal element along the axis such that when the sliding valve contacts the seal element the flow of liquid is suppressed, a biasing cartridge disposed within the inside cavity, between the seal element and the second end of the elongated housing, and configured to apply a first force on the sliding valve such that the sliding valve is contacting the seal element, and a loading mechanism disposed within the inside cavity, between the biasing cartridge and the second end of the elongated housing, and configured to apply a second force on the biasing cartridge.
US08539968B2	Car wash system with lighted spray arms and method of making same A touchless, automatic spray-type car wash system includes one or more arms delivering washing fluids wherein the arms are constructed with translucent plastic sleeves which can be illuminated from within by LEDs. Different colors for the arm or arms can be coordinated with wash process steps. Signage can be provided in the bay and can include panels which are illuminated in a sequential fashion coordinated with arm illumination colors to inform the driver as to each step being performed.
US08539967B2	Spray pretreatment system and method for pre-treating workpieces by spraying The invention discloses a spray pretreatment system and a method for pre-treating workpieces by spraying in a spraying tunnel, wherein the workpieces are fed into a treating station through an entry station. The inlet opening of the entry station is located below the level of the treating installations of the treating station. In this way, partial condensation of the vapors escaping from the treating station occurs in the entry station so that one can do without an extraction system in the area of the roof surface of the spraying tunnel. If desired, an extraction system with relatively low capacity may be provided in the region of the inlet opening.
US08539956B2	System for use with an implantable medical device A system for use with an implantable flow control device having an adjustable valve and a magnetic device coupled to the valve, the system including a locator tool and an electronic magnetic-based indicator tool. The locator tool includes a processing system and an electronic display. The indicator tool is configured to couple with the locator tool. The indicator tool includes an electronic compass module configured to detect and generate a first set of data based on an orientation of magnetic fields associated with the magnetic device as an indication of the setting of the valve and measure and generate a second set of data based on ambient background magnetic fields. The indicator tool electrically communicates the data to the locator tool. The processing system receives and uses the first and second sets of data generated from the electronic compass module to determine orientation of the magnetic device.
US08539955B2	Mouthguard An improved mouthguard is provided for use by individuals having orthodontic appliances, such as braces. The mouthguard comprises an outer guard portion and an inner subguard portion. The subguard provides a barrier between the outer guard and the user's braces, thereby allowing the outer guard to be custom fit to the user's mouth and teeth using methods known in the art. Additionally, the subguard is secured to the outer guard, producing a one-piece mouthguard, and allows the mouthguard to be removably secured to the user's braces, increasing the comfort and retention of the mouthguard within the user's mouth. The mouthguard effectively protects the users braces, as well as the user's teeth and mouth, from potential damage arising out impacts suffered by the user during sporting activities while improving the user's comfort and performance in sports by allowing the user to breathe and speak uninhibited during the sporting activity.
US08539950B2	Method and apparatus for collection of waste anesthetic gases In an apparatus for collection of waste anesthetic gases, and a method of using such an apparatus, the apparatus has a gas collection chamber with an input port to be connected to an exhaust of an anesthesia delivery system for receiving a first gas flow therefrom that contains a waste anesthetic gas component. An output port from the gas collection chamber is connected to a vacuum system for evacuation of an evacuation gas flow from the gas collection chamber. A bidirectional port leads to and from the gas collection chamber, which has an adsorbing unit connecting the gas collection chamber with an ambient environment surrounding the gas collection chamber. The apparatus provides for safe prevention of discharge of exhaled anesthetic gases into an ambient atmosphere surrounding the apparatus.
US08539940B2	Jewelry bench dust shield A jewelry bench dust shield including a base attachable to a jewelry bench, an arm pivotally attached to said base, and a dust shield attached to said arm. A jewelry bench dust shield including a vacuum triggering pivoting arm, a trigger holding arm pivot base attachable to a jewelry bench, and a face plate connected to said arm. A jewelry bench dust shield including a base attachable to a jewelry bench, a vacuum trigger connected to said base having a wire connectable to a vacuum, an arm pivotally attached to said base, said arm having an extension portion which depresses said trigger when arm is lowered, and which releases said trigger when arm is raised, and a face plate connected to said arm.
US08539937B2	Fuel supplying apparatus for internal combustion engine A fuel supplying apparatus is disclosed that suppresses intrusion of oil mist into a negative pressure introducing inlet of an automatic cock and that, thereby, improves the degree of freedom of disposition. The negative pressure introducing inlet of the automatic cock is connected to a crankcase through a negative pressure communication path. The automatic cock is opened by a negative pressure generated in the crankcase and, thereby, a fuel supply path is opened that is for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to an internal combustion engine. The negative pressure communication path communicates with the air cleaner through a purge path that branches from the negative pressure communication path at a halfway point of the negative pressure communication path. The point at which the purge path branches from the negative pressure communication path is set to be at the lowest position of the negative pressure communication path to be able to collect the oil mist intruding from the crankcase.
US08539936B2	Supercharger rotor shaft seal pressure equalization A pressure equalization system reduces or eliminates a pressure differential across supercharger rotor shaft seals. Under high boost, rotor shaft seals often fail, allowing hot compressed air into an oil lubricated space containing rotor bearings and gears (and vented to ambient pressure), reducing oil lubricating effectiveness and resulting in increased wear and failure. Under low or non boost operation, the pressure differential is reversed causing the lubricating oil to leak into the supercharger interior and accelerated rotor seal wear. The pressure equalization system includes flow restrictive seals on both rotor shafts, separated from the rotor shaft seals by vented spaces, thereby isolating the rotor shaft seals from boost or vacuum in the supercharger interior and reducing or eliminating the pressure differential across the rotor shaft seals. Maintaining close to atmospheric pressure on both sides of the rotor shaft seals during boost and vacuum operation reduces wear and failures.
US08539926B2	Piston, cylinder and piston assembly and piston ring for a piston A piston includes a piston head, two skirt walls disposed opposite one another and at least one pin bearing disposed between the skirt walls and supported on the piston head. Each skirt wall extends over a partial region of the periphery of the piston or piston head. The two skirt walls are connected by at least one self-supporting support wall disposed at a distance from the piston head. A cylinder and piston assembly and a piston ring for a cylinder, are also provided.
US08539923B2	Power unit for vehicle A speed reducing gear train includes a starter driven gear, a starting one-way clutch interposed between the starter driven gear and a crankshaft for permitting power transmission from the starter driven gear to the side of the crankshaft. The speed reducing gear train and the starting one-way clutch being provided between a starter motor and the crankshaft with a transmission accommodated in a crankcase. The transmission includes gear trains for selectively establishing a plurality of gear speeds with the gear trains being between a main shaft and a counter shaft. The starter motor can produce power for driving the vehicle and to impart a drive assisting force. A power transmitting gear meshing with the starter driven gear is relatively rotatably mounted on the main shaft through a running one-way clutch permitting power transmission from the power transmitting gear to the side of the main shaft.
US08539920B2	Valve lash adjustment system for a split-cycle engine The present invention provides a valve actuation system comprising a valve train for actuating a valve, the valve train including actuating elements and a valve lash, and a valve lash adjustment system for adjusting the valve lash, wherein the valve train and the valve lash adjustment system do not share any common actuating elements.
US08539918B2	Multi-cylinder opposed piston engines Integrated, multi-cylinder opposed engine constructions include a unitary support structure to which cylinder liners are removeably mounted and sealed and on which crankshafts are rotatably supported. The unitary support structure includes cooling manifolds that provide liquid coolant to the cylinder liners. Exhaust and intake manifolds attached to the support structure to serve respective ports in the cylinder liner. The engine constructions may also include certain improvements in the construction of cooled pistons with flexible skirts, and in the construction of cylinders with sealing structures mounted outside of exhaust and inlet ports to control lubricant in the cylindrical interstice between the through bore and the pistons.
US08539917B2	Variable compression ratio apparatus A variable compression ratio apparatus may be mounted at an engine receiving combustion force of an air-fuel mixture from a piston and rotating a crankshaft, and may change compression ratio of the air-fuel mixture. The variable compression ratio apparatus includes a connecting rod having a small end and a big end, the small end being formed of an eccentric bearing hole concentrically so as to be rotatably connected to the piston through a piston pin, and the crankshaft is rotatably mounted at the big end, an eccentric link having one end to which an eccentric bearing rotatably mounted in the eccentric bearing hole concentrically is connected, an eccentric link slot being formed along a length direction thereof, a variable bar formed of a variable bar gear at one end portion thereof, and connected to the eccentric link through a variable bar pin movable along the eccentric link slot, and a variable gear engaged with the variable bar gear so as to move the variable bar to a predetermined direction reciprocally, wherein a piston pin hole is formed at the eccentric bearing eccentrically, and the piston pin is inserted in the piston pin hole such that the piston, the connecting rod, and the eccentric link are rotatably connected to each other.
US08539916B2	Cooling structure for internal combustion engine A height of a spacer which is arranged inside a water jacket formed to surround peripheries of cylinder bores of a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine is made to be lower by a step in an intermediate portion thereof in a cylinder row line direction. Consequently, among end-portion cylinder bores having a lower temperature and being situated at opposite end portions in the cylinder row line direction and intermediate cylinder bores being other than the end-portion cylinder bores and having a higher temperature, a cooling performance of the intermediate cylinder bores is higher than that of the end-portion cylinder bores. Therefore, all the temperatures of the respective cylinder bores can be made uniform. A similar operation effect can be obtained alternatively by making a thickness of the spacer thinner in portions facing the intermediate cylinder bores and thicker in portions facing the end-portion cylinder bores.
US08539898B1	Underwater vehicle with improved controls and modular payload A system for enhancing control of an underwater vehicle, and providing a quick change modular payload section includes a motor configured to rotate an internally threaded member threadingly engaged with a threaded rod. Rotating the member creates linear motion of the threaded rod. A control rod connected to the threaded rod provides movement of a rudder or fin. The threaded rod and member are configured with threads having a fine pitch which maintains a stable position of the fins without needing to supply power to the motor for adjustments. The modular payload arrangement includes a bulkhead ring having L-shaped recesses that receive fasteners disposed on a central body section. The payload section may be fastened to the vehicle by pressing the payload section onto the central body such that the fasteners align with the recesses and turning the payload section to secure the payload section.
US08539895B2	Apparatus to reduce skin friction drag on a marine vessel An apparatus of reducing skin friction drag on a marine hull comprising imparting ultrasonically-induced cavitation at a boundary layer at the hull-water interface. The apparatus includes a sonification plate on at least a portion of a wettable area of the hull to establish a boundary layer interface between the sonification plate and the water medium, and an acoustic generator for energizing the sonification plate to produce microcavitation bubbles at the boundary layer interface whereby to alter the Reynolds number, kinematic viscosity, and coefficient of friction. The sonification plate is hermetically sealed and includes an array of ultrasonic transducers, which may be mounted on an interior or exterior surface of the hull. The energizing nucleates microcavitation bubbles upon entrained gases and/or particulate matter residing in the water medium.
US08539884B2	Remotely controlled ignition system for pyrotechnics A remote pyrotechnic ignition system includes a power supply for producing an electrical current in a transmitting induction coil to induce an electrical current in a receiving induction coil for igniting a pyrotechnic device. Thus, a wireless ignition communication section allows pyrotechnic mortars to be reused and substantially reduces set-up time by eliminating the wiring of fireworks normally required for a pyrotechnic production. Optionally, a capacitor is charged by the power source via a charging circuit and discharged via a firing circuit to produce the electric current in the transmitting coil in a pulse. The capacitor provides a two-stage firing safety feature. An electronic control device such as a circuit board may be mounted on the pyrotechnic device for controlling ignition of the pyrotechnic device and is especially useful in controlling ignition sequencing and overall ignition timing of a lift charge and burst charge of the pyrotechnic device.
US08539882B2	Automated press speed optimization A method of operating a web printing press is provided. The method includes storing productivity data, press speeds and paper types of past print jobs run on the web printing press in a database; comparing a paper type of a new print job with the paper types of the past print jobs stored in the database to identify past print jobs with similar or the same paper type as the new print job; selecting a press speed for the new print job based on at least the productivity data of the past print jobs with similar or the same paper type as the new print job; and printing the new print job on the web printing press at the selected press speed.
US08539873B2	Standoff ballistic protection device A standoff protection device intended to fully cover a door and incorporating at least one mobile panel hinged on hinges having an axis of rotation parallel to an axis of rotation of the door. The device incorporates at least one connecting rod linked to the door by a first pivot and to the mobile panel by a second pivot. The orthogonal projection of the axis of the second pivot in the plane of the door is located between the first pivot and the orthogonal projection in the plane of the door of the axis of the hinges of the mobile panel. The device incorporating a fixed standoff protective panel integral with the door. The fixed panel includes a first lateral edge extending beyond an external edge of the door parallel to its axis of rotation, and a second lateral edge contiguous with the mobile panel when the door is closed.
US08539871B1	Self-engaging non-reciprocating charging handle A non-reciprocating, self-engaging charging handle is disclosed. It comprises a forward latch mounted upon a sliding body with a protruding handle. The latch positively engages the firearm's bolt carrier group when the handle is brought forward into contact therewith. A secondary latching system secures the charging handle to the upper receiver when not in use and disengages automatically when and only when a user desires to operate the handle. The charging handle's secondary latching system is also claimed as a stand-alone system.
US08539868B2	Manually fed machine for working on materials, objects and the like, and protective means for such a machine A manually fed working machine including a working tool, a feeding area in front of the tool, a detector covering at least a section of the feeding area for a contactless detection of human skin, the detector including at least one radiation unit and at least one receiver unit. The at least one radiation unit emitting radiation towards the section of the feeding area, the radiation being emitted with at least two different wavelengths in the wavelength range between 900 nm and 1500 nm, whereas the at least one receiver unit receives the radiation reflected from the section of the feeding area, and a signal evaluation unit connected with the detector calculating the quotients or differences of the intensities of the reflected radiations received by the receiver unit and the at least two different wavelengths emitted from the radiation unit.
US08539867B2	Perforator A perforating method comprising the steps of providing a pair of rotatable members, each rotatable member having anvils and perforating blades, rotating the first rotatable member in a clockwise direction while concurrently rotating the second rotatable member in a counterclockwise direction, and rotating the first rotatable member in the counterclockwise direction while concurrently rotating the second rotatable member in the clockwise direction.
US08539866B2	Method and apparatus to remove cast from an individual A method for installing a fiberglass cast on and removing the cast from an individual includes an open ended pliable thin-walled polymer guide track and cutting tool designed to track along said guide track to cut the cast and to prevent, while a cast is being removed, injury to the individual.
US08539865B1	Hex drive screw holder The hex drive screw holder includes a spring-loaded end piece having a slot across which the neck of a screw may slide and of which engages and aligns the screw head against the screwdriver bit. The spring-loaded end piece is supported by opposing arms that attach to a urethane body that abuts a depth stopper, which attaches onto the body of the screwdriver bit. The urethane body has a hexagonally shaped hole through which the screwdriver bit passes through. The spring-loaded end piece only moves a small distance to accommodate the screw head and is composed of a urethane composite along with the urethane body. A spring imposes a biasing force on the urethane body and a pressure loading sleeve secured to the screwdriver bit. The hex drive screw holder supports a screw head against a screwdriver bit during installation into a work surface, and provides a means of ingress and egress of the screw to and from the spring-loaded end piece.
US08539862B1	Buckle release tool A buckle release tool includes a housing element having a convex back surface ergonomically sized to conform to a human hand and a tool element. The housing element includes a rounded perimeter surface having several shallow slots. A tool element dome is provided on the front surface. The tool element dome includes a soft plastic tip surface. A seat belt cutter and a window hammer are housed in an embodiment of buckle release tool. A separate, storage element for the buckle release tool is provided.
US08539855B2	Steering column for a motor vehicle A adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle includes a mounting part that can be attached to the chassis of the motor vehicle, and an adjusting part that can be adjusted relative to the mounting part. The adjusting part rotatably supports a segment of the steering spindle, and the segment is adjacent to a steering wheel side end of the steering spindle that can be adjusted relative to the mounting part between a first end position and a second end position, along an adjusting path, when adjusting the adjusting part. The steering-wheel side end is adjusted through at least part of the adjusting path in a coupled manner in one direction of a length adjustment of the steering column, and in one direction of a height or tilt adjustment of the steering column. A front guide pin is mounted at the adjusting part or on the mounting part, and the pin engages in at least one elongated hole provided in the other of the two parts. A rear guide pin is further mounted on the adjusting part or the mounting part, and the pin includes a greater distance than the front guide pin from the steering-wheel side end of the steering spindle, and engaging in a rear elongated hole provided in at least one other of said two parts, the course thereof, relative to the curvature thereof and/or the direction of extension thereof differs from the corresponding course of the at least one front elongated hole over at least one segment of the extension thereof.
US08539849B2	Bearing system for a worm in a steering gear Disclosed is a bearing system for a worm engaging with a worm wheel as part of a steering gear, wherein the bearing system comprises at least one bearing with an outer ring, an inner ring, and rolling bodies that are movably accommodated between the outer an inner rings, the bearing being pivotally arranged in a bearing seat for accommodating the outer ring of the bearing, and wherein the inner ring accommodates one of the two shaft ends of the worm in order to seat said shaft end of the worm radially in the housing of the steering gear. For an improved dampening of the worm at least one spring element, which exerts a spring force on a region of the outer ring of the bearing, is provided at the bearing, said spring force supporting a pivotal motion of the worm toward the worm wheel.
US08539848B2	System for evaluating cutting efficiency of root canal rotary instruments A system for evaluating cutting efficiency of root canal rotary instruments is provided. The system includes a root canal rotary instrument, a driving unit, a cutting object, a prestressing force providing unit and a feeding unit. The root canal rotary instrument is attached on the driving unit, and driven thereby. The cutting object is pressed by the prestressing force providing unit to contact the root canal rotary instrument. The feeding unit feeds the cutting object to the root canal rotary instrument, and the root canal rotary instrument cuts an uncut surface of the cutting object.
US08539846B2	Sample retrieval apparatus and method Sample or specimen retrieval may be performed via a tool that includes a multi-section tool bit which carries a plug. A cutter of the tool bit forms (e.g., drill, mill, bore, ream) a hole in a structure. A mandrel on a leading section of the tool bit sealing engages the plug in the hole from a blindside of the structure. A sample chamber of a trailing section of the tool bit extends into the hole through a passage in the plug and is opened. Optionally an auger portion of the trailing section rotates to acquire the sample in the sample chamber. The sample chamber is closed and withdrawn from hole and the mandrel seats in the passage to seal the plug. The trailing section is separated from the leading section, and retrieved along with the sample. Such may be particularly suitable for use with submersible ROVs.
US08539839B2	Pressure sensor, sensor array, method for manufacturing sensor array, and grasping apparatus A pressure sensor includes: a supporting body which has an opening; a pressure detecting portion which includes a supporting film provided on the supporting body and having a diaphragm portion closing the opening, and a piezoelectric body provided on the diaphragm portion and deflecting to output an electric signal; a frame body which has, on the pressure detecting portion, a cylindrical cavity along a film thickness direction of the supporting film, and is formed, in plan view when viewed from the film thickness direction of the supporting film, at a position where a cylindrical inner peripheral wall of the cavity overlaps with the opening, or outside of the opening; a sealing film which closes the frame body; and a silicone oil which is filled in an inner space formed of the cylindrical inner peripheral wall of the cavity, the sealing film, and the pressure detecting portion.
US08539830B2	High precision sensing for parameter measurement of bone density A measurement system for capturing a transit time, phase, or frequency of energy waves propagating through a propagation medium is disclosed. The measurement system comprises a compressible waveguide (403), ultrasonic transducers (405, 406), and circuitry to sustain energy wave propagation in the waveguide (403). The circuitry includes a propagation tuned oscillator (404), a digital counter (409), a pulse generator (410), a phase detector (414), a counter (420), a digital timer (422), and a data register (424). The measurement system employs a continuous mode (CM), pulse mode, or pulse-echo mode of operation to evaluate propagation characteristics of continuous ultrasonic waves in the waveguide by way of closed-loop feedback to determine levels of applied forces on the waveguide.
US08539818B2	Methods and systems for evaporative cooling infrared thermographic leak detection A method for leak testing a vessel is described. The method includes providing an environment within the vessel that is at a lower humidity than the environment surrounding the vessel, and using a thermographic imaging system to identify any leaks associated with the vessel. The leaks are identified based on evaporative cooling that occurs when a portion of the lower humidity environment escapes from the vessel and mixes with the higher humidity environment surrounding the vessel.
US08539814B2	Material measures for use in evaluating performance of measuring instrument for measuring surface texture A material measure for use in evaluating the performance of a measuring instrument for measuring surface texture includes: a measurement area having a plurality of grooves in a predetermined direction. With the configuration, each of the grooves has a simple cross-sectional shape at a cross-section along the predetermined direction; and a length of the cross-sectional shape in the predetermined direction is different for the predetermined number of adjacent grooves in the predetermined direction.
US08539808B2	Bandolier with laterally offset and spaced work piece A method of operating a progressive die wherein the progressive die acts on a work piece having an elongated body with a blank at one end. The work piece is supported by a bandolier which is also formed in the progressive die. The progressive die acts on each blank.
US08539806B2	Roll forming method for producing longitudinally toothed profiled bodies in pot-shaped cylindrical workpieces A roll-forming process for producing longitudinally toothed profiled bodies in a pot-shaped cylindrical workpiece in which, during a first rolling process (A), the pot-shaped cylindrical workpiece (1) is moved through a first rolling stage with a bottom (3) of the workpiece being rolled first. During at least one further rolling process (B, C), the workpiece (1) passes through at least one further rolling stage with an open end of the workpiece being rolled first.
US08539801B2	Handle device Handle device for operating doors, windows and the like, comprising a first element, which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, a second element, and a coupling device which is connected to the first and the second element and is designed to selectively allow or prevent relative rotation about the axis of rotation between the first and the second element, the coupling device comprising an outer coupling member (3, 50) and an inner coupling member (5, 31), which is concentrically accommodated, rotatable about the axis of rotation, in the outer coupling member. The handle device comprises at least one engaging member (20), which is radially displaceable in the inner coupling member (5, 31), and an activating member (12, 60) which is accommodated in the inner coupling member and axially displaceable therein, parallel to the axis of rotation. The engaging member and the activating member have interacting contact surfaces (12b, 12c, 61, 63) in order, during axial displacement of the activating member, to press the engaging member into a radially projecting position for simultaneous engagement with the inner and outer coupling member.
US08539792B2	Religious jewelry articles New forms of religious jewelry. Jewelry articles are provided representing the tomb of Jesus, to depict and/or symbolize the event of the Resurrection for Christian religious adherents.
US08539788B2	Ventilating and air conditioning apparatus An ventilating and air conditioning apparatus includes a circulating fan for sucking air from a sucking port open to a first indoor space and blowing the air through a blowout port into the first indoor space, a ventilating fan for sucking air from an exhausting port open to a second indoor space and evacuating the air to the outdoors for ventilation, and a refrigerant circuit formed of a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger for exchanging heat of air blown into the first indoor space by the circulating fan with the refrigerant, an expanding mechanism for expanding the refrigerant, and a second heat exchanger for exchanging heat of air blown into the second indoor space by the ventilating fan with the refrigerant. The compressor, first heat exchanger, expanding mechanism, and second heat exchanger are coupled together with pipes for the refrigerant to circulate therethrough in this order.
US08539787B2	Aircraft air-conditioning system for the individual air conditioning of regions of an aircraft cabin with a liquid coolant An aircraft air-conditioning system is disclosed, which includes at least one heat exchanger to which coolant circulating in a cooling circuit of a cooling system and air are fed. The coolant cools the fed air in the heat exchanger, and the air leaving the heat exchanger enters the aircraft cabin. The coolant of the cooling system is always in the liquid state in the cooling circuit. The liquid coolant can also cool an aircraft seat or a sitting area of the aircraft seat.
US08539779B2	Ice maker, refrigerator having the same, and ice making method thereof An ice maker, a refrigerator including the ice maker, and an ice making method are provided. The ice maker includes a tray having a predetermined length into which water is supplied to make ice. The ice maker is configured to mechanically separate the ice from the tray by using pistons which are driven by a motor. This permits the ice maker to have a reduced size, and occupy a small area, thereby implementing a slim configuration of a refrigerator. Furthermore, since an installation height of the ice maker is lowered, a path for supplying cool air may be shortened. This arrangement prevent loss of cool air being supplied to the ice making chamber.
US08539774B2	Fuel injector mounting system A system is provided for mounting fuel injectors to a gas turbine engine, including an engine casing having an aperture formed therein and a plurality of fuel injectors, each fuel injector having a respective flange for mounting the fuel injectors to the casing at the aperture so that the fuel injectors extend side-by-side into the engine. The flanges are dismountably sealed to an inner side of the casing. The aperture and the flanges are configured so that, when dismounted, each fuel injector is configured to rotate into an orientation relative to the aperture which allows each of the respective flanges to pass though the aperture and the fuel injector to be withdrawn from the casing. The flanges have respective sealing formations which engage with their neighboring flanges when the fuel injectors are mounted to the casing to close off the aperture and to form seals between the flanges.
US08539766B2	Master cylinder with flow groove A master cylinder includes a cylinder bore, a first piston positioned within the cylinder bore, a second piston positioned within the bore and located forwardly of the first piston, a first pressure chamber within the cylinder bore and defined in part by a rear portion of the second piston and a forward portion of the first piston, a first pressure chamber seal extending radially outwardly from the rear portion of the second piston, a first reservoir inlet configured to provide fluid communication between a reservoir and the cylinder bore at a location forwardly of the first pressure chamber seal, and a first groove extending axially along the cylinder bore and positioned such that (i) when the second piston is in a released position, the first groove is located directly outwardly of the first pressure chamber seal and the reservoir is in fluid communication with the first pressure chamber through the first groove, and (ii) when the second piston is in an activated position, the first pressure chamber seal isolates the reservoir from the first pressure chamber at a location forwardly of the first groove.
US08539765B2	Engine An engine is provided that utilizes an active heat exchanger such as a heat pump to transfer heat into and remove heat from a low boiling point liquid that is disposed in a pair of diametrically opposed containers. The addition of heat into the low-boiling point liquid causes the liquid to move vertically from a bottom container to a top container, transforming the transferred heat energy into potential energy. The top container is allowed to fall under the weight of the transferred liquid, transforming the potential energy to kinetic energy which is used to perform the desired work. The expanding low-boiling point liquid can also be used to advance a magnetic back and forth through a wire coiling to produce an electric current, converting the transferred heat energy into electrical energy. The use of an active heat exchanger such as a heat pump permits the use of one unit of electrical energy to transfer 3 to 5 units of heat energy.
US08539759B2	Regeneration control system for a particulate filter A regeneration control system for a particulate filter (PF) includes a condition module and an oxygen-level module. The condition module determines whether an oxygen limiting event is required for the PF during a regeneration event. The oxygen-level control module communicates with the condition module and selectively limits an oxygen level in the PF during the regeneration event.
US08539758B2	Exhaust-gas purification system for diesel engines An exhaust gas purification system for diesel engines includes at least one oxidation catalytic converter, a reducing agent injection device and a reduction catalytic converter disposed together in a housing having a first lateral chamber close to a first end side and a second lateral chamber close to a second end side. The reduction catalytic converter is disposed in the first lateral chamber, the oxidation catalytic converter is disposed in an outer annular space of the second lateral chamber and the reducing agent injection device is oriented toward an inner channel of the outer annular space of the second lateral chamber. A flow path for the exhaust gas from at least one exhaust gas inlet toward at least one exhaust gas outlet is provided through the oxidation catalytic converter, the reducing agent injection device and the reduction catalytic converter.
US08539757B2	Exhaust purification apparatus for internal combustion engine An exhaust purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes a heated gas generation apparatus configured to generate heated gas utilizing exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust passage. The heated gas generation apparatus includes a catalyst configured to provide an oxidation function, a fuel supply nozzle, and a heater. An exhaust purification unit is provided downstream of the heated gas generation apparatus. An incoming gas temperature of the exhaust purification unit is detected and estimated. An actual incoming gas temperature being a detected value and an estimated incoming gas temperature both acquired when at least the fuel supply nozzle is actuated are compared with each other. Based on the result of the comparison, the apparatus detects one of poisoning of the catalyst with HC and degradation of the catalyst. Thus, the heated gas generation apparatus is prevented from discharging HC.
US08539755B2	Exhaust purification device of internal combustion engine Particles smaller than 50 nanometers emitted from an internal combustion engine, and serving as nuclei for forming PM (particulate matter), are removed to decrease the number of PM particles that are emitted to atmosphere. High efficiency filters are provided in passages that feed fluids into the combustion chamber, e.g., intake air, fuel and engine oil, in order to remove particles smaller than 50 nanometers serving as nuclei for forming PM.
US08539754B2	Method for an emission-optimized transfer from a mode of an internal combustion engine to another mode In a method for an emission-optimized transition between a spark-ignition mode of an internal combustion engine and a self-ignition mode of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is operated in the preparation phase and chronologically before the transition of modes in a spark-ignition mode in at least one cylinder cycle with a rich mixture (λ<1) and, subsequently, in the same cylinder cycle with a lean mixture (λ<1). After that, the internal combustion engine is operated in the self-ignition mode. In a method for an emission-optimized transition between a self-ignition mode of an internal combustion engine and a spark-ignition mode of the internal combustion engine, in a transition phase of the operation modes and during a last cycle of the self-ignition mode and/or a first cycle of the spark-ignition mode, fuel is post-injected into at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.
US08539751B2	Methods of controlling thrust in a rocket motor A propulsion thrust control system and method for controlling thrust in a rocket motor includes configuring valves of an energized rocket motor to an initial total valve area according to a total thrust command. The total thrust command is converted into a commanded propellant mass flow discharge rate. A varying total valve area is computed from an error between the commanded propellant mass flow discharge rate and a calculated propellant mass flow discharge rate. The valves are reconfigured according to a distribution of the varying total valve area. The propulsion system includes a pressure vessel with valves and a controller for regulating the valve area according to a propellant mass flow discharge rate from the pressure vessel.
US08539749B1	Systems and apparatus relating to reheat combustion turbine engines with exhaust gas recirculation A power plant configured to include a recirculation loop about which a working fluid is recirculated, the recirculation loop comprising a plurality of components configured to accept an outflow of working fluid from a neighboring upstream component and provide an inflow of working fluid to a neighboring downstream component. The recirculation loop may include: a recirculation compressor; an upstream combustor; a high-pressure turbine; a downstream combustor; a low-pressure turbine; and a recirculation conduit configured to direct the outflow of working fluid from the low-pressure turbine to the recirculation compressor. The power plant may include: an oxidant compressor configured to provide compressed oxidant to both the upstream combustor and the downstream combustor; and means for extracting a portion of the working fluid from an extraction point disposed on the recirculation loop.
US08539745B2	Dual bladed walk power mower with rear bagging mode A walk power mower has a mower deck that encloses a pair of rotary cutting blades with the grass clippings from the blades being discharged through a rearwardly extending grass discharge tunnel in a rear bagging mode of operation. The pair of cutting blades rotate in the same direction relative to a cutting chamber of the mower deck so that grass clippings cut by one blade merge with grass clippings cut by the other blade with the merged clippings forming a single common stream of clippings that is rearwardly directed along one side of the cutting chamber. The clippings enter a grass collection bag which is positioned between the handle tubes of a handle assembly of the mower.
US08539743B2	Machine for packaging in capsules, also in vacuum and/or controlled atmosphere Machine for packaging in capsules, also in a vacuum and/or in a controlled atmosphere, characterized by the fact that a cylindrical wheel (G) with horizontal axis (R), peripherally provided with rows (S) of cavities (A), parallel to said axis (R) and angularly equally distanced by the step (P), preset to be interchangeably equipped with molds (F,-F′) having different formats and geometrically congruent to the format of the capsules to be used (C; C).
US08539727B2	Mechanically-held tile A method of making a mechanically-held tile is disclosed by providing a tile having a durable surface, an underside and an anchoring region, locating the tile in a mold, and injecting a polymer into the mold to form a substrate with an integral coupling region. Alternatively, a substrate can be provided in addition to the tile; the injected material mechanically anchors the substrate to the tile. A surrounding grout gasket can also be formed during injection. Injections can be consecutive or concurrent to tailor the properties of the substrate, grout gasket and other layers or regions. Also disclosed is a multi-part tile made by such a process, and a tile with intrinsic manufacturing deviations compensated by a grout gasket. The tile can be interconnected via the coupling regions with other surface-covering materials.
US08539725B2	Earthquake damage resistant glass panel Architectural glass panels for use in a wide variety of building wall systems, such as curtain walls and storefronts, which have improved resistance to damage from earthquake and/or other loads that could cause horizontal racking movements of architectural glass panels within their glazing frames are disclosed. Embodiments include various types of architectural glass panels that have material removed at panel corners and are fabricated with smooth edge contours in the corner regions. A preferred embodiment includes various types of architectural glass panels that have rounded corners with or without finished edges.
US08539722B2	Roof water dispersal system A roof water dispersal system includes a plurality of longitudinally extending dispersal elements mounted near the edge of a roof structure for receiving and dispersing streams of roof run-off water. The dispersal elements are spaced apart from each other and assembled into a unit to receive streams of roof run-off water, and to disperse the run-off water into droplets or mist to eliminate the erosive effect on the terrain beneath the roof structure which is generally associated with conventional rain gutters. The unit is movable in an upward direction relative to the mounting surface into a retracted storage position, and is vertically movable relative to the roof edge for adjusting the distance between the roof edge and the dispersal elements.
US08539719B2	Module attachment apparatus Exemplary systems and methods described herein can be used to secure a rail to a module or the rail to a support using a nut that can be inserted at a desired point of mounting. Another exemplary system describes a flashing to be inserted under a roof shingle, wherein the flashing is secured to a support for a rail or module. Yet another exemplary system describes a clamp that secures a rail or module and is adjustable along the length of a post. Spacers can be added to the post to extend the adjustment range of the clamp.
US08539718B2	Rain catch for collecting and diverting rainwater from a retractable awning A rain catch is disclosed that collects and diverts rainwater from the perimeter of a retractable awning having an awning canopy that is tilted so as to have a lowest corner. The rain catch has a body that includes a body cavity and an awning beam collar, the body cavity having an opening that receives rainwater flowing off the lowest corner of the awning canopy. The awning beam collar is attached to the awning beam of the retractable awning at the lowest corner of the canopy. The rain catch is attached to the awning beam such that the opening of the collector body cavity is disposed in a space between the edge of the awning canopy and a bracing member at the lowest corner of the awning. The rain catch can include an extended downspout coupled to the downspout port to direct received rainwater away from the retractable awning.
US08539716B2	Tilt-up door A tilt-up door for a building having an opening including a door frame with vertical track members, cam surfaces extending laterally from the vertical tracks at the upper portion of the tracks and a door sized to span the opening. The door can be pivotally coupled with rollers disposed within the vertical tracks and cam followers extending laterally from the upper portion of the door to contact the cam surfaces. When an upwardly directed motive force acts on the door the cam followers come into engagement with the cam surface to lift the door generally vertically and then rotate the door inwardly as the door is raised into an open raised position.
US08539715B2	RFID pet door Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of pet doors, particularly selective entry pet doors based on detection of RFID tags. An RFID pet door, the pet door comprising: an RFID reader to read an RFID tag on a pet; and a lock coupled to said RFID reader to control access through said pet door in response to an RFID signal from said tag; wherein said RFID reader has two modes, a first operational mode and a second, reduced power mode, and wherein said pet door further comprises: a pet proximity detector coupled to said RFID reader to identify when a pet is proximate said pet door and to control said RFID reader responsive to said identification such that when said pet is proximate said RFID is in said operational mode and such that said RFID reader is otherwise in said reduced power mode.
US08539714B2	Advertising barrier complementing vehicle access control bars A gate operator system featuring board display attachment for a lift-gate at the vehicle access control point. The system features board display attached to the lift-gate, which moves in a synchronous motion with the lift gate. At least 3 hooks are placed at an appropriate distance according to the situation where the advertisement boards attach. The attachment takes place by threading the hooks through the perforations located at the top and center of the advertisement boards and locking them in place while allowing them free movement within a 90 degree range. The hooks are placed at different intervals (distances) from the operating mechanism.
US08539712B2	Maple syrup production spout assembly with backflow check valve A maple syrup production spout assembly (10) with a backflow check valve (79) is disclosed. The spout assembly is designed for use with vacuum-based maple syrup productions systems (200) and is used to prevent the backflow of sap (270) into the maple tree (100) and thus prevent the drying out of the taphole (110) due to microbial contamination. Certain existing maple production spout assemblies can be retrofitted to form the backflow check valve spout assembly disclosed herein. Methods of using the spout assembly in maple syrup production are also disclosed.
US08539705B2	Crossfold electronic device A computing device with a keyboard and display is configurable to fold from a compact and protective pocket sized closed configuration to other computing configurations. An embodiment of the device includes dispersed or interspersed hinge mechanisms to enable a cross folding mechanism to configure the device to multiple configurations using only simple hinges. An embodiment of the device further unfolds to a fully flat configuration supported by interspersed feet. Keys of reduced aspect ratio can reduce the footprint of a folded device without reducing the key's sideways spacing. A rotating input pad can supplement the keyboard input without increasing the footprint of the folded pocked sized configuration.
US08539702B2	Light emitting sign and display surface therefor A light source comprises a blue emitting LED operable to generate blue excitation light and a light emitting surface comprising a light transmissive substrate and a phosphor. The LED is configured to irradiate the light emitting surface with excitation light such that the phosphor emits light of a second wavelength and wherein light emitted by the source comprises a combination of blue light from the LED and the second wavelength light from the phosphor. The light emitting surface is interchangeable thereby enabling the source to generate different selected colors of light using the same LED. The phosphor can be provided as a layer on the substrate or incorporated within the light transmissive substrate. The light emitting surface can be configured as a waveguide or as a light transmissive window.
US08539701B2	Display apparatus A display apparatus includes: a cylindrical casing which is rotatably driven; and a plurality of curve-arranged displays which are installed inside the casing and have the same number as a plurality of slits formed in the casing, wherein the curve-arranged displays include a light housing which is an approximately semi-cylindrical column having a hollow structure, and a plurality of display device substrates installed on an arc-shaped side surface of the approximately semi-cylindrical column of the light housing.
US08539698B1	Footwear safety apparatus, device, and method A footwear traction device is disclosed that enhances regular or slip-resistant shoes during a slip-in-progress. The traction device includes an adhesive layer embedded with microscopic friction additives, natural or engineered, and partially covered with an epoxy resin in a design that pierces and grips the microscopic roughness of a surface and any contaminants thereon, providing emergency traction during a slip. The footwear traction device provides more than one opportunity to recover from a slip and regain traction. In the event that a fall is unavoidable, the footwear traction device provides a first and a second push back force, spreading the force of the fall over a larger area, minimizing the absolute force of the fall and providing a safer trajectory during the fall. The slip recovery method and system of the present invention offers an economical solution that reduces the financial and human toll caused by slip-and-fall accidents and deaths.
US08539692B1	Construction for a permeable flexible liner for a modular preserver system A construction for a permeable liner within a modular shoe preserver system having interchangeable components. The preserver adapted to snugly fit within a shoe including a permeable covering, a permeable liner and an absorbing material. The permeable liner is disposed within the permeable covering. The permeable liner is constructed from an expandable material having a closed heel end and an open toe end adapted to receive an absorbent material. In construction, the open toe end of the permeable liner is folded various times before it is closed to define a forefoot end having a material mass substantially thicker and wider than the remainder of the permeable liner that resembles that of a forefoot. The absorbing material is disposed within the permeable liner to withdraw moisture from an interior surface area of the shoe.
US08539688B2	Translucent ball cavity cube vial A ball cavity cube vial comprising a cube made of an at least translucent material, and having a sealed ball cavity in its center, said ball cavity being incompletely filled with a liquid medium such that a bubble is left inside of said ball cavity; and markings associated with said cube, said markings being calibrated to function as reference points for said bubble.
US08539685B2	Integrated surveying and leveling A method of determining a position of a point in a local coordinate system using a survey instrument comprising an integrated optical total station and digital level includes measuring an angle associated with the point. The angle may be measured about a vertical axis of the survey instrument, and the vertical axis may be substantially aligned with a local gravity vector. The method also includes determining a distance between the survey instrument and the point using an electronic distance measuring device and measuring a difference in height between a horizontal axis of the survey instrument and the point using a leveling staff positioned relative to the point. The horizontal axis may be substantially orthogonal to the vertical axis. The method also includes determining the position of the point in the local coordinate system using the angle, the distance, and the difference in height.
US08539682B2	Rotary can opener An easy to operate, extremely quiet, efficient can engagement and opening mechanism is provided for use in an opener for a can, and that provides a pair of missing teeth operating endpoints at opposite ends of its opener cycle, along with an eccentrically operating idler gear and cutter gear urging mechanism that produces a non-jamming foolproof mechanism that can be urged forward to a closed and operating position or reversed to a disengagement and non-operating position.
US08539680B2	Utility knife A utility knife includes a first housing portion carrying one of a strike plate and a sliding nut assembly and a second housing portion carrying the other one of the strike plate and the sliding nut assembly. The sliding nut assembly includes a rotatable screw and a sliding nut. The sliding nut is movable between a first position where the sliding nut is positioned behind the strike plate and a second position where the sliding nut is positioned spaced from the strike plate. When the sliding nut is in the first position, the sliding nut engages the strike plate upon rotation of the screw to draw the first housing portion toward the second housing portion.
US08539676B2	Rolling bearing system for vehicles The present invention provides a rolling bearing device for vehicles capable of detecting a change in magnetism with high accuracy. A rolling bearing device H for vehicles in accordance with the present invention includes a rolling bearing 13 having an inner ring 11, which is a rotating ring, and an outer ring 12, which is a fixed ring, and rolling elements 3 and 4 interposed between both of the races 11 and 12; a magnetized element 14; a magnetic sensor 15; and a cover 16. The cover 16 is formed by demagnetizing a nonmagnetic material having being pressed.
US08539673B2	Method and device for machining a sealing seat of a shut-off valve A method for machining a sealing seat of a shut-off valve in a power generating or industrial plant. An upper valve part and the internal housing fittings are removed from the housing of the shut-off valve to thereby expose a housing opening. A clamping device with a counter-bearing is introduced through the housing opening into the connection pipe and fastened to its inner wall. A machine tool with a bearing is introduced through the housing opening and mounted with its bearing on the counter-bearing. A machining step is carried out with the machine tool on the sealing seat. Then the machine tool is detached and removed through the housing opening. The clamping device is detached from the connection pipe and removed through the housing opening. Then, the upper valve part and the internal fittings are reattached to the housing.
US08539660B2	Tampon applicator barrels having gripping structures and methods of forming A tampon applicator barrel including a cardboard tube having a first end and a second end and at least one gripping structure defined from the cardboard tube proximate the second end is provided. The cardboard tube has a wall thickness of between about 0.015 and about 0.020 inches, while the gripping structure has a height of up to about 0.035 inches.
US08539651B1	Zipper repair slider A replacement zipper slider includes upper and lower plates, which are held together by a threaded fastener extending from one plate to the other; the plates are urged apart by a spring between them, and the threaded fastener sets a maximum limit on the distance between the plates.
US08539648B2	Quick detach shackle A shackle is provided that is fixedly mounted to a surface. The shackle can have a body, a hasp, and a locking pin. The body can define at least one mounting bore that is configured for mounting the shackle to the surface. The proximal end of the hasp is configured to rotate relative to the body and the distal end of the hasp is configured to selectively engage the locking pin, such that an enclosed area is defined. A tethering device can be attached to the shackle via cooperative engagement with the selectively enclosed area.
US08539640B1	Caster wheel lift and brake assembly A caster wheel assembly includes a vertical axis brake and barrier-traversing member. The caster shaft housing contains a stator surface adjacent the caster wheel assembly. The barrier-traversing member with barrier contact surface is biasedly fastened to the caster wheel assembly. A braking surface member is attached to the barrier-traversing member opposite the barrier contact surface and adjacent the stator surface. In operation, the moving caster wheel assembly first contacts an obstacle with the barrier contact surface of the barrier-traversing member. The encountered obstacle elevates the barrier-traversing member and attached braking surface member into contact with the stator surface of the caster shaft housing, thereby restraining rotation of the caster wheel assembly. Then, further forward movement of the rotation-restrained caster wheel assembly allows the barrier-traversing member to elevate the caster wheel, transfer load to the caster wheel, and thereby more easily traverse the obstacle.
US08539636B2	Surface treating appliance An upright surface treating appliance includes a main body having a user operable handle, and a stand moveable relative to the main body between a supporting position for supporting the main body in an upright position, and a retracted position. The stand includes at least one surface-engaging rolling member for allowing the appliance to be rolled along a surface using the handle when, with the stand in its supporting position, the main body is reclined rearwardly from its upright position. The appliance further includes a stand retaining mechanism for releasably retaining the stand in the supporting position and from which the stand is releasable upon application of a force to the main body. The stand retaining mechanism includes a system for increasing the force required to release the stand when the main body is reclined rearwardly from its upright position. This can reduce the risk of the stand being released accidentally from the supporting position when the main body is reclined rearwardly from its upright position and rolled along a surface.
US08539625B2	Bed gap shield A gap shield assembly for shielding an open area between a first section of a bed and an adjacent second section of the bed. The gap shield has a first shield member and a second shield member. The second shield member is rotatably connected to the second section of the bed. The first shield member is rotatably and translationally connected to the second shield member. The gap shield assembly also has a width extender assembly connecting the first shield member to the first section of the bed to allow the first shield member to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to a centerline of the bed while still shielding the open area between the first and second sections of the bed.
US08539620B1	Baby swaddling apparatus A baby swaddle apparatus can comprise generally a torso portion, a blanket portion, and a pouch portion. The torso portion having a plurality of panels and containing a torso waist opening and neck opening to receive a baby inside of the torso portion. The front panel of the torso also comprising at least one fastener. The blanket portion coupled to the torso rear panel comprising of a blanket panel containing an exterior and interior side and at least one fastener. The pouch portion can contain a pouch opening which receives the baby's legs. The pouch comprising of a pouch front and rear panel and a pouch front panel which contains a plurality of fasteners which allow the pouch to be modified in a way to allow for at least one leg opening.

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