Document	Document Title
US08552577B2	Wind-power generation system with over-speed protection and method of operating the same A wind-power generation system with an over-speed protection is disclosed. The system is provided to convert wind energy into mechanical energy by a wind turbine, and mechanical energy is converted into electric energy by the wind turbine driving a generator. Also, electric energy is delivered to a power grid. The wind-power generation system mainly includes an AC crowbar, a fuse, and a DC chopper. The AC crowbar or the DC chopper is provided to consume superfluous energy outputted from the generator, thus providing an over-load operation to brake the wind turbine when the wind turbine operates under a first stage over-speed operation. Finally, the generator is isolated from the generator-side converter by disconnecting the fuse when the wind turbine operates under a second stage over-speed operation.
US08552566B1	Integrated circuit package having surface-mount blocking elements A first cavity-down ball grid array (BGA) package includes a substrate member and an array of bond balls. The array of bond balls includes a pair of parallel extending rows of outer mesh bond balls and a row of inner signal bond balls that is parallel to the pair of rows of outer mesh bond balls. A surface-mount blocking element is disposed between the row of inner signal bond balls and the pair of rows of outer mesh bond balls. The surface-mount blocking element is either a passive or an active component of the BGA package. In one example, the first cavity-down BGA package is surface-mounted to a second cavity-down BGA package to form a package-on-package (POP) security module. The surface-mount blocking element provides additional physical barrier against the probing of the inner signal bond balls. Sensitive data is therefore protected from unauthorized access.
US08552559B2	Very thick metal interconnection scheme in IC chips A new interconnection scheme is described, comprising both coarse and fine line interconnection schemes in an IC chip. The coarse metal interconnection, typically formed by selective electroplating technology, is located on top of the fine line interconnection scheme. It is especially useful for long distance lines, clock, power and ground buses, and other applications such as high Q inductors and bypass lines. The fine line interconnections are more appropriate to be used for local interconnections. The combined structure of coarse and fine line interconnections forms a new interconnection scheme that not only enhances IC speed, but also lowers power consumption.
US08552558B2	Conductive compositions and processes for use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices The present invention is directed to a thick film conductive composition comprising: (a) electrically conductive silver powder; (c) fluorine-containing glass frit; dispersed in (d) organic vehicle and devices made therefrom.
US08552557B1	Electronic component package fabrication method and structure An electronic component package includes a RDL pattern comprising a redistribution pattern terminal. A buildup dielectric layer is formed on the RDL pattern, the buildup dielectric layer having a redistribution pattern terminal aperture exposing the redistribution pattern terminal. An interconnection ball is formed within the redistribution pattern terminal aperture and on the redistribution pattern terminal. The interconnection ball includes an enclosed portion having an outer concave surface within the buildup dielectric layer. The angle of intersection between the outer concave surface of the interconnection ball and the redistribution pattern is less than 90°. This minimizes stress between the interconnection ball and the redistribution pattern which, in turn, minimizes failure of the bond between the interconnection ball and the redistribution pattern.
US08552555B2	Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same A technique which improves the reliability in coupling between a bump electrode of a semiconductor chip and wiring of a mounting substrate, more particularly a technique which guarantees the flatness of a bump electrode even when wiring lies in a top wiring layer under the bump electrode, thereby improving the reliability in coupling between the bump electrode and the wiring formed on a glass substrate. Wiring, comprised of a power line or signal line, and a dummy pattern are formed in a top wiring layer beneath a non-overlap region of a bump electrode. The dummy pattern is located to fill the space between wirings to reduce irregularities caused by the wirings and space in the top wiring layer. A surface protection film formed to cover the top wiring layer is flattened by CMP.
US08552549B2	Semiconductor device, and inspection method thereof In a substrate for a stacking-type semiconductor device including a connection terminal provided for a connection with a semiconductor chip to be stacked and an external terminal connected to the connection terminal through a conductor provided in a substrate, connection terminals of a power supply, a ground and the like, which terminals have an identical node, are electrically continuous with each other. Thus, it is possible to facilitate an inspection of electrical continuity between each connection terminal and an external terminal corresponding to each connection terminal by minimum addition of inspecting terminals. Further, it is possible to improve reliability of a stacking-type semiconductor module.
US08552548B1	Conductive pad on protruding through electrode semiconductor device To form a semiconductor device, a through electrode is formed in a semiconductor die, and a dielectric layer is then formed to cover the through electrode. The dielectric layer has an opening by being partially etched to allow the through electrode to protrude to the outside, or has a thickness thinner overall so as to allow the through electrode to protrude to the outside. Subsequently, a conductive pad is formed on the through electrode protruding to the outside through the dielectric layer by using an electroless plating method.
US08552546B2	Semiconductor package, semiconductor package structure including the semiconductor package, and mobile phone including the semiconductor package structure Provided is a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package may include a first semiconductor package having first semiconductor chips sequentially stacked on a substrate. In example embodiments, the first semiconductor chips may have a cascaded arrangement in which first sides and second sides of the semiconductor chips define cascade patterns. The cascaded arrangement may extend in a first direction to define a space between the first sides of the first semiconductor chips and the substrate. The semiconductor package may also include at least one first connection wiring at the second sides of the semiconductor chips, the at least one first connection wiring being configured to electrically connect the substrate with the first semiconductor chips. In addition, the semiconductor package may further include a first filling auxiliary structure adjacent to the first sides of the first semiconductor chips.
US08552537B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor device according to an embodiment, includes a dielectric film and an Si semiconductor part. The dielectric film is formed by using one of oxide, nitride and oxynitride. The Si semiconductor part is arranged below the dielectric film, having at least one element of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te) present in an interface with the dielectric film, and formed by using silicon (Si).
US08552533B2	Compound semiconductor substrate and method for manufacturing the same A method for manufacturing the compound semiconductor substrate having a reduced dislocation density at an interface between a Si substrate. Contaminants, such as organic matter and metal, on a surface of a Si substrate are removed whereby a flat oxide film is formed. The oxide film on the surface is removed by using an aqueous hydrogen fluoride solution, whereby hydrogen termination treatment is performed. Immediately after being subjected to the hydrogen termination treatment the temperature of the Si substrate is raised in a vacuum apparatus. If the substrate temperature is raised without any operation, the termination hydrogen is released. Before the hydrogen is released, pre-irradiation with As is performed. Thus, an interface between the Si substrate and the compound semiconductor layer is prepared. Several minutes later, irradiation with Ga and As is performed. Thereby, the compound semiconductor is formed.
US08552530B2	Vertical transient voltage suppressors A vertical transient voltage suppressor for protecting an electronic device is disclosed. The vertical transient voltage includes a conductivity type substrate having highly doping concentration; a first type lightly doped region is arranged on the conductivity type substrate, wherein the conductivity type substrate and the first type lightly doped region respectively belong to opposite types; a first type heavily doped region and a second type heavily doped region are arranged in the first type lightly doped region, wherein the first and second type heavily doped regions and the conductivity type substrate belong to same types; and a deep first type heavily doped region is arranged on the conductivity type substrate and neighbors the first type lightly doped region, wherein the deep first type heavily doped region and the first type lightly doped region respectively belong to opposite types, and wherein the deep first type heavily doped region is coupled to the first type heavily doped region.
US08552521B2	Semiconductor package to remove power noise using ground impedance A semiconductor package removes power noise by using a ground impedance. The semiconductor package includes an analog circuit block, a digital circuit block, an analog ground impedance structure, a digital ground impedance structure, and an integrated ground. The integrated ground and the analog circuit block are electrically connected via the analog ground impedance structure, and the integrated ground and the digital circuit block are electrically connected via the digital ground impedance structure, and an inductance of the analog ground impedance structure is greater than an inductance of the digital ground impedance structure.
US08552518B2	3D integrated microelectronic assembly with stress reducing interconnects A microelectronic assembly and method of making, which includes a first microelectronic element (including a substrate with first and second opposing surfaces, a semiconductor device, and conductive pads at the first surface which are electrically coupled to the semiconductor device) and a second microelectronic element (including a handier with first and second opposing surfaces, a second semiconductor device, and conductive pads at the handler first surface which are electrically coupled to the second semiconductor device). The first and second microelectronic elements are integrated such that the second surfaces face each other. The first microelectronic element includes conductive elements each extending from one of its conductive pads, through the substrate to the second surface. The second microelectronic element includes conductive elements each extending between the handler first and second surfaces. The conductive elements of the first microelectronics element are electrically coupled to the conductive elements of the second microelectronics element.
US08552509B2	Integrated circuit including cross-coupled transistors having gate electrodes formed within gate level feature layout channels with other transistors positioned between cross-coupled transistors A semiconductor device includes conductive features that are each defined within any one gate level channel uniquely associated with and defined along one of a number of parallel gate electrode tracks. The conductive features form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices extend along a first gate electrode track. The gate electrodes of the second PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices extend along second and third gate electrode tracks, respectively. A first set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices. A second set of interconnected conductors electrically connect the gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices. The first and second sets of interconnected conductors traverse across each other within different levels of the semiconductor device.
US08552502B2	Structure and method to make replacement metal gate and contact metal An electrical device is provided that in one embodiment includes a p-type semiconductor device having a first gate structure that includes a gate dielectric that is present on the semiconductor substrate, a p-type work function metal layer, a metal layer composed of titanium and aluminum, and a metal fill composed of aluminum. An n-type semiconductor device is also present on the semiconductor substrate that includes a second gate structure that includes a gate dielectric, a metal layer composed of titanium and aluminum, and a metal fill composed of aluminum. An interlevel dielectric is present over the semiconductor substrate. The interlevel dielectric includes interconnects to the source and drain regions of the p-type and n-type semiconductor devices. The interconnects are composed of a metal layer composed of titanium and aluminum, and a metal fill composed of aluminum. The present disclosure also provides a method of forming the aforementioned structure.
US08552493B2	Segmented pillar layout for a high-voltage vertical transistor In one embodiment, a transistor fabricated on a semiconductor die includes a first section of transistor segments disposed in a first area of the semiconductor die, and a second section of transistor segments disposed in a second area of the semiconductor die adjacent the first area. Each of the transistor segments in the first and second sections includes a pillar of a semiconductor material that extends in a vertical direction. First and second dielectric regions are disposed on opposite sides of the pillar. First and second field plates are respectively disposed in the first and second dielectric regions. Outer field plates of transistor segments adjoining first and second sections are either separated or partially merged.
US08552487B2	SOI trench DRAM structure with backside strap A semiconductor structure includes a SOI substrate having a top silicon layer overlying an insulation layer, which overlies a bottom silicon layer; a capacitor disposed at least partially in the insulation layer; a device disposed at least partially on the top silicon layer, which device is coupled to a doped portion of the top silicon layer; a backside strap of first epitaxially-deposited material, at least a first portion of the backside strap underlying the doped portion, the backside strap being coupled to the doped portion of the top silicon layer at a first end of the backside strap and to the capacitor at a second end of the backside strap; and second epitaxially-deposited material that at least partially overlies the doped portion of the top silicon layer, the second epitaxially-deposited material further at least partially overlying the first portion.
US08552482B2	Single photon avalanche diodes A CMOS single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) design uses conventional, or at least known, CMOS processes to produce a device having a breakdown region in which the main p-n junction is formed of a deep n-well layer, and optionally on the other side, a p-add layer. The SPAD may also have a guard ring region which comprises the p-epi layer without any implant. The SPAD may have curved or circular perimeters. A CMOS chip comprises SPADs as described and other NMOS devices all sharing the same deep n-well.
US08552472B2	Integrated circuit devices including vertical channel transistors with shield lines interposed between bit lines and methods of fabricating the same An integrated circuit device includes a plurality of pillars protruding from a substrate in a first direction. Each of the pillars includes source/drain regions in opposite ends thereof and a channel region extending between the source/drain regions. A plurality of conductive bit lines extends on the substrate adjacent the pillars in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A plurality of conductive shield lines extends on the substrate in the second direction such that each of the shield lines extends between adjacent ones of the bit lines. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.
US08552470B2	Self-powered integrated circuit with multi-junction photovoltaic cell A photovoltaic cell is provided as a composite unit together with elements of an integrated circuit on a common substrate. In a described embodiment, connections are established between a multiple photovoltaic cell portion and a circuitry portion of an integrated structure to enable self-powering of the circuitry portion by the multiple photovoltaic cell portion.
US08552463B2	Electronic devices with yielding substrates In accordance with certain embodiments, a semiconductor die is adhered directly to a yielding substrate with a pressure-activated adhesive notwithstanding any nonplanarity of the surface of the semiconductor die or non-coplanarity of the semiconductor die contacts.
US08552461B2	Light emitting diode without leads An LED (light emitting diode) includes a seat and an LED chip. The seat includes a main body, and a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the main body. The LED chip includes a first semiconductor layer, an annular light-emitting layer encircling the first semiconductor layer, and an annular second semiconductor layer encircling the light-emitting layer. The first electrode electrically connects with the first semiconductor layer, and the second electrode electrically connects with the second semiconductor layer.
US08552449B2	Package of light emitting diode and method for manufacturing the same Provided is a package of a light emitting diode. The package according to an embodiment includes a package of a light emitting diode, the package comprising: a base layer including an entire top surface that is substantially flat; a light emitting diode chip on the base layer; a lead frame electrically connected to the light emitting diode chip; and a reflective coating layer comprising titanium oxide, wherein a top surface of the reflective coating layer is substantially parallel to a top surface of the base layer, and wherein ends of the reflective coating layer and base layer are aligned with each other.
US08552446B2	Hidden organic optoelectronic devices with a light scattering layer Disclosed is an optoelectronic device including at least one optoelectronic active region comprising at least a rear electrode and a front electrode between which an organic optoelectronic material is sandwiched, said rear electrode being reflective, and a cover layer arranged in front of said front electrode. The cover layer is formed from a material with light-scattering particles of a first material dispersed in a transparent matrix of at an least partly hydrolyzed silica sol. Due to the highly scattering properties of the cover layer, the device is essentially concealed behind the cover layer when not in its operative state.
US08552429B2	Proximity charge sensing for semiconductor detectors A non-contact charge sensor includes a semiconductor detector having a first surface and an opposing second surface. The detector includes a high resistivity electrode layer on the first surface and a low resistivity electrode on the high resistivity electrode layer. A portion of the low resistivity first surface electrode is deleted to expose the high resistivity electrode layer in a portion of the area. A low resistivity electrode layer is disposed on the second surface of the semiconductor detector. A voltage applied between the first surface low resistivity electrode and the second surface low resistivity electrode causes a free charge to drift toward the first or second surface according to a polarity of the free charge and the voltage. A charge sensitive preamplifier coupled to a non-contact electrode disposed at a distance from the exposed high resistivity electrode layer outputs a signal in response to movement of free charge within the detector.
US08552421B2	Organic microelectronic device and fabrication method therefor An organic electronic device includes an active region polarity definition layer, and a bulk heterojunction active layer formed on the active region polarity definition layer. The bulk heterojunction active layer includes an upper region and a lower region having respective majority carriers localized therein of different polarities.
US08552415B2	Solid-state imaging device, method for manufacturing solid-state imaging device, and imaging apparatus A solid-state imaging device includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposing to the first electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer, which is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and in which narrow gap semiconductor quantum dots are dispersed in a conductive layer, wherein one electrode of the first electrode and the second electrode is formed from a transparent electrode and the other electrode is formed from a metal electrode or a transparent electrode.
US08552410B2	Plasmonic polarizer A radiation-emitting device (e.g., a laser) includes an active region configured to generate a radiation emission linearly polarized along a first polarization direction and a device facet covered by an insulating layer and a metal layer on the insulating layer. The metal layer defines an aperture through which the radiation emission from the active region can be transmitted and coupled into surface plasmons on the outer side of the metal layer. The long axis of the aperture is non-orthogonal to the first polarization direction, and a sequential series of features are defined in or on the device facet or in the metal layer and spaced apart from the aperture, wherein the series of features are configured to manipulate the surface plasmons and to scatter surface plasmons into the far field with a second polarization direction distinct from the first polarization direction.
US08552407B2	Ion milling device Disclosed is a shield (8, 10) disposed between an ion source (1) of an ion milling device and a sample (7) so as to be in contact with the sample. The shield is characterized by having a circular shape having an opening at the center, and by being capable of rotating about an axis (11) extending through the opening. Further, a groove is provided in the ion source-side surface of an end portion of the shield, and an inclined surface is provided on an end portion of the shield. Thus, an ion milling device having a shield, wherein the maximum number of machining operations can be increased, and the position of the shield can be accurately adjusted.
US08552405B2	Charged particle beam writing apparatus and charged particle beam writing method A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a unit to calculate a gradient of a convolution amount that is calculated from a convolution operation between an area density and a distribution function, a unit to calculate a small influence radius phenomenon dose correction coefficient that corrects for dimension variation due to a phenomenon whose influence radius is on an order of microns or less, by using the convolution amount and the gradient, a unit to calculate a proximity effect dose correction coefficient that corrects for dimension variation due to a proximity effect, by using a first function depending on the small influence radius phenomenon dose correction coefficient, a unit to calculate a dose by using the proximity effect dose correction coefficient and the small influence radius phenomenon dose correction coefficient, and a unit to write a figure pattern concerned on a target object, based on the dose.
US08552397B2	Focused ion beam device and focused ion beam processing method Disclosed is an operation for an optical system which achieves observation of focused ion beam processing equivalent to that in a case wherein a sample stage is tilted mechanically. In a focused ion beam optical system, an aperture, a tilting deflector, a beam scanner, and an objective lens are controlled so as to irradiate an ion beam tilted to the optical axis of the optical system, thereby achieving thin film processing and a cross section processing without accompanying adjustment and operation for a sample stage. The thin film processing and the cross section processing with a focused ion beam can be automated, and yield can be improved. For example, by applying the present invention to a cross section monitor to detect an end point, the cross section processing can be easily automated.
US08552394B2	Vacuum UV based optical measuring method and system A method and system are presented for use in optical processing of an article by VUV radiation. The method comprises: localizing incident VUV radiation propagation from an optical head assembly towards a processing site on the article outside the optical head assembly and localizing reflected VUV radiation propagation from said processing site towards the optical head assembly by localizing a medium, non-absorbing with respect to VUV radiation, in within the light propagation path in the vicinity of said site outside the optical head assembly. The level of the medium is controlled by measuring the reflected VUV radiation.
US08552390B2	Radiation detector In an X-ray line sensor 1, a scintillator layer 24 that absorbs X-rays in a low-energy range and emits light and a scintillator layer 26 that absorbs X-rays in a high-energy range and emits light are brought in contact with each other, and further, the thickness of the scintillator layer 24 on the front side is thinner than that of the scintillator layer 26 on the rear side. These make the amount of mismatch small between a light emitting position P1 in the scintillator layer 24 and a light emitting position P2 in the scintillator layer 26 to X-rays in the low-energy range and X-rays in the high-energy range entered at the same angle from the front side, so that at this time, light emitted by the scintillator layer 24 and light emitted by the scintillator layer 26 are detected by a photo-detecting section 16 and a photo-detecting section 23 facing each other. Thus, mismatch between an X-ray transmission image in the low-energy range and an X-ray transmission image in the high-energy range obtained simultaneously can be prevented.
US08552389B2	System and method for collimation in diagnostic imaging systems A system and method for collimation in diagnostic imaging systems is provided. One collimation system includes a collimator for a radiation imaging detector having a plurality of adjustable segments and a plurality of collimator holes within each of the plurality of adjustable segments. The plurality of adjustable segments are configured to move independently of a detector to adjust a field of view of the collimator holes.
US08552385B2	Radioactive contamination monitoring device and monitoring method Provided are a radioactive contamination monitoring device and a radioactive contamination monitoring method for enabling easy detection of radiation from an object to be monitored in a little surrounding space. The radioactive contamination monitoring device comprises a radiation detection unit, a photoelectric conversion unit for converting the light generated in the radiation detection unit to electricity, and a signal processing unit connected to the photoelectric conversion unit. The radiation detection unit includes a quadrangular prism-shaped light guide bar having a rectangular cross-section and a scintillator attached only to two adjacent side faces of the four side faces of the light guide bar.
US08552384B2	Mirror reflection processing method for position sensitive detector device A mirror reflection processing method for a position sensitive detector device in intelligent bathroom products. The infrared emitter in the position sensitive detector device is provided with two infrared emitting intensity modes. The position sensitive detector device determines whether to consider that no signal is collected in current collection according to the result of comparison between the reflected infrared signal intensity received by the infrared receiver and the preset value therein, thereby overcoming the mis-operation of the position sensitive detector device when being opposite to objects with relatively high reflectivity, and making the position sensitive detector device even more widely applied.
US08552376B2	Pyroelectric motion detection circuit A pyroelectric infrared body sensing switch circuit comprises an amplification circuit, a delay unit, an execution unit, and an infrared detection circuit comprising one or more pyroelectric infrared detection elements. A power unit comprises first and second power circuits. Each of the first and second power circuits receives AC power and supplies DC power through RC voltage reduction, full-wave rectification, filtration, and voltage stabilization. The first power circuit supplies power to the execution unit and the second power circuit supplies power to the infrared detection circuit, the amplification circuit, and the delay unit. A signal outputted from the infrared detection circuit is inputted to the amplification circuit. A signal outputted from the amplification circuit controls the activation of the delay unit. A signal output from the delay unit controls the execution unit. The signal outputted from the infrared detection circuit comprises superposed output signals from the pyroelectric infrared detection elements.
US08552374B2	Spectral detector The invention relates to a spectral detector for measuring properties of light over portions of the electromagnetic spectrum including cholesteric liquid crystal material and switching means capable of varying the pitch of the helix of the cholesteric liquid crystal material, so that the position of the transmission wavelength band is adjusted in response to the switching means. The spectral detector may further include at least one light direction selecting structure for selecting light incident on the spectral detector having a certain angle of incidence. This invention also relates to a lighting system including the spectral detector of the invention.
US08552373B2	Charged particle beam device and sample observation method Disclosed is a charged particle beam device, wherein multibeam secondary electron detectors (121a, 121b, 121c) and a single beam detector (140; 640) are provided, and under the control of a system control unit (135), an optical system control circuit (139) controls a lens and a beam selecting diaphragm (141) and switches the electrooptical conditions between those for multibeam mode and those for single beam mode, thereby one charged particle beam device can be operated as a multibeam charged particle device and a single beam charged particle device by switching. Thus, observation conditions are flexibly changed in accordance with an object to be observed, and a sample can be observed with a high accuracy and high efficiency.
US08552369B2	Obtaining elemental concentration profile of sample A method of obtaining an elemental concentration profile of a sample using x-ray photon spectroscopy measurements is described. Each measurement relates to a different depth in the sample. The sample is shaped to provide access to different depths thereof. Measurements are obtained at respective positions on a bevelled surface exposing material at each of the depths. The method involves fitting the measurements to a mathematical function, dividing the function into a plurality of equal depth wise slices, determining the elemental concentration for the slice corresponding to the thinnest part of the bevel, and then iteratively determining the contribution of each successive slice to the intensity value as being the intensity value measured for that slice minus the intensity value determined to have been contributed by each preceding slice. According to preferred embodiments, a surface correction factor compensating surface effect phenomena is applied to the concentration value calculated for each slice.
US08552366B2	Mass spectrometer A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion guide or ion mobility spectrometer having helical, toroidal, part-toroidal, hemitoroidal, semitoroidal or spiral ion guiding region. The ion guide may comprise a tube made from a leaky dielectric wherein an RF voltage is applied to outer electrodes in order to confine ions radially within the ion guide. A DC voltage is applied to a resistive inner layer in order to urge ions along the ion guide. Alternatively, the ion guide may comprise a plurality of electrodes each having an aperture through which ions are transmitted.
US08552363B2	System and method for optically driven separations using fluid filled core optical fibers An optical chromatography system employs fluid filled hollow core fibers, such as photonic crystal fibers (PCFs), which confine an incident optical beam from a laser, for example, in the core and cause separation of particles in the fluid along the length of the PCF. The incident optical beam is confined in the fluid filled core of the PCF by a periodic lattice of air capillaries surrounding the core. The lattice either creates a lower refractive index in the cladding than in the fluid filled core or creates a 1D photonic bandgap structure where the guiding is accomplished by surrounding the fluid filled core with a periodically changing array of dielectric constant which prohibits radial dilution of the optical energy over a range of wavelengths through photonic bandgap effects.
US08552362B2	System and method for linear and angular measurements of a moving object A system and method for measuring linear and angular displacement of a moving object, such as an autonomous moving object. In one embodiment, the system comprises at least one optical mouse sensor mounted adjacent to and at a predetermined distance from a surface of the autonomous moving object or a working surface. A processor on the autonomous moving object is operatively coupled to the optical mouse sensor. The optical mouse sensor outputs linear and angular displacement values to the processor during movement of the autonomous moving object to determine a direction and distance traveled by the autonomous moving object.
US08552355B2	Smoke sensor including a current to voltage circuit having a low frequency correction means to produce a correction current A current-voltage converting circuit (2) is provided with a first feedback circuit (5) and a correcting transistor (Q1). The first feedback circuit (5) outputs, of an output voltage (V10), a voltage according to a magnitude of a low-frequency component that is not greater than or equal to a predefined first cut-off frequency. The correcting transistor (Q1) extracts a correction current (I21) according to a magnitude of an output of the first feedback circuit (5) from a sensor current (I10). The first feedback circuit (5) has a first integrating circuit (9) and a sample-and-hold circuit (10). The first integrating circuit (9) integrates the output voltage (V10) of a conversion section (3). The sample-and-hold circuit (10) samples and holds an output of the first integrating circuit (9) during a sensing period at which a pulsed detection signal is inputted. Means for preventing an incidence of ambient light onto a light-receiving section can be simplified or omitted as a result.
US08552352B2	Solid-state imaging device including corner register A solid-state imaging device of an embodiment includes an imaging region, an output register, a corner register, a multiplication register, a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a valve gate electrode. The output register is a transfer register that receives a charge transferred from the imaging region to transfer the charge. The output register is capable of selectively transferring a charge in one direction and in the other direction opposite to the one direction. The corner register transfers a charge transferred in one direction from the output register. The multiplication register receives a charge from the corner register and generates and transfers a multiplied charge. The first amplifier generates a signal based on a multiplied charge from the multiplication register. The second amplifier generates a signal based on a charge transferred in the other direction by the output register. The valve gate electrode is an electrode for preventing a transfer of a charge between the output register and the corner register.
US08552351B2	Projectile with deployable control surfaces A projectile has a fuze kit that includes deployable canards. The canards are ends of a strip of material. The strip of material is initially in an angled recess of a collar of the fuze kit, with the angled recess angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the projectile, defining a plane that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. At some point in flight of the projectile, for example during mid-course of the projectile flight after a ballistic phase of the projectile flight, the canards are deployed by releasing the ends of the strip. This causes the ends of the strip to pull away from the longitudinal axis of the projectile, out of the recess, into the airstream around the projectile. Resilient forces in the strip may cause the ends to be moved out of the recess when the ends are released.
US08552337B2	Weld defect detection systems and methods for laser hybrid welding Laser hybrid welding systems adapted to identify and/or fix a weld defect occurring during a laser hybrid welding process are provided. Embodiments of the laser hybrid welding system may include one or more devices that provide feedback to a controller regarding one or more weld parameters. One embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes sensors that are adapted to measure the weld voltage and/or amperage during the welding process and transmit the acquired data to the controller for processing. Another embodiment of the laser hybrid welding system includes a lead camera and a lag camera that film an area directly in front of the weld location and directly behind the weld location.
US08552328B2	Method of repairing the deterioration of magneto-resistive effect device The invention provides a method for fixing up the deterioration of a magneto-resistive effect device. A hard disk system is provided in it with a head heating means for heating a thin-film magnetic head, and by that head heating means, a defective site of the magneto-resistive effect device, which occurs as the hard disk system is in operation and is confined in a quasi-stable state, is fixed up in such a way as to return back to its own normal stable state. Thus, the deteriorated site of the magneto-resistive effect device (reproducing device) in the thin-film magnetic head, which is caused by the so-called thermal asperity as the hard disk system is in operation, is fixed up while it remains built in the hard disk system, i.e., without dismantling the hard disk system.
US08552324B2	Lever button and electronic device therewith A lever button in which at least one side thereof is elastically supported and an electronic device therewith is provided. The lever button includes a manipulation part and an elastic part having one end supported by the manipulation part and another end supported by a support frame. The elastic part comprises at least one cantilever.
US08552317B2	Metal-encapsulated, polyphase, gas-insulated busbar switch disconnector and earthing switch Exemplary embodiments are directed to a metal-encapsulated, polyphase busbar switch disconnector and earthing switch, including a housing which, on each of opposite sides has three flanges that lie on a plane. Each flange being connected to one busbar and, on a third side, a flange is connected to a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker having conductor elements arranged in an interior of the housing. First conductor elements are connected to the busbars, and second conductor elements are connected to circuit breaker poles. The second conductor elements are aligned at right angles to the first conductor elements, which connect the busbars to one another, such that the first conductor elements are substantially U-shaped and are passed around the second conductor elements. A switch disconnector and earthing switch contact arrangement is provided between an inner housing wall and the first and second conductor elements.
US08552311B2	Electrical feedthrough assembly An electrical feedthrough includes a ceramic body and a ribbon via extending through the ceramic body, an interface between the ribbon via and the ceramic body being sealed using partial transient liquid phase bonding. The ribbon via extends out of the ceramic body and makes an electrical connection with an external device.
US08552310B2	Mounting structure of electronic component A mounting structure of an electronic component includes: a bump electrode included in the electronic component, the bump electrode having an internal resin as a core and a conductive film covering a surface of the internal resin, and elastically deforming so as to follow a shape of at least one corner of a terminal so that the conductive film makes direct conductive contact with at least part of a top surface of the terminal and at least part of a surface along a thickness direction of the terminal; a substrate having the terminal and the electronic component that is mounted on the substrate; and a holding unit provided to the substrate and the electronic component so as to hold a state in which the bump electrode electrically deformed makes conductive contact with the terminal.
US08552307B2	Mounting structure A mounting structure includes an insulating substrate having a substrate electrode on which at least one electrode notch is provided and a resist, an electronic component having an electronic component electrode to be electrically connected to the substrate electrode, and solder paste printed on a surface of the substrate electrode. The substrate electrode has a following relation, 0
US08552306B2	Assembly and production of an assembly An assembly having a substrate and at least one component fastened thereon by sintering using a sintering agent, in particular sintering paste. The sintering agent is situated in a recess of the substrate that accommodates at least some areas of the component. A method for producing an assembly having a substrate and at least one component fastened thereon by sintering using a sintering agent, in particular sintering paste. The sintering agent is brought into a recess of the substrate that accommodates at least some areas of the component.
US08552303B2	Circuit structure and manufacturing method thereof A manufacturing method of a circuit structure is provided. A metal layer having an upper surface is provided. A surface passivation layer is formed on the metal layer. The surface passivation layer exposes a portion of the upper surface of the metal layer, and a material of the metal layer is different from a material of the surface passivation layer. The metal layer and the surface passivation layer are dipped into a modifier, and the modifier is selectively absorbed and attached to the surface passivation layer, so as to form a covering layer. The covering layer has a plurality of nanoparticles and covers the surface passivation layer.
US08552296B2	Systems, apparatus, and related methods for weather-proofed wire splicings Disclosed are systems, apparatus and related methods for making weather, fire, or water-proofed wire-to-wire electrical connections.
US08552288B2	Photovoltaic module with adhesion promoter Photovoltaic modules with adhesion promoters and methods for fabricating photovoltaic modules with adhesion promoters are described. A photovoltaic module includes a solar cell including a first surface and a second surface, the second surface including a plurality of interspaced back-side contacts. A first glass layer is coupled to the first surface by a first encapsulating layer. A second glass layer is coupled to the second surface by a second encapsulating layer. At least a portion of the second encapsulating layer is bonded directly to the plurality of interspaced back-side contacts by an adhesion promoter.
US08552283B2	Thermoelectric application for waste heat recovery from semiconductor devices in power electronics systems In a power electronics system of a next generation vehicle, a power module is provided including a thermoelectric device which is provided in a thermally conductive path between a power device and a cooling plate such that the thermoelectric device creates useful electric power from the waste heat of the power device.
US08552280B2	Keyboard device for electronic keyboard instrument and mounting structure of let-off imparting member for electronic keyboard instrument A keyboard device for an electronic keyboard instrument, which enables facilitation of work for mounting and dismounting a key switch and install hammers and the key switch with high accuracy, and provision of a touch feeling similar to one provided by an acoustic grand piano while keeping the device compact in depth. The device comprises swingable keys, a hammer support formed by a synthetic resin molded article, hammers pivotally supported by the hammer support, and a key switch including switch bodies provided in association with the hammers and a switch board. The hammer support has a switch mounting part formed with an opening vertically extending therethrough. The key switch is removably mounted to the switch mounting part, with the switch bodies facing the hammers from above via the opening and the switch board placed on the upper surface of the switch mounting part.
US08552275B2	Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH175773 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH175773. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH175773, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH175773 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH175773.
US08552263B2	Soybean variety XB04Q11 A novel soybean variety, designated XB04Q11 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB04Q11, cells from soybean variety XB04Q11, plants of soybean XB04Q11, and plant parts of soybean variety XB04Q11. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB04Q11 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB04Q11, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB04Q11, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB04Q11. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB04Q11 are further provided.
US08552258B2	Squash hybrid RX 04858033 The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08552257B2	Cucumber hybrid PS 14784719 and parents thereof The invention provides seed and plants of cucumber hybrid PS 14784719 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid PS 14784719 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a cucumber plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another cucumber plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08552254B2	Methods for maintaining genetic stability of inbred animal strains The present invention provides novel methods of maintaining genetic stability of non-human animal inbred strains. In the methods, pedigree-tracked cryopreserved embryos or gametes or pre-gametes derived from a foundation colony are produced and used to re-establish the foundation colony at appropriate intervals.
US08552244B1	Process for recovering solvent from spent oil sand solids A process for recovering solvent from spent oil sands solids is provided, comprising drying the solids using superheated steam to vaporize solvent and water; compressing and condensing the vapors in a first heat exchanger (hot side) to produce condensates, comprising primarily condensed hot water, and uncondensed vapors; separating condensed hot water and solvent from the uncondensed vapors in a first separator; flowing the hot water through the first heat exchanger (cold side) to produce near-saturated steam; and superheating the near-saturated steam in a second heat exchanger to produce the superheated steam for drying the solids. Uncondensed vapors from the first separator can be further condensed in a third heat exchanger to produce warm water, recovered solvent and uncondensed off gas, which can be separated in a second separator. Some of the warm water is combined with the hot water to produce the near-saturated steam for superheating. The off gas is oil scrubbed or combusted prior to release to the atmosphere.
US08552222B2	Chemical process for the production of haloalkenone ethers The present invention relates to a continuous process for producing a haloalkenone ether of the Formula (I) wherein R1 is C1-C6 haloalkyl, R2 is a C1-C6 alkyl or phenyl, the process comprising:—(i) reacting, in a first continuous stirred tank reactor comprising a solvent, a halide of Formula (II) wherein R1 is as previously defined and R3 is halogen, with a vinyl ether of Formula (III) wherein R2 is as previously defined, to form an intermediate compound of Formula (IV), wherein the concentration of the vinyl ether of Formula (III) in the reaction mass is 15% or less w/w; and (ii) transferring the reaction mass from the first continuous stirred tank reactor into a subsequent continuous stirred tank reactor, wherein the conditions within the subsequent reactor permit the elimination of hydrogen halide (HR3) from the intermediate compound of Formula (IV) to provide the haloalkenone ether of Formula (I).
US08552221B2	Process for the manufacture of halogenated precursors of alkenones under specific conditions A process for preparing a halogenated precursor of an alkenone, which comprises reacting a carboxylic acid halide with a vinyl ether in a liquid reaction medium under turbulent conditions and a process for preparing an alkenone, by eliminating hydrogen halide from said precursor to form the alkenone.
US08552209B2	Recovery of lactic acid values from a meso-lactide stream Lactic acid equivalents are recovered from a starting lactide stream by catalytically racemizing a portion of the lactide in the stream at a temperature of 180° C. or below. This increases the proportion of two species of lactide (i.e., at least two of S,S-, R,R- or meso-lactide) at the expense of the third species. The racemized mixture so obtained can be separated to recover some or all of one or more of the lactide species from the remaining lactide species, by a process such as melt crystallization or distillation. Impurities in the starting lactide stream usually are retained mostly in the remaining meso-lactide, so a highly purified S,S- and/or R,R-lactide stream can be produced in this manner. Such a purified S,S- and R,R-lactide stream is suitable for polymerization to form a polylactide.
US08552207B2	Salt forms of [R-(R,R)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-beta, delta-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid Novel salt forms of [R—(R,R)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-β,δ-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid characterized by their X-ray powder diffraction pattern and solid-state NMR spectra are described, as well as methods for the preparation and pharmaceutical composition of the same, which are useful as agents for treating hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and Alzheimer's Disease.
US08552206B2	NF-κB inhibitors and uses thereof A new class of imidazolines as 4-position esters with very potent anti-inflammatory as well as antimicrobial activity is described. The synthesis of these imidazolines includes a multicomponent reaction applicable to a combinatorial synthetic approach. The combination of these two key characteristics provides an effective therapeutic drug in the treatment of septic shock as well as many other inflammatory (arthritis and asthma) and infectious disorders. The use of this novel class of non-steroidal agents as anti-inflammatory agents (for the treatment of asthma, etc.), antibacterial agents, and antiseptic agents is described. The compounds are also useful in the treatment of tumors (such as cancers). The imidazolines are potent inhibitors of the transcription factor NF-κB as well as potent activity against the Gram (+) bacterium. The compositions are also useful for treating autoimmune diseases and for inhibiting rejection of organ and tissue transplants.
US08552200B2	Substituted 6-amino-nicotinamides as KCNQ2/3 modulators Substituted 6-amino-nicotinamides, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and also use of these compounds in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of pain and further diseases and/or disorders.
US08552199B2	Substituted indanes, method for the production thereof, and use thereof as drugs The invention relates to substituted indanes and derivatives thereof, to physiologically acceptable salts and physiologically functional derivatives thereof, to the production thereof, to drugs containing at least one substituted indane according to the invention or derivative thereof, and to the use of the substituted indanes according to the invention and to derivatives thereof as MCH antagonists.
US08552196B2	Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase inhibitors The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I): wherein X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8, R1, R2, R3 are defined above. The compounds have apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (“ASK1”) inhibitory activity, and are thus useful in the treatment of ASK1-mediated conditions, including autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more of the compounds of Formula (I), and to methods of preparing the compounds of Formula (I).
US08552194B2	Process for preparing quinoline-3-carboxamide derivatives Disclosed herein is an improved, commercially viable and industrially advantageous process for the preparation of quinoline-3-carboxamide derivatives such as laquinimod, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in high yield and purity.
US08552191B2	Process and intermediates for the synthesis of 8-[{1-(3,5-bis-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-ethoxy}-methyl]-8-phenyl-1,7-diaza-spiro[4.5]decan-2-one compounds This application discloses a novel process to synthesize 8-[{1-(3,5-Bis-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-ethoxy}-methyl]-8-phenyl-1,7-diaza-spiro[4.5]decan-2-one compounds, which may be used, for example, as NK-1 inhibitor compounds in pharmaceutical preparations.
US08552183B2	Process for the covalent coupling of two molecules by means of a diels-alder reaction with inverse electron requirement The present invention relates to a process for linking two molecules by means of a Diels Alder reaction with inverse electron requirement (DARinv), comprising the following steps: reaction of a (a) triazine or tetrazine with one or more electron-attracting substituents on the ring as a diene component, the electron-attracting substituents being selected from: COOR C(O)NR2 CX3 (X=halogen) halogen CN SO2—R or SO3—R PR2 wherein R═H, alkyl, aryl, heterocycle, which in turn may be substituted, where appropriate, with alkyl, OH, SH, halogen, aryl, heterocycle, nitro, carboxyamido or amine group. —heterocyclic rings having 1, 2 or 3 N, O or S atoms with a ring size of 5 or 6 ring members, which are substituted with at least one carboxyl, sulfonic acid or phosphone group with (b) an isolated double bond or triple bond in a (hetero)carbocyclic ring or an isolated olefinic double bond or triple bond in a linear or branched hydrocarbon chain which may also contain heteroatoms, where appropriate, as a dienophile component.
US08552181B2	Substituted hydroxyethyl amine compounds as beta-secretase modulators and methods of use The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the modulation of Beta-secretase activity and for the treatment of diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related CNS conditions, mediated thereby. In one embodiment, the compounds have a general Formula I or Formula II wherein R1a-1c, B, R3-5 and W of Formula I, and R1a-1c, R2-5, A1-4, W, X, Z, m and n of Formula II are defined herein. The invention further provides compounds of Formula III and IV and sub-Formulas II-A-II-D and III-A-III-D. The compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions for treating, prophylactically or therapeutically, disorders related to the activity of beta-secretase protein, including without limitation, AD, cognitive deficits and impairment, schizophrenia and other similar central nervous system conditions.
US08552175B2	Sulfur transfer reagents for oligonucleotide synthesis The use of N-formamidino-5-amino-3H-1,2,4-dithiazole-3-thiones, 5-phenyl-3H-1,2,4-dithiazole-3-thiones, and derivatives thereof as novel, efficient sulfur-transfer reagents is disclosed. Sulfur transfer from these reagents to compounds containing a P(III) atom (e.g., triphenylphosphine, 5′-O-DMT-thymidine 2-cyanoethyl-(N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite, and 5′-O-DMT-3′-O-levulinyl dithymidilyl 2-cyanoethyl phosphite), was studied in solution by 31P NMR and HPLC. The sulfur transfer from title compounds was also studied in the solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotide phosphorothioates by phosphoramidite methods. In this application, the efficiency of the sulfur transfer reaction for 2′-deoxyoligonucleotides was better than 99.5%. The novel sulfurizing agents are synthesized, at low cost, using simple chemical methods. As opposed to many sulfur transfer reagents known in the prior art such as 1,2-benzodithiol-3-one-1,1-dioxide (Beaucage reagent) and 5-ethoxy-3H-1,2,4-dithiazole-2-one (EDIT), the sulfurizing agents disclosed herein are highly stable in solution, which increases their practical and commercial value.
US08552170B2	Expression vector for establishing highly productive cell and the highly productive cell The present invention provides an expression vector which is effective in an efficient establishment of transformed cells which express the aimed protein gene in a high level. An expression vector which has a cassette for expressing the drug selective marker gene containing mRNA destabilizing sequence, at least one element for stabilizing the gene expression and a cassette for expressing the gene of the aimed protein. Preferably, the mRNA destabilizing sequence is derived from AT-rich sequence existing in the 3′-untranslated region of cytokine, interleukin or proto-oncogene, and the element for stabilizing the gene expression is derived from Chinese hamster genome.
US08552169B2	Transcription factor-based biosensor The present invention provides for a system comprising a BmoR transcription factor, a σ54-RNA polymerase, and a pBMO promoter operatively linked to a reporter gene, wherein the pBMO promoter is capable of expression of the reporter gene with an activated form of the BmoR and the σ54-RNA polymerase.
US08552165B2	Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides The invention relates to immunostimulatory oligonucleotides and methods of using immunostimulatory oligonucleotides to induce an antigen-specific immune response. The invention further relates to a vaccine that comprises an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide and an antigen, and comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The immunostimulatory oligonucleotides of the invention, in some embodiments, include one or more modified linkage(s).
US08552154B2	Anti-PD-L1 antibodies and uses therefor The present invention is based, in part, on the identification of novel human anti-PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 antibodies. Accordingly, the invention relates to compositions and methods for diagnosing, prognosing, and treating conditions that would benefit from modulating PD-1, PD-L1, and/or PD-L2 activity (e.g., persistent infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, asthma, transplant rejection, inflammatory disorders and tumors) using the novel human anti-PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 antibodies described herein.
US08552153B2	Coral-derived collagen and methods of farming same An isolated collagen fiber is disclosed, wherein a length of the fiber prior to stretching by about 15%, is identical to a length of the fiber following said stretching by about 15%. The fiber comprises a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopic profile as shown in FIG. 1. Uses thereof and method of isolating are also disclosed.
US08552149B2	Polypeptides and use thereof The present invention provides a polypeptide having a biological activity of the Chemotaxis Inhibitory Protein of Staphylococcus aureus (‘CHIPS’), the polypeptide comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or a fragment or variant thereof having a biological activity of CHIPS, wherein the fragment or variant retains amino acid substitutions K40E, D42V, N77H, K100R, K105R, N111 K and/or G112A relative to the wildtype CHIPS protein of SEQ ID NO:1. In one embodiment, polypeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. Related aspects of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polypeptide of the invention, together with methods or making and using the same.
US08552137B2	Composition comprising silyl derivative as dehydrating agent Disclosed is a compositions comprising isocyanate sub-composition comprising by weight not more than 5% of diisocyanate monomers, a dehydrating agent selected among compounds bearing dihydrocarbylsilyl groups bonded to a metalloid of the chalcogen column or to an atom of the nitrogen column. The invention is applicable to the coatings industry, in particular paints and adhesives.
US08552136B2	Thermoplastic silicone-based polymer process additives for injection molding applications There is provided a thermoplastic silicone-based polymer process additive component for use in injection molding applications, articles made using the silicone-based polymer process additive component, and methods for making these articles.
US08552129B2	Low melt flow branched ionomers Embodiments of the present invention include a branched aromatic ionomer, and a process of making it, by co-polymerizing a first monomer comprising an aromatic moiety and an unsaturated alkyl moiety and a second monomer represented by the general formula: [R-AZ]y-MX wherein R is a hydrocarbon chain having from 2 to 40 carbons and at least one polymerizable unsaturation; A is an anionic group; M is a cationic group; Z is −1 or −2; X is +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5; and y is an integer having a value of from 1 to 4. The branched aromatic ionomer has a melt flow index ranging from 1.0 g/10 min. to 13 g/10 min. Optionally the melt flow index ranges from 1.3 g/10 min. to 1.9 g/10 min.
US08552124B2	Copolymers with perfluoropolyether segment and polydiorganosiloxane segment Copolymers containing at least one perfluoropolyether segment and at least one polydiorganosiloxane segments are described. The copolymers further contain multiple aminooxalylamino groups that link the various segments together. Methods of making the copolymers are also described.
US08552121B2	Functionalized polymer A method for providing a polymer having terminal functionality that includes at least one sulfur atom and at least one silicon or tin atom involves reacting a terminally active polymer with a cyclic compound that includes in its ring structure at least one Si or Sn atom and at least one S atom, optionally at adjacent positions of the ring structure.
US08552118B2	Polyisobutylenes and process for making same The present invention generally relates to alcohol-terminated polyisobutylene (PIB) compounds, and to a process for making such compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to primary alcohol-terminated polyisobutylene compounds, and to a process for making such compounds. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to polyisobutylene compounds that can be used to synthesize polyurethanes, to polyurethane compounds made via the use of such polyisobutylene compounds, and to processes for making such compounds. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to primary alcohol-terminated polyisobutylene compounds having two or more primary alcohol termini and to a process for making such compounds. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to primary terminated polyisobutylene compounds having two or more primary termini selected from amine groups or methacrylate groups.
US08552117B1	Sealing elements and sealing element compositions Polyolefin based sealing element compositions with good oxygen barrier properties particularly suitable for forming sealing elements, for example gaskets and cap liners that are especially useful for sealing containers having products such as liquids or food-stuffs therein. The compositions when formed as sealing elements do not appreciably contribute taste and/or odor to a packaged product including the sealing element. The compositions have desirable rheological properties and are thus readily processable at various temperatures.
US08552115B2	Powder coating material and fluorine-containing laminate The present invention provides a powder coating composition free from hexavalent chromium to serve as a binder component but having an adhesion comparable to that of the primer based on chromium phosphate even if baked at elevated temperature for a long time. The present invention is a powder coating composition which contains a macromolecule compound (A) having amide group and/or imide group, an anti-oxidizing material (B) and a fluororesin (C), wherein an average particle size of the macromolecule compound (A) is smaller than 50 μm.
US08552114B2	Miktopolymer compositions The present invention provides a block copolymer composition and method of making the same having the structures (A2-B)n-X-(A1) or (A2-B2)n-X-(B1A1), where A1 and A2 are each a polymer block of a monoalkenyl arene and B, B1, and B2 are each a polymer block of one or more conjugated dienes or a hydrogenated diene polymer, n is an integer from 2 to 30 and X is the residue of a coupling agent.
US08552113B2	Rubber material of a wiper blade for windshield wipers and process for production thereof A rubber material of a wiper blade for windshield wipers is described, which comprises a first rubber component of a first polarity and a second rubber component of a second greater polarity. To equalize the first and second polarities, the first rubber component is at least partially replaced by a chemically functionalized derivative.
US08552109B2	Aqueous polyurethane resin dispersion, preparation method of the same, and coating composition containing the same Disclosed is an aqueous polyurethane resin dispersion which comprises a polyurethane resin which is obtained by reacting (A) a polyurethane prepolymer obtained by reacting (a) a polycarbonate polyol having an alicyclic structure in the main chain, (b) an acidic group-containing polyol compound and (d) a polyisocyanate, and (B) a chain-elongating agent, being dispersed in an aqueous medium, a carboxylic acid group content of the above-mentioned (A) polyurethane prepolymer based on a solid component of (A) the polyurethane prepolymer is 2.0 to 13.0% by weight, and a number of a hydroxyl equivalent of a mixture of the above-mentioned (a) polycarbonate polyol having an alicyclic structure in the main chain, the above-mentioned (b) acidic group-containing polyol compound, and, if necessary, (c) a polyol other than (a) and (b) is 70 to 270.
US08552108B2	Room temperature curable organopolysiloxane composition and gas separation membrane A room temperature curable organopolysiloxane composition is provided. The composition comprises (I) an organopolysiloxane which is a condensation product of component (A) (an organopolysiloxane comprising R3SiO1/2 unit and SiO4/2 unit and containing 0.02 to 0.12 mol/100 g of hydroxy group bonded to the silicon atom) and component (B) (a diorganopolysiloxane raw rubber having hydroxy group on opposite ends thereof), (II) an organosilane compound having at least 2 hydrolyzable groups bonded to the silicon atom on average per molecule, and/or its partial hydrolytic condensate, (III) a solvent, and (IV) a silica nano particle having its surface modified by a branch structure. The composition is capable of providing a high strength film without incorporating reinforcement fillers, with no curing inhibition by the inorganic nano particles, and without inhibiting gas separation performance realized by the inorganic nano particles.
US08552104B2	Amphiphilic block copolymer-toughened thermoset resins A composition comprising (1) a thermosettable resin selected from the group consisting of an epoxy resin, an epoxy vinyl ester resin, an unsaturated polyester resin or a mixture thereof, and (2) an amphiphilic mock copolymer dispersed in the thermosettable resin; fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP), coatings and composites prepared therefrom; and methods of preparing these.
US08552101B2	Thermally conductive and electrically insulative polymer compositions containing a low thermally conductive filler and uses thereof Disclosed herein are compositions comprising a. from 35 to 80 vol % of a thermoplastic polymer; b. from 5 to 45 vol % of a low thermally conductive, electrically insulative filler with an intrinsic thermal conductivity of from 10 to 30 W/mK; c. from 5 to 15 vol % of a high thermally conductive, electrically insulative filler with an intrinsic thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 50 W/mK; and d. from 5 to 15 vol % of a high thermally conductive, electrically conductive filler with an intrinsic thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 50 W/mK, wherein the composition is characterized by: i. a thermal conductivity of at least 1.0 W/mK; and ii. a volume resistivity of at least 107 Ohm.cm. Also disclosed are articles and methods of use therefor.
US08552100B2	Flexible hydrogel-based functional composite materials A composite having a flexible hydrogel polymer formed by mixing an organic phase with an inorganic composition, the organic phase selected from the group consisting of a hydrogel monomer, a crosslinker, a radical initiator, and/or a solvent. A polymerization mixture is formed and polymerized into a desired shape and size.
US08552090B2	Ink composition, recorded material, recording method, and recording apparatus An ink composition includes a polyurethane resin and at least one selected from a metal compound and hollow resin particles as a colorant, and in the ink composition described above, the polyurethane resin is a polycarbonate-based or a polyether-based anionic polyurethane resin.
US08552088B2	Cement for dental applications A cement for dental use, containing a first agent and a second agent, wherein both of the first agent and the second agent contain a polymerizable monomer (a) and a filler (b), wherein the first agent and/or the second agent further contains a photopolymerization initiator (c), wherein further as a chemical polymerization initiator (d), either one of the first agent and the second agent contains an oxidizing agent (f) and the other contains a reducing agent (g), the oxidizing agent (f) and the reducing agent (g) constituting a redox polymerization initiator, wherein the photopolymerization initiator (c) contains an α-diketone, and the photopolymerization initiator (c) is contained in a total amount of from 0.010 to 0.100 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the polymerizable monomer (a), wherein the chemical polymerization initiator (d) is contained in a total amount of from 0.001 to 20 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the polymerizable monomer (a), and wherein a cured product has a compression modulus immediately after photocuring of from 100 to 400 MPa, and a compression modulus after 24 hours from photocuring of 500 MPa or more. The cement for dental use of the present invention is suitably used for adhering the dentine and a crowning restorative material in the field of dental therapy, or the like.
US08552082B2	Alkali-soluble polymer compound and photosensitive resin composition using the same A novel alkali-soluble polymer compound including a dehydrogenated pimaric acid and/or its isomer as a repeating unit, and a photosensitive resin composition including the alkali-soluble polymer compound as an effective binder matrix are provided. A photosensitive resin composition using the alkali-soluble polymer compound including a dehydrogenated resin acid has excellent photosensitivity and developing characteristics cause a less deformation in a firing process, has excellent elasticity. Thus, the photosensitive resin composition is advantageous for curing various transparent photosensitive materials, in particular, materials of column spacers, an overcoat, a passivation layer, or the like, used for fabricating color filters of an LCD.
US08552077B2	Trimer catalyst additives for improving foam processability The present invention provides trimerization catalyst compositions and methods to produce a polyisocyanurate/polyurethane foam using such trimerization catalyst compositions. The catalyst composition is the contact product of at least one α,β-unsaturated carboxylate salt and at least one second carboxylate salt.
US08552074B2	Process for preparing methanol, dimethyl ether, and low carbon olefins from syngas The present invention provides a process for preparing methanol, dimethyl ether, and low carbon olefins from syngas, wherein the process comprises the step of contacting syngas with a catalyst under the conditions for converting the syngas into methanol, dimethyl ether, and low carbon olefins, characterized in that, the catalyst contains an amorphous alloy consisting of components M and X wherein the component X represents an element B and/or P, the component M represents two or more elements selected from Group IIIA, IVA, VA, IB, IIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIII and Lanthanide series of the Periodic Table of Elements. According to the present process, the syngas can be converted into methanol, dimethyl ether, and low carbon olefins in a high CO conversion, a high selectivity of the target product, and high carbon availability.
US08552060B2	Methods for treatment of sexual dysfunction This invention is directed to a method of treating sexual dysfunction in a subject, comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof wherein Rx is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, halogen selected from F, CI, Br and I, alkoxy containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, nitro, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, and thioalkoxy containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms; x is an integer of 1 to 3, with the proviso that R may be the same or different when x is 2 or 3; R1 and R2 can be the same or different from each other and are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 8 carbon atoms, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl of 3 to 7 carbon atoms; R1 and R2 can be joined to form a 5 to 7-membered heterocycle substituted with a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, and aryl groups, wherein the cyclic compound can comprise 1 to 2 nitrogen atoms and O to 1 oxygen atom, wherein the nitrogen atoms are not directly connected with each other or with the oxygen atom.
US08552059B2	Treatment of ischemic episodes and cerebroprotection through misoprostol The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating an ischemic episode using misoprostol alone or in combination with anti-thrombotic agents.
US08552054B2	Fatty amine drug conjugates The invention provides conjugates of fatty amines and pharmaceutical agents useful in treating cancer, viruses, psychiatric disorders. Compositions, pharmaceutical preparations, and methods of preparations of the fatty amine-pharmaceutical agent conjugates are provided.
US08552053B2	7-substituted indirubin-3′oximes and their applications The invention relates to new 3′-, 7-substituted-indirubins of formula (I) wherein R represents N—OH, N—O-alkyl or N—O—CO-alkyl, NO—(Ra)n1-Het, N—O—(Y)n1—N Ra Rb, N—O—CO—N(Rb Rc), radical with Het representing an aliphatic nitrogeneous heterocycle, Y being an optionally substituted —CH2— radical, n1 being 1 to 3, and X is an halogen atom selected in the group comprising F, Cl, Br, I, and Z is H or CH3 and the salts thereof.
US08552048B2	Phosphoramidate alkylator prodrugs for the treatment of cancer Compositions containing, and, methods administering, TH302, are useful in treatment of cancer and other hyper-proliferative diseases.
US08552047B2	Hepatitis C virus inhibitors The present disclosure relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HCV infection.
US08552046B2	Manufacture, compositions and uses of coagulation factor VIIa modulator Treatment of cancer and thromboembolic disorders using inhibitors of Factor VIIa are disclosed herein using a compound of Formula I.
US08552043B2	N[S(4-aryl-triazol-3-yl)α-mercaptoacetyl]-p-amino benzoic acids as HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors A series of S-triazolyl α-mercaptoacetanilides having N-(α-mercaptoacetyl) p amino benzoic acid derivatives. are provided, where Q is CO2H, or a salt or ester thereof, or a C(O) N-linked amino acid. The compounds inhibit several variants of the reverse transcriptase of HIV, and are useful in the treatment of HIV infections.
US08552037B2	Tricyclic compound and pharmaceutical use thereof The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula which is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of diseases related to the action of melatonin, or a salt thereof and the like.
US08552035B2	Phenanthrenone compounds, compositions and methods The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: or salt thereof, which are modulators of the glucocorticoid receptor. The compounds and salts of the invention are useful in the treatment of conditions mediated by glucocorticoid receptor activity.
US08552020B2	N1-substituted-5-fluoro-2-oxopyrimidinone-1(2H)-carboxamide derivatives This present disclosure is related to the field of N1-substituted-5-fluoro-2-oxopyrimidinone-1-(2H)-carboxamides and their derivatives and to the use of these compounds as fungicides.
US08552011B2	6-(C2-6alkylseleno)purines and methods for treating neural measles viral infection therewith The present application relates to anti-viral selenopurine compounds of formula (I): wherein R1 is C2-6alkyl, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, and prodrugs thereof. These 6-(C2-6alkylseleno)purine compounds find use in the treatment of neural measles virus infection and associated diseases (namely, multiple sclerosis or neural measles). A particularly preferred compound is ethylselenopurine or ESP.
US08552004B2	Chemical compounds There is provided pyrimidinyl compounds of Formula (I), wherein: R2 is or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy.
US08552001B2	Sulfoxide derivatives for the treatment of tumors Sulfoxide derivatives of the formula Ia to Im as described, and pharmaceutically usable salts, solvates, enantiomers, tautomers and stereoisomers thereof, including mixtures thereof in all ratios, for the treatment of tumors.
US08551990B2	Anxiolytic compounds The present invention relates to chemical compounds of general formula (I) which may possess useful therapeutic activity in a range of central nervous system disorders, and in particular, anxiety disorders.
US08551983B2	Nicotinic receptor agonists for the treatment of inflammatory diseases Nicotine receptor agonists or analogs or derivatives thereof for treating inflammatory pulmonary diseases, and pharmaceutical compositions including nicotine receptor agonists or analogs or derivatives thereof. Compounds of formula wherein R1, R2, Xa and Ya are as defined herein are also provided.
US08551978B2	Diamide compounds having muscarinic receptor antagonist and β2 adrenergic receptor agonist activity This invention relates to a compound of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Such compounds possess both muscarinic receptor antagonist and β2 adrenergic receptor agonist activities. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds, and methods of using such compounds as bronchodilating agents to treat pulmonary disorders.
US08551977B2	Use of perifosine in combination with antimetabolites for the treatment of benign and malignant oncoses in humans and mammals The invention relates to the use of alkylphosphocholines in combination with antimetabolite antitumor substances for the treatment of benign and malignant oncoses in humans and animals. It is possible in this connection for the alkylphosphocholines to be employed in a combination according to the invention with one or more antimetabolite antitumor substances. Preferred alkylphosphocholines are described by the Formula II. One such preferred alkylphosphocholine is perifosine.
US08551975B1	Hyaluronic acid in soft gel form An orally administered soft gelatin formulation preparation of low molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid (HA) for use as a nutritional supplement to provide the primary benefit of internally causing the softening of the human skin.
US08551971B2	Composition for treatment of pancreatic cancer Disclosed is a composition for treating pancreatic cancer. The composition comprises a pharmaceutically effective amount of an antisense nucleic acid or siRNA that inhibits expression of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of SON gene, MCM5 gene, WDR5 gene, PBK gene and CENPA gene. The composition inhibits the expression of a specific gene to provide the effect of inhibiting the proliferation, survival and tumorigenicity of pancreatic cancer cells.
US08551969B2	Methods to identify compounds useful for tumor sensitization to DNA damage Cdc25A is herein identified as a substrate for β-TrCP1- or β-TrCP2-mediated ubiquitination and subsequent degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In particular, it has been found that interfering with β-TrCP expression or function, or increasing β-TrCP degradation, leads to accumulation of Cdc25A in a cell. Since degradation of Cdc25A is a key feature of the response to DNA damage, leading to a stall in the cell cycle during which the cell can repair the damage, Cdc25A accumulation can abolish this response, thereby sensitizing the cell to DNA damage. Described herein are assays for identifying β-TrCP inhibitors, and method of using such inhibitors for modulating Cdc25A degradation, sensitization of tumor cells, and as adjuvants in cancer therapy based on DNA damaging agents.
US08551968B2	Methods for generation of antibodies This invention generally relates to methods for the production of antibody producing cells and antibodies in protooncogene expressing animals. The invention also relates to methods for the efficient production of antibodies specific for antigens that are normally subject to immunological constraints such as self tolerance. The invention further relates to the production of antibody producing cells and antibodies without the need for the conventional fusing of antibody producing B cells with a myeloma fusion partner.
US08551964B2	Hsp90 inhibitors with modified toxicity The invention provides 19-substituted geldanamycin derivatives, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and prodrugs thereof that are potent Hsp90 binding agents useful for the treatment of, and/or the amelioration of symptoms of, cancer and other proliferative tissue disorders.
US08551961B2	Localized delivery of cardiac inotropic agents The present invention provides novel methods for the localized delivery of inotropic agents to the heart, including specific regions of the heart, such as the ventricles, for example in a subject undergoing cardiothoracic surgery, with the aim of supporting the myocardial contractile function of the heart.
US08551958B2	Galactosylated pro-drugs of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories with improved pharmacokinetic characteristics and reduced toxicity of the starting drug Pro-drugs of all non-steroidal anti-inflammatories with free acid function derivatized with an ester group, which have the general structural formula given below (I) where A is: aspirin, diflunisal, benorylate, ibufenac, diclofenac, indomethacin, sulindac, ketorolac, ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, mefenamic acid, meclof enamic acid, flufenamic acid, niflumic acid, and where in the ester group R can be a sugar (amongst which aldose, or ketose pentose, or esose selected from a group of D- and L-enantioiuers of ribose, glucose, galactose, mannose, arabinose, xilose, allose, altrose, gulose, idose and talose and substituted derivatives thereof, such as glucosamine, galactosamine, N-acetyl glucosamine, N-acetyl galactosamine, N-acetyl ribosamine), a disaccharide, a trisaccharide or an oligosaccharide.
US08551948B2	Albumin fibers and fabrics and methods of generating and using same Provided are method of generating a fiber from a globular protein such as albumin. Also provided are albumin fibers and fabrics and methods of using same for bonding a damaged tissue or for ex vivo or in vivo formation of a tissue.
US08551945B2	Methods and compositions for treating neuropathies Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for treating neuropathies by modulating endogenous NT-3 of GDNF gene expression.
US08551937B2	Peptide having an extending action for half-life of object peptide in plasma An isolated chimeric peptide consisting of one or two added peptides and an object peptide wherein the added peptide is bonded to the N-terminus, the C-terminus or both of the object peptide, wherein if the added peptides are bound to both terminals, the two added peptides may be the same or different; and physiological activity of the object peptide is still retained, wherein the object peptide is a natural physiologically active peptide selected from the group consisting of an atrial natriuretic peptide, a brain natriuretic peptide, a C-type natriuretic peptide, motilin, a glucagon-like peptide 1, parathyroid hormone, and calcitonin, or a derivative of any thereof, wherein the derivative has one or more amino acid(s) deleted from the amino acid sequence of a natural physiologically active peptide and has the desired physiological activity.
US08551936B2	Defensin-antigen fusion proteins The present invention relates to a vaccine for increasing the immunogenicity of a tumor antigen thus allowing treatment of cancer, as well as a vaccine that increases the immunogenicity of a viral antigen, thus allowing treatment of viral infection, including immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In particular, the present invention provides a fusion protein comprising a defensin fused to either a tumor antigen or viral antigen which is administered as either a protein or nucleic acid vaccine to elicit an immune response effective in treating cancer or effective in treating or preventing viral infection.
US08551935B2	Benefit agent containing delivery particle The present invention relates to benefit agent containing delivery particles, compositions comprising said particles, and processes for making and using the aforementioned particles and compositions. When employed in compositions, for example, cleaning or fabric care compositions, such particles increase the efficiency of benefit agent delivery, there by allowing reduced amounts of benefit agents to be employed. In addition to allowing the amount of benefit agent to be reduced, such particles allow a broad range of benefit agents to be employed.
US08551934B2	Cleaning compound for cleaning surfaces in a food processing environment A cleaning compound for cleaning surfaces in a food processing environment includes at least one container, with each container including a peroxide and/or an alkaline reactant therein. The alkaline reactant is selected to raise the pH of the cleaning compound into the alkaline range when the peroxide and the alkaline reactant are mixed together. The cleaning compound may be a liquid or dry compound, which is applied to the surface to be cleaned.
US08551930B2	Dishwasher detergent The present invention is a phosphate-free automatic dishwashing agent containing a builder, said agent comprising: a) a copolymer A comprising i) at least one mono- or polyunsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, ii) at least one mono- or polyunsaturated sulfonic acid monomer, and iii) at least one additional nonionic monomer; and b) an acrylic acid homopolymer B, wherein the weight ratio of copolymer A to homopolymer B is between 10:1 and 1:3. The present agent is characterized by excellent residue inhibition, good cleaning, and clear rinsing performance in automatic dishwashing.
US08551917B2	Use of prolines for improving growth and/or yield The present invention describes a composition including a mixture of L- and D-pyroglutamate stereoisomers in a ratio of L to D of from about 80:20 to about 97:3, and, a carrier medium for application of the L- and D-pyroglutamate stereoisomers to a target plant. The composition can also be used as a germination medium and may be incorporated into a seed coat for assisting in germination. The present invention further describes a method of increasing the agronomic performance of a target plant by treating a target plant with a composition including a mixture of L- and D-pyroglutamate stereoisomers in a ratio of L to D of from about 80:20 to about 97:3 and a carrier medium for said L- and D-pyroglutamate stereoisomers.
US08551907B2	Dispersed metal sulfide-based catalysts The invention provides a catalyst composition, which includes an emulsion of an aqueous phase in an oil phase, wherein the aqueous phase comprises an aqueous solution containing a group 6 metal and a group 8, 9 or 10 metal. The metals can be provided in two separate emulsions, and these emulsions are well suited for treating hydrocarbon feedstocks.
US08551904B2	High surface area ceramic catalysts and the manufacture thereof A process for making a ceramic catalyst material includes mixing a catalyst precursor material with a mineral particulate to form a mixture; adding a binder, silicon carbide, and a parting agent to the mixture to form unfired spheroids; and heating the unfired spheroids at a temperature effective to oxidize the silicon carbide and the catalyst precursor material to form the ceramic catalyst material. In another embodiment, the process includes the addition of a catalyst metal oxide salt to an aluminosilicate hydrogel aggregate mixture. Once the mixture sets, the set mixture is heated to a temperature to effective to produce a high surface area ceramic catalyst material.
US08551884B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises forming a contact hole within an interlayer insulating film of a substrate and forming a contact plug while the substrate is heated. In forming the contact plug, the substrate is held on a stage within the chamber of a sputtering apparatus through a chuck, and an ESC voltage applied to the chuck is increased stepwise in a plurality of steps. First target power is applied to a target within the chamber to form a first Al film in the contact hole. Next, second target power higher than the first target power is applied to the target within the chamber to form a second Al film on the first Al film.
US08551878B2	Metal interconnection method of semiconductor device A metal interconnection method of a semiconductor device includes forming a copper layer on a semiconductor substrate and planarizing the copper layer. Two thermal treatments are performed at different temperatures between formation of the copper layer and planarization of the copper layer.
US08551870B2	Method for producing an epitaxially coated semiconductor wafer Epitaxially coated semiconductor wafers are produced by minimally the following steps in the order specified: (a) depositing an epitaxial layer on one side of a semiconductor wafer; (b) first polishing the epitaxially coated side of the semiconductor wafer with a polishing pad with fixed abrasive while supplying a polishing solution which is free of solids; (c) CMP polishing of the epitaxially coated side of the semiconductor wafer with a soft polishing pad which contains no fixed abrasive, while supplying a polishing agent suspension; (d) depositing another epitaxial layer on the previously epitaxially coated and polished side of the semiconductor wafer.
US08551866B2	Three-dimensional thin-film semiconductor substrate with through-holes and methods of manufacturing A method for the fabrication of a three-dimensional thin-film semiconductor substrate with selective through-holes is provided. A porous semiconductor layer is conformally formed on a semiconductor template comprising a plurality of three-dimensional inverted pyramidal surface features defined by top surface areas aligned along a (100) crystallographic orientation plane of the semiconductor template and a plurality of inverted pyramidal cavities defined by sidewalls aligned along the (111) crystallographic orientation plane of the semiconductor template. An epitaxial semiconductor layer is conformally formed on the porous semiconductor layer. The epitaxial semiconductor layer is released from the semiconductor template. Through-holes are selectively formed in the epitaxial semiconductor layer with openings between the front and back lateral surface planes of the epitaxial semiconductor layer to form a partially transparent three-dimensional thin-film semiconductor substrate.
US08551864B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises the steps of forming a film on a main face of a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of device forming regions for forming semiconductor devices, the film having a coefficient of thermal expansion different from that of the semiconductor substrate and including a cutout on a region between the plurality of device forming regions; forming the semiconductor devices in the respective device forming regions by using the film; and dividing the semiconductor substrate into the respective device forming regions.
US08551862B2	Method of manufacturing laminated wafer by high temperature laminating method To provide a method of manufacturing a laminated wafer by which a strong coupling is achieved between wafers made of different materials having a large difference in thermal expansion coefficient without lowering a maximum heat treatment temperature as well as in which cracks or chips of the wafer does not occur. A method of manufacturing a laminated wafer 7 by forming a silicon film layer on a surface 4 of an insulating substrate 3 comprising the steps in the following order of: applying a surface activation treatment to both a surface 2 of a silicon wafer 1 or a silicon wafer 1 to which an oxide film is layered and a surface 4 of the insulating substrate 3 followed by laminating in an atmosphere of temperature exceeding 50° C. and lower than 300° C., applying a heat treatment to a laminated wafer 5 at a temperature of 200° C. to 350° C., and thinning the silicon wafer 1 by a combination of grinding, etching and polishing to form a silicon film layer.
US08551852B2	Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same A semiconductor memory device includes a word line interconnect layer having a plurality of word lines extending in a word line direction and a bit line interconnect layer having a plurality of bit lines extending in a bit line direction alternately stacked on a silicon substrate. A variable resistance film is disposed between the word line and the bit line. A first pin diode extending in the word line direction is provided between the word line and the variable resistance film, and a second pin diode extending in the bit line direction is provided between the bit line and the variable resistance film. A region of an upper surface of the pin diode other than an immediately underlying region of the variable resistance film is located lower than the immediately underlying region.
US08551850B2	Methods of forming a reversible resistance-switching metal-insulator-metal structure A method of forming a reversible resistance-switching metal-insulator-metal structure is provided, the method including forming a first non-metallic conducting layer, forming a non-conducting layer above the first non-metallic conducting layer, forming a second non-metallic conducting layer above the non-conducting layer, etching the first non-metallic conducting layer, non-conducting layer and second non-metallic conducting layer to form a pillar, and disposing a carbon material layer about a sidewall of the pillar. Other aspects are also provided.
US08551849B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same Aimed at providing a highly reliable semiconductor device appropriately increased in stress at the channel region so as to improve carrier injection rate, thereby dramatically improved in transistor characteristics, and made adaptable also to recent narrower channel width, and a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of manufacturing the same, a first sidewall composed of a stress film having expandability is formed on the side faces of a gate electrode, a second sidewall composed of a film having smaller stress is formed on the first sidewall, and a semiconductor, which is a SiC layer for example, is formed as being positioned apart from the first sidewall while placing the second sidewall in between.
US08551827B2	Method of fabricating organic light emitting diode display device An organic light emitting diode display device and a method of manufacturing thereof, the device including a substrate, the substrate including a pixel part and a circuit part; a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer on the pixel part of the substrate; a gate insulating layer on an entire surface of the substrate; gate electrodes on the gate insulating layer, the gate electrodes corresponding to the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, respectively; source/drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrodes, the source/drain electrodes being connected to the first and second semiconductor layers, respectively; a first electrode connected to the source/drain electrodes of the first semiconductor layer; an organic layer on the first electrode; a second layer on the organic layer; and a metal catalyst layer under the first semiconductor layer.
US08551821B2	Enhancement normally off nitride semiconductor device manufacturing the same The present invention relates to an enhancement normally off nitride semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes the steps of: forming a buffer layer on a substrate; forming a first nitride semiconductor layer on the buffer layer; forming a second nitride semiconductor layer on the first nitride semiconductor layer; etching a gate region above the second nitride semiconductor layer up to a predetermined depth of the first nitride semiconductor layer; forming an insulating film on the etched region and the second nitride semiconductor layer; patterning a source/drain region, etching the insulating film in the source/drain region, and forming electrodes in the source/drain region; and forming a gate electrode on the insulating film in the gate region. In this manner, the present invention provides a method of easily implementing a normally off enhancement semiconductor device by originally blocking 2DEG which is generated under a gate region. In addition, the present invention provides an enhancement normally off power semiconductor device with a simple and efficient driving circuit in a HEMT device.
US08551819B2	Method for surface mounting using cleaning-free activated resinous composition Activated resinous composition contains, on the basis of epoxy resin being solid at a room temperature of 100 parts by weight, carboxylic acid compound of 1 to 10 parts by weight, hardening agent of 1 to 30 parts by weight, a hardening reaction initiation temperature of said hardening agent being 150° C. or higher, and solvent of 10 to 300 parts by weight.
US08551811B2	Composite dielectric material doped with rare earth metal oxide and manufacturing method thereof A composite dielectric material doped with rare earth metal oxide and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The composite dielectric material is doped with nano-crystalline rare metal oxide which is embedded in silicon dioxide glass matrix, and the composite dielectric material of the nano-crystalline rare metal oxide and the silicon dioxide glass matrix is synthesized by the manufacturing method using sol-gel route. The dielectric value of the glass composite dielectric material is greater than that of pure rare metal oxide or that of silicon dioxide. In presence of magnetic field, the dielectric value of the composite dielectric material is substantially enhanced compared with that of the composite dielectric material at zero field.
US08551793B2	Red and green fluorosulfide phosphor, preparation method and white-light emitting diodes thereof Novel red and green fluorosulfide phosphors have a chemical formula of (A1-x-yCexBy)SF, wherein A and B are both trivalent metal ions, 0
US08551790B2	MASP 2, a complement-fixing enzyme, and uses for it The invention relates to the discovery and characterization of mannan binding lectin-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2), a new serine protease that acts in the MBLectin complement fixation pathway.
US08551787B2	Microfluidic devices and methods for binary mixing The invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for carrying out sequential binary reactions.
US08551783B2	Efficient and universal method for neural differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells The present invention relates to a method for inducing neural differentiation of stem cells. In more detail, the present invention relates to a method for inducing neural differentiation of stem cells by inhibiting both BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) and Activin/Nodal signaling pathways in the stem cells. The present invention allows all types of stem cells to effectively differentiate into neural precursor cells regardless of conventional methods for stem cell differentiation including floating culture and attachment culture. In addition, since the neural precursor cells induced by the present invention may be differentiated into specific cells (e.g., dopaminergic neurons) or oligodendrocytes in higher efficient manner, they may be applied to treatment of incurable nerve diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease or spinal cordinjury) and further provide fundamental data on new drug development.
US08551782B2	Methods for promoting HSC engraftment The present invention provides for compositions and methods for modulating hematopoetic stem cell populations by using HCS modulators, which are agents that either increase HSC numbers or decrease HSC numbers as desired by a particular indication. For example, HSC modulators found to increase HSC numbers include prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and agents that stimulate the PGE2 pathway. Conversely, HSC modulators that prevent PGE2 synthesis decrease HSC numbers. HCS modulators may be used in vitro, in vivo, or ex vivo.
US08551768B2	Split DNA enzyme for visual single nucleotide polymorphism typing A probe that changes solution color in the presence of only one of the two DNA sequences, which differ by a single nucleotide, is reported. The probe consists of two oligodeoxyribonucleotides, which form a hydrogen peroxidase-like DNA enzyme when hybridized to the abutting fragments of the complementary analyte. The active peroxidase catalyses oxidation of colorless substrates to the colored products. The probe allows visual detection of a mutation in Alzheimer's disease-related DNA.
US08551764B2	Devices for the detection of the presence and/or activity of proteases in biological samples The subject invention provides novel devices and methods for the detection of the presence and/or activity of proteases in biological samples.
US08551762B2	System and apparatus for feeding, solubilizing, growing and discharging a biological material Apparatus useful for feeding a particulate starter material comprising nutrient and bacteria to a mixing tank, for solubilizing the starter material inside the mixing tank, for promoting growth of the bacteria and for discharging an aqueous slurry comprising the bacteria from the mixing tank. The apparatus preferably has a gravity-flow feeder and discharge port, does not require a pump, and comprises disposable parts.
US08551750B2	Device including bone cage and method for treatment of disease in a subject Devices, methods, and systems are described for controlling pathogenic condition or disease in a subject. Devices are described that include one or more bone cages. The device including one or more bone cages can be configured to include one or more immunogens and one or more adjuvants. The device including one or more bone cages can be configured to, and/or structured to at least partially or completely surround one or more cells or tissues that produce one or more immunogens and/or one or more adjuvants. The device is useful in a method for treating a pathogenic condition or disease in the subject.
US08551747B2	Process for producing bioethanol from lignocellulosic plant raw material A process for pretreating a lignocellulosic plant raw material in order to obtain a pretreated material that is capable of being hydrolyzed and fermented for the production of bioethanol, includes the following successive steps: (i) destructuring the lignocellulosic plant raw material by placing it in the presence of a mixture containing formic acid and water, at a reaction temperature between 95° C. and 110° C.; (ii) then, at atmospheric pressure and prior to any hydrolysis then fermentation action, separating: on the one hand, the solid phase, mainly composed of the cellulose, constituting a first co-substrate, capable of then being hydrolyzed and fermented for the production of bioethanol; and on the other hand, the liquid phase, containing, in particular in aqueous solution, the formic acid, the lignins, and the hemicelluloses, constituting a second co-substrate, capable of then being hydrolyzed and fermented for the production of bioethanol.
US08551741B2	Method for producing an L-amino acid An L-amino acid is produced by culturing a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family which has an L-amino acid-producing ability in a medium containing fatty acids as the carbon source, particularly fatty acids which have been subjected to emulsification or homogenization, to thereby produce and accumulate the L-amino acid in a culture medium; and collecting the L-amino acid from the culture medium.
US08551740B2	Bioreactor and method for producing microbial cellulose A technique for producing microbial cellulose is provided, including: preparing a liquid medium for microbial cultivation in a container; horizontally rotating multiple hollow tubes that are fitted together or separated from one another, so that each of the hollow tubes is alternately partially immersed in the liquid medium and partially exposed above the horizontal surface of the liquid medium; wherein each of the hollow tubes has a rough outer surface and a smooth inner surface, so as to allow microorganisms to form microbial cellulose on the outer surface of each hollow tube, as well as forming sheets of microbial cellulose on the horizontal surface of the liquid medium not being disturbed by the hollow tubes, and removing the microbial cellulose from the outer surfaces of the hollow tubes in order to obtain tubular microbial cellulose. In addition, the sheets of microbial cellulose are also harvested from the liquid medium.
US08551736B2	Inosine producing microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium and process of producing inosine using the same A microorganism of the genus Corynebacterium having the ability to produce inosine in which the inosine catabolic pathway is blocked and that has a leaky adenine auxotrophic phenotype and further has a leaky guanine auxotrophic phenotype and a method of producing inosine, the method including culturing the microorganism of the genus Corynebacterium are disclosed.
US08551733B2	Production of oligoclonal mixtures of immunoglobulins in single cells The present invention provides methods to produce mixtures of exogenous proteins in single cells. Preferably said exogenous proteins are heteromeric and multimeric proteins, such as immunoglobulins. The method enables the controlled expression of proteins, thereby allowing the correct formation and assembly of multimeric proteins, such as immunoglobulins.
US08551719B1	Endotoxin detection method The invention relates to a method for detecting endotoxins in a sample.
US08551712B2	Diagnostic biomolecule(s) The present invention relates to methods for the identification and/or quantification of biomolecule(s). There is also provided a novel method of identifying and/or quantitating biomolecule(s) in a proliferative cell disorder by providing at least one cyst fluid sample and determining the expression of haptoglobin protein, derivative, mutant and/or fragment thereof.
US08551707B2	Nucleic acid-based tests for RhD typing, gender determination and nucleic acid quantification The invention in part provides nucleic acid-based assays, which are particularly useful for non-invasive prenatal testing. The invention in part provides compositions and methods for RhD typing, detecting the presence of fetal nucleic in a sample, determining the relative amount of fetal nucleic acid in a sample and determining the sex of a fetus, wherein each of the assays may be performed alone or in combination.
US08551700B2	Diagnostic and prognostic tests The invention provides methods for diagnosing biological states or conditions based on ratios of gene expression data from tissue samples, such as cancer tissue samples. The invention also provides sets of genes that are expressed differentially in malignant pleural mesothelioma. These sets of genes can be used to discriminate between normal and malignant tissues, and between classes of malignant tissues. Accordingly, diagnostic assays for classification of tumors, prediction of tumor outcome, selecting and monitoring treatment regimens and monitoring tumor progression/regression also are provided.
US08551698B2	Method of loading sample into a microfluidic device A method comprising loading a sample into a microfluidic device which comprises plural sample chambers, subdividing the sample into a plurality of sample portions, such that respective sample portions are positioned in each of a plurality of the sample chambers, and subjecting the sample portions loaded into the respective sample chambers to at least a first amplification step. Each of the sample chambers has a respective volume such that if a sample portion positioned in the sample chamber comprises at least one molecule of a target nucleic acid, the target nucleic acid would attain a detectable concentration in the sample chamber after a single round of amplification.
US08551691B2	Method of forming mask pattern A disclosed method of forming a mask pattern includes forming a first resist film on a film to be etched, opening portions on the first resist film at a predetermined pitch, a first film on the first resist film so as to cover sidewalls of the first opening portions, a second resist film, second opening portions alternately arranged with the first opening portions on the second resist film, and a second film on the second resist film so as to cover sidewalls of the second opening portions, and removing a part of the second film so that the second film is left as first sidewall portions, a part of the first resist film using the first sidewall portions as a mask to form third opening portions, and a part of the first film while leaving the first film as second sidewall portions to form fourth opening portions.
US08551676B2	Pigment-dispersed composition, curable composition, and color filter and production method thereof There are provided a pigment-dispersed composition comprising at least a resin having a pendant group containing a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring and an ethylenic unsaturated double bond in the main chain skeleton, a pigment, and a solvent, and a curable composition using this, a color filter having a colored pattern formed from the curable composition, and a production method thereof.
US08551675B2	Mounting a pellicle to a frame A pellicle membrane is mounted between an outer frame and an inner frame. At least one of the frames is attached to the reticle without using conventional adhesives. The pellicle and reticle may be used in a lithography system. The pellicle allows radiation to pass through the pellicle to the reticle and may prevent particles from passing through the pellicle.
US08551669B2	Naphthoxazine benzoxazine-based monomer, polymer thereof, electrode for fuel cell including the polymer, electrolyte membrane for fuel cell including the polymer, and fuel cell using the electrode A naphthoxazine benzoxazine-based monomer is represented by Formula 1 below: In Formula 1, R2 and R3 or R3 and R4 are linked to each other to form a group represented by Formula 2 below, and R5 and R6 or R6 and R7 are linked to each other to form a group represented by Formula 2 below, In Formula 2, * represents the bonding position of R2 and R3, R3 and R4, R5 and R6, or R6 and R7 of Formula 1. A polymer is formed by polymerizing the naphthoxazine benzoxazine-based monomer, an electrode for a fuel cell includes the polymer, an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes the polymer, and a fuel cell uses the electrode.
US08551667B2	Hydrogel barrier for fuel cells A fuel cell includes an anode including an anode catalyst, a cathode, a channel that is contiguous with the anode, and a liquid electrolyte in the channel. The cathode includes a gas diffusion electrode, a cathode catalyst on the gas diffusion electrode, and a hydrogel on the cathode catalyst. The hydrogel is between the anode and the cathode, and includes an aqueous liquid and a polymer. The polymer has an acid capacity less than 0.8 meq/g and/or has no sulfonic acid groups covalently bound to the polymer. A method of generating electricity includes flowing a liquid electrolyte through the channel, oxidizing a fuel at the anode, and reducing a gaseous oxidant at the cathode.
US08551666B2	Electrical generation system comprising membrane fuel cells fed with dry gases An electrical generation system, a membrane fuel cell system, suitable for being employed in mobile application, for instance in vehicular applications as a direct electric current generation system comprising at least one polymer membrane fuel cell stack with means for adjusting the temperature of the cells comprising circulating a coolant inside the cells at constant flow-rate, the water and the thermal management of the system being regulated by acting only on the flow-rate of the air feed and on the cell inlet temperature of the coolant.
US08551662B2	Nonaqueous electrolyte and lithium secondary battery employing the same A nonaqueous electrolyte which contains a nonaqueous organic solvent and a lithium salt dissolved therein is provided. Also provided is a lithium secondary battery employing the nonaqueous electrolyte.
US08551648B2	Electrode structure and battery device manufacturing method An electrode is provided with a metal terminal extending from a battery module main body, a bolt which has an expanded section configuring a retaining section at a rear end portion and penetrates the metal terminal upward, and an insulating body which insulates the metal terminal and the battery module case one from the other. The insulating body is provided with a drop preventing section which abuts at least a lower surface of the expanded section of the bolt and prevents the bolt from dropping from the metal terminal.
US08551635B2	Power supply device and vehicle including power supply device A power supply includes rectangular battery cells 1. Each cell 1 includes a rectangular container 11 covered with an electrically insulating film 2. The film 2 has a bottom cover 22, main covers 21, and side covers 23. The bottom cover 22 is arranged between the main covers 21. The side covers 23 protrude from the both sides of the main and bottom covers 21 and 22. Each side cover 23 has first and second side covers 23A and 23B. The first and second side covers 23A and 23B protrude from the side edges of the main and bottom covers 21 and 22. The first and second side covers 23A and 23B are continuously arranged in connection areas 24. When folded on side surfaces 11D of the container 11, the first and second side covers 23A and 23B are superposed on one another. The superposed parts 25 are welded.
US08551631B2	Assembled battery, and vehicle equipped with the assembled battery An assembled battery that secures a heat-dissipation characteristic and has a uniform thickness (size) of unit cells that constitute the assembled battery in a direction of arrangement is provided. In an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are arranged in an arrangement direction, in a unit cell container of at least one of the plurality of unit cells, one or more gap-filling members that fill in a gap between an electrode body and two side walls of the cell container are inserted, and the one or more gap-filling members are disposed so that a distance between the electrode body and a channel-side side wall that directly faces a channel through which a cooling medium passes is shorter than a distance between the electrode body and a non-channel-side side wall that does not directly face the channel.
US08551623B2	Airtightly sealing cap, electronic component storing package and method for manufacturing electronic component storing package Provided is an airtightly sealing cap, by which a use quantity of Au is reduced in a soldering material for sealing a miniaturized electronic component storing package. An airtightly sealing cap (10) is used for an electronic component storing package (100) which includes an electronic component storing member (20) for storing an electronic component (40). The airtightly sealing cap is provided with a base material (1); a base layer (2) which is formed on the surface of the base material and contains Ni; and a soldering material layer (6), which is formed on the base layer, has a thickness of 10 μm or less and composed of Au and Sn. The content percentage of Au in the soldering material layer is 43 mass % or more but not more than 64 mass %.
US08551622B2	Addressable matrices/cluster blanks for dental CAD/CAM systems and optimization thereof A cluster mill blank includes a framework constructed to cooperate with a blank holder of an existing CAD/CAM system, and a plurality of sub-blanks attached to the framework forming an addressable matrix or cluster blank. CAD/CAM systems including such a framework, as well as associated methods are described.
US08551619B2	Thin films with high near-infrared reflectivity deposited on building materials Disclosed are solar-reflective roofing and other building materials having high reflectance of near-infrared radiation and high transmission of radiation in the visible light range and a substantial emissivity so as to reduce the heat island effects experienced by the articles while also maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Also disclosed are related methods for fabrication of such materials.
US08551617B2	Magnetic filtration process, magnetic filtering material, and methods of forming magnetic filtering material The present invention provides magnetically responsive activated carbon, and a method of forming magnetically responsive activated carbon. The method of forming magnetically responsive activated carbon typically includes providing activated carbon in a solution containing ions of ferrite forming elements, wherein at least one of the ferrite forming elements has an oxidation state of +3 and at least a second of the ferrite forming elements has an oxidation state of +2, and increasing pH of the solution to precipitate particles of ferrite that bond to the activated carbon, wherein the activated carbon having the ferrite particles bonded thereto have a positive magnetic susceptibility. The present invention also provides a method of filtering waste water using magnetic activated carbon.
US08551613B2	Coated article and method for manufacturing same A coated article, includes a substrate, an anti-corrosion layer deposited on the substrate, the anti-corrosion layer being composed of ZrW2O8 and AlON. The disclosure also describes a method to make the coated article.
US08551604B2	Flooring product having regions of different recycle or renewable content A flooring product comprises a heterogeneous design layer having multiple regions wherein two regions comprise compositions having different recycle content or renewable content. The thickness of the design layer may be greater than the dimensions of the regions or the regions may extending from the top surface of the layer to the bottom surface of the design layer. The heterogeneous layer may be composed of consolidated particles/chips which may contain a polyester binder system with a renewable component. Additionally, a method for making a heterogeneous layer having a target wt % recycle content or renewable content is also disclosed.
US08551603B2	Sealed switchable glazing The invention discloses a functional film assembly comprising a functional film having at least one active layer laminated between first and second planar electrode layers. At least a portion of the edge region of the functional film is sealed by a sealing member. Preferably, the sealing member comprises a strip of polymer film material having on one surface a first strip-like region of adhesive material adjacent a first edge of the strip of polymer film material, and a second strip-like region of adhesive material adjacent a second edge of the strip of polymer film material. There is an adhesive-free region between the first and second strip-like regions of adhesive material, which is positioned coincident with the active layer of the functional film.
US08551601B2	Stone, metal and tar laminate for exterior cladding An exterior cladding that combines the benefits of stone, metal and tar in a laminate form that makes the most with the least expensive forms of each of these three base materials. A construction laminate having an asphaltic core body covered with a metallic facing on a top side and part of a bottom side. A granular coating is applied to the metallic facing on the top side and front edge. The laminate is useful as exterior cladding such as a roofing shingle, siding etc. . . . and is durable and easy to install.
US08551593B2	Laminated product with an electronic identification element and identification and follow-up device for said products A laminated product having a thickness that can be adjusted by chipping, and including alternating sheets and layers of an adhesive material in a stack, each sheet possessing an intrinsic resistance to tearing and each layer of adhesive material connecting adjacent sheets in the stack with a linking force which is weaker than the resistance of the sheets to tearing, enabling each sheet to be detached from the stack without tearing. The product includes a housing which is disposed inside the thickness of the stack, and an electronic identification element which is disposed in the housing.
US08551582B2	Light polarizing articles and method of making same Novel light polarizing articles comprising a substrate, a light polarizing layer comprising ion-bearing polarizing dye molecules, a coupling layer, and a protective layer, and method of making the same. Due to the presence of the coupling layer bearing counter ions, adhesion of the polarizing layer to the protective layer is improved. The light polarizing article has advantageous chemical, mechanical and thermal resistance. The light polarizing article can be used, for example, as ophthalmic products and in display devices.
US08551580B2	Method for producing polycrystalline silicon A polycrystalline silicon producing method with preventing meltdown and maintaining a high growing rate and a high yield by increasing temperature of raw material gas before supplying them to a reactor in a high pressure state so as to lower convection heat transfer from a silicon rod, including: supplying electric current to a silicon seed rod in a reactor to make the silicon seed rod to generate heat; and supplying a large amount of preheated raw material gas including chlorosilanes to the silicon seed rod in the reactor in the high pressure state.
US08551573B2	Method for determining spraying parameters for controlling a paint-spraying apparatus using a spraying agent A method for determining spraying parameters for controlling a paint-spraying apparatus using a spraying agent is disclosed. A known spray pattern is provided which has been determined by means of known spraying parameters for the use of a first spraying agent. A provisional spray pattern is calculated using the known spraying parameters and the characteristics of a second spraying agent. The known spraying parameters are altered in order to acquire changed spraying parameters which yield a further spray pattern. The changed spraying parameters are altered to the point where the further spray pattern is similar to the known spray pattern within a similarity criterion. The changed spraying parameters corresponding to the further spray pattern are intended as spraying parameters for the second spraying agent and are provided to the paint-spraying apparatus whenever the second spraying agent is used. The spraying parameters comprise a plurality of air currents which influence the spraying behavior of the paint-spraying apparatus.
US08551572B1	Spray texture material compositions, systems, and methods with anti-corrosion characteristics A system for dispensing texture material in a desired spray pattern that substantially matches an existing texture pattern on a target surface comprises an aerosol dispenser, concentrate, and propellant material. The aerosol dispenser has an inner surface comprised at least in part of tin-plated steel. The concentrate comprises a solvent/carrier comprising water, a resin/binder, filler material, a first anti-corrosion material, and a second anti-corrosion material. The first anti-corrosion material is a phosphate ester and comprises approximately 0.5-2.0% by weight of the concentrate. The second anti-corrosion material is sodium nitrite and comprises approximately 0.05-1.00% by weight of the concentrate.
US08551571B2	Method for making a conductive polymer composite for detecting a sort of gas A method for making a conductive polymer composite for detecting a gas includes forming a porous conductive layer of a conductive powder on a substrate, applying a polymer solution containing a solvent and a gas responsive polymer material dissolved in the solvent to the porous conductive layer such that a portion of the polymer solution penetrates into the porous conductive layer and the remainder of the polymer solution forms a thin film covering a top of the porous conductive layer, the gas responsive polymer material being capable of adsorbing and desorbing the gas, and removing the solvent from the polymer solution so as to form a polymer matrix covering the porous conductive layer.
US08551569B2	Method for producing a metal base material provided with a sliding layer, and the use thereof The invention relates to a method for producing a metal base material that is provided with a sliding layer that has a thickness of more then 50 μm, said base material being used as a sliding element. According to the invention, the base material is coated with a paste of the sliding layer material that contains at least one high-temperature polymer in addition to a fluoropolymer, and the base material so coated is subjected to a thermal treatment. The past applied to the base material contains as the fluoropolymer between 40% by volume and 75% by volume polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) or polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) with other fluoropolymers added and between 60% by volume and 25% by volume of the at least one high-temperature polymer, each based on the entire composition of the finished sliding layer. The high-temperature polymer used is selected from those high-temperature polymers whose melting pint is not below 327° C., if they are mainly crystalline, or whose glass transition temperature is not below 327° C., if they are mainly amorphous.
US08551566B2	Directed material assembly Methods of directing assembly of materials using a surface-modified substrate are disclosed. A modified surface is created on a substrate by applying a first surface agent to the substrate. Energy is applied to the modified surface to form an imaged surface having an imaged portion and a non-imaged portion. The imaged portion is characterized by a surface energy that is different from the surface energy of the non-imaged portion. For example, the applied energy can remove at least a portion of an attached surface agent from the imaged portion to modify the surface energy. In some preferred embodiments the energy also modifies the surface agent without causing oxidation. To avoid oxidation, for example, the surface modification and/or energy appliement can take place in a low oxygen environment (e.g., having an oxygen content lower than that present in about 0.01 Torr of air). The imaged surface can then be exposed to a self assembling material, such as a block copolymer, such that the surface can direct assembly of the self assembling material by preferential attachment of certain moieties of the block copolymer to imaged or non-imaged portions of the surface in order to form a selected pattern.
US08551560B2	Methods for improving selectivity of electroless deposition processes Methods for improving selective deposition of a capping layer on a patterned substrate are presented, the method including: receiving the patterned substrate, the patterned substrate including a conductive region and a dielectric region; forming a molecular masking layer (MML) on the dielectric region; preparing an electroless (ELESS) plating bath, where the ELESS plating bath includes: a cobalt (Co) ion source: a complexing agent: a buffer: a tungsten (W) ion source: and a reducing agent; and reacting the patterned substrate with the ELESS plating bath for an ELESS period at an ELESS temperature and an ELESS pH so that the capping layer is selectively formed on the conductive region. In some embodiments, methods further include a pH adjuster for adjusting the ELESS pH to a range of approximately 9.0 pH to 9.2 pH. In some embodiments, the pH adjuster is tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). In some embodiments, the MML is hydrophilic.
US08551558B2	Techniques for enhancing efficiency of photovoltaic devices using high-aspect-ratio nanostructures Photovoltaic devices and techniques for enhancing efficiency thereof are provided. In one aspect, a photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device comprises a photocell having a photoactive layer and a non-photoactive layer adjacent to the photoactive layer so as to form a heterojunction between the photoactive layer and the non-photoactive layer; and a plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures on one or more surfaces of the photoactive layer. The plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures are configured to act as a scattering media for incident light. The plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures can also be configured to create an optical resonance effect in the incident light.
US08551556B2	Method for obtaining controlled sidewall profile in print-patterned structures High aspect ratio structures can be obtained by print-patterning masking features in feature stacks such that each feature has a lateral edge which is aligned in a plane roughly perpendicular to the plane of the substrate on which the features are formed. Due to the differential lateral spreading between features formed on a substrate and formed atop other features, the print head is indexed less than the radius of a droplet to a position where a droplet ejected by the print head forms an upper feature atop a lower feature such that the lateral edges of the upper and lower features are aligned in the plane roughly perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. Feature stacks of two or more features may provide a vertical (or re-entrant) sidewall mask for formation of high aspect ratio structures, by e.g., electroplating, etc.
US08551554B2	Apple peel powder, methods of making, and uses thereof The present invention relates to a method of making a powder from apple peel by providing an apple peel, subjecting the apple peel to a phytochemical preservation treatment, drying the treated apple peel, and grinding the dried, treated apple peel to a powder. A powder from apple peel having a phenolic content and a flavonoid content similar to fresh apple peel on a fresh weight basis, where the powder has a water activity of less than 0.30 is also disclosed. The present invention also relates to a method of treating cancer in a patient by administering a powder from apple peel to a patient under conditions effective to treat cancer. Also disclosed is a method of inhibiting proliferation of cancer cells by contacting cancer cells with a powder from apple peel under conditions effective to inhibit proliferation of the cancer cells.
US08551553B2	Grain endosperm extraction system Specifically, a dry corn fractionation system which operates to produce an endosperm fraction which can be concurrently of greater purity at greater yield than obtainable from corn milling or dry corn milling processes.
US08551552B2	Oil or fat composition Provided is an oil or fat composition including the following components (A) and (B): (A) a tetracyclic triterpene alcohol selected from the group consisting of 24-methylene cycloartanol and cyclobranol; and (B) an oil or fat containing diacylglycerol at 5 weight % or more.
US08551547B2	Process for the preparation of angiogenin The invention provides a process for the preparation of an angiogenin-enriched fraction from a milk product, the process comprising contacting the milk product with a cation exchange resin and eluting the angiogenin-enriched fraction from the cation exchange resin with a mobile phase. The invention also provides angiogenin-enriched fractions produced by process and food products, nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical comprising such angiogenin.
US08551543B2	Symbiotic maple product compositions and methods The present invention relates to novel maple product compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to new compositions comprising maple sap, maple concentrate, maple syrup or diluted maple syrup, and probiotics, prebiotics or combinations thereof. The present invention also discloses methods for the production of maple based products, including functional drinks, comprising a composition comprising maple sap, maple concentrate, maple syrup or dilutated maple syrup, and probiotics, prebiotics or combinations thereof, as a vehicle for the delivery of probiotics and prebiotics to the gastrointestinal tract.
US08551536B2	Nitrite and nitrite-metheme therapy to detoxify stroma-free hemoglobin based blood substitutes This disclosure relates to methods of using nitrite to detoxify stroma-free hemoglobin based blood substitutes. In particular, methods are described for using a blood substitute comprised of about equimolar amounts of nitrite and hemoglobin (e.g., nitrite-metHb) to treat, prevent, or ameliorate diseases of the blood in a subject, or as a blood replacement in a subject.
US08551531B2	Pentablock polymers Novel pentablock polymers comprising PGA-PCL-PEG-PCL-PGA or PEG-PCL-PLA-PCL-PEG, wherein PEG is polyethylene glycol, PCL is poly(ε-caprolactone), PGA is poly(glycolic acid), and PLA is poly(lactic acid).
US08551526B2	Preparation of drug particles using evaporation precipitation into aqueous solutions A method for preparing poorly water soluble drug particles is disclosed. The method comprises dissolving a drug in at least one organic solvent to form a drug/organic mixture, spraying the drug/organic mixture into an aqueous solution and concurrently evaporating the organic solvent in the presence of the aqueous solution to form an aqueous dispersion of the drug particles. The resulting drug particles are in the nanometer to micrometer size range and show enhanced dissolution rates and reduced crystallinity when compared to the unprocessed drug. The present invention additionally contemplates products and processes for new drug formulations of insoluble drug particles having high dissolution rates and extremely high drug-to-excipient ratios.
US08551524B2	Anti-diabetic combinations A pharmaceutical composition comprising a dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor and a slow release biguanide is provided. A method for treating diabetes in a patient in need thereof including administering an anti-diabetic combination comprising a DPP inhibitor and a slow release biguanide is also provided.
US08551522B2	Sustained-release formulation A sustained-release formulation is provided comprising a solid dispersion composition comprising a tricyclic compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a mixture comprising a water-soluble polymer and a water-insoluble polymer, and an excipient.
US08551520B2	Controlled release hydrocodone A solid oral controlled-release dosage form of hydrocodone is disclosed, the dosage form comprising an analgesically effective amount of hydrocodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and controlled release material.
US08551501B2	Chitin microparticles and their medical uses The present invention relates to chitin microparticles and their medical uses, in particular in the treatment of allergy, or the treatment of conditions that would benefit from an upregulation of the cell mediated immune system, or an up-regulation of natural killer (NK) cell activity and/or the secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ).
US08551484B2	Human antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and uses thereof Isolated human monoclonal antibodies which bind to hepatitis C virus (HCV), and related antibody-based compositions and molecules, are disclosed. The human antibodies can be produced in a transfectoma or in a non-human transgenic animal, e.g., a transgenic mouse, capable of producing multiple isotypes of human monoclonal antibodies by undergoing V-D-J recombination and isotype switching. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the human antibodies, non-human transgenic animals, and hybridomas which produce the human antibodies, and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using the human antibodies.
US08551481B2	Anti-cancer vaccine composition comprising an anti-CD223 antibody and kit comprising an anti-cancer vaccine and an anti-CD223 antibody Regulatory T cells (Treg) limit autoimmunity but can also attenuate the magnitude of anti-pathogen and anti-tumor immunity. Understanding the mechanism of Treg function and therapeutic manipulation of Treg in vivo requires identification of Treg selective receptors. A comparative analysis of gene expression arrays from antigen specific CD4+ T cells differentiating to either an effector/memory or a regulatory phenotype revealed Treg selective expression of LAG-3 (CD223), a CD4-related molecule that binds MHC class II. LAG-3 expression on CD4+ T cells correlates with the cells' in vitro suppressor activity, and ectopic expression of LAG-3 on CD4 T cells confers suppressor activity on the T cells. Antibodies to LAG-3 inhibit suppression both in vitro and in vivo. LAG-3 marks regulatory T cell populations and contributes to their suppressor activity.
US08551479B2	Methods for treating melanoma Methods of inhibiting melanoma tumor growth, methods of treating melanoma and metastatic melanoma, and methods of reducing the frequency of tumor initiating cells (or cancer stem cells) in melanoma tumors are described. The methods described comprise administering a DLL4 antagonist (e.g., an antibody that specifically binds the extracellular domain of human DLL4) to a subject. Related polypeptides and polynucleotides, compositions comprising the DLL4 antagonists, and methods of making the DLL4 antagonists are also described.
US08551478B2	Anti-CD3 antibodies and methods of use thereof The present invention is related to antibodies directed to the antigen CD3 and uses of such antibodies. In particular, the present invention provides fully human monoclonal antibodies directed to CD3. Nucleotide sequences encoding, and amino acid sequences comprising, heavy and light chain immunoglobulin molecules, particularly sequences corresponding to contiguous heavy and light chain sequences spanning the framework regions and/or complementarity determining regions (CDR's), specifically from FR1 through FR4 or CDR1 through CDR3, are provided. Hybridomas or other cell lines expressing such immunoglobulin molecules and monoclonal antibodies are also provided.
US08551475B2	Methods of reducing transplant rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy by implanting autologous stem cells The invention provides novel methods of reducing transplant rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy in humans by employing the implantation of autologous progenitor cells into the transplanted donor heart. The autologous progenitor cells can be vascular progenitor cells (VPCs) and/or myocyte progenitor cells (MPCs) isolated from the recipient's explanted heart. Alternatively, bone marrow progenitor cells (BMPCs) isolated from the recipient may also be used.
US08551468B2	Absorption enhancers for intranasal interferon administration A composition including a surfactant and at least one alkyl glycoside and/or saccharide alkyl ester and a drug. The surfactant composition(s) when admixed with a drug is non-toxic and non-irritating, while stabilizing and increasing the bioavailability of the drug. The invention also provides compositions that enhance absorption of drugs via the oral, ocular, nasal, nasolacrimal, inhalation or pulmonary, oral cavity (sublingual or Buccal cell) or CSF delivery route of a patient, including but not limited to insulin, glucagon and exendin-4.
US08551466B2	Hydrating compositions The present invention is directed to compositions including at least one sugar silicone surfactant, at least one polyamine; at least one oil-soluble polar modified polymer, and water.
US08551463B2	Hair care compositions and methods of treating hair The present invention provides compositions, kits and methods for treating scalp hair. The compositions include fluorinated (but not perfluorinated), non-polymeric compounds in a suitable excipient to provide beneficial effects on hair.
US08551462B2	Cosmetic composition and method for retarding hair growth The present invention comprises cosmetic compositions and methods for retarding hair growth comprising a combination of an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, an anti-angiogenic active and an anti-inflammatory.
US08551460B2	Enhanced shine and moisture lip composition The present invention is directed to enhanced shine and moisturizing aqueous lip compositions with a unique texture and feel. The compositions include: (a) at least one sugar silicone surfactant; (b) at least one polyamine; (c) at least one high carbon polar modified polymer; and (d) water.
US08551449B2	Contrast agents The present invention relates to a class of compounds and to diagnostic compositions containing such compounds where the compounds are iodine containing compounds of the formula R—Y—X—Z—R where each R denotes a triiodinated phenyl residue further substituted by hydrophilic moieties, Y and Z are urea and urethane groups and X is a alkylene group which may be further substituted. The invention also relates to the use of such diagnostic compositions as contrast agents in diagnostic imaging and in particular in X-ray imaging, and to contrast media containing such compounds.
US08551438B2	Production of silanes by acid hydrolysis of alloys of silicon and of alkaline-earth metals or alkaline-earth metal silicides Method of preparing a compound of formula SinH2n+2 in which n is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than or equal to 4, by reaction of at least one silicide or silicon alloy in the form of powder of formula M1xM2ySiz, in which M1 is a reducing metal, M2 an alkali or alkaline-earth metal, x, y and z varying from 0 to 1, z being different from 0 and x+y different from 0, with an aqueous solution comprising CO2, said solution is or is not saturated with CO2 at the temperature and pressure of the reaction.
US08551435B2	Process for reducing contaminants in an industrial fluid stream This invention provides novel processes utilizing compositions comprising substituted polyamines as acid gas scrubbing solutions and methods of using the compositions in an industrial system. The invention relates to the use of such polyamine compounds in industrial processes to remove acidic contaminants from natural and industrial fluid streams, such as natural gas, combustion gas, natural gas, synthesis gas, biogas, and other industrial fluid streams. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful for removal, absorption, or sequestration of acidic contaminants and sulfide contaminants including CO2, H2S, RSH, CS2, COS, and SO2.
US08551434B1	Method of forming a syngas mixture A method for making a syngas mixture is accomplished by introducing a gaseous feed mixture containing carbon dioxide and hydrogen into a reactor containing a non-zinc catalyst. The catalyst contacts the gaseous feed mixture to form syngas mixture reaction products. The reaction takes place in the presence of nickel-containing and/or iron-containing materials. The gaseous feed mixture is introduced into the reactor at a reactor inlet temperature of from 700° C. to 800° C., with the reaction being carried out at substantially adiabatic conditions or wherein the syngas mixture reaction products are removed from the reactor at a reactor outlet temperature of from 500° C. to 600° C.
US08551428B2	Precipitated magnesium carbonate The present invention relates to a process for preparing hydromagnesite in an aqueous environment. The invention further relates to such hydromagnesite having a specific platy-like morphology in combination with a specific average particle size and to their use as minerals, fillers and pigments in the paper, paint, rubber and plastics industries and to the use as flame-retardant.
US08551424B2	Apparatus for processing a sample comprising a biochip and reagents embedded in a biodegradable material, and processes thereof An apparatus is disclosed for processing a sample which stores processing reagents required for processing in a dry form. The processing reagents are covered by a biologically degradable medium or embedded in said biologically degradable medium.
US08551419B2	Container having an oxygen scavenging indication system A polyethylene terephthalate container having a hydrogen generator and catalyst disposed or otherwise incorporated in components of the container. The container further comprises an indicator system or means for use with a hydrogen generator and a catalyst system.
US08551417B2	Reactor and reaction plant In order to provide, when a plurality of fluids each containing a different kind of substance are mixed and reacted, a reactor having a mixing channel capable of forming a multi-layered flow in a radial direction in the cylindrically-shaped mixing channel; improving mixing performance by synergizing swirling effects of mixture of turbulent flows and a swirling flow; and producing a reaction product with a high yield as well as high efficiency, a mixing channel 1 which mixes fluids 4 and 5 each containing the different kind of substance is cylindrically shaped, and inlet passages 2 and 3 which introduce the fluids 4 and 5, respectively, are plurally arranged in a manner offset from a central axis of the mixing channel 1.
US08551414B2	High-voltage plasma producing apparatus A plasma generating apparatus includes a linear electrode for generating a high voltage by resonance caused when the linear electrode is supplied with an AC signal current, an grounded electrode for defining an internal space spaced from the linear electrode around the linear electrode, and a control device for controlling the power feed to the linear electrode. The control device has a field probe for measuring the electric field in the internal space, and a bandpass filter for filtering the measurement signal into a predetermined frequency band to output an AC signal, a variable phase shifter for shifting the phase of the AC signal so that the AC signal is synchronized with the resonance signal in the internal space when the AC signal is supplied to the linear electrode as a current, and an amplifier for amplifying the AC signal of which the phase is shifted.
US08551408B2	Device and methods for quantifying analytes The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring the quantity of multiple analytes in a sample. The device is designed such that each of the analyte sensing elements is configured to measure the quantity of a predetermined analyte and where the machine executable instructions are configured to select the proper analyte sensing element corresponding to the analyte to be measured.
US08551404B2	Sample analyzer and sample container supplying apparatus A sample analyzer for analyzing a sample comprising: a sample container receiver capable of receiving either one of a manually supplied sample container and an automatically supplied; a container holder receiver for receiving a container holder holding at least one sample container; a sample container supplier automatically for supplying, to the sample container receiver, a sample container held by the container holder received by the container holder receiver; an aspirator for aspirating a sample within a sample container received by the sample container receiver; and an analyzing part for analyzing the sample aspirated by the aspirator.
US08551401B1	Sample preparation assembly A sample preparation assembly includes a torch configured for use with an inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy instrument. The torch includes at least two approximately cylindrical tubes arranged substantially concentrically. The sample preparation assembly also includes an injector configured for use with the inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy instrument. The injector includes an injection nozzle and a spray chamber. The sample preparation assembly further includes a heat sink element. The heat sink element includes a securing element. The securing element is configured to mate with a mounting element of the torch to mechanically support the heat sink element.
US08551394B2	Multi-modal ionomeric golf ball compositions Compositions for golf balls including multi-modal ionomers that can be used in any layer of a golf ball, e.g., an outer cover layer or inner cover layer. The compositions of the invention can be a blend of a multi-modal ionomer and a conventional ionomer, highly neutralized polymer, acid copolymer, or other suitable thermoplastic polymer.
US08551387B2	Laminated identification document A laminated identification document having a plurality of laminate layers and an identification image thereon. The document has a core laminate layer having an upper surface and lower surface, at least one surface of which is printed with a dot matrix pattern and at least one visually opaque or reflective laminate layer bonded to and overlaying the printed surface. Upon pitting the laminate layer portions, the dot matrix pattern printed on the core laminate is exposed to thereby form the identifying image. A laser markable laminated identification document having a plurality of laminate layers wherein a compatibilising layer is bonded to adjoining laminate layers, the compatibilising layer includes an imaging material that can be laser marked. A laminated identification document having a plurality of laminate layers and an identification image thereon, wherein at least one laminate layer is a compatibilising layer.
US08551384B2	Permanent-magnet rotor for an external-rotor electric motor particularly for washing machines and similar household appliances and relevant manufacturing method A permanent-magnet rotor for external-rotor electric motor (1) particularly for washing machines of unusual silence comprising a cup-shaped support structure (6) having a bottom (7) and a side wall (10) and a plurality of magnetic poles (12) arranged in the support structure (6) and arranged along said side wall (10), with elastomeric material interposed between said magnetic poles (12) which forms with them a massive structure (14) of uniform thickness.
US08551378B2	Nanospinning of polymer fibers from sheared solutions Nanofibers are fabricated by introducing a polymer solution into a dispersion medium and shearing the dispersion medium. Droplets of the polymer solution are spun into elongated fibers that are insoluble in the dispersion medium.
US08551376B2	Method for growing carbon nanotube forests, and generating nanotube structures therefrom, and apparatus The present invention provides apparatus and methods for growing fullerene nanotube forests, and forming nanotube films, threads and composite structures therefrom. In some embodiments, an interior-flow substrate includes a porous surface and one or more interior passages that provide reactant gas to an interior portion of a densely packed nanotube forest as it is growing. In some embodiments, a continuous-growth furnace is provided that includes an access port for removing nanotube forests without cooling the furnace substantially. In other embodiments, a nanotube film can be pulled from the nanotube forest without removing the forest from the furnace. A nanotube film loom is described. An apparatus for building layers of nanotube films on a continuous web is described.
US08551373B2	Process for producing reclaimed casting sand The present invention relates to a process for producing reclaimed casting sand, which has step (I) of grinding recovered sand in the presence of an additive (A) containing a liquid having a surface tension of not higher than 35 mN/m at 25° C. and a boiling point of not lower than 150° C. at 1 atmospheric pressure.
US08551367B2	Polymer thick film solder alloy conductor composition The invention is directed to a polymer thick film composition comprising solder alloy powder and organic medium comprising organic polymeric binder and solvent. The composition may be processed at a time and temperature necessary to remove all solvent. The invention is further directed to method(s) of electrode formation on circuits using such compositions and to articles formed from such methods and/or compositions.
US08551354B2	Refrigerant composition A refrigerant composition consists essentially of a combination of two hydro fluorocarbon components selected from R125 and R143a and an additive selected from a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon or mixture thereof boiling in the range −50° C. and +40° C.
US08551353B2	Hierarchical structure and manufacturing method thereof Provided are a shape of a hierarchical structure, an engineering effect of the hierarchical structure according to the shape, an increasing method of the engineering effect, an application method of the hierarchical structure for novel material or parts, and a mass-manufacturing method of the hierarchical structure. The present invention relates to a hierarchical structure and a manufacturing method thereof, and includes a hierarchical structure in which at least one nano-object that has a characteristic length of a nanoscale region in an internal matrix is arranged in a predetermined pattern. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an excellent characteristic that is generated in a nanoscale region may be used in a structure of a macroscopic scale region, and structures that have different scales may be simply interconnected or interfaced regardless of the different scales.
US08551352B2	Method for producing a device with a fluid-encapsulating membrane The invention relates to a method for producing a device with a membrane used to encapsulate a fluid contained in a cavity, in which: two substrates (110, 120) are provided; a membrane (111) is placed on one and/or on the other of the substrates; one or more walls (113) are formed, helping to laterally define the cavity (114), in which said walls are located on or in one of the substrates and/or on or in the other of the substrates, and said cavity is intended to contain the fluid, the two substrates (110, 120) are assembled together by superimposing one on the other so as to complete the cavity, in which the or each membrane (111) also helps to define the cavity, the fluid (117) is encapsulated in the cavity between the substrates, and the or each membrane is soaked by the fluid, at least a portion of one of the substrates and/or the other of the substrates is removed insofar as one and/or the other of the substrates are equipped with a membrane, in order to release the membrane at least in the central portion thereof.
US08551341B2	Suspended media membrane biological reactor system including suspension system and multiple biological reactor zones A wastewater treatment system is provided comprising a biological reactor having a separation subsystem, a suspension system and a membrane operating system. The separation subsystem is constructed and arranged to maintain adsorbent material in the biological reactor with a mixed liquor. The suspension system is positioned in the biological reactor and is constructed and arranged to maintain adsorbent material in suspension with mixed liquor. The membrane operating system is located downstream of the biological reactor and is constructed and arranged to receive treated mixed liquor from the biological reactor and discharge a membrane permeate. In addition, a wastewater treatment system is provided comprising a first biological reaction zone, a second biological reaction zone and a membrane operating system. The first biological reaction zone is constructed and arranged to receive and treat the wastewater. The second biological reaction zone includes a separation subsystem and is constructed and arranged to receive effluent from the first biological reaction zone. A suspension system for adsorbent material is provided in the second biological reaction zone. The membrane operating system is located downstream of the second biological reaction zone and is constructed and arranged to receive treated wastewater from the second biological reaction zone and discharge a membrane permeate.
US08551338B2	Wafer-shaped hollow fiber module for in-line use in a piping system A wafer-shaped hollow fiber module adapted for in-line use in a piping system. The piping system may include two standard bolted flange connections, and at least one wafer-shaped hollow fiber module sealed between the two standard bolted flange connections. The wafer shaped hollow fiber module includes: a cylindrical housing having an open end and a closed end having a first sealing surface and an inlet port; at least one side port through the cylindrical housing; an end cap united to the open end having a second sealing surface and an outlet port.
US08551336B2	Extraction of proteins by a two solvent method A method for separating proteins from plant material, in particular, intact algal cells, using an amphipathic solvent set and a hydrophobic solvent set. Some embodiments include dewatering intact algal cells and then extracting proteins from the algal cells. The methods provide for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins from a wet algal biomass. These proteins are high value products which can be used as renewable sources of food and food additives. Neutral lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels.
US08551333B2	Particle-based microfluidic device for providing high magnetic field gradients A microfluidic device for manipulating particles in a fluid has a device body that defines a main channel therein, in which the main channel has an inlet and an outlet. The device body further defines a particulate diverting channel therein, the particulate diverting channel being in fluid connection with the main channel between the inlet and the outlet of the main channel and having a particulate outlet. The microfluidic device also has a plurality of microparticles arranged proximate or in the main channel between the inlet of the main channel and the fluid connection of the particulate diverting channel to the main channel. The plurality of microparticles each comprises a material in a composition thereof having a magnetic susceptibility suitable to cause concentration of magnetic field lines of an applied magnetic field while in operation. A microfluidic particle-manipulation system has a microfluidic particle-manipulation device and a magnet disposed proximate the microfluidic particle-manipulation device.
US08551329B2	Dosing chamber Dosing chambers, for use with pressurized water filters of the type used with ponds, require isolation before accessing to prevent water egress. The invention comprises a chamber in which dosing substances may be placed, a water inlet and a water outlet, a lid for sealingly closing the chamber, a valve for closing the water inlet and an interlock means for operating the valve to close the water inlet as the lid is removed, so that when dosing substances are placed into the chamber pressurized water is prevented from issuing through the inlet.
US08551320B2	System and method for measuring an analyte in a sample Methods for calculating an analyte concentration of a sample are provided. In one exemplary embodiment the method includes steps that are directed toward accounting for inaccuracies that occur as a result of temperature variations in a sample, a meter, or the surrounding environment. In another exemplary embodiment the method includes steps that are directed toward determining whether an adequate sample is provided in a meter because insufficient samples can result in inaccuracies. The methods that are provided can be incorporated into a variety of mechanisms, but they are primarily directed toward glucose meters for blood samples and toward meters for controls solutions.
US08551316B2	Method of electrodepositing a metallic coating layer containing nickel and molybdenum This invention relates to a method for producing a metallic coating layer comprising nickel and molybdenum on an electrically conductive substrate by electrodeposition from an aqueous solution including nickel salts, gluconate anions and citrate anions wherein the substrate acts as the cathode and wherein molybdate is added and wherein the pH of the aqueous solution is adjusted between 5.0 and 8.5. The invention also relates to an electrically conductive substrate provided with such a metallic coating layer electrodeposited from the aqueous solution.
US08551304B2	Alkaline electrolyzer An Alkaline Electrolyzer Cell Configuration (AECC) has a hydrogen half cell; an oxygen half cell; a GSM (Gas Separation Membrane); two inner hydrogen half cell spacer screens; an outer hydrogen half cell spacer screen; a hydrogen electrode; two inner oxygen half cell spacer screens; an outer oxygen half cell spacer screen; and an oxygen electrode. The hydrogen half cell includes the hydrogen electrode which is located between said two inner hydrogen half cell spacer screens and said outer hydrogen half cell spacer screen. The oxygen half cell includes the oxygen electrode which is located between said two inner oxygen half cell spacer screens and said outer oxygen half cell spacer screen. The GSM is provided between said two inner hydrogen half cell spacer screens of the hydrogen half cell and said two inner oxygen half cell spacer screens of the oxygen half cell to from the electrolyzer.
US08551302B2	Hydrogen generating apparatus and fuel cell power generation system controlling amount of hydrogen generation Hydrogen generating apparatus that is capable of controlling the amount of hydrogen generation. The hydrogen generating apparatus has an electrolyzer, a first electrode, a second electrode, a switch, which is located between the first electrode and the second electrode, a flow rate meter, which measures an amount of hydrogen generation in the second electrode, and a switch controller, which receives a set value, compares the amount of hydrogen generation measured by the flow rate meter with the set value, and controls an on/off status of the switch. The amount of hydrogen generation can be controlled by use of on/off time and/or on/of frequency of the switch.
US08551294B2	Pyrolysis system for producing one or a combination of a solid, liquid and gaseous fuel A pyrolysis system includes a source of feed material having carbon and unit rests upon a support surface and has a feed material inlet coupled by the feed material transport system to the source of feed material. The pyrolysis unit defines therein a reaction chamber having a length and having the feed material inlet defined at one end thereof. The reaction chamber defines a material flow axis in the reaction chamber from the feed material inlet along its length that is oriented one of parallel to and at an acute angle relative to the support surface. The pyrolysis unit defines at least one outlet for extraction of at the least one of a solid, gaseous and liquid fuel from the reaction chamber.
US08551285B2	Method of making multilayer polyurethane protective film A method of making a multilayer protective film. The method comprises: (a) forming a PU layer comprising an at least partially crosslinked polyurethane, the at least partially crosslinked polyurethane comprising at least one of a polyester-based polyurethane or a polycarbonate-based polyurethane; (b) forming a TPU layer comprising a polycaprolactone-based thermoplastic polyurethane; (c) forming a PSA layer comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive; (d) bonding one major surface of the PU layer to one major surface of the TPU layer; and (e) bonding the PSA layer to an opposite major surface of the TPU layer; wherein the TPU layer is sandwiched between the PU layer and the PSA layer. The multilayer film may be used to protect painted surfaces of vehicle body parts.
US08551283B2	Offset control for assembling an electronic device housing Housings for electronic devices are disclosed. According to one aspect, adjoining surfaces of electronic device housings can be mounted or arranged such that adjoining surfaces are flush to a high degree of precision. The electronic devices can be portable and in some cases handheld.
US08551282B2	Heating system for hot coupling or laminating films or thin sheets A heating system for hot coupling or laminating at least two films or thin sheets, said heating system comprising at least a heater group comprising at least a burner, and an airtight chamber.
US08551279B2	Multilayer articles and methods of making and using the same Multilayer articles comprising a thermoformable substrate, a base layer and an optional transparent protective layer. Methods of making and paint film composites, and shaped articles made thereby, are also disclosed.
US08551268B1	Electric primer Improved electric primer compositions, structures, and methods that are compatible with existing munitions and in particular an exemplary electric primer composition including carbon nanotubes along with energetic primer mixture(s) and an exemplary primer structure including layers of energetic materials wherein a layer exhibiting the most energetic character is positioned proximate to a primer button. Alternative embodiments include both conductive and non-conductive layers.
US08551266B2	Method, alloy and component A method for heat treating a nickel base alloy includes the steps of: a. heating a nickel base alloy to at least its delta (δ) phase solvus temperature, and lower than its incipient melting temperature for a predetermined time sufficient to dissolve substantially all of the nickel base alloy's delta (δ) phase, and b. cooling the nickel base alloy to a temperature below the gamma prime (υ) precipitation temperature at a rate sufficient to precipitate the alloy's chromium carbide and gamma prime (υ) in a serrated grain boundary.
US08551263B1	Method for reducing whisker growth A method of reducing whisker growths includes identifying a solder connection to be treated. The solder connection may contain one or more whisker growths. A heat source is applied at a defined temperature to the solder connection for a defined period of time sufficient to melt at least a portion of the one or more whisker growths. The heat source is removed from the solder connection prior to the melting of the solder connection.
US08551256B2	Washing machine and washing control method of the same A washing machine and a washing control method of the same that is capable of controlling laundry to be effectively washed with bubbles depending upon load of the washing machine and types of the laundry. The washing control method includes detecting the amount of load depending upon the weight of laundry, controlling the amount of wetting water according to the detected amount of load to wet the laundry, and generating bubbles to wash the laundry.
US08551245B2	Narrow PSD hydraulic cement, cement-SCM blends, and methods for making same Hydraulic cements, such as Portland cements and other cements that include substantial quantities of tricalcium silicate (C3S), dicalcium silicate (C2S), tricalcium aluminate (C3A), and/or tetracalcalcium alumino-ferrite (C4AF), are particle size optimized to have increased reactivity compared to cements of similar chemistry and/or decreased water demand compared to cements of similar fineness. Increasing hydraulic cement reactivity increases early strength development and release of reactive calcium hydroxide, both of which enhance SCM replacement and 1-28 day strengths compared to blends of conventional Portland cement and one or more SCMs, such as coal ash, slag or natural pozzolan. Decreasing the water demand can improve strength by decreasing the water-to-cement ratio for a given workability. The narrow PSD cements are well suited for making blended cements, including binary, ternary and quaternary blends.
US08551236B1	Phase change inks comprising crystalline-amorphous mixtures A phase change ink composition suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In embodiments, the phase change ink composition comprises an amorphous compound and a crystalline compound which is derived from bio-renewable materials. The composition provides for a robust, rapid crystallization ink composition.
US08551232B2	Dry carbon dioxide capture apparatus Disclosed is a dry carbon dioxide capture apparatus with improved carbon dioxide capture efficiency through preventing gas backflows into vertical transport lines. The dry CO2 capture apparatus includes a capture reactor having a capture buffer chamber on the bottom side, a capture diffusion plate on top of the capture buffer chamber, and adsorbent particles in a space above the capture diffusion plate; a first separator connected to the capture reactor through a vertical transport line; a regenerator having a regeneration buffer chamber on the bottom side, a regenerating diffusion plate on top of the regeneration buffer chamber, and adsorbent particles in a space above the regenerating diffusion plate; a second separator connected to the regenerator through a gas separation line; and a second particle transfer line connected to the regenerator at one end and connected to the capture reactor at the other end.
US08551228B2	Collector modules for devices for removing particles from a gas Devices for removing particles for a gas utilizing electrostatic precipitation having collector modules with fewer electrical connections, which facilitate cleaning, and/or eliminate the need for high voltage connections between a removable collector module and a collector module support. Driver electrode modules provide electrical connection between an insulated driver electrode and a source of electrical potential or between insulated driver electrodes and at least one other conductor through a hole in or on some edge on the driver electrodes. A biasing force is provided and a conductive element serves as a conductor between the driver electrode(s) and the other conductors. A plurality of insulated driver electrodes, e.g. plates, are formed with a single, conductive plate or from a plurality of electrically joined conductive plates which are coated with insulation and then bent. An electrically-shielded, high voltage generating circuit is integrated with a readily removable collector module to eliminate the need for high voltage connections between the removable collector module and the collector module support, while enhancing the device's durability and allowing cleaning with cleaning fluid and/or dishwasher detergent.
US08551224B2	Device and method for remediating and separating gas accumulations in waterways A pipe system comprising i) an exploratory pipe extracting a fluid containing gas from waterways, ii) an injection pipe returning fluid depleted of gas and iii) a plurality of gas traps, wherein I) the gas traps are connected to the exploratory pipe and to the injection pipe such that the fluid is transferred from the exploratory pipe through the gas traps to the injection pipe, II) the gas traps disposed at specific distances vertically one above the other and relative to the fluid deposits to be depleted and connected together such that rising fluid passes from the exploratory pipe to a first gas trap located at a first pressure level at which a first gas/gas mixture is separated, whereupon depleted fluid passes to a second gas trap at a predefined pressure level in which a second gas/gas mixture is separated, wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are different from one another, and III) the gas traps are connected to one or more gas extraction devices.
US08551223B2	Method of removing unburned carbon from fly ash Unburned carbon is efficiently removed from fly ash, and effective utilization of the fly ash and removed unburned carbon is attained. Water is added to fly ash to thereby obtain a slurry. A collector is added to the slurry, and shearing force is applied to the slurry and collector to thereby attain a surface modification. The mixture is subjected to flotation operation at which unburned carbon of fly ash is attached to froths and surfaced. The application of shearing force to the slurry and collector can be carried out by means of a submerged agitator whereby an agitation power of 0.7 to 10 kWh/m3 is applied per unit quantity of slurry. The fly ash concentration of the slurry is in the range of 3 to 50 wt. %, and the amount of collector added is in the range of 5 to 100 wt. % based on the amount of unburned carbon of fly ash. The unburned carbon separated by flotation can be used as fuel, and the fly ash (product) having its unburned carbon content reduced to 1 wt. % or below can be used as a cement mixing material or a raw material for production of lightweight aggregate.
US08551217B2	Six bed pressure swing adsorption process operating in normal and turndown modes The present invention relates to a six bed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system utilizing new and advanced cycles to obtain enhanced hydrogen recovery from a hydrogen containing feed gas (i.e., synthesis gas). In one such cycle each of the six beds has four pressure equalization steps, and at least one of the beds is receiving and processing said feed gas to obtain a hydrogen product gas (i.e., a 6-1-4 cycle).
US08551209B2	Method and apparatus for improved process control and real-time determination of carbon content during vacuum degassing of molten metals Methods and apparatuses for improved process control in metal smelting through measurement of off-gas profiles in real time. A tunable laser source is projected across a volume of off-gas and detected to provide a real time profile of gas concentrations. The real time gas concentration profile may be compared with known profiles to identify problems in the smelting process or to identify when the process is complete.
US08551206B2	System and method for securing gas turbine air filters A gas turbine air filter system includes a frame and at least one guide attached to the frame. A first lever is attached to the frame and can pivot with respect to the frame to engage a first filter. A second lever is attached to the frame and can pivot with respect to the frame to engage a second filter. A method for securing gas turbine air filters includes inserting a first filter into a frame inside at least one guide and pivoting a first clamp connected to the frame to engage at least a portion of the first clamp with the first filter. The method further includes inserting a second filter into the frame inside the at least one guide and pivoting a second clamp to engage at least a portion of the second clamp with the second filter.
US08551205B2	Gas filter insert The invention relates to a gas filter insert (1), particularly an air filter insert for a fresh air system of an internal combustion engine, having a filter body (2) which extends in its longitudinal direction (4) in a U-shape around an inner chamber (5), and having a connector (3) which communicates with the inner chamber (5) and is arranged on the filter body on the open end-face side (7) thereof. In order to simplify the construction of the filter insert (1), the filter body (2) is sealed transversally to its longitudinal direction (4), with an end plate (9) on at least one end side (8).
US08551203B2	Fused alumina/zirconia grain mixture A molten alumina/zirconia grain mixture having the following chemical composition, in wt %: ZrO2+HfO2: 35 to 45.5%; Al2O3: 43.7 to 65%; other oxides: <10%; SiO2: <0.8%, which simultaneously adheres to a granulometric condition and to a densimetric condition.
US08551196B2	Dispensing formulation A dispensing formulation for use in combination with an indirect heating source. In the preferred embodiment the dispensing formulation includes an additive such as a fragrance or a therapeutic compound, a hydrocarbon oil, having a flash point below 400° F. (generally between 330-400° F., most preferably between 330-355° F.) and a mixture of commercially available triblock polymers, such as Kraton® and Septon®.
US08551188B2	Composition comprising a hydrophobic dye, a particular organic and/or mineral alkaline agent, a particular compound (I) and a particular organic compound (II), and dyeing use thereof Composition comprising a hydrophobic dye, a particular organic and/or mineral alkaline agent, a particular compound (I) and a particular organic compound (II), and dyeing use thereof. The present invention relates to a dye composition comprising one or more hydrophobic direct dyes with a log P of greater than or equal to 2, one or more organic alkaline agents, and/or one or more mineral alkaline agents chosen from carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof, one or more compounds (I) comprising in their structure a sequence: and one or more organic compounds (II) with a Hansen solubility parameter δH of less than or equal to 16 MPa1/2 and with a molecular weight of less than 250 g/mol. The invention also relates to a dyeing process that consists in applying such a composition to keratin fibers.
US08551187B1	Topical depilatory and method of removing hair A topical depilatory made from the juice of a ripe fruit of the Solanum incanum is provided. In use as a hair removal agent, the juice of the ripe fruit of the Solanum incanum is topically applied to a desired region of skin. Preferably, the juice is left on the region of skin for approximately one hour. The juice acts as a natural depilatory agent, and the hair of the region of skin may then be easily removed by combing, rubbing or the like. Preferably, the region is then washed, following the removal of hair therefrom.
US08551186B1	Audible alert for stolen user devices A user device determines that the user device has been stolen and generates an audible alert when the user device has been stolen.
US08551185B2	Mounting plate system, vacuum reservoir plate and electronic pump system for prosthetic socket and related methods The mounting plate system is for use with a prosthetic socket, the socket having at least one aperture in a distal end thereof and in fluid communication with an interior portion of the socket which receives a residual limb. The mounting plate system includes a mounting plate having a top face to interface with the socket, and a bottom face for attachment to lower portions of a prosthetic limb. An opening in the mounting plate extends from the top face to the bottom face thereof, and a valve housing is positioned in the opening and has a channel therein for fluid communication with the interior portion of the socket via the at least one aperture. A one-way expulsion valve is secured between the valve housing and the socket adjacent the aperture and for regulating fluid communication between the interior portion of the socket and the channel in the valve housing. A vacuum reservoir seal plate is also provided.
US08551180B2	Method and apparatus for wrist arthroplasty A method of implanting a prosthesis relative to a carpal complex of a wrist is provided. The method can include providing a carpal implant having a body including an ulnar flange and a radial flange, and locating a bone abutment surface of the ulnar flange against a triquetrum of the carpal complex. The method can also include locating a bone abutment surface of the radial flange against a scaphoid of the carpal complex, and locating a first dorsal flange extending from the ulnar flange against a posterior surface of the triquetrum.
US08551173B2	Expandable intervertebral implant and associated method of manufacturing the same An expandable intervertebral implant (10) includes superior (20) and inferior (30) bone contacting members and at least one vertical wire netting (50) interconnecting the superior and inferior bone contacting members. The superior and inferior bone contacting members include at least two bone contacting components interconnected via one or more lateral wire nettings such that the implant is vertically and laterally expandable in situ from a first insertion configuration to a second expanded configuration. The vertical and lateral wire netting are preferably constructed of a plurality of individual link members. The present invention also preferably relates to an associated method of manufacturing the intervertebral implant such that the intervertebral implant can be manufactured as an integral component or part.
US08551172B2	Inflatable disk implant A surgical implant for repairing an intervertebral disk. The implant includes an inflatable bladder and an externally threaded inlet port connected to the bladder. The inlet port has a threaded bore through which a filler is admitted into the bladder to inflate it. A setscrew is screwed into the threaded bore for plugging the threaded bore to retain the filler in the bladder.
US08551168B2	Valve device intended for being implanted in a dysfunctional larynx or a larynx prosthesis The present invention relates to a valve device designed to be implanted in a dysfunctional larynx or in a prosthetic larynx. The valve device has a distal portion forming an annular support structure and a central portion forming an obturator. The obturator includes i) a peripheral part forming a first valve integral with the annular support structure in a first hinge region, and ii) a central part forming a second valve integral with the first valve in a second hinge region.
US08551165B2	Cassette for intraocular lens and preloaded lens injection system A cassette (11) consists of a cassette body (13) with a space (19) for receiving an intraocular lens (IOL) (12) and a lid (23) for closing the cassette body. The cassette body (13) has openings (17a, 17b) on opposing side walls, wherein an injector piston (20) can penetrate through the opening (17b) and displace an IOL (12), which is received in the receiving space (19), out of the receiving space through the opening (17a). The cassette lid (23) seals the cassette body (13) hermetically from the environment. Coupling means, which allow the cassette body (13), which is closed by the lid, to be fastened to an injector (31), are provided on the cassette body (13). The cassette (11) can be inserted into the aperture (39) of an injector (31) in the closed state. For injecting the lens (12), which is received in the receiving space (19), the cassette (11) can be made to pivot into an injection position.
US08551158B2	Steerable iliac branch device A prosthesis may be used for treatment of an aneurysmal body vessel. The prosthesis may include a prosthetic trunk and a prosthetic branch. The prosthetic trunk may include a graft body, an open first end, an open second end, and a trunk lumen extending therebetween. The prosthetic branch may include a graft body, an open first end, an open second end, and a branch lumen extending therebetween. The first end of the prosthetic branch may be attached to the prosthetic trunk, and the branch lumen may be in fluid communication with the trunk lumen. The prosthetic branch may be movable in relation to the prosthetic trunk between neutral, right biased, and left biased configurations. First and second releasable steering members may be associated with the respective first and second biased configurations and may cooperatively retain the prosthetic branch in the neutral configuration.
US08551153B2	Prosthesis comprising a coiled stent and method of use thereof The present invention is directed to a prosthesis and method for treating, repairing, and/or replacing an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The prosthesis includes a coiled stent comprised of shape memory material having first and second anchoring zones and an intermediate zone. The prosthesis also includes graft material engaging at least a portion of the stent. During delivery of the prosthesis, the stent is in a substantially straight longitudinal configuration, and after delivery of the prosthesis the stent is returned to a coiled configuration. The diameter of the prosthesis may be adjusted by controlling the degree to which the stent is coiled.
US08551149B2	Corrective method for fingernails or toenails The disclosure relates to a method for correcting a fingernail or toenail, comprising the application of at least one layer and the performance of at least one treatment step, wherein the at least one layer contracts or expands, as well as a fingernail or toenail that can be produced with the method.
US08551148B2	Light irradiating apparatus and light irradiating method Disclosed herein is a light irradiating apparatus including: a light source block configured to radiate a light to eyes of a user; a view line detection block configured to detect a view line direction of the user; and a light source control block configured to control the light radiated from the light source so as to restrict a light quantity in an area corresponding to a view line direction detected by the view line detection block.
US08551146B2	Spinal fixation system A fastener assembly for a spinal fixation system that is particularly useful in treatment of pediatric and small-statured patients includes a fastener, an attachment member, and a locking member. The fastener has a lower portion for contacting a bone and an upper portion integral with the lower portion. The upper portion has two open channels. Each channel is configured and dimensioned to receive a portion of a longitudinal or connecting member along its circumference. The attachment member is positionable on the fastener and at least partially covers the channel that receives the longitudinal or connecting member. The locking member is operatively associated with the upper portion of the fastener and secures the attachment member and the longitudinal or connecting member to the fastener.
US08551145B2	Anterior adherent thoracolumbar spine plate The implant is a fixation device shaped in the form of a plate for use in the fixation and stabilization of the thoracolumbar spine. The design and the configuration of the device allows for an anatomic fit of the plate in the spine. The improved fixation allows for an anatomical and biomechanicat advantage in stabilizing thoracolumbar spine trauma both in a primary fashion and/or in conjunction with vertebral body replacement. Its anatomic design allows the application of an ingrowth surface at the host/implant interface and encourages an additional point of fixation in cases at high risk for delayed or non-union such as severe trauma or malignancy. The thoracolumbar spine plate is anatomically designed to fit snugly against the thoracolumbar vertebral bodies through a twist around the Z (longitudinal) axis of the generally rectangular plate.
US08551142B2	Methods for stabilization of bone structures Methods, systems, devices and tools for placing bone stabilization components in a patient are provided. The systems and devices have a reduced number of discrete components that allow placement through small incisions and tubes. More particularly, the present invention is directed to screws for use in systems and methods of treating the spine, which eliminate pain and enable spinal motion, which effectively mimics that of a normally functioning spine. Methods are also provided for installation of the screw and other subject systems.
US08551134B2	Wound site management and wound closure device A staple, a stapler, and an introducer are disclosed for closing a wound and for wound site management. The staple is deformable, and includes a plurality of tissue-piercing prongs which are expanded outwardly, inserted into tissue and collapsed inwardly to close the wound. The stapler includes a plurality of mechanisms to deform the staple into various positions. An introducer is provided that includes a plurality of spaced-apart wire guides for securing and centering the wound opening during a medical procedure, and during closure of the wound.
US08551133B2	Balloon catheter An object of the present invention is to provide a balloon catheter integrated with a guidewire in which a stepped portion is prevented from being formed between a coil portion of the guidewire and a front end portion of the balloon catheter and thus crossability of the balloon catheter is improved. The balloon catheter includes a transition part made of resin that smoothly connects an external shape of an outer coil of a front end coil part and an external shape of a tip portion of a front side inner shaft.
US08551132B2	Methods and systems for endovascularly clipping and repairing lumen and tissue defects An implantable closure structure is delivered using minimally invasive techniques, and inhibits the migration of liquid and particulate matter from inside a physiological cavity or opening, such as an aneurysm or a septal defect, as well as inhibiting the flow of liquid and particulate matter, such as from an associated blood vessel or chamber, into the physiological cavity or opening. The device has a closure structure that covers the neck or opening of a cavity and has one or more anchoring structures for supporting and retaining the closure structure in place across the cavity or opening.
US08551126B2	Anastomosis device and related methods Described are methods and devices relating to reconnecting tissue of the urethra, e.g., connecting the urethra and bladder after a radical prostatectomy, wherein the devices incorporate tissue approximating structure such as tines to maintain contact between severed tissue, such as a severed bladder neck tissue and a severed urethral stump tissue, preferably without the use of sutures.
US08551116B2	In vivo accessories for minimally invasive robotic surgery Surgical accessories are presented in vivo and used by surgical tools in the surgical site to perform additional tasks without the need to remove the tools from the surgical site for tool change or instrument loading. The accessories can be introduced into the surgical site by a dedicated accessory introducer, or can be supported on the body of a surgical tool inserted into the surgical site and be manipulated using another surgical tool in the surgical site. The accessory introducer can be resiliently biased to bias the accessories toward a predetermined position in the surgical site.
US08551114B2	Robotic surgical device A robotic surgical device for use in laparoscopic surgery, includes two robotic arms in parallel relationship with each other. Each arm has at least six joints providing a total of fourteen degrees of movement that accurately reproduce the movements of a human torso complete with arms. The robotic arms are connected to a support via a connection element.
US08551108B2	Tool and method for digital acquisition of a tibial mechanical axis A tool for digitizing a mechanical axis of a tibia using a computer-assisted surgery system is described. The tool includes upper and lower mounting ends interconnected by an alignment rod extending therebetween. The upper mounting end is releasably fastenable to an upper reference point on a tibial plateau and the lower mounting end includes a self-centering malleoli engaging mechanism having opposed caliper arms displaceable in a common plane relative to each other for clamping engagement with the medial and lateral malleoli of the ankle. At least one trackable member is mounted to the alignment rod of the tool and is in communication with the computer assisted surgery system for providing at least orientation information of the alignment rod. The mechanical axis of the tibia is parallel to the alignment rod and extends between the upper and lower reference points when the tool is mounted on the tibia.
US08551107B2	Bending tool and method for reshaping a bone plate A bending tool is provided for reshaping a bone plate that is preassembled with a pair of spaced-apart threaded, cylindrical elements removably attached to the bone plate and extending above the top surface of the bone plate. The bending tool has a handle and a distal head attached to the distal end of the handle. The distal head has a cavity that is sized and shaped to fit over the pair of spaced-apart threaded, cylindrical elements. The user, while holding the bone plate, may manually apply a leverage force to the bending tool while the cavity of the distal head is fitted over the pair of spaced-apart threaded, cylindrical elements to transmit a sufficient, regionalized bending moment to the bone plate through the pair of threaded, cylindrical elements to reshape the bone plate.
US08551106B2	Method and apparatus for installation of intramedullary medical device Methods and apparatus for installing intramedullary medical devices (e.g., intramedullary nails) are described herein. Intramedullary medical devices in accordance with this disclosure provide sustained compressive forces across a bone fusion site despite bone resorption processes. Intramedullary medical devices in accordance with this disclosure include pseudo-elastic shape memory alloys containing nickel and titanium. Portions of intramedullary medical devices, including shape memory alloy elements in the intramedullary medical devices, may have strains imparted upon them through the methods and apparatus described herein. Further aspects of surgery techniques are also performed and controlled through the methods and apparatus described herein.
US08551102B2	Joint arthroplasty devices and surgical tools Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US08551096B2	Directional delivery of energy and bioactives Systems and methods are disclosed for the treatment of a target tissue by directionally delivering energy and/or bioactive materials to achieve a therapeutic effect. A balloon catheter system having a balloon portion and a plurality of electrodes may be energized to selectively deliver energy, bioactive materials, or a combination thereof to target tissue including tissues disposed about a lumen. The tissue may be targeted by applying energy, making tissue impedance analysis, and further selectively energizing electrodes through the use of an energy source with a controller.
US08551085B2	Ablation electrode assembly with insulated distal outlet The present invention relates to improved ablation electrodes (10, 10′) and catheter assemblies (12), as well as methods useful in conjunction with irrigated ablation catheters. An irrigated ablation electrode assembly (10, 10′) includes a proximal member (18, 18′) having an outer surface (22), an inner lumen (26, 26′) and a proximal passageway (24). The proximal passageway (24) extends from the inner lumen (26, 26′) to the outer surface (22) of the proximal member (18, 18′). The assembly (10, 10′) further includes a distal member (20) having a distal end (30) and a distal passageway (28) extending from the inner lumen (26, 26′) through the distal member (20) to the distal end (30). Embodiments of the present invention include an irrigated catheter assembly (12) configured to direct irrigation fluid to target areas where coagulation is more likely to occur to, among other things, better minimize blood coagulation and associated problems.
US08551077B2	Handle for a surgical instrument and surgical instrument assembly A handle for a surgical instrument used in keyhole, endoscopic, and laparoscopic surgery, having a pivoting or articulated end portion and a mechanism for indexing the pivoting movement of the end portion. The indexing mechanism allows adjustment of the angle of the end portion for improved control and tactile feedback to the user. The handle also has a mechanism for locking and unlocking movement of the end portion whereby the end portion can be pivoted or articulated to a desired angle and the locking mechanism moved to a position to prevent movement of the end portion, thus holding it at the desired angle to achieve the improved control and tactile feedback to the user.
US08551075B2	Assemblies, systems, and methods for vacuum assisted internal drainage during wound healing Assemblies, systems, and methods convey fluid from an internal wound site or body cavity by applying negative pressure from a source outside the internal wound site or body cavity through a wound drain assembly that is placed directly inside the internal wound site or body cavity.
US08551074B2	Connector system having a compressible sealing element and a flared fluid path element Systems for connecting a conduit to an injection needle may include a sealing element positioned on a distal end of the conduit, a first cooperating connector positioned around the length of conduit proximal to the sealing element and a second cooperating connector. The first cooperating connector includes a first cooperating connection mechanism and the second cooperating connector includes a second cooperating connection mechanism having a passage therein. The first cooperating connection mechanism and the second cooperating connection mechanism are adapted to form a connection between the first cooperating connector and the second cooperating connector. The connection causes the compression of the sealing element. The injection needle has a lumen with a diameter flared outward to a larger diameter at a proximal end. The second cooperating connector has a mounting hole connected to the passage and a sleeve around the injection needle so that the sleeve and the injection needle are received within the mounting hole.
US08551070B2	User profile backup system for an infusion pump device Some embodiments of an infusion pump system can include a controller device that communicates with a pump device, the pump device having a memory device. The controller device can be configured to record controller-related data, such as user profile data on the memory device of the pump device. This user profile data that is stored in the memory of the pump device can serves as a data backup system that permits the user to program a new controller device in a situation where the original controller device is lost or damaged. In addition or in the alternative, the controller device can be configured to receive controller-related data, such as software update programs or backup controller data, from the memory device of the pump device.
US08551067B2	Needleless additive control valve A needleless additive control valve for use with a fluid container containing an infusion liquid and having an intravenous (IV) port for administrating the infusion liquid, and an additive transfer device containing a liquid additive and having a male connector for administrating the liquid additive. The needleless additive control valve includes a trifurcated connector body having an IV spike for sealing insertion into the IV port, an outlet port, and a needleless additive port with a female connector for sealingly receiving the additive transfer device's male connector wherein the IV spike, the outlet port and the needleless additive port are in 3 way direct and continuous fluid communication thereby enabling the additive transfer device's liquid additive to be either mixed with the infusion liquid or directly administered to a patient.
US08551066B2	Elastomeric diaper fastening tab A diaper fastening system including at least one elastomeric connection tab disposed at a side portion of the diaper. The connection tab has a body portion of stitch-bonded construction including an elastomeric expansion zone. The elastomeric expansion zone includes an inelastic stitching substrate of fibrous material with a plurality of accordion pleats and a zigzag network of elastomeric yarns disposed in underlying relation to the pleats. The zigzag network is adapted to apply contracting forces to the stitching substrate in the length dimension of the connection tab.
US08551059B2	Spinal cannula having liquor detection A spinal cannula with a needle hub having a transparent area for observing the liquor flowing through a hollow cavity of the needle hub. A structure for refracting or reflecting rays of light is provided in or at the transparent area of the needle hub. The structure for refracting or reflecting rays of light may be formed as one or more prisms.
US08551058B2	Endoscopic translumenal surgical systems Devices are provided herein for translumenal access to a treatment site within a body cavity. In general, the devices include an elongate sleeve configured to provide access to a treatment site wherein various portions of the sleeve are associated with an anti-microbial agent. Additionally, the anti-microbial agent(s) can be disposed within a housing and/or inner lumen of the sleeve such that surgical instruments passing therethrough can be sterilized en route to and/or being withdrawn from the treatment site. Additionally, various methods are also provided herein for maintaining the sterility of a treatment site.
US08551051B2	Safety shield for medical needles Medical needle shield apparatus for covering a needle after use. The medical needle shield apparatus includes a first member, such as, for example, a syringe barrel having a needle mounted therewith. A second member, such as, for example, a shield is mounted with the first member. The shield is movable between a first position whereby the needle is exposed and a second position whereby the needle is covered. A lock is mounted with the barrel such that the shield is slidably movable along an outer surface of the lock. The lock includes a tang that is movable radially outward to fix the shield in the second position.
US08551050B2	Device and method for controlling the flow rate of evacuating surgical vapor and mist from a body cavity Devices and methods for vacuum-assisted removal of surgically contaminated gas from an insufflated body cavity, the contaminants comprising smoke, aerosols, vapor, mist and the like generated during surgical procedures in order to clear the surgeon's vision of the surgical site and prevent exposure of the surgical staff to the gas. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a series of flow restriction devices to enable stepping down of the flow rate generated by an external vacuum. This reduced flow rate allows safe yet rapid removal of the toxic and vision-obstructing surgical byproducts from the patient's body cavity. The initial flow restriction device may comprise a perforated trocar sleeve in fluid communication with the vacuum source that allows retention of the surgical instrument within the trocar's inner lumen with concurrent smoke removal. The flow rate is infinitely variable, adjustable and selectable using a flow control adjuster comprising a smoothly varying orifice.
US08551049B2	Device and method for evacuating surgical vapor and mist from a body cavity Devices and methods for vacuum-assisted removal of surgically contaminated gas from an insufflated body cavity, the contaminants comprising smoke, aerosols, vapor, mist and the like generated during surgical procedures in order to clear the surgeon's vision of the surgical site and prevent exposure of the surgical staff to the gas. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a series of flow restriction devices to enable stepping down of the flow rate generated by an external vacuum. This reduced flow rate allows safe yet rapid removal of the toxic and vision-obstructing surgical byproducts from the patient's body cavity. The initial flow restriction device may comprise a perforated trocar sleeve in fluid communication with the vacuum source that allows retention of the surgical instrument within the trocar sleeve's inner lumen with concurrent smoke removal. A series of additional flow restriction devices located downstream of the perforated sleeve's intake ports are employed to safely limit the flow rate to a manageable and known value.
US08551037B2	Medical fluid injection system One implementation provides a method to provide injection procedure information in an injection system. In this implementation, the method includes displaying a plurality of different injection procedure options in a user interface of said system, wherein said plurality of different injection procedure options including a cardiac procedure option and a non-cardiac procedure option. The method further includes receiving a user selection of an injection procedure from said displayed plurality of difference injection procedure options, processing a default set of injection parameters based upon said selected injection procedure, and displaying said default set of injection parameters within the user interface of the system prior to an injection.
US08551036B2	Insufflation system An aerosol generator is positioned adjacent to a patient as an attachment to a trocar. The trocar has an entry port for insufflation gas. Aerosol generated by a vibrating element is entrained in the insufflation gas and the mixture is delivered through the trocar. The aerosol may contain a medicament. The trocar may be a conventional trocar. Such trocars are typically used for a camera. The delivery of the aerosolized medicament can occur at the start of the procedure and be delivered in bolus. At the start of the procedure, the peritoneum is being inflated by means of the flow of insufflator gas. This gas flow will help to entrain the aerosolized medicament to the pneumoperitoneum regions. The surgeon can temporarily remove the camera from the trocar port to facilitate insertion and positioning of the aerosolizing unit.
US08551033B1	A-V dialysis graft The present invention provides an apparatus and method for optimizing flow in an A-V dialysis graft having a selectable constricted section. Electronic pressure and flow sensors in the arterial and venous ends of the graft are electronically coupled to a monitor to detect the arterial and venous environments and change the degree of stenosis to optimize flow. The stenosis or narrowing within the graft creates resistance for the purpose of decreasing the flow rate and pressure at the outflow end. The selectable restricted section may be provided by a balloon or a thin “slit” type valve with flexible leaves to provide the required resistance. The “slit” valve allows access to wires or catheters for the purpose of any type of graft maintenance.
US08551029B1	Active ankle foot orthosis An Active Ankle Foot Orthosis (AAFO) is provided where the impedance of an orthotic joint is modulated throughout the walking cycle to treat ankle foot gait pathology, such as drop foot gait. During controlled plantar flexion, a biomimetic torsional spring control is applied where orthotic joint stiffness is actively adjusted to minimize forefoot collisions with the ground. Throughout late stance, joint impedance is minimized so as not to impede powered plantar flexion movements, and during the swing phase, a torsional spring-damper (PD) control lifts the foot to provide toe clearance. To assess the clinical effects of variable-impedance control, kinetic and kinematic gait data were collected on two drop foot participants wearing the AAFO. It has been found that actively adjusting joint impedance reduces the occurrence of slap foot, allows greater powered plantar flexion, and provides for less kinematic difference during swing when compared to normals.
US08551025B2	Method and system to determine an optimal tissue compression time to implant a surgical element An apparatus for determining an optimal amount of tissue compression for applying a surgical element to tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for compressing tissue which supports a measuring device adapted to detect a tissue parameter upon the compression of tissue. The measuring device communicates with an indicator. Upon compressing tissue, when the measuring device determines that the compressed tissue parameter reaches a predetermined threshold, the measuring device sends a signal to the indicator such that the indicator provides an indication to a surgeon that the threshold has been reached. The measuring device may include a load cell and the tissue parameter may be a viscoelastic reactive force of the tissue per unit time.
US08551024B2	Method and device for determining a characteristic property of an anatomical structure A method for determining a characteristic property of an anatomical structure from scan data which represents the position of scan points on the surface of the anatomical structure, wherein a spatial region is defined, the scan points which lie in the spatial region are determined, and the scan points which are determined to be lying in the spatial region are used to determine the characteristic property.
US08551020B2	Crossing guidewire Medical devices and methods for manufacturing and using medical devices. An example medical device includes a core member, a tubular member coupled to the core member, and a tip member coupled to the tubular member. The tubular member may have a plurality of slots formed therein. The tip member may include a polymeric material. An intermediate member may be disposed between the tubular member and the core member that aids the bonding of the tip member thereto.
US08551017B2	Lancet-integrated sensor, measuring device for lancet-integrated sensor, and cartridge A sensor and a lancet are integrated with each other. A thin strip-shaped sensor and a lancet are integrated so that the lancet moves in parallel, along a longitudinal direction of the sensor. A measuring device to which an integrated lancet and sensor is attached is provided with a function of driving the attached lancet.
US08551012B2	Method for monitoring estrus and ovulation of animals, and for planning a useful fertilization time zone and a preferred fertilization time zone Estrus of animals and particularly sows is determined for planning of a preferred time period of insemination by a sensing system arranged to detect standing of the animal. Data from the sensing system is collected and analyzed using an algorithm and information that is displayed on an indicating system to provide an indication to a worker of the time period of estrus and ovulation and of a useful insemination time period and a preferred insemination time period of the animal. The indicating system includes a countdown clock to the preferred time period of insemination. In the event that the insemination fails, an indication is provided about whether the actual time of insemination occurred at the preferred time of insemination indicated to the worker. When estrus is completed, a confidence level is provided about the likelihood of success based on the position of the actual time of insemination relative to ovulation.
US08551010B2	Respiration monitoring for heart failure using implantable device An implantable respiration monitor can be used to detect disordered breathing or periodic breathing events that can be categorized, such as according to one or more of sleep, exercise, and resting awake states. The categorized frequency of such events can be compared to independently specifiable thresholds, such as to trigger an alert or responsive therapy, or to display one or more trends. The information can also be combined with detection of one or more other congestive heart failure (CHF) symptoms to generate a CHF status indicator or to trigger an alarm or responsive therapy or to display one or more trends. The alert can notify the patient or a caregiver, such as via remote monitoring. The sleep state information can be further categorized according to central sleep apnea (CSA) or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) events.
US08551005B2	Monitoring respiratory variation of pulse pressure A monitoring device may include a display, an input device to receive patient-related data, and logic. The logic may determine the pulse pressure of the patient based on the patient-related data, calculate a respiratory variation of the pulse pressure of the patient, and generate a first value based on the respiratory variation of the pulse pressure of the patient and a mean pulse pressure of the patient. The logic may also output the first value to the display. The logic may update the first value in a continuous, real-time or near real-time manner.
US08550999B2	Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitting section for generating first, second and third drive signals to drive an ultrasonic probe; a receiving section for getting echoes, produced by reflection of the ultrasonic waves responsive to those drive signals and generating first, second and third received echo signals; a storage section to store the first received echo signal; an adjusting section for defining intense and faint echo regions within a measuring range for the first received echo signal based on a stored feature quantity and for determining the second and third gains based on the feature quantities in the intense and faint echo regions; a displacement measuring section for measuring the magnitudes of displacement in the echo regions based on the second and third received echo signals; and a qualitative value calculating section for calculating the attribute property value of the subject based on the magnitudes of displacement.
US08550995B2	Surgical access devices and methods of minimally invasive surgery A surgical access device includes a proximal frame of fixed construction and a plurality of tissue engaging blades connected to the frame. The plurality of tissue engaging blades may include a first blade that is rotatable, independent of other blades, about an axis that is oriented approximately parallel to a plane defined by the proximal frame.
US08550992B2	Two-part access assembly An assembly for accessing a body cavity through an opening in tissue is provided. The access assembly includes a flexible outer sleeve configured to be received through an opening in tissue. The outer sleeve defines a passageway therethrough. The access assembly further includes an inner core configured for selective reception within the passageway of the outer sleeve. The inner core defines at least a first lumen configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough.
US08550989B2	Flexibility/rigidity adjustable apparatus There is provided a flexibility/rigidity adjustable apparatus which can change over its state between a flexible state in which such apparatus is freely bendable and a rigid state in which such bending is restricted when in use. A flexible closing cover 18 which can expand/shrink is provided on an outer circumference 2 of a flexible tube 1. A latching member 7 which moves together with the closing cover 18 is provided, and a latching-member receiving part 11 with which the latching member 7 can engage is provided at the outer circumference 2 of the tube 1. A closed space 21 formed between the closing cover 18 and the tube 1 is connected to an air inlet/outlet part 22. As the air is evacuated through the inlet/outlet part 22 to change the pressurized condition of the closed space 21 from an atmospheric pressure condition to a negative pressure condition, the closing cover 18 reduces its diameter around an axis 4, and the latching member 7 is caused to engage with the latching-member receiving part 11. As air is supplied in the closed space 21 to make the interior thereof in an atmospheric pressure condition, the closing cover 18 expands, and engagement of latching member 7 with the latching-member receiving part 11 is released, so that the tube 1 becomes a flexible state from a rigid state.
US08550988B2	Endoscopic cleaner A cleaning device for use with a percutaneous visualization device includes a cannula and a cleaning swab. The cannula has a first section pivotably connected to a second section. The cleaning swab is positioned at a distal end of the cannula and is configured to pivot into a position to clean at least a portion of a percutaneous visualization device upon insertion into the cannula. In an alternative embodiment, the cleaning device includes a cannula and a seal. The seal is disposed within the cannula and configured to clean at least a portion of a percutaneous visualization device upon insertion and retraction in the cannula. Further, the cannula has a cleaning surface on at least a portion of an inner surface thereof. The cleaning surface is also configured to clean at least a portion of said percutaneous visualization device upon insertion and retraction in the cannula.
US08550986B2	Propellable apparatus with active size changing ability A propellable apparatus comprises one or more rotatable membranes. The rotatable membranes include an inner surface at least partially defining an encircled region and a continuous outer surface that turns outward to engage a cavity or lumen wall, for example, and turns inward to at least partially encompass a central region defining a longitudinal path. The membranes are powerable to provide movement relative to the cavity or lumen wall. The apparatus further comprises an inflatable and deflatable support structure, configured to bias the outer surface of the membranes outward to engage the cavity or lumen wall at a first outer diameter, and be deformable inward in response to a compressive force or operator command to provide a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter. In some examples, the rotatable membranes include belt-like membranes, and the inflatable and deflatable support structure includes at least one impermeable bladder.
US08550979B2	Method of treating incontinence A method of treating incontinence in a patient includes implanting a support by suspending the support from a pair of connectors attached to tissue thereby supporting a urethra of the patient with an implanted support and a pair of implanted connectors. The method additionally includes evaluating the patient for incontinence post-implantation of the support, and reducing the incontinence of the patient by shortening a length of one of the pair of implanted connectors through intact skin from a location extracorporeal of the patient.
US08550972B2	Systems and methods for delivering radiation therapy Described here are conformable brachytherapy applicators. The conformable brachytherapy applicators generally follow the contour of tissue surfaces so that distances between radiation sources and target tissues can be precisely determined and radiation dose clouds can be readily shaped. Systems and methods for using the conformable brachytherapy applicators are also described.
US08550968B2	Developing roller and imaging apparatus comprising the same There is a developing roller having a low compression permanent strain without contaminating a photosensitive drum and deteriorating toners. The developing roller 1 comprises a shaft 2, an elastic layer 3 formed on an outer periphery of the shaft 2 and a surface coating layer 4 formed on an outer peripheral face of the elastic layer 3, in which the surface coating layer 4 comprises a urethane resin formed by crosslinking a lactone-modified polyol with a polyisocyanate. The urethane resin is preferable to be formed by crosslinking the lactone-modified polyol with two or more kinds of polyisocyanates.
US08550940B2	Systems and methods for evaluating a golf ball design Systems and methods for evaluating a golf ball design are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for evaluating a golf ball design may comprise designing a proposed golf ball having a size and dimple design; determining a specific gravity of the proposed golf ball; selecting a material for a test golf ball that will mimic the specific gravity of the proposed golf ball when the material is formed into a test golf ball having substantially the same size, shape, and dimple pattern as the proposed golf ball, but having a predetermined construction differing from the proposed golf ball; forming the selected material into the size and dimple design of the proposed golf ball to form the test golf ball; and testing the test golf ball to evaluate the golf ball design.
US08550938B2	Low lift golf ball A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas including dimples configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules, and such that the golf ball exhibits a drag coefficient (CD) below about 0.260 at a Reynolds Number (Re) of about 170,000 and at a spin rate in the range of about 3,400 rpm to about 3,550 rpm and below about 0.330 at a RE of about 80,000 and at a spin rate in the range of about 2,900 rpm to about 3,000 rpm.
US08550928B2	Water play installation A participatory water play installation comprises a water play area provided with several water dispensing elements which can be user-activated via a user interface connected to a command center. The command center is preferably located underneath the water play area and further comprises an electronic system controller, electrically actuated solenoid valves and a water distribution manifold. The command center is in fluid communication with the water dispensing elements whereby upon stimulation of the user interface, the command center initiates a predetermined sequence of water dispensing patterns from the activated water dispensing elements, resulting in recreational enjoyment of the participants.
US08550923B2	Electronic terminal having an upper cover with a display screen An electronic terminal (10), in particular for the management of games, comprising an upper cover (16) fulcrum-mounted on a fixed external structure (11) and suitable for assuming, with respect to the latter, a closed position (P1) and an open position (P2), in which the upper cover (13) is made of a first part (13a), arranged adjacently to the relative fulcrum-mounting area (17) on the fixed structure (11), and a second part (13b), arranged away from the fulcrum-mounting area (17), which bears a keyboard (14) for the entry of data, and in which a screen (16) for displaying data is rotatingly mounted on a central area (13c) of the cover, between the first (13a) and the second part (13b), so as to be adjustable with respect to the fixed structure (11) when the upper cover (13) is in the closed position (P1). To advantage, the terminal (10) comprises a front access door (31a) suitable for being easily removed as a single piece from a respective seat made in the fixed structure (11), thereby freeing and completely uncovering a path (27) for reading of games coupons (28) inserted in the terminal (10).
US08550921B2	Network gaming system A gaming system is disclosed that provides an opportunity to win a prize in response to game play, each game being played in exchange for monetary input. The gaming system includes a game server and a plurality of game units connected via a network. The game server stores one or more games. The game units each include a web browser. The game system enables a player to receive a prize at a game unit in response to winning game play. The gaming system enables game units to request games from the game server over the network. The games may be downloaded over the network from the game server to the requesting game unit to be executed at the game unit and to be displayed in one or more web browsers.
US08550920B1	Providing and controlling embeddable gaming content A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include detecting a request to login a player account via a widget embedded in host content. The operations can further include detecting a selection of a wagering game theme, via the widget, for a wagering game that the player account has previously played and presenting a collection of widget content that the player account is authorized to access, via the widget, based on statistics, playing history, achievements, etc. of the wagering game. The operations can further include detecting a selection of a non-wagering game from the collection of widget content and providing a non-wagering game via the widget. The operations can further include providing customized information for a host and/or the player account via the widget based on statistics from the wagering game content or from the widget content.
US08550912B2	Gaming machine having a display and speaker system with light piping material Gaming machines having video depictions of one or more mechanical reels projected onto a curved display are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a curved transparent material having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a radius of curvature similar to a mechanical reel. The gaming machine also includes a light emitting diode projector for projecting video images of one or more reels onto the inner surface of the curved transparent material. The gaming machine also includes a light piping material positioned in front of the curved transparent material for illumination of the display. The gaming machine further includes light piping material placed in front of speakers associated with the gaming machine for illumination of the speakers. The illumination of the display or speakers may be synchronized with sound.
US08550909B2	Geographic data acquisition by user motivation Architecture that motivates and utilizes users as the means for capturing geographical data of a desired location. The architecture incentivizes users (e.g., large numbers of mobile-phone and mobile-computer users) to provide the data in the form of geolocation information trails and images captured by user devices. Thus, users take multiple pictures, for example, and can validate existing coverage of specific points of interest based on variable needs of the requestor. One motivational technique is by using augmented reality (AR) games, which include shooting targets associated with the point of interest (e.g., a street). Thus, the game can be designed for the data accumulation, which includes visual data. Additionally, the architecture can determine the areas or points of interest for validation and/or additional coverage by comparing live video data to an image database to decide of the need for update.
US08550906B2	Game machine and game program The game machine and game program of the present invention display, at the start of a game, multiple static symbols by constantly changing to various types of symbols including the wild symbol. The game machine then executes a static display by displaying such changing symbols statically again in each display area and recognizes the arrangements of each static symbol. Then, the game machine visually displays the arrangement of the symbols by which multiple wins are established or the win line related to such arrangements of the symbols, when the pre-determined combinations of symbols, in which at least one wild symbol is included, are arranged so that multiple wins are established. The game machine and game program according to the present invention increases the player's interest and arouses the player's anticipation.
US08550902B2	Gaming system and a method of gaming A method of gaming comprising: receiving a bet from a player; awarding to the player an entitlement to a plurality of game outcomes in exchange for the bet; determining that the player has exhausted the entitlement; and determining, subsequent to exhaustion of the entitlement, whether the player is entitled to an award based, at least in part, on at least one of the game outcomes.
US08550901B2	Wagering game benefits redeemable at another gaming device Methods and apparatus are described for offering a benefit to a player of a first electronic game device. In an embodiment, the method includes determining if a player of a first electronic game device qualifies to receive at least one benefit associated with an award value, and then outputting an offer to provide the at least one benefit. In some embodiments, the offer requires use of a second electronic game device. The method may also include receiving a request for the benefit at the second electronic game device, and then providing at least one benefit to the player. In some embodiments, the offer includes such benefits as additional game play, one or more bonus-round game outcomes, a monetary payout, a game play modification, additional comp points, loss insurance, a multimedia option, and acquisition of at least one unit of media content.
US08550891B2	Poker system and method involving draw out protection A draw out point system and method. Points may be derived from odds associated with a player winning a hand when the player is subjected to a draw out. For example, if a first player has an 80% chance of winning a hand against a second player once no bets are possible, the first player is awarded 80 points corresponding to the 80% chance of winning responsive to a draw out by the second player. Alternatively, points are based on a value of a pot at the time of the draw out. After the tournament, players may be awarded payouts commensurate with earned points until a draw out pool is exhausted. To fund the draw out pool, players pay an extra tournament fee or portion of the tournament fee may be allocated to a draw out pool. Operators retain a portion of the draw out pool to increase operator revenue.
US08550890B1	Electronic fantasy sports system and method A system that includes a processor, and computer executable instructions readable by the processor and operative to solicit or receive a selection to fill a coach position on a fantasy team, wherein the selection comprises a selection of a coach of a sports team, a member of the sports team, or a unit of the sports team to fill the coach position on the fantasy team, and determine a coach's score based on at least one on-field or off-field action or statistic of the sports team, the member of the sports team, or the unit of the sports team.
US08550889B2	Game device, method and information storage medium for controlling game device based on game situations A display control section (72) controls a display unit to display an image on which a first axis corresponding to first information about a situation of a game and a second axis corresponding to second information about a situation of the game are set. A receiving section (74) receives an operation for specifying a position or an area in the image. A first condition relating to the first information and a second condition relating to the second information are acquired based on the results of reception by the receiving section (74). A game-character control section (84) controls the action of the at least one game character in a case where the results of determinations of whether or not the first information and the second information about the current situations of the game respectively satisfy the first condition and the second condition are predetermined results.
US08550887B2	Vehicle grill with moveable louvers A grill for attachment to a front portion of a vehicle including a base frame structure with a mesh front structure secured thereto. The grill has at least one picture frame structure that is moveable with respect to the base frame structure. The grill also includes a plurality of louvers that are in communication with and moveable with respect to each of the base frame structure and the at least one picture frame structure. A motor unit is associated with the grill and is in communication with the at least one picture frame structure to effectuate movement thereof such that as the at least one picture frame structure moves, the plurality of louvers between an open position and a closed position, whereby openings between adjacent ones of the plurality of louvers are exposed or shut off.
US08550885B2	Grinder having mechanism for regulating rotation of wheel guard A grinder includes a housing, a gear cover attached to the housing by a plurality of screws, a spindle case attached to the gear cover, a wheel guard rotatably mounted on the spindle case for covering approximately a half of a disc-shaped tool bit attached to a spindle, a stop piece that regulates the rotation of the wheel guard. The wheel guard is selectively fixed to and unfixed from the spindle case. The stop piece is fixed to the housing together with the gear cover by at least one of the plurality of screws. The stop piece has an abutting section at which the stop piece abuts the wheel guard to regulate the rotation of the wheel guard. The abutting section is located at a position deviated from an axial line of the at least one of the plurality of screws.
US08550884B2	Chain saw sharpener A chain saw sharpening device having a generally U-shaped frame defined by an upper web and first and second parallel side walls for overlying the chain and the guide bar of the chain saw. The frame includes an open area near the center of the upper web defining a sharpening area. Clamping screws are associated with the frame to secure the frame to the cutting bar and an additional clamping screw is associated with the frame for engaging the link of the tooth to be sharpened in order to fix its position with respect to the sharpening area of the frame. A rotary burr having an abradant surface is receivable in either of two diagonally disposed, independently removable bore guides for sharpening left-hand and right-hand cutting teeth.
US08550879B2	Polishing pad conditioner Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an improved conditioning module and conditioning disks for improved pressure distribution during the process of conditioning a polishing pad of a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system. In one embodiment, a conditioning module comprising multiple, small conditioning disks is provided. In one embodiment, a conditioning disk having a compliant backing member is provided. In one embodiment, the compliant backing member comprises a semi-rigid backing member cut into a spiral shape to provide compliancy. In another embodiment, the compliant backing member comprises a fluid-pressurized, flexible membrane. Each embodiment of the present invention provides an improved pressure distribution across the face of each conditioning disk, resulting in increased disk life as well as increased conditioning rate and uniformity.
US08550878B2	Method of manufacture of constant groove depth pads Processing pads for mechanical and/or chemical-mechanical planarization or polishing of substrates in the fabrication of microelectronic devices, methods for making the pads, and methods, apparatus, and systems that utilize and incorporate the processing pads are provided. The processing pads include grooves or other openings in the abrading surface containing a solid or partially solid fill material that can be selectively removed as desired to maintain the fill at an about constant or set distance from the abrading surface of the pad and an about constant depth of the pad openings for multiple processing and conditioning applications over the life of the pad.
US08550868B2	Tube connector for assembly toy Disclosed is a tube connector for an assembly toy, which includes a cylindrical body having upper and lower horizontal surfaces, a circular hole perforated through the center of the body perpendicular to the horizontal surfaces for insertion of a tube, and at least one coupling rib integrally formed around the body at the level of one of the horizontal surfaces. As a tube is coupled to the coupling rib, assembly of various shapes of three-dimensional toys is possible.
US08550865B2	Spark plug manufacturing method A spark plug manufacturing method provides a reduction in the cost of raw material preparation and the cost of the disposal of unused powder by recycling powder not used in forming a filler layer of another spark plug. The method is used to make a spark plug that includes a metal shell having a through hole, and an insulating body held inside the through hole, and a filler layer containing talc in a space surrounded by an inner peripheral surface of the through hole and an outer peripheral surface of the insulating body. The powder not used in a process of forming a filler layer of another spark plug is recycled for forming the filler layer of the present spark plug, where the forming process is performed after talc and a binder are mixed.
US08550864B2	Drives for propulsion of marine vessels A marine propulsion system includes a gearbox housing that is attached to the stern of a vessel hull, a pivot casing that can pivot relative to the gearbox housing for trim/tilt and a lower unit that can pivot relative to the pivot casing to steer. The gearbox housing houses an input shaft, which is connected via a gear set to an intermediate shaft, which is connected via a bevel gear set to a transverse shaft, which extends into the pivot casing. Inside the pivot casing, a drive shaft is connected to the transverse shaft via a clutch assembly and the drive shaft extends from the pivot casing to the lower unit, where it drives a propeller shaft. The pivot casing pivots about the axis of the transverse shaft to trim/tilt and the lower unit pivots about the axis of the drive shaft to steer.
US08550859B2	Close proximity panel mount connectors Close proximity panel mount connectors include a first and a second connector body, each provided with a connection interface at an interface end, a mounting flange with a planar surface at a mounting end, a fastener tab of the mounting flange provided with a tab fastener hole at a male side of the connector body and a fastener slot of the mounting flange formed at a female side of the connector body, a slot fastener hole provided through the mounting flange to the fastener tab slot. The fastener tab of the first connector body seats within the fastener slot of the second connector body when the male side of the first connector body is seated adjacent to the female side of the second connector body, coaxially aligning the tab fastener hole of the first connector body and the slot fastener hole of the second connector body.
US08550857B2	Adaptor unit with an aperture for an electrical plug with contacts engagement taking place outside the aperture There is provided an electrical charger including a base unit and an adaptor unit. The base unit is configured for being coupled to an electronic device, and includes an electrical connector plug which includes a plurality of electrical connector plug contacts. The adaptor unit is configured for being coupled to a power supply, and includes a plurality of adaptor unit contacts and a receiving aperture defining an opening for an electrical connector plug receiving receptacle configured for receiving the electrical connector plug.
US08550850B2	Methods and apparatus for reducing crosstalk in electrical connectors A communication jack having crosstalk compensation features for overall crosstalk interference reduction is disclosed. In one embodiment, the jack is configured to receive a plug to form a communication connection, and comprises jack contacts disposed in the jack, with each contact having at least a first surface and a second surface. Upon the plug being received by the jack, the plug contacts interface with the first surface of the jack contacts. The jack further includes a first capacitive coupling connected between two pairs of jack contacts to compensate for near end crosstalk, with the first capacitive coupling being connected to the pairs of jack contacts along the second surface adjacent to where the plug contacts interface with the jack contacts. A far end crosstalk compensation scheme is also set forth.
US08550844B2	Fluidproof connector A waterproof (10) is provided with a capacitor (40); two busbars (35) connected via the capacitor (40). Each busbar (35) includes tabs (36), a coupling (37) connecting the tabs (36), and a connecting portion (38) connected to an electrode of the capacitor (40). A housing (11) houses the busbars (35) and the capacitor (40) and is open only in one direction. The housing (11) holds the terminal fittings inserted through an opening (12) of the housing (11) to be connected to the tabs (36) of the busbars (35). A seal (50) is press-fit into the housing (11) through the opening (12) and has through holes (51) through which the wires are closely inserted. A holder (60) having wire insertion holes (63) corresponding to the through holes (51) is mounted to cover the opening (12) of the housing (11) to retain and hold the seal (50).
US08550843B2	Tabbed connector interface An electrical connector interface has a male portion and a female portion. The male portion provided with at least three outer diameter radial projecting connector tabs and a conical outer diameter seat surface at an interface end. A lock ring provided with a stop shoulder and at least three radial inward coupling tabs at the interface end seats around the male portion, the stop shoulder abutting the connector tabs, a tab seat provided between the coupling tabs and the stop shoulder. The female portion provided with at least three outer diameter radial projecting base tabs and an annular groove open to the interface end with an outer sidewall dimensioned to mate with the conical outer diameter seat surface. The base tabs engage the coupling tabs when the lock ring is rotated to insert the base tabs into the tab seat, retaining the outer diameter seat surface against the outer sidewall.
US08550840B2	Plug and receptacle arrangement with connection sensor An electrical connector monitoring system for a plug and receptacle assembly, that includes a plug connected to the plug assembly, a recess located within the plug, an electrically insulative layer disposed in the recess, a wear member disposed on the plug that at least partially traverses the insulated recess and in electrical contact with the plug, a contact member movably connected with a receptacle of the receptacle, and a signal device in electrical connection through a circuit with the plug, wear member, and contact member when the plug is fully seated within the receptacle.
US08550837B2	Electrical connector and electrical connector assembly A configuration in which a stand-alone plug connector is directly fitted to the wall of a product case, and in the fitting state of the stand-alone plug connector, the contact part of a contact comes in contact with the contact part of a wiring pattern conductive path exposed on the surface of a fit connecting hole, and the electrical connection of a signal transmitting medium can be performed in a simple configuration.
US08550827B1	Multi-sleeve power tips Consolidated power tips allow a power adaptor to be connected to disparately sized input ports of electronic devices. The consolidated power tips may be sized to balance insertion and pull-out forces for the disparately sized input ports. Deformable members may be added to the consolidated power tips for more desirable insertion and pull-out forces and improved electrical contact. The consolidated power tips may be combined into a multi-sleeve power tip. Each sleeve comprises a device interface for a different set of input ports. Unused sleeves may be retracted into the housing of the power tip. Manual or automatic extension mechanisms may be provided for extending the device interfaces from the housing. The multi-sleeve power tip allows users to interface with a large number of disparate devices without changing power tips.
US08550802B2	Stacked-layers forming device There is provided a stacked-layers forming device including a powder layer-forming part for forming a powder layer, an optical device for forming a solidified layer by irradiating a predetermined portion of the powder layer with a light beam and a powder replenishing means for supplying the powder material to above a base on which the powder layer and the solidified layer are stacked or onto an upper surface of a base frame which surrounds the base. The powder replenishing means includes an approximately cylindrical member in which the powder material is charged and a screw member which is installed within the approximately cylindrical member wherein a rotation of the screw member conveys the powder material in the approximately cylindrical member. The stacked-layers forming device of the present invention enables it to not only curb its height since the powder material can be conveyed in a screw manner, but also achieve an improved cycle of the material since the powder material can be conveyed in one direction.
US08550797B2	Scroll compressor with improved back pressure force control function A scroll compressor that includes: a housing, a drive unit configured to generate a rotating force; and a scroll compression unit having a fixed scroll having a spiral scroll wrap for compressing a suctioned fluid and fixed irrespective of a rotation of a drive shaft of the drive unit and a swivel scroll swiveled according to rotation of the drive shaft and having a spiral scroll wrap, comprises: a main frame disposed within the housing to support a rear surface of the swivel scroll and having a back pressure chamber in an interior thereof; a thrust plate disposed between the swivel scroll and the main frame; and a sealing member inserted between the swivel scroll and the main frame. The sealing member includes a first sealing member inserted between the swivel scroll and the thrust plate, and a second sealing member inserted between the thrust plate and the main frame.
US08550786B2	Vertical axis wind turbine with self-starting capabilities A vertical axis wind turbine and vertical axis wind turbine assembly comprising a rotary body and a plurality of blades. A cross section through each blade of the plurality of blades transverse to the rotary axis comprises an inner camber line, an outer camber line, and a chord line. The outer camber line comprises a first portion, a transition portion and a second portion. The second portion is longer, in the lengthwise direction, than a combined length of the first portion and the transition portion. The average second portion thickness is less than half an average first portion thickness. A magnitude of an average rate of change in a transition portion thickness is at least twice a magnitude of an average rate of change in a first portion thickness, and a magnitude of an average rate of change in a second portion thickness.
US08550777B2	Wind turbine blade and blade element combination and method of changing the aerodynamic profile of a wind turbine blade A blade element (42; 44; 46; 48; 150; 250; 350) for mounting on a wind turbine blade (10) is provided. The blade (10) has a longitudinal direction (L) and a chord extending transversely to the longitudinal direction between a leading edge (18) and a trailing edge (20). The blade (10) has an airfoil profile with a thickness between a suction side and a pressure side along at least a part of the longitudinal direction (L) and with a position of maximum thickness between the leading edge (18) and the trailing edge (20). The blade element (10) has a shape so that, by mounting in a first longitudinal part of the wind turbine blade (10), it changes the profile of the first longitudinal part from a first airfoil profile (100; 200; 300) with an essentially pointed trailing edge (100; 200; 300) and a first chord length (c11; c21; c31) to a changed airfoil profile with a blunt trailing edge (153; 253; 353). The changed airfoil profile is a truncated profile of an imaginary airfoil profile (160; 260; 360) with an essentially pointed trailing edge and a second chord length (c12; c22; c32), which is larger than the first chord length (c11; c21; c31).
US08550769B2	Wind turbine with a yaw system and method for the yaw adjustment of a wind turbine A wind turbine comprising a tower and a nacelle which is rotatably mounted on the tower and whose alignment is adjustable by way of a yaw system, wherein the yaw system has at least one adjusting drive, a rotatable yaw bearing, at least one brake disk and at least two brake units which can exert a braking torque on the brake disk, wherein the at least one of the brake units has a first brake pad with a first coefficient of friction, and at least one of the brake units has a second brake pad with a second coefficient of friction, wherein the first and the second coefficient of friction are different from each other.
US08550762B2	Article transporting apparatus An article transporting apparatus includes a traveling carriage adapted to run along a travel rail, a pair of front and rear lift guide masts mounted on the traveling carriage to be spaced apart from each other and connected to each other at upper ends thereof by an upper frame, a lift adapted to vertically move along the pair of front and rear lift guide masts, and an article transfer device provided in the lift, wherein one of the pair of front and rear lift guide masts includes a plurality of posts mounted upright to be spaced apart from each other and a plurality of diagonal members for connecting the adjacent posts to each other, the one of the pair of front and rear lift guide masts having a horizontal section area greater than that of the other of the pair of front and rear lift guide masts.
US08550758B2	Device and method for restraining cargo A stackable device for engaging an elongated support for restraining cargo in a container having a pair of opposed walls and configured to transfer to shear stress at least some of the tensile force applied by the elongated support. The stackable device invertably stackable with an other stackable device.
US08550753B2	Face mill for fine milling A face mill and a replaceable milling insert are disclosed. The front side of the milling insert is tilted at a clearance angle (ε) in relation to the reference plane (RP). The cutting edge of the milling insert extends between two end points, which move in circular paths of different radii. The cutting edge forms a negative radial angle (δ) with an imaginary radial line (A) that extends from the center axis (C1) of the basic body and intersects the first end point of the cutting edge. The front side and chip surface of the milling insert mutually form a nominal angle (β) that amounts to at most 83° . The cutting edge is straight and in the entire length thereof situated in the reference plane (RP), the negative radial angle (δ) thereof amounting to at least 70°.
US08550746B2	Electrical power generating system An electrical power generating system is connected to a sewer for conveying waste water to a sanitary treatment station. Waste water is propelled through the sewer line by pumping equipment which simultaneously pulverizes most large objects carried by the waste water. The waste water drives one or more water-operated turbines. The turbines are operatively connected to electrical power generators for producing electrical power and dispersing the power through an electrical power transmission system.
US08550745B2	Apparatus and method for compacting and conditioning a tract of ground An apparatus for compacting and conditioning a tract of ground generally consisting of a machine; means mounted on the machine for maneuvering an implement mounted thereon along and in contact with the tract of ground; and an implement mounted on the maneuvering means of the machine movable along and in contact with the tract of ground including a frame attachable to the maneuvering means of the machine, a drum rotatably mounted on the frame and a plurality of segments comprised of loosely connected components disposed transversely and spaced circumferentially on the drum.
US08550744B1	Pre-fabricated sidewalk block having a heating wire The present invention relates to a pre-fabricated sidewalk block having a heating wire, which may effectively transmit heat through the upper portion of the sidewalk block without losing heat radiated from the heating wire to the ground; which may be easily assembled; and which may absorb the impact of walking. The pre-fabricated sidewalk having the heating wire includes: a lower block having a plurality of first groove parts in the top surface thereof; a buffer plate having a plurality of second groove parts protruding downward so that the plurality of groove parts are inserted and coupled into the first groove parts of the lower block, and which has a first heating wire insertion groove in the length direction in the top surface between the second groove parts which are adjacent to each other; an upper block having a plurality of protrusion parts protruding downward so that the bottom surface thereof is inserted and coupled to the second groove parts of the buffer plate, and which has a second heating wire insertion groove corresponding to the first heating wire insertion groove in the bottom surface between the protrusions which are adjacent to each other; and a heating wire inserted between the first heating wire insertion groove and the second heating wire insertion groove.
US08550728B2	Method connecting optical fiber of optical connector with optical transmission element, connector-attached optical transmission element, optical connector, and assembling method of optical connector A connection method connects an optical connector and an optical transmission element. The optical connector includes a connector housing, a stop-ring structure, and an optical fiber which protrudes from an end part of the stop-ring structure. The optical transmission element includes a tensile-strength fiber body. The connection method includes fuse-connecting a first end of the optical fiber with a second end of an optical fiber protruding from a transmission element terminal part of the optical transmission element; inserting a fuse-connected optical fiber part and the tensile strength fiber body inside a reinforcing sleeve provided with a hot melt body, and covering and bridging the transmission element terminal part and at least the end part of the stop-ring structure; and integrating the fuse-connected optical fiber part, the tensile strength fiber body, the transmission element terminal part, and the stop-ring structure, by a hot melt resin melted from the hot melt body.
US08550723B2	Optical fiber connector An optical fiber connector includes a first protecting body and a second protecting body detachably assembled to the first protecting body. The first protecting body includes a first base plate and a first housing extending out from the first base plate. The first base plate defines a first receiving hole to communicate with the first housing. The second protecting body includes a second base plate and a second housing extending out from the second base plate. The second base plate defines a second receiving hole to communicate with the second housing. The second housing and the first housing together define an accommodating space therebetween.
US08550721B2	Fiber optic splice housing and integral dry mate connector system A fiber optic splice housing and integral dry mate connector system. In a described embodiment, a fiber optic connection system includes optical fiber sections in respective conduit sections. Each of the conduit sections is received in the housing assembly. An optical connection between the optical fiber sections is positioned within the housing assembly.
US08550716B2	Tactile enhancement mechanism for a closure mechanism A pouch including opposing sidewalls sealed together in a closed distal portion to form an interior that is accessible by a proximal opening. A closure profile extends along an interior surface of the opposing sidewalls for selectively sealing the proximal opening, wherein the closure profile substantially extends a length of the proximal opening. A plurality of tactile strips are disposed on an interior surface of at least one of the opposing sidewalls between the closure profile and the proximal opening, the tactile strips being variably spaced. Preferably, each tactile strip has a well-formed triangular cross-sectional shape with a height from the respective sidewall approximately double a thickness of the respective sidewall.
US08550714B2	Sealable enclosure A pocket closure assembly can have a pocket and a first member coupled to the pocket, where the first member has a first surface. A second member may be rotatably coupled to the first member, where the second member has a second surface that mates with the first surface to form a seal for the pocket if the second member is rotated to a closed position.
US08550713B2	Bag for handheld electronic device A bag for enclosing a handheld electronic device (HED) comprises a flexible sheet material such as a flexible or stretchy fabric. The material is formed into a bag having a main body and a mouth. The mouth has a periphery smaller than the periphery of the main body. The mouth can elastically stretch to allow passage of the HED. First and second loops are attached to and project from the bag adjacent to the mouth to allow a user to support the bag with thumb and forefinger while inserting the HED. In one embodiment, an elastic structure comprises the periphery of the mouth. The unstretched length of such an elastic structure may be adjusted to compensate for the size of the HED.
US08550709B2	Imaging area specifying apparatus, radiographic system, imaging area specifying method, radiographic apparatus, and imaging table An imaging area specifying apparatus that includes a storage component and a specifying component is provided. The storage component stores as correlation information a correlation value correlated with the amount of radiation emitted to each of a plurality of predetermined areas divided from a detection region of a radiation detector that outputs an electric signal indicating a radiological image represented by radiation which is emitted to the detection region for detecting the radiation. The specifying component specifies an imaging area capable of capturing the radiological image of a predetermined size while preventing variations in the amount of radiation emitted to each of the divided areas in the detection region, on the basis of the correlation information stored in the storage component.
US08550708B2	Thermal resistor test apparatus A test apparatus for a thermal resistor includes a control device, a temperature processing circuit, a voltage regulating circuit and a temperature detecting circuit. The control device stores a plurality of predetermined voltage values and outputs control signals according to those predetermined values. The temperature processing circuit receives the control signals and outputs a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal according to the control signal. The voltage regulating circuit receives the PWM signal and outputs a first direct current (DC) voltage to heat the thermal resistor. The temperature detecting circuit detects temperature signals and current signals from the thermal resistor. The control device receives the temperature signals and current signals of the thermal resistor and generates a resistance-temperature graph of the thermal resistor.
US08550699B2	Composite balance and method of manufacturing the same The invention relates to a composite balance (45, 45′) formed in a layer of silicon-based material (21) and including a hub (39, 39′) connected to a felloe (37, 37′) by at least one arm (40, 41, 42, 43). According to the invention, the felloe (37, 37′) includes at least one additional part approximately in the shape of a notched ring (23, 23′) of higher the than the silicon-based material, which increases the inertia of the balance. The invention also relates to a method 1 of manufacturing this type of balance. The invention concerns the field of timepiece movements.
US08550697B2	Reagent cartridge mixing tube A clinical instrument analyzer system for automated analysis of patient samples with a system for suspending particles or methods for the separation of particles, such as magnetic particles, is described herein. The system for suspending particles comprises a reagent cartridge comprising a reagent holder for holding a plurality of tubes. The plurality of tubes comprise a mixing tube for holding particles, rotatably mounted in the holder and a motor operatively connectable to a slot longitudinally positioned on the lower section of the mixing tube. The particles in the mixing tube are suspended when the mixing tube rotates in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. The analyzer can be used to analyze bodily fluid samples, such as blood, plasma, serum, urine or cerebrospinal fluid.
US08550691B2	Warm mix asphalt production system and method A warm mix asphalt plant comprising a counter-flow drum, apparatus for precisely metering flows of A/C and water, an asphalt expander with no moving internal parts where a circular curtain of flowing clean water is mixed with a coaxial circular curtain of moving heated A/C to create asphalt foam which is heated and mixed inside a lower portion of the asphalt expander and then distributed to cover aggregate inside the counter-flow drum.
US08550677B2	Light emitting module and vehicle lamp A light emitting module includes a plurality of light emitting units that emits light by using semiconductor light emitting elements, and a substrate that supports the plurality of arranged light emitting units. The light emitting units include light guide portions that guide light emitted by the semiconductor light emitting elements so that light emitted by the semiconductor light emitting elements is not directed at irradiation regions of adjacent light emitting units.
US08550676B2	Vehicle light A vehicle light can include a light emitting diode (LED) serving as a light source and an optical system for controlling a light distribution pattern of the light beams from the LED light source utilizing a light guide (such as a lens body having an inner reflecting surface). The vehicle light can project illumination light with a low beam light distribution pattern. The vehicle light can include an LED light source and a lens body serving as a light guide. The lens body can include a light incident surface, a reflecting surface, and a light exiting surface. The LED light source can have a rearmost end light emitting point from which light beams are emitted to form a bright-dark boundary line. Among the light beams, perpendicularly incident light beams not subjected to refraction can be projected toward the bright-dark boundary line while obliquely incident light beams that are subjected to refraction can be corrected to be directed in a lower angular direction than the bright-dark boundary line and to be mixed with the other light beams, thereby preventing color shading of illumination light from the vehicle light.
US08550672B2	Electronic ballast assembly An electronic ballast mounting arrangement for HID luminaires on a vertical pole for sports lighting is disclosed. The mounting arrangement comprises an elongate channel to which a weather tight enclosure is fixedly secured. Electronic ballast units are provided in pairs immediately above and/or below the enclosure. Male/female connectors are arranged between end plates of the electronic ballast units and exterior panels of the enclosure so that electrical connections between the ballast units and components on the interior of the enclosure can be made without exposed cables simply by sliding partially pre-mounted ballast units a limited distance toward the adjacent enclosure panel to mate the complemental parts of the connectors, after which the fasteners holding the ballast units to the support are tightened down. A cable using wires with a high-strand count extends through a nipple screwed into a hollow pole from the interior of the weather proof enclosure into the center of the pole and runs upwardly through the pole to the luminaires mounted on one or more cross arms on the top of the pole. A Kelem grip hanger is used to support the cable and relieve tension on the electrical connections between the cable and the luminaires.
US08550660B2	Kinetic flame device An apparatus creating a flickering flame effect. The apparatus includes a housing with an interior space with first and second stages. A drive mechanism generates a time varying electromagnetic field extending into the first stage. A first pendulum member is pivotally mounted in the interior space of the first stage and includes first and second magnets on first and second ends, with the first end proximate to the drive mechanism such that the first magnet interacts with the varying electromagnetic field to cause movement of the pendulum member. The apparatus includes a second pendulum member pivotally mounted in the second stage with a magnet on a first end proximate to the second end of the first pendulum member. A flame silhouette element extends from the second pendulum member, and a light source transmits light onto the flame silhouette, which is moving due to the magnetic coupling of the pendulum members.
US08550656B2	Selectively-extendable modular lighting fixture A modular lighting fixture may include a housing having opposite ends, an endplate for fastening to one end of the housing, the endplate having a lens receiving face on a first side and an additional-structure-connecting face on a second side. The second side has an outer perimeter portion and a first peripheral surface, the first peripheral surface being inward of the outer perimeter portion. An additional structure is provided having a second peripheral surface with substantially similar contour as the first peripheral surface on the second side of the endplate. The additional structure is connected to the endplate with the second peripheral surface being proximate to the first peripheral surface of the second side of the endplate. A modular lighting fixture may include first and second elongate housings each having ends, pairs of endplates for being respectively mated with the first and second ends of the first and second elongate housings, the endplates each having a rim, and a bridge adapted for joining one of the endplates of the first elongate housing with one of the endplates of the second elongate housing by sealing cooperation with the respective rims thereof. A lighting fixture may have one or more isolated raceways therein.
US08550653B2	LED flare A LED flare and system for use at night, in low light conditions or during the day where a lighted object provides greater visibility. The flare comprises a multi-sided housing with a panel on each side and having a top and a base. It has a plurality of LEDs aligned in windows positioned in at least one of the panels. A switch located on the housing operates the flare. The flare also includes a re-chargeable battery encased in the housing for powering the flare and a circuit for delivering power and operational control from the battery to the LEDs upon activation by the switch. A set of contacts positioned on the outside of the housing deliver a charge to the battery. The flare includes an attachment device for holding an external charger in place against the contacts during charging operation. An individual flare may be part of a system that also includes other flares and a carrying case with an integrated charger and charger accessories.
US08550652B2	Light-emitting decoration The invention discloses a light-emitting decoration which includes a main portion and an engagement portion. The engagement element is disposed on one side of the main portion. The engagement portion comprises an extending portion to form a first accommodating space. The engagement portion comprises a gap to connect through the first accommodating space. Accordingly, while the light-emitting decoration is engaged with the subject object, the gap expends elastically for letting the subject object enter the first accommodating space through the gap.
US08550651B2	Lighted hat There is provided hands-free lighting, components thereof, and other accessories combined with the hands-free lighting. The hands-free lighting is preferably lighted headgear including hats or visors or other headgear. The hands-free lighting may include multiple light sources positioned at the brim of a lighted hat and configured to provide beams of illumination along different axes thereby illuminating distances both near and far from the wearer at the same time while maintaining natural and streamlined appearance of the lighted hat.
US08550647B2	Solid state lighting device with different illumination parameters at different regions of an emitter array Solid state lighting (SSL) devices and methods of manufacturing such devices. One embodiment of an SSL device comprises a support and an emitter array having a plurality of SSL emitters carried by the support. The emitter array has a central region and a peripheral region outward from the central region. Individual SSL emitters in both the central and the peripheral regions have a primary emission direction along which an intensity of light from the SSL emitters is highest, and the primary emission direction of the SSL emitters in the central region is at least substantially the same direction as the primary emission direction of the SSL emitters in the peripheral region. Additionally, a first coverage area ratio of the SSL emitters in the central region is different than a second coverage area ratio of the SSL emitters in the peripheral region.
US08550646B2	Backlight unit A backlight unit capable of preventing a degradation in luminance, while achieving a reduction in heat generation and a reduction in manufacturing costs by adjusting the arrangement of the light sources while reducing the number of the light sources is disclosed. The disclosed backlight unit includes a bottom cover formed with a plurality of light source groups each including a plurality of light sources arranged in one direction. The spacing of the adjacent light source groups increases gradually from a central portion of the bottom cover to opposite edges of the bottom cover.
US08550645B2	Illumination device for display device, and display device An illumination device for a display device, which is formed from a substrate and a plurality of white light-emitting devices disposed on top of the substrate, and can be used as a backlight for a liquid crystal display panel, wherein the white light-emitting devices have a light source and a phosphor that is excited by the light source and emits light, and a fluorescent material with a composition represented by a general formula: M(0)aM(1)bM(2)x−(vm+n)M(3)(vm+n)−yOnNz−n is used as the phosphor.
US08550638B2	Multi-angle image display device A multi-angle image display device has a display box, two shading panels, two baffle-panels, an imaging space and an image output unit. The display box has a base, a rear panel, a sidewall, a top panel and a chamber. The sidewall is formed perpendicular to the rear panel. The chamber is formed in the display box between the base, the rear panel, the sidewall and the top panel. The shading panels are mounted respectively on the rear panel and the sidewall. The baffle-panels are mounted in the chamber and are connected perpendicular to each other, and each of the baffle-panels has an inner surface and a slant angle. The imaging space is formed in the chamber between the base, the top panel, the baffle-panels and the shading panels. The image output unit is mounted in the top panel and projects an image onto the baffle-panels.
US08550636B2	High-pressure discharge lamp device and projector using the same To aim to provide a simple high-pressure discharge lamp apparatus. The lamp apparatus suppresses local temperature increase in an arc tube during lighting, and uniforms temperature in the arc tube. A lamp is built into a reflector so as to form a lamp unit such that a central axis of the lamp coincides with an optical axis of the reflector. A pair of rotating bodies with a fixed interval therebetween each has a circular outer circumferential surface, and the optical axis of the reflector coincides with a central axis of the circumferential surface of the rotating bodies. A pair of electrodes is electrically connected to the circumferential surface of each rotating body, and the rotating bodies are placed on two rotating rollers arranged in parallel. A drive motor drives the lamp unit in a fixed direction on the rotating rollers. Feeding members feed the rotating bodies with power.
US08550634B2	Light source module, projection apparatus, and method of controlling the same A light source module, a projection apparatus, and a method of controlling the projection apparatus are provided. The projection apparatus has the light source module. The light source module has a first light source, a wavelength transforming unit, and a driver. The first light source generates a first light beam having a first wavelength according to a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The wavelength transforming unit transforms the first light beam into a second light beam having a second wavelength. The driver drives the wavelength transforming unit, such that the first light beam irradiates a start position on the wavelength transforming unit when a rising edge of the first PWM signal is detected. The start position is determined by a controller.
US08550631B2	Glare assembly for computerized eye test display A monitor is used to display a visual acuity test operated by software from an associated computer. A patient is spaced a predetermined distance from the monitor during the testing procedure, and individual, multiple LED housings are equally spaced about a center point of the monitor to direct light toward the patient during at least a portion of the test procedure. The light emanating from the individual housings is a diffuse, unfocused light to simulate glare, and the intensity of the light may be selectively altered. Conducting acuity testing under glare conditions determines if there is any reduction or fall off in the patient's acuity vision under such circumstances and provides an indication of whether the patient may require cataract surgery or has another ocular problem.
US08550627B2	Portable fundus observation apparatus A portable fundus observation apparatus includes a body, at least one optical detecting module, and a data processing unit. The body includes a fixing part for fixing the body onto the ocular region of a subject. The optical detecting module includes a light source, an optical lens module, and an image capturing unit. The optical detecting module is separably fixed onto the body. The data processing unit electrically couples with the optical detecting module and processes the fundus image captured by the image capturing unit.
US08550625B2	Systems and methods for fine-tuning refractive surgery Systems and methods for fine-tuning refractive shapes for vision treatment are provided. Techniques encompass determining a variable index of refraction for a cornea of the eye, and determining the refractive treatment shape for the eye based on the variable index of refraction. Techniques also encompass determining a variable radius of curvature of an anterior surface of a cornea of the eye, and determining the refractive treatment shape for the eye based on the variable radius of curvature.
US08550609B2	System and method for measuring a supply of solid ink in a solid ink printer A solid ink printer includes a solid ink measurement system that helps ensure an adequate supply of solid ink is in the feed channels delivering solid ink to a melting device within a printer. The solid ink measurement system includes a driving electrode mounted along a substantial length of a first structure of a first solid ink feed channel, a sensing electrode mounted along a substantial length of a second structure of the first solid ink feed channel, the sensing electrode being opposite and generally parallel to the driving electrode, an AC voltage source coupled to the driving electrode to generate an electrical field emitted from the driving electrode, and a capacitance measurement circuit coupled to the sensing electrode to receive an electrical signal induced in the sensing electrode by the electrical field generated by the driving electrode, the capacitance measurement circuit being configured to identify an amount of solid ink in the first feed channel that corresponds to the electrical signal received from the sensing electrode.
US08550607B2	Ink jet recording system and ink container comprising a light emitting portion An ink container for retaining ink includes an ink containing body, an elastically displaceable supporting member, a light emitting portion, a light receiving portion for receiving light from the light emitting portion, a display portion for displaying the received light, and a light guide portion for optically connecting the light receiving portion and the display portion so as to guide the light received by the receiving portion to the display portion. The supporting member at least partly functions as the light guide portion. The light receiving portion is located, with a gap with respect to the light emitting portion, so as to cover the light emitting portion. The light receiving portion approaches the light emitting portion when the supporting member approaches the ink containing body by being subjected to urging toward the ink containing body.
US08550598B2	Liquid ejecting head module and liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejection head module comprising: first and second head units disposed in a first direction, each of the first and second head units having first and second rows of liquid ejecting heads that comprises a plurality of nozzles disposed in the first direction, the first and second rows of liquid ejecting heads being disposed in a second direction crossing the first direction; a first concavity and convexity on edge of the first head unit; a second convexity and concavity on edge of the second head unit, the edge of the second head unit facing to the edge of the first head unit, at least one of the liquid ejecting heads being disposed at each of the first and second convexities, wherein the first concavity and convexity and the second convexity and concavity are disposed in mating relation to one another.
US08550596B2	Nozzle plate for inkjet head, method for manufacturing the same, and treatment liquid for inkjet head A nozzle plate for an inkjet head including a substrate and ink ejecting holes formed in the substrate. An ink-repellent layer is formed on an ink ejecting side surface of the nozzle plate, and portions of the ink-repellant layer around the ink ejecting holes are selectively removed so that portions of the nozzle plate around the ink ejecting holes are exposed. Also, a method of producing a nozzle plate for an inkjet head is provided that includes preparing a nozzle plate which includes a substrate and ink ejecting holes formed in the substrate and has an ink-repellent layer formed on an ink ejecting side surface of the nozzle plate, and selectively removing portions of the ink-repellant layer around the ink ejecting holes to expose portions of the nozzle plate around the ink ejecting holes.
US08550589B2	Image recording method and image recording device An image recording device comprising a line head including a plurality of recording element arrays arranged in one direction such that the recording elements have overlapping regions at the mutually adjoining end portions, characterized by comprising a halftone processor for subjecting multilevel image data to a halftone process in accordance with a first half tone processing rule to form the pattern of the dots to be recorded, as a recording pattern, an allocation processor for allocating which of the recording element arrays adjoining in the overlapping regions is used to record according to the recording pattern, by using a second half tone processing rule to suppress the low-frequency component of a space frequency, and a driver for driving the recording elements so that the dot data allocated to the individual recording element arrays may be recorded by the recording elements of the individual recording element arrays contained in the line head.
US08550586B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first carriage movement mode, in which a stop position of a carriage in movement of this time is determined to be at a given position in a width direction on the basis of a size in the width direction of a liquid-ejected medium, and a second carriage movement mode, in which the stop position of the carriage in the movement of this time is determined on the basis of at least one of the liquid ejection data in the movement of this time or the liquid ejection data in the movement of the next time, and liquid ejection is carried out with one of the first carriage movement mode and the second carriage movement mode selected in accordance with the type of liquid-ejected medium.
US08550579B2	Image forming device, pump control method, and recording medium An image forming device includes a pump which supplies a recording fluid contained in a first container to a second container via a tube, and a control unit configured to perform rotation of a roller disposed in the pump to press the tube and feed the recording fluid in the tube. When a negative pressure in the second container is not formed by performing a first backward rotation of the roller by a predetermined amount, the control unit performs a forward rotation of the roller and performs a second backward rotation of the roller after an end of the forward rotation.
US08550574B2	Modular exhibit structure Components for assembling a modular exhibit structure are provided. These components include: frames, connectors (for connecting together frames), panels (for mounting within frames), cover plates (for mounting over sides of frames), and dust covers (for mounting over top of connected frames). These components are configured to allow a single person to assemble an exhibit structure without any specialized tools or mechanical skills.
US08550556B2	Reconfigurable infant support structure A reconfigurable infant support structure includes a frame, a hanger arm movably coupled to the frame, and a seat movably coupled to the hanger arm. The hanger arm is placeable in a moving position and in a fixed position. The seat is positionable in a lowered position and in a raised position relative to the frame along the hanger arm. The seat is releasably securable in its raised position. The frame restricts the seat from being releasably secured in its raised position unless the hanger arm is in its fixed position. Conversely, the hanger arm can not be released from its fixed position unless the seat is in it lowered position.
US08550542B1	Half-round trailer and trailer body with extruded panel side walls A trailer includes a chassis and a trailer body connected to the chassis. The trailer body includes left and right vertical side walls and a curved floor. The left and right side walls each include a plurality of extruded panels each including an inner wall and an outer wall spaced from the inner wall.
US08550536B2	Tailgate from fibre-reinforced thermoplastic plastic The tailgate (1) or rear door for a motor vehicle with a rear window includes a single-piece main carrying structure (10) with a peripheral, flexurally resistant frame (11), with an upper transverse beam (12), two lateral longitudinal beams (13, 14) and at least one lower transverse beam (15). The main carrying structure consists of a fibre-reinforced moulding compound (20) with at least two impregnated, integrated continuous-fibre bands (21) and this moulding compound is non-positively connected to the rear window (2) and together with this forms a flexurally resistant structure. Thereby, the continuous-fibre bands (21) in sections are integrated into the frame (11) in an arrangement vertical (v) to the surface (H) of the tailgate, by way of the continuous-fibre bands (21) being arranged vertically to the surface (H) and/or at a vertical distance (d) to the surface (H).
US08550532B2	Hold-down locking mechanism for a flexible cover system A locking mechanism is provided for a tarping system having a flexible cover carried by a deployment mechanism having a horizontal arm spanning the width of a container, the deployment mechanism movable to an extended position in which the horizontal arm is adjacent one end of the container. The locking mechanism includes at least one locking element associated with one end of the container and at least one latching element having a latching portion configured to engage the at least one locking element. The latching element is pivotably supported on the horizontal arm so that latching element can pivot to and from a locked position in which the latching portion engages the at least one locking element. A tension element is connected between the latching element and the cover to control the pivoting of the latching element under the force of gravity based on the position of the flexible cover.
US08550517B1	Telescopic barrel lifting attachment device A telescopic barrel lifting attachment device which includes a parallelepiped body, a plate member disposed perpendicularly thereto on each end of the body, a pair of slide bars disposed on each side of the body having a channel therebetween through which the body slides, a concave clamp assembly disposed on a bottom end of each plate member, and a cable having external ends attached to the plate members. As the cable is raised and alternately is lowered by a hoist, the cable pulls the clamp assemblies inwardly toward and alternately allows the clamp assemblies to move away from each other to secure and move and alternately release a barrel in a desired location.
US08550512B2	Pooper scooper The pooper scooper includes an elongated foldable pole having a grip at one end and a pivotable waste collecting assembly at the other end, the elongate pole being divided into upper and lower sections; the upper section including the grip at one end and a releasable locking mechanism at the other end; a joint or hinge mechanism interconnecting the two sections; the lower section including a selectively actuated waste collecting control; and the pivotable waste collecting assembly adapted to hold a bag open to catch pet wastes or other materials and automatically close the bag when ready for to disposal through actuation of the waste collecting control. The pooper scooper is also part of a pet waste disposal system including a bag dispenser and a bag adapted to be mounted to the waste trapping assembly.
US08550497B2	Steering device Provided is a steering device in which play of a bolt shaft and the like during telescopic adjustment can be prevented using a telescopic adjustment function enabling a driver to adjust a position of a steering wheel in a front-rear direction. The steering device includes a column pipe, an outer housing, a fixed bracket, a stopper bracket, a tightening member having a bolt shaft, a slide guide, an elastic stopper rubber material mounted on the slide guide, and an elastic pushing member in which torsional coil spring portions are formed at both axial ends of a pushing shaft portion. The bolt shaft is passed through a tightening hole of the outer housing and a support hole of the fixed bracket along shaft support portions of the slide guide, and the elastic pushing member is locked and fixed to the fixed bracket.
US08550494B2	Side curtain airbag A side curtain airbag includes an airbag body and a plurality of airbag fixation portions. The airbag body is divided into a plurality of cells that are inflated by gas flowing into them. The plurality of airbag fixation portions are provided along the upper periphery of the airbag body and attached to a plurality of vehicle body side fixation portions. In a state before attachment, of the plurality of airbag fixation portions, an upper front airbag fixation portion is located above the vehicle body side fixation portion corresponding to the airbag fixation portion, and at substantially the same level as the other airbag fixation portions. Of the plurality of cells, an upper front cell is formed so as to bulge close to the upper front airbag fixation portion.
US08550487B2	Trailer hitch ball cover Certain embodiments of the present invention include a trailer hitch ball cover comprising an outer shell, an inner socket positioned within the outer shell, and a channel positioned adjacent a lower end of the inner socket, which substantially conforms to a trailer hitch ball and a trailer hitch ball neck. The outer shell may also comprise a first and second component that, when adjacent, form the inner socket and channel. The second component may be pivotally and/or releasably coupled to the first component. The outer shell may also be shaped to resemble human headgear, including a football helmet with facemask, chin strap, and face. Light sources may be positioned on an upper surface and a lower surface of the football helmet and a lower surface of the facemask for illumination.
US08550482B2	Bicycles that can be connected to each other The invention allows two single-seat bicycles to be connected to each other to be converted into a multi-seat bicycle. A fixed tube (60), in the center of which a fixed shaft is inserted, is attached to a head tube (6) of a frame (2). A top tube (24) supported by the fixed shaft is relatively pivotally installed on the head tube (6). The fixed tube (60) and the top tube (24) can be connected and disconnected from each other by clutch means (30). In the clutch means (30) are formed a pivot path for defining the un-clutched state and a closed path for defining the clutched state. The clutch means (30) is held at connected and disconnected positions by a position fixation member. Pivoting of the top tube (24) relative to the fixed tube (60) and the operation angle of a handle are limited by a synchronizer.
US08550479B2	Infant carrier apparatus provided with a child holding accessory and method of installing the same An infant carrier apparatus comprises a support frame, a seat assembly and handle assembly respectively connected with the support frame, a backrest frame, and a child holding accessory. The child holding accessory can be detachably installed on the infant carrier apparatus, supported by the backrest frame and the handle assembly. In one embodiment, the child holding accessory includes a support bracket and an enclosure. For installing the child holding accessory, the backrest frame is adjusted to a position inclined forward. The child holding accessory can be then installed between the backrest frame and the handle assembly, wherein the child holding accessory has two opposite end portions respectively connected with the backrest frame and the handle assembly.
US08550477B2	Spa cart system and method A spa cart system includes a wheeled cart with multiple shelves for carrying spa products and fully-functional equipment for providing spa services in a client's room or designated hotel site, such as a full body massage, manicure, pedicure, and many more. Selectable transportable modules include products and equipment to support a variety of diverse spa activities, such as carrying necessary equipment, including electrically-powered equipment and a massage table and positioning same for use, supporting portability such as a cart width that fits through typical narrow hotel and resort doors, allowing adjustable movement of the equipment to use locations, providing a well-organized physical station supporting the various services (e.g., a manicure treatment station), and providing modules selectable by the technician to satisfy various spa activities pre-selected by a client.
US08550471B2	Tool bit holder A tool bit holder includes a sleeve, a hub, and a locking mechanism. The sleeve is moveably mounted on an outer periphery of the hub and includes a first notch, a second notch, and an abutting section. The abutting section is disposed between the first and second notches. The locking mechanism is disposed in a cavity defined in the outer periphery of the hub and is retained therein by the sleeve. Also, the locking mechanism includes a control member, a resilient member, and a detent. The control member is moveably disposed in the cavity and is biased by the resilient member. The detent is carried by the control member.
US08550457B2	Paper feeding module and multi-function printer using the same A paper feeding module and multi-function printer using the same are provided. The multi-function printer includes a body, a paper transferring passage and a paper feeding module. The paper transferring passage includes an entrance. The paper feeding module includes a photoreceptor axle, a transferring axle and a skew correction axle. The photoreceptor axle is disposed on the paper transferring passage. The transferring axle is disposed next to the photoreceptor axle and contacts the photoreceptor axle. The skew correction axle is disposed between the entrance of the paper transferring passage and the photoreceptor axle. The skew correction axle contacts the transferring axle. The axes of the photoreceptor axle, the transferring axle and the skew correction axle are parallel to one another.
US08550453B2	Currency cassette pressure plate assembly An assembly includes a currency cassette, a pressure plate, and a plurality of gears rotatably connected to at least two opposite edges of the pressure plate. In an implementation, a plurality of substantially parallel racks are configured to engage a plurality of the gears.
US08550438B2	Portable winch assembly This invention relates to a portable winch assembly (10; 210) comprising a footplate (12; 212), a support frame (14; 214) which is locatable upon the footplate, a magazine (16; 216) which is locatable upon the support frame, and a drive mechanism (22; 222) which is connectable to the magazine to drive the magazine to rotate. The foot plate, support frame, magazine and drive mechanism comprise separable components which may be transported separately to a site of use and assembled into the winch at the site of use. The invention can provide a portable winch assembly capable of generating a tensile force of up to 10 tonnes, and is therefore suitable for pipe pulling and pipe bursting applications for example, and yet is made up of parts which can readily be carried to the site of use, which site of use may be inaccessible for vehicles.
US08550430B2	Valve for the substantially gas-tight interruption of a flow path A valve for the gastight interruption of a flow path is disclosed. A valve housing includes a first opening and a valve seat. A valve disk includes an inner disk portion, which is linearly movable relative to an outer disk portion so that, in a closed setting, a pressure differential acts substantially upon the movable inner disk portion, which is supported on the valve housing. The valve seat has a radially inward pointing first inner face and the outer disk portion has a radially outward pointing first outer face, wherein in the closed setting there exists a radial sealing contact with the first inner face. The outer disk portion has a radially inward pointing second inner face and the inner disk portion has a radially outward pointing second outer face, having a radially sealing contact with the second inner face.
US08550424B2	Cartridge including an anti-ram device A cartridge including an anti-ram device comprises a multiple braking mechanism, including at least two pistons housed in the cover/driver element of a top movable plate, on the sides of a milled ball seat of the faucet control rod.
US08550421B2	Foldable supporting stand for a portable electronic device A foldable supporting stand for a portable electronic device includes: a base body having front and rear sides; two front legs adapted to hold the electronic device and coupled to the base body in proximity to the front side, the front legs being foldable to move toward each other, or unfoldable to move away from each other in opposite sideward directions; and a rear leg including a rear leg body that is coupled to the base body in proximity to the rear side and that can be folded to move toward the front legs, or unfolded to move rearward and away from the front legs, and a rear leg extension foldably connected to the rear leg body. The rear leg body defines a receiving space for the rear leg extension to be received therein.
US08550420B2	Positively engaged locking system for a vehicle seat A vehicle seat track assembly includes a first track having first and second spaced apart walls. Each of the first and second walls include a plurality of openings formed therein. A second track is slidably mounted relative to the first track. The vehicle seat track assembly further has a locking mechanism including a first pin carried by the second track and slidably movable between an engaged position such that the first pin extends through one of the plurality of openings formed in the first wall of the first track and a disengaged position such that the first pin is retracted from the plurality of openings formed in the first wall of the first track. A second pin is carried by the second track and is slidably movable between an engaged position such that the second pin extends through one of the plurality of openings formed in the second wall of the first track and a disengaged position such that the second pin is retracted from the plurality of openings formed in the second wall of the first track. The first and second pins are movable in directions different from one another when moving into their respective engaged positions.
US08550413B2	Self-centering vial clamp A self-centering vial clamp (100) is provided. The self-centering vial clamp (100) includes a clamp body (101) including a vial aperture (110) and two or more jaw slots (111) spaced around the vial aperture (110), two or more clamp jaws (211) spaced around the vial aperture (110), with a clamp jaw (211) including a vial contact face (213) and one or more jaw projections (231) configured to engage a jaw slot (111) of the clamp body (101), and two or more lever arms (220) coupled to the two or more clamp jaws (211). A lever arm (220) is configured to be manually pivoted, wherein the lever arm translates the pivoting motion into a sliding motion of the corresponding clamp jaw (211). Interacting lever gears (224) formed on the lever arms (220) constrain the two or more clamp jaws (211) to move substantially in unison.
US08550402B2	Dual-channel deicing system for a rotary wing aircraft A deicing system includes dual deice system components to provide a redundant deice system. Each redundant portion of the system generally includes a controller, an air data computer, an ice rate controller, and an ice rate probe. The controller communicating a heating cycle which defines a multiple of electric pulse trains to sequentially provides power to a multiple of heating elements in a designated blade set. Each electric pulse train is defined by an element on-time, a null time between the element on-time for this element and the next element, and an off-time between repetition of the heating cycle for the first heater element. The element on-time is a function of outside air temperature (OAT). The off-time is a function of liquid water content. The tail rotor heating cycle is a more straightforward version of the main rotor heating cycle as each of the tail rotor blade are activated simultaneously and there is only a single heating element on each tail rotor blade.
US08550396B2	Toilet paper dispenser for covering wall-mounted pre-existing toilet paper roller and automating hands-free toilet paper extraction therefrom A toilet paper dispenser has a housing to cover a wall-mounted pre-existing toilet paper roller. The housing defines a rear periphery defining a wall opening configured for accepting the toilet paper roller therethrough. A pair of operating rollers are rotatably mounted in the housing and are closely spaced from each other to closely receive toilet paper from toilet paper roller therebetween. A motor is mounted in the housing and is coupled to the operating rollers to rotate at least one of the rollers. A presence sensor and a processor are included with the housing, where the processor is capable of receiving signals from the presence sensor. Responsive to a signal from the presence sensor indicating the presence of a hand, the processor energizes the motor to turn the operating rollers. The housing has a bottom opening through which toilet paper is dispensed when the operating rollers are turned.
US08550393B2	Recording tape cartridge A recording tape cartridge has: a reel around which a recording tape is wound; a UHF band RFID tag structured to include a tag antenna formed such that radiating portions are disposed at both sides of a power feed portion; and a case in which the reel is housed. Radiating portion spaces, in which are housed regions of the UHF band RFID tag at which the radiating portions are set, and a power feed portion space, in which is housed at least a portion of a region at which the power feed portion is set, are formed within the case at an outer side of a reel space. Regions at which the radiating portions are formed do not contact a reel area rib and a rear upper wall that surround the radiating portion spaces.
US08550390B2	Food based homogenizer A food homogenizer is provided, including a base with a driving motor and a homogenizer assembly removably coupled to the base. The homogenizer assembly includes a homogenizing chamber, an inlet chute, and an exit spout. A shredder is disposed within the homogenizing chamber and is driven by the driving motor to homogenize food ingredients into a soft texture with a similar consistency as ice cream or sherbet.
US08550389B2	Imp mill having a uniform wear hammer arrangement A hammermill, such as an imp mill 10, for pulverizing material includes a housing 16 defining a grinding chamber 14 having a grinding apparatus 12 disposed therein. The material is fed into the grinding chamber to the grinding apparatus through an inlet conduit 24, and the resulting ground material is directed from the grinding chamber through an outlet conduit 28. The grinding apparatus includes a plurality of hammer disks 32 axially spaced along a rotor 34, wherein disks 32 are disposed within the grinding chamber 14. A plurality of rows 41-46 of hammers 30 is attached to the hammer disks 32. The hammers 30 of each respective row of hammers are circumferentially spaced around the hammer disks 32, wherein each row of hammers is formed to provide generally uniform wear across each row of hammers. The uniform wear may be achieved by forming the hammers 30 of different hardness or wear resistant qualities, and/or configuring the rows of hammers with different shapes.
US08550388B2	Drive circuit with integrated power factor correction for blender/shaver machine Embodiments of the invention provide a machine that blends liquids and/or shaves ice. The machine includes a motor and a control system with an integrated power factor correction circuit and a drive circuit. The integrated power factor correction circuit receives input power from a mains power line, reduces noise transmitted to the mains power line, and provides a boosted, regulated output voltage. The drive circuit is connected to the motor and uses the regulated output voltage in order to control an effective voltage applied to the motor substantially independent of the voltage and frequency of the input power.
US08550384B2	Dust control system and method for a straw blower The dust control system is adapted for use with a straw blowing machine. The straw blowing machine typically starts with a bale of straw and utilizes a shredder to loosen the straw from the bale. A blower fan then blows the straw to a throat of a chute and the chute then directs the straw where desired. The dust suppression system includes at least one water inlet applying water to the straw before the straw exits an outlet tip of the chute. Water tanks are preferably provided which feed the water inlets in a controllable fashion to meter an appropriate amount of water to cause dust included with the straw to adhere to the straw and avoid degrading air quality when the straw is ejected out of the chute.
US08550383B2	Automatic switching directional nozzles in irrigation systems Directional spray heads on each side of each tower over the wheels spray water behind the trailing wheel and not in front of the wheels. A control box activates the direction of travel of the wheels at the towers through a tower box at each tower. Solenoids wired to the tower box for switching power alternately to each wheel, switch the water flow via the solenoids to directional spray sprinklers spraying behind the trailing wheel.
US08550380B2	Switchable spray head The spray head has a housing-mounted inflow passage for feed water, and a central first outflow passage. A second and a third outflow passage are offset in the circumferential direction with respect to an axis of rotation. Each of the outflow passages is connected to a corresponding water outlet for producing different spray jets. A control element having a connecting channel is disposed in the interior of the spray head and is rotatable about the axis of rotation by the actuating element. The actuating element can execute a lifting movement. In the starting position of the actuating element, the connecting channel exclusively connects the inflow passage to the first outflow passage. In the lifting position of the actuating element, the inflow passage is connected either to the second or the third outflow passage as a function of the actuating element and the associated rotational position of the control element.
US08550376B2	Paint sprayer A sprayer for spraying a fluid can include a sprayer body, a fluid reservoir, a trigger assembly, a flow adjustment mechanism and an air horn assembly. The sprayer body can include a nozzle assembly that defines a fluid outlet and includes a needle arranged within a fluid conduit. The fluid reservoir can be coupled to the sprayer body and be in communication with the fluid outlet and fluid conduit. The trigger assembly can be coupled to the nozzle assembly and be configured to move the needle as the trigger assembly is depressed. The flow adjustment mechanism can be configured to adjust a flow rate of the sprayer. The air horn can include at least one air horn projection that limits rotation of the air horn between a first position corresponding to a vertical spray pattern and a second position corresponding to a horizontal spray pattern.
US08550373B2	Fragrance release system having an optimized wick The apparatus comprises a fragrance release system comprising a wick, at least one diffuser, the surface area of the diffuser in contact with ambient air being larger than the surface area of the wick in contact with ambient air, and a container to hold the wick, a fragrance preparation that is stored in the container, the fragrance preparation being transported through the wick to the diffuser by capillary action against the direction of gravity when the wick is housed in the container, wherein the substantially cylindrical wick is formed from at least two mutually different plant-based fibrous materials, the first material forming a core and the second material surrounding this core, and the difference between the contact angle of the core material and that of the material surrounding the core relative to water being at least 10°, the core material having the small contact angle, preferably between 0° and 90°, relative to water.
US08550370B2	Automatically balancing register for HVAC systems Distributed nodes, such as intelligent register controllers, of a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system wirelessly communicate with each other on a peer-to-peer basis, forming a network, and collectively control the HVAC system, without a central controller. The intelligent register controllers collectively control the amount of conditioned air introduced into each region. Each node may base its operation at least in part on information about one or more (ideally all) of the other nodes. Each intelligent register controller automatically determines how much conditioned air to allow into its region, or how much return air to allow to be withdrawn from its region, based on information collected by the register controller, such as: current temperature of the region; desired temperature of the region; calculated amount of conditioned air required to change the region's temperature to the desired temperature; temperature of conditioned air begin supplied by a duct to the register; current time, day of week, vacation or other schedule data; temperatures of other regions and their respective desired temperatures; calculated amounts of air required to be supplied or withdrawn by the other controlled registers to change their respective regions' temperatures to their desired temperatures; or combinations thereof. Each register controller automatically determines when and to what extent to operate its respective controllable damper.
US08550362B2	Processor card arrangement Disclosed is a processor card arrangement comprising a first portion and a second portion capable of being moved relative to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration resulting in the processor card switching between a first state and a second state, wherein when in said first state, the processor card arrangement is operable to perform at least one function and, when in said second state, the processor card arrangement it is not operable to perform said at least one function. According to some embodiments of the invention the dimensions of said processor card arrangement are substantially the same when in the first configuration and when in the second configuration.
US08550361B2	Systems, methods, and apparatus to facilitate locating a user of a transaction device Embodiments of the invention may relate to systems, methods, and apparatus to facilitate locating a user of a transaction device. In one embodiment, a contactless transaction device for facilitating locating the user can be provided. The contactless transaction device may include an antenna operable to electromagnetically receive and transmit data. The contactless transaction device may also include a microchip comprising a memory operable to store consumer account data and location alert data and in communication with the antenna, wherein the microchip is operable to transmit the location alert data to a transaction terminal via the antenna when the contactless transaction device is presented to facilitate a transaction with the transaction terminal.
US08550359B2	Method and system for generating and sharing customized portable consumer devices A method for receiving and presenting user-generated designs and sets of terms for portable consumer devices. The method provides for allowing a first person to create a customized design for a portable consumer device, and share the design with other consumers via a host site. Similarly, the method provides for allowing a first person to create and share a customized set of terms for the portable consumer device. Methods for receiving and distributing feedback for customized designs and sets of terms are included.
US08550358B2	Procedure for data encoding and reading starting from interference of wave patterns generated in a printed chromatic system A method for identifying counterfeit cards and supports that can be used in such method. Such supports may be made of materials such as paper, cardboard, plastics and others. The creation of interference wave patterns generated starting from the interaction between an electromagnetic emitting source and particles installed in the cards or support, for example: by a printing processes. The so produced particle interactions (involving photons and electrons) provides complex interference maps in which constituent variables define wave junction conditions characteristic of the interaction between each INFORMATION BLOCK of particles. The BLOCKS are created/built in accordance to those variables' statements, and located at different points in the support. To be approved as a valid Data point, the wave function present at each of these Points should match those stored in an extremely complex Data Matrix.
US08550354B2	Indicia reader system with wireless communication with a headset An indicia reader system including: an indicia reader to read information bearing indicia (IBI); an actuator for activating the indicia reader; a first device for wirelessly sending audio data; a headphone for wear by the operator, the headphone having a second device for accepting the audio data and at least one audio feedback device provided therein for utilizing the audio data to provide audio feedback to the operator.
US08550347B2	Information reading device Disclosed is an information reader wherein the degree of freedom of design can be increased, and magnetic information recorded on an information recording medium can be properly read. Specifically, the information reader comprises a medium passage through which the information recording medium having the magnetic information recorded passes, a magnetic head which is brought into contact with the information recording medium passing through the medium passage and reads the magnetic information recorded on the information recording medium, guide sections for guiding the information recording medium so that a force acts on the information recording medium and the magnetic head to push each other when the information recording medium and the magnetic head are brought into contact with each other, and a biasing mechanism which biases the magnetic head in the direction in which the information recording medium and the magnetic head are brought into contact with each other. The guide sections are not arranged at a position facing a magnetic gap formed at the end of the magnetic head, and are arranged closer to the upstream side than the magnetic gap in the direction in which the information recording medium passes through.
US08550338B1	Cash supply chain notifications An aspect of the invention provides methods, computer media, and apparatuses to generate notifications to verify processing of a deposit or change order along a cash supply chain. A user is provided automated alerts that are responsive to detected events, where an event may correspond to an occurrence happening or an occurrence not happening within a predetermined duration. Notification settings may be configured based on a user input. Based on the notification settings, status information is monitored from stages along the cash supply chain. When a corresponding event is detected, a notification is automatically sent to the user over a communications channel.
US08550337B2	Systems and methods for programming a remote control device Methods and systems related to codes that are usable by a remote control device to remotely control a function of the electronic device are described. The methods and systems may also include transmitting the codes to the remote control device via a remote control device interface.
US08550336B2	Systems and methods for anti-counterfeit authentication through communication networks An anti-counterfeit authentication system provides authentication services over available communication networks. The system assigns unique anti-counterfeit certificates to authentic items. The certificates are stored in anti-counterfeit tags that are attached to the authentic items. An authentication server provides authentication services to authentication clients over the communication networks. The authentication clients read, via tag readers, the anti-counterfeit certificates from the tags associated with items to be authenticated, provide the anti-counterfeit certificates to the authentication server which determines authenticity and supplies authentication results back to the authentication clients.
US08550327B2	Clad solder thermal interface material A clad solder thermal interface material is described. In one example the material has a a first layer of solder having a melting temperature lower than a temperature of a particular solder reflow furnace, a second layer of solder clad to the first layer of solder, the second layer having a melting temperature higher than the temperature of the solder reflow furnace, and a third layer of solder clad to the second layer of solder opposite the first layer, the third layer having a melting temperature lower than the temperature of the solder reflow furnace.
US08550326B2	Expandable mandrel for use in friction stir welding A mandrel that provides a counter-force to the pressure exerted on the outside of a pipe or other arcuate surface by a friction stir welding tool, wherein the mandrel is expandable through the use of a wedge, and wherein the mandrel enables multiple friction stir welding heads to simultaneously perform welding on the arcuate surface.
US08550316B2	Baby carrier A method and apparatus for securing a child to a wearer in a first arrangement and for securing a child to a chair in a second arrangement is provided. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a base panel having a first edge, a second edge, and opposing third and fourth edges. The apparatus also includes a crotch panel having first and second securing devices and attached to the second edge of the base panel, where the securing devices of the crotch panel are configured to wrap around the back portion of the chair and fasten to each other. The apparatus further includes a waist panel attached to the second edge of the base panel such that the base panel is configured to wrap around the waist of the wearer in the first arrangement and to wrap around the seat portion of the chair such that the child situated within the apparatus is unable to stand upright in the second arrangement.
US08550313B2	Sift-resistant dispensing closure A sift-resistant dispensing closure is disclosed. The sift-resistant dispensing closure includes a base, a lid and a hinge connecting the lid to the base. The base contains a circular end wall, a cylindrical skirt extending downward from the periphery of the end wall, and a sift deck elevated from the upside of the circular end wall. The sift deck contains a deck surface surrounded by a first snap bead and a first sealing surface, and pouring holes formed on the deck surface. The lid contains a second snap bead and a second sealing surface that are formed on the underside of the lid and engage with the first snap bead and first sealing surface, respectively, to form a seal around the sift deck when the lid is in a closed position.
US08550311B2	Attachment device for attaching a pump on a tank and dispenser using such an attachment device A fastener device (1, 2) for fastening a dispenser member (4) on a reservoir neck (51), the device comprising: a ring (1) forming an annular bearing collar (10) for coming to bear against the top (52) of the neck (51), with a gasket (3) possibly being interposed therebetween, and a skirt (11) including a free bottom end (145) and a deformable fastener section (13) that is deformed by thrust on the free end; and a hoop (2) that surrounds the skirt (11) of the ring (1) and constrains the fastener section (13) to deform inwards into contact with the neck (51); the device being characterized in that the deformable fastener section (13) is separated from the free end (145) by a substantially non-deformable bottom section (14) that is in engagement with the hoop (2).
US08550308B2	Apparatus for dispensing fluids An apparatus for storing fluid and dispensing multiple portions of a stored fluid therefrom. The apparatus comprises a container defining a variable-volume storage chamber for receiving therein the fluid and a dispensing valve including a valve inlet coupled in fluid communication with the variable volume storage chamber, and a valve member in fluid communication with the valve inlet and defining a normally-closed valve opening. The valve member is responsive to fluid at the valve inlet exceeding a valve opening pressure to move between (i) a normally closed position, and (ii) an open position permitting fluid flow through the valve opening. The dispensing valve defines a dispensing axis defining a direction substantially along which fluid is dispensed from the valve, and further includes an outlet surface over which dispensed fluid flows oriented at an acute angle relative to the dispensing axis for preventing the collection of residual dispensed fluid thereon.
US08550307B2	Dispensing device with a disposable pump A dispensing device comprising an enclosure and a pump, in which the enclosure comprises a base and a cover, in which the cover is attached to the base with a hinge and is rotatable about said hinge towards and away from said base, in which the pump comprises an operating plunger, in which the cover is connected to said plunger by a pivoting linkage adapted to convert the rotational movement of the cover into a linear movement of the operating plunger.
US08550303B2	Multi-chambered container A multi-chambered container for storing and dispensing flowable substances and method for using the same. The container includes a plurality of individual chambers each containing a flowable substance. Each chamber is in fluid communication with a discharge valve assembly. The valve assembly selectively dispenses a single one of the flowable substances in response to one of the chambers being pressed or squeezed by a user without simultaneously dispensing the remaining substances. In preferred embodiments, the container includes at least two, and more preferably three or more chambers.
US08550302B1	Wall mounted dispenser A wall mounted dispenser for dispensing a mixture of water and liquid chemicals which may be used as a separate dispenser or in combination with other like dispensers. The dispenser of this invention includes several backflow preventers to ensure that the water supply will not become contaminated during backflow problems.
US08550295B2	Container for dispensing a single test strip The test strip containers accurately dispense one test strip for easy removal. One test strip container includes a slider with a slot that catches a single test strip therein from a stack positioned inside the container. The slider retaining the single test strip moves across the container while the single test strip rides along a ramp or track on the exterior of the container until the single test strip extends above the container. Another test strip container includes inner and outer cylinders. The inner cylinder defines an opening through which a test strip from a stack is dispensed and an external ramp or track. As the outer cylinder rotates about the inner cylinder, a recessed slot in the outer cylinder captures a single test strip, and continued rotation of the outer cylinder causes the test strip to ride along the ramp or track to extend above the cylinders for removal.
US08550293B2	Replacement shelf for a vending machine A replacement shelf for displaying, storing, and vending flat pack gum and candy replaces an existing shelf which was dedicated solely to vending old style five stick gum and roll candy. The replacement shelf includes a plurality of parallel product guides each of which includes a planar bottom surface and a pair of parallel spaced apart product support rails which cooperate to support product to be stored, displayed and vended in a position above the planar bottom surface of the product guides and in a position which ensures that the product is directed to fall downwardly from the product guide into a delivery bin in the vending machine.
US08550289B1	Drink vessel holder A drink vessel holder holds a drink vessel on a target surface such as a plate of food and allows the user to hold both the plate and the drink vessel held thereon with the same hand in order to allow the other hand to be used for enjoyment of the products being held. The drink vessel holder has a body member with a convex upper surface that seats within a concave bottom surface of a drink vessel. A tab extends outwardly from the body member, the tab being used by the user to hold the drink vessel on the plate. The tab may have an arcuate channel that receives a portion of the bottom structural ring of the drink vessel or the structural ring may be depressed or slotted for passage of the tab therethrough.
US08550284B1	Apparatus to retain a disposable trash bag on the trash bag receptacle portion of a janitorial cart An apparatus which is used to very securely retain a disposable trash bag onto the upper interior circumference of the trash receptacle portion of a janitorial cart. It includes a retaining ring which is securely retained by spring force action against the upper interior rim of the trash receptacle. A trigger mechanism is used to lock the retaining ring in a raised condition over the upper interior circumference so that the open ends of a disposable trash bag are inserted between the retaining ring and the upper interior surface. The trigger mechanism is retained in place by engaging teeth which engage ratcheted receiving teeth. A pair of pushbuttons serve to release the trigger mechanisms so that the return spring force causes the retaining ring to move upwardly and release the entrapped disposable garbage bag.
US08550283B2	Lid actuation system for shielded cask A lid system for a shielding cask is provided, the system comprising a plurality of contiguous panels, each panel is axially actuated by a first lift piston located laterally from the casks' longitudinal principal axis, and rotated about the cask by a ‘hinge’ piston at approximately 90 degrees along an arc from the first piston, the arc formed by a portion of the lip of the cask.
US08550258B2	Feedwell for a gravity separation vessel A feedwell for a gravity separation vessel for introducing a feed stream such as oil sand slurry to the gravity separation vessel is provided comprising a walled member having an upper perimeter edge, a lower perimeter edge and a substantially continuous wall extending from the upper perimeter edge to the lower perimeter edge; an inlet for introducing the feed stream into the walled member positioned adjacent the substantially continuous wall; and a bottom floor having an opening and extending generally beneath the lower perimeter edge; whereby a perimeter of the opening is less than a perimeter of the walled member.
US08550257B2	Ceramic water purification device A ceramic water purifying device is provided. The device includes a silver treated packed particle bed in one embodiment. The device may also include feldspar or bottled glass.
US08550250B2	Reclosable one time security trap seal blister package A package is disclosed comprising a reclosable blister attached to a paperboard card.
US08550248B1	Personalizable organizer display for identifying actual pill samples and indicating associated information therewith A personalizable display for identifying actual pill samples and indicating associated information so as to visually correlate the actual pill samples with the associated information. The display includes a substrate, a plurality of containers, and a plurality of pockets. The plurality of containers are disposed in the substrate, and visually hold the actual pill samples. The plurality of pockets are disposed on the substrate, visually hold the associated information, and are disposed adjacent to associated ones of the plurality of containers so as to visually correlate the actual pill samples with the associated information, and among other things, identify the actual pill samples.
US08550247B2	Personalized medication holder A holder (100) for storing prescribed medication doses in a sealed cup (112) is provided with a sealing strip (117) a first portion (110) of which covers the mouth of the cup and a second portion (120) carries a picture of the face of the patient for whom the medication has been prescribed. The holder (100) is provided with a rim (113) extending outwardly from the mouth of the cup and with an extension flange (114) having a flat upper surface (111) which is coplanar with the upper surface of the rim (113). The sealing strip adheres to the coplanar surfaces of the rim (113) and the flange (114) and is provided with lines of severance (130 and 131) extending from a pull-tab (151) and along opposite sides of the cup. These lines of severance (130 and 131) are arranged within the confines of the path of the seal between the sealing strip (117) and the rim (113) so that air cannot leak through the lines of severance and into the cup when storing medication doses within the holder. The pull-tab enables the first portion (110) of the sealing strip (117) to be peeled back from covering the cup so that its contents can be accessed by inverting the cup over the palm of the hand of the user.
US08550246B2	Storage box and associated blank A collapsible box for disposal of articles such as sanitary wear, comprises a base, at least three walls upstanding therefrom and a top, the top having an aperture through which articles or items may be placed in the box and a flap at least partially occluding the aperture, the flap being urged upwardly and at least a part of which being engaged by a wing portion to inhibit upward motion thereof, the wing portion being moveable between a first condition for collapsing the box and a second condition at least partially overlying the aperture.
US08550245B2	Cover for a recyclable container In certain embodiments, a welding wire and container assembly includes a container having an interior volume; a coil of welding wire disposed in the interior volume; and a wire container cover. The wire container cover may include a top surface having an opening therethrough to enable welding wire to pass through the wire container cover when the wire container cover is disposed on the container. The assembly also may include a skirt askew to the top surface, wherein the skirt is adapted to produce friction between the skirt and a side of the container when the wire container cover is disposed on the container housing and wherein the skirt is non-locking with respect to the container.
US08550242B2	Adhesive-permeable strip container, a relative blank, and a method of manufacturing the container A container comprises at least a first wall (2a) and a second wall (2b) presenting respective flaps (6) of plastic, plasticized or metallized material, engaging one with another in overlapping contact to interconnect the relative walls (2a, 2b). Each flap (6) is furnished with a strip (7) of material presenting a first face (7a) affixed to the flap (6), and a second face (7b), opposite from the first face (7a), able to retain a coating of liquid or paste adhesive; the second faces (7b) of the strips are bonded together to secure the joined flaps (6) one to another.
US08550241B2	Package for smoking articles A package for smoking articles comprising an inner shell (2) and an outer shell (1), the inner shell defining a space for smoking articles and the outer shell defining a cavity to receive the inner shell, the inner and outer shells being hingedly connected such that they pivot relative to each other from a closed position in which the inner shell is received in the outer shell and an open position in which the inner shell extends from the outer shell, wherein the outer shell includes a sidewall that overlaps a sidewall (13) of the inner shell when the inner and outer shells are in their closed position, a recess (56) being formed in the sidewall of one of the inner or outer shells and a tab (60) extending from a corresponding sidewall of the inner or outer shell such that, when the inner and outer shells are in their closed position, the tab locates in said recess.
US08550238B2	Limited use, self-destructive contact lens case A contact lens storage case of limited life and predetermined usage to further the safe and effective use of contact lenses by ensuring patient compliance through both limiting case use over a set period of time and discouraging reuse and topping-off of the disinfecting and storage solution. Generally, the self-destruction consists of the case developing a leak in a pre-determined fashion as a result of the change in properties of a material in a limited area of the case following exposure of the case to the storage solution.
US08550231B2	Conveying device A conveying device includes a housing, a linear driving mechanism, a first sliding assembly, a second sliding assembly, and a carrying mechanism. The linear driving mechanism is assembled within the housing. The first sliding assembly is slidably assembled together with the second sliding assembly within the housing, and both sliding assemblies are driven by the linear driving mechanism to slide horizontally. The carrying mechanism is slidably sandwiched between the first sliding assembly and the second sliding assembly. The first sliding assembly and the second sliding assembly are driven by the linear driving mechanism to slide within the housing along either a same direction or along opposite directions. The carrying mechanism may slide linearly together with the first sliding assembly and the second sliding assembly, or slide upwards and downwards perpendicular to the linear sliding direction of the first sliding assembly and the second sliding assembly.
US08550227B1	Auto-positioning sensors for coin counting devices Systems and methods for automatically positioning a coin sensor are disclosed herein. An auto-positioning coin sensor configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a coin sensor for determining a physical characteristic of an object and a moving device operably coupled to the coin sensor. The moving device can be configured to adjust the position of the coin sensor to determine the physical characteristic. Auto-positioning coin sensors in accordance with the present technology can include coin sensors that can be positioned based on a measurement of a dimension of an object.
US08550222B2	Active material based bodies for varying frictional force levels at the interface between two surfaces A device for selectively controlling and varying a frictional force level at an interface between two bodies, includes a first contact body having at least one surface, a second contact body having at least one surface in physical communication with the first contact body, and an active material in operative communication with a selected one or both of the first contact body and the second contact body, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in a property upon receipt of an activation signal wherein the change in a property is effective to change the frictional force level at the interface between the at least one surface of the first contact body and the at least one surface of the second contact body.
US08550219B2	Rectangular, electromagnetically releasing dual-circuit spring-pressure brake Disclosed is an electromagnetically released spring pressure brake that is to be mounted on a machine wall or similar. Said brake comprises a uniform rectangular coil support (1) with two preferably oval, adjacent coils (7, 7.1), to which two separately movable rectangular armature disks are assigned. Said armature disks apply pressure to a joint rotor encompassing two friction linings that are mounted on each side when the coils (7, 7.1) are de-energized. The rotor is axially movable on an axially toothed hub. Two respective fastening screws (9) are used for guiding each of the armature disks parallel along the central longitudinal axis (13, 13.1) thereof, on the radially largest possible diameter of the rotor. A manual lever (10) featuring manual releasing bolts is provided for each armature disk. The inventive brake is simple and inexpensive and has two separate braking circuits, allowing the friction surfaces to be better utilized as the rotor has a greater diameter while the outer dimensions of the brake remain the same. Alternatively, the outer dimensions can be reduced if the rotor is not modified. In order to do so, a uniform or monolithic square coil support is provided that comprises two adjacent coils therein and two separate, independently movable armature disks on both sides of the central brake rotor (3).
US08550217B2	Elevator The invention relates to an elevator provided with a safety gear arrangement, the elevator including at least an elevator car arranged to travel back and forth substantially vertically along guide rails, at least two safety gear mechanisms disposed in conjunction with the elevator car and at least one speed limiter, which includes at least a speed limiter pulley, a diverting pulley and a speed limiter rope fitted as a loop around at least the speed limiter pulley and the diverting pulley, the speed limiter rope being connected at least to a first safety gear mechanism. A second safety gear mechanism has been arranged to be triggered after the triggering of the first safety gear mechanism.
US08550204B2	Exhaust device of a vehicle and a utility vehicle provided with the same An exhaust device of a vehicle, provided with a V-engine (5) having a front cylinder (52) and a rear cylinder (53), has a muffler (93) arranged in a rear part of the vehicle. A front cylinder exhaust pipe (91) is connected to a front surface of the front cylinder (52), and a rear cylinder exhaust pipe (92) is connected to a rear surface of the rear cylinder (53). A collecting pipe (94) is provided to collect the front cylinder exhaust pipe and the rear cylinder exhaust pipe. Also, a downstream exhaust pipe (95) extends from the collecting pipe to the muffler. The total length of the front cylinder exhaust pipe and the total length of the rear cylinder exhaust pipe are substantially the same.
US08550191B2	Digging tool, digging bit, and device Provided is an excavation tool for efficiently taking waste rocks produced during excavation into the inner peripheral side of a casing pipe. An excavation tool (10) includes a casing shoe (11), a casing pipe (15), a rod (60), a device (40), and an excavation bit (20). The excavation bit (20) has a head portion (22) and a skirt portion (23). The head portion (22) is provided with: a face flute (27), which is open into the tip face of the head portion and extends radially outward; a connection flute (28), which is integrally connected to the outer peripheral end of the face flute (27) and extends toward the rear end side, and an intake hole (29), which is integrally connected with the discharge flute (46) of the device (40) and is open to the inner peripheral side of the skirt portion (23) from the connection flute (28).
US08550189B2	Drive pin support A chuck assembly, an assembly for an earth-boring drill assembly, and a method of manufacturing a chuck assembly. In the assembly, a first portion of the chuck bore may have a minimum inner diameter greater than the chuck spline maximum inner diameter. A support ring recess may be defined in the bore axially between the chuck splines and the first end. A support ring may be positionable in the support ring recess, and the support ring, when positioned in the support ring recess, may have a support ring inner diameter less than the minimum inner diameter of the first portion of the bore. The drive pin may be positionable circumferentially between one of the chuck splines and an associated one of the bit splines and have an axial end surface at least partially engageable with the support ring to limit axial movement of the drive pin toward the first end.
US08550179B2	Proportional pilot-controlled pneumatic control system for pneumatically powered hand-held tools A control system for use in conjunction with a primary power system and operable to control a pneumatically powered hand-held tool broadly comprises an air delivery assembly operable to communicate with a pressurized air source; a control assembly including an exhaust line from the primary power system and to the control assembly, a spool valve in fluid communication with the supply line and the exhaust line, and a control line in fluid communication with the spool valve and the hand-held tool; a tool assembly comprising the hand-held tool for performing delicate hand working operations; and a housing for at least partial storage of the air delivery assembly and the control assembly. The primary power system and the control system operate in conjunction with each other to both power and precisely control a pneumatically powered hand-held tool.
US08550172B2	Plural barrier valve system with wet connect A barrier valve system includes one or more barrier valves, a connection sub having a first portion and a second portion connecting one or more control lines to each other, and a replacement portion of the connection sub connectable to the first portion subsequent to retrieval of the second portion. The replacement portion has a port from an outside diameter of the replacement portion to an inside diameter of the replacement portion and seals disposed to define an annular space between the replacement portion and the first portion encompassing only valve opening ports in the first portion.
US08550167B2	Remote operated vehicle interface with overtorque protection A remote operated vehicle (ROV) interface has a retrievable portion and a permanent portion. The permanent portion includes a housing that has a cavity that secures to a drive stem of the subsea well device. The housing has a pod cavity on an opposite end that receives a pod body, which is part of the retrievable portion. The pod body is secured by spring-biased retainer within the pod cavity. The pod body has a cylindrical receptacle that receives a drive pin, which forms another part of the retrievable portion. The drive pin and the cylindrical receptacle are engaged for rotation by a shear element. The pod body has an ROV retrieval profile that is accessible by an ROV. In the event the shear element shears due to excessive torque, an ROV retrieval tool engages the pod body and retrieves the pod body along with the drive pin.
US08550165B2	Well servicing fluid The present disclosure is directed to a method of servicing a well. The method comprises providing a well servicing fluid. The well servicing fluid is formulated with the following components comprising, at least one friction reducer chosen from polychloroprenes, vinyl acetate polymers, polyalkylene oxides polyalphaolefins; and a nonaqueous carrier fluid. The well servicing fluid is introduced into the well.
US08550159B2	Down-hole liquid level control for hydrocarbon wells This invention provides for an apparatus that controls a liquid level down-hole of a hydrocarbon producing well by physically monitoring the liquid level down-hole having a down-hole liquid level measurer and a signal device connected to the liquid level measurer that causes a pump to adjust its current liquid output based on the liquid level down-hole as measured by the down-hole liquid level measurer.
US08550157B2	Apparatus and method for controlling flow of solids into wellbores using filter media containing an array of three dimensional elements In aspects, the disclosure provides an apparatus that may include a member having fluid flow passages and a filter member placed proximate the member with the fluid flow passages, the filter member including an array of three-dimensional elements configured to inhibit flow of solid particles of a selected size when a fluid containing such solid particles flows from the filter member to the member with the fluid flow passages.
US08550152B2	Metallic heat exchanger tube A metallic heat exchanger tube (1) with a tube wall (2) and with integrally formed ribs (3) which run around on the tube outside (21) and which have a rib foot (31), rib flanks (32) and a rib tip (33), the rib foot (31) projecting essentially radially from the tube wall (2), and the rib flanks (32) being provided with additional structural elements which are formed as material projections (4) arranged laterally on the rib flank (32), the material projections (4) having a plurality of boundary faces (41, 42), at least one of the boundary faces (42) of at least one material projection (4) being curved convexly.
US08550151B2	Heat exchanger A heat exchanger, which maintains basic performance even in an environment repeatedly subjected to dew condensation, is provided. The heat exchanger is formed of a plurality of unit devices each including a heat exchanger plate, spacer ribs, and shielding ribs. The heat exchanger plate, the spacer rib and the shielding rib are integrally molded with resin. The spacer ribs keep the spacing between the heat exchangers, and the shielding ribs shield leakage of airflow. The unit devices are stacked each other to form airflow passages between the heat exchanger plates. The airflow passages allow a first airflow and a second airflow to pass therethrough and to exchange heat through the heat exchanger plates. The heat exchanger plate is made of a moisture permeable resin film having water-insolubility and flame retardant property, and the resin has water-insolubility and flame retardant property.
US08550150B2	Loop heat pipe An exemplary loop heat pipe includes a plate-type evaporator, a pipe, a condenser thermally connected with the pipe and a working medium contained in the closed loop. The plate-type evaporator defines an exit for vapor in a lateral portion thereof and an entrance for liquid in a top portion thereof. The pipe connects the exit and the entrance to form a closed loop. A first wick structure has a lower end thereof attached to a bottom portion of the evaporator and has an upper end thereof attached to the top portion of the evaporator. The entrance for liquid corresponds to the upper end of the wick structure.
US08550149B2	Water-cooled heat sink A water-cooled heat sink includes a base, a box, a propelling module, a driving module, and a plurality of conduits. The box is disposed above the base, and receives a cooled liquid. The driving module includes a first magnet. The base defines a plurality of channels. The propelling module includes a cylinder, a piston, a second magnet, and a valve. The cylinder is disposed on an inner wall of the box. The piston is disposed in the cylinder, and defines a through hole in a middle portion thereof. The second magnet is fixed to the piston. The valve is fixed in the through hole. The conduits interconnect the cylinder and the box. The first magnet can repel or attract the second magnet, thereby sliding the piston toward the cylinder to close the valve or away from the cylinder to open the valve.
US08550137B2	Tire for self-inflating tire system A tire for a self-inflating tire system includes an annular air tube-receiving groove formed within a tire carcass wall at a prescribed radial location. The groove has an access opening, a primary internal groove chamber dimensioned and profiled for close receipt of an annular air-pump tube. A secondary expansion chamber of the groove communicates with the internal groove chamber for operationally receiving a flattened air-pump tube extended portion during tire operation. A passageway is located at a prescribed outlet location along the annular air tube-receiving groove, the passageway extending from the groove to an axially inward terminal end within the tire carcass wall separated from a tire inner liner by a removable wall partition of reduced sectional thickness.
US08550135B2	Pneumatic tire A pneumatic tire includes at least three belts arranged on a tire-radial-direction outer side of a carcass and a belt edge cushion arranged between a tire-width-direction outer end portion of a second belt that is secondly arranged from the tire-radial-direction outer side and a tire-width-direction outer end portion of a third belt that is thirdly arranged. The second belt is curved to a tire-radial-direction inner side in an area of the belt edge cushion in a tire width direction. A tire-width direction outer end of a first belt that is firstly arranged from the tire-radial-direction outer side is provided in a position close to a tire-width-direction inner end of the belt edge cushion in the tire width direction.
US08550133B2	Pneumatic tire with asymmetric tread pattern A tire having an asymmetric tread pattern that land proportion of outer side area 2o is larger than inner side area 2i, but having a reduced difference in drainage performance between tires on right and left wheels, the tire having tread surface 2 divided by four circumferential grooves 3 and 4 into center land 5, middle lands 6, 6 and shoulder lands 7, 7, wherein middle land 6o and shoulder land 7o in the outer side area 2o are divided respectively by outer middle lateral grooves 8o and outer shoulder lateral grooves 10o into blocks 9o and blocks 11o, inclination direction of the middle lateral grooves 8o is opposite to that of the shoulder lateral grooves 10o with respect to tire axial direction, and the lateral grooves 8o and 10o are inclined at an angle θmo between 5° and 45° and at an angle θso between more than 0° and not more than 40°, respectively.
US08550132B2	Pneumatic tire and manufacturing method of the same A pneumatic tire has a conductive portion formed by a conductive rubber is provided in the tread rubber formed by a nonconductive rubber. The conductive portion has an outer skin portion and a projection portion. The outer skin portion is formed on a surface of the tread rubber, and extends to an inner side in a tire width direction from a side surface of the tread rubber so as to terminate at a position which goes beyond a contact end. The projection portion spirally extends from a position in an outer side than contact end so as to reach a position in an inner side in the tire width direction than the contact end, and protrudes to an inner side in a tire diametrical direction from the outer skin portion so as to terminate without reaching a bottom surface of the tread rubber.
US08550131B1	Liquid dispensing device, system and method A liquid dispensing device, system and method are disclosed. The liquid dispensing device includes a one-way liquid metering device, comprising a bellows, an inlet valve, and an outlet valve; and a housing, comprising a cavity. The outlet valve is recessed within the cavity and liquid is dispensed from the one-way metering device into the cavity when a proximal portion of a receptacle is inserted into the cavity. Liquid within the bellows is dispensed from the outlet valve when the bellows is compressed, and liquid is drawn into the bellows through the inlet valve when the bellows returns to an expanded state. The system can include a receptacle with a neck extending from a shoulder at the proximal end of the receptacle. The shoulder engages with the at least one surface.

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