Document	Document Title
US08659074B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type formed thereon. The semiconductor device also includes a body layer extending a first predetermined distance into the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type and a pair of trenches extending a second predetermined distance into the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type. Each of the pair of trenches consists essentially of a dielectric material disposed therein and a concentration of doping impurities present in the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type and a distance between the pair of trenches define an electrical characteristic of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device further includes a control gate coupled to the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type and a source region coupled to the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type.
US08659059B2	Strained transistor structure A strain enhanced transistor is provided having a strain inducing layer overlying a gate electrode. The gate electrode has sloped sidewalls over the channel region of the transistor.
US08659055B2	Semiconductor device, field-effect transistor, and electronic device Provided is a semiconductor device capable of suppressing an occurrence of a punch-through phenomenon.A semiconductor device includes a substrate 1, a first n-type semiconductor layer 2, a p-type semiconductor layer 3, a second n-type semiconductor layer 4, a drain electrode 13, a source electrode 11, a gate electrode 12, and a gate insulation film 21, wherein the first n-type semiconductor layer 2, the p-type semiconductor layer 3, and the second n-type semiconductor layer 4 are laminated on the substrate 1 in this order. The drain electrode 13 is in ohmic-contact with the first n-type semiconductor layer 2. The source electrode 11 is in ohmic-contact with the second n-type semiconductor layer 4. An opening portion to be filled or a notched portion that extends from an upper surface of the second n-type semiconductor layer 4 to an upper part of the first n-type semiconductor layer 2 is formed at a part of the p-type semiconductor layer 3 and a part of the second n-type semiconductor layer 4. The gate electrode 12 is in contact with an upper surface of the first n-type semiconductor layer 2, side surfaces of the p-type semiconductor layer 3, and side surfaces of the second n-type semiconductor layer 4 at inner surfaces of the opening portion to be filled or a surface of the notched portion via the gate insulation film 21. The p-type semiconductor layer 3 has a positive polarization charge at a first n-type semiconductor layer 2 side in a state where a voltage is applied to none of the electrodes.
US08659053B2	Semiconductor light detecting element A semiconductor light detecting element includes: an InP substrate; and a semiconductor stacked structure on the InP substrate and including at least a light absorbing layer, wherein the light absorbing layer includes an InGaAsBi layer lattice-matched to the InP substrate.
US08659045B2	Light emitting device and methods for forming the same The present invention provides a light emitting device, which includes a transparent substrate, an epitaxial stack structure having a first portion and a second portion on the transparent substrate, a II/V group compound contact layer on the first portion of the epitaxial stack structure, a nitride-crystallized layer on the II/V group compound contact layer, a transparent conductive layer covering the nitride-crystallized layer, a first electrode on a portion of the transparent conductive layer, and a second electrode on the second portion of the epitaxial stack structure and structurally separated from the structure on the first portion of the epitaxial stack structure. The nitride-crystallized layer may help increase the external quantum efficiency of the light emitting device, thereby the light emitting efficiency of the light emitting device may also be improved.
US08659044B2	Light emitting device A light emitting device includes an active layer; at least a portion of the active layer constitutes a gain region. The gain region is continuous from a first end surface and a second end surface. The gain region includes a first portion extending from the first end surface to a first reflective surface in a direction tilted with respect to a normal to the first side surface as viewed two-dimensionally; a second portion extending from the second end surface to the second reflective surface in a direction tilted with respect to a normal to the first side surface as viewed two-dimensionally; and a third portion extending from the first reflective surface to the second reflective surface in a direction tilted with respect to a normal to the first reflective surface as viewed two-dimensionally.
US08659043B1	Engineered-phosphor LED packages and related methods In accordance with certain embodiments, regions of spatially varying wavelength-conversion particle concentration are formed over light-emitting dies.
US08659042B2	Integrated reflector and thermal spreader and thermal spray fabrication method A low-cost integrated reflector and heat spreader for high-density high power solid-state (e.g., LED) lighting arrays includes a base structure onto which is applied a sacrificial material. A relatively thick thermal spray coating is applied over the base structure and sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed. A channel(s) is thereby provided within the thermal spray coating layer and in physical contact with the base structure. The channel may be filled with a cooling fluid. A pulsating heat pipe heat spreader may thereby be provided. A reflective material may be provided either over another surface of the base structure or alternatively over the thermal spray coating layer to provide a surface for reflecting and directing light emitted from a solid state light source that may be secured to the integrated reflector and heat spreader.
US08659041B2	Nitride semiconductor light emitting diode A nitride semiconductor light emitting diode includes at least an n-type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer. The active layer is formed of one first nitride semiconductor layer having a highest In ratio in the light emitting diode. The light emitting diode further includes at least one of a second nitride semiconductor layer located between the active layer and the n-type nitride semiconductor layer and including an InGaN layer, and a third nitride semiconductor layer located between the active layer and the p-type nitride semiconductor layer and including an InGaN layer. Respective In (Indium) ratios of the InGaN layers included in the second nitride semiconductor layer and the InGaN layers included in the third nitride semiconductor layer are lower than the In ratio of the first nitride semiconductor layer forming the active layer. The LED with high luminous efficiency can thus be provided.
US08659038B2	Semiconductor light source and method of fabrication thereof Embodiments of the present invention provided a method of fabricating a semiconductor light source structure. The method comprises providing a GaAs substrate; forming a lower cladding layer above the substrate, the lower cladding layer comprising an AIxGa1-xAs alloy; forming an active region above the lower cladding layer, the active region comprising a GaAs separate confinement heterostructure; and forming an upper cladding layer comprising an AIxGa1-xAs alloy above the active region in the form of an elongate stripe bounded on either side by an InGaP current-blocking layer, the elongate stripe defining an index-guided optical waveguide. The stripe is formed such that at least one free end of the stripe is spaced apart from an edge of the substrate in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stripe such that a portion of the lower cladding layer, active region, current blocking layer and upper cladding layer extend beyond the at least one free end of the stripe thereby to provide an unpumped and laterally unguided window region.
US08659037B2	Nanostructure optoelectronic device with independently controllable junctions Nanostructure array optoelectronic devices are disclosed. The optoelectronic device may have one or more intermediate electrical contacts that are physically and electrically connected to sidewalls of the array of nanostructures. The contacts may allow different photo-active regions of the optoelectronic device to be independently controlled. For example, one color light may be emitted or detected independently of another using the same group of one or more nanostructures. The optoelectronic device may be a pixilated device that may serve as an LED display or imaging sensor. The pixilated device may have an array of nanostructures with alternating rows and columns of sidewall electrical contacts at different layers. A pixel may be formed at the intersection of a row contact and a column contact. As one example, a single group of one or more nanostructures has a blue sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and a red sub-pixel.
US08659032B2	FinFET and method of fabricating the same The disclosure relates to a fin field effect transistor (FinFET). An exemplary structure for a FinFET comprises a substrate comprising a major surface; a first fin and a second fin extending upward from the substrate major surface to a first height; an insulation layer comprising a top surface extending upward from the substrate major surface to a second height less than the first height, whereby portions of the fins extend beyond the top surface of the insulation layer; each fin covered by a bulbous epitaxial layer defining an hourglass shaped cavity between adjacent fins, the cavity comprising upper and lower portions, wherein the epitaxial layer bordering the lower portion of the cavity is converted to silicide.
US08659031B2	Method of producing template for epitaxial growth and nitride semiconductor device A surface of a sapphire (0001) substrate is processed so as to have recesses and protrusions so that protrusion tops are made flat and have a given plan-view pattern. An initial-stage AlN layer is epitaxially grown on the surface of the sapphire (0001) substrate so that new recesses are formed over the recesses, by performing C axis orientation control so that a C+ axis oriented AlN layer grows on flat surfaces of the protrusion tops, excluding edges. A first ELO layer including an AlN (0001) layer is epitaxially grown on the initial-stage AlN layer by an epitaxial lateral overgrowth method, and stops growing before a recess upper region above the new recesses is completely covered with the first ELO layer that is laterally grown from a protrusion upper surface of the initial-stage AlN layer. A second ELO layer including an AlxGa1-xN (0001) layer (1>x>0) is epitaxially grown on the first ELO layer by an epitaxial lateral overgrowth method. The recess upper region is completely covered with the second ELO layer that is laterally grown from an upper surface of the first ELO layer.
US08659029B2	Low contact resistance semiconductor structure and method of fabricating the same A low contact resistance semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a semiconductor stacked layer, a low contact resistance layer and a transparent conductive layer. The low contact resistance layer is formed on one side of a P-type GaN layer of the semiconductor stacked layer. The low contact resistance layer is formed at a thickness smaller than 100 Angstroms and made of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, indium, and combinations thereof. Through the low contact resistance layer, the resistance between the P-type GaN layer and transparent conductive layer can be reduced and light emission efficiency can be improved when being used on LEDs. The method of fabricating the low contact resistance semiconductor structure of the invention forms a thin and consistent low contact resistance layer through a Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) method to enhance matching degree among various layers.
US08659022B2	Hybrid silicon wafer A hybrid silicon wafer which is a silicon wafer having a structure wherein monocrystalline silicon is embedded in polycrystalline silicon that is prepared by the unidirectional solidification/melting method. The longitudinal plane of crystal grains of the polycrystalline portion prepared by the unidirectional solidification/melting method is used as the wafer plane, and the monocrystalline silicon is embedded so that the longitudinal direction of the crystal grains of the polycrystalline portion forms an angle of 120° to 150° relative to the cleaved surface of the monocrystalline silicon. Thus provided is a hybrid silicon wafer comprising the functions of both a polycrystalline silicon wafer and a monocrystalline wafer.
US08659019B2	Semiconductor device At a semiconductor device, an integrated circuit including an optoelectronic conversion device is formed on a front face of a sensor chip. A rewiring layer, which leads from pad electrodes, and post electrodes, on the rewiring layer, are formed on the sensor chip. At least a portion of surroundings of the rewiring layer and the post electrodes is sealed with sealing resin, so as to be open above the integrated circuit face. A light-transmissive substrate is disposed over the sealed sensor chip. Penetrating electrodes, corresponding with positions of the post electrodes disposed on the sensor chip, are formed in the light-transmissive substrate, and external terminals such as solder balls or the like are formed so as to electrically connect with the penetrating electrodes.
US08659018B2	Semiconductor device and integrated semiconductor device The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device including: a semiconductor identifier holding portion configured to hold a semiconductor identifier for identifying a semiconductor device; and a control portion configured such that upon elapse of a predetermined time period following receipt of an externally input instruction to hold the semiconductor identifier, the control portion issues an instruction to the semiconductor device immediately downstream of the semiconductor device to hold a semiconductor identifier of the immediately downstream semiconductor device and that during the time period between the point in time at which the externally input instruction is received and the point in time at which the instruction is issued to the immediately downstream semiconductor device to hold the semiconductor identifier thereof, the control portion causes the semiconductor identifier holding portion to hold the externally input identifier.
US08658994B2	Apparatus and method for controlled particle beam manufacturing A chamber for exposing a workpiece to charged particles includes a charged particle source for generating a stream of charged particles, a collimator configured to collimate and direct the stream of charged particles from the charged particle source along an axis, a beam digitizer downstream of the collimator configured to create a digital beam including groups of at least one charged particle by adjusting longitudinal spacing between the charged particles along the axis, a deflector downstream of the beam digitizer including a series of deflection stages disposed longitudinally along the axis to deflect the digital beams, and a workpiece stage downstream of the deflector configured to hold the workpiece.
US08658991B2	Particle beam irradiation apparatus utilized in medical field In order to obtain a particle beam irradiation apparatus that enlarges the dose distribution of beam spots while suppressing a decrease of the maximum available range of a charged particle beam, the particle beam irradiation apparatus includes a particle beam acceleration means; particle beam transport means; scanning apparatus that includes first scanning means and second scanning means, and two-dimensionally scans the beam; and irradiation control means that controls the scanning apparatus so as to irradiate the beam onto a target region including a plurality of small regions. The irradiation control means controls the first scanning means so as to scan the beam over a small region serving as an irradiation subject among the plurality of the small regions, and controls the second scanning means so as to change the small region serving as the irradiation subject to be a different small region among the plurality of the small regions.
US08658988B2	Three-dimensional image projector A three-dimensional image projector, including a transparent display medium within which fluorescent substances are dispersed, the fluorescent substances being dispersed for performing the fluorescent light-emission of visible light by the irradiation with a laser beam of invisible light, a first-laser-beam scanning unit for scanning the inside of the transparent display medium by deflecting a first laser beam, the first laser beam being used for exciting the fluorescent substances, and a second-laser-beam scanning unit for scanning the inside of the transparent display medium by deflecting a second laser beam, the second laser beam being used for exciting the fluorescent substances, wherein a stereoscopic image is formed at a scanning intersection point of the first laser beam and the second laser beam inside the transparent display medium.
US08658987B2	Circuit-pattern inspection device Provided is a circuit-pattern inspection device which enables efficient inspection of a semiconductor wafer by selectively inspecting areas on the semiconductor wafer, such as boundaries between patterns thereon, where defects are likely to occur during the step of producing the semiconductor wafer while changing the beam scanning direction for each area. Two-dimensional beam-deflection control is employed for inspection operations in a continuous-stage-movement-type circuit-pattern inspection device in which only one-dimensional scanning has been employed conventionally. That is, by employing a combination of an electron-beam-deflection control in a first direction parallel to the stage-movement direction and an electron-beam-deflection control in a second direction intersecting the stage-movement direction, it is possible to obtain an image of any desired area for inspection that is set within a swath. The amplitude of deflection signals for the electron-beam-deflection and the rise and fall timings of the signals are suitably controlled according to inspection conditions.
US08658983B2	Fast neutron spectroscopy using neutron-induced charged particle reactions The invention provides a method of performing fast neutron detection or spectroscopy comprising selecting at least one isotope which exhibits fast neutron-induced charged particle reactions, selecting a host medium capable of performing radiation energy spectroscopy, combining the isotope and host medium into an interactive spectroscopic combination, exposing the combination structure to radiation comprising fast neutrons to provide a spectroscopic output, which includes at least one peak in the pulse-height spectrum whose height and amplitude correlate to the energy and intensity respectively of the incident neutrons; and processing the output to detect or to provide measurements of the energy and intensity of incident fast neutron radiation. The invention also provides a fast neutron spectrometer for use with the method.
US08658968B2	Nuclear logging tool calibration system and method A nuclear logging tool calibration system and method. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including placing a logging tool proximate to a volume to be tested (the logging tool comprising a neutron source and a gamma detector), accumulating a spectrum of gammas by the gamma detector (the gammas created responsive to neutron irradiation of the volume by the neutron source), and then adjusting gain of a photomultiplier tube of the gamma detector. The adjusting is responsive to count rate in an overflow bin of the spectrum, where the overflow bin accumulates count rate of gammas received by the gamma detector that have energy above a predetermined energy.
US08658951B2	Heat treatment apparatus In-plane temperature of each substrate is uniformly controlled at the time of heating substrates placed on a plurality of susceptors, respectively. A heat treatment apparatus is provided with susceptors, i.e., conductive members for placing wafers thereon, having an induction heating body electrically divided into a center portion thereof and a peripheral portion thereof; a quartz boat supporting the susceptors arranged in a row; an induction coil, which is arranged inside a processing chamber to surround the circumference of each of the susceptors and configured such that the temperature of the induction coil can be freely adjusted; and a control unit which performs temperature control by changing the ratio between heat value at the center portion of the induction heating body and that at the peripheral portion, by controlling two high frequency currents of different frequencies to be applied to the induction coil from a high frequency current circuit.
US08658947B2	Rapid conductive cooling using a secondary process plane A method and apparatus for thermally processing a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a method for thermally treating a substrate is provided. The method includes transferring a substrate at a first temperature to a substrate support in a chamber, the chamber having a heating source and a cooling source disposed in opposing portions of the chamber, heating the substrate to a second temperature during a first time period while the substrate is disposed on the substrate support, heating the substrate to a third temperature during a second time period while the substrate is disposed on the substrate support, and cooling the substrate in the chamber to a fourth temperature that is substantially equal to the second temperature during the second time period.
US08658945B2	Backside rapid thermal processing of patterned wafers A apparatus and method of thermally treating a wafer or other substrate, such as rapid thermal processing (RTP). An array of radiant lamps directs radiation to the back side of a wafer to heat the wafer. The front side of the wafer on which the patterned integrated circuits are being formed faces a radiant reflector. The wafer is thermally monitored for temperature and reflectivity from the side of the reflector. When the lamps are above the wafer, an edge ring supports the wafer in its edge exclusion zone. Alternatively, a reactor includes upwardly directed lamps and a reflector above and facing the front side of the wafer.
US08658944B2	Apparatus and method for melting ice, snow or the like in connection with a furnace An apparatus for preventing the accumulation of snow, ice, frost, hail or the like from obstructing the flow of primary air, air or the exhaust into or out of a high-efficiency sealed combustion condensing furnace is provided. The apparatus is also suitable to prevent leaves, animals or other debris from becoming trapped within the air flow pipes of the furnace. The apparatus has a screen which may be electrically connected to a heating device. The apparatus may further be attached to a thermostat to automatically turn the heating device on or off at preset temperatures. The apparatus may be incorporated into new pipes or may be attached onto existing pipes.
US08658934B2	Feedstock powder for production of high hardness overlays A method of applying a metallic alloy overlay including providing an iron based feedstock powder including 10 to 75 weight percent iron and manganese, 10 to 60 weight percent of chromium, 1 to 30 weight percent of an interstitial element selected from boron, carbon, silicon or combinations thereof, 0 to 40 weight percent of a transition metal selected from molybdenum, tungsten or combinations thereof and 1 to 25 weight percent niobium. The method also includes providing an electrode including at least 50 weight percent iron and depositing a weld overlay with the feedstock powder and the electrode to create a metallic alloy exhibiting a grain size in the range of 1,000 μm or less.
US08658932B2	Device for detecting vacuum loss in a vacuum breaking apparatus and vacuum breaking apparatus comprising one such device A device for detecting vacuum loss in a vacuum breaking apparatus that includes an enclosure having a first part at least partially of insulating material, closed at its opposite ends by end-plates, and housing fixed and mobile electrodes. A second part of the enclosure is insulating material at least partially around the first part, this second part is an over-molding of electrically grounded conductive shielding at least a part of its outer surface. This first strip of over-molding faces both the first part and one of the electrodes, thereby providing two capacitances in series, namely, a vacuum capacitance between the electrode and the inner surface of the first part, and a solid capacitance between the inner surface of the first part and the first strip, and means for measuring change of current value in the first strip, which corresponds to a vacuum loss inside a vacuum breaking apparatus.
US08658920B2	Switch module system A switch module system includes switch modules. Each switch module has a housing, a keypad with switch domes, and an actuator for the switch domes. The housing of each switch module includes a housing chassis and a housing cover. The switch modules are attached to a substrate with contact areas of the substrate being electrically connectable through the switch domes of the keypads of the switch modules. For each switch module a respective section of the substrate is inserted into the housing chassis of the switch module and the respective section of the substrate is attached by the housing cover of the switch module to the housing chassis of the switch module.
US08658919B2	Multi-touch panel including equipotential line distortion corrector A multi-touch panel includes a first substrate for receiving coordinate input, a second substrate provided to face the first substrate, a first conductive film formed on the first substrate; and a second conductive film formed on the second substrate. At least one of the first conductive film and the second conductive film is divided into a plurality of strip regions to configure a plurality of strip electrodes. At least one end of each of the strip electrodes has a narrowed width portion, and the strip electrodes have widths different from one another at the narrowed width portion in accordance with lengths of the drawing wires that are connected to the ends provided with the narrowed width portions.
US08658916B2	Snow shield for a truck scale A snow shield for a truck scale for covering the gap between the lower side of the scale deck of the truck scale and a support surface at each side of the truck scale. A first flexible sheet member has its upper end secured to the outer side of the first frame siderail of the truck scale for the length thereof and extends downwardly therefrom outwardly of the gap at one side of the truck scale. A second flexible sheet member has its upper end secured to the outer side of the second frame siderail of the truck scale for the length thereof and extends downwardly therefrom outwardly of the gap at the other side of the truck scale. The lower ends of the sheet members are secured in place to either the supporting surface or the ground adjacent thereto.
US08658904B2	Flex-rigid wiring board and method for manufacturing the same A flex-rigid wiring board including a flexible wiring board, a first insulation layer positioned to a side of the flexible board and having a first hole through the first layer, a second insulation layer over the first layer and an end portion of the flexible board and with a second hole through the second layer along the axis of the first hole, a third insulation layer over the first layer and the end portion of the flexible board on the opposite side of the second layer and with a third hole through the third layer along the axis of the first hole, a first structure having a filled conductor in the first hole, a second structure having a filled conductor in the second hole along the axis of the first structure, and a third structure having a filled conductor in the third hole along the axis of the first structure.
US08658900B2	Metal sheathed cable assembly An AC cable that includes at a plurality of conductor assemblies within a metal armored sheath. Each conductor assembly has an electrical conductor, an insulation layer extending around and along the length of each of the electrical conductors, a jacket layer disposed around the insulating layer and a polymeric protective layer disposed around the jacket layer along the length of each of the electrical conductors. A bonding strip is disposed within the metal sheath and is in contact with the interior surface of the metal sheath to provide an electrical low-impedance fault return path for the AC cable.
US08658898B2	Resin composition for heat-resistant electrical wire, and heat-resistant electrical wire A resin composition for heat-resistant electrical wires is configured of 100 parts by weight of base resin ingredients and 5-20 parts by weight of a phosphorus-based flame retardant, the base resin ingredients comprising 30-55 parts by weight of a polymer having a glass transition temperature or melting point of 180° C. or higher, 15-49 parts by weight of polyolefin, and 21-30 parts by weight of a styrene-based elastomer ingredient, the styrene-based elastomer ingredient having a content of the styrene unit represented by chemical formula (I) of 30% by weight or less.
US08658897B2	Energy efficient noise dampening cables Energy efficient noise dampening coaxial and twisted pair cables include certain layers to improve the quality of signals transmitted over the cables. A coaxial cable includes a conductive core, a first insulating layer surrounding the conductive core, a metal shield layer surrounding the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer surrounding the metal shield layer, a carbon material layer surrounding the second insulating layer, and a protective sheath wrapping the carbon material layer. A twisted pair cable section includes a core section. The core section includes a carbon material core, an insulating layer surrounding the carbon material core, and a metal shield layer surrounding the insulating layer. A plurality of twisted pair cables are disposed in sections or compartments defined by the core section, and between the core section and a protective sheath. Methods for constructing the cables are also disclosed.
US08658890B2	Solar cell and method of manufacturing solar cell A solar cell which can increase its open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and fill factor (F.F.), thereby enhancing its conversion efficiency is provided. The solar cell of the present invention comprises a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer, formed on the p-type semiconductor layer, containing a compound expressed by the following chemical formula (1): ZnO1-x-ySxSey (1) where x≧0, y>0, and 0.2
US08658878B2	Interventive diagnostic device Apparatus and methods are described for facilitating improving health of a user. In accordance with some applications, a first physiological variable, which is indicative of a voluntary action of the user, is received. A second physiological variable, which is not entirely under the direct voluntary control of the user, is received. Responsive to the first and second variables, the second physiological variable is changed in a desired manner, by using circuitry to direct the user to modify a parameter of the voluntary action, by generating an output signal. Other applications are also described.
US08658876B2	Musical instrument carrier and related methods A body-supportable musical-instrument carrier, comprises a rigid frame substantially conforming to shoulder and upper back regions of a user; a belly plate; first mounting members mountable on the belly plate for securing the belly plate to the rigid frame; and second mounting members mountable on the belly plate for securing the musical instrument to the body-supportable musical-instrument carrier. The second mounting members are a pair of J-rods having a first end portion mounted to the belly plate and a second end portion defined by a compound bend. In other words, the first ends of each J-rod lies in a different plane than the plane of the second ends. Additionally, the J-rods have a broader contact area against the drum for better stability compared to traditional support rods.
US08658872B2	Plants and seeds of corn variety CV678689 According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV678689. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV678689, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV678689 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV678689 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV678689.
US08658863B2	White kohlrabi The invention relates to a kohlrabi plant carrying a genetic trait that leads to petioles, stems and bulb having an extra white color at harvest stage as compared to the petioles, stems and bulb of a kohlrabi plant not carrying the said genetic trait. The extra white color may be a color graded in the white group for example the color 155 A or B or C or NN 155 A or B or C or D and in the greed-green group for example the colors 190 D or 191 D or 192 D or 193 D according to The RHS Color Chart, fifth edition. The plant may be obtainable by crossing a first kohlrabi parent plant with a second kohlrabi parent plant, wherein one of the parents is a plant grown from seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under deposit accession number NCIMB 41530 or a progeny plant thereof and selecting for plants which have the genetic trait that leads to an extra white color of the petioles, stems and bulb as compared to the petioles, stems and bulb of a plant not carrying the genetic trait.
US08658862B2	Lettuce line PS 06515688 The invention provides seed and plants of the lettuce line designated PS 06515688. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of lettuce line PS 06515688, and to methods for producing a lettuce plant produced by crossing a plant of lettuce line PS 06515688 with itself or with another lettuce plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of lettuce line PS 06515688, including the gametes of such plants.
US08658842B2	Process for producing ethylene glycol catalyzed by ionic liquid Disclosed is a process for producing ethylene glycol catalyzed by an ionic liquid, characterized in that the process includes the following three steps: (a) a carbonylation step of ethylene oxide and CO2 catalyzed by an ionic liquid composite catalyst comprising a hydroxyl functionalized ionic liquid and an alkali metal salt under an aqueous condition to produce ethylene carbonate and ethylene glycol; (b) a hydrolysis step of reacting the reaction solution containing ethylene carbonate and the ionic liquid composite catalyst obtained in step (a) with water to produce ethylene glycol; (c) a purification step of dehydrating and refining ethylene glycol from the aqueous solution containing ethylene glycol and the catalyst produced in step (b). The present process has the following advantages: the catalyst has high activity, high suitability, and good stability, the reaction condition is wild, the conversion of ethylene oxide is high, the selectivity of ethylene glycol is high, and the process is simple.
US08658835B2	Oxidation of hydrocarbons In a process for oxidizing a hydrocarbon to a corresponding hydroperoxide, alcohol, ketone, carboxylic acid or dicarboxylic acid, the hydrocarbon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst comprising a cyclic imide. The contacting produces an effluent comprising an oxidized hydrocarbon product and unreacted imide catalyst and the effluent is treated with at least one solid sorbent to remove at least part of the unreacted imide catalyst and produce a treated effluent comprising said oxidized hydrocarbon product. The organic phase can then be recovered.
US08658830B2	Method to recover organic tertiary amines from waste sulfuric acid The present invention describes a method to recover organic tertiary amines from waste sulfuric acid comprising the following steps: a) reacting i) waste sulfuric acid comprising organic tertiary amines with ii) ammonia in an amount sufficient to obtain a pH of 9.5 or higher and b) separating the organic tertiary amines from the reaction mixture obtained in step a) wherein during the separation the pH of the reaction mixture is adjusted at a pH of 9.5 or higher.
US08658826B2	Amino acid derivatives used as pharmaceutical substances The invention relates to a method for improving bioavailability of pharmaceutical substances and for allowing the pharmaceutical substances to permeate the blood-brain barrier, the pharmaceutical substances having at least one or more amidine, guanidine, N-hydroxyamidine (amidoxime) or N-hydroxyguanidine functions. The invention also relates to medicaments containing the correspondingly modified pharmaceutical substances.
US08658821B2	Process for the preparation of nateglinide A one-pot process for the preparation of nateglinide, which process comprises reacting an alkyl ester of D-phenylalanine of formula (II): where R represents C1-4alkyl, typically methyl, either as the free base or in salt form (typically the hydrochloride), with trans-4-isopropylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid of formula (III): where X represents hydroxy or halo, typically chloro, to obtain a C1-4 alkyl ester of nateglinide of formula (IV), preferably the methyl ester of nateglinide: followed by hydrolysis to yield nateglinide of formula (I):
US08658819B2	N-substituted carbamic acid ester production method, isocyanate production method using such N-substituted carbamic acid ester, and composition for transfer and storage of N-substituted carbamic acid ester comprising N-substituted carbamic acid ester and aromatic hydroxy compound The present invention is a method for producing an N-substituted carbamic acid ester derived from an organic amine from an organic amine, a carbonic acid derivative and a hydroxy composition containing one or more types of hydroxy compounds, wherein the organic amine, the carbonic acid derivative and the hydroxy composition are reacted using a urethane production reaction vessel provided with a condenser, a gas containing the hydroxy composition, the compound having the carbonyl group derived from the carbonic acid derivative, and an ammonia formed as a by-product in the reaction, is introduced into the condenser provided in the urethane production reaction vessel, and the hydroxy composition and the compound having the carbonyl group derived from the carbonic acid derivative are condensed, and wherein a stoichiometric ratio of a hydroxy compound contained in the condensed hydroxy composition to the condensed compound having the carbonyl group derived from the carbonic acid derivative is 1 or more, and a ratio of number of carbonyl groups (—C(═O)—) contained in the compound having the carbonyl group derived from the carbonic acid derivative and number of ammonia molecules contained in the ammonia recovered as a gas from the condenser is 1 or less.
US08658817B2	Method of making mixed metal oxide catalysts for ammoxidation and/or oxidation of lower alkane hydrocarbons The present invention comprises a method for preparing a mixed oxide catalyst for use in producing acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile from propane or isobutane by ammoxidation in a gaseous phase via methods of contacting any one of the antimony compound, the molybdenum compound, and the vanadium compound with hydrogen peroxide prior to combining with source compounds for the remaining elements in the catalyst.
US08658814B2	Chemical and method for chelating metal ions included in water and separating/recovering of formed chelate The present invention relates to a chemical for chelation of metal ions, which are at least bivalent, contained in water and/or water enclosed objects and separation/recovering of formed chelate; the structural formula of which is formula (I) where R in at least one of the positions shown is comprised of a group in the form of a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain having from 9 to 20 carbon atoms, and where appropriate 1-2 hetero atoms, and which is missing in other position(s); and where X in shown positions is in a group in the form of —COOH or its salt; and wherein the chemical can be a racemate, a mixture of enantiomers, or pure enantiomers or where R is missing in all four positions shown X in at least one position is —COOR, —CONHR or —CH2OR or —COR or —CH2OCOR or —CH2OCONHR; and where X in the remaining positions shown is comprised of a group in the form of —COOH or its salt; and wherein the chemical can be a racemate, a mixture of enantiomers, or pure enantiomers.
US08658807B2	Hydrogenation process for the preparation of tetrahydrofuran and alkylated derivatives thereof A process is provided for the synthesis of tetrahydrofuran and related compounds by hydrogenation of furan and derivatives, using a sponge nickel catalyst that has been promoted with iron and chromium.
US08658802B2	Methods for the synthesis of deuterated vinyl pyridine monomers Methods for synthesizing deuterated vinylpyridine compounds of the Formula (1), wherein the method includes: (i) deuterating an acyl pyridine of the Formula (2) in the presence of a metal catalyst and D2O, wherein the metal catalyst is active for hydrogen exchange in water, to produce a deuterated acyl compound of Formula (3); (ii) reducing the compound of Formula (3) with a deuterated reducing agent to convert the acyl group to an alcohol group, and (iii) dehydrating the compound produced in step (ii) with a dehydrating agent to afford the vinylpyridine compound of Formula (1). The resulting deuterated vinylpyridine compounds are also described.
US08658788B2	Process for the production of 3-oxo-pregn-4-ene-21,17-carbolactones by the metal-free oxidation of 17-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,17-dihydroxyandrostanes This invention relates to processes for the production of 3-oxo-pregnane-21,17-carbolactones of formula II as well as 3-oxo-pregn-4-ene-21,17-carbolactones of formula III by the metal-free oxidation of 17-(3-hydroxypropyl)-3,17-dihydroxyandrostanes of formula I In addition, the invention relates to the dichloromethane hemisolvate of 6β,7β;15β,16β-dimethylene-3-oxo-17α-pregnan-5β-ol-21,17-carbolactone (IV) as such as well as to a process for the production of drospirenone.
US08658786B2	Self-repairing cyclic oxide-substituted chitosan polyurethane networks Thermosetting polymeric compositions, such as polyurethane compositions, and related methods are provided. The invention relates to coating and polymer compositions and related methods derived from a biodegradable natural polysaccharide compound such as chitosan, pectin, heparin, and combinations thereof reacted to a cyclic oxide compound, such as an oxetane, oxolane or oxepane compound. The compositions and methods of the present invention exhibit self-repairing properties upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The compositions and methods of the present invention can be used in many coating applications, such as the transportation, packaging, fashion, and biomedical industries.
US08658777B2	Activated protease indicator It is an object of the invention to provide novel approaches capable of detecting activated protease and also detecting protease activation on real time at a high sensitivity in a noninvasive manner. By the method for detecting activated protease of the invention, an indicator in a circular form comprising the C-half fragment of luciferase (Luc-C) and the N-half fragment of luciferase (Luc-N) linked together through a substrate peptide for a protease is introduced in an in vitro assay system or in cells. Upon digestion of the substrate peptide by the protease, Luc-N and Luc-C together reconstructs active luciferase, so that the activated protease can be detected by assaying the luminescence signal from the luciferase.
US08658771B2	Humanized antibodies against human interferon-alpha The present invention provides humanized anti-human IFN-α monoclonal antibodies useful for therapeutic applications in humans. Preferred antibodies are humanized versions of murine antibodies ACO-1 and ACO-2, as well as variants thereof.
US08658764B2	Peptide fragments for inducing synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins Short biologically active tetrapeptides are disclosed that are comprised of the sequences GxxG and PxxP where G (glycine) and P (proline) are maintained and x is a variable amino acid. The peptides can be used singly or in combination to stimulate production of extracellular matrix proteins in skin. A rapid, low-cost method of producing heterogenous formulations of tetrapeptides is disclosed.
US08658759B2	Switchable self-doped polyaniline A substituted polyaniline whose self-doped state can be controlled via complexation between boronic acid groups along the backbone with D-fructose in the presence of fluoride is described. For the first time, this allows the formation of a water-soluble, self-doped conducting polymer under the polymerization conditions. In turn this facilitates the growth of polyaniline over a wider pH range.
US08658755B2	Silicon-containing curable composition and cured product thereof Provided is a silicon-containing curable composition which includes a prepolymer (A) containing two or more Si—H groups in one molecule, which is obtained by subjecting one or more kinds of a cyclic siloxane compound (α) represented the following formula (1) and one or more kinds of a compound (β) represented by the following formula (2), to a hydrosilylation reaction; a cyclic siloxane compound (B) containing, in one molecule, two or more carbon-carbon double bonds that are reactive with Si—H groups; a polysiloxane compound (C) which is different from the prepolymer (A) and the cyclic siloxane compound (B); and a hydrosilylation catalyst (D). In formula (1), R1 to R3 each represent an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group; a represents a number from 2 to 10; and b represents a number from 0 to 8. In formula (2), n represents the number 1 or 2.
US08658739B2	Polyolefin-based resin composition and molded article Provided is a polyolefin-based resin composition comprising from 30 to 90% by mass of a polyolefin resin (A), from 1 to 50% by mass of an aliphatic polyester-based resin (B) , from 1 to 40% by mass of an ethylene-octene rubber (C) having a melt flow rates being higher than 3 g/10 minutes and not higher than 40 g/10 minutes, and from 0.01 to 20% by mass of an epoxy group-containing ethylene-based polymers (D); molded articles obtainable by molding the composition is superior in tensile elongation and impact resistance.
US08658738B2	Curable resin composition A curable resin composition, comprising 100 parts by mass of a (meth)acrylic polymer (A) having, at a terminal thereof, at least one crosslinkable silyl group; 0.1 to 100 parts by mass of a diamine compound (B) having a monovalent or bivalent aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon group that has 8 or more carbon atoms and may be branched and having at least one primary amino group; and 0.1 to 100 parts by mass of a diamine compound (C) having a monovalent aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon group that has 8 or more carbon atoms and may be branched, and having a crosslinkable silyl group and/or a (meth)acryloyl group.
US08658733B2	Process for the preparation of monodisperse polymer particles A process for the preparation of monodisperse polymer particles which are formed by contacting monomers with aqueous dispersions comprising monodisperse swellable seed polymers/oligomers, and initiating polymerization in the presence of a steric stabilizer. The resulting swollen seed particles are characterized by the particle mode diameter.
US08658725B2	Material having cross-linked polyrotaxane, and method for producing same Disclosed are a material having high flexibility and a high dielectric constant, and a method for producing same: a material having a first polyrotaxane and a second polyrotaxane, wherein the first polyrotaxane comprises first blocking groups being disposed at both ends of a first pseudo-polyrotaxane—formed from the opening of a first circular molecule being enclathrated by being skewered by a first linear chain molecule—in a manner so that the first circular molecule does not detach; the second polyrotaxane comprises second blocking groups being disposed at both ends of a second pseudo-polyrotaxane—formed from the opening of a second circular molecule being enclathrated by being skewered by a second linear chain molecule—in a manner so that the second circular molecule does not detach; said first and second polyrotaxane are formed from crosslinking with the first and second circular molecules therebetween; said material is solvent free; and the material has a dielectric constant at 1 kHz of at least 6.0.
US08658716B2	Multilayer polymeric article having a metallic variegated look The invention relates to extruded polymeric sheet and articles with an appearance and a texture that can be varied to produce natural-looking variegated materials, that have a metallic or opalescent look. The appearance can simulate natural materials, such as granite, minerals, stone, metal ore. The extruded polymer sheet or article contains at least one polymer composite appearance layer having crosslinked polymer particles and metallic and/or pearlescent materials distributed in a thermoplastic matrix. The thermoplastic matrix can be pigmented or unpigmented. There extruded sheet or article has a transparent thermoplastic cap layer on the side facing the environment. The particle-containing layer can be coextruded in a multi-layer sheet that could include substrate layers and the cap layer.
US08658715B2	White ink composition A white ink composition contains a white coloring material and a fixing resin component. The fixing resin component includes a styrene acrylic resin and a urethane resin at a mass ratio of the styrene acrylic resin to the urethane resin (styrene acrylic resin/urethane resin) of at least 1/10.
US08658712B2	Methods of treatment of the dental pulp and filling root canals using water-based material Improved compositions comprising a mixture of particulate materials with water-based liquids containing water-soluble polymers and surfactants are provided. Examples of particulate powders include mixtures of calcium silicate, calcium aluminate, calcium sulfate, and hydroxyapatite. Examples of water-soluble polymers include polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates, polyacrylic acid, and polymethacrylic acid. Surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate are added to the composition to interact with the polymeric materials. The compositions are particularly suitable for sealing and obturating dental root canals and root apices. The composition provides a stable barrier to bacterial and fluid leakage in the root canal system of a tooth. In addition, the compositions help promote the growth of new bone and tissue surrounding the root-tip area or dentin tissue that covers an injured or amputated pulp.
US08658710B2	Oxidation-resistant and wear-resistant polyethylenes for human joint replacements and methods for making them The present invention presents methods for making oxidation-resistant and wear-resistant polyethylenes and medical implants made therefrom. Preferably, the implants are components of prosthetic joints, e.g., a bearing component of an artificial hip or knee joint. The resulting oxidation-resistant and wear-resistant polyethylenes and implants are also disclosed.
US08658708B2	Foam-forming compositions containing azeotropic or azeotrope-like mixtures containing Z-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene and methyl formate and their uses in the preparation of polyisocyanate-based foams Foam-forming compositions containing azeotropic or azeotrope-like mixtures containing cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene are disclosed. The foam-forming composition contains (a) an azeotropic or azeotrope-like mixture of cis-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene with methyl formate, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, pentane, isopentane, cyclopentane, HFC-245fa, or dimethoxymethane; and (b) an active hydrogen-containing compound having two or more active hydrogens. Also disclosed is a closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam prepared from reaction of an effective amount of the foam-forming composition with a suitable polyisocyanate. Also disclosed is a process for producing a closed-cell polyurethane or polyisocyanurate polymer foam by reacting an effective amount of the foam-forming composition with a suitable polyisocyanate.
US08658676B2	Clevidipine emulsion formulations containing antimicrobial agents Pharmaceutical formulations comprising clevidipine in an oil-in-water formulation that is resistant to microbial growth and stable against the formation of impurities.
US08658674B2	Thiophene analogues for the treatment or prevention of flavivirus infections Compounds represented by formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein R1, X, Y, and Z are as defined herein, are useful for treating flaviviridae viral infections.
US08658668B2	PI3 kinase/mTOR dual inhibitor The present invention provides an imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-2-one compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that inhibits both PI3K and mTOR and, therefore, is useful in the treatment of cancer.
US08658665B2	3,6-disubstituted xanthylium salts and use thereof in treatment of tauopathies This invention pertains generally to processes, uses, methods and materials utilizing particular xanthylium compounds, including compounds of formula (I) and (II), as further defined herein. These compounds are useful as drugs, for example, in the treatment of tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease.
US08658658B2	Compound, certain novel forms thereof, pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods for preparation and use Compound of Formula A and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and crystalline Forms I and II of Compound of Formula A! Also, methods for the preparation of such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for their uses.
US08658656B2	Methods and compositions utilizing quinazolinones Quinazolinones of formulae 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d are disclosed. They are useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases and disorders associated with KSP kinesin activity.
US08658651B2	Compounds that are ERK inhibitors Disclosed are the ERK inhibitors of formula 1.0: (Formula (A1)), and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and solvates thereof. Q is a piperidine ring that can have a bridge or a fused ring. All other substitutents are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of treating cancer using the compounds of formula A1.
US08658643B2	Pyrimidinyl pyridazinone derivatives Compounds selected from the group according to claim 1 are inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, in particular of Met kinase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumours.
US08658639B2	N-substituted-cyclic amino derivative The present invention provides a compound of formula (I): wherein R1a is optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl, etc.; R1m is hydrogen atom, etc.; G1, G2, G3 and G4 are (i), etc. ((i) G1 is —N(R1b)—, G2 is —CO—, G3 is —C(R1c)(R1d)—, and G4 is oxygen, etc.); R1b is optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl, etc.; R1c and R1d are each independently optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl, etc.; R2 is optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl, etc.; R3a, R3b, R3c and R3d are each independently a group: -A-B (A is a single bond, etc., B is hydrogen atom, etc.), etc.; n is 1, etc.; R5 is C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, etc., or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is useful as a renin inhibitor.
US08658637B2	Glucocorticoid mimetics, methods of making them, pharmaceutical compositions and uses thereof Compounds of Formula (IA) wherein R1, R2, R3, A, B, C, D, E, G, X, Y, and Z are as defined herein, or a tautomer, prodrug, solvate, or salt thereof; pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and methods of modulating the glucocorticoid receptor function and methods of treating disease-states or conditions mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor function or characterized by inflammatory, allergic, or proliferative processes in a patient using these compounds.
US08658633B2	Methods and compositions for treating conditions of the eye Provided are methods and compositions for treating ocular conditions characterized by the presence of unwanted choroidal neovasculature, for example, neovascular age-related macular degeneration. The selectivity and sensitivity of, for example, a photodynamic therapy (PDT)-based approach can be enhanced by combining the PDT with an ansamycin analog or heat shock protein 90 inhibitor, for example, 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin.
US08658632B2	Arachidonic acid analogs and methods for analgesic treatment using same The present invention provides arachidonic acid (AA) analogs and compositions containing those analogs as active agents for use in analgesic treatments. Various methods of manufacturing the inventive compounds are provided and pharmaceutical formulations, including injectable and oral dosages, are described. Certain analogs are additionally useful as antipyretic compositions and in related fever reducing treatments.
US08658631B1	Combination composition comprising oxycodone and acetaminophen for rapid onset and extended duration of analgesia The present disclosure provides an extended release pharmaceutical composition comprising oxycodone and acetaminophen that provides a rapid onset of analgesia, and reduced levels of acetaminophen near the end of the dosing interval. Also provided are methods for reducing the risk of acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage in a subject being treated with an acetaminophen containing composition, as well as methods for treating pain in a subject in need thereof.
US08658629B2	Use of lanostane and Poria extract in treating cachexia A pharmaceutical composition for treating cachexia, and in particular for treating cancer cachexia. The composition contains a lanostane compound as a potent component. A suitable source of the lanostane compound is a Poria extract from metabolite, sclerotium, or fermentation product of Poria cocos (Schw) Wolf. The Poria extract contains 1-60% of the lanostane compounds by weight of the extract, and is devoid of secolanostane.
US08658620B2	Pharmaceutical composition, use of 2-iminopyrrolidine derivative for production of pharmaceutical composition, and kit for treatment or amelioration of heart diseases One embodiment of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one specific 2-iminopyrrolidine derivative and at least one other compound (B). Another embodiment of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one specific 2-iminopyrrolidine derivative, which is to be used in combination with at least one other compound (B). According to the present invention, there are provided pharmaceutical compositions capable of treating or ameliorating diseases, such as heart diseases, effectively.
US08658612B2	Therapeutic agent for malignant mesothelioma and immunostimulant A method for potentiating the antitumor immunity in an animal by administering REIC/Dkk-3, or a therapeutic agent for malignant mesothelioma containing REIC/Dkk-3, or a vector containing the DNA as an active ingredient; wherein the DNA consists of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; or (b) a DNA hybridizing under stringent conditions to the DNA consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 and encoding a protein having apoptosis-inducing activity and interleukin (IL-7) production-accelerating activity in cells.
US08658610B2	Replication-competent anti-cancer vectors Novel vectors which are replication competent in neoplastic cells and which overexpress an adenovirus death protein are disclosed. Some of the disclosed vectors are replication-restricted to neoplastic cells or to neoplastic alveolar type II cells. Compositions and methods for promoting the death of neoplastic cells using these replication-competent vectors are also disclosed.
US08658608B2	Modified triple-helix forming oligonucleotides for targeted mutagenesis High affinity, chemically modified triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) and methods for use thereof are disclosed. TFOs are defined as triplex-forming oligonucleotides which bind as third strands to duplex DNA in a sequence specific manner. Triplex-forming oligonucleotides may be comprised of any possible combination of nucleotides and modified nucleotides. Modified nucleotides may contain chemical modifications of the heterocyclic base, sugar moiety or phosphate moiety. A high affinity oligonucleotide (Kd≦2×10−8) which forms a triple strand with a specific DNA segment of a target gene DNA is generated. It is preferable that the Kd for the high affinity oligonucleotide is below 2×10−10. The nucleotide binds or hybridizes to a target sequence within a target gene or target region of a chromosome, forming a triplex region. The binding of the oligonucleotide to the target region stimulates mutations within or adjacent to the target region using cellular DNA synthesis, recombination, and repair mechanisms. The mutation generated activates, inactivates, or alters the activity and function of the target gene.
US08658605B2	Bioactivity composition of Reevesia formosana A series cardenolide derivatives including structure of formula I from the root of Reevesia formosana have provided. In formula (1) and (2), where R3, R5, R10 and R16 are as defined in the specification. The derivatives compounds showed potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7, NCI-H460, and HepG2 cancer cell lines.
US08658599B2	Peptide for the prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of skin tumors in initial stages A method to inhibit the formation of skin tumors at early stages and their subsequent progression to carcinoma in a mammal is described, the method including the topical application to the mammal's skin of a composition that includes a therapeutically effective amount of disitertide, together with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents.
US08658596B2	Biglycan and related therapeutics and methods of use The invention provides compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing diseases or conditions associated with an abnormal level or activity of biglycan; disorders associated with an unstable cytoplasmic membrane, due, e.g., to an unstable dystrophin associated protein complex (DAPC); disorders associated with abnormal synapses or neuromuscular junctions, including those resulting from an abnormal MuSK activation or acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregation. Examples of diseases include muscular dystrophies, such as Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy, Becker's Muscular Dystrophy, neuromuscular disorders and neurological disorders.
US08658586B2	Copolymer for surface processing or modification The invention relates to a composition for processing and/or modifying surfaces, particularly hard surfaces or textile surfaces. The composition includes a synthetic copolymer including cationic units and other units
US08658585B2	Detergent products, methods and manufacture A water-soluble pouch suitable for use in machine dishwashing and which comprises a plurality of compartments in generally superposed or superposable relationship, each containing one or more detergent active or auxiliary components, and wherein the pouch has a volume of from about 5 to about 70 ml and a longitudinal/transverse aspect ratio in the range from about 2:1 to about 1:8, preferably from about 1:1 to about 1:4. The water-soluble pouch allows for optimum delivery of dishwashing detergent. A process for the manufacture of multi-compartment pouches and a pack to contain the pouches are also disclosed.
US08658583B2	Method for making a photoresist stripping solution comprising an organic sulfonic acid and an organic hydrocarbon solvent An improved method for making a photoresist stripping solution for a metal-containing semi-conductor substrate where the stripping solution comprises a blend of at least one organic sulfonic acid with a halogen-free hydrocarbon solvent wherein concentrations of trace amounts of residual sulfuric acid and sulfur trioxide in the blend are reduced to very low levels.
US08658582B2	Clear cosmetic compositions containing lipophilic materials The present invention is directed toward a composition comprising: (a) at least one alkoxylated monoamine; (b) at least one alkoxylated monoacid; (c) at least one lipophilic compound; (d) at least one surfactant; (e) optionally, at least one auxiliary ingredient; and (f) at least one cosmetically acceptable carrier; wherein the ratio by weight of (b):(a) is greater than 1 and wherein the ratio by weight of (a)+(b):(c) is greater than 2. The present invention also relates to methods for cleansing and conditioning keratinous substrates. The methods can provide hair with improved shine, condition, manageability, and styling ability.
US08658580B2	Superabsorbing gel for actinide, lanthanide, and fission product decontamination The present invention provides an aqueous gel composition for removing actinide ions, lanthanide ions, fission product ions, or a combination thereof from a porous surface contaminated therewith. The composition comprises a polymer mixture comprising a gel forming cross-linked polymer and a linear polymer. The linear polymer is present at a concentration that is less than the concentration of the cross-linked polymer. The polymer mixture is at least about 95% hydrated with an aqueous solution comprising about 0.1 to about 3 percent by weight (wt %) of a multi-dentate organic acid chelating agent, and about 0.02 to about 0.4 molar (M) carbonate salt, to form a gel. When applied to a porous surface contaminated with actinide ions, lanthanide ions, and/or other fission product ions, the aqueous gel absorbs contaminating ions from the surface.
US08658568B2	6-amino-2-substituted-5-vinylsilylpyrimidine-4-carboxylic acids and esters and 4-amino-6-substituted-3-vinylsilylpyridine-2-carboxylic acids and esters as herbicides 6-Amino-2-substituted-5-vinylsilylpyrimidine-4-carboxylates and 4-amino-6-substituted-3-vinylsilylpyridine-picolinates and their amine and acid derivatives are potent herbicides demonstrating a broad spectrum of weed control.
US08658560B1	Hydrogenation catalyst for nitro-aromatic compounds and method for preparing the same The present invention relates to a hydrogenation catalyst for nitro-aromatic compounds, especially nitrobenzene and a method for preparing the same. Particularly, the present invention relates to a hydrogenation catalyst for nitrobenzene, which contains palladium and zinc on a carrier, and is prepared by a process comprising steps of: fixing a zinc component on a carrier; and fixing a palladium component on the carrier on which the zinc component is fixed. Further, it is applicable for a corresponding process for preparing aromatic amino compounds by way of a reaction for hydrogenating nitro-aromatic compounds, and demonstrates improved selectivity, reactivity and stability.
US08658552B2	Chromia-containing refractory A high-chromia refractory, comprised of: about 60% to about 99% by weight of refractory grain, wherein the refractory grain is comprised of grains having about 20% to 100% by weight chromia; 0% to about 35% by weight of a fine particulate, the fine particulate selected from chromic oxide, alumina, ceria, yttria, lanthanum oxide, or combinations thereof; and about 1% to about 8% of a liquid resin or pitch.
US08658551B2	Creep-resistant zircon article and method of manufacturing same A creep-resistant zircon article and a method of manufacturing the creep-resistant zircon article are described herein. In one example, the creep-resistant zircon article has the shape of a forming apparatus (e.g., isopipe) which is used in the fusion process to manufacture glass sheets.
US08658546B2	Solution composition for forming oxide thin film and electronic device including the oxide thin film A solution composition for forming an oxide thin film may include a first compound including zinc, a second compound including indium, and a third compound including magnesium or hafnium, and an electronic device may include an oxide semiconductor including zinc, indium, and magnesium. The zinc and hafnium may be included at an atomic ratio of about 1:0.01 to about 1:1.
US08658541B2	Method of controlling trench microloading using plasma pulsing Methods and apparatus for controlling microloading, such as within cell microloading between adjacent cells or isolated/dense microloading between areas of isolated or dense features during shallow trench isolation (STI) fabrication processes, or other trench fabrication processes, are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for fabricating STI structures may include providing a substrate having a patterned mask layer formed thereon corresponding to one or more STI structures to be etched; etching the substrate through the patterned mask layer using a plasma formed from a process gas to form one or more STI structure recesses on the substrate; and pulsing the plasma for at least a portion of etching the substrate to control at least one of a depth or width of the one or more STI structure recesses.
US08658540B2	Methods for low temperature conditioning of process chambers Methods for removing residue from interior surfaces of process chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of conditioning interior surfaces of a process chamber may include maintaining a process chamber at a first pressure and at a first temperature of less than about 800 degrees Celsius; providing a process gas to the process chamber at the first pressure and the first temperature, wherein the process gas comprises chlorine and nitrogen to remove residue disposed on interior surfaces of the process chamber; and increasing the pressure in the process chamber from the first pressure to a second pressure while continuing to provide the process gas to the process chamber.
US08658538B2	Method of fabricating memory device A method of fabricating a memory device includes forming a plurality of first insulative blocks and a plurality of second insulative blocks arranged in an alternating manner in a substrate, forming a plurality of wide trenches in the substrate to form a plurality of protruding blocks, forming a word line on each sidewall of the protruding blocks, isolating the word line on each sidewall of the protruding block, and forming an trench filler in the protruding block to form two mesa structures, wherein the first insulative block and the second insulative block have different depths, and the wide trenches are transverse to the first insulative blocks.
US08658533B2	Semiconductor interconnect structure with multi-layered seed layer providing enhanced reliability and minimizing electromigration An interconnect structure and method for forming a multi-layered seed layer for semiconductor interconnections are disclosed. Specifically, the method and structure involves utilizing sequential catalytic chemical vapor deposition, which is followed by annealing, to form the multi-layered seed layer of an interconnect structure. The multi-layered seed layer will improve electromigration resistance, decrease void formation, and enhance reliability of ultra-large-scale integration (ULSI) chips.
US08658531B2	Method of forming connection holes The present invention provides a method of forming connection holes. The method utilizes two different gases to perform two etching processes for the interlayer dielectric layer so as to form connection holes. The etching rate of the interlayer dielectric layer in the first etching process using the first etching gas is proportional to the size of the openings which defines the connection hole while the etching rate of the interlayer dielectric layer in the second etching process using the second etching gas is inversely related with size of the openings. According to the present invention, the first etching gas and the second etching gas compensate for each other to eliminate the loading effect, thus the connection holes are formed with almost the same depth. Therefore the damage of the etching stopper layer due to the high etching rate in the larger connection holes can be avoided, which prevents the excessive variation of the connecting resistance and expands the process window.
US08658530B2	Method of fabricating an epitaxial Ni silicide film An epitaxial Ni silicide film that is substantially non-agglomerated at high temperatures, and a method for forming the epitaxial Ni silicide film, is provided. The Ni silicide film of the present disclosure is especially useful in the formation of ETSOI (extremely thin silicon-on-insulator) Schottky junction source/drain FETs. The resulting epitaxial Ni silicide film exhibits improved thermal stability and does not agglomerate at high temperatures.
US08658528B2	Bumping process and structure thereof A bumping process includes providing a silicon substrate; forming a titanium-containing metal layer on silicon substrate, the titanium-containing metal layer comprises a plurality of first areas and a plurality of second areas; forming a first photoresist layer on titanium-containing metal layer; patterning the first photoresist layer to form a plurality of first opening slots; forming a plurality of copper bumps within first opening slots, said copper bump comprises a first top surface and a first ring surface; removing the first photoresist layer; forming a second photoresist layer on titanium-containing metal layer; patterning the second photoresist layer to form a plurality of second opening slots; forming a plurality of bump isolation layers at spaces, the first top surfaces and the first ring surfaces; forming a plurality of connective layers on bump isolation layers; removing the second photoresist layer, removing the second areas to form an under bump metallurgy layer.
US08658511B1	Etching resistive switching and electrode layers Provided are methods for etching resistive switching and electrode layers in resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells. Both types of layers are etched in the same operation. This approach simplifies processing in comparison to conventional etching, in which each layer is etched individually. The composition of etchants and process conditions are specifically selected to provide robust and effective etching of both types of layers. The two etching rates may be comparable and may be substantially the same, in some embodiments. Plasma etching involving tri-fluoro-methane and oxygen containing etchants may be used on electrode materials, such as titanium nitride, platinum, and ruthenium, and on resistive switching materials, such as oxides of transition metals. For example, a combination of titanium nitride and hafnium oxide may be etched using such processes. In some embodiments, an etched stack includes a third layer, which may function as a current limiter in ReRAM cells.
US08658505B2	Embedded stressors for multigate transistor devices Multigate transistor devices and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. In accordance with one method, a fin and a gate structure that is disposed on a plurality of surfaces of the fin are formed. In addition, at least a portion of an extension of the fin is removed to form a recessed portion that is below the gate structure, is below a channel region of the fin, and includes at least one angled indentation. Further, a terminal extension is grown in the at least one angled indentation below the channel region and along a surface of the channel region such that the terminal extension provides a stress on the channel region to enhance charge carrier mobility in the channel region.
US08658504B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a depression in an upper portion of a semiconductor substrate, placing a sacrificial material in the depression, forming a plurality of fins extending in one direction and arranged periodically by selectively removing the semiconductor substrate and the sacrificial material, forming a device isolation insulating film in a lower portion of space between the fins, removing the sacrificial material, forming a gate insulating film on an exposed surface of the fin, and forming a gate electrode. The gate electrode extends in a direction crossing the one direction so as to straddle the fin on the device isolation insulating film.
US08658490B2	Passivating point defects in high-K gate dielectric layers during gate stack formation Generally, the present disclosure is directed to techniques for improving the reliability of semiconductor devices with high-k gate dielectric layers by passivating point defects during the gate stack formation. One illustrative method disclosed herein includes performing a plurality of material deposition cycles to form a high-k dielectric layer above a semiconductor material layer, and introducing a passivating material into a gaseous precursor that is used for forming the high-k dielectric layer during at least one of the plurality of material deposition cycles.
US08658482B2	Compound semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same The compound semiconductor device comprises an i-GaN buffer layer 12 formed on an SiC substrate 10; an n-AlGaN electron supplying layer 16 formed on the i-GaN buffer layer 12; an n-GaN cap layer 18 formed on the n-AlGaN electron supplying layer 16; a source electrode 20 and a drain electrode 22 formed on the n-GaN cap layer 18; a gate electrode 26 formed on the n-GaN cap layer 18 between the source electrode 20 and the drain electrode 22; a first protection layer 24 formed on the n-GaN cap layer 18 between the source electrode 20 and the drain electrode 22; and a second protection layer 30 buried in an opening 28 formed in the first protection layer 24 between the gate electrode 26 and the drain electrode 22 down to the n-GaN cap layer 18 and formed of an insulation film different from the first protection layer.
US08658481B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device A reduction in contaminating impurities in a TFT, and a TFT which is reliable, is obtained in a semiconductor device which uses the TFT. By removing contaminating impurities residing in a film interface of the TFT using a solution containing fluorine, a reliable TFT can be obtained.
US08658476B1	Low temperature P+ polycrystalline silicon material for non-volatile memory device A method of forming a non-volatile memory device. The method includes providing a substrate having a surface region and forming a first dielectric material overlying the surface region of the substrate. A first electrode structure is formed overlying the first dielectric material and a p+ polycrystalline silicon germanium material is formed overlying the first electrode structure. A p+ polycrystalline silicon material is formed overlying the first electrode structure using the polycrystalline silicon germanium material as a seed layer at a deposition temperature ranging from about 430 Degree Celsius to about 475 Degree Celsius without further anneal. The method forms a resistive switching material overlying the polycrystalline silicon material, and a second electrode structure including an active metal material overlying the resistive switching material.
US08658457B2	Method of producing semiconductor device, solid-state imaging device, method of producing electric apparatus, and electric apparatus There is provided a method of producing a semiconductor device. The method includes the steps of: forming a first hard mask having an opening above a substrate; forming a sacrificial film above a side surface of the opening of the first hard mask; forming a second hard mask in the opening having the sacrificial film above the side surface; removing the sacrificial film after the second hard mask is formed; ion implanting a first conductivity-type impurity through the first hard mask; and ion implanting a second conductivity-type impurity through the first and second hard masks.
US08658454B2	Method of fabricating a solar cell Methods of fabricating solar cells are described. A porous layer may be formed on a surface of a substrate, the porous layer including a plurality of particles and a plurality of voids. A solution may be dispensed into one or more regions of the porous layer to provide a patterned composite layer. The substrate may then be heated.
US08658452B2	Low temperature ceramic microelectromechanical structures A method of providing microelectromechanical structures (MEMS) that are compatible with silicon CMOS electronics is provided. The method providing for processes and manufacturing sequences limiting the maximum exposure of an integrated circuit upon which the MEMS is manufactured to below 350° C., and potentially to below 250° C., thereby allowing direct manufacturing of the MEMS devices onto electronics, such as Si CMOS circuits. The method further providing for the provisioning of MEMS devices with multiple non-conductive structural layers such as silicon carbide separated with small lateral gaps. Such silicon carbide structures offering enhanced material properties, increased environmental and chemical resilience whilst also allowing novel designs to be implemented taking advantage of the non-conductive material of the structural layer. The use of silicon carbide being beneficial within the formation of MEMS elements such as motors, gears, rotors, translation drives, etc where increased hardness reduces wear of such elements during operation.
US08658449B2	Semiconductor layer, method of manufacturing the same, laser diode, and method of manufacturing the same A method of manufacturing a semiconductor layer with which inactivation of impurity is able to be inhibited by a simple method, a semiconductor layer in which inactivation of impurity is inhibited, a method of manufacturing a laser diode with which inactivation of impurity is able to be inhibited by a simple method, and a laser diode including a semiconductor layer in which inactivation of impurity is inhibited are provided. In the method of manufacturing a semiconductor layer, after a semiconductor layer is formed by epitaxial growth with the use of AsH3, supply of AsH3 is stopped without separately supplying new gas when process temperature is 500 deg C. or more.
US08658445B2	Method for manufacturing phosphor film and method for making LED package having the phosphor film A method for manufacturing a phosphor film for use in the an LED package, includes following steps: providing a mold comprising a first and a second molding part, the first molding part and the second molding part cooperatively forming a molding chamber, the first molding part defining an opening communicating with the molding chamber; filling a mixture of phosphor particles and a transparent glue into the first opening; moving a piston in the first opening along a direction from the first molding part to the second molding part, thereby pressing the mixture into the molding chamber; solidifying the mixture to form a phosphor film; and removing the phosphor film from the mold. The phosphor film is used to be attached to a top face of an LED chip opposite a substrate on which the LED chip is mounted.
US08658441B2	Method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor light emitting element To provide a method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor light emitting element, which has a small number of steps and thus, can improve productivity, the method of manufacturing a nitride semiconductor light emitting element including a nitride semiconductor light emitting element structure having an n-type nitride semiconductor layer and a p-side nitride semiconductor layer which are laminated on a substrate, an n-side pad electrode connecting surface and a p-side pad electrode connecting surface which are formed on the same plane of the substrate; a n-side pad electrode on the n-side pad electrode connecting surface; and a p-side pad electrode on the p-side pad electrode connecting surface, and in the manufacturing method, a pad electrode layer forming step, a resist pattern forming step, a pad electrode layer etching step, a protective layer forming step and a resist pattern removing step are sequentially performed.
US08658438B2	Measurement of lateral diffusion of implanted ions in doped well region of semiconductor devices The invention provides a measurement of lateral diffusion of implanted ions in the doped well regions of semiconductor devices comprising: designing a test model having active areas, the P-type and N-type doped well regions of the active areas are separated by STI, and the bottom width of the STI is determined; performing multiple processes on the test model comprising the ion implantation process and the tungsten interconnection process to simulate a semiconductor device structure, wherein during the ion implantation process, in the P-type or N-type doped well regions, only the first procedure of the ion implantation process is performed; scanning the test model, obtaining a light-dark pattern of the tungsten interconnects. The present invention is convenient and accessible and can provide reference to optimize the property of the doped well regions of the semiconductor devices and ensure the yield enhancement.
US08658432B2	Si/Si3N4 system nanosized particles, biosubstance labeling agent employing the nanosized particles, and method of manufacturing the nanosized particles An objective is to provide Si/Si3N4 system nanosized particles each exhibiting reduced environmental load together with minimized bio toxicity, excellent chemical stability, enhanced relative light emission intensity, and less degradation of emission intensity during continuous exposure to light; a biosubstance labeling agent capable of keeping on labeling a biosubstance exhibiting luminance enhanced for a long duration with the Si/Si3N4 system nanosized semiconductor particle of the present invention; and also a method of manufacturing the Si/Si3N4 system nanosized semiconductor particle of the present invention.
US08658429B1	Photoluminescent oxygen probe tack A photoluminescent oxygen probe including a tack with a layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive and an oxygen-sensitive photoluminescent element on the underside of the head. The probe is effective for sensing oxygen concentration within an enclosed space by puncturing the container defining the enclosed space the with the probe's shank and adhering the underside of the probe's head to the container so as to sealingly surround the puncture, thereby placing the oxygen-sensitive photoluminescent dye on the underside of the probe's head into sensible communication with the enclosed space through the puncture hole.
US08658428B2	Methodology for determination of nitrogen content in nitrocellulose In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of determining the nitrogen content in nitrocellulose by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). It is within the scope of the invention for the sample of nitrocellulose to be unstable nitrocellulose, unrefined nitrocellulose, or refined nitrocellulose. The sample of nitrocellulose can wet or dry. A sample of nitrocellulose that is wet can be in acid or in water. Before HPLC, the sample is dissolved in a suitable solvent. The nitrogen content of the sample is determined by comparing the retention time of the sample to a graph of retention time to amount of nitrogen due to the linear correlation of retention time and percent nitrogen substitution.
US08658421B2	Circulatory photobioreactor A circulatory photobioreactor is provided. The circulatory photobioreactor comprises a first cultivating part, a second cultivating part and a pump part connecting the first cultivating part and the second cultivating part. The first cultivating part comprises a culture tank in which culture media are supplied and a first light source coupled to the culture tank, which illuminates the inside of the culture tank. The second cultivating part comprises a culture pipe placed outside of the culture tank and supplied with cultures from the culture tank and a second light source coupled to the culture pipe, which illuminates the inside of the culture pipe. The pump part is connected to both the first cultivating part and the second cultivating part in order to circulate the culture solution between them.
US08658419B2	Heat transfer baffle system and uses thereof This disclosure describes an improved heat transfer system for use in reaction vessels used in chemical and biological processes. In one embodiment, a heat transfer baffle comprising two sub-assemblies adjoined to one another is provided.
US08658411B2	Method of treating wastewater containing organic compound The problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a method of treating an organic substance-containing waste liquid, and a treatment apparatus therefor, and an additive for treating an organic substance-containing waste liquid, and a bacterium for degrading an organic substance component or the like in the waste liquid, capable of accomplishing at least one of treatment of the organic substance-containing waste liquid with a high efficiency and a high treatment rate, without substantially generating a foul odor, and obtainment of water quality that is suitable for releasing to sewage, a public water area, or the like. This problem is solved by providing a method of treating an organic substance-containing waste liquid characterized by contacting an activated sludge containing a specified bacterium with an organic substance-containing waste liquid. The invention also provides a treatment apparatus therefor and an additive for treating an organic substance-containing waste liquid which is used by adding the additive to an activated sludge in a treatment tank in which a specified bacterium is present, and a specified bacterium for degrading an organic substance-containing waste liquid.
US08658406B2	EGVII endoglucanase and nucleic acids encoding the same The present invention provides a novel endoglucanase nucleic acid sequence, designated egl7, and the corresponding EGVII amino acid sequence. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding EGVII, recombinant EGVII proteins and methods for producing the same.
US08658402B2	Process for the production of esters Methods for producing an ester from a gas comprising carbon monoxide. More specifically the invention provides for methods for producing one or more products by the anaerobic fermentation of a gaseous substrate comprising CO and the subsequent conversion of the one or more products to an ester in a down-stream reaction. The invention further provides methods for improving the efficiency of the production of esters from gaseous substrates.
US08658374B2	Binding of aggregated forms of proteins Aggregating proteins such as IgG, are bound selectively in the presence of the non-aggregated protein using a polyionic binding agent such as dextran sulphate or pentosan (anionic), or polyamine compounds such as pDADMAC (cationic) under selective binding conditions including the use of n-lauroylsarcosine at mildly alkaline pH, and may then be assayed.
US08658371B2	Means and method for determining tumor cell percentage in a sample The invention provides a method for determining the percentage of tumor cells in a sample of an individual, preferably a breast sample. More specifically, the invention provides one or more genes than can be used to determine the percentage of tumor cells. The invention further provides a set of probes, a set of primers, and uses thereof for detection of said one or more genes.
US08658365B2	Nucleic acid synthesis compositions and methods and systems for using same The Application relates to compositions, kits, methods, and systems for nucleotide sequencing comprising producing polymerase reactions that comprise both catalytic and non-catalytic divalent metal ions. Effective ratios and amounts of catalytic and non-catalytic divalent metal ions are described.
US08658357B2	Orotate transporter encoding marker genes A recombinant marker gene encoding an orotate transporter polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 60% identical to SEQ ID NO: 2, a polynucleotide construct comprising at least one copy of the recombinant marker gene, a cell comprising at least one exogenous copy of the marker gene, and a method of selecting or identifying a cell comprising at least one copy of the recombinant marker gene, and/or selecting or identifying a cell which has been cured of the recombinant marker gene.
US08658350B2	Methods for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease Methods for detecting an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in a subject are disclosed, wherein the subject is a child, a subject with a latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Method are also disclose for detecting an extra-pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a subject. The methods include detecting the presence of CD8+ T cells that specifically recognize an Mtb polypeptide. The methods include in vitro assays for detecting the presence of CD8+ T cells in a biological sample.
US08658349B2	Cell analysis apparatus and method Devices and methods that measure one or more properties of a living cell culture that is contained in liquid media within a vessel, and typically analyzes plural cell cultures contained in plural vessels such as the wells of a multiwell microplate substantially in parallel. The devices incorporate a sensor that remains in equilibrium with, e.g., remains submerged within, the liquid cell media during the performance of a measurement and during addition of one or more cell affecting fluids such as solutions of potential drug compounds.
US08658341B2	Pattern reversal film forming composition and method of forming reversed pattern There is provided to a pattern reversal film forming composition that is capable of forming a pattern reversal film which is not mixed with a resist pattern formed on a substrate, and that is only capable of forming a pattern reversal film advantageously covering the pattern, but also irrespective of whether the resist pattern is coarse or fine, capable of forming a planar film excellent in temporal stability on the pattern. A pattern reversal film forming composition including a polysiloxane, an additive and an organic solvent, characterized in that the polysiloxane is a product of a hydrolysis and/or condensation reaction of a silane compound containing a tetraalkoxysilane of Si(OR1)4 and an alkoxysilane of XnSi(OR2)4-n, and the tetraalkoxysilane is used in a ratio of 1 to 50% by mole based on the number of moles of the whole silane compound; and a pattern reversal film and a method of forming a reversed pattern in which the composition is used.
US08658340B2	Toner, development agent, and image forming method A toner containing a binder resin comprising a first binder resin A and a second binder resin B, a coloring agent, and a releasing agent, wherein the first binder resin A is formed by reacting a compound A1 having an active hydrogen group with a resin A2 having a portion reactive with the compound A1 in an organic solvent and the resin A2 is formed by reacting a non-crystalline polyester resin “a” having a polyhydroxy carboxylic acid skeleton in the main chain with a compound having the portion reactive with the compound A1 having an active hydrogen group.
US08658339B2	Negative charge controlling agent and static charge image developing toner using the same, and method for producing the same A negative charge controlling agent, wherein: the negative charge controlling agent comprises polycondensation product obtained by a polycondensation reaction of phenols and aldehydes; and the phenols comprises a (A) mononucleus phenolic compound which has one phenolic hydroxy group in which a hydrogen is bonded at the ortho position of a hydroxyl group of the phenolic hydroxy group and a (B) multinucleus phenolic compound which has at least two phenolic hydroxy groups in which a hydrogen is bonded at the ortho position of a hydroxyl group of each of the phenolic hydroxy group; and the content of the (B) phenolic compound in the phenols is 1 to 30 mol %.
US08658333B2	Reflective mask A reflective mask includes a substrate, a first reflective multi-layer, a second reflective multi-layer, a first patterned absorber layer and a second patterned absorber layer. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first reflective multi-layer is formed on the first surface of the substrate. The second reflective multi-layer is formed on the second surface of the substrate. The first patterned absorber layer is formed on the first reflective multi-layer. The second patterned absorber layer is formed on the second reflective multi-layer.
US08658332B2	Photopolymer media with enhanced dynamic range Dynamic range enhancing dopants for photopolymeric media are described. Also described are optical articles using these dopants and methods for making such optical articles.
US08658325B2	Method of controlling fuel cell vehicle and fuel cell system A fuel cell vehicle is controlled by performing a rate limiting control process for reducing electric power generated by a fuel cell to reduce a frequency at which a voltage generated by the fuel cell is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage when electric power requested by a load is lowered, and changing a rotational speed of an air pump depending on the electric power requested by the load when the electric power generated by the fuel cell is reduced.
US08658324B2	Fuel cell system A fuel cell system FCS includes a fuel cell FC, a motor ES4 connected to the fuel cell FC, an FC boost converter ES6 which raises the output voltage of the fuel cell FC to output the voltage to the motor ES4, an inverter ES3, a current sensor S2, and a controller EC which controls the fuel cell FC, the FC boost converter ES6 and the inverter ES3. The controller EC controls the inverter ES3 so as to raise the target output voltage of the inverter, when the current detected by the current sensor S2 exceeds a predetermined current threshold value.
US08658323B2	Solid oxide fuel cell generation system The invention provides a solid oxide fuel cell generation system and a start up method thereof which heat up a reformer and a cell main body without any water and nitrogen gas, and start up for a short time until a power generation and without deteriorating a reliability of the cell. In a solid oxide fuel cell generation system having a power generation cell including an anode, a cathode and a solid electrolyte membrane, a mixing portion for obtaining a mixed gas by mixing a used fuel gas discharged from the anode with a raw fuel, a reducing combustion gas generating apparatus, and a reforming portion, the reducing combustion gas generating apparatus has a starting burner generating a reducing combustion gas, and the mixing portion, the reducing combustion gas generating apparatus, the reforming portion and the anode are coupled alphabetically from an upstream side.
US08658321B2	Desulfurization system and method for desulfurizing a fuel stream A method for producing a substantially desulfurized a hydrocarbon fuel stream at temperatures less than 100° C. The method includes providing a nondesulfurized fuel cell hydrocarbon fuel stream that may include water and passing the fuel stream sequentially through a zeolite Y adsorbent and a selective sulfur adsorbent. The zeolite Y adsorbent may be exchanged with copper ions. The method produces a substantially desulfurized hydrocarbon fuel stream containing less than 50 ppb sulfur.
US08658316B2	Electrode material, method for producing the same, electrode and battery An electrode material containing an electrode active material, and a carbonaceous coating film which covers the electrode active material and contains sulfur; and an electrode material including a secondary particle including a plurality of primary particles as the electrode active material, wherein the primary particles are covered with a carbonaceous coating film so that the carbonaceous coating film is interposed between the primary particles and the carbonaceous coating film contains sulfur.
US08658299B2	Battery pack thermal management system and method A battery pack thermal management system includes a plurality of battery cells connected to at least one DC power bus. At least one thermoelectric device is operatively disposed in thermal contact with the plurality of battery cells. At least one temperature measuring device is operatively connected to the thermal management system, and configured to measure a temperature of a predetermined portion of the plurality of battery cells. A cell balancing circuit is operatively connected to the plurality of battery cells, and configured to selectively divert a portion of electric current from at least one of the plurality of battery cells to the at least one thermoelectric device. An electronic controller is operatively connected to the cell balancing circuit, and configured to control a flow of electric current to the at least one thermoelectric device.
US08658295B2	Self healing lithium-ion battery negative electrodes, product including same, and methods of making and using same One embodiment includes a lithium-ion battery negative electrode including one or more low-melting point alloys that react with lithium.
US08658291B2	CMAS mitigation compositions, environmental barrier coatings comprising the same, and ceramic components comprising the same Calcium magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) mitigation compositions selected from rare earth elements, rare earth oxides, zirconia, hafnia partially or fully stabilized with alkaline earth or rare earth elements, zirconia partially or fully stabilized with alkaline earth or rare earth elements, magnesium oxide, cordierite, aluminum phosphate, magnesium silicate, and combinations thereof when the CMAS mitigation composition is included as a separate CMAS mitigation layer in an environmental barrier coating for a high temperature substrate component.
US08658290B2	Use of halogenated phthalocyanines The present invention relates to the use of halogenated phthalocyanines as charge transport materials and/or as absorber materials.
US08658285B2	Optically clear UV and hydrolysis resistant polyester film Biaxially oriented polyester films including polyester polymer, a carbodiimide hydrolysis stabilizer, and a UV absorber are described. The polyester films have a carboxyl end group concentration of 5-20 equivalents per ton, and a haze value of 2% or less. The films exhibit superior transparency and possess stable light transmission characteristics. Methods of making the films and articles produced from the films are also described.
US08658283B2	Laminated glass for window and glass window member A laminated glass for windows has a multilayer structure, wherein plural sheets of glass are laminated through a resin layer. The sheet glasses are made of an alkali-free borosilicate glass. Each sheet glass has a thickness of 1 mm or less, and the total thickness of the sheet glasses is 2 to 10 mm.
US08658273B2	Security sheet comprising a transparent or translucent layer The invention relates to a coated sheet of security paper which includes security elements and has a high print rendition and a high resistance to circulation, which sheet is characterized in that at least one of its sides is coated with a transparent or translucent coating comprising at least one colloidal silica and at least one transparent or translucent elastomeric binder. In particular, the binder is a polyurethane.The invention also relates to the process for manufacturing the said sheet and to a banknote obtained from this sheet.
US08658268B2	Injection molded article and production method thereof An injection molded article is provided having a junction surface where side end surfaces of two thermoplastic resin members are bonded by injection molding one of the members onto the side end surface of the other member, wherein directions (A) of respective junction line segments with respect to the normal line of a front surface or a back surface of one thermoplastic resin member are different and the direction (B) of a third junction line segment is inclined with respect to the normal line, or the directions (A) are the same in the first junction line segment and the second junction line segment and are different between the first junction line segment and the third junction line segment and the direction (B) is inclined with respect to the normal line.
US08658266B2	Readherable, repositionable and reusable adhesive fabric paper for printing and manufacturing method of the same An adhesive fabric paper for printing is used to color printers for personal computers, printing machines for indoor and outdoor advertising, wide format printers, plotters to print colored images. The manufacturing method includes: heating and cooling a woven fabric; preparing a first “S” coating liquid, a second “S” coating liquid and an “R” coating liquid as coating liquids to be coated on the front face of the fabric and maturing them for three days; coating twice the rear face of the fabric; coating once the rear face of the fabric; carrying out first and second “S” coating works on the front face of the fabric with the first “S” coating liquid and the second “S” coating liquid; coating twice the front face of the fabric with the “R” coating liquid; and laminating a backer coated with an adhesive to the fabric.
US08658263B2	Shape-retaining film, process for producing same, laminate for packaging, packaging material and process for producing same, shape-retaining fiber, and anisotropic heat-conductive film Provided are a shape-retaining film which has excellent adhesion to inks and other functional layers while retaining high shape-retaining properties and a process for producing the shape-retaining film. The shape-retaining film comprises an ethylene homopolymer or an ethylene/a-olefin copolymer having a C3-6 a-olefin content less than 2 wt. %, the ethylene homopolymer or copolymer having a density of 950 kg/m3 or higher and a weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn) ratio of 5-20. The film has a tensile elasticity modulus of 6-50 GPa and has either an angle of recovery from 90 bending of 8 or less or an angle of recovery from 180 bending of 65 or less.
US08658250B2	Encoded consumable materials and sensor assemblies for use in additive manufacturing systems A consumable material and sensor assembly for use in an additive manufacturing system, the consumable material comprising an exterior surface having encoded markings that are configured to be read by the sensor assembly, where the consumable material is configured to be consumed in the additive manufacturing system to build at least a portion of a three-dimensional model.
US08658243B2	Method for forming optical coating and optical element having such coating A method for forming an optical coating comprising the steps of forming a fine-structure layer mainly composed of an inorganic metal oxide on the surface of an optical member, and then forming an inorganic, hard layer by a liquid-phase deposition method.
US08658238B2	Indulgent edible composition The present invention is directed to a method of preparing an indulgent edible composition that provides an orally pleasurable eating experience similar to chocolate as the chocolate melts in the oral cavity.
US08658226B2	Agent having anti-Helicobacter pylori activity The present invention provides an agent having anti-Helicobacter pylori activity that is effective for the treatment, prevention or improvement of diseases associated with Helicobacter pylori and contains as an active ingredient thereof an extract of a plant belonging to the Labiatae family. The agent having anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of the present invention has superior heat stability and allows the obtaining of elimination effects in a short period of time.
US08658220B2	Processes for extracting phytochemicals from pomegranate solids and compositions and methods of use thereof Processes for producing an extract containing phytochemicals from pomegranates are disclosed. The processes generally comprise providing pomegranate solids, such as the pericarp, inner membrane and seeds; creating a mixture comprising the pomegranate solids in an aqueous solution; adding enzymes to the mixture in an amount sufficient to at least partially degrade the pomegranate solids; heating the mixture to a temperature that permits the maximum rate of catalysis of the enzyme; maintaining the temperature of the heated mixture for a time sufficient to allow at least partial degradation of the pomegranate solids; and removing residual insoluble solid materials from the mixture. Compositions containing the extract may be used as a food product, beverage, pharmaceutical preparations, nutritional supplements, vitamin supplements, food additives, and food supplements. The compositions may also be used for preventing or ameliorating disease conditions by administering an effective amount of the composition to a subject in need thereof.
US08658211B2	Polyconjugates for in vivo delivery of polynucleotides The present invention is directed to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for delivering polynucleotides or other cell-impermeable molecules to mammalian cells. Described are polyconjugates systems that incorporate targeting, anti-opsonization, anti-aggregation, and transfection activities into small biocompatible in vivo delivery vehicles. The use of multiple reversible or labile linkages connecting component parts provides for physiologically responsive activity modulation.
US08658209B2	Stimulus-responsive biodegradable polymers and methods of preparation There is presently provided a stimulus-responsive polymer comprising a biodegradable polymer backbone and a stimulus-responsive pendant group attached to the biodegradable polymer backbone, wherein the biodegradable polymer backbone comprises a poly(amino ester) or a poly(amido amine), the poly(amido amine) optionally comprising a disulfide linkage in the backbone.
US08658207B2	Extended release tablet formulations of flibanserin and method for manufacturing the same The present invention provides pharmaceutical release systems comprising an therapeutically effective amount of flibanserin and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, characterized in that said pharmaceutical release systems exhibit a pharmacokinetic profile that is characterized by an average maximum flibanserin plasma concentration Cmax lower than 300 ng/mL, preferably lower than 200 ng/mL after administration of a single dose to healthy volunteers in fasted state or directly after a meal.
US08658200B2	Flavoring of drug-containing chewing gums A chewing gum comprising at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with a core onto which is applied at least one inner polymer film coating and thereafter onto which is applied at least one outer hard coating. A preferred API is nicotine. Flavoring agents may be incorporated in the core, in the at least one inner polymer film coating and/or in the at least one outer hard coating. The gums formed exhibit a long lasting effect of flavoring agent(s) and result in the domination of flavoring agents in the coating(s) over flavoring agent(s) in the core, thereby (a) avoiding problems of chemical or pharmaceutical incompatibility between an API in the core and flavoring agent(s) in the coating(s) and (b) achieving an increased control of the release of the API and of non-active excipients.
US08658191B2	Disinfection agent for suction systems used in the field of medicine or dentistry Concentrated or ready-for-use disinfecting agent for medical or dental suction apparatus and related equipment, comprising a special active ingredient of amine compounds and having a viscosity between 100 and 2000 mPas, preferably between 350 and 1000 mPas.
US08658186B2	Fragrancing transparent solid composition based on fatty acid salts and on an oxyethylenated fatty alcohol; and stabilization method The invention relates to a fragrancing aqueous transparent solid composition in a cosmetically acceptable support: a) at least one aqueous phase and b) at least one fatty acid salt (soap) and c) at least one oxyethylenated fatty alcohol of formula (I) below: CH3(CH2)x—CH2—(CH2CH2OH)y—OH (I) in which x is an integer greater than 20 and preferably ranging from 21 to 30 and y varies from 1 to 20 and d) at least one fragrancing substance. The present invention also relates to a method of stabilizing a fragrancing aqueous transparent solid composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable support: a) at least one aqueous phase and b) at least one fatty acid salt and c) at least one fragrancing substance, characterized by the fact that it comprises adding, to said composition, at least one polyoxyethylenated fatty alcohol of formula (I).
US08658185B2	Kit useful for treating tumors and lesions of the skin and the mucous membranes The pharmaceutical preparation useful for treating a skin or mucous membrane lesion is provided. The pharmaceutical preparation including, as active ingredients, a therapeutically effective amount of trichloroacetic acid and hydrochloric acid, or trichloroacetic acid and formic acid or all three of these acids and optionally a crosslinking/fixating/preserving agent. Additional preparations are also described.
US08658183B2	Antimicrobial parenteral formulation This invention relates to a parenteral formulation containing an effective amount of the compound of the following formula I: water, and an isotonic agent. Also disclosed is a method of treating an infectious disease by administering this formula to a subject via parenteral injection or infusion.
US08658180B2	Vaccines against influenza virus Disclosed are immunogenic conjugates having the general formula: M2e-Cys-S—CH2—C(O)—NH—CH2—CH2-C(O—)NH-Lys-Pr, were M2e is the influenza M2 ectodomain (M2e) peptide; Cys is a cysteine amino acid residue present in the M2e peptide; S the sulfur present in the cysteine amino acid residue; CH2-CO—NH—CH2-CH2-CO the linking group; NH the amine group present in a lysine residue of the carrier; Lys is a lysine amino acid residue and Pr the carrier protein. Also disclosed are isolated immunogens that include an immunogenic fragment of an influenza HA protein including the polybasic cleavage site, wherein the immunogenic fragment of the influenza HA protein has been modified to remove an N-terminal leader amino acid sequence and a C-terminal transmembrane domain. Also disclosed are methods producing an influenza vaccine specific for an identified influenza strain.
US08658178B2	Carbon nanotube compositions and methods of use thereof Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based compositions for activating cellular immune responses are provided. The CNTs function as high surface area scaffolds for the attachment of T cell ligands and/or antigens. The CNT compositions function as artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPCs) or as modular vaccines. The disclosed CNT aAPCs are efficient at activating T cells and may be used to activate T cells ex vivo or in vivo for adoptive or active immunotherapy.
US08658177B2	Promiscuous HER-2/Neu CD4 T cell epitopes The present invention relates to the discovery of novel T cell epitopes of the human HER-2/Neu protein that is promiscuous for at least 25 different HLA-DR alleles. The invention also relates to compositions that contain one of the novel epitopes or a fusion peptide of such a epitope and a heterologous polypeptide. Further disclosed herein is the use of the epitopes or their fusion peptides, and compositions containing the epitopes or their fusion peptides.
US08658176B2	Lipidated tumor-associated antigens and immunotherapeutic compositions Disclosed are polypeptides and fusion proteins. Also disclosed are related immunotherapeutic compositions and methods.
US08658173B2	Anti-mesothelin antibodies This invention relates to the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to and become internalized by mesothelin-positive cells and also induce an immune effector activity such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The antibodies are useful in specific delivery of pharmacologic agents to mesothelin expressing cells as well as eliciting an immune-effector activity particularly on tumor cells and precursors. The invention is also related to cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, antibody derivatives, such as human, humanized, and chimeric monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, mammalian cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, derivatives and fragments, and methods of treating cancer using the antibodies, derivatives and fragments.
US08658171B2	Humanized anti-TNFα antibodies The present invention provides a humanized anti-TNF monoclonal antibody and the use thereof. The humanized anti-TNF monoclonal antibody significantly reduces the immunogenicity of murine-antibody while retaining the ability of antibody to recognize antigen, compared with conservative mouse chimeric antibody. Therefore, safety of the antibody in clinical applications has been improved.
US08658149B2	Conjugates of a polymer, a bisphosphonate and an anti-angiogenesis agent and uses thereof in the treatment and monitoring of bone related diseases Conjugates of polymers or copolymers having attached thereto an anti-angiogenesis agent and a bisphosphonate bone targeting agent, and processes of preparing same, are disclosed.Pharmaceutical compositions containing these conjugates and uses thereof in the treatment of bone related disorders are also disclosed.
US08658141B2	Cosmetic composition containing a block copolymer, a tackifier, a silsesquioxane wax and/or resin The present invention is directed to a method of making up keratinous substrates involving applying onto the keratinous substrate a composition containing a) a block copolymer, b) a tackifier, c) an alkyl silsesquioxane wax, d) a liquid fatty phase, and e) optionally, a colorant.
US08658135B2	Antagonists of ligands and uses thereof The invention provides hetero-multivalent ligand binging agents (traps) for members of the TGF-β superfamily, as well as methods for making and using such constructs. In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a hetero-multivalent binding agent with affinity for a member of the TGF-β superfamily. The agent comprises the general structure I: (-linker1)k-[{-linker2--linker3f-}n-()m-(linker4-)d]h, where bd1, bd2, bd3 and bd4 are polypeptide binding domains having an affinity for different sites on the same member or for different members of the TGF-β superfamily; at least two of bd1, bd2, bd3, and bd4 are different from each other.
US08658128B2	System and method for diagnosis and treatment This invention relates to a low cost rapid response diagnostic system to determine cortisol levels in patients selected as potential candidates for GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist therapy utilizing a GCR antagonist, such as ORG 34517. The rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive test can be used to determine patients who have non-normal cortisol production or disordered circadian rhythms as a method for selecting subjects for GCR antagonist therapy for whom it is likely to have beneficial and/or therapeutic effects, and can also be used to monitor changes in cortisol levels in response to treatment.
US08658127B2	Method of manufacturing mesoporous zeolite agglomerates A method of preparing a mesoporous zeolite material is disclosed. The method comprises forming template-occluded primary metal-doped silicate particles having an amorphous structure and aggregating the particles into mesoporous agglomerates. The amorphous structure is further transformed into a microporous nanocrystalline zeolite structure, thereby forming a mesoporous zeolitic material. Forming the mesoporous zeolite material includes removing the template from the template-occluded particles.
US08658122B2	Process to produce sodium sulfate and magnesium hydroxide This invention refers to a novel process to obtain magnesium hydroxide and sodium sulfate from a solid raw material, which contains sodium and magnesium soluble salts, preferably in the form of sulfates, coming from a natural source or as a byproduct of an industrial process. The process consisting in the conditioning of the raw material to guarantee the correct concentrations of sodium and magnesium sulfates that is subjected to a salting-out crystallization when mixed with sodium sulfate obtaining sodium sulfate; the resulting solution is subjected to an alkali treatment to precipitate the magnesium hydroxide and the mother liquor is fed to a regeneration stage of the alkali used in the precipitation of the magnesium hydroxide as well in the sodium sulfate solution for the crystallization. The crystallization can be performed as a multistage process countercurrent to increase the purity of sodium sulfate.
US08658119B2	Production and/or recovery of products from waste sludge A method of producing calcium carbonate from a waste sludge containing calcium carbonate and at least one silicate mineral. The method comprises the steps of: (i) incinerating the sludge to an ash in which at least 60% of the calcium carbonate present in the sludge is converted to free calcium oxide which is unreacted with the silicate mineral(s), (ii) optionally slaking the ash to convert at least a portion of the free calcium oxide therein to calcium hydroxide, (iii) treating either the ash from step (i) or the slaked ash from step (ii) with an aqueous solution of a polyhydroxy compound to provide a solution of dissolved calcium hydroxide, (iv) separating insoluble material from the solution of calcium ions obtained in step (iii), (v) dispersing carbon dioxide through the solution obtained from step (iv) so as to produce calcium carbonate, and (vi) separating the calcium carbonate produced in step (v).
US08658118B2	High purity crystalline silicon, high purity silicon tetrachloride for processes for producing the same An object of the present invention is to provide more inexpensive high purity crystalline silicon which can satisfy not only a quality required to a raw material of silicon for a solar cell but also a part of a quality required to silicon for an up-to-date semiconductor and a production process for the same and provide high purity silicon tetrachloride used for production of high purity crystalline silicon and a production process for the same. The high purity crystalline silicon of the present invention has a boron content of 0.015 ppmw or less and a zinc content of 50 to 1000 ppbw. The production process for high purity crystalline silicon according to the present invention is characterized by that a silicon tetrachloride gas and a zinc gas are supplied to a vertical reactor to react them at 800 to 1200° C., whereby crude crystalline silicon is formed at a chip part of a silicon tetrachloride gas-supplying nozzle, and the crude crystalline silicon is grown downward from the chip part of the silicon tetrachloride gas-supplying nozzle; the grown crude crystalline silicon is discharged to an outside of the reactor, and the discharged crude crystalline silicon is subjected to acid treatment.
US08658095B2	High temperature and pressure oxidation-reduction potential measuring and monitoring device for hot water systems A device for measuring oxidation-reduction potential at operating temperature and pressure in hot water systems is disclosed and claimed. The device includes a flow-through cell, an oxidation-reduction potential probe, a temperature detector, and an external pressure-balanced reference electrode assembly. Each component of the device works in conjunction with the other components and each has electrical connections that transmit signals to a controller. The controller calculates and determines adjustments to feedwater chemistry for the hot water system.
US08658092B2	Sterilization system and method and orifice inlet control apparatus therefor A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via exploitation of the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent. A diffusion restriction can be placed into the diffusion path to assist this process and the path then opened to provide rapid diffusion of the thus concentrated germicide. The path through the diffusion restriction can be closed to allow the pressure in a sterilization chamber to be lowered prior to receiving the concentrated germicide.
US08658089B2	Membrane concentrator Apparatus for concentrating a nebulant comprising a nebulant flow conduit and a counter-flow conduit, or preferably, a plurality of alternating nebulant flow conduits and corresponding counter-flow conduits eg in layered or coaxial arrangement, and wherein at least a portion of the nebulant flow conduit and said counter-flow conduits define respective opposed sides of a gas permeable membrane. In use a nebuliser is in communication with the nebulant flow conduit and the nebulant flow and counter-flow are in the same or opposite directions and act to concentrate the amount of active in a droplet eg from 35 wt % to 60 wt % hydrogen peroxide in water to disinfect and/or sterilize an article.
US08658084B2	Method and devices for regulating the flow rate and for slowing down melt streams through magnetic fields in the tapping of metallurgical containers such as blast furnaces and melt furnaces The invention relates to a method for regulating the flow rate and for slowing down melt streams through magnetic fields in the tapping of metallurgical containers such as blast furnaces and melt furnaces. The method is characterized in that the melt stream is routed in a closed routing element using at least two magnetic fields disposed in series one after the other in the flow direction of the melt, said magnetic fields having a constant polarity opposite to one another, in such a way that the magnetic field lines transversally penetrate the melt flow across the entire cross section thereof and such that opposite voltages are induced in the melt stream by the magnetic fields, there being at least three eddy current fields produced thereby in the melt stream that are disposed axially one after the other, and that due to the interactions between the magnetic fields and the eddy currents forces are generated that can be used to reduce the flow rate of the melt stream.
US08658075B2	Molding apparatus Described herein is a mold. The mold includes a first mold half and a second mold half. A molding cavity is definable between the first mold half and the second mold half within which a molded article is moldable. The mold also includes a core configured to form a seal on the molded article. The first mold half and the second mold half are configured to remain in a mold closed configuration with molding and stripping of the molded article.
US08658068B2	Touch fastener products A touch fastener including an elongated base having multiple segments connected by articulable joints. Each segment has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of touch fastener elements extending from the lower surface of the base. A flexible barrier extends across at least one articulable joint between adjacent base segments. The fastener may include a magnetically attractable material disposed along a center region of the upper surface of the base. The fastener base may define a pair of first and second notches in opposite longitudinal edges of the base at the articulable joint to allow bending of the base. The base may also define a slit extending through the base from a longitudinal edge thereof at the articulable joint.
US08658066B2	Chemiluminescent powders and methods of making and using thereof Described herein are chemiluminescent powders that can be applied to a variety of substrates or incorporated into a variety of articles that are generally sensitive to existing chemiluminescent compositions. Methods for producing the chemiluminescent compositions are also provided.
US08658065B2	Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals having 1-dimensional quantum confinement and methods of making the same A nanocrystal described herein comprises a semiconductor material MX, wherein M is a group II or a group III element and X is a group V or a group VI element to provide a II/VI compound or a III/V compound, the nanocrystal having lateral dimensions and a vertical dimension having the shortest axis, wherein surfaces of the nanocrystal normal or substantially normal to the axis of the vertical dimension comprise a layer of M ions passivated by a counter ion chemical species.
US08658054B2	Mixture for preventing surface stains In order to achieve the object of providing a mixture by means of which, in particular, sintered moldings can be obtained that are virtually free of surface stains produced by soot particles, a mixture is proposed which comprises at least one pressing aid and at least one additive, wherein the additive is selected from a group of substances which have releasable carbon dioxide.
US08658043B2	Water treatment system and method A water treatment system provides treated water to a point of use by removing at least a portion of any hardness-causing species contained in water from a water source, such as municipal water, well water, brackish water and water containing foulants. The water treatment system typically receives water from the water source or a point of entry and purifies the water containing at least some undesirable species before delivering the treated water to a point of use. The water treatment system has a pressurized reservoir system in line with an electrochemical device such as an electrodeionization device. The water treatment system can have a controller for adjusting or regulating at least one operating parameter of the treatment system or a component of the water treatment system. The electrochemical device can be operated at a low current and low flow rate to minimize water splitting or polarization, which minimizes scale formation.
US08658039B2	Sonication for improved particle size distribution of core-shell particles In one or more embodiments, a porous composite particulate material includes a plurality of composite particles including an acid-base-resistant core particle at least partially surrounded by one or more layers of acid-base-resistant shell particles. The shell particles are adhered to the core particle by a polymeric material. The shell particles and/or core particles may be made from an acid-base-resistant material that is stable in harsh chemical conditions. During application of the polymeric material/shell particle bilayer, the core particles are sonicated to homogenize the particle size distribution and minimize agglomeration of particles. Multiple bilayers of polymer/shell particles may be applied. In one embodiment, the core particle comprises generally spherical glassy carbon, while the shell particles may comprise nano-sized diamond particles. Other acid-base-resistant materials may be employed. The porous composite particulate materials may be used in separation technologies, including, but not limited to, chromatography and solid phase extraction.
US08658037B2	Method for determining physiological state of microbial community and wastewater treatment method The present invention provides a method for determining the physiological state of a microbial community, which rapidly and precisely determines the physiological state of a microbial community present in a treatment tank of a wastewater biological treatment facility; and a wastewater treatment method utilizing the same. In the method for determining the physiological state of a microbial community of the present invention, the method includes the steps of staining the microbial community collected from a treatment tank of a wastewater biological treatment facility with a first fluorescent dye which binds to a nucleotide chain of a microbe in the microbial community, and a second fluorescent dye which is degraded by an enzyme in cells of the microbe to emit fluorescent light having a wavelength different from that of the first fluorescent dye; measuring a first fluorescent intensity (F1) derived from the first fluorescent dye and a second fluorescent intensity (F2) derived from the second fluorescent dye, regarding the stained microbial community; and determining the satisfactory degree of the physiological state of the microbial community.
US08658033B2	Method and system for installing a drain A flush plug and a collar are used in installing a drain or cleanout. A flush plug is temporarily attached to the nipple of a cleanout or to a drain base and leveled. Concrete is then poured flush with the top of the flush plug. After the flush plug is removed from the cured concrete, a collar is installed in the hole in the concrete left by the flush plug. The outside of the lower portion of the collar is beveled like the flush plug. The upper portion of the collar includes a sleeve rising above the top surface of the surrounding concrete by an amount equal to the thickness of the specific floor finish. Tile or other finish may then be laid to around the collar. The installed drain will be flush and level with the flooring around it.
US08658032B2	Filter cartridge A filter cartridge (60, 160) comprising a filter wall (63, 163) having a tubular shape and at least a support plate (61, 161) fixed to an end of the filter wall (63, 163), characterized in that a by-pass conduit (66, 166) is fashioned in the support plate (61, 161), which by-pass conduit (66, 166) is designed to place an internal volume (64, 164) delimited by the filter wall (63, 163) in communication with outside, which by-pass conduit (66, 166) is intercepted by a valve (70, 170) which is associated to the support plate (61, 161) in an out-of-center position with respect to a longitudinal axis (A, A2) of the filter wall (63, 163), the valve (70, 170) comprising an internally-hollow valve body (71, 171), which is provided with a hole (72, 172) suitable for setting the bypass conduit (66, 166) in communication with the internal cavity of the valve body (71, 171), an obturator (73, 174) housed in the internal cavity of the valve body (71, 171), and an elastically-acting element (75, 180) suitable for pressing the obturator (73, 174) against a valve seating (74, 179) such as to close the hole (72, 172), the valve (70, 170) being housed internally of a seating (67, 167) afforded in the support plate (61, 161).
US08658031B2	Method and apparatus for treating liquid containing impurities A method and an apparatus for treating a liquid containing impurities may include a filtering chamber configured to permit granular media to interact with liquid containing impurities, thereby removing impurities from the liquid to produce filtrate; a filtrate section for receiving the filtrate; a gas supplying system for delivering gas to the granular media in the filtering chamber for transport of a portion of the granular media to a granular media washer; a reject section in fluid communication with the granular media washer for receiving a reject mixture comprising liquid and impurities from the granular media washer; and a control unit that is configured to determine whether the portion of the granular media is being transported properly based on an amount of reject mixture in the reject section.
US08658026B2	Method for producing fuel with renewable content having reduced lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions According to the present invention, organic material is converted to a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make liquid transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons under conditions to hydrogenate the hydrocarbons with the renewable hydrogen.
US08658024B2	Catalyst and a method for cracking hydrocarbons The invention discloses a catalyst and a method for cracking hydrocarbons. The catalyst comprises, calculated by dry basis, 10˜65 wt % ZSM-5 zeolite, 0˜60 wt % clay, 15˜60 wt % inorganic oxide binder, 0.5˜15 wt % one or more metal additives selected from the metals of Group VIIIB and 2˜25 wt % P additive, in which the metal additive is calculated by metal oxide and the P additive is calculated by P2O5. The method for cracking hydrocarbons using this catalyst increases the yield of FCC liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the octane number of FCC gasoline, as well as it increases the concentration of propylene in LPG dramatically.
US08658023B2	Process for cracking heavy hydrocarbon feed A hydrocarbon feed is passed to a first zone of a vaporization unit to separate a first vapor stream and a first liquid stream. The first liquid stream is passed to a second zone of the vaporization unit and contacted with a counter-current steam to produce a second vapor stream and a second liquid stream. The first vapor stream and the second vapor stream are cracked in the radiant section of the steam cracker to produce a cracked effluent. The second liquid stream is catalytically cracked to produce a cracked product. The cracked product is distilled to produce an overhead stream, a light cycle oil, and a heavy cycle oil. The light cycle oil is reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to produce a hydrotreated light cycle oil. The hydrotreated light cycle oil and the overhead stream are fed to the vaporization unit.
US08658014B2	Electrocoagulation for removal of dissolved naphthenic acids from water A method of reducing naphthenic acids in a wastewater stream. The method begins by processing the wastewater stream to produce a treated wastewater stream with an electrocoagulation device to induce flocculation of the naphthenic acids. The reduction of the naphthenic acids in the wastewater stream occurs from separating flocculated naphthenic acids to produce the treated wastewater stream.
US08658013B2	Sensor and sensing method A sensor includes an oxygen pump cell; an oxygen pump chamber; an emf cell; a reference chamber providing a fluid connection to the reference gas; gas channels in fluid communication with the pump and emf electrodes, the reference gas comprising reformate produced by a fuel reformer fueled by an air-fuel gas mixture having an air-fuel ratio; a reformer electronic control module; a sensor electronic control module; a heater; a temperature sensor disposed in communication with the heater and the sensor control module for maintaining the sensor at a desired operating temperature; a closed loop controlled operation amplifier in electrical communication with the sensor, whereby the oxygen pump cell provides sufficient oxygen ions to oxidize an incoming diffusion-limiting fuel flux to the emf cell and maintain a constant emf at the emf cell, and wherein a current value represents an equivalent to the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel gas mixture.
US08658009B2	Thin film transistor having a barrier layer as a constituting layer and Cu-alloy sputtering target used for sputter film formation of the barrier layer This Cu alloy sputtering target includes, in terms of atomic percent: Al: 1% to 10%; and Ca: 0.1% to 2%, with the balance being Cu and 1% or less of inevitable impurities. This thin film transistor includes: a gate electrode layer joined to the surface of a glass substrate through an adhesion layer; a gate insulating layer; a Si semiconductor layer; an n-type Si semiconductor layer; a barrier layer; a wire layer composed of a drain electrode layer and a source electrode layer, both of which are mutually divided; a passivation layer; and a transparent electrode layer, wherein the barrier layer is formed by sputtering under an oxidizing atmosphere using the Cu alloy sputtering target.
US08658008B2	High-pressure hydrogen producing apparatus A high-pressure hydrogen producing apparatus includes a first cell device and a second cell device. The first cell device includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode catalyst layer and an anode current collector provided on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode electrode catalyst layer and a cathode current collector provided on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane. The second cell device includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode current collector provided on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane of the second cell device, and a cathode current collector provided on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane of the second cell device.
US08658003B1	Dual position DC magnetron assembly A sputtering system includes a first sputtering assembly configured to sputter material onto a first disk and a second sputtering assembly configured to sputter material onto a second disk, the second sputtering assembly positioned proximate the first sputtering assembly. The first sputtering assembly includes a first magnetic ring, and the second sputtering assembly includes a second magnetic ring. The first magnetic ring includes a first region of lower relative magnetic strength positioned near the second magnetic ring, and the second magnetic ring includes a second region of lower relative magnetic strength positioned near the first magnetic ring.
US08657994B2	System and method for improved epitaxial lift off An apparatus, system and method for performing ELO are disclosed. Device assemblies are contemporaneously etched in a stacked arrangement. Each device assembly may be placed in a respective tray, where the trays are overlapped and spaced apart from one another. In this manner, more device assemblies can be etched per unit area compared to conventional systems. Further, by stacking device assemblies during etching, the yield can be improved and/or the cost of the etch tank and associated hardware can be reduced.
US08657969B2	High-strength galvanized steel sheet with excellent formability and method for manufacturing the same A high strength galvanized steel sheet has a TS of 590 MPa or more and excellent processability. The component composition contains, by mass %, C: 0.05% to 0.3%, Si: 0.7% to 2.7%, Mn: 0.5% to 2.8%, P: 0.1% or lower, S: 0.01% or lower, Al: 0.1% or lower, and N: 0.008% or lower, and the balance: Fe or inevitable impurities. The microstructure contains, in terms of area ratio, ferrite phases: 30% to 90%, bainite phases: 3% to 30%, and martensite phases: 5% to 40%, in which, among the martensite phases, martensite phases having an aspect ratio of 3 or more are present in a proportion of 30% or more.
US08657963B2	In-situ backside cleaning of semiconductor substrate The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for cleaning a semiconductor wafer. In an embodiment of the method, a single wafer cleaning apparatus is provided and a wafer is positioned in the apparatus. A first chemical spray is dispensed onto a front surface of the wafer. A back surface of the wafer is cleaned while dispensing the first chemical spray. The cleaning of the back surface may include a brush and spray of cleaning fluids. An apparatus operable to clean the front surface and the back surface of a single semiconductor wafer is also described.
US08657960B2	Method and system for fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass Methods and systems for fractionating lignocellulosic biomass including hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, including exploding the biomass cells to devolatilize the biomass, hydrolyzing the hemicellulose to produce a liquid component including hemicellulosic sugars and a solid component including less than 10% hemicellulose, separating the liquid and solid components, vaporizing the cellulose in the solid component, and condensing the cellulosic sugar vapors. The methods and systems may vaporize the cellulose in a continuous steam reactor at a temperature of about 400-550° C. and a pressure of about 1-3 bara. Electromagnetic and/or electroaccoustic treatment such as ultrasound and/or microwave treatment may be applied to the biomass immediately before or during cellulose hydrolysis.
US08657953B2	Cement additive A cementitious material manufactured by a process including adding, after pyroprocessing, at least one desugared molasses to at least one cementitious and/or pozzolanic material during manufacture of the at least one cementitious and/or pozzolanic material. A method of manufacturing a cementitious material including adding, after pyroprocessing, at least one desugared molasses to at least one cementitious and/or pozzolanic material during manufacture of the at least one cementitious and/or pozzolanic material.
US08657952B2	Bone graft substitute composition A composition includes calcium sulfate hemihydrate, stearic acid, an accelerant, and a mixing solution. The composition can be injected, e.g., through a needle, and is capable of setting, e.g., in vivo, in a relatively short period of time to a relatively high hardness.
US08657951B2	Manufactured item for the building industry A manufactured item for the building industry is disclosed, made mainly of bottom ash and/or debris coming from incineration processes of municipal solid waste or of waste which may be assimilated thereto and/or of RDF and of one or more binders. Such manufactured item may have the shape of small bricks, bricks, blocks, small blocks, curbs, interlocking paving blocks, panels, tiles, prefabricated slabs, beams, elements for walls, modular building elements, indoor and outdoor cladding elements, blocks, rocks, supports. Moreover, a process for the manufacture of an item for the building industry is disclosed, from bottom ash and/or debris coming from incineration processes of municipal solid waste or of waste which may be assimilated thereto and/or of FDR wherein the ash and/or debris undergo an oxidation process of the amphoteric metals and mixed with a binder.
US08657948B2	Modified bentonites for advanced foundry applications Methods of reducing the permeability of a subterranean formation to aqueous-based fluids using a water-soluble relative permeability modifier that comprises a hydrophobically modified polymer, wherein the hydrophobically modified polymer is a reaction product of: a hydrophilic polymer that comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyvinylamine, a poly(vinylamine/vinyl alcohol), and an alkyl acrylate polymer; and, a hydrophobic compound comprising at least one alkyl chain having a carbon chain length between about 4 and about 22 carbons. The water-soluble relative permeability modifier may be placed within a subterranean drilling operation such that the water-soluble relative permeability modifier attaches onto surfaces within the subterranean formation to effect permeability of aqueous fluids.
US08657940B2	Separation and capture of liquids of a multiphase flow Assembly to separate a multiphase flow, comprising at least one compact separation unit chosen among an in-line deliquidiser and an in-line phase splitter, said compact separation unit is arranged to receive the multiphase flow for separation thereof to a gas flow and a mainly liquid containing flow, an outlet for gas, arranged to receive the gas flow from the compact separation unit and possible additional gas flows, one or more conduit separators, arranged to receive the mainly liquid containing flow from the compact separation unit and any additional liquid containing flows, having an outlet for liquid from the at least one conduit separator in a low-lying part thereof.
US08657934B2	Cyclone for separating sticky particles from gas streams A cyclone for separating sticky particles from gas streams includes an inlet duct having an end in a direction of a particle outlet. The end has a flow cross-section including a triangular expansion that is formed laterally by a vertical of a cylindrical outer wall of the cyclone and by art outer boundary of the cyclone. An outer angle of inclination between the vertical and the outer boundary, proceeding from the end of the inlet duct, is reduced from 30° to 0° in a flow direction of gas streams. An immersion tube is disposed eccentrically in a direction of the inlet duct.
US08657933B2	Powder coating system with easily cleanable cyclone A powder cyclone separator for use in a powder coating system is formed in two separate and separable sections. An upper section is mounted on a first frame and remains stationary. A lower section is mounted on a second frame that is movable laterally away from the first frame so that an operator has more ready access to clean interior surfaces of the upper section. Optionally, actuators may be provided to raise and lower the cyclone lower section with respect to the cyclone upper section. Optional alignment means are presented for aligning the cyclone upper and lower sections. A control mechanism may be mounted on the second frame which includes a switch that is operable to raise and lower the lower section with respect to the upper section. This design allows an operator to see and verify that virtually all internal surfaces of the cyclone have been cleaned.
US08657923B2	Microporous carbon material, manufacturing method thereof, and hydrogen storage method using microporous carbon material The present invention provides a microporous carbon material capable of expressing functions that supported metal has while maintaining pore functions that the microporous carbon material inherently possesses. The microporous carbon material 5 includes: a three-dimensional long-range ordered structure within a range from 0.7 nm or more to 2 nm or less; and micropores 2a, wherein a transition metal 4 is supported on surfaces of the micropores 2a. The microporous carbon material is obtained by a method including: introducing an organic compound on a surface of and inside the micropores of a porous material containing transition metal, and obtaining a composite of the microporous carbon material containing the transition metal and the porous material by carbonizing the organic compound by a chemical vapor deposition method; and removing the porous material. Alternatively, the microporous carbon material is obtained by a method including: introducing an organic compound on a surface of a porous material and obtaining a microporous carbon material by a chemical vapor deposition method; and supporting the transition metal on a surface of the microporous carbon material by immersing and impregnating the microporous carbon material in a transition metal salt solution.
US08657920B2	Apparatus for purifying hydrogen and method for using the same An apparatus and method purify hydrogen from a mixed fluid containing gaseous hydrogen, gaseous oxygen, and liquid water. The apparatus has a mixed fluid channel through which the mixed fluid flows; a first gas channel through which a mixed gas containing gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen flows; a second gas channel through which gaseous hydrogen or oxygen flows; a gas-liquid separating membrane forming a wall between the mixed fluid channel and the first gas channel, separating the mixed gas from the mixed fluid of the mixed fluid channel, and providing the separated mixed gas to the first gas channel; and a hydrogen or oxygen separating membrane forming a wall between the first gas channel and the second gas channel, separating gaseous hydrogen or oxygen from the mixed gas of the first gas channel, and providing the separated gaseous hydrogen or oxygen to the second gas channel.
US08657919B2	System and method for separating high molecular weight gases from a combustion source High molecular weight (HMW) gases are separated from an exhaust gas of a combustion source using a blower and an interior vent within the exhaust stack. The interior vent includes a vent wall having a top portion attached to the interior surface of the exhaust stack along the entire inner perimeter of the exhaust stack and a lower portion that extends downward into the exhaust stack to form an annular space or gap between the vent wall and the interior surface of the exhaust stack, and at least one opening in the interior surface of the exhaust stack between the top and bottom portions of the vent wall. The blower creates a tangential flow of the exhaust gas with sufficient centrifugal force to concentrate substantially all of the HMW gases along the inner surface of the exhaust stack. A transfer pipe removes the HMW gases from the interior vent.
US08657916B2	Pyrometallurgical method A method for the pyrometallurgical processing of sulphide material containing nickel using a fluxing composition that includes calcium. The fluxing composition forms a slag having an Fe/CaO ratio of between about 0.5 and 5.0 by weight and an SiO2/Fe ratio of less than 0.2 by weight.
US08657910B2	Cyclone dust collector A cyclone dust collector having a single or multiple dust collection bodies installed within a housing, wherein the dust collection body is composed of an upper primary cylindrical dust collection part and a lower secondary conical duct collection part, and a single or multiple slits are cut in the wall surfaces of the primary and secondary dust collection parts in such a manner that large dust particles with large inertial force are removed between the dust collection housing and the dust collection body via the slit(s), while small dust particles with small inertial force make a swirling flow motion within the dust collection body and are removed by the centrifugal force.
US08657908B2	Gas cleaning separator The present invention relates to a separator and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a centrifugal separator for the cleaning of a gaseous fluid. A centrifugal separator is provided as comprising a housing defining an inner space, and a rotor assembly for imparting a rotary motion onto a mixture of substances to be separated. The rotor assembly is located in said inner space and is rotatable about an axis relative to the housing. The rotor assembly comprises an inlet for receiving said mixture of substances, an outlet from which said substances are ejected from the rotor assembly during use, and a flow path for providing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet, wherein the outlet is positioned more radially outward from said axis than the inlet.
US08657906B2	Direct replacement air filter with automatic pleated filter media advance The invention is directed to replacement media advancing air filter in air handling units with a flow channel. The filter having a housing and an exposure slot with filter media storage area that has an unexposed pleated, folded filter media portion stored therein. The filter media portion being folded and stacked in and compactly held at least in part within the storage area. A motor is coupled to a power supply and in communication with a controller. The motor moves a movement member that moves a portion of the filter media from a stored state in the storage area into the exposure slot and is exposed to the air in the air flow channel creating an exposed portion of the filter media. The exposed portion is collected within a containment area as a further portion of media is moved into the exposure slot to replace the exposed portion therein.
US08657903B2	Cyclone separator A cyclone separator (100; 100′) including a first cyclone component (10; 10′) having at least one substantially cylindrical cell pipe (12) including a guide device (14), a particle outlet (30) for separated particles, and a second cyclone component (20; 20′) including at least one immersion pipe (22). The immersion pipe (22) is received in the cell pipe (12), at the outflow side end and is connected at least partially to the outflow side end of the cell pipe (12) and includes a central outlet (24) for the purified gas stream.
US08657897B2	Wet gas separator A wet gas separator providing superior separation of entrained droplets of liquids in a gas stream when compared with prior art wet gas separators. The wet gas separator of the present invention has a combination of: a gas inlet system with vanes that divide and direct the gas stream very evenly across the cross-sectional area of the inlet portion of the apparatus, a first stage Z-shaped de-entraining device at the upstream side of a wire mesh mist eliminator, and a gas outlet system having cyclones for removal of traces of re-entrained droplets. The apparatus of the present invention has capability of improving processing throughput by 50% when compared with prior art apparatus, with greater de-entrainment efficiency (achieving 99.7% removal of droplets larger than 10 microns in size).
US08657892B2	Downdraft gasifier with internal cyclonic combustion chamber A downdraft gasifier is disclosed. The gasifier includes a biomass section that accepts and stirs raw biomass materials, a pyrolysis and tar cracking section having an inner cylinder for receiving biomass and an outer surrounding cylinder for gases from the biomass, and a char gasification section for receiving biomass and gases from the pyrolysis and tar cracking section. The char gasification section provides a grating and scraper for passing gases and ash and retaining biomass for char gasification on the grate.
US08657888B2	Oxidation hair dye composition The present invention provides an oxidation hair dye composition that has an excellent hair dyeing effect and less burden on hair. The oxidation hair dye composition of the present invention is characterized by consisting of a first formulation containing an oxidation dye and a second formulation containing an oxidation agent, which is the composition of two formulations that are mixed before use, wherein the first formulation and/or the second formulation contains acetylated hyaluronic acid or salts thereof.
US08657884B2	Convertible nephroureteral catheter A nephroureteral catheter is provided that comprises a detachable portion such that when the detachable portion is removed, the catheter converts into an internal stent. Catheter 100 allows drainage of urine into the bladder and externally into a bag. The catheter includes a tube having a circular cross section, a detachable portion, a locking mechanism, an inner tube, a first pigtail curl, a second pigtail curl, and a marker. The marker indicates the tube end. The tube includes a first end, a second end, and a plurality of holes. The detachable portion is attached to the tube with the inner tube, as the inner tube is placed and is friction sealed to the walls of a hollow portion that extends through both the detachable portion and a section of the tube. The inner tube may be removed from within the tube, past the marker that indicates the end of the tube, so that detachable portion is now removable from within the patient's body. When the detachable portion is attached to the catheter, the catheter is a nephroureteral catheter. When the detachable portion is removed from the catheter, the catheter becomes a stent.
US08657882B2	Expandable intervertebral devices and methods of use The present application is directed to an expandable intervertebral device. One context in which the device may be used is a corpectomy procedure to replace one or more vertebral members. The device is adjustable between a first orientation with a first overall height, and a second orientation with a second overall height. The device generally includes an inner member, an outer member, and a gear. Rotation of the gear causes relative movement between the inner and outer members to move between the first and second orientations and adjust the overall height.
US08657881B2	Meniscal repair scaffold Methods and apparatus for treating meniscal tissue damage are disclosed, including a biocompatible meniscal repair device comprising a biocompatible tissue repair scaffold and a cell growth conduit flap. The tissue repair scaffold is adapted to be placed in contact with a defect in the meniscus and can preferably provide a structure for supporting meniscal tissue and/or encouraging tissue growth. The cell growth conduit flap, which is attached to the tissue repair scaffold, allows communication between the synovium and the tissue repair scaffold.
US08657879B2	Devices and methods for treating sleep disordered breathing Devices and methods of treating sleep disordered breathing are provided herein. The devices are designed capable of preventing collapse of an oral airway tissue during sleep while maintaining normal velopharyngeal functions.
US08657878B2	Interfacial refraction accommodating lens (IRAL) This invention relates to intraocular lenses. More particularly, this invention relates to intraocular lenses that have the ability to alter the light refractive power in response to changes in the tension of the ciliary muscle or ciliary body of the eye or any other accommodative forces. Lenses of this invention are generally referred to as interfacial, i.e., lens properties being defined as the interface of two liquids having different refractive indices, refractive accommodating lenses (IRAL).
US08657866B2	Emergency vascular repair prosthesis deployment system A deployment device for repair of a transected body vessel is described herein. Device can have a handle and one or more shafts coupled thereto. A prosthesis being retained by a sheath can be coupled to the delivery device. The sheath can have end portions coupled to one or more shafts. Rotation of a shaft can retract a sheath portion away from either end of the prosthesis for expansion thereof prior to the middle of the prosthesis. Continued rotation of a shaft can completely remove the sheath from the prosthesis, so that the prosthesis is fully expanded and couples the first and second vessel portions of the transected vessel together. Prosthesis may be retained by overlapping a tubular sheath and lacing a threading member therethrough. Prosthesis may be retained by a splittable sheath.
US08657854B2	Knotless suture anchoring device having deforming section to accommodate sutures of various diameters An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone, which permit a suture attachment that lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface. The suturing material between the soft tissue and the bone anchor may be secured without the need for tying a knot. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a length of suture around a suture return member or path within the bone anchor, tightening the suture and attached soft tissue, and compressing the suture against the bone anchor. The bone anchor may be a tubular body having a lumen with a locking plug that compresses the suture therein. One of the components of the locking structure may include a deformable or flexible section, member, or surface. The locking plug may include a shaft and an enlarged head that interferes with the tubular body to provide a positive stop. An actuation rod attached at a frangible section to the shaft may be manipulated by an external handle during locking of the suture within the bone anchor. The bone anchor further may include locking structure for securing itself within a bone cavity.
US08657850B2	Radial artery compression device A radial artery compression device configured to be releasably secured by a strap or band to the underside of a wrist of a patient and to provide adjustable and consistent compression pressure in the area of a radial artery access site to achieve hemostasis either during or after a medical procedure such as a percutaneous coronary procedure. The radial artery compression device includes a body configured to engage and secure a knob while allowing the knob to rotate with respect to the body. Rotation of the knob can cause a threaded shaft to move. The threaded shaft mechanically couples the knob to a disk-shaped compression pad. The compression pad can include one or more notches adapted to at least partially surround a sheath and/or a catheter inserted into the radial artery at the access site. The compression pad can also include a step on the surface to provide a desired amount of contour to a portion of a device within the radial artery during a procedure.
US08657837B2	Tissue fixation devices and a transoral endoscopic gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device and assembly using same Tissue fasteners carried on a tissue piercing deployment wire fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together. The fasteners include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member extending between the first and second members. The first and second members are substantially parallel to each other. The fasteners may be deployed in limited spaces and in various applications including the restoration of a gastroesophageal flap valve.
US08657834B2	Double offset surgical tool handle assembly having a locking linkage aligned along two different planes A surgical tool handle for releasable connection to a surgical tool is described. The tool handle comprises a housing providing a linkage chamber extending from a proximal housing grip end to a distal housing tool end for receiving a surgical tool. A tool linkage is partially housed within the housing linkage chamber comprising an axial handle region extending along axis A-A and a radiused housing region curving about a focal point. That way, a locking pawl of the tool linkage changes planes from its proximal end to a distal extending hook end. This provides a relatively short connection to a surgical tool that is optimum in the tight space requirements of a minimally invasive hip surgery.
US08657832B2	Method and device for implant deployment A surgical implant insertion system for deployment and removal of an implant into a vertebral body. The system includes an actuation rod, an actuator handle coupled to the actuation rod, and an inserter locking tube disposed over the actuation rod and coupled to an inserter handle. Upon insertion of the implant into the vertebral body using the inserter handle, the actuator handle is turned causing the actuation rod to expand or compress the implant disposed at a distal end of the inserter locking tube.
US08657830B2	Pelvic plane locator and patient positioner The invention includes both a method for acquiring the position of a patient's anterior pelvic plane, and a patient positioner or holder (apparatus) for securing a patient and acquiring the position of the patient's anterior pelvic plane. The method and apparatus facilitate definition of the anterior pelvic plane (APP) in the context of computer assisted hip surgery.
US08657827B2	Surgical tools for arthroplasty 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.
US08657821B2	Method and system for reversibly controlled drilling of luminal occlusions A luminal drilling system includes a drilling device and a control unit. The drilling device includes an elongate member having a drive shaft with a drill tip. The control unit includes a motor connectable to the drive shaft and control circuitry which rotationally oscillates the drive shaft with the direction of rotation automatically reversing whenever the load on the motor and/or drive shaft exceeds a threshold value.
US08657819B2	Easy to clean clamping device An easy to clean clamping device has at least one clamping assembly having two jaws. The jaws form at least one recess to accommodate an element to be clamped along the longitudinal axis of the recess. A locking unit is provided to allow closing of the jaws against the force of a spring element. The locking unit has a shaft extending along an axis and through bores of the jaws. The shaft has a head for operating the clamping action abutting against the uppermost jaw. A locking element is provided having a through bore and which locking element can be arranged between the head and the uppermost jaw. One portion of the locking unit has a larger diameter than the bore of the second jaw and the head of the locking unit has a smaller diameter than the bore of the adjacent jaw. The locking element comprises at least one locking surface which can be brought into positive locking with a corresponding surface of the head for blocking removal of the locking element.
US08657813B2	Circular thermal capsulotomy tool and system A system and tool for performing a capsulotomy procedure. The system includes an air pressure unit, a capsulotomy and movement control unit providing electrical current and movement control, and a capsulotomy tool, and an extendable-retractable burning element coupled to the tool, and a slidable shaping element. A capsulotomy and movement control unit provides electrical current to the burning element and movement control for extending and retracting the burning element. When the burning element is in a flattened, retracted configuration, the tip of the tool can be inserted through a relatively small corneal incision. Then, the burning element is opened to a full circular, extended configuration, by pressing the shaping element against both joints of the bands, allowing a capsulotomy by applying an electrical pulse to the burning element.
US08657811B2	Intravascular diagnostic or therapeutic apparatus using high-intensity pulsed light An intravascular diagnostic or therapeutic apparatus capable of removing blood in an intravascular lumen to be observed using a minimally invasive method is provided. The apparatus includes high-intensity pulsed light generating means and high-intensity pulsed light transmitting means for transmitting high-intensity pulsed light, capable of irradiating the interior of a blood vessel with high-intensity pulsed light, producing water-vapor bubbles and temporarily removing the blood in the blood vessel.
US08657810B2	Method for creating incisions to improve intraocular lens placement A system and method for inserting an intraocular lens in a patient's eye includes a light source for generating a light beam, a scanner for deflecting the light beam to form an enclosed treatment pattern that includes a registration feature, and a delivery system for delivering the enclosed treatment pattern to target tissue in the patient's eye to form an enclosed incision therein having the registration feature. An intraocular lens is placed within the enclosed incision, wherein the intraocular lens has a registration feature that engages with the registration feature of the enclosed incision. Alternately, the scanner can make a separate registration incision for a post that is connected to the intraocular lens via a strut member.
US08657808B2	Surgical apparatus including a hand-activated, cable assembly and method of using same A surgical apparatus and method according to which a cable assembly is connected to a handpiece and includes a sensing element, and a member adapted to move relative to the sensing element to control the operation of a motor in the handpiece.
US08657807B2	Insulin pump having a suspension bolus A method of delivering insulin to compensate for suspension of basal insulin delivery and an insulin pump are disclosed. The method includes prompting a user to input a period in which to suspend delivery of insulin from an insulin pump. The method also includes calculating an amount of insulin to be delivered during the period. The method further includes prompting the user to select a portion of the amount of insulin. The method includes delivering the portion of the amount of insulin to the patient. The method also includes suspending basal delivery of insulin from the pump.
US08657805B2	Complex shape steerable tissue visualization and manipulation catheter Complex steerable catheter visualization and tissue manipulation systems and their methods of use are disclosed herein. The deployment catheter is articulated using various steering mechanisms. Tissue visualization is accomplished from the visualization hood at the distal end of the deployment catheter, the hood having an ability to expand and other features to facilitate visualization and articulation at the tissue surface.
US08657800B2	Suction device having a rotary switch A suction device having a rotary switch is provided. A main body of the suction device is provided with a patient-end connector, an oxygen supply connector, a suction connector, a cleaning connector and a connecting portion. The rotary switch is assembled with the connecting portion and can be switched between a first position and a second position. The rotary switch is provided with two opposite suction holes. When the rotary switch is located in the first position, the two suction holes are aligned with the patient-end connector and the suction connector to thereby communicate the patient-end connector with the suction connector. When the rotary switch is located in the second position, the communication between the patient-end connector and the suction connector is shut off.
US08657794B2	High flow volume nasal irrigation device and method for alternating pulsatile and continuous fluid flow A high flow volume nasal irrigation device includes a squeeze bottle, a reservoir of liquid and a volume of air. The bottle is configured to elastically deform in response to a manual pressure from a user and thus pressurize the liquid and air. The device also includes a dip tube configured to convey a pressurized liquid flow from a first end inside the bottle to a second outside end at a lower pressure. A removable nipple cap comprises an orifice and a coaxially aligned extension configured to seal with the dip tube and to form a conduit with the tube. At least one air metering orifice is formed in the fluid conduit accessible to the to volume of air. The air metering orifice is configured to introduce a plurality of air pockets from the air volume into the liquid flow and thus generate a pulsatile fluid flow in the conduit.
US08657792B1	Medicinal tube lubricating system and associated use thereof A medicine delivering tube capable of transporting fluid from an existing medicine dispensing unit to the patient preferably includes a protective sleeve concentrically positioned about the medicine delivering tube such that a lubricant receiving zone is intercalated between an outer surface of the medicine delivering tube and an inner surface of the protective sleeve. The protective sleeve preferably includes a plurality of holes spaced along a major surface area of the protective sleeve. A lubricant dispensing unit is in fluid communication with the protective sleeve thereby injecting lubricant into the lubricant receiving zone for reducing friction between the outer surface of the medicine delivering tube and the inner surface of the protective sleeve. In this manner, upon applying an external force to the protective sleeve, the lubricant is caused to egress the protective sleeve via the holes thereby reducing friction along an outer surface of the protective sleeve.
US08657786B2	Needle array assembly and method for delivering therapeutic agents A fluid delivery device includes an array of needles, each in fluid communication with a respective reservoir. Respective actuators are coupled so as to be operable to drive fluid from the reservoirs via needle ports. Each needle can have a plurality of ports, and the ports can be arranged to deliver a substantially equal amount of fluid at any given location along its length. A driver is coupled to the actuators to selectively control the rate, volume, and direction of flow of fluid through the needles. The device can simultaneously deliver a plurality of fluid agents along respective axes in solid tissue in vivo. If thereafter resected, the tissue can be sectioned for evaluation of an effect of each agent on the tissue, and based on the evaluation, candidate agents selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapy, and subjects selected or deselected for clinical trials or therapeutic treatment.
US08657780B2	Application device An application device for applying a dispensable material is disclosed having a closed state and an open state, the application device comprising an elastic part made of an elastic material and having a through channel being configured for engaging a cavity of a receptacle, further comprising a holder supporting a dispensing means fluidly connected with the through channel. A pinch seal is used for sealing the through channel when being in the closed state. Long-term storage is made possible, since leakage of the pinch seal is prevented by a cap effecting the pinch seal which is partially fitted into a collar.
US08657775B2	Method of treating a subject suffering from end stage renal disease against cardiovascular disease The present invention relates to high cut-off hemodialysis membranes for the treatment of chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients, with the potential to improve long-term survival of these patients by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, through down-regulation of monocyte activation in the blood. Monocytes are the major circulating blood cells involved in the progression of cardiovascular disease. High cut-off hemodialysis in chronic dialysis patients results in a sustained decrease in expression of monocyte cell-surface proteins that direct the movement of these cells from the blood to the walls of blood vessels, where they promote the progression of arterial disease (atherosclerosis) that leads to cardiovascular disease (CVD); heart disease, strokes and peripheral vascular disease.
US08657769B2	Thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis A thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis includes an upper body support for use with a torso orthosis. The upper body support has an anterior assembly including an anterior plate secured to the torso orthosis, a sternal assembly connected to the anterior plate, and a pectoral assembly connected to the sternal assembly. A posterior assembly is connected to the torso orthosis and is connected to the pectoral assembly by at least one strap. The sternal assembly has at least one pivot point arranged to pivot the sternal assembly relative to the anterior plate.
US08657768B1	Cervical collar having flexible chin support An improved cervical collar front portion fabricated from an injection molded thermoplastic resin which when used in connection with a back portion is able to secure a wearer's head and neck. The cervical collar can either be a single piece collar with an integral front portion and back portion or as a two-piece collar with the front and back portions as separate and distinct pieces that are connected together. The front portion incorporates a mandible and chin support which is rigid at the distal ends and flexible at the median to accept and accommodate any wearer's uniquely shaped chin. Furthermore, the chin support central portion is essentially perpendicular to the rest of the front collar portion.
US08657767B2	Adjustable orthopedic boot An orthopedic boot has two leg supports connected adjustably to a foot support via two joint assemblies. Each joint assembly has a securing panel, a connecting panel, a guide panel, two limiting members and two holding members. The securing panel is mounted securely on the foot support and has two engaging grooves each having engaging cavities. The connecting panel is mounted securely to one leg support and is pivotally connected to the securing panel. The limiting members has a resilient segment, an engaging pin and a locking tab. The engaging pin is mounted slidably in one of the engaging grooves, engages one of the engaging cavities and selectively abuts the connecting panel. The locking tab is spaced from a periphery of the guide panel to define a locking gap. The holding members are held respectively in the locking gaps and abut respectively against the locking tabs.
US08657761B2	Apparatus for inserting needle Provided is an apparatus for inserting a needle capable of obtaining automation of tissue sample collection or drug injection and operation stability by applying a link mechanism between a needle inserted into a specific part of a human body and a power source for providing a drive force. The apparatus includes a needle unit inserted into a human body, a drive unit configured to provide a drive force to the needle unit such that the needle unit reciprocates between an insertion position at which the needle unit is inserted into the human body and a withdrawal position at which the needle unit is withdraw to the outside of the human body, and a guide unit including a plurality of guide links each having at least two links relatively rotated by the drive force of the drive unit and radially disposed around the needle unit, and configured to guide the needle unit such that the needle unit translates between the insertion position and the withdrawal position in a longitudinal direction of the needle unit.
US08657753B2	Method of deriving central aortic systolic pressure values and method for analysing an arterial dataset to derive the same A method, system and computer readable medium for deriving central aortic systolic pressure by reversing the order of a set of predetermined number of blood pressure measurements to obtain a reversed blood pressure set; averaging the reversed blood pressure set such that the average set represents a moving average waveform; overlaying the reversed blood pressure set and the moving average waveform; identifying a point of intersection on the reversed arterial waveform and the moving average waveform, and setting the central aortic systolic pressure as a reversed blood pressure value in the reversed blood pressure set nearest to the point of intersection.
US08657747B2	Systems and methods for processing analyte sensor data The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for processing sensor data, including calculating a rate of change of sensor data and/or determining an acceptability of sensor or reference data.
US08657746B2	Glucose sensor signal purity analysis Disclosed are methods, apparatuses, etc. for glucose sensor signal purity analysis. In certain example embodiments, a series of samples of at least one sensor signal that is responsive to a blood glucose level of a patient may be obtained. Based at least partly on the series of samples, at least one metric may be determined to characterize one or more non-physiological anomalies of a representation of the blood glucose level of the patient by the at least one sensor signal. A reliability of the at least one sensor signal to represent the blood glucose level of the patient may be assessed based at least partly on the at least one metric. Other example embodiments are disclosed herein.
US08657742B2	Medical measuring device A medical measuring device or system (10) includes at least one measuring apparatus (12, 14). Each measuring apparatus, in turn, has at least one sensor (16, 18) for generating a measuring signal representing a sensed physiological parameter, e.g. ECG signals, of a patient (20, 22). The measuring apparatuses (12, 14) incorporate the measuring signal into a carrier signal which is transmitted a wireless communication route (24, 26) to a centrally located data detection device (24) which displays graphs (42) or numerical values (40) representing the sensed physiological parameters. The at least one measuring apparatus (12, 14) signals the quality of the measuring signals to a wearing patient (20) via an LED (32, 34) or loudspeaker (28, 30).
US08657737B2	Electronic endoscope system, an electronic endoscope processor, and a method of acquiring blood vessel information The system includes an illuminating unit, an electronic endoscope, a unit for outputting first image data having different wavelength bands from the imaging signal, a unit for producing blood vessel information from the first image data, a unit for setting a given region in an image as reference value region, a unit for calculating a reference value for the blood vessel information based on second image data for a region within a reference value region, a unit for calculating relative value blood vessel information from the difference between the blood vessel information and the reference value blood vessel information, a unit for producing a simulated-color relative value blood vessel information image from the relative value blood vessel information, and a monitor for displaying a relative value blood vessel information image.
US08657735B2	Gastric belt A gastric belt has a wall of a chamber (3) forming a working face (5) with a length (l5) in the flat position of the belt. The length (l5) is equal to or greater than a length (l4) of the wall of the chamber (3), which forms the back side (4) in such a way that when the belt is fastened in the form of a circle and is inflated, the chamber wall forms folds.
US08657721B2	Driveline stiffness relaxation systems and methods for DFCO operation A powertrain system includes an engine control module that generates a negative torque transition signal based on a pending negative torque event of an engine. A transmission control module receives the negative torque transition signal from the engine control module. The transmission control module increases a slip speed of a torque converter clutch in preparation for the pending negative torque event by adjusting pressure in the torque converter clutch prior to the pending negative torque event. The transmission control module decreases the slip speed in the torque converter clutch based on completion of a transition at least one of to the pending negative torque event and from the pending negative torque event.
US08657720B2	Shift control apparatus for continuously variable transmission A shift control apparatus for a continuously variable transmission includes: a target transmission gear ratio setting section configured to set a target transmission gear ratio with reference to a map based on an accelerator opening degree and a vehicle speed; a shift control section configured to control a shift of the continuously variable transmission based on the target transmission gear ratio; and a downshift restricting section configured to judge whether or not a restriction of the downshift is needed based on at least one of a variation amount of the accelerator opening degree and an accelerator depression speed, and to perform the restriction of the downshift when the downshift restricting section judges that the restriction of the downshift is needed, irrespective of a variation of the accelerator opening degree inputted to the target transmission gear ratio setting section.
US08657718B2	Automatic transmission An automatic transmission includes an input shaft, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, and an engagement mechanism. The engagement mechanism includes first to seventh engagement devices. Nine or more forward transmission gear ratios are established by setting each of at least three engagement devices among the first to seventh engagement devices in an engagement mode.
US08657714B1	Journal bearing and method of facilitating hydrodynamic oil flow, load capacity and optimization of bearing performance A journal bearing for use in an epicyclical gearbox including a journal pin, a journal bearing body into which the journal pin is disposed and at least one lubricating fluid inlet. The lubricating fluid inlet is configured to provide for an input of a lubricating fluid in a loaded arc portion proximate at least one high pressure point exerted upon the journal bearing body during a high pressure event, thereby permitting a free flow of a lubricating fluid there between the journal pin and the journal bearing body during the high pressure event. In an embodiment, the journal pin is configured to mimic the shape of the journal bearing body at least at a high pressure point exerted upon the journal bearing body during a high pressure event. An epicyclical gearbox including the journal bearing and method of facilitating a hydrodynamic oil flow in the planet gear journal bearing.
US08657711B2	Silent chain having deformable guide plates In a silent chain, guide plates are U-shaped so that they can deform when tension is applied to the chain, thereby avoiding deformation of the connecting pins of the chain and warping of the guide plates. When the chain is unloaded, the frontmost edges of front pin holes of intermediate link plates of each link row are located forward of the frontmost edges of the front pin holes of the guide plates of the same link row, and the rearmost edges of the rear pin holes of the intermediate link plates of each link row are located rearward of the rearmost edges of the rear pin holes of the guide plates of the same link row.
US08657705B2	Golf ball A golf ball 2 has a large number of dimples 8 and a land 10. A rugged pattern is formed on the surface of the golf ball 2 by these dimples 8 and the land 10. These dimples 8 are arranged in a random manner. Each dimple 8 has a crater shape. For designing the rugged pattern, a Cellular Automaton method is used. A fluctuation range Rh of the golf ball 2 that is an index indicating the aerodynamic characteristic during PH rotation is 1.9 mm or less. A fluctuation range Ro of the golf ball 2 that is an index indicating the aerodynamic characteristic during POP rotation is 1.9 mm or less. The absolute value of the difference dR between the fluctuation range Ro and the fluctuation range Rh is 0.4 mm or less.
US08657698B2	Golf club swinging apparatus A golf club swinging apparatus configured to support and provide for motion of a golf club along a pendulum swing path may comprise a frame, a rotation mechanism having club and frame coupling components, and an angle measurement mechanism. Another embodiment may comprise a frame, and a rotation mechanism configured to couple a golf club to the frame and to provide for rotation about a rotation point such that the golf club may follow a pendulum swing path through a strike position. Yet another embodiment may comprise a frame having a base component, a vertical component, and a cross-member component, a rotation mechanism rotatably coupled with the cross-member component, and a protractor having a freely rotatable arm configured to couple with the golf club and measure an angle at which the golf club is rotated about the rotation point along a swing path.
US08657696B1	Trampoline arena A trampoline arena includes a framework assembly having a plurality of frame elements defining an outwardly sloping outer wall, and a deck, a plurality of voids being defined between the framework elements. The arena also includes a plurality of trampolines connected to the frame elements along peripheries thereof and extending across the plurality of voids to further define the outwardly sloping outer wall and deck, and a padding assembly including a plurality of pads overlying the frame elements and the peripheries of the trampolines.
US08657693B2	Torsional shock absorbing apparatus The torsional shock absorbing apparatus includes a boss, a cam member provided on the boss to be integrally rotated with the boss and having a cam surface formed in an oval shape, and an arm member disposed between the cam member and a coil spring to transmit the rotation torque of the disc plates to the boss. The arm member has one end portion held in contact with the cam surface and the other end portion held in engagement with circumferential one end portion of the coil spring, and is swingable around the center of a pin provided on the disc plates.
US08657692B2	Torsion vibration damper and damping device and torque transmission device A torsion vibration damper for a drive train of a motor vehicle, in particular a drive train of a hybrid vehicle, comprising: a spring support and a force transmission flange configured rotatable relative to the spring support, wherein at least one compression spring is provided between the spring support and the force transmission flange for transferring a mechanical torque, wherein a housing of the spring support is configured so that in a radial direction of the torsion vibration damper, at least one longitudinal end of the compression spring is supported at/in the spring support housing and/or a clearance remains between windings of a center section of the compression spring and a wall of the spring support.
US08657691B2	Torsional vibration damping apparatus The torsion angle between a first rotation member and a second rotation member can be increased to lower the rigidity of a resilient member, thereby enhancing the attenuation property of torsional vibration. The torsional vibration damping apparatus 1 comprises a pair of disc plates 4, 5 having the rotation torque from an internal combustion engine transmitted thereto, input gears 9, 10 rotatably supported on the disc plates 4, 5, an output gear 13 provided to be relatively rotatable with respect to the disc plates 4, 5 and held in mesh with the input gears 9, 10, a boss member 7 splined to an input shaft 8 of a power transmission train, and a coil spring 14 having one end portion fastened to the input gear 9 and the other end portion fastened to the input gear 10. The input gear 9 has a crank member 15 radially spaced apart from a gear pin 11 of the input gear 9 to support one end portion of the coil spring 14, while the input gear 10 has a crank member 16 radially spaced apart from a gear pin 12 of the input gear 10 to support the other end portion of the coil spring 14.
US08657690B2	Torque limiter device A torque limiter device includes a flywheel, a clutch disc assembly, a cover plate, a pressure ring, a plurality of friction members, a plurality of rivets and a cone spring. Each of the rivets is fixed to the cover plate and includes a first head portion disposed axially between a disc portion and the cover plate. The cone spring is disposed axially between the first head portions and the pressure ring in a compressed state.
US08657689B2	Annular flow distribution control of lubrication oil between concentric rotary shafts A concentric cylinder drive assembly (1) used for the transmission of power in industrial machinery is disclosed. More specifically, a concentric drive assembly (1) with a hollow outer cylinder (5) having an internal surface with a bi-directional surface lay; an inner cylinder (3) having an external surface with a unidirectional surface lay oriented at a predetermined angle (φ) along the length of the cylinder; an annular channel established between the outer and inner cylinders having a predetermined gap (7); and a lubrication oil that substantially fills the annular channel is presented.
US08657688B1	Promotion generation engine for a money transfer system A money transfer system is promoted by providing a user access to a game or contest generated by a promotions engine computer. The user is directed to a customer relations portal accessible via an access device to participate in the game or contest. The customer relations portal comprising a server configured to manage the game or contest and associated with the promotions engine computer. A response is received from the user at the server related to the user's participation in the game or contest. The server determines whether the user is to receive a reward or prize based on the response from the user, and an output is provided to the user on the access device indicating whether the user is to receive the reward or prize.
US08657678B2	Intra-office regulatory compliance testing system A regulatory compliance testing system permits a gaming machine (30-44) at a first location (14-20) to be tested for regulatory compliance with casino system software (44a,46) located at a second location (12) in a different jurisdiction. A plurality of different casino systems (46) can be kept at the second location (12) and each is associated with one specific port (54b-54e) at the first location so that each different type or model of gaming machine (14-20) has its own home port (54a-54e). A secured VPN Layer 2 network (24a-24e) including multisystem isolation made possible by VLAN (26a-26e) tunnels connects both locations and permits seamless and secure connectivity as if the gaming machine (30-44) and its associated accounting software (46) were located at the same location. The system (10) permits three (3) basic modes of testing. First, the gaming machine (30-44) may be tested at the first location (14-20) by an engineer at the first location (14-20). Second, the gaming machine (30-44) may be tested by a person at the second location (12). Third, a plurality of gaming machines (30-44) of the same type my be plugged into the same numbered port (54a-54e) at more than one locations and simultaneously tested from one or more different locations (12-20).
US08657676B2	Clock hand bonus game system In various embodiments, a clock hand bonus game is provided. Moreover, in various embodiments, a system, method and apparatus is provided for a bonus gaming machine. The bonus gaming machine operates with a face and two clock hands which rotate about the face. The bonus gaming machine operates in conjunction with a base gaming apparatus. The face displays a set of indicia which the two clock hands may point to as indication of a prize. The prize may be awarded in conjunction with a prize of the base gaming machine or independently.
US08657665B1	Electronic gaming device with scrape away feature Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive wagers. The systems and methods may include scrape away functionality.
US08657659B2	Networked wagering game with a randomly-selected feature game Wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and associated methods that include a randomly selected feature game are disclosed. One disclosed aspect provides for a wagering game including a primary game and a plurality of feature games. One or more of the plurality of feature games is selected for play upon a triggering event associated with the primary game. In another disclosed aspect, the wagering game may also include at least two types of progressives including wide-area progressives, casino-wide progressives, bank progressives and stand-alone progressives. Another disclosed aspect provides a pay table, wherein the pay table changes dynamically according to the size of a wager.
US08657657B2	Table game system A table game system includes a dealer's game table for performing a table game. A movable capturing part captures game media used in the table game, and allows at least changing of a capturing direction of the movable capturing part. An operating part is arranged in a game player space provided at a position distant from the dealer's game table, and can change the capturing direction of the movable capturing part. A display part can display an image of the game media captured by the movable capturing part.
US08657654B2	Clipping machine with a shortened crank drive The present invention relates to a clipping machine for producing sausage-shaped products. The clipping machine comprises a filling tube for feeding the filling material into a packaging casing, gathering elements for gathering the filled packaging casing and for forming a plait-like portion thereto, and a clipping device for applying at least one closure clip to the plait-like portion and closing said closure clip. Furthermore, the clipping device includes a drive for driving the first closing tool. Said drive comprises a crank shaft having a crank pin, and a plunger having a central axis, for holding and linearly moving the first closing tool between its opened and closed position along its central axis. A guide track is mounted to said plunger, and a slide block pivotally attached to the crank pin is in slidable engagement with said guide track for moving said plunger along its central axis.
US08657645B2	Methods for testing the polishability of materials A method and apparatus for measuring the polishability of a solid material such as a dental restorative material includes using a series of apparatus to perform the steps of forming the material into a desired specimen with a generally planar surface, conditioning the surface by abrasion, measuring the abraded surface with a profile determination device, optionally measuring the amount of material abraded from the surface and the gloss of the abraded surface, polishing a portion of the abraded surface with a polishing device at a controlled load for a pre-determined time and measuring the roughness and/or gloss of the polished surface followed by comparison thereof to the corresponding measurements of the unpolished, conditioned portion of the specimen surface. Polishing materials and devices may also be tested using the apparatus and method for polishing a standardized material.
US08657642B2	R/C car with demolition features A radio controlled R/C car including, a body supported on a plurality of wheels including at least one drive wheel, a remote control in communication with a controller on the car, a plurality of removable panels each panel including a latch to hold the panel in a first position on the car body and each latch associated with a plunger movable from a first position holding the latch in place to a second position releasing the latch, a first spring biasing the plunger to the first position and a second spring loaded by the latch the second spring biasing the panel away from the first position such that the panel springs away from the car body to simulate a crash. Once all the panels are released a sound plays and a driver ejects from the car and the car stops. Two or more cars can be used in a demolition derby where the last car still running with a driver would be the winner.
US08657631B2	Vertical connector for a printed circuit board An connector assembly is provided that may be utilized for vertical applications on a circuit board. The assembly includes a housing that supports a plurality of wafers that in tern support a plurality of terminals. The housing includes a base and a nose and can have two slots in the nose and the terminals extend to both slots. A guide frame can be positioned on the housing to help support the housing. The terminals can be arranged in a row on both sides of the two slots. The tails of the terminals can be configured with respect to the slots so as to provide desirable performance.
US08657629B2	SIM card slot having a fool-proof function and electronic apparatus containing the SIM card slot The embodiments of the present invention provide a SIM card slot having a fool-proof function and electronic apparatus containing the SIM card slot. The SIM card slot comprises: an accommodating space for accommodating the SIM card; and a cover, which may be of metal, positioned above the accommodating space; wherein a recessed zone is arranged in the cover, the recessed zone constituting a stopping sheet for blocking the insertion of the bevel edge of the SIM card. The wrong insertion of the SIM card of the electronic apparatus, such as a mobile terminal, may be prevented by the SIM card slot having a fool-proof function and electronic apparatus containing the SIM card slot of the present invention. Upon correct insertion the SIM card edge will cause the stopping sheet to be lifted, but with incorrect insertion the stopping sheet will engage the card bevel edge to block further insertion.
US08657628B2	Universal serial bus connector A universal serial bus (USB) connector includes a main body and a conductive member. The main body is fastened to an enclosure. The main body includes at least one USB interface. The conductive member includes an engaging portion for engaging with the main body and abutting against each housing of the at least one USB interface, and a connection tab abutting against the enclosure.
US08657627B2	Mezzanine connector A two-piece mezzanine connector for high speed, high density signals. The connector is assembled from wafers that may be formed of identical wafer halves. The halves may have interior portions that form a channel in which a lossy member may be captured for selectively configuring the connector for high frequency performance. The lossy member may be serpentine, to both provide different spacing relative to signal and ground conductors and to provide compliance to press against ground conductors when captured between wafer halves. Instead of, or in addition to, the lossy member captured between two wafer halves, the wafer halves may each have lossy material overmolded on at least one side, so that an assembled wafer may have lossy material disposed on the outside. The wafers may have dovetail projections that are secured within dovetail channels, forming structural members of the connector.
US08657623B2	Connect/disconnect connector for coaxial cable A connector for quick connect/disconnect engagement between two or more segments of coaxial cable has a hollow housing for attaching to a first electrical conductor and a coupler for attaching to a second electrical conductor. The housing and the coupler move to a limited distance in a sliding relation to each other. A locking member is fitted between the housing and the coupler to lock position of the housing in relation to the coupler and disengage the housing from the coupler when needed. The locking member has a compression spring that normally urges the housing away from the coupler and locking balls fitted in cutouts made in the locking member. When the spring is compressed, the locking balls move from the cutouts into an annular groove formed in the inner wall of the housing, thus allowing a limited sliding movement of the housing.
US08657611B1	Card connector A card connector includes an insulating housing defining a receiving chamber for receiving a card, a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulating housing, an ejecting device disposed in one side of the receiving chamber, and a cover coupled on the insulating housing. The ejecting device includes a sliding body of which a top defines a sliding fillister, and a spring restrained between a rear sidewall of the receiving chamber and the sliding body. A bottom sidewall of the sliding fillister protrudes upward to form a blocking block designating a front face thereof as a blocking face. The cover has a top plate of which one side is die-cut to form an elastic slice inclined downward into the sliding fillister. The elastic slice resists against the blocking face in use to keep the sliding body being locked, and sets free the blocking block when ejecting the card out.
US08657606B2	Asynchronous art jurying system A remote art jurying system in which art jurors independently evaluate works of art at different locations, times and places. A central database presents information about each work of art and/or the artist to an individual juror. The database provides images of the artwork along with relevant information. Each juror can access the database independent of other jurors in terms of location, or time. The system provides enhanced voting methods. The juror can review or change their votes at any time prior to final submission. They can review all works of art, by categories of art, or by scores. The juror reviews artwork thumbnail images, which can be used to select high resolution images with extended information. Selected categories of art can be enhanced by eliminating the lowest scores to balance artwork finalists across multiple categories of art. An online artist's application system is integrated with an image portfolio management system which allows artists to maintain permanent portfolio copies which can be electronically attached to applications. The system can be used for jurying art or other types of competitive ratings.
US08657605B2	Virtual testing and inspection of a virtual weldment Arc welding simulations that provide simulation of virtual destructive and non-destructive testing and inspection of virtual weldments for training purposes. The virtual testing simulations may be performed on virtual weldments created using a virtual reality welding simulator system (e.g., a virtual reality arc welding (VRAW) system). The virtual inspection simulations may be performed on “pre-canned” (i.e. pre-defined) virtual weldments or using virtual weldments created using a virtual reality welding simulator system. In general, virtual testing may be performed using a virtual reality welding simulator system (e.g., a virtual reality arc welding (VRAW) system), and virtual inspection may be performed using a standalone virtual weldment inspection (VWI) system or using a virtual reality welding simulator system (e.g., a virtual reality arc welding (VRAW) system). However, in accordance with certain enhanced embodiments of the present invention, virtual testing may also be performed on a standalone VWI system.
US08657598B2	Pressure adjustment device in stretch blow moulding machines A pressure adjustment device applicable in particular, but not exclusively, to stretch blow molding machines. More particularly, the invention relates to a pressure adjustment device for stretch blow molding machines of containers made of plastic material. The device includes an opening for dispensing a blowing fluid, a hollow body having a first inlet opening for a high pressure fluid and a second inlet opening for a piloting fluid. A shutter is slidably arranged within the hollow body, the shutter being held in a closed position by elastic means, wherein the adjustable opening of the shutter occurs, in contrast with the elastic means, by introducing—through said second inlet opening—the piloting fluid into a piloting chamber arranged between the hollow body the shutter, and wherein the piloting fluid has a controlled and adjustable pressure.
US08657597B2	Templates for use in imprint lithography and related intermediate template structures A method of forming a template for use in imprint lithography. The method comprises providing an ultraviolet (“UV”) wavelength radiation transparent layer and forming a pattern in the UV transparent layer by photolithography. The pattern may be formed by anisotropically etching the UV transparent layer and may have feature dimensions of less than approximately 100 nm, such as dimensions of less than approximately 45 nm. An additional embodiment of the method comprises providing a UV opaque layer comprising a first pattern therein, forming a first UV transparent layer in contact with the first pattern of the UV opaque layer, forming a second UV transparent layer in contact with the first UV transparent layer, and removing the UV opaque layer to form the template. An intermediate template structure for use in imprint lithography is also disclosed. In other embodiments, a template that is opaque to UV wavelength radiation and a method of forming the same are disclosed.
US08657577B2	Gas turbine with securing plate between blade base and disk A turbine rotor is provided. The turbine rotor has a plurality of blades assembled into blade rows and arranged on a turbine disk. Each blade has a blade root arranged in a blade retaining slot of the turbine disk extending in an axial direction. A locking plate is arranged between the respective blade root and a base of the blade retaining slot, for securing blades against a displacement along the blade retaining slot. The locking plate is fixed to the turbine disk by folds. The locking plate comprises a plurality of cooling air holes for the passage of cooling medium from a cooling air feed passage. The respective blade root comprises two grooves extending substantially azimuthally in relation to a turbine axis, and the respective locking plate comprises two tongues which are arranged such that they are connected to the two grooves of the blade root for sealing.
US08657573B2	Circumferential sealing arrangement A circumferential sealing arrangement is disclosed herein. The circumferential sealing arrangement includes a seal runner operable to be fixed to a structure for concurrent rotation with the structure about an axis. The circumferential sealing arrangement also includes a housing that encircles the seal runner or is encircled by the seal runner. The circumferential sealing arrangement also includes a primary seal element at least partially disposed in the housing. The primary seal element includes a first surface cooperating with a second surface of the seal runner to form a circumferential seal between the primary seal element and the seal runner. The circumferential sealing arrangement also includes a secondary seal element positioned between the housing and the primary seal element on a first side of the primary seal element along the axis of rotation. A second side of the primary seal element along the axis of rotation opposite the first side seals against the housing. The secondary seal element generates a biasing force along the axis of rotation urging the second side against the housing.
US08657572B2	Nacelle configurations for a shrouded wind turbine A shrouded wind turbine comprises a shroud disposed about an impeller. The impeller surrounds a nacelle body which is shaped to enhance smooth flow of wind through the impeller. Some embodiments include an inlet and an outlet in the nacelle body, allowing airflow through an interior cavity. Other nacelle bodies may be tapered, flared, include mixing lobes around a trailing edge, or may have other shapes that enhance fluid flow. Some nacelle bodies include an annular groove that promotes flow attachment. Maintaining airflow attachment to the nacelle body within the turbine increases the energy generation capacity of the wind turbine.
US08657571B2	Supersonic compressor rotor and methods for assembling same A supersonic compressor rotor that includes a rotor disk that includes a body that extends between a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface. A plurality of vanes are coupled to the body. The vanes extend outwardly from the rotor disk. Adjacent vanes form a pair and are oriented such that a flow channel is defined between each pair of adjacent vanes. The flow channel extends between an inlet opening and an outlet opening. At least one supersonic compression ramp is positioned within the flow channel. The supersonic compression ramp is configured to condition a fluid being channeled through the flow channel such that the fluid includes a first velocity at the inlet opening and a second velocity at the outlet opening. Each of the first velocity and the second velocity being supersonic with respect to said rotor disk surfaces.
US08657563B2	Sealing assembly A sealing assembly is provided for sealing against a component. The sealing assembly comprises a seal carrier and a continuous seal element that is attached to the seal carrier at at least two discrete positions of attachment. The seal element is provided with a sealing surface that is arranged to seal against the component. The seal element is further provided with a thermal expansion slot that is located between the discrete positions of attachment and which extends from a first edge of the seal element over a portion of the width of the seal element. This allows the seal carrier and seal element to thermally expand in the length direction at different rates.
US08657562B2	Self-aligning flow splitter for steam turbine A steam turbine diaphragm stage having a self-aligning flow splitter is disclosed. In one embodiment, a steam turbine flow splitter body is disclosed, the steam turbine flow splitter body having a central portion and two end portions, and including: a flow divider proximate to the central portion; and a substantially radially outward extending hook proximate to at least one of the two end portions.
US08657560B2	Energy extraction device with at least one bank of blades An energy extraction device for extracting energy from a flow of fluid is provided. The energy extraction device comprises a rotating member for rotatably mounting to a support structure, at least one rotatable bank of blades connected to the rotating member through a connection disposed radially from the main axis of rotation of the rotating member, and, a pitch control system for controlling the angular position of the at least one rotatable bank of blades relative to a direction of the flow of fluid. The rotating member has a main axis of rotation and the at least one bank of blades comprises an array of spaced-apart blades secured together. Each of the at least one bank of blades has a bank axis of rotation.
US08657559B2	Method and device for reduction of wear in a water turbine A method and device for reducing wear in a water turbine (1) comprising a turbine housing (2) and an impeller (4), and where between the turbine housing (2) and the impeller (4) is arranged a seal (16, 18), and where the method comprises supplying cleaned water to the seal (16, 18).
US08657558B2	Airflow from a blower with one or more adjustable guide vanes that are affixed to the blower at one or more pivot points located in an outlet of the blower Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for improving the airflow exiting a blower that has one or more adjustable guide vanes that are affixed to the blower at one or more pivot points located in an outlet of the blower that include: determining a rotational speed of an impeller in the blower and adjusting a position of at least one of the adjustable guide vanes in dependence upon the rotational speed of the impeller.
US08657542B2	Cargo management system for vehicle A cargo management system for a vehicle having a cargo area (e.g., pickup bed) may include various elements. For example, the system may include a rail attachable to the interior surface of the cargo box inner panel, at least one reinforcement plate positionable against the outer surface of the inner panel, and a plurality of fasteners for holding the rail to the inner panel backed by the reinforcement plate. The rail may have a rail portion and a body portion. The body portion is positioned through a slot formed in the bedliner and includes a base and a pair of opposed side walls connecting the base with the rail portion. Each reinforcement plate has apertures to accommodate multiple mechanical fasteners and reinforcement segments, which are attached by reinforcement segment bridges.
US08657533B2	Gravity base structure Embodiments of gravity base structures are disclosed that comprise first and second elongated base sections separated by an open region and configured to support the on-bottom weight of the structure and be supported by the floor of the body of water, and an upper section positioned above the open region and configured to extend at least partially above the water surface to support topside structures. Some embodiments further comprise first and second inclined sections coupling the base sections to the upper section.
US08657530B2	Subsea pipe stub pulling devices and methods A device for retrieving a subsea tubular comprises a housing. In addition, the device comprises a receiving body slidingly disposed within the housing. The body has a central axis, a lower end, and a receptacle extending from the lower end. Further, the device comprises an actuation member configured to move the housing axially relative to the body. Still further, the device comprises a plurality of cam members. Each cam member is rotatably coupled to the lower end of the body and has a cam head extending radially into the receptacle and a lever arm extending from the cam head. Each cam member is configured to rotate in a first direction to move the cam head radially inward and rotate in a second direction to move the cam head radially outward. Moreover, the device comprises a plurality of biasing members configured to bias the cam members in the first direction.
US08657521B2	Collapsible structures and joints for collapsible structures Joint assemblies for collapsible structures include a mating member and a receiving member connected together by a flexible member. The receiving member includes a socket section having a lumen with an internal surface and a longitudinal slot. The mating member includes a tip section that, at a first end thereof, has a non-circular cross-section that provides at least two points of contact with the internal surface of the socket section when the tip section is positioned within the lumen of the socket section. The joint assemblies include a slider that has an internal diameter that varies along the length of the slider to retain the tip section of the mating member within the lumen of the receiving member.
US08657506B2	Field terminating method and device A method of terminating a fiber in a connector using a device comprising: (a) positioning a stripped fiber on the device such that the bare fiber portion extends into a first fiber channel of a cleaver; (b) securing the fiber to a fiber retainer slidably attached to the substrate to move along an x axis at a first position; (c) cleaving the bare fiber portion to form a cleaved end; (d) sliding the fiber retainer away from the cleaver along the x axis; (e) causing to be presented a second fiber channel of a connector held in a connector retainer along the x axis; (f) sliding the fiber retainer to the first position along the x axis, thereby causing the cleaved end to extend into the second fiber channel; and (g) actuating the connector while the fiber retainer is at the first position.
US08657504B2	Optical fiber connection device having a rotating and fixing mechanism and a positioning member The present invention discloses an optical fiber connection device, comprising: a base plate; at least one adapter for receiving optical fiber connectors; a rotating and fixing mechanism being provided on the base plate and being connected with the adapters, the rotating and fixing mechanism comprising: a fixing portion for fixedly connecting with the adapter; and a rotating portion being rotatably connected to the base plate, through which the mechanism can rotate between an operation position and a receiving/releasing position; and a positioning member for stably holding the rotating and fixing mechanism in the operation position or the receiving/releasing position, and limiting the rotation angle of the mechanism and that of the adapter within a predetermined angle range.
US08657503B2	Bearing hub unit for a motor-vehicle wheel Bearing-hub unit for a motor-vehicle wheel, having an axis of rotation and provided with a stationary bearing outer ring bounded by a side surface transverse to the axis of rotation; a radially inner rotatable hub; a bearing inner ring fixed onto the hub and defining together with the outer ring a cavity devoid of any sealing device; an encoder arranged inside the cavity and fixed externally on the inner ring; and a protective cover which is made of non-ferromagnetic material and is mounted on the outer ring in axial abutment against the side surface so as to protect the encoder and close the cavity; there being provided a static sealing element which is joined to an outer edge of the protective cover and has a first sealing portion situated between the protective cover and the outer ring.
US08657499B2	Heavy load bearing A heavy load bearing includes a casing and assembly having at least two units and an axial hole run-through by a shaft. Each unit has a mounting portion on the circumferential outer surface, two connection portions at two ends, an axle hole, and at least one groove indented axially from the connection portion and formed between an outer wall near the mounting portion and an inner wall near the axle hole. At least one set of multiple notches is formed annularly on a free end of the inner wall and communicating with the groove and axle hole. The casing has an axial cavity to hold the assembly. Two abutting units are coupled to form at least one storage chamber to store lubricating media. The notches of the two abutting units form at least one set of multiple fine flow passages communicating with the axial hole and storage chamber.
US08657496B2	Package bag and spout member A spout member including a base portion which is fixed to a bag body, a cylindrical portion which protrudes upward from the base portion, and a sealing portion which seals a front end of the cylindrical portion through a breakable thin portion is disposed between two sheets of film forming the bag body. A sealing chamber accommodating the cylindrical portion and the sealing portion is opened by tearing the two sheets of film along an opening assisting line. An opening assisting plate protruding to at least one of a left side and a right side of the sealing portion is disposed above the opening assisting line. A sandwiching reinforcement seal portion for reinforcing the two sheets of film by sealing inner surfaces thereof is provided between the opening assisting plate and the opening assisting line.
US08657494B2	Swiveling device for a swiveling C-arm of an X-ray unit A swiveling device for a swiveling C-arm of an X-ray unit includes a motorized drive unit and an adapter removably attachable to the C-arm concentrically with a swiveling axis thereof. The adapter connects the C-arm to the drive unit in driving manner. The swiveling device also includes an angular position encoder for recording the swivel angle of the C-arm.
US08657488B2	Calorimeter A calorimeter includes a bucket cover which is used to reconfigure an isothermal water reservoir to provide for temperature equilibration prior to sample analysis and subsequently define a fixed volume of water during analysis in which high precision temperature measurements can be recorded. The apparatus includes mechanisms for sealing and controlling the cover, and for coupling the combustion vessel to the cover while minimizing the thermal contact between them. Improved thermal isolation between the fixed volume of water and the surrounding environment is also achieved.
US08657476B2	Elongated LED lighting arrangement An elongated LED lighting arrangement comprises an elongated light pipe with homogeneous optical material between first and second ends. In an exemplary embodiment, an LED provides blue light to the light pipe via a first dichroic mirror tuned to pass blue light. Down-converting means on sidewall of the light pipe, tuned to receive blue light, absorbs blue light from the LED and to emit lower-energy light outside of the light pipe at respectively higher wavelengths. Light-extracting means on the sidewall extract from the light pipe some blue light without changing the wavelengths of the foregoing light. Light from the down-converting means and the light-extracting means are combined to provide a composite color. The first dichroic mirror receives some light emitted by the down-converting means and reflects back into the light pipe more than 80 percent of the light received by the mirror.
US08657474B2	Electrical socket, apparatus and system A socket assembly, electrical apparatus and system are disclosed. The socket assembly may incorporate wire push-in terminations or accept wire plug terminations. The socket assembly may be joined to or integrally formed with the electrical apparatus. A plurality of the apparatus incorporating the socket assemblies may be combined into a system. Particular embodiments illustrating various configurations of the socket assemblies, light fixtures including such socket assemblies and a lighting system including a plurality of such light fixtures are disclosed. The socket assemblies also may incorporate terminal assemblies that include two or more metal components to permit daisy chaining of a plurality of the electrical apparatus.
US08657470B2	Lamp structure with rotatable adapter elements A lamp structure includes a first adaptor, a second adaptor, an adaptor ring, a rotating element, a heat sink, and a lampshade. The second adaptor disposed in the first adaptor includes a cannular pivoting element and an assembly element. The assembly element disposed in the pivoting element has first arc openings symmetrically distributed around a center of the assembly element. The adaptor ring is disposed at a side of the second adaptor opposite the first adaptor. The rotating element fixed to a first surface of the adaptor ring that faces the second adaptor has a second surface facing the second adaptor and bosses extended from the second surface. The bosses respectively pass through the first arc openings to move along the first arc openings. The heat sink is disposed between the adaptor ring and the lampshade.
US08657462B2	Illumination module A luminous module for a luminous chain may include at least one light source; and at least one electrical connection configured to supply the at least one light source, wherein the luminous module includes a heat sink.
US08657459B2	Lighting apparatus A low profile lighting apparatus is characterized by a battery housing, a rail-engaging plate connected to the housing by a pair of arms, and a recessed activating push-button located between the arms and adjacent the rail-engaging plate. A flexible resilient tab, also recessed between the arms, secures the apparatus to a rail. A lock-out switch is built into a plug for closing an end of the housing. The plug has three discrete rotational positions, one for attachment, a second for activation of an illumination source, and a third for preventing accidental activation of the illumination source by requiring simultaneous axial pressure and rotation. Instead of the plug, a hinged door having a sliding latch part can be utilized. The sliding latch part includes a pair of resilient legs that cooperate with surfaces inside the door to urge the latch part toward a latching condition.
US08657454B1	Vacuum formed reflector for solar energy A reflector particularly adaptable to the collection of solar energy for use in heating systems, thermal to electrical conversion systems and in photovoltaic conversions systems. The reflector can also be used for transmission, or reception or both of radio frequency radiation.
US08657446B2	Method and apparatus for visual field monitoring Embodiments provide methods and systems for the modeling and analysis of visual fields. Methods for global and regional measurement of visual sensitivity and quantification of field loss are provided in accordance with various embodiments. Further embodiments provide systems and methods for the diagnosis of diseases affecting the visual field. In addition, embodiments provide methods and systems for measuring and quantifying the volume of the Hill of Vision for an individual subject.
US08657445B2	System and method for determining and predicting IOL power in situ The present invention relates to a system and a method for determining the power of an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) in situ. The invention furthermore relates to a system and a method for predicting the optical outcome of IOL surgery. Use of the system may provide prevention, treatment, or amelioration of diseases and disorders affecting the lens of the eye and which may benefit from IOL surgery. Moreover, the invention relates to a computer-readable medium for implementing such a system on a computer.
US08657441B2	Fundus imaging apparatus Provided is a fundus imaging apparatus which achieves reduction of a load on an examiner by facilitating understanding of an operation of switching from a fundus imaging mode to an anterior ocular segment imaging mode, comprising: an imaging unit for taking an image of an eye to be inspected; a focusing unit for achieving a substantially conjugate relationship between the eye to be inspected and the imaging unit; a diopter adjustment unit for adjusting a diopter when the eye to be inspected is myopic or hyperopic; an imaging selecting unit capable of selecting the fundus imaging mode or the anterior ocular segment imaging mode; a diopter adjustment switching unit for switching the diopter adjustment unit in accordance with the selected imaging mode; and a drive unit for driving the focusing unit in accordance with the selected imaging mode.
US08657428B2	Image forming method The present invention provides an image forming method including ejecting an ink containing a silicic acid compound from an inkjet head, whereby deterioration of the head members is suppressed and a high precision image is formable stably over a long-term, the inkjet head being equipped with plural liquid droplet ejecting elements 80 having nozzles 64, pressure chamber 58, supply channel 60, and piezoelectric element 68, which transforms vibrating plate 66 that constitutes a wall of pressure chamber 58, and an ink circulation unit which has common flow channel 52 that is connected with each of plural liquid droplet ejecting elements 80 via supply channels 60, and common circulation channel 70 that is connected with each of plural liquid droplet ejecting elements 80 via reflux channels 72, that supplies the ink to plural liquid droplet ejecting elements from common flow channel 52, and that circulates the ink to common circulation channel.
US08657427B2	Liquid container The environmental burden of a liquid container during its life cycle is reduced, and a decrease in the reading or writing precision of an information recording unit provided on the liquid container is suppressed. A liquid container mounted in a liquid container holder of a liquid consuming apparatus, equipped with a first container section enclosing at least a portion of a liquid containing space capable of containing a liquid, the material thereof including a plant derived material, a high rigidity member having higher rigidity than the first container section, the material thereof including a material different from the plant derived material, and an information recording unit positioned above the high rigidity member, in which information relating to the liquid container is recorded, for which the information is read or written by a reading unit or a writing unit provided on the liquid consuming apparatus.
US08657423B2	Fluid container In one embodiment a fluid container includes: a housing having a chamber therein for holding a fluid, the housing defined at least in part by a rectangular box and a one piece, L-shaped lid; and a first leg of the lid extending along and closing a first, open side of the box and a second leg of the lid extending along and interlocked with a closed, second side of the box disposed perpendicular to the first side of the box.
US08657407B2	Liquid ejecting device A liquid ejecting device including a liquid ejecting head having an ejection surface, a liquid receiving member having a liquid receiving surface, an annular member for sealing an ejection surface, a positional relationship adjusting unit for adjusting a positional relationship between the ejection surface and the liquid receiving surface, an air inlet, a humidified air supplying unit, a cleaning unit, a viscosity information obtainment unit, and a control unit is provided. The control unit conducts a liquid receiving surface cleaning action including control of the positional relationship adjusting unit for adjusting the positional relationship between the ejection surface and the liquid receiving surface to form a first positional relationship, the humidified air supplying unit for supplying humidified air to the ejection space, and the cleaning unit for removing the liquid received on the liquid receiving surface.
US08657400B2	Liquid discharging apparatus and liquid discharging method A liquid discharging apparatus is provided, which including: a pressure chamber communicating with a liquid supply portion and each nozzle; an element that performs an operation for providing change of pressure to liquid within the pressure chamber; and a pulse generating section that generates a pulse of which a voltage is changed to operate the element. The pulse generating section generates a first discharge pulse that causes the element to perform an operation for discharging liquid droplets from the nozzles, a non-discharge pulse, generated later than the first discharge pulse, that produces pressure vibration of strength, by which the liquid droplets are not discharged from the nozzles, in the liquid within the pressure chamber, which has a phase different from pressure vibration produced in the liquid within the pressure chamber by applying the first discharge pulse to the element, and a second discharge pulse, generated later than the non-discharge pulse, that causes the element to perform the operation for discharging the liquid droplets from the nozzles, while using the pressure vibration produced in the liquid within the pressure chamber by applying the non-discharge pulse to the element.
US08657383B2	Environmentally friendly layered seating assembly The present invention relates to an environmentally friendly layered vehicle seat assembly and a method of making the same. In at least one embodiment, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a cushion composite comprising a structural layer and a cushion layer adjacent to the structural layer, and a trim material secured over the cushion composite.
US08657379B2	Power return folding head restraint A head restraint assembly includes a post assembly which has a first post section, a second post section, and a cross member section connecting the first post section and the second post section. The first post section and the second post section are adapted to engage a vehicle seat. The head restraint includes a bun moveably attached to the post assembly, a first gear, and a motor that rotates the first gear in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. Rotation of the first gear drives a second gear which drives a third gear. Rotation of the second gear in a first direction causes movement of the bun to a tilted position while movement of the second gear in a second direction causes movement of the bun to an upright position.
US08657376B2	Link member for motion-enabled movie theatre chair The present document describes a link member for providing an interface between an actuator and a seat base. The link member has a translational degree of freedom and at least two rotational degrees of freedom. The link member comprises: a joint member having a spherical surface, the joint member for attachment to one of the actuator and the seat base; a housing for attachment to the other one of the actuator and the seat base; and a slider mounted on the spherical surface and within the housing. The slider is free to move in a direction of a translational plane within the housing thereby providing the translational degree of freedom. Furthermore, the slider is free to slide on the spherical surface and to pivot about a first axis and a second axis thereby providing the at least two rotational degrees of freedom.
US08657370B1	Roof ditch molding and method of manufacture A roof ditch molding and a method of manufacture. The roof ditch molding may include a channel and a skin that are co-extruded from different polymeric materials.
US08657368B2	Hydroformed side pillar to lower back joint structure A mechanism for increasing stiffness of the side-structure of a vehicle, for transferring loads and strain energy, and for improving rigidity from the lower portion of a side pillar, to the underbody structural components of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a hydroformed tube having a horizontal portion, a vertical portion and an arcuate central portion. The upper end of the vertical portion is spot welded to the lower portion of the side pillar. The horizontal portion is received into, and spot welded to, an inner portion of a structural member. The structural member is an L-shaped bracket, and its major portion is spot welded to an inner portion of an elongated beam. The beam is fixedly attached to the side rail of the vehicle. The tubular member, the structural member, and the elongated beam, when connected, form a closed continuous box shaped structure, which reinforces the side-structure of the vehicle.
US08657364B2	Rear structure of a vehicle body A rear structure of a vehicle body includes a first rear side member and a second rear side member, the first and second rear side members generally extending in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body, a first rear cross member extending between the first rear side member and the second rear side member, a rear center member extending from the first rear cross member toward the rear of the vehicle body in the front-to-rear direction, and wherein the rear center member includes at least one structure configured to be vulnerable when an impact load is exerted upon the rear of the vehicle body.
US08657362B2	Convertible having a roof arrangement A convertible has a roof (8) that can be adjusted between an opened and covered positions and a wind deflector (12) that can be adjusted between a retracted position (RS) and a deployed position (WS). The wind deflector (12) is mounted movably on longitudinal sides (2) of the convertible (1) adjacent to interior paneling (10) and has a section underneath the interior paneling (10). Openings (17) for a soft top linkage of the convertible can be closed or opened by flaps (16) on the longitudinal sides (2) of the convertible (1) adjacent to the wind deflector (12). The convertible (1) also has a control device (19) for the roof arrangement (8) and a position-detection device (27) for the flap (16). The control device (19) permits adjustment of the roof (8) only if the position-detection device (27) detects an open position (P2) of the flap (16).
US08657361B2	System and method for actuating multiple components in a vehicle having an access opening An actuating system for a vehicle having a body that defines an access opening includes a panel arranged to selectively open and close at least a first portion of the opening. The system also includes multiple components operatively connected to the panel and adapted to be actuated. The system additionally includes a motor operatively connected to the panel and adapted to actuate the multiple components. A vehicle employing the system and a method for sealing an access opening in a body of a vehicle are also provided.
US08657360B2	Adjusting device for a roof cap of a collapsible roof A collapsible roof for a vehicle includes a roof guide, a roof cap, a top fabric, and an adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism movably couples the roof cap to the roof guide such that the roof cap with the top fabric are movable relative to the roof guide between a closed position in which the top fabric covers a roof opening and an opened position in which the top fabric exposes the roof opening. The adjusting mechanism includes front and rear control arms coupled to the roof cap. The front control arm includes a locking hook and the rear control arm includes a latching hook. The locking hook engages a front cavity of the roof guide in the closed position to fix the roof cap in place and the latching hook engages a rear cavity of the roof guide in the opened position to fix the roof cap in place.
US08657355B2	Protective structure for high-voltage unit A protection structure for a high-voltage unit installed in a vehicle provided with: a vehicle interior; a storage chamber located in front of the vehicle interior in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and storing the high-voltage unit; a dash panel for separating the vehicle interior and the storage chamber; and a high-voltage cable connected to the high-voltage unit.
US08657352B2	Robotic device for substrate transfer applications A device for use in the semiconductor industry includes a robotic arm whose end effector includes at least two prongs designed to hold a substrate carrier. A pushing member located between the prongs can move independently of the prongs and is configured to exert force against the substrate carrier while the prongs are retracted from the substrate carrier, after the substrate carrier has been brought to its intended position. In this manner, the position of the substrate carrier is maintained at its intended position as the prongs are retracted. Each of the prongs may include a claw or gripping member for grasping the substrate carrier.
US08657347B2	Auto lock The present invention addresses the need of the industry for a simple and comfortable latch mechanism that automatically latches a window when the window is returned to a closed position. A latch mechanism for a window includes a housing defining an opening therein, a latch bolt slidably disposed in the housing and selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position wherein such latch bolt is adapted to be actuated by an actuating mechanism from the retracted position to the extended position, and a stopping mechanism adapted to automatically engaged and retain the latch bolt in the retracted position as the latch bolt is positioned from the extended to the retracted position.
US08657342B2	Consist communication system having inductive transmission A consist communication system is disclosed for use with a train consist. The consist communication system may have a fluid conduit, at least a first cable disposed within the fluid conduit and configured to transmit communication signals, and at least a second cable disposed within the fluid conduit and configured to transmit electrical power. The communication conduit may also have a coupling fixedly connected to an end of the fluid conduit, a first transformer coil connected to the at least a first cable, and a second transformer coil connected to the at least a second cable and disposed in an orthogonal orientation relative to the first transformer coil.
US08657338B2	Position lock for steering column A lock for a steering column comprises a bracket disposed along a raking direction. A control shaft is supported for translation with the steering column. A tooth lock is disposed on the control shaft and comprises a lever and an actuator. The actuator is configured to cause the lever to rotate in an adjustment direction when a force is applied in the adjustment direction and so as to apply a locking moment to the lever when a force is applied in the locking direction. The bracket has a teeth disposed along the raking direction. The lever is configured for engaging, upon rotation in the locking direction, at least one tooth so as to resist translation in the raking direction. The lever is configured for disengaging, upon rotation in the adjustment direction, from the at least one tooth so as to selectively facilitate translation in the raking direction.
US08657334B2	Airbag cushion An airbag cushion (100) with a recessed portion formed on an exterior of the airbag cushion has a pair of side panels (104a, 104b) and a tether (180) for limiting outward movement of the inflated airbag cushion; and wherein the tether (180) forms a portion of the exterior surface of the airbag cushion (100).
US08657332B2	Air belt apparatus An air belt apparatus is provided in which a bag is stored while being folded short prior to deployment and inflation. An air belt apparatus includes a bag provided in a part of a seatbelt, a collision detection device, and a gas supply device that supplies deployment gas to the bag. The bag includes a cylindrical portion connected to the gas supply device, and an inflatable portion wider than the cylindrical portion. Prior to deployment and inflation, the inflatable portion is stored on a radial inner side of the cylindrical portion while being turned inside out and folded up to a width substantially equal to a width of the cylindrical portion.
US08657329B2	Instrument panel module A decorative panel is suppressed from coming off during airbag inflation and deployment. In an instrument panel module 10, an opening section 32 formed in a frame section 28 of the retainer 22 is closed off by the door main body section 52A of the airbag door 52, and the door adjacent portion 62 formed in a decorative panel 60 adjacent at the vehicle bottom side of the door main body section 52A. A main body portion 62A of a door adjacent portion 62 is joined to a joining section 70 formed at an upper portion of a hinge member 68, such that the door adjacent portion 62 is supported by the hinge member 68 so as to be capable of opening towards the vehicle bottom side. First fixing portions 72 are formed to the lower portion of the hinge member 68, and the first fixing portions 72 are fixed to a top edge portion 78A of the opening section 78 of a glove box 76 provided to the instrument panel base member 12.
US08657326B2	Stroller with convertible child-support system A child carrier in accordance with the present disclosure is adapted to be mounted on a rolling stroller frame to hold a child for transport on the rolling stroller frame. In one mode, the child carrier is configured to provide a bassinet. In another mode, the child carrier is configured to provide a seat.
US08657324B2	Tractor-trailer hose support A hose support for supporting hoses which extend between the tractor and the trailer of a tractor-trailer rig with the tractor having a headache rack, with forward and rearward sides, positioned rearwardly of the cab of the tractor. A substantially vertically disposed mounting plate is secured to the rearward side of the headache rack and has an elongated hose support arm, having forward and rearward ends, with the rearward end of the hose support arm being pivotally secured, about a vertical axis to the mounting plate. The hose support arm may extend rearwardly and upwardly from the mounting plate or extend rearwardly and downwardly from the mounting plate. The rearward end of the hose support arm is adapted to have the hoses secured thereto.
US08657322B2	Wheelchair mount and method for stabilizing a wheelchair component A wheelchair mount includes a body, a band secured to the body, and a stabilizing component secured to the body. The band is sized to secure an associated wheelchair bar between the band and the stabilizing component. The stabilizing component resists rotational movement of the body relative to the wheelchair bar.
US08657320B2	Sensor arrangement A sensor arrangement for a wheelchair wheel that has a running wheel with a hub and a hand rim includes a running wheel fastening arrangement that is fastened to the running wheel, a hand rim fastening arrangement that is fastened to the hand rim and at least one sensor that detects a movement of the hand rim fastening arrangement relative to the running wheel fastening arrangement. Two restoring elements are provided on the running wheel fastening arrangement and rest against the hand rim arrangement with a prestressing force at least in the zero position. Both restoring elements rest against at least one stop of the running wheel fastening arrangement in the zero position of the sensor arrangement.
US08657318B2	Vehicle running board A vehicle running board includes a treadle body provided with a receiving surface with plural recesses and having its underside disposed with a recessed chamber. A decorative plate is mounted on the receiving surface of the treadle body, and an anti-skid pad is set on the decorative plate. A connecting base is received in the recessed chamber of the treadle body and has two lower sides respectively bent inward to form a sliding rail. A plurality of inverted-U shaped positioning members are positioned at the underside of the connecting base, respectively having two sides received in the sliding rails of the connecting base and respectively bored with a long insert hole having a third screw inserted therein. Thus, the positioning members in the connecting base can be adjusted in setting position for matching vehicles of different styles, convenient in assembly and use and stable in whole structure.
US08657312B2	Computer cart A computer cart has removable electrical connector management system which may be removed from the computer cart to install portable electronic device electrical transformers, and then reinserted into the computer cart to enable multiple electrical transformers to be installed into the cart as a group. An electrical charging system uses a staggered round robin approach to control distribution of power within the computer cart without requiring the amount of power used from each power strip to be individually monitored.
US08657307B2	Modular rolling container assembly An apparatus for transporting articles having at least one container module that includes a container top having a non-releasable connection portion and a storage container that is selectively non-releasably connected to the container top and/or at least one other storage container. The storage container includes an upper non-releasable connection portion and a lower non-releasable connection portion. The upper non-releasable connection portion is selectively non-releasably connected to 1) a lower non-releasable connection portion of the at least one other storage container or 2) the non-releasable connection portion of the container top. The lower non-releasable connection portion is selectively non-releasably connected to an upper non-releasable connection portion of the at least one other storage container. The container module also includes a latch that releasably connects the storage container to the at least one other storage container if positioned on the container top.
US08657301B2	Vehicle body tilting apparatus A vehicle body tilting apparatus includes: a right/left-wheels holding member having an elongated shape, and holding a right side wheel and a left side wheel of a vehicle which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the vehicle such that each of the wheels is movable in a vertical direction; and a lean actuator disposed between the right/left-wheels holding member and a body of the vehicle, and configured to tilt at least the body of the vehicle in a lateral direction with respect to a normal line that is perpendicular to a road surface, by pivoting the right/left-wheels holding member and the body of the vehicle relative to each other. An output shaft of the lean actuator is fixed to the right/left-wheels holding member, and the body of the vehicle is fixed to a main body of the lean actuator.
US08657298B2	Brush seal with backing plate tooth A brush seal assembly is provided, including a sealing surface, a side plate, a backing plate, a plurality of bristles, and a biasing member. The backing plate is selectively located in a stationary position and has at least one backing tooth and a backing tip. The backing tooth has a tooth surface and the backing tip has a tip surface. A tooth clearance is measured between the tooth surface and the sealing surface. A tip clearance is measured between the tip surface and the sealing surface. The tooth clearance is less than the tip clearance. The bristles are located between the side plate and the backing plate. The bristles include an end portion for sealing to the sealing surface. The biasing member exerts a biasing force upon the backing plate in a direction towards the sealing surface. The backing tooth is configured for selectively contacting the sealing surface.
US08657295B2	Device and method for measuring reaction time A manual neurological testing device for measuring a subject's reaction time comprising: a releasable holding member operable to be grasped by the subject; a stimulus device coupled with the releasable holding member, the stimulus device outputting a perceivable stimulus; and a measurement device coupled with the releasable holding member, the measurement device measuring the subject's reaction time for grasping the releasable holding member relative to the perceivable stimulus.
US08657293B2	Tossing projectile target game A projectile tossing game that combines elements of traditional washers and bean bag games with baseball. The game includes a receiving box that resembles a baseball field having an infield and outfield. The floor of the box can be covered with a material such as outdoor carpeting or turf to minimize the impact of projectiles landing in the box. Players score points (or runs) by landing projectiles in the infield or in one of the cylindrical outfield targets. The game is played for nine turns rather than a predetermined score. In the event of a tie, extra turns are taken until a player or team is declared the winner. The game can be played with multiple players and one receiving box or teams of players with two receiving boxes. A carrying case, handle, or lid may be provided to assist with transport of the game.
US08657291B2	Card game with counting Various embodiments include determining a value of a statistic describing cards that have been dealt from a deck, and modifying the rules of a game based on the statistic.
US08657287B2	Intelligent table game system A card dealing system incorporating playing cards with rank and suit information encoded thereon via micro-dots, and a shoe capable of reading such micro dots as a playing card is drawn from the shoe. A game controller unit determines the location of the micro-dots on the playing card, and determines the rank and suit information therefrom. The game controller thereby monitors the progress and status of a card game.
US08657286B2	Sheet stacking apparatus and method of controlling the sheet stacking apparatus A sheet stacking apparatus which is capable of efficiently stacking sheets of various sizes while efficiently using space therein to thereby realize compactness thereof, and maintaining a high availability. Stacker trays for stacking sheets discharged from an image forming apparatus can be separately removed. It is detected whether any of the stacker trays is removed. When large-size sheets are stacked, a stacker control section causes the stacker trays to operate as one tray to stack the sheets in a state extending on the stacker trays, whereas when small-size sheets are stacked, the section causes one of the stacker trays to stack the sheets. Further, when one stacker tray is removed to make it impossible to stack the large-size sheets, the section causes a display section to display a guide message advising setting of the removed stacker tray.
US08657284B2	Sheet conveyer A sheet conveyer, including a body, a processing unit, a conveyer roller, a control board, and a board cover, is provided. The body includes a conveyer path and a lower chute with an opening. The conveyer path and a lower area lower than the lower chute are connected with each other through the opening. The processing unit executes a process with the sheet being conveyed. The conveyer roller is partially exposed from the conveyer plane to the conveyer path through the opening. The control board is arranged in the lower area and controls the processing unit to execute the process. The board cover is arranged in a position between the conveyer plane and the control board and covers at least an upper part of the control board.
US08657274B2	Production system and an associated index device for use as a reference feature A production system for manufacturing a workpiece comprises an index system including a plurality of index devices removably mounted on the workpiece at known longitudinally spaced locations therealong, and a longitudinally extending index member releasably engaged with at least two of the index devices such that a position and orientation of the index member are fixed relative to the workpiece by the index devices, the index member having position-indicating features distributed therealong. The production system further comprises a machine module mounted for longitudinal movement along the index member and operable to perform an operation, the machine module being operable to detect the position-indicating features on the index member and thereby determine a position of the machine module relative to the workpiece.
US08657273B2	Jig The jig 1 is used for positioning an inner tube and a transition piece of a combustor for a gas turbine when assembling the combustor. The jig 1 has the alignment member 2 that is inserted into the transition piece when positioning the transition piece to determine an installation position of the transition piece. The alignment member 2 has an outer circumferential shape which is substantially the same as an inner circumferential shape of the transition piece.
US08657265B2	Porous ceramic structure, and dehumidification/humidification apparatus comprising same The present invention relates to a porous ceramic structure, and a dehumidification/humidification apparatus comprising the same. More particularly, the present invention comprises: a porous ceramic humidifying medium having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface; a dehumidifying medium which has an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, and which is disposed in the porous ceramic humidifying medium; and a cutoff layer formed between the inner circumferential surface of the humidifying medium and the outer circumferential surface of the dehumidifying medium. The porous ceramic structure and the dehumidification/humidification apparatus comprising same according to the present invention can easily increase the humidifying and dehumidifying capacity, simplify a flow channel, and achieve a compact design.
US08657262B2	Device and method for foaming a liquid foodstuff, especially milk A device for foaming a liquid foodstuff, especially milk, is provided including a pump (2) that has, on the suction side, a feed line (3) that can be connected in a fluid-conducting way to a storage container for the liquid foodstuff. An air feed line (3a) by which air can be fed to the foodstuff is arranged in a path of flow of the liquid foodstuff on the suction side of the pump (2) and, a throttle (4a) is arranged in the path of flow of the foodstuff on the downstream side of the pump (2). The air feed line (3a) includes an air valve (3b) that can be controlled by a control unit (9) and the air valve (3b) is an intermittent air valve (3b) having at least one state with high air flow and one state with comparatively lower air flow and/or with no air flow can be specified selectively by the control unit (9), and the control unit (9) and air valve (3b) are constructed to interact such that the average air flow of the air valve can be controlled through repeated switching between the at least two states of the air valve.
US08657261B2	Mobile ski towing system A mobile ski towing system is a fixed or portable towing system used to pull a towee on a; ski, wakeboard, snowboard, longboard, surfboard, skateboard, mountainboard, or other similar ski or board, by reeling a towrope with a handle around a spool which is driven by a motor. There are three operating modes to control the towing independently or dependently of a dedicated-operator; a pull-to-start mode for independent towing, an on-board control mode for dependent towing, and a remote control mode for either independent or dependent towing. A mobile ski towing system comprises a mobile base with an outside frame and an internal pivoting frame, onto which the components of; motor, spool, spool shaft, spool shaft bearings, spider coulper and brake are mounted. The pivoting frame senses a load on the towrope to activate and deactivate the motor.
US08657257B2	Gate valve In a gate valve including a valve plate connected to a valve plate mounting portion of at a tip end of a valve rod with a connecting plate and configured to open and close a communicating hole of a valve box with the valve plate, the valve plate includes a mounting hole, a joint flat surfaces coming into press-contact with each other, the valve rod includes a depressed-shaped joint shoulder portion, the joint shoulder portion is formed with an inclined surface configured to guide the valve plate in the direction in which the joint flat surfaces are brought into press-contact with each other, and the coupling plate couples the valve plate and the valve rod with each other.
US08657256B2	Vacuum valve A vacuum valve, including a valve housing, which has a passage having an axis, a seat that surrounds the passage and that lies in a first plane, and a counter seat that surrounds the passage and that lies in a second plane that forms a wedge shape with the first plane, and including a closure device, which can be moved between an open position in which the passage is released and a closed position in which the passage is sealed and which has a closure plate parallel to the first plane and a counter plate parallel to the second plane, and including a valve rod, which has a longitudinal axis and which carries the closure device and which can be moved in a straight line. In order to spread apart the closure plate and the counter plate, the closure device includes a spreading unit, which lies between the closure plate and the counter plate and which can be moved in the closing direction of the valve rod relative to the closure plate and the counter plate, and a support part, which is movably guided relative to the spreading unit and which is connected to the closure plate and/or the counter plate.
US08657255B2	Aircraft valve assemblies including clamp-specific baulking tab arrays and methods for the manufacture thereof Embodiments of an aircraft valve assembly are provided for use in conjunction with a selected type of clamp having multiple segments separated by a predetermined gap spacing. In one embodiment, the aircraft valve assembly includes a flowbody having a ported end portion and a flow passage in which a valve element is movably mounted. An array of baulking tabs is mounted around the ported end portion at predetermined intervals corresponding to the predetermined gap spacing to substantially limit the type of clamps installable around the ported end portion to the selected type of clamp.
US08657251B2	Cab supporting apparatus of work machine A cab frame (14) is supported on brackets (12, 13) provided at a plurality of positions of a vehicle body frame (11) with dampers (15). Movement limiting mechanisms (30) for limiting a movement at least in a vertical direction of the cab frame (14) are provided between the brackets (12, 13) and the cab frame (14). Further, the movement limiting mechanisms (30) are provided at least at two positions. Each movement limiting mechanism (30) includes a lower limiting portion (31) arranged close to the brackets (12, 13) and constituted by a plate member, and an upper limiting portion (32) arranged close to the cab frame (14) and constituted by a plate member in the same manner. The lower limiting portion (31) is integrally structured with the brackets (12, 13). Recesses (33, 34) are formed in a side edge of at least one of the lower limiting portion (31) and the upper limiting portion (32), and the limiting portion in the other limiting portion is positioned within the recesses (33, 34). Accordingly, in the cab supporting apparatus of a work machine, the movement limiting mechanism (30) is arranged by using the brackets (12, 13) for supporting the cab frame (14). Therefore, it is possible to simplify the structure of the cab supporting apparatus by reducing the number of the parts, and it is possible to make the structure compact. Accordingly, even in a compact work machine, the cab supporting apparatus is easily mounted.
US08657241B2	Storable intravenous stand The present invention is directed to a base member for a portable intravenous stand. The base member includes a plurality of segments configured to facilitate the close nesting or alignment of multiple portable intravenous stands; and thus reducing the amount of space required for storing the portable intravenous stands when not in use.
US08657228B2	Method and apparatus for actively manipulating aerodynamic surfaces A method and apparatus is provided, including an actuator system that may be connected to a wing frame for controlling an active element. The actuator system may include sliding elements movable along an axis parallel to the span-wise axis of the wing. The sliding elements may be connected to fixed elements and a crank element, the crank element generally comprising a beam element and a cross-axis flexure pivot element. The beam element may be offset from the pivot element so that the crank element is rotatable about the pivot element with a negative stiffness under an external force that tends to pull the sliding elements away from the fixed elements.
US08657224B2	Cable cord retractor A retractor for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to damp the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal.
US08657222B2	Drag mechanism for dual-bearing reel A drag mechanism is configured to brake rotation of a spool in a fishing-line releasing direction about a handle shaft. The drag mechanism includes a drag regulation member, a drag washer, a handle, a one-way clutch, and a cam. The drag regulation member is configured to regulate drag force, where the drag regulation member includes an operating part and a regulation nut. The regulation nut is axially movably and unitarily rotatably coupled to the operating part. The regulation nut is screwed onto an outer peripheral surface of a tip end of the handle shaft. The drag washer is disposed onto the handle shaft. The handle is disposed between the drag washer and the drag regulation member. The one-way clutch is configured to prevent rotation of the handle shaft in the fishing-line releasing direction. The cam mechanism is configured to increase the drag force.
US08657221B2	Roller mill structure A roller mill structure which achieves uniform distribution of fine particles passed through a rotary classifier to fine particle exits disposed at four points when conveying as pulverized coal milled in the roller mill on the air current is provided. A roller mill structure is configured to discharge pulverized coal obtained by milling a raw coal, which is loaded in a mill body (11), from fine particle exits (14) formed on the top of the mill body so as to be quartered in the circumferential direction to the outside by air current conveyance. The roller mill structure includes a table which rotates in the mill body (11), three rollers for rotating on the table and milling the raw coal, and a rotary classifier (20) disposed upstream of the fine particle exits (14), wherein a movable vane (21) for partly narrowing the cross-sectional area of a flow channel is provided at a midpoint of the flow channel for fine particle current flowing into the interior of the rotary classifier (20), and proceeding toward the fine particle exits (14).
US08657217B2	Equipment for producing granules from plants Equipment for producing granules from a ligneous material includes a unit (LPGcont) for the continuous production of agglomerated plant particles, a unit (GAC) for the production of hot air from plants, the hot air being used for the production of the agglomerated particles, and also at least one mobile load-bearing structure to which the two production units are attached.
US08657211B2	Water spouting device In a second tank unit, a controller controls the on/off switching of a water supply solenoid valve so that water is stored in a sub tank within the level of Lu to Ll. At the same time, the controller controls the on/off switching of a pressurizing solenoid valve and a decompressing solenoid valve so that the air pressure in the upper space in the sub tank is maintained at a target value. As a result, regardless of the water level in the sub tank, the back pressure in the tank is maintained at the target value higher than atmospheric pressure. In this state, when a central controller turns on a water spouting solenoid valve, pressured water rapidly spouts from a nozzle. Moreover, a change in the target values of the back pressure promptly changes the height of the spouting water. Accordingly, water spouting can be promptly started/stopped, and the height or size of the spouting water can be readily and smoothly changed.
US08657210B2	Circulating paint systems A painting system for painting a plurality of colours comprises a plurality of paint supply networks and a plurality of paint return networks, each network for a corresponding paint colour. A number of paint delivery stations are also provided, each including a plurality of drop lines. Each drop line is in communication with a corresponding paint supply network. Each drop line includes a downstream end coupling. Each paint delivery station includes a plurality of paint return nodes, each in communication with a corresponding paint return network. A paint gun unit is provided with a paint gun supply coupling. The paint gun supply coupling is complementary with each of the downstream end couplings of a corresponding drop line. The downstream end coupling of each drop line is uniquely shaped to engage only with the correct paint return node.
US08657205B2	Image processing apparatus, identification apparatus, method for determining bit sequence and computer readable medium An image processing apparatus includes: an image acquisition unit that acquires an image read from a medium having the image printed thereon, the image representing a specific bit sequence; an information acquisition unit that acquires a state information piece indicating a reading state of the image acquired by the image acquisition unit; a detection unit that detects a bit sequence from the image acquired by the image acquisition unit; and a determination unit that determines the specific bit sequence on the basis of the bit sequence detected by the detection unit and the state information piece acquired by the information acquisition unit.
US08657203B2	Wireless mobile communicator for contactless payment on account read from removable card A wireless mobile communications apparatus reads removable cards and can communicate an account corresponding to the removable card in order to conduct a wireless transaction with a merchant on the account with the wireless mobile communications apparatus. A total currency amount for the transaction, and remaining balance in the account after the transaction, can be displayed on a display screen of the wireless mobile communications apparatus. The removable card can be a gift card bearing a magnetic strip having an identifier for the account encoded thereto that will be read when inserted into the wireless mobile communications apparatus which can be a cellular telephone or Web enabled portable device. The magnetic strip gift card can be substantially composed of paper so as to be intended for disposable after use.
US08657198B2	End user-customizable data capture terminal for and method of imaging and processing target data A data capture terminal for, and a method of, processing one or more target data, such as symbols, arranged at spaced-apart locations on a target, employ an electro-optical reader for electro-optically reading the data on the target, and a controller for processing at least one of the data, and for determining whether the at least one data has been successfully processed. An interpretation engine customizes the controller with user-selected logic. The interpretation engine is operative, preferably after the at least one data has been successfully processed, to instruct the controller with logical conditions under which the other data on the target is to be processed.
US08657184B2	Foldable paper box A foldable paper box includes an inner panel that has an inner base wall secured to an outer base wall of an outer panel, two first inner sidewalls and two second inner sidewalls connected foldably to the inner base wall to confine a receiving space that is closed by a cover wall of the outer panel. The outer and inner base walls confine therebetween two insert slots adjacent to the first inner sidewalls. The first inner sidewalls are insertable partially into respective insert slots after being folded to extend uprightly from the inner base wall. The second inner sidewalls are inserted partially and non-removably in between the inner and outer base walls and secured to the outer base wall after being folded.
US08657182B2	Torsion sonotrode, ultrasonic welding device and method for producing a welded connection by means of ultrasonic sound The invention relates to a torsion sonotrode, comprising two mutually opposing end faces (S1, S2) and a circumferential surface (U) which surrounds a torsion axis (T) and on which at least one working surface (A1, A2, A3, A4) is provided at a radial distance from the torsion axis (T).
US08657170B2	False eyelash dispenser The invention is an apparatus that dispenses false eyelashes. The apparatus uses tape attached to the false eyelashes spun about a cylinder that the eyelashes spin off to a point at the front of the apparatus where the false eyelashes separate from the tape and the tape then rolls on to a second cylinder. In one embodiment, the apparatus's casing may be separated and the cylinders removed so new ones can be added to replace the old.
US08657164B2	Molten metal leakage confinement and thermal optimization in vessels used for containing molten metal A vessel used for containing molten metal, e.g. a trough section for conveying molten metal from one location to another. The vessel has a refractory liner made of at least two refractory liner units positioned end to end, with a joint between the units, the units each having an exterior surface and a metal-contacting interior surface. A housing at least partially surrounds the exterior surfaces of the refractory liner units with a gap present between the exterior surfaces and the housing. Molten metal confinement elements, impenetrable by molten metal, are positioned on opposite sides of the joint within the gap, at least below a horizontal level corresponding to a predetermined maximum working height of molten metal held within the vessel in use, to partition the gap into a molten metal confinement region between the elements and at least one other region that may be used to hold equipment such as electrical heaters that may be damaged by contact with molten metal. Another embodiment employs refractory liner units of different thermal conductivity to maximize heat penetration into the molten metal from heaters in the gap, but to minimize heat loss at the inlet and outlet of the vessel where the end units contact the housing.
US08657158B1	Selectable flavor dispenser for a beverage container A selectable flavor dispenser comprises a base beverage container, an additive selecting and dispensing assembly, and a drinking cup. The additive selecting and dispensing assembly each comprises an additive dispensing vial, a dispensing mechanism, and a dispensing actuator. By selecting and activating a specific actuator, a user is able to dispense a desired additive into a base beverage and deliver the mixture to the drinking cup through a straw, a check valve, and a bifurcated nozzle. A vacuum breaker allows incoming air to replace the volume of the depleted base beverage.
US08657157B2	Bottle closure with pour spout and related methods A method for a bartender's easy selection of an appropriate pour spout for a bottle of interest from one or more pour spouts comprising providing one or more bottles each having an original closure; and providing one or more pour spouts essentially identical in outer shape to its corresponding original closure; wherein the bartender easily identifies the appropriate pour spout due to its similarity in shape to the shape of its corresponding original closure.
US08657139B1	System for delivering deodorizer and repellent for a container A system for delivering deodorizer or repellent or both is intended for use with a household or commercial container including a cover. The system includes a first receptacle formed as a first housing shell surrounding a volume for holding a repellent or deodorizer, where openings allow part of the repellent or deodorizer to escape into the environment when the first receptacle is positioned on the outer cover surface and the cover is positioned on the container. A second receptacle formed as a second housing shell surrounding an inner volume for holding a repellent or deodorizer, where openings allow part of the repellent or deodorizer to escape into the inner container environment when the second receptacle is positioned on the inner cover surface and the cover is positioned on the container. A connector detachably connects the receptacles.
US08657137B2	Synthetic resin bottle A biaxially stretched, blow molded synthetic resin bottle with a bottom includes a sunken bottom portion that is capable of drawing upward in a reversible manner, when internal pressure goes down. This sunken bottom portion includes an inner peripheral wall portion standing from near an inner edge of a ground contact portion disposed along a peripheral foot, a central concave portion disposed at a center of the bottom, a reversible wall portion in a flat ring shape, which is reversibly deformable into an upward drawing state and which connects an upper end of the inner peripheral wall to the base of the central concave portion, and a circular rib wall portion disposed at a connection between the reversible wall portion and the upper end of the inner peripheral wall portion so as to perform the function as a peripheral rib.
US08657136B2	Child resistant bulk dose dispensing unit Child-resistant bulk dose dispensing packaging unit, and a method for opening the packaging unit, including a container and a lid engaged with the container. The container includes a reservoir, an aperture at a top end of the reservoir, and a protrusion extending from a surface of the container. The lid engages with the container and slides between a closed position and an open position. The lid includes a top wall, a side wall extending down from an outer edge of the top wall, and a post configured to engage the protrusion at a first position when the lid is closed so as to keep the lid closed.
US08657133B2	Customizable mounting system for furniture This disclosure relates to pieces of furniture for housing electronic devices and that give the appearance of being permanently built into a wall. The pieces of furniture comprise panels which can easily be removed and which house and hide wires of electronic devices, giving the appearance that the wires are housed beyond the wall. Additionally, the pieces of furniture are designed to have electronic devices mounted thereon with little mounting (i.e., studs are unnecessary) or no mounting to secure the piece of furniture onto the wall.
US08657127B2	Gun and fishing rod holder A gun and fishing rod holder. The holder comprises a pair of stands mounted on a table. The stands can be arranged in first (gun holding) and second (fishing rod holding) configurations. The first (gun holding) configuration of a stand comprises a pair of U-shaped channels. The second (fishing rod holding) configuration of a stand comprises an upside-down U-shaped support having a plurality of rod holders.
US08657124B2	Shoe hanging rack system A shoe hanging system is provided. The system includes a frame, where the frame is encapsulated by a cover. The cover is firmly attached to a spine. The spine is attached to a holding device, where the holding device is configured to hold at least one shoe.
US08657113B1	Tool storage and bolt organizer device A tool storage and bolt organizer device (10) is provided having a tray top (11) including a bolt storage rack (21), and hex head bolt size gauges (19) and (20). A modular bolt storage rack (26) is removably coupled to the bolt storage rack (21) providing for additional bolt storage. The tray top (11) is preferably constructed by a plastic injection molding process and the support frame (35) preferably includes a first leg (38) and a second leg (39) that are pivotally connected. The legs desirably have a generally X-shaped configuration when the legs are placed an upright position and the legs can be collapsed into a storage position. The support frame (35) can be connected to the tray top (11) by inserting the legs (38) and (39) into the clamps (25) to fully erect the tool storage and bolt organizer device (10). The legs (38) and (39) can detached and the tray top (11) can be utilized by itself where the clamps (25) can function as a base to rest on a surface.
US08657111B2	Golf bag bottoms and methods to manufacture golf bag bottoms Embodiments of golf bag bottoms and methods to manufacture golf bag bottoms are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08657096B2	Door machine having chain disk locking mechanism A door machine having an electric motor and a chain disk locking mechanism. The chain disk locking mechanism includes a chain disk, an engaging rotary block, a stationary shaft and a plurality of moving pins. When the chain disk is pulled to rotate, the fixed pins of the chain disk press the moving pins so as to push the engaging rotary block to rotate with the stationary shaft together. When the stationary shaft is pulled to rotate, the engaging rotary block prohibits the moving pins from rotation. When the chain disk is pulled manually, the rolling door can be rolled upward or downward; when cease pulling the chain disk, braking is immediately effected so as to prevent the rolling door from moving upward or downward. Hence, the clutch mechanism can be omitted for cost saving and the structure of the mechanism can be simplified.
US08657095B2	Control device and method for controlling The invention relates to a control device and to a method for controlling an automated clutch, which includes a hydraulic clutch actuating system, which has a hydrostatic actuator, which is driven by and electric-motor actuating drive having an incremental displacement sensor in such a way that the actuator moves in a translatable manner. The invention includes an absolute displacement sensor, which detects the actuator position.
US08657091B2	Clutch device A clutch device which transmits torque by causing multiple friction engagement elements to engage with each other by use of a clutch connection/disconnection member caused to operate by an electric actuator includes: an elastic member disposed between the clutch connection/disconnection member and the multiple friction engagement elements; position detector for detecting a position of the clutch connection/disconnection member; and controller for controlling an operation of the electric actuator on the basis of the position of the clutch connection/disconnection member detected by the position detector. Thus, the position of the clutch connection/disconnection member (i.e. a stroke amount of the elastic member) and a torque transmission capacity of the clutch device have a linear relationship with each other. Hence, the torque transmission capacity of the clutch device can be accurately controlled by the electric actuator.
US08657089B2	Torque actuated clutch The present invention relates to a clutch actuated by torque capable of controlling a clutch device to perform operations of coupling or disengaging with the driving torque, characterized in that a relay transmission structure assembly (104) is installed between a rotary prime motive end (101) and an output-end clutch structure (1052), the relay transmission structure assembly (104) is installed with a relay coupling structure (204) having an active side of relay coupling structure and a passive side of relay coupling structure, a limit-torque sliding damping device (106) is installed between the relay transmission structure assembly (104) and the static housing (107).
US08657088B2	Lock-up clutch Disclosed is a lock-up clutch operative to uniform temperatures on a multiple number of friction surfaces, thereby improving accuracy of a lock-up control and to prevent shudders of a vehicle from being generated. The lock-up clutch includes a front cover, a lock-up piston, a plurality of torque transmitting plates, and a plurality of friction materials formed on the torque transmitting plates and having three or more friction surfaces. The friction materials are constituted by a first friction material frictionally contactable with the front cover, a second friction material frictionally contactable with the lock-up piston, and third friction materials frictionally contactable with at least one of the plates. Three or more friction surfaces are constituted by outside friction surfaces formed on the first and second friction materials and each having a small area, and inside friction surfaces formed on the third friction materials and each having a large area.
US08657080B2	Annular disk brake and method of increasing a brake pad clamping force The annular disk brake comprises a rotor disk and at least one brake pad provided on each side of the rotor disk. The brake pad or pads on one side are connected to a substantially axially-guided brake pad carrier. The brake has a force transmitting arrangement creating a force increasing amplification between an axially-actuated member and the carrier. This arrangement can increase the brake compactness and provide an even distribution of the braking force around the circumference of the rotor disk. A method of increasing a brake pad clamping force is also disclosed.
US08657078B2	Wheel chock A wheel chock including a head for engagement with a vehicle wheel. The head has a blade that defines a pair of conjoined wedges oriented 180° apart. A hosel is affixed to, and extends laterally from, the middle of the blade. A handle is affixed to, and extends upwardly from, the hosel.
US08657074B2	Suspension work platform hoist system with tilt control A suspension work platform hoist system having a variable acceleration motor control system and a tilt control system. The tilt control system includes at least one tilt sensor to sense a tilt angle of the work platform and generate a tilt signal. A tilt controller receives the tilt signal and generates a speed control signal, which is used by the variable acceleration motor control system to control the operation of the hoist motors to maintain a tilt angle setpoint as the work platform is raised and lowered. The tilt control system may include a settling mode having a settling tilt angle setpoint, wherein the settling mode prevents the work platform from being raised or lowered until the tilt angle of the work platform reaches the settling tilt angle setpoint.
US08657065B1	Exhaust valve with resilient spring pad An exhaust pressure actuated valve assembly for placement inside a tubular exhaust conduit includes a valve plate rotatable between open and closed positions. An axle is adapted to pivotally couple the valve plate to the exhaust conduit about a longitudinal axis of the axle. The axle axis is adapted to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of exhaust flow through the conduit. A cantilevered spring pad has a first portion coupled to the valve plate and a second portion spaced apart from the valve plate. The second portion is oriented to contact an inner surface of the conduit as the valve plate moves toward the closed position to dampen vibration.
US08657060B2	Support mount bracket, method for mounting front differential gear unit, and attachment structure of front differential gear unit A support mount bracket (57) provided on a vehicle frame (9) and configured to support a mount part (53) of a front differential gear unit (36) is arranged on part of a cross-member (12) connecting a pair of right and left main frames (10) so as to be, in a vehicle width direction, displaced from the center of a vehicle (1) in a width direction thereof. The support mount bracket (57) includes a base part (57d, 57e) to be connected to the cross-member (12), and a pair of fixing parts (57b, 57c) protruding from the base part (57d, 57c) and sandwiching the mount part (53) from sides thereof in the vehicle width direction. One (57b) of the fixing parts (57b, 57c) on a side closer to the center of the vehicle (1) in the width direction thereof is detachably attached to the base part (57d).
US08657018B2	Circulating sub A circulating sub apparatus including a substantially tubular outer body member having a throughbore formed therein and a substantially tubular inner body member. The outer body member having at least one hole formed therein and a displacement mechanism for producing movement of the inner body member relative to the outer body member such that the inner body member is moveable between an open configuration and an obturated configuration. The inner body member includes a seat member adapted to catch a dropped object, the seat member is located upstream of the hole(s) of the outer body member in both the open and obturated configurations, and wherein the seat member is adapted to permit at least a proportion of fluid to flow past the dropped object when it is seated thereon.
US08657000B2	Systems and methods for enhanced waterfloods Methods and systems for enhancing oil recovery from a subterranean formation comprising at least a first region and a second region are provided. An exemplary method includes creating an injection stream by adding a salt to a water stream to increase a concentration of an ion and injecting the injection stream into the subterranean formation through a first injection well in the first region of the subterranean formation. Fluid is produced from the subterranean formation and separated to generate an aqueous stream comprising at least a portion of the ion. The salt is added to the aqueous stream to adjust the concentration of the ion in the aqueous stream to a desired level. The aqueous stream is injected into the subterranean formation through a second injection well in the second region of the subterranean formation.
US08656997B2	Systems and methods for producing oil and/or gas A system for producing oil and/or gas comprising a mechanism for releasing at least a portion of a sulfur containing compound into a formation; a first mechanism for converting at least a portion of the sulfur containing compound into a carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation, the first mechanism for converting within the formation; and a second mechanism for converting at least a portion of the carbon disulfide formulation and/or a carbon oxysulfide formulation into another compound, the second mechanism for converting within the formation.
US08656995B2	Detecting and correcting unintended fluid flow between subterranean zones Detecting and correcting unintended fluid flow between subterranean zones. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: injecting a first fluid into a subterranean zone, the injecting by way of a first borehole; making a reading indicative of surface deformation; identifying, based on the reading indicative of surface deformation, a flow path for a second fluid out of the subterranean zone; placing a compound into the flow path, the compound reduces the flow of the second fluid through the flow path.
US08656994B2	Method for determination of fluid influx profile and near-wellbore area parameters Method for determination of a fluid influx profile and near-wellbore area parameters comprises measuring a first bottomhole pressure and after operating a well at a constant production rate changing the production rate and measuring a second bottomhole pressure. A wellbore fluid temperature over an upper boundary of a lowest productive layer and wellbore fluid temperatures above and below other productive layers are measured and relative production rates and skin factors of the productive layers are calculated from measured wellbore fluid temperatures and measured first and second bottomhole pressures.
US08656990B2	Collection block with multi-directional flow inlets in oilfield applications The disclosure provides a collection block that aggregates multiple incoming flow lines and provides a consolidated outgoing flow path. The collection block can be remote from a given well that is being fractured to minimize safety risk in operations around the well. The collection block has dual capabilities of being connected to individual incoming flow lines as well as to manifold systems for distributing the out flowing fluids. The one or more inlets can be formed in the collection block at an offset to a centerline of a longitudinal bore through the collection block. In some to embodiments, frac trucks can connect along an extended connection zone that provides the fluids from the truck to the collection block.
US08656989B1	Grid-stiffened panel with integrated fluid distribution channels A modified isogrid panel including face sheets and underlying longitudinal and transverse ribs which stiffen the panel. The ribs are hollow to provide fluid channels for distributing fluid to various sections of each face sheet. A valve at each node where ribs intersect controls or reroutes fluid flow through the fluid channels in the ribs. The ribs are the primary fluid distributors and are fluidly connected to capillary channels located beneath the surface of each face sheet.
US08656980B2	Adjustable light shelf A light shelf for controlling solar radiation that impinges on a building has a panel with a pair of support brackets. The brackets run along tracks secured to the building and engage the tracks to assume a variety of elevations. The brackets can be moved independently, allowing the panel to be tilted and may have pivot joints to facilitate tilting. The panel may be mounted to the brackets in a way that allows the panel to translate horizontally. The panel may have a plurality of elements that can be adjusted to change the surface area and may be automated to respond to ambient conditions.
US08656979B2	Pet door pest and debris barrier A barrier device preventing access of pests such as mosquitoes, flies, and other small animals as well as debris between a panel pet door and a screen door by providing a seal between the panel pet door and the screen door. The barrier material may have ribs for the purpose of added stiffening or as a guide for adjusting the reach of the barrier. A stopping device may be used to ensure the screen door is closed to a location where good contact is made with the barrier device.
US08656978B2	Roller screen assemblies A closure assembly to be installed in an opening for a building, said closure assembly comprising a frame for supporting a moveable closure member therewithin, said frame including top, bottom and side members, one of the members including a hollow pocket within the interior of said member and for receiving a spring biased roller assembly upon which a flexible material is accumulated, said flexible material being selected from a blind, a bug screen, a solar screen, or the like, the flexible material being movable between a fully retracted first position whereat the material is contained within the pocket to a fully extended second position whereat the material covers some or all of the opening of the building.
US08656976B2	Switching dual cam adhesive tape dispenser An adhesive tape dispenser is provided that is operable by a single hand, and is applicable to a variety of adhesive tapes. The provided adhesive tape dispenser overcomes the problem of jamming due to tape accumulation behind the blade by providing a switchable double cam system that allows adhesive tape to be dispensed, the cutter blade to be urged suddenly downward to cut the tape, and then the cutter blade suddenly retracted during one rearward motion of the tape-cutting button.
US08656972B2	Hydraulic membrane pump assembly for air maintenance tire An air-maintenance tire system includes a compression actuator mounted to the tire carcass configured for operative actuation by tire deformation during a tire revolution, a pump assembly affixed to the tire carcass and including a compressor body affixed to the compression actuator and having an internal air chamber, the air chamber having an inlet opening for admitting air into the internal air chamber and an outlet opening for conducting air from the internal air chamber to the tire cavity. The air compressor body further includes a deformable membrane valve member and an outlet valve member located within and at opposite respective ends of the internal air chamber, the membrane valve member deforming and the outlet valve member moving within the internal air chamber responsive to actuation by the compression actuator between respective open and closed positions, whereby cyclically opening and closing the inlet and the outlet openings during an air compression cycle. The compression actuator includes a hollow containment body formed from a resilient deformable material composition and containing a quantity of a non-compressible medium. The containment body is affixed to a relatively high flex-deformation region of the tire carcass and reciprocally transforms between a deformed state and a non-deformed state to generate a deformation force against a membrane valve member surface and deform the membrane valve between the open and closed positions within the air chamber.
US08656970B2	Pneumatic radial tire for motorcycle There is provided a pneumatic radial tire for a motorcycle enabling safe running the motorcycle in conformity to various road conditions by achieving both performances of wet performance, i.e., hydroplaning and traction performances in particular, and linearity in handling at high level. In the pneumatic radial tire for a motorcycle, (a) tilt lug grooves are disposed at a tilt angle of 5 to 85° relative to a tire circumferential direction, (b) a ratio of the minimum length Lmin thereof to the surface length W thereof along one side of a tread is 0.1 or higher, (c) two groups of the tilt lug grooves are formed of two or more tilt lug grooves disposed substantially in parallel from each other, (d) they are formed of a first group of tilt lug grooves (G1) formed in a shape of chevron and a second group of tilt lug grooves (G2) formed in a shape of reversed chevron, (e) the G1 and G2 groups are alternately disposed in the circumferential direction, and (f) the G1 and G2 groups are mutually disposed on both sides of the equator of the tire line-symmetrically with respect to the equator and with an offset in the circumferential direction.
US08656965B2	Bleeder plug A bleeder plug is provided with a bleeder body having a nipple portion and a threaded portion and being provided with a through hole extending from the nipple portion-side end to the threaded portion-side end; a seat pin having a press fitting portion to be press-fitted in an opening of the through hole at the threaded portion-side in the bleeder body and a seat portion blocking a bleeder hole, and a groove formed in a contact surface between the bleeder body and the seat pin and communicating the opening of the through hole at the nipple portion-side with an outside space via the contact surface.
US08656956B2	Remote actuation of safety device Two-stage, sequential operation protective assemblies are provided, including a primary protective device (20) having an element (32) which shifts in response to operation thereof (preferably a rupturable burst member (35)), together with a secondary protective device (22). An actuating assembly (24) interconnects the primary and secondary protective devices (20, 22) and has an actuating cable assembly (28) preferably including a cable (94) and a frangible component (86). In certain embodiments, an operator (28) for the secondary device (22) may be provided which includes an actuator (106) carried by the cable (94). Upon operation of the primary protective device (20), the cable (94) and frangible component (86) are tensioned and translated in a first direction. The component (86) then severs, which causes operation of the secondary protective device (22).
US08656952B2	Beverage faucet and flow reducer A faucet including a flow reducing insert positioned within an interior of a faucet body, the body and insert having tapered portions that are configured to reduce flow through the faucet when the insert is moved downstream laterally with the body. The insert and the body further having straight portions downstream from the tapered portions with the straight portion including features that permit liquid passing between the tapered portions to flow into the interior and through a downstream end of the faucet. A flow reducer with an insert and interior walls similarly configured to the faucet above.
US08656950B2	Drag reduction of asphaltenic crude oils A method of producing treated liquid hydrocarbons. The method begins by pressurizing a latex in a pressure vessel. This is followed by flowing the latex from the pressure vessel into a pipeline containing liquid hydrocarbons to produce treated liquid hydrocarbons. In this embodiment the latex comprises a drag reducing polymer.
US08656949B2	Microfluidic devices and methods of fabrication The present invention relates to microfluidic devices that comprise a 3-D microfluidic network of microchannels of arbitrary complexity and to a method for fabricating such devices. In particular, the invention relates to a method of forming microfluidic devices having 3-D microfluidic networks that contain open or closed loop microchannels using a single-step molding process without the need for layer-by-layer fabrication, and to the resultant microfluidic devices. The networks of such microfluidic devices may comprise one or more microchannel circuits which may be discrete or interconnected.
US08656943B2	Liquid appliance and transport lock A liquid appliance (1) has a liquid reservoir (20), a liquid inlet (24) for supplying liquid to the liquid reservoir (20), a float system (3) provided with a float (2) and a valve system (5). A transport lock (8) switchable between a first position in which the transport lock (8) blocks the float system (3) relative to the liquid reservoir (20), and a second position in which a cooperation between the float (2) and the valve system (5) for opening and closure of the liquid inlet (24) is unimpeded by the transport lock (8). The transport lock (8) is switchable between said first and second positions by an installation prevention element (12). The element (12) can be switched to a prevention position, wherein installation of the appliance into an operational position is impeded by the element (12). In the prevention position the first position of the transport lock (8) is established. The element (12) can also be switched to an installation position, wherein installation of the appliance (1) into an operational position is unimpeded by the element (12). In the installation position the second position of the transport lock (8) is established.
US08656942B2	Length-adjustable pressure-retaining piping components Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to length-adjustable pressure-retaining components used in piping systems. In one illustrative embodiment, a device comprising a first pressure component and an adjustable spacer ring operatively coupled to the first pressure component is disclosed, wherein the adjustable spacer ring is adapted to adjust a combined overall length of said the pressure component and the adjustable spacer ring.
US08656938B2	Compressed gas tank system with fast fueling ability at any vessel pressure A method of fueling with compressed gas is described. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a supply of compressed gas; providing a storage tank with a fueling line, and a nozzle in the fueling line, the nozzle movable between at least a flow reduction position and a full fuel flow position; initiating fueling from the supply of compressed gas with the nozzle in the flow reduction position for a predetermined time or until a minimum pressure is obtained; when the predetermined time or the minimum pressure is obtained, moving the nozzle to the full fuel flow position; and fueling the storage tank from the supply of compressed gas with the nozzle in the full fuel flow position until fueling is completed. A vehicle incorporating the nozzle is also disclosed.
US08656936B2	Barrier structure and nozzle device for use in tools used to process microelectronic workpieces with one or more treatment fluids Apparatuses, and related methods, for processing a workpiece that include a particular barrier structure that can overlie and cover a workpiece. Apparatuses, and related methods, for processing a workpiece that include a particular movable member that can be positioned over and moved relative to a workpiece. Apparatuses, and related methods, for processing a workpiece that include a particular ceiling structure that can overlie a processing chamber. Nozzle devices, and related methods, that include a particular annular body. Nozzle devices, and related methods, that include a particular first, second, and third nozzle structure.
US08656933B2	Hair sculpting device and methods A handheld device for sculpting hair includes a bristle section and a wave section which effectively sculpt hair in a wave style when used in the method of the invention.
US08656925B2	Bite block device A bite block device for use with intrabuccal instruments having a generally U-shaped central body. A lower vestibular rim extends from an outer periphery of a bottom surface of the generally U-shaped central body. A lower lingual rim extends from an inner periphery of the bottom surface of the generally U-shaped central body. An upper vestibular rim extends from an outer periphery of an upper surface of the generally U-shaped central body. An upper lingual rim extends from an inner periphery of the upper surface of the generally U-shaped central body. The upper surface, the upper vestibular rim, and the upper lingual rim are anteriorly discontinuous for a common length to form an intrabuccal instrument channel therethrough.
US08656917B2	Limb support device A limb support device that includes a vertical support, a base connected to a lower end of the vertical support and a head portion connected to an upper end of the vertical support. The base includes a set of foldable legs that can be positioned upward, where each leg is substantially parallel to the vertical support, or downward, where each leg is substantially perpendicular to the vertical support so that the vertical support is held upright. The head portion has a generally concave saddle that can hold a limb above the vertical support. The saddle can be pivoted so that it can be positioned at a variable angle with respect to the vertical support. The vertical support itself is adjustable in length.
US08656910B2	Nebulizer A nebulizer for a fluid, particularly for medical aerosol treatment is proposed. To allow easier operation and confer improved operational reliability a sealed container holding the fluid is already arranged in the nebulizer when it is supplied and the nebulizer is constructed so that the container is opened inside the nebulizer before or during the first use of the nebulizer. Alternatively, or in addition, the nebulizer is constructed so that the container cannot be replaced, and in particular, cannot be removed.
US08656906B2	High-yield thermal solar panel The solar panel includes a housing for a heat collecting element, delimited by walls, one of which includes slits for the passage of solar rays. At least one reflective area is arranged to face the heat collecting element. At least one reflective strip is arranged outside the housing to face a respective slit so as to focus the solar rays received towards this slit. Elongated reflective elements are arranged side by side, and include coplanar flat bases, forming together the wall of the housing having slits and the flat base of at least one elongated reflective element forming a reflective area of this wall of the housing, and including one concave surface arranged to face the reflective strips such that the solar rays reflected by each concave surface are focused towards the corresponding reflective strip.
US08656905B2	Air channeling baffle for a furnace heat exchanger An air-channeling baffle for a heat exchanger unit. The air-channeling baffle comprises a body having a long dimension and a short dimension that define a surface and an attachment structure coupled to the body. The attachment structure is configured to locate the body in a heat exchanger unit such that an incoming air flow reflected off of the surface and passes over ends of the long dimension towards terminally-located heat conduction tubes of the heat exchanger unit.
US08656902B2	Table saw having a detachable table extension for cutting tile A tile saw comprises a frame, a primary table moveably supported by the frame for supporting a work-piece to be cut, a water tray located under the primary table, a supporting arm mounted on the frame, and a cutting device supported by the supporting arm. The primary table also includes first and second connecting edges and a secondary table which may be removably attached, without the use of tools, to either the first or second connecting edge of the primary table. When the secondary table is attached, the supporting area for the work-piece is increased resulting in increased stability and increased cutting accuracy.
US08656901B2	Cutting tip of frame saw and frame saw with the cutting tip A cutting tip for a cutting tool used to cut or drill a brittle workpiece such as stone, brick, concrete, or asphalt and a frame saw provided with the cutting tip are disclosed. The swing type cutting tip including abrasive particles has a specific arrangement capable of enhancing the cutting efficiency of the abrasive particles, and thus achieving an enhancement in cutting performance and an increase in lifespan. The cutting tip includes a plurality of abrasive particles to cut a workpiece while swing. At least a part of the abrasive particles are arranged in the form of abrasive particle groups. Each abrasive particle group is constituted by at least two abrasive particles. At least a part of the abrasive particles of the abrasive particle groups are overlapped in a cutting direction.
US08656900B1	Bow energy transfer system and method A bow energy transfer system includes a pair of helically wound springs positioned on the bowstrings on either side of the bowstring nock point; the springs are secured to the bowstring with a serving thread wound between the individual coils into contact with the bowstring. The springs flex perpendicular to their longitudinal axes during discharge of the bow causing energy to temporarily be stored in the flexed spring to be returned to the arrow or bolt later in its discharge.
US08656897B2	Device for generating radiofrequency plasma A device for generating a radiofrequency plasma, that includes a voltage generator, and at least one ignition assembly that includes an ignition plug and a switch provided between a supply terminal of the plug and an output of the generator adapted for electrically connecting the output of the voltage generator to the plug upon reception of a control signal, and an electronic control unit generating the control signal. The electronic control unit measures values representative of evolution in time of the output voltage of the generator. The device further includes a mechanism varying the voltage and/or the frequency of the electric current applied to the supply terminal of the plug based on measured values. The evolution of the generator output voltage is representative of the condition of the plug (new or used).
US08656895B2	Methods and systems for managing a clearance gap in a piston engine A piston engine may include a piston assembly, which may include a piston having a self-centering feature. The piston assembly may be configured to translate in a bore of the cylinder, and contact a combustion section and/or gas driver section. The self-centering feature may use a flow of blow-by gas in a clearance gap to provide a self-centering force on the piston assembly. The self-centering feature may include one or more slotted pockets, a step, a tapered portion, any other suitable feature, or a combination thereof. Optionally, a piston assembly may include a feature that aids in self-centering such as, for example, a labyrinth seal.
US08656891B2	Horizontal control surface for a fuel injector Disclosed is a fuel injection mechanism having a horizontal control surface formed within a plunger for regulating the start of fuel injection. The horizontal control surfaces are formed within one or more of the two opposed ridges formed within the plunger defining a recessed channel there between. The horizontal control surfaces of the ridges regulate the opening and closing of the ports formed within the bushing of the injector. The horizontal control surfaces contribute to reduced wear and provide for accurate timing and fuel quantity delivery.
US08656887B2	Spark plug unit arrangement within a motorcycle internal combustion engine A motorcycle with a spark plug unit disposed on a front side of a cylinder head wherein approaching the spark plug unit from the front side between a front wheel and the spark plug unit as well as a high-tension cord can be prevented, without increasing the front-rear length of the vehicle. The motorcycle includes an engine with a tubular section containing a spark plug that projects roughly in a forward direction from a front surface of a cylinder head. A spark plug cap which is connected to the spark plug in the inside of the tubular section with the high-tension cord connected to a side portion thereof is fitted to the tubular section. A portion of the tubular section which projects from the cylinder head is formed with a cutout for containing the high-tension cord and for directing the cord toward a lateral side of the tubular section.
US08656879B2	Laser device and operating method for it In a method for operating a laser device, which has a laser-active solid having a passive Q-switch, the laser device is acted upon using pumping light in such a way that a specifiable curve over time of the inversion density comes about in the laser-active solid, as a result of which an especially precise control of the time behavior is achieved during the generation of passively Q-switched laser pulses.
US08656870B2	Control strategy for multi-stroke engine system An engine system and a method of operation are described. The engine may be operating in two-stroke and four-stroke modes while still maintaining a target exhaust air-fuel ratio.
US08656869B2	On-board water addition for fuel separation system A fuel delivery system for an internal combustion engine including a fuel tank, a membrane dividing the fuel tank into at least a first and second portion, the membrane preferentially diffusing a substance from a mixture, the substance having an increased knock suppression relative to the mixture, and a controller adjusting delivery of condensed water to the tank responsive to an operating condition.
US08656867B2	Coil tube heat exchanger for a tankless hot water system A novel water heat exchanger with a helix coil incorporated into a stainless steel elongated variable diameter cylindrical housing. A buffer tank is incorporated within the lumen of the helix coil. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger utilizes a radial direct-firing burner and a blower-driven hot flue gas to heat water for domestic and commercial use. In one embodiment, at least a rope seal is disposed between adjacent coil loops of a portion of the helix coil for enhancing heat transfer to the helix coil. In one embodiment, solar and electric heating systems are combined with the helix coil heat exchanger and disposed within the buffer tank to provide supplemental heating. In another embodiment, the heat exchanger further comprises a Stirling engine comprised of a free piston having hot and cold ends that is disposed within the cavity taken up the buffer tank, wherein the hot end receives heat from the burner and the cold end is cooled by the incoming cold water line to form an electric power generator.
US08656865B1	Animal care method Animal care methods for improving animal and animal handler safety in animal care situations by scoring and documentation are provided.
US08656864B2	Safety device for a dung scraping device A dung scraping device includes a safety system, a dung scraper (13) and a driving mechanism (17, 18) adapted to drive the dung scraper along a floor surface (11a) for animals such that the dung scraper pushes dung on the floor surface to a cross channel (14) located at an end portion (11d) of the floor surface). The safety system includes height detecting unit (20-22, 29) arranged to detect the presence of foreign objects having at least a predetermined height (x) above the floor surface and an emergency stop device (19, 26) arranged to receive information from the height detecting unit and to deactivate the driving mechanism when such a foreign object having the predetermined height (x) above the floor surface is detected such that the dung scraper is automatically emergency stopped before the foreign object is pushed into the cross channel.
US08656861B2	Milking implement An autonomous mobile milking implement having a frame with, a sub-frame which is adjustable in height and which has at least one teat cup holder and a teat cup movable relative thereto. The teat cup holder is tiltable, via a tilting mechanism coupled to the teat cup holder and the frame between a substantially vertical position and a second partially inverted position. The milking implement protects the teat cups against contamination and is capable of storing them in a compact manner.
US08656849B2	Embroidery frame An embroidery frame comprises an inner frame, wherein the inner frame is a circular form. The embroidery frame comprises a middle frame which is configured to be detachably attachable to a radial outside of the inner frame. The middle frame is a circular form. The embroidery frame comprises an outer frame which is configured to rotatably hold the middle frame, wherein the outer frame is a circular form, and the outer frame is configured to be detachably attachable to a radial outside of the middle frame. The embroidery frame comprises a grip portion which is provided to the middle frame.
US08656847B2	Injection apparatus for injecting pesticide An injection apparatus for treating soil adjacent a structure includes a handle and a manifold head connected to the handle. The manifold head has a first high pressure nozzle, a second high pressure nozzle, and a contact member having at least one opening therein. The contact member is configured to rest on the ground surface during operation of the injection apparatus. The first high pressure nozzle is adapted for emitting a discharge stream of pesticide through the at least one opening in the contact member for injection of the pesticide into the soil. The discharge stream from the first high pressure nozzle is emitted in a first direction. The second high pressure nozzle is adapted for emitting a discharge stream of pesticide through the at least one opening in the contact member for injection of the pesticide into the soil. The discharge stream from the second high pressure nozzle is emitted in a second direction that is angled relative to the first direction of the discharge stream of pesticide emitted from the first high pressure nozzle. A supply of pesticide is in fluid communication with the first and second high pressure nozzles.
US08656846B2	Continuous real time heating value (BTU)/coal flow balancing meter A method and an apparatus for continuous real time heating value/coal flow balancing of coal from a coal feeder to a burner. The apparatus includes a Dual-energy Gamma Attenuation (DGA)/Multi-energy Gamma Attenuation (MGA) device for measuring coal quality at a specific location between the coal silo/bunker and the coal feeder in a coal fired plant in order to control the individual burner stoichiometries according to the measured coal quality. By strategically placing the DGA/MGA device, continuous accurate real-time coal quality information is accomplished for making individual adjustments in order to improve stoichiometry to optimize performance of the system.
US08656840B2	Manway gasket A gasket for a railroad car manway nozzle and cover includes an inner leg portion and an outer leg portion joined by a generally planar annular body portion defining an upper annular cover sealing surface and a lower annular nozzle body sealing surface. Concentric annular chevrons are formed on the upper and lower annular sealing surfaces. In one form, the chevrons have a uniform height relative to the upper and lower sealing surfaces. In a modified form, the height of the chevrons varies relative to the surfaces from the which they extend. The height of the chevrons is a minimum where the gasket is radially aligned with cover clamping bolts and a maximum at radial locations midway between clamping bolts. A tab depending from the outer leg portion provides visual verification of the presence of the gasket.
US08656836B2	Offset printer Provided is an offset printer configured to increase or maximize productivity and yield. The offset printer includes a printing roller, a coating unit configured to apply a printing substance to the printing roller, a patterning unit configured to pattern the printing substance applied to the printing roller from the coating unit, a printing unit configured to transfer the patterned printing substance to a printing medium, and a cleaning unit configured to clean the printing substance remaining on the printing roller by a dry cleaning method.
US08656832B2	Round baler having lateral guides for the compression belt A round baler comprises a baling chamber which is surrounded by compression elements in the form of a single compression belt or a plurality of compression belts, the adjacent edges of which butt directly against one another. The compression elements rest on a drivable roll and freely running rolls and is guided laterally through lateral guides in the axial direction of at least one of the rolls. The lateral guides are arranged on both sides of the compression elements immediately upstream of a drivable roll with regard to the direction of movement of the compression elements which applies during the baling operation. They consist of discs which rotate in the plane of the compression elements, the discs having grooves into which the compression elements extends.
US08656827B2	Capsule for the preparation of a beverage and capsule-holding unit for use therewith The capsule (1) comprises a cup body (2), with a bottom wall (2f) on which is a separating structure (3) with a plurality of spokes (4), defined between which are corresponding interspaces (5). The bottom wall (2f) has in its central portion a plurality of drink exit openings (6) which are not aligned with the slopes (4). A first filter sheet (7) is arranged on the separating structure (3) in such a way that a plurality of brewing chambers is defined between the first filter sheet (7), the spoked structure (3) and the bottom wall (2f). A quantity of powdered or granular material (8), especially roast ground coffee, is placed in the body (2) on the filter sheet (7). The second sheet (9) of filter material is applied to a top outer edge of said body (2). In use, the pressure of the fluid injected into the capsule (1) deforms the first filter sheet (7) in such a way that it moves towards the bottom wall (2f) through the interspaces (5) between the spokes (4), while defining, along the opposite edges of each spoke (4), respective essentially radial channels or passages (10) for the drink to flow towards the openings (6) in the bottom wall (2f).
US08656824B2	Shell designed for securing in a mortar and mortar designed for such a shell The invention relates to a shell (1) intended for firing from a weapon (6), preferably a mortar weapon (6), the shell (1) being designed for securing the shell (1) in a mortar weapon (6) in order thereby to prevent movement of the shell (1) when adjusting the angle of elevation of the weapon (6). According to the invention this is achieved in that the shell (1) comprises a locking part (19, 28, 37), the locking part (19, 28, 37) forming an integral part of the shell (1) and being designed so that the shell (1) after ramming home is locked to a corresponding securing part (19) in the mortar (6). The invention also relates to a mortar (6) intended for firing said shell (1), the mortar (6) being characterized in that the mortar (6) comprises a corresponding securing part (19) for locking the shell (1).
US08656821B2	Defensive panel access port A threat resistant access port is disclosed, including a resistant panel having an access aperture formed therein. A resistant cover is movably coupled to the panel, the cover being pivotally slideable relative to the panel so as to cover the aperture in a closed position and to uncover the aperture in an open position. The resistant cover comprises an outer member, the outer member being threat resistant and located proximate an outer side of the panel. The resistant cover further comprises an inner member, the inner member coupled to the outer member and located proximate an inner side of the panel opposite the outer side of the panel.
US08656819B2	Rigid foam insulation cutting system and method of use A cutting system and method of use for manually cutting rigid foam insulation panels; the present cutting system is operated manually and requires no electric power whatsoever; the cutting system includes a fully adjustable carriage assembly whereon a cutting blade is mounted for traversing the limits of its working surface; the cutting system provides a measuring scale having graduated indicia inscribed thereon for conveniently changing blade settings to accommodate different foam panel dimensions; the cutting system produces a uniformly accurate cut surface comparable to a factory-made surface without damaging the foil moisture barrier on the rigid foam panel; the cutting system completely eliminates the health and safety hazards created by airborne foam particulates that are produced by powered cutting of such rigid foam materials and thereby provides an environmentally-friendly building practice; and the present cutting system is completely portable enabling its setup and use at any construction site or location.
US08656811B2	Folding hand tool A foldable hand tool has a handle and a driving head. The handle has a driving head guide groove which extends along the handle and penetrates one side of the handle. A combined lug protrudes from an assembly end of the driving head and is fitted slidably with the driving head guide groove. The driving head is slidable along the driving head guide groove such that the driving head swings perpendicular to the handle. The hand tool can be positioned in a straight configuration or in a T-shaped pattern.
US08656806B2	Cam system having compliant follower A compliant follower cam system includes a cam rotatable about a cam rotational axis continuously aligned with a cam displacement axis. The cam has a body center spaced from the rotational axis. A compliant follower has an elastically deformable first contact wall positioned proximate to a cavity. The first contact wall is directly contacted by the cam body outer surface. A compliant follower non-deflected condition occurs when a first contact wall outer surface directly contacts the cam body outer surface prior to deflection of the first contact wall, with the cam body center out of alignment with the displacement axis. Rotating the cam moves the body center toward the compliant follower into alignment with the displacement axis. The cam thereby deflects the first contact wall into the cavity defining a compliant follower deflected condition and creates a biasing force releasably frictionally engaging the first contact wall and cam.
US08656802B2	Shifter assembly for providing mechanical and electronic actuation to a transmission of a vehicle and a method of operating the shifter assembly A shifter assembly for providing mechanical and electronic actuation to a transmission and a method of operating the same is disclosed. A shift lever is pivotable about a first axis in a first mode for providing mechanical actuation, and a second mode for providing electronic actuation to the transmission. An arm is pivotable about the first axis concurrently with the shift lever in at least the first mode. The arm includes a first and second engagement surface. The shifter assembly includes a cam pivotable about a second axis between a first and second position. The first engagement surface urges the cam to move between the first and second positions as the shift lever pivots in the first mode. The second engagement surface abuts the cam as the shift lever pivots in the second mode such that the arm pivots about the first axis while the cam remains stationary.
US08656799B2	Transmission device between an input drive shaft and an output shaft, such as the shaft for driving the wheels of a travelling machine Transmission device between an input drive shaft and an output shaft, of the type including a housing inside which are placed at least partially a reduction gear mechanism and a progressive cone clutch mechanism, the reduction gear mechanism including a driving member engaged with a driven member, formed by a gearwheel mounted so as to rotate freely on the output shaft and able to be coupled to/uncoupled from the output shaft via two friction cones of the clutch mechanism, the cones being placed coaxial to the axial bore of the gearwheel and capable of coming, under the action of a control device, into bearing contact with a conical bearing surface of the gearwheel. The conical bearing surfaces of the gearwheel are, relative to the axis of rotation of the gearwheel, offset axially from the gear teeth of the gearwheel and are placed on the same side of the gear teeth.
US08656795B2	Easily switchable automatic transmission eccentric shaft An easily switchable automatic transmission eccentric shaft includes an input shaft over which a movable centrifugal saddle is fit. An elastic body is arranged between the centrifugal saddle and the input shaft. The centrifugal saddle is provided at one side thereof with an openable weight assembly, which selectively moves the centrifugal saddle with respect to the input shaft. A balance weight is coupled to one side of the weight assembly. The balance weight forms a limiting structure that includes two retention members and an elastic element between the retention members. The limiting structure helps controlling preciseness of variable transmission, helps increasing available transmission positions, facilitates the weight assemblies returning back to home positions, and is suitable for high horsepower applications.
US08656794B2	Apparatus for dissolution experiment of mineral An apparatus for dissolution experiment of mineral is disclosed. The apparatus for a dissolution experiment of mineral according to the inventive concept includes a main body including frames, a mounting unit including a container whose mouth is open so as to contain an alkaline solution, a first mineral sample and a second mineral sample contacting with each other in the alkaline solution, a cylinder including a plunger that is attached to the main body and movable so as to be inserted in and separated from the container for pressing the first mineral sample toward the second mineral sample included in the container, and a load cell supporting the mounting unit from the below and measuring a pressure applied to the second mineral sample.
US08656779B2	Damage detection using laser vibrometry Methods and apparatus for exciting a structure and determining its structural integrity. In particular, methods of nonlinear analysis are used to compare first and second response datasets, each dataset resulting from a different excitation amplitude that the other dataset.
US08656776B2	Temperature-robust MEMS gyroscope with 2-DOF sense-mode addressing the tradeoff between bandwidth and gain The current invention is a novel gyroscope design, which yields devices robust to fabrication and environmental variations, allows flexible selection of operational parameters, and provides increased bandwidth with minimized sacrifice in gain regardless of the selected frequency of operation. The gyroscope has a single degree-of-freedom (DOF) drive-mode and a 2-DOF sense-mode. The drive-mode operational frequency and the sense-mode bandwidth can be selected arbitrarily in the proposed design, relaxing the tradeoff between the gain, die size, and detection capacitance. The symmetry of the structure ensures the optimal location of the drive-mode resonance relative to the sense-mode operational region, even in presence of fabrication imperfections.
US08656769B2	Wind tunnel for studying vaporization of liquids A wind tunnel making it possible to measure the vaporization parameters of a test liquid exposed in a gas flow is disclosed. The wind tunnel comprises: a gas generator configured to generate a gas at a flow rate and at a temperature that are adjustable; a conditioning device designed to obtain a horizontal and uniform flow of the generated gas; a measurement chamber containing the liquid to be tested and various measurement devices making it possible to characterize the flow of gas passing through the measurement chamber; a tapping and analysis zone in which the gas-and-vapor mixture is tapped analyzed; and a discharge zone configured to discharge the gas-and-vapor mixture. The liquid to be tested in the tunnel presents a free surface positioned inside the measurement chamber in a manner such that it is swept continuously and tangentially by the uniform flow of gas.
US08656761B2	Systems and methods for use in providing a sensor signal independent of ground Isolation circuits, turbine data acquisition systems, and related methods are disclosed. One example isolation circuit includes a voltage divider circuit for coupling to an operational sensor, a clamping circuit connected to said voltage divider circuit and a gain circuit connected to said clamping circuit. The voltage divider circuit is configured to divide an amplitude of a signal received from the sensor. The clamping circuit is configured to limit voltage from said voltage divider circuit. The gain circuit includes an output. The isolation circuit provides a single-ended output signal to the output of the gain circuit as a function of the sensor signal and independent of ground.
US08656760B2	Impact penetrometer systems for characterizing soil properties A dual aerial-drop penetrometer system includes a high-velocity (>30 m/s) penetrometer aerial unit combined with a low-velocity (<10 m/s) penetrometer aerial unit. The primary penetrometer is formed as an outer shell having the secondary penetrometer received in telescoping fashion within, which is ejected by a spring ejection mechanism upon impact of the outer shell. Both penetrometers provide deceleration information as they penetrate the soil of interest. The data from the two penetrometers, after analysis, can be used to assess soil strength as well as trafficability for the deployment of remotely-controlled vehicles, for example.
US08656759B2	Handheld penetrating consistometer A portable handheld consistometer that includes a probe having a shaft and a probe tip attached to a first end of the shaft. In an embodiment, the probe tip has a cross-sectional area greater than that of the shaft, the probe configured to be inserted into a material to measure the consistency thereof. In an embodiment, a force sensor is attached to a second end of the shaft opposite the first end. The force sensor is coupled to processing circuitry, and is configured to measure the force with which the probe tip penetrates the material. In an embodiment, a distance sensor is coupled to the processing circuitry. The distance sensor is configured to measure the distance that the probe tip penetrates into the material. Further; the handheld consistometer includes a display screen coupled to the processing circuitry and configured to display the results of consistency measurements.
US08656756B2	Gas sensor A gas sensor including a metal shell; a detection element main body held by the metal shell; a porous protection layer coated on a leading end portion of the detection element main body; and a protector including a side wall surrounding an element protruding portion of the detection element main body protruding from a leading end of the metal shell. The side wall has introduction holes formed therein which allow gas to be introduced. The porous protection layer includes a first portion; and a second portion provided on a base end side with respect to the first portion and having a progressively reduced thickness in a direction toward a leading end of the detection element. The second portion is disposed closer to the base end of the detection element than the introduction holes in the axial direction.
US08656743B2	Porous glass preform production apparatus A porous preform production apparatus having a reaction vessel which includes an upper deposition chamber having an air supply inlet and an exhaust outlet, a lower deposition chamber having an air supply inlet, and a top chamber disposed on top of the upper deposition chamber and adapted to lift and store a porous preform formed by deposition, characterized in that the floor of the upper deposition chamber is disposed at a height between the lower end of a straight body part and the deposition tip of the porous glass preform during deposition, and a connection opening which connects the upper deposition chamber with the lower deposition chamber, is provided on the floor of the upper deposition chamber, and that when the aperture diameter of the connection opening is designated as A and the diameter of the porous preform passing through the connection opening as B, the ratio B/A satisfies the expression 0.05≦B/A≦0.6.
US08656736B2	Method of manufacturing glass substrate and method of manufacturing electronic components A method of manufacturing a glass substrate with buried through electrodes comprises forming via-holes in each of two base panels and in a glass panel interposed between the base panels so that the via-holes are aligned with one another. Conductive wires are penetrated through the aligned via-holes and stretched between the base panels. The first panel is subjected to compression stress and is heated to a temperature higher than a softening point of the glass material so that the stretched conductive wires are buried in the glass material. The first panel is then cooled to form a glass ingot having the buried conductive wires. The glass ingot is sliced to form a glass panel, and the glass panel is polished to expose the buried conductive wires on front and rear surfaces of the glass panel to form a glass substrate with buried through electrodes.
US08656727B2	Evaporative cooling for an aircraft subsystem Apparatus, systems, and methods provide for the cooling of an aircraft subsystem. Coolant is routed through a heat-producing subsystem to absorb heat from the subsystem and to maintain the subsystem at a desired temperature. Bleed air from an aircraft engine is cooled, dehumidified, and routed to a cooling mechanism. In the cooling mechanism, a portion of the heated coolant is evaporated into the dehumidified bleed air, cooling the remaining coolant. The reduced-temperature coolant is routed back to the subsystem to absorb further heat. Humid air from the cooling mechanism and the dehumidifying mechanism is utilized by other aircraft subsystems.
US08656723B2	Operation control method for gas turbine and operation controller for gas turbine An operation control method for a gas turbine includes making a molten salt map of molten salt for causing high-temperature corrosion on high-temperature components of the turbine due to impurities using a thermodynamic equilibrium calculation on the basis of the impurities contained in low-quality fuel and operation data of the gas turbine, indicating a surface temperature and a pressure of the high-temperature components of the turbine on the molten salt map , predicting a lifetime of the high-temperature components of the gas turbine by estimating a corrosion rate thereof, and controlling the flow rate of the low-quality fuel supplied to a combustor so that an area of surface temperature and pressure regions of the high-temperature components superposing on the region of molten salt in the liquid phase on the molten salt map is reduced.
US08656711B2	Hydraulic circuit for operating a tool A hydraulic circuit for operating a tool is provided that is particularly useful in construction equipment such as an excavator, crane, wheel loader, drilling machine, or others. Furthermore, a control unit and a method for controlling the hydraulic circuit and construction equipment including such a hydraulic circuit is disclosed.
US08656707B2	Diesel engine A diesel engine is configured to be optionally set either to a low fuel consumption mode in which the amount of fuel consumption is reduced or to a low noise mode in which the noise is reduced so that a continuous regeneration mode is automatically selected when the output value of the diesel engine is greater than a predetermined value (Ptr), the estimated amount of accumulation of particulate matter collected in a DPF is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (Vtr), a forced regeneration mode is automatically selected when the output value of the diesel engine is less than the predetermined value (Ptr) and the estimated amount of accumulation of particulate matter collected in the DPF is greater than the predetermined value (Vtr) when either the continuous regeneration mode or forced regeneration mode is manually selected, control is started depending on the selected mode.
US08656691B2	Reduced weight equine orthotic pad and method There is disclosed an improved shock absorbing, light-weight, thermally insulative orthotic pad designed for use in a pad and boot assembly for hoofed livestock. The pad is comprised of a mixture of flexible spheroids and elastomeric materials. In a preferred embodiment, elastomeric material generally is more concentrated at the top portion of the pad, and spheroids dispersed in a matrix of elastomeric material concentrated at the bottom section of the pad. The spheroids have a lower density than the elastomeric materials and possess better thermally insulative properties, and in a particularly preferred embodiment, at least some of the spheroids are comprised of closed-cell polypropylene foam. A method of making the light weight pad is also disclosed.
US08656690B2	Method and apparatus for compacting product A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.
US08656685B2	Structural members with improved ductility The present invention provides a method of improving the ductility of a structural member, such as a reinforced concrete beam or column, by providing a region of increased compression yielding in the compression zone of the plastic hinge region or nearby. This can be achieved by using ductile compressive material in the compression zone, or by forming a mechanism provided in the compression zone to provide the ductile compression zone.
US08656680B2	Method of reinforcing a structure and apparatus therefor Disclosed is a method of reinforcing a structure (10) having an elongate hole (14) or drilling the hole having an open proximal end (11) and a closed distal end (16). The method comprises the steps of inserting into the open end of the hole an elongate reinforcement core (20) carrying over at least part of its length an expandable sock (30), introducing a settable liquid (40), such as grout, into the sock at a first pressure so as to cause expansion of the sock toward the wall (18) of the hole (14), the sock being formed from a material which is permeable to the grout so as to allow the liquid to seep through the sock, reducing the pressure in the hole by means of a vacuum tube (23), whilst said introducing step is taking place, to at least a second pressure lower than the first pressure so as to encourage the grout to seep through the sock, to substantially fill the hole. The method also includes the step of ensuring that the vacuum tube extends substantially into the distal quarter of the length of the closed hole. Thus in embodiments of the invention, in producing a vacuum within the hole/drilling the seepage of the liquid or grout through the sock to make contact and bond with the wall of the drilling is increased along the whole length of the drilling.
US08656673B2	Wall structure for building a liquefied gas storage tank The present disclosure relates to a unit-wall structure for a liquefied gas storage tank on land, which enables rapid and easy construction of a cylindrical wall of the storage tank by stacking a plurality of pre-produced unit-wall structures to overlap one another. The unit-wall structure includes iron rods arranged lengthwise and breadthwise therein, wherein the unit-wall structure has an arc shape so that a plurality of unit-wall structures are stacked to form a cylindrical wall of the storage tank.
US08656659B2	Interconnected solar module design and system A frame assembly is provided for a solar module. The frame assembly includes a plurality of frame members that are structured to collectively support and hold a first solar panel. At least one of the plurality of frame members is structured to adjoin a frame member of a second solar module in forming a joining with the frame member of the second solar module over a length where the frame member of the first and second solar module adjoin.
US08656658B2	Retainers for attaching photovoltaic modules to mounting structures Provided are photovoltaic module assemblies configured for improved installation. The assemblies include frameless photovoltaic modules and retainers for supporting the modules on mounting structures. The retainers support the modules at least during cure of adhesive materials provided between the modules and the mounting structures. Once cured, the adhesive materials provide permanent support to the modules. The retainers may interlock with the mounting structures during installation or be integral components of the structures. In certain embodiments, retainers are used to control a gap between the modules and mounting structures. Retainers may be removable and collected after installation is completed. Alternatively, retainers may remain as parts of assemblies at least during some initial period. Retainers may be made from various degradable materials, such as biodegradable plastics, UV degradable plastics, and/or water soluble materials. Provided also are methods for installing frameless photovoltaic modules on mounting structures.
US08656653B1	Building foundation construction and methods A building foundation having a plurality of insulating members arranged to define a perimeter that acts as a form for concrete is described. Concrete is poured into the form in a non-rigid state and allowed to harden into a concrete slab integrally formed with the plurality of insulating members.
US08656651B1	Anchoring system An anchoring system for anchoring an item to the ground is provided. The anchoring system comprises an elongated main shaft having a first end and a second end. At least one bracket is mounted to the main shaft approximately halfway between the first end and the second end of the main shaft. A securing mechanism is associated with the at least one bracket for releasably securing the item to the at least one bracket. An elliptical, angled auger is mounted at the second end of the main shaft. Upon securing the item to the at least one bracket and securing the second end of the main shaft into the ground, the item is securely positioned into a desired position.
US08656649B2	Roof framing structure using triangular structural framing A roof framing structure (20) is disclosed, and includes a plurality of primary supports (30) (e.g., rafters) that may be disposed in parallel relation and extend along the roof pitch (14). One or more secondary supports (40) extend between each adjacent pair of primary supports (30). Each secondary support (40) is of a triangular cross-sectional configuration, and may extend orthogonally to the various primary supports (30).
US08656640B2	Tree balling method, system, and wire basket used therein A tree balling system automates the current tree balling method and greatly reduces strenuous physical labor. A novel wire basket having projections with hooks is provided for securing the earth ball of a plant for transplantation. Wrapping and tensioning a tensile member around these hooks encloses the projections around the earth ball. A balling station is also disclosed which has a stand for supporting and rotating the wire basket and plant. The balling station includes a tensile member guide and a tensioning component. The balling station is preferably located on a transportable vehicle and is equipped with unloading features for discharging the wrapped earth ball. A powered tensioning device tightens the wire basket around the earth ball. A hook forming device is also disclosed wherein the hook forming device can modify conventional wire baskets.
US08656638B2	Compounds and processes that generate cyclopropenes and substituted cyclopropenes on demand Compounds and methods that release 1-methylcyclopropene, 1-trifluoromethylcyclopropene, and other substituted cyclopropenes are disclosed. The compounds are of the class of chemical analogue of 2-oxa-bicyclo[2.1.0]penta-3-one useful as vessels for molecular plant ethylene receptor inhibitors. The compounds and methods overcome present limitations for storage, transportation, and application of the cyclopropene containing compounds by using light, including sunlight, and/or heat as the primary release trigger. Additional products released include innocuous gases and value added aryl-group compounds.
US08656635B1	Fumigation of containerized cargo An apparatus and method for tarpless fumigation of containerized cargo within a shipping container is disclosed. A portable fumigation containment door is installed in covering relation with main rear opening of a standard cargo container. Pneumatic cylinders are actuated to secure the door in place, and an inflatable gasket extending around the perimeter of the containment door and is inflated to create an airtight seal between the cargo container and the containment door. The door is provided with a series of connection ports for receiving fumigant injection and sampling lines necessary for performing the fumigation process.
US08656632B1	Outrigger line management system A line management system for an outrigger structure is provided for guiding outrigger cords through cord passages to maintain an independent longitudinal displacement in order to prevent entanglement. The system includes a plurality of outrigger cords, cord management units, and retention devices. The plurality of cord management units are coupled to the outrigger structure and are longitudinally spaced one from the other along the outrigger structure. Each of the cord management units defines a plurality of transversely offset cord passages respectively guiding predetermined ones of outrigger cords to maintain an independent longitudinal displacement relative to the outrigger structure.
US08656627B2	Foldably segmented weapon sight system A weapon sight removably mountable on a weapon provides a plurality of weapon sight segments coupled in end to end linear relation including a front weapon sight segment configured to receive a front sight and a rear weapon sight segment configured to receive a rear sight which disposes the front sight at a fixed distance from the rear sight allowing alignment of the front sight with the rear sight to aim the weapon at a target.
US08656623B1	Side folding stock assembly with concealed hinge arrangement A firearm assembly includes a shoulder stock assembly having a hinge arrangement including a first hinge portion mounted within a rear portion of a firearm assembly, and a second hinge portion mounted within the shoulder stock assembly. The shoulder stock assembly and the rear portion of the firearm assembly are movable into and out of locking alignment with one another. A translation linkage is located between the first and second hinge portions for permitting the first and second hinge portions to move into and out of spaced apart alignment with one another. The hinge portions and the translation linkage are substantially concealed from view when the shoulder stock assembly and the rear portion of the firearm assembly are moved into locking alignment with one another.
US08656618B2	Electronic device frame A frame of an electronic device is a closed frame, and made of plastic material. The frame defines one or more deformation grooves at the corners of the frame to be expanded out or inwardly narrowed for changing a size of the frame. The frame includes a positioning portion and a support portion extending from an inner surface of the positioning portion. The deformation grooves are defined in the support portion.
US08656612B2	Footwear with counter-supplementing strap A heel cup formed from a flexible material is located under the heel region of an upper portion of an article of footwear. Lateral and medial counters extend upward from the heel cup on the lateral and medial sides, with the medial counter having a height less than that of the lateral counter, and with a rear edge of the heel cup being lower than the lateral and medial counters. A rear strap extends upward around the lateral counter and around the Achilles tendon of the wearer, and is secured to a location on the upper that is forward of the wearer's ankle. During cutting movements in which the article is worn on the outside foot, tilting of the wearer foot and ankle toward the medial side pulls the strap and causes the lateral counter to conform to and support the wearer heel.
US08656606B2	Article of footwear including a woven strap system An article of footwear including a woven strap system is disclosed. The woven strap system preferably wraps along the entirety of the outsole, including a bottom side and an outer periphery. The article of footwear also includes a midsole that rests inside the woven strap system, just above the outsole.
US08656605B2	System and method for thermal gradient control in thin shell structures Described herein are devices and methods for reducing thermal stresses in a rotating, foraminous thin-shelled roll for drying permeable and semi-permeable webs by blocking axial flow of heated air through an axial channel formed between two corrugated layers in the shell. The axial channels extend between spaced-apart, parallel end members each having an inner face, and a plurality of alternating straight thin divider strips and bent thin strips extending axially between and evenly-spaced around the circumference of the inner faces of the end members to form an annular cylinder with radial channels therethrough. Affixing at least one impermeable insert into a radial channel so that it extends through the radial channel and across at least a portion of the faces of the two tiers of bent strips blocks the axial channel therebetween and prevents the passage of air therethrough to the end member.
US08656604B2	Condensation dryer with a housing A condensation dryer includes a housing having a wall area which forms a rear side, and a process air circuit for circulating process air. The process air circuit has a first section outside the housing and running along the wall area and a remaining second section inside the housing. The first section which is located at the wall area is formed by a profile part placed on the wall area and is covered by a hood placed in sealing fashion on the wall area. A fan is arranged in the process air circuit for circulating the process air, and a drying chamber is arranged in the process air circuit for holding objects to be dried. A heat pump is disposed in the housing and includes a heat sink which is thermally coupled to the process air circuit, and a heat source, which is thermally coupled to the process air circuit.
US08656595B2	Cigar cutter Cigar cutter (1) includes a housing (2) that has a cutting opening (3), a first movable blade module (4), and a second movable blade module (5) relative to the housing between a closed configuration, in which the blades (19, 23) of the blade modules close the cutting opening, and an open configuration, in which the blades of the blade modules release the cutting opening, whereby a locking mechanism is able, in a locked state, to keep the blade modules within the closed configuration, and, in an unlocked state, to allow the blade modules to switch to the open configuration. The blade modules are able to move toward one another from the closed configuration to an actuation configuration, whereby the locking mechanism is able to switch from the locked state to the unlocked state and vice versa during the switching from the closed configuration to the actuation configuration.
US08656592B2	Precision axle spindle and wheel end assembly for heavy-duty vehicles An axle spindle and wheel end assembly includes a precision-formed axle spindle, wheel hub, and axle spindle nut. The axle spindle is formed with parallel inboard and outboard bearing surfaces, a shoulder that is perpendicular to the inboard and outboard bearing surfaces, and threads for a spindle nut that are aligned with the inboard and outboard bearing surfaces. The wheel hub is formed with inboard and outboard bearing surfaces that are in parallel alignment with one another, and bearing axial stop surfaces that are perpendicular to the wheel hub bearing surfaces. The spindle nut is formed with threads on its inner periphery and a flat inboard surface that is perpendicular to the threads. The axle spindle, wheel hub, and spindle nut cooperate to enable an axle spindle nut assembly to consistently provide a light preload on a bearing cone and spacer group of the wheel end assembly.
US08656585B2	Process for manufacturing electrosurgical forceps with composite material tips An electrosurgical forceps has at least the tip of one blade member formed of a composite material having aligned elongated particles of nickel interspersed in a matrix of silver particles. The tip can be provided as a tip member attached, such as by brazing, to the body of the blade member, or the entire blade member can be formed of the silver/nickel composite material. In another embodiment, the tip or blade member is formed of a dispersion strengthened silver or copper composite material.

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