US08149602B2
A PSE configured to determine the end of the start up phase at the PD responsive to a condition of the voltage at the PSE output. In one particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to a PSE output voltage within a predetermined range of the PSE input voltage. In another particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to the voltage drop associated with the PSE current limiter being lower than a predetermined maximum. In yet another particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to the absolute value of the rate of change of the PSE output voltage being lower than a predetermined value. In yet another particular embodiment, the startup phase end is determined responsive to the absolute value of the rate of change of the voltage drop associated with the PSE current limiter being lower than a predetermined value.
US08149591B2
A dual function air-gap switch actuator (26) is incorporated into the generally planar face of a wall box dimmer. The switch actuator is finger operated and provides both a main power disconnect via air-gap contacts (211) and the means (212) to activate a secondary function. The dual function air-gap switch actuator is optionally fitted with an indicator lamp (265).
US08149573B2
An electronic device is provided, including a main body, a display module pivotally connected to the main body, a first magnet in the main body, a second magnet in the display module, a lever movably disposed in the main body, and a joining member movably disposed in the main body and connected to the lever. When the display module and the main body are folded, the second magnet attracts the first magnet, and the lever pushes the joining member to protrude from the main body and join with the display module.
US08149568B2
This invention discloses a load system for loading an Mcap energy storage module to an apparatus, comprising: a storage unit and a load unit. The storage unit further comprises: a first housing part and a seal for sealing the first housing part. The first housing part includes four side walls, a bottom wall and a first opening. A plurality of Mcap cell are disposed in the first housing part through the first opening. A first electrode formed in a side wall. A second electrode formed in another side wall facing the first side wall. The load unit comprises a second housing part and a seal for sealing the second housing part. The storage unit is loaded into the second housing part through the second opening.
US08149552B1
A downhole measurement tool circuit and method to balance fault current in a protective inductor, which keeps an alternating current balanced in a protective choke during a phase-to-ground fault condition in a power cable or a downhole motor of an electrical submersible pump. The downhole measurement tool circuit and method cause a conducting of current during the negative polarity voltage portions of a phase-to-ground fault condition, but do not cause a conduction of negative polarity voltage during use of a negative polarity megger.
US08149540B2
In a magnetic head structure that forms a medium facing surface of a head element unit by polishing processing, a height monitor that is exposed in the vicinity of the head element unit during the polishing processing to index the height of the head element unit is provided in a planar rectangular shape.
US08149537B2
A writer comprises a main pole, a write gap and a write shield. The main pole has a main pole tip for emitting magnetic flux. The write gap is adjacent the main pole tip along a center axis of the writer. The write shield is spaced from the main pole tip by the write gap. The write shield comprises a first component located above the main pole tip along the center axis and a second component having different magnetic properties from the first component. The second component extends perpendicularly to the center axis from opposing sides of the first component.
US08149534B2
A data storage device comprising a storage medium having a recordable surface, a transducing head having a bearing surface positioned adjacent to the recordable surface of the storage medium, and at least one compound disposed between the recordable surface and the bearing surface, the at least one compound comprising at least one functional group that imparts corrosion resistance and at least one functional group that imparts lubricating properties.
US08149529B2
In one embodiment, a storage-device-implemented method for estimating one or more channel parameters of a storage device including a read channel and a storage medium with a bit sequence stored on the storage medium. The method includes: (a) the storage device reading at least a portion of the bit sequence from the storage medium to generate a bit response; (b) the storage device convolving the bit response to compute an impulse response of the read channel; and (c) the storage device estimating one or more channel parameters based on the computed impulse response.
US08149526B2
An optical assembly includes an output optical element having a thermally conductive and optically transmissive material and a thermal conduit in thermal communication with the output optical element and having at least one surface configured to be in thermal communication with at least one heat dissipating surface of a light delivery apparatus. The optical assembly further includes a coupling portion configured to be placed in at least two states. In a first state, the coupling portion is attached to the apparatus such that the at least one surface of the thermal conduit is in thermal communication with the at least one heat dissipating surface. In a second state, the coupling portion is detached from the apparatus after having been attached to the apparatus in the first state and in which the coupling portion is configured to prevent re-attachment of the coupling portion to the apparatus.
US08149525B2
An imaging lens of which optical performance does not deteriorate even in a high temperature environment, various aberrations are well corrected, optical length is short, and back focus is sufficiently secured, comprising an aperture stop S and a junction type compound lens 14 having a positive refractive power, wherein the aperture stop and the junction type compound lens are arranged in this sequence from an object side to an image side. The junction type compound lens comprises a first lens L1, a second lens L2 and a third lens L3 arranged in this sequence from the object side to the image side. The first lens and the third lens are formed of a curable resin material, and the second lens is formed of an optical glass. The first lens and the second lens are directly bonded, and the second lens and the third lens are directly bonded. The object side face of the first lens and the image side face of the third lens are aspherical.
US08149523B2
An image pickup lens relating to the present invention is a lens for forming an image of a subject onto a photoelectric converter of a solid-state image pickup element. The image pickup lens includes, in order from an object side thereof: an aperture stop; a first lens with a positive refractive power; a second lens in a meniscus shape with a negative refractive power, whose object side surface is a convex surface; a third lens with a positive refractive power; and a fourth lens with a negative refractive power. The image pickup lens satisfies a predetermined conditions relating to a curvature radius of the object side surface of the second lens and an Abbe number of the second lens.
US08149517B2
A zoom lens unit, including in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens group having a positive refracting power; a second lens group having a negative refracting power; a third lens group having a positive refracting power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power, an aperture stop being disposed between the second and the third lens groups, and the third lens group having a positive lens made of an optical glass material which satisfies the following formulae: (1) 1.52
US08149515B2
The zoom lens includes, in order from an object side, a first lens unit (positive), a second lens unit (negative), a reflective member and subsequent lens units. A distance between the second and subsequent lens units is reduced during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. One of the subsequent lens units includes a non-shift lens unit and a shift lens unit shiftable for image stabilization. The conditions of 1<(1−βb)βr<3 and 0.70
US08149513B2
The invention discloses a package structure of a liquid lens which includes a first substrate and an electrode on the first substrate. The package structure includes a second substrate, a first sleeve, a second sleeve, a first circular member, and a second circular member. The first substrate is fixed at the first sleeve to form a holding chamber for receiving a first dielectric liquid and a second dielectric liquid. The second substrate is disposed on the liquid lens and fixed at the second sleeve. The first sleeve is fixedly connected inside the first sleeve and the second substrate. The second circular member is disposed on the first circular member. The first and second circular member are located and urged between the first sleeve and the second sleeve to form a reserved expansion chamber.
US08149508B2
An immersive dome includes a number of novel features designed to enhance the performance of the immersive dome over presently-known immersive dome environments. Projectors are mounted in a multi-tier tower, out of sight beneath a viewing platform positioned to provide optimal wrap-around viewing. The projection surface consists of open-cell foam that allows passage of behind-surface sound into the dome while allowing unwanted ambient noise within the dome to escape. A visually-reflective coating, in conjunction with the open cell structure, provides a textured surface that acts as a micro-baffle and suppresses cross-reflection of projected imagery.
US08149501B2
Excitation light is split into two components with mutually orthogonal polarization. One component is fed clockwise and the other component is fed counterclockwise into a polarization maintaining loop. A second-order nonlinear optical medium disposed in the loop generates up-converted light from each excitation component by second harmonic generation, and generates down-converted light from the up-converted light by spontaneous parametric down conversion. A polarization manipulation unit manipulates the polarization direction of at least one of the excitation or down-converted components. The clockwise and counterclockwise components of the down-converted light are recombined and output as quantum entangled photon pairs having substantially the same wavelength as the excitation light. The optical components can be optimized for operation at this wavelength without the need to consider the shorter wavelength of the up-converted light.
US08149500B2
In an embodiment, set forth by way of example and not limitation, a Bragg mirror includes a first bi-layer of a first thickness and a second bi-layer of a second thickness which is different from the first thickness. In this exemplary embodiment, the first bi-layer consists essentially of a first high impedance layer and a first low impedance layer, and the second bi-layer of a second thickness which is different from the first thickness, the second bi-layer consisting essentially of a second high impedance layer and a second low impedance layer. Preferably, the first bi-layer is configured to substantially reflect a first wavelength and the second bi-layer is configured to substantially reflect a second wavelength different from the first wavelength.
US08149497B2
A microelectromechanical systems device having support structures formed of sacrificial material surrounded by a protective material. The microelectromechanical systems device includes a substrate having an electrode formed thereon. Another electrode is separated from the first electrode by a cavity and forms a movable layer, which is supported by support structures formed of a sacrificial material.
US08149479B2
An original transport and reading apparatus is provided with an original transport portion that transports an original, an original reading portion that reads the original transported by the original transport portion through a reading region of a reading glass, and a control portion that controls the original transport portion. The control portion executes foreign matter removal at the reading region of the reading glass by controlling the original transport portion so as to cause the original to advance in a reverse direction to a transport direction of when the original is being read and causes the original to contact at least the reading region of the reading glass.
US08149469B2
An image reading apparatus has an image sensor in which a plurality of sensor arrays for reading a document image are connected into a line, and parallel-output image data. In the image reading apparatus, of image data output from each sensor array, image data of a pixel at one end and image data of the remaining pixels are compressed by different compression methods. The compressed data of one line are decompressed by a set method at the timing when the number of pixels reaches a preset number of pixels.
US08149465B2
A coloring image generating apparatus includes: an acquiring unit that acquires an image; an edge intensity calculating unit that calculates an edge intensity frequency distribution of the image; a threshold value setting unit that sets a threshold value for dividing a coloring image into a contour portion and a blank portion according to distribution characteristics of the edge intensity frequency distribution; and a generating unit that discriminates the contour portion from the blank portion in the image on the basis of the threshold value and generates a coloring image.
US08149459B2
What is disclosed is a system and method for mapping an out-of-gamut spot color to a surface boundary of a target color gamut of a color marking device in a color management system. The present method accurately detects the intersection of a point at the boundary surface of a ray traced between the out-of-gamut color and color point along a neutral axis of the target gamut. The ability to map an out-of-gamut color accurately to the gamut surface provides many advantages as one skilled in the art would appreciate. Various embodiments are provided.
US08149454B2
A method of operating a color printer including using a first set of one-dimensional TRCs or a second set of one-dimensional TRCs with a single set of color tables.
US08149452B2
Methods of printing an image and photo-printing systems using the methods are provided. The methods involve receiving the image from a data storage device and printing the image via a printer, the method including the operations of determining whether a Paper Full printing option in which no space is left on a printing material is selected; when the Paper Full printing option is selected, comparing a ratio of an image to be printed with a ratio of a currently set printing material; and when the ratios of the image and the printing material are different from each other, displaying a print area of the image to be printed on a display panel.The methods of printing the image and photo-printing systems using the methods provide users with an opportunity to check and re-set a print area prior to printing the image, thereby preventing an important part of the image from being cropped due to mismatch between ratios of the image to be printed and the printing material.
US08149450B2
In a document management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in order to prevent a leakage of information, in a case where a copy of a document is transferred to a media, a deletion processing with respect to the document is disabled. Then, in a case where it is confirmed that document leakage is not performed from the media, the deletion processing with respect to the document from the media is canceled.
US08149449B2
In some embodiments of systems and methods for print scheduling, at least one of a plurality of entries in a request table associated with a printing device is updated with print job related information when a spool associated with a printing device is full. A priority is associated with the entries in the request table and an incoming print job is spooled at the time of a print job request, if the spool associated with the printing device is not full and the entry corresponding to the print job in the request table has the highest priority. Embodiments of the methods disclosed provide for the ordered processing of print jobs in a timely fashion with minimal alterations to existing protocols.
US08149441B2
A time-to-collect measure is disclosed which may be used in generating a model for predicting an expected time-to-collect for print jobs. In the case of incomplete data, an algorithm recovers an optimal assignment of links between submission and collection events which allows a time to collect to be computed for one or more prior print jobs. A printing system may incorporate a time-to-collect system for making decisions based on the measure, such as the scheduling of pending print jobs or planning placement of printers.
US08149435B2
The present invention realizes a network printing system capable of accumulating and chasing printed data. Further, by providing a job chasing function on the printer driver side, detailed setting can be done to extract history information of the job chasing function. The detailed setting to extract history information to chase a job can be done only by a specific administrator or user so that the job can be reliably chased, whereas the administrator or user can obtain desired history information. Accordingly, a precise jog chasing system can be established.
US08149434B2
An image output apparatus includes: a memory configured to store user identification data; a receiver configured to receive image data and user identification data; an input unit by use of which a user inputs his/her user identification data; a clock; and an image forming unit that: if a time indicated by the clock is within a predetermined standby time, suspends outputting of an image represented by image data received by the receiver; and if user identification data input using the input unit during the predetermined standby time is stored in the memory, outputs an image represented by image data, which is associated with the input user identification data, from among items of image data received by the receiver and not yet output.
US08149431B2
Systems and methods for remotely managing printer settings that are associated with a remote printer connected to a client machine. A virtual printer driver, executing on a server, is used to generate and manage generate virtual printer queues associated with remote printers connected to the client machine. Each virtual printer queue intercepts print requests generated by one or more applications executing on the server, these print requests cause the virtual printer driver to either retrieve printer setting information from cache memory, or interrogate the remote printer for printer setting information. The virtual printer driver retrieves printer setting information and associates virtual printer queues with remote printers using the retrieved printer setting information. The virtual printer driver then responds to the print request by generating a graphical interface that incorporates the retrieved printer settings and user-defined printer settings.
US08149428B2
To restrain that an adjustment is performed by a printer driver by matching an order for setting items by a user and a priority order between the items when an adjustment is performed by a printer driver.
US08149423B2
A position detection apparatus includes an imaging system, an illumination system including a rotary table having first and second aperture stops, both of which can be positioned on the pupil plane of the illumination system, a first image sensor that detects the image of the mark formed by the imaging system, a second image sensor that senses an image of the aperture stop for the imaging system and that of the first aperture stop, and a controller. The controller corrects the first aperture stop so as to reduce the adverse influence of a displacement of the first aperture stop, based on sensed images of the aperture stop for the imaging system and the first aperture stop. Based on the detected position of the image of the mark, the apparatus detects the position of an object to be detected using the illumination light having passed through the corrected first aperture stop.
US08149422B2
A system and method for dispersion-force-based actuation are disclosed. In some embodiments, a light beam is used to change the dispersion force between two spaced apart surfaces. The change in the dispersion force causes a change in the gap between the surfaces. The actuation system can be used in conjunction with a deformable mirror to provide an improved adaptive optics system.
US08149420B2
A metrology system is provided comprising a diffraction grating mounted on the object, and an interferometer head operable to direct at least one measurement light beam towards the grating at a non-zero angle of incidence. With a single first separation in the second direction between the object and the interferometer head, respective displacement measurements are made at known displacements of the object. From the displacement measurements are generated respective original calibration values, each pertaining to a respective one of the known displacements. With a second separation in the second direction between the object and the interferometer head, a displacement of the object is measured. The measured displacement is corrected using an offset calibration value derived from at least one of the original calibration values and pertaining to at least one offset displacement, offset from the measured displacement.
US08149415B2
An absorption spectrometer provides improved rejection of background radiation signal by employing a frequency-swept laser signal without frequency dithering and performing an effective differentiation of output light from a test cell to eliminate these constant or slowly varying background radiation levels.
US08149413B2
A surface plasmon resonance sensing device that is portable, and having the fiber sensing unit whose resonant wavelength being within the transmission range of a single-mode fiber or a multi-mode fiber, is disclosed. The disclosed sensing device comprises: a light source unit, a fiber sensing unit, an optical sensor, a plurality of fibers, and a computing and displaying unit. The fiber sensing unit includes a trench, a cladding layer, a core layer, a first metallic layer, and a plurality of dielectric thin film layers, wherein the first metallic layer covers the trench, and the plurality of dielectric thin film layers forms on the first metallic layer. The light source provided by the light source unit will become a light signal, after the light passes through the fiber sensing unit. The optical sensor transforms the light signal into a corresponding electric signal, for the usage of the computing and displaying unit.
US08149408B2
In a device for measuring elevations and/or depressions of a flexible surface which is at least partially transmissive to light, for measurement purposes, the surface is illuminated by a fiber-optical means (3) by way of a light source (7) and the brightness of the reflected light is measured by the same fiber-optical means using a photosensor (1).
US08149405B2
A color analysis system includes a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate a test patch. A sensor is configured to receive light from the plurality of light sources reflected from the test patch. A controller is configured to determine the color of the test patch in response to light received by the sensor reflected from the first light source, and adjust the color determination in response to light received by the sensor reflected from the first and second light sources.
US08149399B2
Methods and systems for real-time monitoring of optical signals from arrays of signal sources, and particularly optical signal sources that have spectrally different signal components. Systems include signal source arrays in optical communication with optical trains that direct excitation radiation to and emitted signals from such arrays and image the signals onto detector arrays, from which such signals may be subjected to additional processing.
US08149398B2
A method of measuring a gadolinia content using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry is provided. The method can include grinding sintered gadolinium using a percussion mortar to obtain a ground sample; warming the ground sample and then dissolving it with an acid solution to obtain dissolved gadolinia; diluting the dissolved gadolinia with distilled water to obtain a diluted gadolinia solution; measuring mass of each of a uranium element and a gadolinium element in the diluted gadolinia solution by a unit of ppm using the inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry; and calculating a molar fraction of gadolinium from the diluted gadolinia solution and then calculating the gadolinia content using the molar fraction of gadolinium.
US08149395B2
A method and apparatus for inspecting defects includes emitting an ultraviolet light from an ultraviolet light source, illuminating a specimen with the ultraviolet light in which a polarization condition of the ultraviolet light is controlled, controlling a polarization condition of light reflected from the specimen which is illuminated by the polarization condition controlled ultraviolet light, detecting the light reflected from the specimen, processing the detected light so as to detect defects, and outputting information about the defects. The ultraviolet light source is disposed in a clean environment supplied with clean gas and separated from outside.
US08149390B2
A simulation system for predicting a likelihood of whether a target object positioned in an environment will be detected by a detection system when illuminated by a laser source. The simulation system may be used for a laser rangefinder application and a laser designator application. The simulation system may provide a detection probability of the target object at a specified range to the detection system or a plurality of detection probabilities as a function of the range to the detection system. The simulation system may provide an indication of an overlap of the beam provided by the laser source on the target object. The simulation system may determine the effect of vibration on the detection of the target object at a specified range.
US08149384B2
A method for monitoring a photolithography system includes defining a model of the photolithography system for modeling top and bottom critical dimension data associated with features formed by the photolithography system as a function of dose and focus. A library of model inversions is generated for different combinations of top and bottom critical dimension values. Each entry in the library specifies a dose value and a focus value associated with a particular combination of top and bottom critical dimension values. A top critical dimension measurement and a bottom critical dimension measurement of a feature formed by the photolithography system using a commanded dose parameter and a commanded focus parameter are received. The library is accessed using the top and bottom critical dimension measurements to generate values for a received dose parameter and the received focus parameter. The received dose and focus parameters are compared to the commanded dose and focus parameters to characterize the photolithography system.
US08149373B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a mesh spacer, and a liquid crystal. The first substrate includes a black matrix. The mesh spacer is formed by a plurality of longitudinal strips and a plurality of transverse strips, and is disposed on the black matrix and is configured between the first substrate and the second substrate. The longitudinal strips and the transverse strips have different thickness. The liquid crystal is disposed in spaces formed by the first substrate, the second substrate, and the mesh spacer.
US08149369B2
An embodiment of a unit pixel of an in-plane switching (IPS) mode LCD device includes a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in the unit pixel region, wherein each pixel electrode is configured to apply a pixel voltage from the data line, and a plurality of common electrodes correspondingly arranged in the unit pixel region, wherein each common electrode is configured to apply a common voltage from a common line in parallel with the data line to form electric field in conjunction with the corresponding pixel electrodes. The unit pixel region is vertically divided into over three sub-regions, at least one pixel electrode spans all sub-regions, and a bent angle of the at least one pixel electrode in a sub-region is different from the bent angle of the at least one pixel electrode in an adjacent sub-region, wherein the bent angle is measured relative to the gate line.
US08149367B2
An IPS-method liquid crystal display device which exhibits small directivity of a viewing angle and high brightness is realized. A planar common electrode is arranged below a pixel electrode which includes comb-teeth-shaped electrodes and slits. When a video signal is applied to the pixel electrode, an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode by way of slit portions formed in the pixel electrode thus controlling liquid crystal molecules. To reduce the occurrence of a phenomenon that an abnormal domain is generated in an end portion of the slit and the abnormal domain lowers transmissivity of liquid crystal, the structure in which the slits having both ends thereof closed and the slits having one-side end portion thereof opened are alternately arranged next to each other in parallel is adopted.
US08149364B2
This invention provides an antiglare film of a type with a low content of particles that makes it possible to increase contrast, the antiglare film demonstrating appropriate antiglare property, small white blurring, and a low level of glittering, and also a method for manufacturing the film and a transmission type liquid crystal display. In the antiglare film, a content ratio of the particles in the binder matrix is within a range of 0.5-5 wt. %, a refractive index difference |nA−nM| is equal to or greater than 0.010, R25/R is in the range of 0.7-0.9, R75/R is in the range of 1.10-1.30, and R75/H is in the range of 0.70-1.50.
US08149361B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display including a first substrate including a first alignment layer, gate lines, and data lines, a second substrate facing the first substrate and including a second alignment layer, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix defined by the gate lines and the data lines, and alignment directions of the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer in a first pixel are different than alignment directions in a neighboring pixel.
US08149354B2
Provided is a liquid crystal display device including: a substrate (13) including a polarizing layer (11) on a light-input side; a substrate (14) including a polarizing layer (12) on another side, the polarizing layers having absorption axes substantially perpendicular; a liquid crystal layer (15) in which a liquid-crystal-molecule is aligned to be substantially horizontal to the substrates. In a case where an absorption axis of the polarizing layer (11) and an optical axis of the liquid crystal layer are substantially perpendicular, the optical compensating members (17 and 18) may be provided between the polarizing layer (11) and the liquid crystal layer; the absorption axis of the polarizing layer (11) and a slow axis of the optical compensating members are substantially perpendicular; each pixel satisfies nx≈ny≠nz; thickness-direction retardation for pixels of one color is different from other colors; and the thickness-direction retardation for red pixels is larger than 0 nm.
US08149352B2
A backlight unit which prevents an initial driving malfunction is disclosed. The backlight unit includes: a bottom cover opened upwardly; a reflective sheet disposed in the inner surface of the bottom cover; a plurality of lamps arranged in a fixed interval on the reflective sheet; a driver disposed on the rear surface of the bottom cover; an auxiliary light source loaded on the driver; a first hole formed in a region of the bottom cover opposite to the auxiliary light source; and a hole region, on the reflective sheet, including one of plural micro-penetration holes and plural slit holes and opposite the first hole on the reflective sheet.
US08149351B2
A passive daylight-coupled display having an LCD panel, a diffuser, and a curved reflector behind the LCD panel. For passive backlighting, the diffuser transmits daylight to the reflector, which reflects the daylight to the LCD panel and provides for substantially uniform distribution of the daylight on the LCD panel for backlighting it. A hybrid display includes both a passive backlight and an active backlight for providing backlighting from an active light source.
US08149339B2
In switching a channel or in switching an external input, a reduction in a psychological strain on a user is offered. An image generating unit 22 generates image data indicating a lapse of time on the basis of time information received from a control unit 30 and supplies it to a combining unit 21. The combining unit 21 combines image data stored in a storage unit 25 and the image data indicating the time information from the image generating unit 22 to generate video data and supplies the video data to a video switching unit 16. The video switching unit 16 selects video data from a video decoder 14, the video data from the combining unit 21, or video data from a determination unit 24 on the basis of the control of the control unit 30 and outputs it to the display unit 18. For example, when a user switches a channel by operating an operating unit 31, muting is performed, the video data from the combining unit 21 is selected, and video indicating a lapse of time is displayed on the display unit 18.
US08149337B2
According to one embodiment, a video processing apparatus includes an input module and a video processor. The input module is configured to input a video signal. The video processor is configured to apply sharpening processing to pixels in a horizontal direction and pixels in a vertical direction, which are included in the video signal, and to apply image blur correction to the pixels in the horizontal direction and the pixels in the vertical direction based on an imaging model function.
US08149328B2
A pad main body of a shoulder pad includes an elastic pad part comprising two side walls provided to face each other, and a bottom wall provided between these side walls to form a U-shape along with the side walls; and a rib provided on the inside of the U shape of the pad part, from one of the two side walls to the other.
US08149326B2
An imager and a method for real-time, non-destructive monitoring of light incident on imager pixels during their exposure to light. Real-time or present pixel signals, which are indicative of present illumination on the pixels, are compared to a reference signal during the exposure. Adjustments, if necessary, are made to programmable parameters such as gain and/or exposure time to automatically control the imager's exposure to the light. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, only a selected number of pixels are monitored for exposure control as opposed to monitoring the entire pixel array.
US08149322B2
An image sensor having a surface intended to be illuminated and pixels, each pixel including a photosensitive area formed in an active area of the substrate, at least one first pixel including a first microlens located on the surface, the sensor including at least one second pixel including a transparent portion forming a pedestal located at least partly on the surface and a second microlens at least partially covering the pedestal.
US08149317B2
A feature area having a visual feature is analyzed for each of at least three of similar images in a memory card, and the analyzed feature areas are displayed on a display screen while overlapped with a reference image. The visual feature is used to distinguish an image from other images in the plural images. In the case where the images of the feature areas are displayed on the display screen while visually overlapped, when a user touches a touch panel on the display screen, the image corresponding to the feature area to which the touched point belongs is read from the memory card and displayed on the display screen.
US08149316B2
An imaging apparatus includes an apparatus body, a monitor connected to the apparatus body, and a hinge mechanism including a support member. The supporting mechanism includes a mounting portion on a first end, the mounting portion being rotatably mounted on the apparatus body, and a supporting portion on a second end, the supporting portion supporting the monitor. The support member rotatably supports the monitor relative to the apparatus body. The support member of the hinge mechanism is disposed at substantially the same height as that of a viewfinder disposed on the apparatus body.
US08149314B2
When various kinds of information and various frames are superimposed on a displayed image of a subject during live view shooting, an object to be preferentially displayed is switched between the various kinds of information and the various frames in accordance with an overlapping state of the various kinds of information and the various frames if the various kinds of information overlap the various frames.
US08149313B2
In a digital camera 1, when a shutter button is pressed halfway, then a photographic scene is evaluated until the shutter button is fully depressed, and based on automatic parameters corresponding to the evaluated photographic scene which are set, each portion is controlled in accordance with the set automatic parameters (Step S3). Furthermore, tags for manual setting corresponding to the photographic scene evaluated in Step S2 are superimposed on a live view image (Step S5). Whether a touch for any of the tags has been detected is determined (Step S9). If a touch has been detected, manual parameters corresponding to the touched tag in the automatic parameters stored in RAM in Step S3 are changed by one level and updated (Step S13). If the shutter key has been operated, still image photographic processing is performed with the parameters updated and stored in RAM in Step S13 (Step S23).
US08149312B2
A CMOS image sensor has a pixel array provided with a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix shape of rows and columns. Each of the unit pixel includes a photocharge generation means for generating photocharges by absorbing an external light; and a sensing node for receiving the photocharges transferred from the photocharge generation means, wherein the sensing node of the unit pixel in a previous scan line is shared with a sensing node of a unit pixel in a current scan line in response to a line select signal of the current line.
US08149295B2
A digital camera comprises an imaging device; an internal memory; an attachment device that attaches a storage medium; a medium detector that detects whether the storage medium attached to the attachment device is a storage medium limiting overwrite; and a record control device that controls so as to store image data taken by the imaging device in the storage medium attached to the attachment device. When the medium detector detects that the storage medium attached to the attachment device is the storage medium limiting overwrite, the record control device controls so as to store data management information of the image data recorded in the storage medium limiting overwrite in the internal memory.
US08149288B2
An image capture device sets a central vicinity of a frame of a predetermined area as a focus region upon detecting a half-press operation of a shutter button in a through-the-lens image displaying, designates a central vicinity pixel region of the region as a pixel region to be tracked, and determines whether or not the designated pixel region is adequate as an object of tracking. If the pixel region is adequate, the pixel region is tracked until the shutter button is detected as pressed down fully. When a fully-press operation of the shutter button is detected, the frame of a predetermined area is displayed in a fixed manner on a display unit. Upon a detection that a change of the pixel region has occurred, or the pixel region has contacted or exceeded the frame of a predetermined area, a recording processing is started immediately by a high speed consecutive capture.
US08149284B2
An imaging unit having: an image pickup element for imaging a subject; a camera shake correction unit for correcting camera shake by moving the image pickup element, wherein the camera shake correction unit includes a stage which carries the image pickup element; and a reference bedplate supporting the camera shake correction unit; at least two guide members which support the stage movably with respect to the reference bedplate in a predetermined direction respectively; and wherein the camera shake correction unit further includes a biasing member for biasing the stage in one direction except the predetermined directions with respect to the reference bedplate, thereby removing mechanical play in at least two directions out of the three dimensional directions of the guide member.
US08149274B2
An endoscope apparatus of the present invention includes a light quantity adjusting section that adjusts outgoing light quantity from a light source section that generates light irradiating a subject, a current control section that controls a current to be applied to the light source section, an image pickup section provided with an image pickup device that picks up an image of the subject, an identification section that identifies whether or not the image pickup device is provided with a shutter function, a brightness detection section that detects brightness based on an image pickup signal from the image pickup section, a white balance acquiring section for acquiring information on white balance adjustment processing, an amount of adjustment control section that controls an amount of adjustment of the light quantity adjusting section to a predetermined amount according to a white balance information acquiring operation in the white balance acquiring section, and a control section that controls the current control section or the shutter function of the image pickup device based on the output result from the brightness detection section and the output result from the identification section.
US08149270B1
A stereoscopic endoscope employing a single light sensor array and a lenticular lens layer located at a proximal end of the endoscope, a pair of periscopic prisms located at a distal end of the endoscope and an optical relay assembly array located between the pair of periscopic prisms and the light sensor array. One prism of the pair of periscopic prisms receives a right view of an object and another prism of the pair receives a left view of the object. The interpupilar distance (IPD) between the right and left view is substantially large, thereby increasing the resolution of a stereoscopic image which is eventually displayed on a display. Another embodiment includes a set of three light sensor arrays, a light director and three lenticular lens layers. Each light sensor array detects light at a predetermined range of wavelengths (e.g. red, green and blue).
US08149268B1
A system and method of determining three-dimensional data for an object by performing optical flow analysis to calculate surface profile analysis for a group of monocular component images that vary wavelength distribution, and determining three-dimensional data relating to the object from the component images and the surface profile analysis. Stereo image features are obtained from a single monocular polychromatic raw image or multiple monocular grayscale images having known spectral imaging collection data. Apparatus are described which allow three-dimensional data for an object to be determined from one or more two-dimensional images of the object.
US08149264B2
A video-communication service in which a separation in different components of the video-communication is caused at the telephone equipment of the users, e.g., a separation in a video and in a voice component. The different components are transmitted on different connections between the telephone equipment of the users. The users have the possibility of selectively dropping any one of the different connections.
US08149249B1
Aspects of this disclosure are directed to zooming into or out of image content. A user may request to zoom into or out of image content by inputting a multi-touch gesture. The request may reach one or more discrete zoom levels of a plurality of discrete zoom levels. Discrete zoom levels may indicate specific magnification factors for which a device may be able to clearly render image content. The device may output an indication when the request reaches the one or more discrete zoom levels.
US08149248B2
A map displaying method and apparatus to display a map on a screen, the map displaying method including: establishing a first area on the map that is not compressed based on a current location of an object on the map; non-linearly compressing a second area adjacent to the first area at different compression ratios according to a distance from the first area to generate a third area; and displaying the first area and the third area on the screen.
US08149239B2
In an image processing apparatus, when an output image generator generates an output image in which an individual image of each part of a product model is arranged around a parts assembly image of the entire product model with a specific part highlighted, a boundary information calculator calculates boundary information for each part highlighted. An individual image arrangement calculator obtains a center position of the highlighted part on the parts assembly image based on the boundary information, obtains a straight line dividing the parts assembly image to equally distribute the parts into respective areas, and calculates a position of arrangement of the individual image of each part corresponding to the highlighted part distributed in each of the areas. The output image generated by the output image generator includes a leading line extending from the individual image of each part to the corresponding part on the parts assembly image.
US08149238B2
The adaptive MIP ray casting system first fragments a 3-D dataset into multiple sub-volumes and constructs an octree data structure with each sub-volume being associated with one node of the octree data structure. The system then establishes a 2-D image plane and selectively launches a plurality of rays towards the 3-D dataset, each ray adaptively interacting with a subset of the sub-volumes and identifies the maximum data value along the ray path. The maximum data value is then converted into a pixel value on the 2-D image plane. Finally, the system interpolates pixel values at those locations where no pixel value is generated by ray casting and thereby generates a 2-D image of the 3-D dataset.
US08149237B2
An information processing apparatus according to the present invention deforms stored first mesh information of a three-dimensional object based on a deformation instruction for instructing deformation of the three-dimensional object, to acquire second mesh information, acquires a first slice information group, which is a plurality of slice information, based on the second mesh information, determines color information of the points after deformation from stored 3D voxel information, sets new color information for the points of the first slice information group based on the determined color information of the points to acquire a second slice information group, and displays that second slice information group. With this information processing apparatus, it is possible to render deformation in the shape of a three-dimensional object in real time, along with the color information of its surface and interior.
US08149232B2
Systems and methods for generating reference voltages are provided. A representative system comprises a resistor circuit; a first switch coupled between a first end of the resistor circuit and a first power source; a second switch coupled between the first end of the resistor circuit and a second power source; a third switch coupled to a second end of the resistor circuit; a fourth switch coupled to the second end of the resistor circuit; a first resistor coupled between the first end of the resistor circuit and the first switch; a second resistor coupled between the first end of the resistor circuit and the second switch; a third resistor coupled between the second end of the resistor circuit and the third switch; a fourth resistor coupled between the second end of the resistor circuit and the fourth switch; and a control circuit for controlling the switches.
US08149231B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for supplying power source for providing certain voltage to a first display device and a second display device. The apparatus for supplying power source includes a boosting circuit, a boosted voltage detecting circuit and an output selecting circuit. The boosting circuit boosts a battery voltage. The boosted voltage detecting circuit detects the boosted battery voltage, and transmits the detection result to the boosting circuit. The output selecting circuit is coupled to the boosting circuit and the boosted voltage detecting circuit, and provides selectively the boosted battery voltage to a first display device and a second display device. The apparatus provides certain voltage to a first display device and/or a second display device, and thus the size of a dual panel apparatus employing the display devices may be reduced.
US08149230B2
A light emitting display includes a substrate, a pixel area, a first power source line to supply a first power signal to each pixel on a first side of the pixel area, a second power source line to supply the first power signal to each pixel on a second side of the pixel area, and an impedance compensator for compensating a difference in a voltage drop between the first power source line and the second power source line. A voltage drop caused by line resistance that depends on the length of the first and second power source line that supply the first power signal to a lower and upper side of a pixel area, respectively, is equalized, thereby minimizing the voltage drop of the first power signal supplied to all pixels, and minimizing non-uniformity of brightness due to the voltage drop differences at each pixel.
US08149227B2
Systems for removing or attenuating friction and/or click noise generated during writing with a smart pen are disclosed. In a smart pen, the writing cartridge is biased towards a first side of the smart pen internal cavity by a low-force biasing system without affecting writing cartridge movement. For example, the writing cartridge is comprised of a magnetic material and a magnet is embedded into the first side of the smart pen internal cavity to bias the writing cartridge towards the first side. Alternatively, the material comprising the writing cartridge or smart pen internal cavity is modified, reducing friction between the components. As another alternative, a DSP method identifies analyzes one or more parameters of received audio data to differentiate click noise from audio data, and may receive data from a movement sensor indicating when the writing cartridge has moved to reduce power consumption for identifying click noise.
US08149225B2
The present invention discloses a display apparatus (30) for a refrigerator which can be operated by using a touch screen (60). The display apparatus for the refrigerator includes a control unit (40) for controlling the refrigerator, a display unit (50) installed on the front surface of the control unit, for displaying information from the control unit, and a transparent touch screen (60) installed to cover the front surface of the display unit (50) and the front surface of the control unit (40), and electrically connected to the control unit, for applying a clicking input of the user to the control unit. The display unit (50) is externally shown through the transparent touch screen (60). A printed matter (70) is printed on the touch screen except the portion corresponding to the display unit.
US08149224B1
A computing system includes a computer device and a detachable touch screen device. The computer device receives input from a touch screen of a detachable touch screen device when the detachable touch screen device is attached to a touch screen port of the computer device and displays an image on a display device of the computer device based on the input. Further, the detachable touch screen device receives input from the touch screen when the detachable touch screen device is detached from the computer device and displays an image on the touch screen based on the input. In various embodiments, the detachable touch screen device performs a computing function, a communication function, or a media function based on the input to the touch screen when the detachable touch screen device is detached from the computer device.
US08149220B2
A position detector is disclosed, which includes a sensor substrate having a sensor coil for receiving an electromagnetic wave output from a position indicator, and a magnetic path plate that has an area equal to or larger than an area in which the sensor coil is arranged on the sensor substrate. The magnetic path plate is formed by stacking an amorphous layer and a non-amorphous layer, which is formed of metal with relative magnetic permeability lower than that of the amorphous layer. Such magnetic path plate is arranged on a side of the sensor substrate opposite to a side facing the position indicator.
US08149218B2
A controlling device using a source of energy, such as light energy, to provide the controlling device with a user interface having multiple, different visual appearances.
US08149208B2
The electrophoretic display panel (1) for displaying a picture and a subsequent picture has drive means (100) which are able to control for each pixel (2) the potential difference to have a picture value to provide the pixels (2) with a respective picture appearance being either extreme or intermediate, subsequently to have an inter-picture value to provide the pixels (2) with a respective inter-picture appearance, and subsequently to have a subsequent picture value. For the display panel (1) to be able to provide the pixels (2) with the inter-picture appearances which are in general relatively little visible, the drive means (100) are able to control for each pixel (2) an estimate potential difference as the inter-picture value to provide the pixels (2) with a respective estimate picture appearance as the inter-picture appearance.
US08149201B2
An LCD driving apparatus and an LCD driving method are provided in the application. The LCD driving apparatus includes a difference value circuit which determines whether to enable an overdriving circuit and a memory controller according to a gray level variation between two adjacent frames. When the gray level variation between two adjacent frames is less than a predetermined threshold, the overdriving circuit and the memory controller are disabled so as to reduce power consumption.
US08149199B2
A driving system and method for liquid crystal display is disclosed. The system stores only the driving values corresponding to specific grayscale values of pixels on a current frame and specific grayscale values of pixels on a previous frame. The stored driving values are then used by an operation processing unit of the system to calculate out driving values to be applied to the current frame. Moreover, the system is provided with a logic judging unit for preventing the noises of the frame from being overdriven.
US08149193B2
An image input detection apparatus comprises: a voltage applier that applies a voltage of a predetermined waveform to a display medium; a first acquisition unit that acquires a vibration waveform generated in the display medium; a first memory that stores a vibration waveform determined based on the waveform of the voltage applied by the voltage applier; and a second memory that stores information representing that an image written on the display medium has been overwritten, when the difference between the waveform acquired by the first acquisition unit and the waveform stored in the first memory lies within a threshold value.
US08149191B2
A system involves LED strings and programmable current source circuits (CSC). An LED current flows through each LED string. Each LED current is controlled by an associated programmable CSC. In one embodiment, the CSCs form a chain. A first CSC uses a reference current for calibration, and thereafter supplies the reference current to the next CSC. When the next CSC detects the reference current, it uses the reference current for calibration. CSCs are calibrated one by one down the chain. In a second embodiment, each CSC can receive the reference current from a common conductor. If the common conductor is detected to be available, then the CSC uses the reference current for calibration. When the conductor is in use, the other CSCs detect the conductor as unavailable and do not attempt to self-calibrate. The CSCs use the reference current one by one, but in an order that changes over time.
US08149184B2
The initial color temperature setting can change when a plasma display panel (PDP) is driven for a long period of time. One cause is due to the non-uniform deterioration of red, green, and blue fluorescent materials due to the ultraviolet rays discharged during operation of the panel. Color temperature correction is performed by setting the numbers of discharge pulses for fluorescent materials in accordance with a discharge pulse number correction curve with respect to the cumulative elapsed driven time of the PDP.
US08149173B2
Disclosed is an antenna comprising a loop element (10) and an Electric-field radiator (30), wherein the E-field radiator is electrically coupled to the loop element such that at the frequency of operation, there is a substantially 90 degree phase difference between the Electric and Magnetic fields produced by the antenna.
US08149167B2
System and method for removing channel phase error in a phase comparison direction finder. By using this system, the phase error, generated in the channel path in finding the direction by using the phase comparison direction finder, can be injected into the receiving channel and removed by using the frequency and intensity of the signal stored in the PDW table. Furthermore, the direction finding correction look-up table can be made using only radiation correction of the antenna unit of the direction finder and channel correction can be carried out without calibrating the direction finder for the direction finding correction look-up table when devices are replaced in the channel of receiving path of the direction finder.
US08149161B1
A maximum gap method and system provide for identifying a space sector within which a system capable of engaging an object, should search for the object. A detector system that may be a radar or other active range determination system tracks position of the moving object and based on position estimates and the uncertainties associated with the position estimates, generates a range of possible positions for each estimate then determines gaps between the uncertainties and derives the search sector based on the maximum gap.
US08149159B1
A method for rapid convergence of radar target state includes the steps of using range acceleration to estimate perpendicular velocity and jump-starting a Cartesian state filter with the estimated perpendicular velocity. The improved estimate in the Cartesian state filter allows improved coasting of the range-state.
US08149158B2
A target object information estimating device embodied by an electronically agile radar sensor is mounted in a moving vehicle. The device has a unit outputting a radar wave every measuring period, receiving radar waves reflected from a target object through different transmission paths and calculating a distance to the object in each measuring period to detect the object, a unit tracking the object in a tracking term of measuring periods, a unit setting the distance changed with time as a null distance each time electric power of the received waves is reduced to a minimal value, and a unit producing an actual pattern of null points corresponding to the null distances, collating the actual pattern with modeled patterns corresponding to various heights and estimates the height of the object from the collation result as information about the object.
US08149157B2
Provided is an in-vehicle radar device and a cover for the in-vehicle radar device which are capable of accurately detecting an object.The in-vehicle radar device radiates electromagnetic waves and receives reflected waves, from the object, of the electromagnetic waves so as to detect a location of the object, and includes: a transmission-and-reception section that transmits the electromagnetic waves and receives the reflected waves; a detection section that detects the location of the object based on the reflected waves; and a cover member that covers the transmission-and-reception section in a manner that a rear surface of the cover member faces a transmission-and-reception surface of the transmission-and-reception section, and the cover member includes: a cover portion that covers the transmission-and-reception surface; and a lower protrusion portion that is provided below the cover portion and formed so as to protrude on a surface side of the cover member with respect to the cover portion, the cover portion being formed of a material through which the electromagnetic waves are transmitted.
US08149152B2
Capacitor based digital to analog converter layout design for high speed analog to digital converter
A method and system for capacitor based digital to analog converter design layout for high speed analog to digital converter are provided. The method includes arranging a plurality of metal plates to form the capacitor. Each of the plurality of metal plates includes a driven plate and a common plate. The method also includes generating a plurality of interconnects in the common plate and extending the driven plate over the plurality of interconnects. Further, the method includes shielding the common plate by the driven plate. The system includes an analog to digital converter. The analog to digital converter also includes capacitor based digital to analog converter and digital logic for controlling digital operations in the analog to digital converter. The capacitor based digital to analog converter includes a plurality of capacitors, and a comparator for comparing the analog output from the digital to analog converter with a ground potential.
US08149148B1
Targeted compression of strings is provided for XML and other documents using local tables whose scope need not align with syntactically well-formed document regions. The local table's scope is fixed (not sliding), and may be nested within other local table scopes. A string is nominated for inclusion, and record(s) are inserted in a document encoding to effect the nomination. The nominated string is placed in the local table in correspondence with a token identifier. During compression, reference(s) to the string's token identifier are included in the document encoding; during decompression the references are replaced by the string. The local table is deleted at the end of its scope. Tables may have multiple channels, with nominated strings placed in a channel based on frequency of references to the strings. The document encoding may include the local table(s), static table(s), and dynamic table(s) in a flat token value space.
US08149144B2
Hybrid range coding/combinatorial coding (FPC) encoders and decoders are provided. Encoding and decoding can be dynamically switched between range coding and combinatorial according to the ratio of ones to the ratio of bits in a partial remaining sequence in order to reduce the computational complexity of encoding and decoding.
US08149139B2
The present invention provides a method and system for determining a toll charge for vehicles traveling on a toll lane that includes determining a change in traffic flow for vehicles traveling on the toll lane, determining a change in traffic speed for vehicles traveling on the toll lane, and determining the toll charge for vehicles traveling on the toll lane using a weighting approach that weights the change in traffic flow with a first factor and weights the change in speed with a second factor, the first factor depending on whether the change in traffic flow is increasing or decreasing, and the second factor depending on whether the change in speed is increasing or decreasing.
US08149135B2
A system and method are provided for direct data exchange between two or more vehicles for transmission of data relating to events having a negative effect on driving safety, via wireless communication such as WLAN in particular. Unambiguous identification information is assigned to each vehicle. To increase acceptance of such a system, the identification information of the respective vehicle is temporary and is formed on the basis of the current status of the vehicle.
US08149132B2
A MWD/LWD hard line communication system and method includes for the system a cartridge capable of deploying wire in a borehole, a screen attachable to the cartridge and positionally retainable in the borehole, and a communications connector operably associable with the cartridge; and for the method, deploying hardline from a cartridge, attaching the cartridge to a screen, and attaching the cartridge to a communications connector. Another method includes pumping fluid downhole, urging a wire nest into a screen, and compacting the nest into the screen with the fluid until the fluid is pumpable past the nest through an unobstructed portion of the screen.
US08149128B2
A device and method for detecting ground potential rise (GPR) comprising positioning a first electrode and a second electrode at a distance from each other into the earth. The voltage of the first electrode and second electrode is attenuated by an attenuation factor creating an attenuated voltage. The true RMS voltage of the attenuated voltage is determined creating an attenuated true RMS voltage. The attenuated true RMS voltage is then multiplied by the attenuation factor creating a calculated true RMS voltage. If the calculated true RMS voltage is greater than a first predetermined voltage threshold, a first alarm is enabled at a local location. If user input is received at a remote location acknowledging the first alarm, a first alarm acknowledgment signal is transmitted. The first alarm acknowledgment signal is then received at which time the first alarm is disabled.
US08149123B2
A wireless communications apparatus includes: a second communications unit that uses electromagnetic waves to perform wireless communications with a recording medium having a first communications unit that stores information; and a housing that houses a portion of the recording medium, the portion including the first communications unit, wherein the second communications unit is provided at a position that faces the first communications unit housed in the housing; and the housing has a first electromagnetic wave suppressing member that suppresses radiation of electromagnetic waves from inside to outside, and suppresses radiation of electromagnetic waves from the second communications unit in a direction other than towards the first communications unit of the recording medium in a state housed in the housing.
US08149121B2
The present invention is aimed at providing a wireless identification tag which can save information with high reliability that is free from the possibility of being lost or falsified, is not broken or melt in the concrete, can expand directionality of an antenna, be distributed in a cement product to be in an appropriate condition for radio communication, and has good adhesion and affinity with cement or the like. A wireless identification tag 1 mixed in a cement product in the manufacturing procedure thereof in which cement, an aggregate, water, or the like are mixed including a protection body 2 incorporating the wireless identification tag 1 having an antenna portion which can write/read information by radio communication, wherein a concave portion 3 is provided on the surface of the protection body.
US08149114B2
A method includes activating a tamper monitoring circuit of a security seal configured to securely lock a utility meter. The method also includes wirelessly transmitting an identification data and/or an integrity information associated with the security seal and/or the utility meter to the external transceiver upon activating the tamper monitoring circuit or being queried by the external transceiver through a transceiver of the tamper monitoring circuit. The transceiver of the tamper monitoring circuit and the external transceiver are configured to securely communicate with each other through a secure protocol. Further, the method includes detecting a tamper condition associated with tampering of the security seal through the tamper monitoring circuit, and wirelessly transmitting data associated with the tamper condition to the external transceiver.
US08149113B2
An improved system and method for defining an event based upon an object location and a user-defined zone and managing the conveyance of object location event information among computing devices where object location events are defined in terms of a condition based upon a relationship between user-defined zone information and object location information. One or more location information sources are associated with an object to provide the object location information. One or more user-defined zones are defined on a map and one or more object location events are defined. The occurrence of an object location event produces object location event information that is conveyed to users based on user identification codes. Accessibility to object location information, zone information, and object location event information is based upon an object location information access code, a zone information access code, and an object location event information access code, respectively.
US08149112B2
A personal alarm system includes a monitoring base station and one or more remote sensing units in two-way radio communication. An electronic handshake between the base station and each remote unit is used to assure system reliability. The remote units transmit at selectable power levels. In the absence of an emergency, a remote unit transmits at a power-conserving low power level. Received field strength is measured to determine whether a remote unit has moved beyond a predetermined distance from the base station. If the distance is exceeded, the remote unit transmits at a higher power level. The remote unit includes sensors for common hazards including water emersion, smoke, excessive heat, excessive carbon monoxide concentration, and electrical shock. The base station periodically polls the remote units and displays the status of the environmental sensors. The system is useful in child monitoring, for use with invalids, and with employees involved in activities which expose them to environmental risk. Alternative embodiments include a panic button on the remote unit for summoning help, and an audible beacon on the remote unit which can be activated from the base station and useful for locating strayed children. In another embodiment, the remote unit includes a Global Positioning System receiver providing location information for display by the base station.
US08149102B1
An interface is provided that configures itself dynamically based on sensor information received from a sensor assembly or actuator information received from an actuator assembly. The interface may be configured to interoperate with sensor assemblies including analog transducers, smart transducers providing digital outputs and various actuators. The sensor information or the actuator information may include information for managing power consumption associated with the operation of the sensor or the actuator. Using the sensor information or the actuator information, a power management scheme may be implemented to reduce power consumption and extend the operational time of a module. The sensor information also includes information about the sensor signal generated by the sensor. The information about the sensor signal allows the module to interoperate with more diverse types of sensors.
US08149090B2
A method, system and mobile sensor node for monitoring a supply chain. A communication network is established which includes a plurality of mobile sensor nodes. Status information for each mobile sensor node is periodically transmitted. Each mobile sensor node receives status information for at least one other mobile sensor node in the communication network. A log file which includes the received status information is compiled and stored in the mobile sensor node that received the corresponding status information.
US08149074B2
A resonator is provided with a tuning element based on piezoelectricity. The piezoelectric basic element includes at least one piezoelectric layer and a metal layer. Such a basic element is first coated with a thin insulating layer and then with a good conductor. The thickness of the conductive coating is greater than the skin depth of a field corresponding to the operating frequency of the structure in the conductor. The tuning element formed in this manner is fastened on, e.g., some inner surface of the resonator cavity and acts to change the natural frequency of the resonator by electric control. When using the tuning element, no mechanical arrangement is required for moving the tuning element. Furthermore, the tuning element does not cause considerable dielectric losses nor intermodulation when being in a radiofrequency electromagnetic field, because the field cannot significantly penetrate through said conductive coating into the piezoelectric material.
US08149069B2
A low noise voltage-controlled oscillating circuit which can remove a power source noise to improve low frequency noise characteristics is disclosed. A capacitor C11 is provided between a base of a driving transistor Q1 and GND, whereby a low frequency noise input into the base can be removed. As the driving transistor Q1, a transistor having a low hFE is used, whereby the low frequency noise input from a power source can be removed. A coil L3 is provided on the emitter side of an oscillating transistor Q2, whereby broadband frequency characteristics can be obtained to improve phase noise frequency characteristics. On the emitter side of the oscillating transistor Q2, a resonance frequency in a resonant circuit having a capacitor C7 and the coil L3 is set near the center of a VCO oscillation frequency band, whereby it is possible to obtain the oscillation frequency which is not easily influenced by the noise.
US08149067B2
A voltage-controlled oscillator that can achieve low phase noise while ensuring stable oscillation startup and stable oscillation maintenance even under low supply voltage conditions. The voltage-controlled oscillator includes an LC parallel resonant circuit, whose impedance varies with a control input voltage and a negative resistance circuit for introducing negative resistance into the LC parallel resonant circuit, wherein the negative resistance circuit includes at least: a first amplifier circuit, provided in parallel with the LC parallel resonant circuit and having a first pair of transistors cross-coupled via a capacitor, that achieves class-C amplifier operation by biasing the gate of each transistor in the first transistor pair with a first bias voltage; and a similarly configured second amplifier circuit that achieves class-C amplifier operation by biasing the gate of each transistor with a second bias voltage which is different from the first bias voltage.
US08149064B2
A method and apparatus is provided for use in power amplifiers for reducing the peak voltage that transistors are subjected to. A power amplifier is provided with first and second switching devices and an inductor connected between the switching devices. The switching devices are driven such that the switching devices are turned on and off during the same time intervals.
US08149062B2
A method and apparatus is provided for use in power amplifiers for reducing the peak voltage that transistors are subjected to. A power amplifier is provided with first and second switching devices and an inductor connected between the switching devices. The switching devices are driven such that the switching devices are turned on and off during the same time intervals. Differential RF power amplifiers are also provided with inductive networks coupled at various nodes of the power amplifiers.
US08149057B2
A signal processing circuit includes a waveform shaping section that applies a first gain to an input signal and generates a first signal when an absolute value of a level of the input signal falls within a first input range from a first level to a second level, a variable gain section that adjusts an amplitude of the first signal and amplifies the first signal by a gain to generate an output signal, and a control section that reduces the gain of the variable gain section so that the output signal is prevented from occurrence of clipping when the amplitude of the first signal falls within a second input range. The second input range includes a range of the level of the first signal output from the waveform shaping section corresponding to the first input range of the input signal.
US08149051B2
A solid-state image sensor capable of suppressing color mixture while suppressing increase of load capacitances of transfer gates and a short circuit between two adjacent transfer gates is provided. This solid-state image sensor comprises a plurality of transfer gates and a shielding material line blocking light incident from above a prescribed pixel upon another pixel adjacent to the prescribed pixel. The shielding material line has a downward projecting portion on a region corresponding to at least one transfer gate entering an ON-state in photoreception.
US08149044B2
A trimmer circuit is so configured that an electronic device will break down to produce a high current to trim a fuse. The electronic device is selectively configured to have a breakdown voltage lower than an applied voltage, for the trigger of its breakdown to be controllable. In an embodiment, the electronic device is switched between two states having two breakdown voltages respectively, and the applied voltage is higher than one of the breakdown voltages and lower than the other one.
US08149038B1
A dynamic phase alignment circuit includes a phase generator circuit having delay-locked loop circuits that generate periodic output signals. Each of the delay-locked loop circuits generates one of the periodic output signals in response to at least two periodic input signals. A multiplexer circuit selects a selected periodic signal from among the periodic input signals and the periodic output signals based on select signals. A phase detection circuit compares a phase of the selected periodic signal to a data signal to generate a phase detection signal. A control logic circuit generates the select signals. The control logic circuit adjusts the select signals based on changes in the phase detection signal to cause the multiplexer circuit to adjust the phase of the selected periodic signal.
US08149017B2
A voltage level translator circuit has a digital logic circuit having a digital logic signal, at least one high-voltage capacitor having a first and second connection, wherein one of the first and second connections is electrically coupled to the digital logic signal, and a cross-coupled inverter pair having, the output of at least one inverter of the pair electrically coupled to the other connection of the at least one high-voltage capacitor. A high-voltage driving circuit has two low-voltage input signals, two high-voltage output signals, a first signal being a high-side drive signal and a second signal being a low-side drive signal, two level translators, a first level translator corresponding to the high-side drive signal, and a second level translator corresponding to the low-side drive signal, the level translators including a digital logic circuit having a digital logic signal, at least one high-voltage capacitor having a first and second connection, wherein one of the first and second connections is electrically coupled to the digital logic signal, and a cross-coupled inverter pair having, the output of at least one inverter of the pair electrically coupled to the other connection of the at least one high-voltage capacitor.
US08149016B2
An interface circuit electronically connects a processor and a card reader. The interface circuit includes a clock circuit, a reset circuit, and an I/O circuit. The clock circuit may transmit a clock signal transmitted from the processor to the card reader, and includes a first bipolar junction transistor (BJT). The reset circuit may transmit a reset signal transmitted from the processor to the card reader, and includes a second BJT. The I/O circuit may transmit data transmitted from the processor to the card reader, and includes a third BJT and a fourth BJT.
US08149007B2
A composite spring contact structure includes a structural component and a conduction component distinct from each other and having differing mechanical and electrical characteristics. The structural component can include a group of carbon nanotubes. A mechanical characteristic of the composite spring contact structure can be dominated by a mechanical characteristic of the structural component, and an electrical characteristic of the composite spring contact structure can be dominated by an electrical characteristic of the conduction component. Composite spring contact structures can be used in probe cards and other electronic devices. Various ways of making contact structures are also disclosed.
US08149004B2
A corrosion sensor having a corrodible element that is corrodible in a lubricant or hydraulic oil, wherein the corrosion sensor is adapted to monitor degradation of the lubricant or hydraulic oil is disclosed.
US08148980B2
A magnetic resonance imaging system is characterized in that a control unit executes, as pulse sequences, a first sequence for obtaining data of a predetermined 2-dimensional region in a k-space and a second sequence for obtaining data required for reconstruction of an image by irradiating an object to be examined with an inversion recovery pulse and corrects the phase of the data obtained by the second sequence with the data of the 2-dimensional region obtained by the first sequence, and in that a signal processing unit reconstructs a real component image with corrected data.Upon execution of the first sequence, the control unit obtains the data of the predetermined 2-dimensional region in the k-space while varying a phase encoding amount.
US08148976B2
The invention relates to a method and arrangement for the contactless determination of conductivity-influencing properties and their spatial distribution over the entire cross section of an electrically conductive substance moving in a primary magnetic field (B). The substance may be a liquid or a solid. A simultaneous measurement of a number of mechanical state parameters of the magnetic system is performed (three-dimensional components of the force and the torque), said parameters being variable by the effect of a secondary field on the magnetic system, the secondary field being produced on the basis of eddy currents induced in the substance by the primary field (B). To determine the spatial distribution of the property that is sought, the primary field is changed in intensity or form a number of times and a measurement of the state parameters is carried out for each change. The determination of the properties sought or their distribution takes place by solving an inverse problem using the method of least squares.
US08148975B2
A pickup coil includes a sensing unit having an iron core, a permanent magnet magnetically coupled to a rear end position of the iron core, and a coil for sensing a change of magnetic flux occurring in the iron core; and a supporting frame member. The sensing unit is molded with a cup-shaped resin case. The sensing unit is integrally molded with the supporting frame member and is mounted on a mounting object via the supporting frame member. A plurality of weight units for adjusting a characteristic frequency of the coil is stored in a weight storage section formed inside the resin case at a position spaced away from the supporting frame member. The weight storage section is sized such that one or more weight units are accommodated therein.
US08148972B2
Disclosed is a filter circuit that includes means for monitoring currents flowing through positive and negative windings of a common-mode noise filter, and means for performing an adjustment based on the result of monitoring so as to equalize the current flowing positive and negative windings.
US08148968B2
An apparatus and method of switching a switch of a power supply in response to an input voltage signal are disclosed. According to aspects of the present invention, a power supply controller includes a switch duty cycle controller coupled to receive a feedback signal and a duty cycle adjust signal. The switch duty cycle controller is coupled to generate a drive signal coupled to control switching of a switch, which is coupled to an energy transfer element, to regulate energy delivered from an input of a power supply to an output of the power supply. The power supply controller also includes a gain selector circuit coupled to receive an input voltage signal, which is representative of an input voltage to the power supply, to generate the duty cycle adjust signal received by the switch duty cycle controller. The maximum duty cycle of the drive signal to be varied in response to a plurality of linear functions over a range of values of the input voltage signal.
US08148943B2
A method and an arrangement for discharging an energy storage system for electrical energy, particularly in a vehicle having a hybrid drive line, by means of a first discharge resistor, wherein a coolant such as carbon dioxide gas is provided to the first discharge resistor during discharge of the energy storage system for leading off heat as well as a hybrid vehicle comprising such an arrangement.
US08148940B2
The present invention relates to a multi-functional vehicle charger and the charging process of the same. The vehicle charger includes an enclosure defining the vehicle charger. The enclosure includes a USB port disposed thereon, a power plug corresponding to a vehicle power outlet on one end, and a wire connected with a power terminal at the other end. The power terminal, the USB port, and the power plug are connected to a charge monitor circuit. Thus the vehicle charger can be connected with various electrical appliances for charging by insertion of the power terminal on the wire into a socket of a Li-ion battery and by a connecting wire that connects the USB port to electric appliances with USB functionality. Thereby, power is supplied by various output ends when the vehicle charger is inserted into a power outlet in vehicles.
US08148938B2
Disclosed is a charging control method including: a full charging step of charging a lead storage battery until the battery is fully charged; a refresh charging step of performing refresh charging of charging the lead storage battery with a predetermined refresh charging quantity of electricity after the lead storage battery has been fully charged; and a refresh charging quantity setting step of setting the refresh charging quantity of electricity in the refresh charging step for the lead storage battery which has been fully charged at a present time, depending on a temperature of the lead storage battery throughout a deficient charging period, the deficient charging period being a period from a time when the lead storage battery has been fully charged at a previous time to a time when the lead storage battery has been fully charged at the present time in the full charging step.
US08148927B2
A control apparatus for an alternating-current motor that is driven by an inverter includes a rectangular wave voltage control portion that generates a control command of the inverter such that rectangular wave voltage that has been phase-controlled to make the alternating-current motor operate according to a torque command value is applied to the alternating-current motor; and a phase change control portion that controls a change in the phase to maintain the center of a flux linkage vector locus indicative of a change in a flux linkage of the alternating-current motor before and after a change in the phase of the rectangular wave voltage.
US08148920B2
A method of controlling a ballast for a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp and related system. The method includes setting initial operating parameters of the ballast to turn on the HID lamp, generating starting transient electric characteristic values of the HID lamp by measuring actual electric parameters at a predetermined time during a transient process after the HID lamp is turned on, searching stored data for a rated power corresponding to the starting transient electric characteristic value range of the HID lamp after determining that the starting transient electric characteristic value is within stored starting transient electric characteristic value ranges of the HID lamp, and searching the stored data for a corresponding ballast operating parameter, to allow the HID lamp to operate in the corresponding rated power, and realize that a single ballast can be adapted to and control the HID lamps to operable in their respective specific rated power.
US08148918B2
A light source driving device drives a plurality of light sources. A Power Factor Circuit (PFC) circuit converts a received electrical signal to a DC signal and output to a DC/AC converting circuit. The DC/AC converting circuit converts the DC signal to another AC signal, which is isolated by the transformer circuit. A resonance balancing circuit converts the AC signal output from the transformer circuit to another AC signal to drive the light source module. A PWM dimming controller outputs a control signal to control output of the DC/AC converting circuit according to a received dimming signal, wherein duty cycle of the control signal is fixed. A voltage dividing circuit adjustably divides voltage of the DC signal output from the PFC circuit. A PFC controller feeds the divided signal back to the PFC circuit to control the DC signal output from the PFC circuit.
US08148909B2
System and method for driving a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp. The system includes a control subsystem configured to generate one or more control signals, and a power supply subsystem configured to receive the one or more control signals and a DC input voltage, convert the DC input voltage to an AC output voltage, and send the AC output voltage to a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp. If the DC input voltage is lower than a predetermined threshold, the system for driving the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp is turned off in response to the one or more control signals.
US08148902B2
In a mercury-free arc tube, regions including molybdenum foils 17 of electrode assemblies each of which is formed by connecting and integrating an electrode 16, a molybdenum foil 17, and a lead wire 18, are pinch-sealed where the electrode 16 projects inside a closed glass bulb 12, which encloses luminescent substances, etc. The molybdenum foil 17 is doped with or coated with TiO2 in the form of discontinuous lands and subjected to surface roughening by etching including oxidation and reduction. TiO2 particles or a TiO2 layer exposed on the rough surface 17c of the molybdenum foil 17 increases chemical joining strength to glass and makes deeper, more complicated minute unevenness 17b on the molybdenum foil surface to increase the mechanical joining strength to glass, so that even when a heat stress occurs at the interface between the molybdenum foil and glass in the pinch-sealed portion, foil floating does not occur.
US08148901B2
A light source apparatus, comprises a lamp housing, a xenon lamp provided in the lamp housing, a reflection mirror which reflects light emitted from the xenon lamp, and first and second power feeders which supply electric power to the xenon lamp, wherein a direction of the first power feeder connected to one end of the xenon lamp and a direction of the second power feeder connected to the other end thereof are approximately in point symmetry with respect to a center of lamp axis connecting electrodes which face each other.
US08148893B2
Provided is a substrate for an organic electroluminescence device having the following characteristics: occurrence of withdrawal of an organic electroluminescence material can be suppressed, and, even when the withdrawal occurs owing to, for example, impurities on the substrate, such a problem that stop of film formation for one entire line can be suppressed, and hence yields can be improved. The substrate for an organic electroluminescence device including at least pixel electrodes and stripe-shaped banks has projections between the stripe-shaped banks.
US08148881B2
A vibration reduction system has a vibration reduction film and a control unit. The vibration reduction film is constituted of a vibration sensor film, an insulating layer, and a vibration actuator film that are stacked in this order. In each of the vibration sensor film and the vibration actuator film, two pairs of electrodes are formed on both surfaces of a piezoelectric polymer film into a pattern based on a particular mode of vibration. The electrodes of the vibration sensor film overlap with the electrodes of the vibration actuator film. In response to electric charge signals from the electrodes of the vibration sensor film, the particular mode of vibration is detected. By application of voltages into the electrodes of the vibration actuator film, a vibration of opposite phase is generated to counteract the detected vibration.
US08148868B2
The present invention relates to a slip ring assembly for providing electricity to or from a rotor rotating in relation to a stator in a generator or an electrical motor. The slip ring unit rotates around a centre axis and has at least one first slip ring with an outer surface, a diameter, and a width. Also, the assembly has at least one conductive means, such as a brush, having conductive contact with the surface of the slip ring, and a housing in which the slip ring unit and the conductive means are situated. Furthermore, the assembly has a suction means in connection with the housing for suction of gas from within the housing out through a suction outlet in the housing. In addition, the housing has a suction inlet which is connected with a guiding means. The guiding means has an aperture facing the slip ring surface, and the aperture is positioned at a predetermined distance from the surface of the slip ring so that the gas is able to cool the surface of the slip ring. Also, the invention relates to a generator and a wind turbine having such a slip ring assembly.
US08148864B2
A dynamoelectric machine includes first and second magnet seat portions disposed to project from portions of first and second yoke portions that face respective inner circumferential surfaces near tip ends of second and first claw-shaped magnetic pole portions, and magnet housing portions disposed integrally to extend axially outward from outer circumferential portions of a pair of flange portions of a bobbin, extend near the first and second yoke portions that face the inner circumferential surfaces near the tip ends of the first and second claw-shaped magnetic pole portions, and be held by the first and second magnet seat portions. First and second permanent magnets are housed and held in the first and second magnet housing portions, are disposed to face the inner circumferential surfaces near the tip ends of the second and first claw-shaped magnetic pole portions, and the first and second permanent magnets are respectively magnetically oriented in a reverse direction to a direction of a magnetic field that the field coil produces.
US08148862B2
A bearing device includes a shaft, a sleeve and a thrust plate. The shaft includes a convex portion having a curved surface provided at one end thereof. The sleeve includes an inner circumferential surface opposed to an outer circumferential surface of the shaft. The thrust plate includes a concave portion having a curved surface and arranged to make contact with the convex portion of the shaft. The shaft is supported by the sleeve and the thrust plate such that it may rotate about the central axis with respect to the sleeve and the thrust plate. A curvature radius of the concave portion is greater than a curvature radius of the convex portion but equal to or smaller than about 2.0 times of the curvature radius of the convex portion.
US08148859B2
Inside a housing, there are provided a motor generator (MG), an IPM, and a smoothing capacitor. Between the MG and the IPM, there is provided a cooler through which a coolant liquid flows, provided in an inclined manner to form contact with the top face of the IPM. Between the MG and the smoothing capacitor, there are provided a first communication channel through which an LLC flows from a region outside the housing into the cooler, brought into contact with a lateral face of the smoothing capacitor, and a second communication channel through which the LLC flows from the interior of the cooler to the region outside the housing.
US08148853B2
A switch circuit and method for converting a hard switch into a soft switch. In one example, the circuit includes a first switch having a first node and a second node, and a switch control circuit coupled in parallel with the first switch between the first and second nodes. The switch control circuit includes a series resonant circuit including a capacitor and an inductor coupled together in series, a second switch coupled in parallel with the series resonant circuit, a third switch coupled in series between the first node and the series resonant circuit, and a first diode coupled between the series resonant circuit and the second node, an negative terminal of the first diode being coupled to the second node.
US08148835B2
The present invention is related to a method for controlling a wind energy plant with plural control units, which perform control tasks in the wind energy plant, comprising the following steps: a) one priority at a time is assigned to the control units, depending on the control tasks they must perform, b) during the operation of the wind energy plant, the control units communicate continuously with each other and/or with a central communication unit, c) in case that there is a failure of a first control unit of the wind energy plant, a second control unit of the wind energy plant takes over the control tasks of the defective control unit, wherein the second control unit is selected depending on the priority assigned thereto and has the same as or a lower priority than the defective control unit.
US08148829B2
An integrated circuit package comprises a molding compound covering a semiconductor die. A healing substance is on the surface of the semiconductor die at an interface of the molding compound and the semiconductor die. The healing compound comprises a catalyst and a plurality of microcapsules containing a sealing compound. If the molding compound becomes delaminated from the semiconductor die the microcapsules rupture and spill the sealing compound. When the sealing compound is spilled and contacts the catalyst the sealing compound and catalyst polymerize and fasten the molding compound to the semiconductor die.
US08148825B2
An integrated circuit package system includes: providing a lead terminal; forming a dummy lead near the lead terminal; positioning a base integrated circuit adjacent the lead terminal and the dummy lead; connecting a die connector to the base integrated circuit and the dummy lead; mounting a stackable integrated circuit over the base integrated circuit; and connecting another of the die connector to the stackable integrated circuit and the dummy lead.
US08148817B2
A DC-DC buck converter in multi-die package is proposed having an output inductor, a low-side Schottky diode and a high-side vertical MOSFET controlled by a power regulating controller (PRC). The multi-die package includes a first die pad with the Schottky diode placed there on side by side with the vertical MOSFET. The PRC die is attached atop the first die pad via an insulating die bond. Alternatively, the first die pad is grounded. The vertical MOSFET is a top drain N-channel FET, the substrate of Schottky diode die is its anode. The Schottky diode and the vertical MOSFET are stacked atop the first die pad. The PRC is attached atop the first die pad via a conductive die bond. The Schottky diode die can be supplied in a flip-chip configuration with cathode being its substrate. Alternatively, the Schottky diode is supplied with anode being its substrate without the flip-chip configuration.
US08148810B2
In a substrate for a stacking-type semiconductor device including a connection terminal provided for a connection with a semiconductor chip to be stacked and an external terminal connected to the connection terminal through a conductor provided in a substrate, connection terminals of a power supply, a ground and the like, which terminals have an identical node, are electrically continuous with each other. Thus, it is possible to facilitate an inspection of electrical continuity between each connection terminal and an external terminal corresponding to each connection terminal by minimum addition of inspecting terminals. Further, it is possible to improve reliability of a stacking-type semiconductor module.
US08148804B2
A wiring device for a semiconductor device, a composite wiring device for a semiconductor device and a resin-sealed semiconductor device are provided, each of which is capable of mounting thereon a semiconductor chip smaller than conventional chips and being manufactured at lower cost. The wiring device electrically connects an electrode provided on a semiconductor chip with an external wiring device, and has an insulating layer, a metal substrate and a copper wiring layer. The metal substrate is provided on one side of the insulating layer. The copper wiring layer is provided on another side of the insulating layer. The wiring device has a semiconductor chip support portion provided on the side of the copper wiring layer with respect to the insulating layer. The copper wiring layer includes a first terminal, a second terminal and a wiring portion. The first terminal is connected with the electrode provided on the semiconductor chip. The second terminal is connected with the external wiring device. The wiring portion connects the first terminal with the second terminal.
US08148797B2
A chip pad structure of an integrated circuit (IC) and the method of forming are disclosed. The chip pad comprises a main pad portion and a ring pad portion. During a charging process involved in forming the chip pad structure, electrical connections from the gate electrodes of MOS transistors in the IC substrate generally are made only to the ring pad portion that has an antenna-to-gate area ratio substantially below a predetermined antenna design rule ratio, and thus is resistant or immune to antenna effect. The main pad portion and the ring pad portion are coupled together through metal bridges formed in an upper interconnect metal layer or in the top conductive pad layer. The chip pad may be used as probe pads on a parametric testline or bonding pads on an IC.
US08148788B2
The invention is directed to reduction of a manufacturing cost and enhancement of a breakdown voltage of a PN junction portion abutting on a guard ring. An N− type semiconductor layer is formed on a front surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a P type semiconductor layer is formed thereon. An insulation film is formed on the P type semiconductor layer. Then, a plurality of grooves, i.e., a first groove, a second groove and a third groove are formed from the insulation film to the middle of the N− type semiconductor layer in the thickness direction thereof. The plurality of grooves is formed so that one of the two grooves next to each other among these, that is closer to an electronic device, i.e., to an anode electrode, is formed shallower than the other located on the outside of the one. Then, an insulating material is deposited in the first groove, the second groove and the third groove. The lamination body of the semiconductor substrate and the layers laminated thereon is then diced along dicing lines.
US08148783B2
Semiconductor device including semiconductor layer, first impurity region on surface layer portion of semiconductor layer, body region at interval from first impurity region, second impurity region on surface layer portion of body region, field insulating film at interval from second impurity region, gate insulating film on surface of the semiconductor layer between second impurity region and field insulating film, gate electrode on gate insulating film, first floating plate as ring on field insulating film, and second floating plate as ring on same layer above first floating plate. First and second floating plates formed by at least three plates so that peripheral lengths at centers in width direction thereof are entirely different from one another, alternately arranged in plan view so that one having relatively smaller peripheral length is stored in inner region of one having relatively larger peripheral length, and formed to satisfy relational expression: L/d=constant.
US08148782B2
A semiconductor device with an ESD protection function has an SOI substrate, first to fourth diffusion layers, and a gate. The SOI substrate has a semiconductor layer on an insulation layer. The first diffusion layer is of a first conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer. The second diffusion layer is of the first conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer. The third diffusion layer is of a second conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer so as to be adjacent to the first and second diffusion layers. The fourth diffusion layer is of the second conductivity type and is formed on the semiconductor layer so as to be adjacent to the first diffusion layer and electrically connected to the second diffusion layer. The gate is formed over the third diffusion layer.
US08148776B2
Disclosed is a device having a transistor that includes a source, a drain, a channel region extending between the source and the drain, a gate disposed near the channel region, and a conductive member disposed opposite of the channel region from the gate. The conductive member may not overlap the source, the drain, or both the source and the drain.
US08148772B2
Recessed channel array transistor (RCAT) structures and method of formation are generally described. In one example, an electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first fin coupled with the semiconductor substrate, the first fin comprising a first source region and a first drain region, and a first gate structure of a recessed channel array transistor (RCAT) formed in a first gate region disposed between the first source region and the first drain region, wherein the first gate structure is formed by removing a sacrificial gate structure to expose the first fin in the first gate region, recessing a channel structure into the first fin, and forming the first gate structure on the recessed channel structure.
US08148762B2
Provided are photodiodes, image sensing devices and image sensors. An image sensing device includes a p-n junction photodiode having a metal pattern layer on an upper surface thereof. An image sensor includes the image sensing device and a micro-lens formed above the metal pattern layer. The metal pattern layer filters light having a first wavelength.
US08148757B2
A channel is formed at a recessed portion or a projecting portion of a substrate, and a gate insulating film is formed so as to have first to third insulating regions along the channel. Each of the gate insulating films of the first and third insulating regions has a first gate insulating film containing no electric charge trap formed on a plane different from a principal surface of the substrate, an electric charge accumulating film containing an electric charge trap, and a second gate insulating film containing no electric charge trap. The gate insulating film of the second insulating region at the middle is formed on a plane parallel to the principal surface of the substrate and is composed of only a third gate insulating film containing no electric charge trap.
US08148755B2
A solid-state imaging device including: light-receiving units which are formed in rows and columns; a transfer channel formed in each column; first and second transfer electrodes that are formed in the same layer and deposited alternately above the transfer channel; insulating regions each formed above the transfer channel and between one of the first transfer electrodes and one of the second transfer electrodes which are adjacent to each other; an antireflection film formed above the light-receiving units, and formed on the insulating regions to cover the insulating regions; a first wire formed in each row in a layer upper than the antireflection film, and electrically connected to second transfer electrodes; and a light-shielding film which is formed in a layer upper than the first wire, covers the transfer channel, and has an opening above each of the light-receiving units.
US08148750B2
Semiconductor transistor devices and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary transistor device includes a layer of semiconductor material having a channel region defined therein and a gate structure overlying the channel region. Recesses are formed in the layer of semiconductor material adjacent to the channel region, such that the recesses extend asymmetrically toward the channel region. The transistor device also includes stress-inducing semiconductor material formed in the recesses. The asymmetric profile of the stress-inducing semiconductor material enhances carrier mobility in a manner that does not exacerbate the short channel effect.
US08148747B2
A semiconductor chip assembly includes a semiconductor device, a heat spreader, a conductive trace and an adhesive. The semiconductor device is electrically connected to the conductive trace and thermally connected to the heat spreader. The heat spreader includes a post, a base and a cap. The post extends upwardly from the base into an opening in the adhesive, the base extends below and laterally from the post, and the cap extends above and laterally from the post. The adhesive extends between the post and the conductive trace and between the base and the conductive trace. The conductive trace provides signal routing between a pad and a terminal and the heat spreader provides thermal dissipation between the cap and the base.
US08148737B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device, a light emitting device package and a lighting system. The light emitting device of the embodiment includes a light emitting structure including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer over the first conductive semiconductor layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer over the active layer; a dielectric layer over a first region of the first conductive semiconductor layer; a second electrode over the dielectric layer; and a first electrode over a second region of the first conductive semiconductor layer.
US08148735B2
An infrared data communication module (A1) includes a substrate (1) consisting of a first layer (1A) and a second layer (1B), where the first layer is formed with a recess (11) open at its obverse surface, and includes the opening of the recess (11) and the second layer is fixed to the first layer (1A) on the side opposite from the opening. The module also includes a bonding conductor layer (6A) covering at least the bottom surface of the recess (11), a light emitting element (2) mounted on the bonding conductor layer (6A), and a heat dissipating conductor layer (6C) sandwiched between the first layer (1A) and the second layer (1B) and connected to the bonding conductor layer (6A).
US08148724B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a gate line and a data line on a substrate crossing each other to define a pixel region; a thin film transistor in the pixel region and connected to the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode in the pixel region and connected to the thin film transistor; and a gate pad at an end of the gate line and a data pad at an end of the data line, at least one of the gate pad and the data pad including: a pad electrode including at least one pad contact hole therein along with a passivation layer, the passivation layer on the pad electrode, at least one side of the pad contact hole having an uneven shape in plane; and a pad electrode terminal contacting inner side surfaces of the pad electrode surrounding the pad contact hole.
US08148711B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor apparatus of the present invention comprises (103), a second electrode (105), and a resistance variable layer (104) disposed between the first electrode (103) and the second electrode (105), a resistance value of the resistance variable layer being switchable reversibly in response to an electric signal applied between the electrodes (103), (105), wherein the resistance variable layer (104) comprises an oxide containing tantalum and nitrogen.
US08148703B2
An apparatus is provided for determining and monitoring parameters of a radiation treatment. The apparatus produces a first image of a region of a patient body to be radiated using a medical imaging process, determines a parameter setting of a radiation system using the first image, and provides the radiation treatment to the body region to be radiated using the radiation system with the determined parameter setting. The apparatus further produces a second image of the body region radiated with the parameter setting, automatically comparing the first image and the second image, and generates a deviation signal when a difference between the first image and the second image exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US08148700B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a significantly beneficial specimen holder which allows mounting one or more specimens, for example, a specimen to be examined and a standard adjustment specimen for aberration correction in one specimen holder at the same time, thereby observing each specimens. The present invention is a specimen holder having a specimen holder movement mechanism for driving the specimen holder, wherein the specimen holder movement mechanism makes it possible to move the specimen holder approximately along the longer side of the specimen holder. In a preferred embodiment of the specimen holder according to the present invention, the specimen holder is characterized in that the specimen holder movement mechanism makes it possible to vary an insertion depth of the specimen holder into a tube for holding the specimen holder, with no relation to another specimen holder movement mechanism set for driving the specimen holder approximately along the longer side of the specimen holder.
US08148698B2
A blanking deflector 23 is of the coaxial type and includes a rod-like inner electrode 231 and a cylindrical outer electrode 232 enclosing the inner electrode 231 such that an air gap through which the charged particle beam B passes is formed between the inner and outer electrodes 231 and 232. The inner electrode 231 and the outer electrode 232 are formed by forming electrode films 231b and 232b of a metal over the surfaces of nonconducting base materials 231a and 232a, respectively, by vacuum deposition or sputtering. Further, each of the shaping deflector and the main deflector and sub-deflector for beam scanning includes a plurality of pairs of opposite electrodes, and each opposite electrode is formed by forming an electrode film of a metal over the surface of a nonconducting base material by vacuum deposition or sputtering.
US08148697B2
A phoswich device for determining depth of interaction (DOI) includes a first scintillator having a first scintillation decay time characteristic, a second scintillator having a second scintillation decay time characteristic substantially equal to the first scintillation decay time, a photodetector coupled to the second scintillator, and a wavelength shifting layer coupled between the first scintillator and the second scintillator, wherein the wavelength shifting layer modifies the first scintillation decay time characteristic of the first scintillator to enable the photodetector to differentiate between the first decay time characteristic and the second decay time characteristic. The phoswich device is particularly applicable to positron emission tomography (PET) applications.
US08148695B2
A PET apparatus comprises a plurality of detector units in the circumferential direction, wherein the detector unit includes a plurality of unit substrates therein, and wherein the unit substrate includes: a plurality of detectors upon which a γ-ray is incident; and an analog ASIC and digital ASIC for processing a γ-ray detection signal outputted by each of the detectors. The analog ASIC includes two slow systems having mutually different time constants, each of which outputs a pulseheight value. A noise determination part of the digital ASIC determines whether a relevant detection signal is an intended γ-ray detection signal or a noise based on a correlation between the pulseheight values, and a noise counting part counts the number of times of noise determination, and a detector output signal processing control part controls the signal processing with respect to an output signal from a relevant detector based on the count.
US08148694B2
A PET event position calculation method using a combination angular and radial event map wherein identification of the radial distance of the event from the centroid of the scintillation crystal with which the event is associated as well as angular information is performed. The radial distance can be converted to a statistical confidence interval, which information can be used in downstream processing. More sophisticated reconstruction algorithms can use the confidence interval information selectively, to generate higher fidelity images with higher confidence information, and to improve statistics in dynamic imaging with lower confidence information.
US08148689B1
Disclosed are embodiments of methods and apparatus related to detection of substance(s) at a distance. For example, an apparatus can have a mount structure and an emitter mounted to the mount structure and configured to be trained on a target. The emitter can have a source configured to emit radiation and a mirror configured to direct the radiation toward the target. The apparatus can also have a collector mounted to the mount structure and configured to be trained on the target at the same time the emitter is trained on the target and concentrate collected radiation on a sensor. The apparatus can also have a detection system comprising the sensor and an interferometer configured to produce an interferogram. The processor can be configured to perform a Fourier transform on the interferogram to produce a spectrogram and analyze the spectrogram to determine presence or absence of known substances in or around the target.
US08148688B2
A near-field terahertz wave detector comprises a semiconductor chip (12) whose longitudinal electrical resistance along its surface changes due to a near-field wave of a terahertz wave (1), an insulating film (18) which covers the surface of the semiconductor chip, and a conductive film (20) able to shield the terahertz wave by covering the surface of the insulating film. The conductive film (20) has an aperture (21) whose maximum size is one digit or more smaller than the wavelength of the terahertz wave. Further, a planar conductive probe (14) is provided between the conductive film (20) and the semiconductor chip (12). The conductive probe (14) is insulated from the conductive film (20) by the insulating film (18), and a tip (14a) of the conductive probe (14) is located inside the aperture (21). It is possible to increase a signal-to-noise ratio by significantly reducing the effect of a far-field wave, thereby enabling a near-field wave to be detected with high efficiency and increasing the resolution of an object by the near-field wave to one tenth or less of the wavelength.
US08148685B2
A transmission electron microscope (TEM) micro-grid includes a base and a plurality of electron transmission portions. The base includes a plurality of first carbon nanotubes and the first carbon nanotubes have a first density. Each electron transmission portions includes a hole defined in the base and a plurality of second carbon nanotubes located in the hole. The second carbon nanotubes have a second density. The second density is less than the first density. The base and the electron transmission portions form the TEM micro-grid for observation of a sample using a TEM microscope.
US08148684B2
An electron beam apparatus has the electron optical column for releasing an electron beam from the front-end portion after the beam is emitted from an electron beam source located on a rear-end portion of the column, a specimen chamber connected to a front-end portion of the column, and an aperture member withdrawably disposed in the front-end portion of the column within the specimen chamber. The apparatus further includes a rotating mechanism for rotating the aperture member along a given plane lying along the direction of a path of the beam. Thus, the aperture member can be attached and detached to and from the front-end portion of the column.
US08148678B2
Systems and methods for reducing background noise in a mass spectrum. The method includes the following steps of: (a) obtaining an original mass spectrum; (b) determining a noise mass spectrum corresponding to background noise in the original mass spectrum; and (c) determining a corrected mass spectrum by subtracting the noise mass spectrum from the original mass spectrum. Step (b) of the method may include the steps of: A) effecting a transformation of the original mass spectrum into the frequency domain to obtain an original frequency spectrum; B) identifying at least one dominant frequency in the original frequency spectrum; C) generating a noise frequency spectrum by selectively filtering for said dominant frequencies; and D) determining the noise mass spectrum by effecting a transformation of the noise frequency spectrum into the mass domain. Preferably for each correlated pair of original and noise intensity data points, the minimum value is determined and the noise mass spectrum is modified by making the noise intensity data point equal to the minimum value.
US08148677B2
The present invention is directed to methods of merging spectral data resulting from collision fragmentation processes, such as, for example, Pulsed Q Dissociation (PQD), high-energy collision-induced dissociation (HCD), electron transfer disassociation (ETD), collision-induced dissociation (CID), and photo-dissociation processes, such as, but not limited to, infrared multi-photon photo-dissociation (IRMPD), to provide the desired qualitative and quantitative information on a single peptide. By merging such ETD, CID, or IRMPD scans with corresponding HCD scans that are obtained on the same precursor, the quality of the resulting spectrum is increased so as to provide more confident identification of peptides and correspondingly the quantification is enhanced because the HCD method of the MS/MS spectrum produces higher abundances of detectable reporter ions. Such methods, as disclosed herein, are especially applicable for peptides which experience predominant neutral loss in the ion trap, e.g., phosphorylated.
US08148671B2
A proximity-type imaging device includes an image sensor and an angle limiting filter. The image sensor performs photoelectric conversion for light transmitted from a subject using plural pixels, so as to capture the subject. The angle limiting filter includes a transparent glass substrate and a light shielding film which is formed with openings having one-to-one correspondence with the pixels and which is provided on the glass substrate. The angle limiting filter is disposed on the image sensor and limits an incidence angle of light incident to the image sensor to such an angle range that the light is incident from each opening to the corresponding pixel. The condition L ≥ T 1 ( n 1 2 - 1 ) 1 / 2 is satisfied, where n1 denotes a refractive index of the substrate, T1 denotes a thickness of the substrate, and L denotes a shortest distance between a contour of one opening and a contour of the pixel corresponding to an opening adjacent.
US08148666B2
Surgical drapes employed with thermal treatment systems are re-enforced according to the present invention. This protects against punctures and tears when objects are placed in a receptacle formed by a drape within a thermal treatment system basin to contain a sterile medium. In one embodiment, a plate or pad is used to protect the drape. The plate or pad may be formed of rigid or flexible material of various configurations. The plate or pad may be solid or perforated (e.g., with holes, slots, mesh, etc.), and may be loosely placed on or fixedly attached to the drape. The plate or pad may have depending feet or protrusions that support the plate spaced above the drape material. Alternatively, the drape may be utilized without the plate and include a thick intermediate section resistant to puncture that is disposed within the thermal treatment system basin.
US08148662B2
Device for remote laser welding of metal sheet structures comprises an anthropomorphous robot onto whose wrist is mounted an accessory device carrying a focusing head for the laser beam coming from a laser source, as well as means for oscillating the pointing direction of the focused laser beam around one oscillation axis. During welding the robot shifts the accessory device along a given trajectory and at a given speed, while the pointing direction of the focused beam is oscillated to as to allow the area of structure that is lighted by the laser beam to shift at a speed and/or along a trajectory not depending directly on the shifting trajectory and speed of the accessory device carried by the robot.
US08148659B2
A touch switch structure is provided that can be preferably used for an automotive instrument panel and can securely prevent misjudgments and incorrect detections with respect to operations on the switch. For that purpose, the touch switch structure comprises a base material 2 made of a nonconductive material; a shield electrode layer 4 made of a conductive material and formed on one surface of the base material 2; a touch detection electrode 3 formed on one surface of the base material 2 at the portion where the shield electrode layer 4 is not formed; and an insulation layer 5 made of a nonconductive material and formed at least between the shield electrode layer 4 and a connection pattern 6 of the touch detection electrode 3.
US08148657B2
A key for intermittently electrically contacting at least two conductors located on a circuit board with an electrically conducting contact element includes at least one base that is disposed on the circuit board and a key which encompasses the contact element and is movable relative to the circuit board and the base. The key is connected to the base by at least one movable membrane. The base and the membrane are made of an insulating elastic material. The key additionally includes at least one soldering leg of which the first end is positively inserted in to the base while the second end, the soldering zone, is used for fastening the key to the circuit board.
US08148652B2
A position detecting device includes: X-axis electrodes and Y-axis electrodes; a driving section for supplying an AC signal to the X-axis electrodes; a synchronous clock generating section for generating synchronous clock signals at the timing when the AC signal passes through zero-cross points; a first switch for selectively supplying the AC signal outputted from the driving section to one of the X-axis electrodes at the timing of the synchronous clock signal; a second switch for selecting one of the Y-axis electrodes at the timing of the synchronous clock signal; a synchronous detector for synchronous-detecting a signal outputted by the Y-axis electrodes through the second switch; and a position calculating section for calculating a position indicated by an indicator based on the signal outputted from the synchronous detector, wherein the position corresponds to one or more intersections of the X-axis electrodes and Y-axis electrodes.
US08148649B2
The present invention concerns a lead-through, especially a cabinet lead-through used in connection with dishwashers. The lead-through has two parts, a body and a cover. Both the body and the cover have part openings forming cylindrical openings when the cover is received on the body. The cylindrical openings formed may e.g. receive tubes for water and wastewater and an electric cable.
US08148645B2
A wiring substrate and method of forming a wiring substrate. The wiring substrate includes a base substrate, a first resin insulating layer provided on the base substrate and a laminated capacitor formed within the first resin insulating layer. The laminated capacitor includes a plurality of capacitors laminated to each other by adhesive, each capacitor including a first electrode, a second electrode opposing the first electrode and a dielectric layer interposed between the first and second electrodes. A first via conductor electrically connects the first electrodes of the plurality of capacitors to each other, and a second via conductor electrically connects the second electrodes of the plurality of capacitors to each other. A first external terminal electrically connects to the first via conductor, and a second external terminal electrically connects to the second via conductor.
US08148641B2
An anisotropic conductive material prevents conduction resistance from varying among bumps or among linear terminals when connecting an IC chip or a flexible wire to a wiring board via the anisotropic conductive material. The anisotropic conductive material is formed by dispersing conductive particles in an insulating binder. The minimum melt viscosity [η0] thereof is in a range of from 1×102 to 1×106 mPa·sec, and satisfies the following equation (1): 1<[η1]/[η0]≦3 (1) where in the equation (1), [η0] represents the minimum melt viscosity of the anisotropic conductive material, and [η1] represents a melt viscosity at a temperature T1 which is 30° C. lower than a temperature T0 at which the minimum melt viscosity is exhibited.
US08148637B2
A wall plate configured to at least partially cover and/or connect to a standardized electrical box and/or components stored therein. In one implementation, the wall plate may includes a substantially planar body having a front and a back. In particular, the body may be configured to at least partially cover an electrical box and/or component. In addition, the wall plate may includes at least one pin extending from the back of the body in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the body. The at least one pin may be positioned on the body to correspond with the location of a connector on a standardized electrical box or component.
US08148633B2
A housing for an electronic apparatus includes a first cover having at least one wedging hook, a second cover having at least one wedging structure that matches at the least one wedging hook, and a third cover having at least one convex block. The convex block of the third cover extends into the wedging structure of the second cover to lock with the wedging hook of the first cover with the wedging structure. The housing can be applied to a cell phone, PDA and other electronic apparatus.
US08148632B2
Example solar cells and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example solar cell may include an electron conductor layer, a quantum dot layer, a bifunctional ligand layer coupling the electron conductor layer and the quantum dot layer, and a hole conductor layer coupled to the quantum dot layer. The bifunctional ligand layer may include an antibiotic, and in some cases, a cephalosporin-based antibiotic.
US08148629B2
A photovoltaic device and related methods of manufacture. The device has a support substrate having a support surface region. The device has a thickness of crystalline material characterized by a plurality of worm hole structures therein overlying the support surface region of the support substrate. The worm hole structures are characterized by a density distribution. The one or more worm hole structures have respective surface regions. In a specific embodiment, the thickness of crystalline material has an upper surface region. The device has a passivation material overlying the surface regions to cause a reduction of a electron-hole recombination process. A glue layer is provided between the support surface region and the thickness of crystalline material. A textured surface region formed overlying from the upper surface region of the thickness of crystalline material.
US08148628B2
A solar cell receiver comprising a III-V compound semiconductor solar cell and a diode mounted on a board including a connector for electrically connecting to adjacent receivers. The diode is connected in parallel with the solar cell, for reverse biasing the diode against conductivity during operation of the solar cell in generating solar energy, and the diode is operative to provide a current bypassing the solar cell when the solar cell is damaged or shadowed. The diode has a pair of electrical connector terminals for electrical connection to the solar cell. The connector includes a first receiving section adapted for receiving a first electrical conductor to connect the receiver to adjacent receivers.
US08148617B2
A drum pad capable of providing an excellent percussion feeling and securely adhering a base portion to a body portion made of rubber. The drum pad has a rear-side clothlike material which is provided on a rear surface of the body portion and into which the rubber of the body portion is impregnated. The base portion is fixed to a rear surface of the rear-side clothlike material via a fixing layer made of pressure sensitive adhesive or adhesive and provided on the rear surface of the rear-side clothlike material.
US08148616B1
A novel maize variety designated 10096210 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety 10096210 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 10096210 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety 10096210, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety 10096210. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety 10096210.
US08148614B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB39U09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB39U09, to the plants of soybean XB39U09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB39U09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB39U09 with another soybean plant, using XB39U09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08148604B2
Methods and materials for conferring pest resistance to plants are provided. Plants are transformed with a silencing construct homologous to a gene of a plant pest that is essential for the survival, development, or pathogenicity of the pest. This results in the plant producing RNAi to the selected gene, which, when ingested by the pest results in silencing of the gene and a subsequent reduction of the pest's ability to harm the plant. In other embodiments, the pest's reduced ability to harm the plant is passed on to pest progeny. Methods and materials for depathogenesis of pests is also provided.
US08148603B2
The present invention relates to transgenic Ficus plants, particularly Ficus carica (fig tree), to a method for producing same, and to Ficus plants, plant materials and plant products produced by or from such genetically modified plant material. More specifically, the present invention relates to transgenic Ficus carica plants and use thereof for producing trees having improved agricultural traits and for the production of foreign proteins and edible vaccines.
US08148600B2
Immunocompromised rodents that have been modified to express a fluorescent protein in substantially all tissues are described. These rodents are useful as models for gene expression, tumor progression and angiogenesis. Also provided are model systems where heterologous tissues fluorescing in a first color are transplanted into hosts that have been modified to fluoresce in substantially all tissues with a second color.
US08148584B2
Compositions comprising are provided wherein RF is a fluorine containing moiety comprising (CF3)2CFCH2(CF3)CH—, (CF3)2CFCH2((CF3)2CF)CH—, (CF3)2CFCH2((CF3)2CH)CH—, (CF3)2CHCH2((CF3)2CF)CH—, ((CF3)2CFCH2)2CH—, (CF3)2CFCH2CF—, (CF3)2CF—, (CF3)2CH—, CF3—, or CnF2n+1—, n being an integer from 2 to 20; R1 is F or H; R2 comprises (CF3)2CF—, (CF3)2CH—, CF3—, F, or H; and R3 comprises (CF3)2CF—, (CF3)2CH—, CF3—, F, or H, such compositions can produced according to processes, and utilized to prevent combustion utilizing systems.
US08148581B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing plastics using 1,6-hexanediol having an aldehyde content of less than 500 ppm, a process for preparing 1,6-hexanediol having an aldehyde content of less than 500 ppm and also 1,6-hexanediol having an aldehyde content of less than 500 ppm.
US08148575B2
The present invention provides a process for [18F]-fluorination of biomolecules containing a primary amino group such as proteins and peptides and in particular of peptides. The invention further provides reagents for this process, in particular 18F-labelled prosthetic groups for use in the preparation as well as non-labelled intermediates useful in the preparation of the [18F]-labelled prosthetic groups. [18F]-labelled compounds useful as radiopharmaceuticals, specifically for use in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) are also provided.
US08148574B2
A method for producing crystals of 5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride wherein, in carrying out adsorption of 5-aminolevulinic acid contained in a crude 5-aminolevulinic acid solution by a cation exchange resin and its subsequent desorption with an aqueous solution containing ammonium ion, a high purity 5-aminolevulinic acid aqueous solution is obtained using a change in electric conductivity or pH of the desorption liquid as the index, and chloride ion is added to the aqueous solution which is then mixed with an organic solvent.
US08148573B2
A polyfluoroalkane carboxylic acid represented by the following general formula: CnF2n+1(CH2CF2)m(CF2CF2)l−1CF2COOM (M: an alkali metal, a NH4 group or H; n: an integer of 1 to 6; m: an integer of 1 to 4; and l: 1 or 2) can be produced by hydrolysis reaction of polyfluoroalkane carboxylic acid fluoride represented by the following general formula: CnF2n+1(CH2CF2)m(CF2CF2)l−1CF2COF, where its carboxylic acid salt can be formed as an alkali metal salt, or a NH4 salt. The polyfluoroalkane carboxylic acid (or its salt) can act as a surfactant having distinguished monomer emulsifiability and latex stability when used as an emulsifying agent or as a dispersing agent for polymerization reaction of fluorine-containing monomers, or as an effective surfactant capable of enhancing the micelles solubility of fluorine-containing monomers such as vinylidene fluoride, etc., when used as an emulsifying agent or a dispersing agent for homopolymerization or copolymerization reaction of vinylidene fluoride.
US08148572B2
The invention relates to substituted phenylacetic acids as useful pharmaceutical compounds for treating respiratory disorders, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and processes for their preparation.
US08148564B2
Nitride forming precursors are heated to form a metal nitride on a substrate. In some variations, the precursors are contacted with the substrate which has previously been heated to a sufficient temperature to form a nitride film. Precursors to tungsten and molybdenum nitride are provided.
US08148551B2
The invention relates to tricyclic aromatics of the general formula I in which A1, A2, A3, A4, Q1-Q2, R1, R2, X1, X2, X3, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, q, r, s, t and u have the meaning indicated, and to the use thereof as components of liquid-crystalline media and to an electro-optical display element containing same.
US08148546B2
The present invention provides novel tetrahydrocarbazole compounds according to formula (I) as ligands of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) which are useful in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of physiological and/or pathological conditions in mammals mediated by GPCR or of physiological and/or pathological conditions which can be treated by modulation of these receptors.
US08148536B2
The present invention relates to the use of certain high potency savory (“umami”) taste modifiers, as savory flavoring agents and/or enhancers of monosodium glutamate, for the preparation of foods, beverages, and other comestible compositions, and to processes for preparing food flavorant compositions for use in the preparation of comestible food and drink.
US08148528B2
The invention generally provides processes and intermediate compounds useful for the production of normorphinans and derivatives of normorphinans.
US08148518B2
Ionic liquids and cellulose ester compositions and processes and apparatus for producing ionic liquids and cellulose esters. Cellulose esters can be produced by dissolving cellulose in carboxylated ionic liquids and thereafter contacting the cellulose solution with at least one acylating reagent. Cellulose esters produced via the present invention can comprise ester groups that originate from the carboxylated ionic liquid and/or the acylating reagent.
US08148517B2
The invention relates to potato starches having an amylose content of less than 10% by weight, a phosphate content in the C6 position of between 35 and 100 nmol of phosphate per milligram of starch and a content of side chains having a DP of from 12 to 19 which is elevated as compared with that in potato starch from corresponding wild-type potato plants.
US08148516B2
The present invention provides compounds, methods and systems for sequencing nucleic acid using single molecule detection. Using labeled NPs that exhibit charge-switching behavior, single-molecule DNA sequencing in a microchannel sorting system is realized. In operation, sequencing products are detected enabling real-time sequencing as successive detectable moieties flow through a detection channel. By electrically sorting charged molecules, the cleaved product molecules are detected in isolation without interference from unincorporated NPs and without illuminating the polymerase-DNA complex.
US08148514B2
Disclosed is a novel substance capable of regulating the expression of a telomerase reverse transcriptase gene in a cell of a mammal. A gene capable of regulating the expression of hTERT, comprising a nucleotide sequence depicted in SEQ ID No: 1 or 2. The expression of a telomerase reverse transcriptase gene can be inhibited by inhibiting the expression of the gene. By utilizing this mechanism, the expression of a telomerase reverse transcriptase gene can be regulated.
US08148510B2
Compositions and methods for protecting a plant from a pathogen, particularly a fungal pathogen, are provided. Compositions include novel amino acid sequences, and variants and fragments thereof, for antipathogenic polypeptides that were isolated from microbial fermentation broths. Nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences that encode the antipathogenic polypeptides of the invention are also provided. A method for inducing pathogen resistance in a plant using the nucleotide sequences disclosed herein is further provided. The method comprises introducing into a plant an expression cassette comprising a promoter operably linked to a nucleotide sequence that encodes an antipathogenic polypeptide of the invention. Compositions comprising an antipathogenic polypeptide or a transformed microorganism comprising a nucleic acid of the invention in combination with a carrier and methods of using these compositions to protect a plant from a pathogen are further provided. Transformed plants, plant cells, seeds, and microorganisms comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes an antipathogenic polypeptide of the invention, or variant or fragment thereof, are also disclosed.
US08148508B2
The invention provides methods for making peptides from a polypeptide containing at least one copy of the peptide using clostripain to excise the peptide from the polypeptide. The methods enable the use of a single, highly efficient enzymatic cleavage to produce any desired peptide sequence.
US08148505B2
An α-selective glycosylation process of a glycosylation reaction between a sugar structure of hexose or an aldose having a chain with six or more carbon atoms in the molecule, which is a monosaccharide or a reducing end of an oligosaccharide with two or more monosaccharide residues connected by glycosidic linkages (an oligosaccharide with two monosaccharide residues is disaccharide) (also referred to as “a disaccharide to an oligosaccharide”) or a sugar chain and alcoholic hydroxyl group or thiol group, to obtain a sugar structure glycoside containing α-glycoside at a high ratio, under the ring-shaped formation of a protective group in a silyl acetal structure over hydroxyl groups at positions 4 and 6 in the sugar structure.By the process, highly selective α-glycosylation of sugar structure can be progressed in a simple and efficient manner.
US08148502B2
The present invention relates to a method for obtaining highly purified recombinant alpha1-antitrypsin (rAAT) using anion exchange chromatography, wherein a composition comprising rAAT and at least one impurity originating from cultivation of cells used for generating of rAAT is loaded onto a column containing anion exchange material and the anion exchange chromatography is carried out with buffers containing phosphate ions and N-acetylcysteine.
US08148492B2
The present invention is directed to a reconstituted surfactant comprising a lipid carrier, a polypeptide analog of the native surfactant protein SP-C, and a polypeptide analog of the native surfactant protein SP-B. The invention is also directed to the pharmaceutical compositions thereof and to a use thereof in the treatment or prophylaxis of RDS and other respiratory disorders.
US08148489B2
A method for reducing organic carbon emissions from PBT-block-containing resins is disclosed. The method involves adding a titanium-catalyst deactivating compound to the resin after polymerisation.
US08148478B2
A process for the polymerization of olefins carried out in a gas-phase reactor having interconnected polymerization zones, where the growing polymer particles flow upward through a first polymerization zone (riser) under fast fluidization or transport conditions, leave said riser and enter a second polymerization zone (downcomer) through which they flow downward under the action of gravity, leave said downcomer and are reintroduced into the riser, a gas recycle stream being withdrawn from said first polymerization zone, subjected to cooling below its dew point and then returned to said first polymerization zone, the process being characterized in that said gas recycle stream is cooled at a temperature Tc ranging from 0.05° C. to 3° C. below its dew point.
US08148474B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which has excellent durability and wear-resistance and provides an excellent shot feeling. The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising: a core; and a cover covering the core, wherein the cover is formed from a cover composition containing a thermoplastic polyurethane (A), a polyisocyanate (B) having at least two isocyanate groups, and a polyhydroxyether (C) as a resin component, and wherein the core has a surface hardness of 85 or smaller in JIS-C hardness.
US08148470B1
This invention relates to a process to make a multimodal polyolefin composition comprising: (i) contacting at least one first olefin monomer with a mixed catalyst system, under polymerization conditions, to produce at least a first polyolefin component having a Mw of 5,000 g/mol to 600,000 g/mol, wherein the mixed catalyst system comprises: (a) at least one polymerization catalyst comprising a Group 4 or Group 5 transition metal; (b) at least one organochromium polymerization catalyst; (c) an activator; and (d) a support material; (ii) thereafter, contacting the first polyolefin component/mixed catalyst system combination with a molecular switch; (iii) contacting the first polyolefin component/mixed catalyst system combination with at least one second olefin monomer, which may be the same or different, under polymerization conditions; and (iv) obtaining a multimodal polyolefin composition.
US08148469B2
Provided is a fiber reinforced plastic molding material which provides a cured product with excellent impact resistance, corrosion resistance and transparency. The fiber reinforced plastic molding material includes: a radical polymerizable resin composition containing: a vinyl ester resin (A) having a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 6,000; a urethane (meth)acrylate resin (B) obtained by reacting an isocyanate compound having two or more isocyanate groups in one molecule, a (meth)acrylic compound having one or more hydroxyl groups in one molecule and polyethylene glycol; an aliphatic amine (C) represented by the following general formula: where R1 represents a hydroxyalkyl group, R2 represents an alkyl group or a hydroxyalkyl group, and R3 represents H or CH3; a metal soap of cobalt (D); and an organic peroxide (E); and a glass fiber reinforcing material (F).
US08148462B2
Disclosed is an aqueous polyurethane obtained by reacting a sulfonate containing a hydrophilic group represented by the following general formula (1): (in which M represents an alkali metal atom or an ammonium, and p represents an integer of 2 to 20) and an amino group with a polyurethane prepolymer having an isocyanate group at an end thereof, characterized in that the hydrophilic group represented by the general formula (1) bonds with a urea bond moiety of the polyurethane.
US08148461B2
A composition and method of associating stabilizer functionalities with latex particulates is provided. The composition can comprise a latex particulate configured for inclusion in an ink-jet ink to provide improved humidfastness of an image printed by the ink-jet ink, wherein the latex particulate has a molecular weight from 10,000 Mw to 10,000,000 Mw, and has a particle size from 10 nm to 2 μm; and an image stabilizer configured for improving lightfastness of the image, wherein the image stabilizer is bound to the latex particulate. The method can comprise the steps of coupling a polymerizable monomer with a stabilizing agent reactive with the polymerizable monomer, thereby forming a precursor stabilizer-containing monomer; polymerizing the precursor stabilizer-containing monomer to form a latex particulate; and decoupling the stabilizing agent from the latex particulate.
US08148459B2
The invention relates to the use of a metal organosilicate polymer as a dispersion-forming agent. The metal organosilicate polymer used in the invention has one of the following formulae I and II: R4Si4Al2O8(OH)x Formula I: R8Si8M6O16(OH)y Formula II: The invention finds application in the field of dispersions of hydrophobic compounds in water and of organophobic compounds in an organic solvent, in particular.
US08148457B2
Disclosed is an adhesive composition whose component is a polymer obtained by copolymerizing a monomer composition containing styrene, a (meth)acrylic acid ester having a cyclic structure, and an alkyl(meth)acrylate having a chain structure. The monomer composition further contains a carboxylic acid having an ethylene double bond, a bifunctional monomer, and a styrene macromonomer. The polymer has a styrene block segment. This can improve heat resistance, adhesive strength in a high temperature environment, alkaline resistance, and easiness in stripping of an adhesive composition that has been subjected to a high temperature process. As a result, there can be obtained an adhesive composition which has high heat resistance, adhesive strength in a high temperature environment, and alkali resistance, and which can be easily stripped off after the adhesive composition is processed at a high temperature.
US08148455B2
A hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposite useful as a cathode in high discharge capacity lithium batteries is provided. The nanocomposite includes macromolecules that are located inside interlayer galleries of V2O5. These macromolecules include either conducting conjugated polymers or a combination of conducting conjugated polymers and ion conducting polymers. The nanocomposites possess high charge/discharge characteristics. A solvent-free mechanochemical method for the preparation of the hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites is also provided.
US08148444B2
To provide a composition useful for forming a heat conductive sheet that satisfies both high heat conductivity and sufficient softness, has sufficient cohesive strength at a surface portion of a heat conductive sheet and does not cause remaining paste and breakage of an electronic appliance when the sheet is peeled. The composition comprises (A) a photo polymerizable component consisting of a (meth)acryl type monomer or its partial polymer; (B) a heat conductive filler; (C) a photo reaction initiator for initiating the polymerization of the photo polymerizable component; and (D) a photo absorber for absorbing and removing a predetermined wavelength band from electromagnetic rays used for the polymerization of the photo polymerizable component.
US08148420B2
Methods of stimulating immune response or treating an inflammatory disorder with one of a number of the compounds disclosed herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08148417B2
The present invention pertains to certain compounds of Formula (Ia) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that modulate the activity of the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are directed to methods useful in the treatment of platelet aggregation, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, angina, stroke, atrial fibrillation, blood clot formation, asthma or symptoms thereof, agitation or a symptom thereof, behavioral disorders, drug induced psychosis, excitative psychosis, Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, manic disorder, organic or NOS psychosis, psychotic disorder, psychosis, acute schizophrenia, chronic schizophrenia, NOS schizophrenia and related disorders, and sleep disorders, sleep disorders, diabetic-related disorders, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and the like. The present invention also relates to the methods for the treatment of 5-HT2A serotonin receptor associated disorders in combination with other pharmaceutical agents administered separately or together.
US08148408B2
The present application describes selective ligands of formula (I) for neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNRs), more specifically for the α4β2 NNR subtype, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same, wherein X, R1, X, R2, R3, L1, m, n, p, and q are defined in the specification.
US08148400B2
The invention provides compounds of formula II: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The formula II thiazolyl compounds inhibit tyrosine kinase activity thereby making them useful as anticancer agents and for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.
US08148392B2
2-indolyl imidazo[4,5-d]phenanthroline compounds of Formula (I) and methods of using same in the treatment of cancer, in particular, solid cancers and leukemia are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds are also provided.
US08148389B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an agent for promoting proliferation of a meibomian gland epithelial cell and a corneal epithelial cell, as well as provide an agent for treating an ocular disease such as meibomian gland dysfunction or evaporative dry eye.There are provided an agent for promoting proliferation of a meibomian gland epithelial cell or a corneal epithelial cell, containing a PPARα or δ agonist as an active ingredient, as well as an agent for treating an ocular disease such as meibomian gland dysfunction or evaporative dry eye, containing a PPARα or δ agonist as an active ingredient.
US08148383B2
Provided is a novel compound represented by the following formula Wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof, which has an angiotensin II receptor antagonistic activity and a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonistic activity, and is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of circulatory diseases such as hypertension and the like and/or metabolic diseases such as diabetes and the like, and the like.
US08148377B2
Pharmaceutical compositions containing dihydroergotamine (DHE) and methods in which DHE is administered to patients for treatment of migraine without side effects or adverse effects are disclosed. Methods for rapid treatment of migraine with DHE are disclosed comprising: dampening the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and slightly delaying the peak such as to avoid activating the dopaminergic and adrenergic receptors, while achieving sufficient active binding to the serotonin receptors to provide relief from migraine symptoms within a timeframe that permits rapid resolution of migraine symptoms. Inhaler devices suitable for the methods are disclosed. Kits for practicing the methods of invention are disclosed.
US08148362B2
The invention provides a novel oxazolidinone derivative represented by the formula (I): wherein Ring A is optionally substituted or fused and represents (A-1) at least 7-membered monocyclic hetero ring containing at least three N atoms; (A-2) at least 6-membered monocyclic hetero ring containing at least two N atoms and at least one O atom; or (A-3) at least 7-membered monocyclic hetero ring containing at least two N atoms and at least one S atom; X1 is a single bond, —O—, —S—, —NR2—, —CO—, —CS—, —CONR3—, —NR4CO—, —SO2NR5—, and —NR6SO2— (wherein R2-R6 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl), or lower alkylene or lower alkenylene in which one of the preceding groups may intervene; Ring B is optionally substituted carbocycle or optionally substituted heterocycle; R1 is hydrogen, or an organic residue which is able to bind to the 5-position of oxazolidinone ring in oxazolidinone antimicrobial agent, and an antibacterial agent containing the same.
US08148354B2
The invention provides the novel use of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol in the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of depressive psychiatric disorders. The pharmacological test results indicated that the compound could remarkably increase the level of NE, 5-HT and HAV in the brains of model rats having depressive disorders, remarkably enhance tremors induced by 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and behavioral effects induced by levodopa, and inhibit the re-uptake of 5-HT and NA.
US08148346B2
The present invention includes compositions and methods for treating arthritic joints found in patients with autoinflammation, e.g., systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis, by administering at the site of inflammation a therapeutically effective amount of at least one agent that reduces or blocks the bioavailability of interleukin-1β.
US08148344B2
This invention relates to new formulated lipid particles (FLiPs) comprising at least one of a single or double stranded oligonucleotide, where the oligonucleotide has been conjugated to a lipophile and at least one of an emulsion or liposome to which the conjugated oligonucleotide has been aggregated, admixed or associated. These particles have surprisingly been shown to effectively deliver oligonucleotides to heart, lung and muscle where they effect gene silencing.
US08148338B2
Doxorubicin block copolymer formulations for use in preparing injectable compositions for treating cancer patients which contain lactose for solubilizing the doxorubicin and block copolymers in said formulations and methyl paraben for stabilizing these formulations, as well as a method of preparing and using these injectable compositions.
US08148336B2
The invention relates to the identification of sterol glucoside toxins, and provides methods for detecting and detoxifying the compounds, as well as therapeutic methods for treating subjects exposed to such toxins. In alternative embodiments, the toxins may for example include beta-sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside (5-cholesten-24b-ethyl-3b-ol-D-glucoside) or cholesterol glucoside (5-cholesten-3b-ol-3b-D-glucoside).
US08148325B2
Methods for enhancing the quality of life of a senior or super senior animals by feeding the animal a composition comprising at least one omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and various combinations of amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants in amounts effective to enhance alertness, improve vitality, protect cartilage, maintain muscle mass, enhance digestibility, and improve skin and pelage quality.
US08148321B2
The present disclosure relates to a novel enzymatic approach according to the invention using an unprecedented sortase-catalyzed transpeptidation reaction between a substrate comprising LPXTG (SEQ ID NO: 11) peptide motif and biomolecules such as aminosugars, hydroxyamino acids, hydroxyamino acid esters, aminolipids, polyamines; nucleic acids or derivatives thereof; or any molecule having such moieties; or any compound having such moieties to obtain a bioconjugates useful for target delivery of a compound. The present disclosure provides bioconjugates obtained by the novel sortase catalysed transpeptidedation reaction.
US08148316B2
Disclosed herein is a method for stabilization of the perhydrolase activity of the CE-7 esterase in a formulation with a carboxylic acid ester that employs the addition of a buffering agent, substantially undissolved, to the mixture of the CE-7 esterase and the carboxylic acid ester. Further, disinfectant and laundry care formulations comprising the peracids produced by the processes described herein are provided.
US08148312B2
The invention provides an aqueous bleaching solution for substrate treatment comprising a source of oxidant and a suspended polymer matrix having a plurality of optically functional particles associated with one or more copolymers present in the polymer matrix. The plurality of optically functional particles are associated with the copolymer during polymerization of at least one hydrophobic and at least one hydrophilic monomer so as to form a polymer matrix useful to impart an aqueous bleaching solution with optically functional properties providing a benefit to the solutions during storage, use and application to substrates for treatment. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, the suspended polymer matrix forms a substantially stable dispersion of the optically functional particles in the aqueous bleaching solution, and provides compositions, methods and kits for employing aqueous bleaching solutions having optically functional properties that are maintained over substantially long storage times.
US08148304B2
A copolymer containing, as monomer components, a) at least one sulfonic acid-containing compound, b) at least one nitrogen-containing N-vinylamide, one acrylamide or methacrylamide and c) at least one bifunctional or higher-functional vinyl ether is proposed. These copolymers are suitable in particular as thixotropic agents, antisegregation agents and water retention agents and overall as an additive in cement-containing but also gypsum-based systems. Such copolymers having a molecular weight of >40 000 g/mol can be used in particular as admixtures in the exploration of mineral oil and natural gas deposits.
US08148302B2
The invention provides a microarray and methods for producing a protein microarray. The array comprises multiple nucleic acid molecules immobilized on a substrate, each comprising (i) a protein-binding domain and (ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a fusion protein comprising a polypeptide of interest and a DNA-binding protein that binds the protein-binding domain, and one or more fusion proteins produced from the multiple nucleic acid molecules. Each fusion protein is immobilized on the substrate via binding to a nucleic acid sequence comprising the protein-binding domain present on the nucleic acid molecule from which the fusion protein is produced or on the substrate. The invention also provides a method of analyzing protein interactions with, for example, other proteins, lipids and drugs.
US08148291B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a catalyst having excellent performance and high mechanical strength for use in the production of methacrylic acid. A method for manufacturing a catalyst comprising essential active components of molybdenum, phosphorus, vanadium, cesium, ammonia, copper, and antimony for use in the production of methacrylic acid, comprising drying a slurry prepared by mixing a compound(s) containing the essential active components with water and then calcining the resulting dry powder and molding the calcined powder.
US08148286B2
The invention relates to an activated alkaline earth metal, to a method for its production and the use of the activated alkaline earth metal for the preparation of Grignard compounds and organoalkaline earth metal compounds.
US08148284B2
A system for effecting the pretreatment therewith of a sorbent comprising a conveying line (105), such as a pipe, and a plurality of solution nozzles operative for purposes of introducing a solution to treat the sorbent. More particularly, the conveying line (105) includes an inlet (107), an outlet (109), and an inner surface (105a) that is operative to define a passageway (190) through which sorbent particles are capable of being transported between the inlet (107) of the conveying line (105) and the outlet (109) of the conveying line (105). Each of the plurality of solution nozzles includes a respective one of a plurality of orifices (120) that are designed to be disposed circumferentially about the inner surface (105a) of the conveying line (105) and that are designed to be operative to effect therewith the injection of an aqueous solution of a liquid sorbent conditioner into the passageway (190) in order to thereby effect therewith the pretreatment of sorbent particles that are being transported through the passageway (190) in the conveying line (105).
US08148274B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes heating a substrate having an insulation film thereon to a first substrate temperature so that oxidizing species are emitted from the insulating film, the insulating film having a recessed portion formed in a surface thereof, forming a metal film on the insulating film at a second substrate temperature lower than the first substrate temperature, and oxidizing at least part of the metal film with oxidizing species remaining in the insulating film.
US08148273B1
Combinatorial plasma enhanced deposition techniques are described, including designating multiple regions of a substrate, providing a precursor to at least a first region of the multiple regions, and providing a plasma to the first region to deposit a first material on the first region formed using the first precursor, wherein the first material is different from a second material formed on a second region of the substrate.
US08148271B2
A substrate processing apparatus comprises a processing chamber for storing a boat supporting multiple substrates and for processing the multiple substrates, a heater unit installed around the processing chamber for heating the substrates, and a coolant gas supply nozzle including a pipe section extending perpendicular to a main surface of the substrate supported in the boat stored in the processing chamber, and a spray hole formed on the pipe section for spraying coolant gas to at least two of the multiple substrates, wherein the coolant gas supply nozzle is formed so that the cross sectional area of the pipe section in the area where the spray hole is formed is larger than the total opening area of the spray hole.
US08148270B2
A method of removing a silicon nitride or a nitride-based bottom etch stop layer in a copper damascene structure by etching the bottom etch stop layer is disclosed, with the method using a high density, high radical concentration plasma containing fluorine and oxygen to minimize back sputtering of copper underlying the bottom etch stop layer and surface roughening of the low-k interlayer dielectric caused by the plasma.
US08148269B2
A method and apparatus are provided to form spacer materials adjacent substrate structures. In one embodiment, a method is provided for processing a substrate including placing a substrate having a substrate structure adjacent a substrate surface in a deposition chamber, depositing a spacer layer on the substrate structure and substrate surface, and etching the spacer layer to expose the substrate structure and a portion of the substrate surface, wherein the spacer layer is disposed adjacent the substrate structure. The spacer layer may comprise a boron nitride material. The spacer layer may comprise a base spacer layer and a liner layer, and the spacer layer may be etched in a two-step etching process.
US08148267B2
A method of forming isolation layers of a semiconductor memory device. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor substrate in which trenches are formed is provided. A first dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate including the trenches. An opening width of the trench is widened by performing a first etch process to remove a part of the first dielectric layer, followed by an annealing process. Fluorine-containing impurities formed in the first dielectric layer as a result of the etching and annealing processes are removed by performing a second etch process. A second dielectric layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate including the first dielectric layer.
US08148262B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode, a source region and a drain region, forming a first metal layer, forming silicide layers by first annealing, removing a remainder of the first metal layer after the first annealing, performing a second annealing, forming a second metal layer, performing a third annealing, and removing a remainder of the second metal layer.
US08148252B1
Methods of forming ternary III-nitride materials include epitaxially growing ternary III-nitride material on a substrate in a chamber. The epitaxial growth includes providing a precursor gas mixture within the chamber that includes a relatively high ratio of a partial pressure of a nitrogen precursor to a partial pressure of one or more Group III precursors in the chamber. Due at least in part to the relatively high ratio, a layer of ternary III-nitride material may be grown to a high final thickness with small V-pit defects therein. Semiconductor structures including such ternary III-nitride material layers are fabricated using such methods.
US08148249B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices with high-k/metal gate features are disclosed. In some instances, methods of fabricating semiconductor devices with high-k/metal gate features are disclosed that prevent or reduce high-k/metal gate contamination of non-high-k/metal gate wafers and production tools. In some embodiments, the method comprises forming an interfacial layer over a semiconductor substrate on a front side of the substrate; forming a high-k dielectric layer and a capping layer over the interfacial layer; forming a metal layer over the high-k and capping layers; forming a polysilicon layer over the metal layer; and forming a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate on a back side of the substrate.
US08148237B2
A method of cleaving a substrate is disclosed. A species, such as hydrogen or helium, is implanted into a substrate to form a layer of microbubbles. The substrate is then annealed a pressure greater than atmosphere. This annealing may be performed in the presence of the species that was implanted. This diffuses the species into the substrate. The substrate is then cleaved along the layer of microbubbles. Other steps to form an oxide layer or to bond to a handle also may be included.
US08148234B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is provided which includes the following operations: supplying a crystalline semiconductor substrate, providing a porous region adjacent to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, introducing a dopant into the porous region from the surface, and thermally recrystallizing the porous region into a crystalline doping region of the semiconductor substrate whose doping type and/or doping concentration and/or doping distribution are/is different from those or that of the semiconductor substrate. A corresponding semiconductor structure is likewise provided.
US08148226B2
Disclosed is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes both an enhancement-mode FET and a depletion-mode FET. The method includes forming an opening in a gate electrode for the depletion-mode FET. The opening is located in or in the vicinity of one of the overlapping regions in which the gate electrode extends over active regions. The method further includes ion-implanting dopant impurities into the active regions at an oblique angle using the gate electrode as a mask, thereby to form the doped region that is located under the opening and continuously extending from one of the opposite sides of the gate electrode to the other.
US08148225B2
A fully-depleted (FD) Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) MOSFET access transistor comprising a gate electrode of a conductivity type which is opposite the conductivity type of the source/drain regions and a method of fabrication are disclosed.
US08148220B2
Tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs) are regarded as successors of metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), but silicon-based TFETs typically suffer from low on-currents, a drawback related to the large resistance of the tunnel barrier. To achieve higher on-currents an elongate monocrystalline nanostructure-based TFET with a heterostructure made of a different semiconducting material (e.g. germanium (Ge)) is used. An elongate monocrystalline nanostructure made of a different semiconducting material is introduced which acts as source (or alternatively drain) region of the TFET. The introduction of the heterosection is such that the lattice mismatch between silicon and germanium does not result in a highly defective interface. A dynamic power reduction as well as a static power reduction can result, compared to conventional MOSFET configurations. Multiple layers of logic can therefore be envisioned with these elongate monocrystalline nanostructure Si/Ge TFETs resulting in ultra-high on-chip transistor densities.
US08148204B2
A circuit connection structure that exhibits excellent adhesiveness between a heat resistant resin film and a circuit adhesive member, even under high temperature and high humidity, is provided by introducing a chemically stable functional group into the heat resistant resin film by additional surface treatment to improve adhesiveness. In a circuit connection structure, a semiconductor substrate and a circuit member are adhered by a circuit adhesive member sandwiched therewith. First circuit electrode on the semiconductor substrate and second circuit electrode on the circuit member are connected electrically by conductive particles in the circuit adhesive member. A surface modification is given to the semiconductor substrate by plasma treatment using gas containing nitrogen, ammonia and the like. Therefore, the heat resistant resin film on the semiconductor substrate and the circuit adhesive member are firmly adhered for a long period of time even under high temperature and high humidity.
US08148201B2
Described herein is an electronic device in which one or more planar interconnect structure are interposed between two substrates each incorporating a hybrid circuit. The planar interconnect structure has a plurality of conductive traces formed on one of its faces for electrically connecting sets of interconnection points of each of the hybrid circuits.
US08148198B2
A method for reducing variations in the bending of rolled metal base plates for semiconductor modules is disclosed. In this method, the base plates are rolled in their longitudinal direction in a specific manner.
US08148197B2
A method of forming a material. The method comprises conducting an ALD layer cycle of a first metal, the ALD layer cycle comprising a reactive first metal precursor and a co-reactive first metal precursor. An ALD layer cycle of a second metal is conducted, the ALD layer cycle comprising a reactive second metal precursor and a co-reactive second metal precursor. An ALD layer cycle of a third metal is conducted, the ALD layer cycle comprising a reactive third metal precursor and a co-reactive third metal precursor. The ALD layer cycles of the first metal, the second metal, and the third metal are repeated to form a material, such as a GeSbTe material, having a desired stoichiometry. Additional methods of forming a material, such as a GeSbTe material, are disclosed, as is a method of forming a semiconductor device structure including a GeSbTe material.
US08148194B2
There is presented a solar cell comprising a semiconductor substrate of one conductivity-type, a layer of the opposite conductivity-type provided on a surface side of the semiconductor substrate, a surface electrode formed thereon, and a backside electrode formed on a backside of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate is formed with protrusions and recesses on the surface side thereof, and spaces that are filled with a glass component of an electrode material of the surface electrode are present in bottom portions of the recesses. This arrangement has eliminated a conventional problem in that silver in the electrode material gets into the bottom portions of the recesses and causes defects to be generated in the recesses due to stress generated during forming of the electrode.
US08148189B2
A method is described to create a thin semiconductor lamina adhered to a ceramic body. The method includes defining a cleave plane in a semiconductor donor body, applying a ceramic mixture to a first face of the semiconductor body, the ceramic mixture including ceramic powder and a binder, curing the ceramic mixture to form a ceramic body, and cleaving a lamina from the semiconductor donor body at the cleave plane, the lamina remaining adhered to the ceramic body. Forming the ceramic body this way allows outgassing of volatiles during the curing step. Devices can be formed in the lamina, including photovoltaic devices. The ceramic body and lamina can withstand high processing temperatures. In some embodiments, the ceramic body may be conductive.
US08148187B2
A method for manufacturing a micromechanical component is described, the micromechanical component having a medium. The medium has settable and changeable volume-elastic properties and generally completely encloses a sensor module and/or a module housing. The medium preferably has a low-pass response.
US08148179B2
A hermetically sealed glass package and method for manufacturing the hermetically sealed glass package are described herein using an OLED display as an example. In one embodiment, the hermetically sealed glass package is manufactured by providing a first substrate plate and a second substrate plate. The second substrate contains at least one transition or rare earth metal such as iron, copper, vanadium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, chromium, neodymium and/or cerium. A sensitive thin-film device that needs protection is deposited onto the first substrate plate. A laser is then used to heat the doped second substrate plate in a manner that causes a portion of it to swell and form a hermetic seal that connects the first substrate plate to the second substrate plate and also protects the thin film device. The second substrate plate is doped with at least one transition metal such that when the laser interacts with it there is an absorption of light from the laser in the second substrate plate, which leads to the formation of the hermetic seal while avoiding thermal damage to the thin-film device. Another embodiment of the hermetically sealed glass package and a method for manufacturing that hermetically sealed glass package are also described herein.
US08148172B2
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to methods for ionophorically screening pore forming bacterial protein toxins and receptors. The method includes: a) forming a membrane comprising a lipid and a receptor, b) contacting the membrane with the pore forming bacterial protein toxin and an ion solution, and c) measuring ion flow through the membrane.
US08148169B2
The invention provides extraction columns for the purification of an analyte (e.g., a biological macromolecule, such as a peptide, protein or nucleic acid) from a sample solution, as well as methods for making and using such columns. The columns typically include a bed of extraction media positioned in the column between two frits. In some embodiments, the extraction columns employ modified pipette tips as column bodies. In some embodiments, the method involves adjusting the head pressure of the column during the process, or otherwise controlling or regulating the head pressure.
US08148163B2
Sample processing units useful for mixing and purifying materials, such as fluidic materials are provided. A sample processing unit typically includes a container configured to contain a sample comprising magnetically responsive particles, and one or more magnets that are in substantially fixed positions relative to the container. A sample processing unit also generally includes a conveyance mechanism configured to convey the container to and from a position that is within magnetic communication with the magnet, e.g., such that magnetically responsive particles with captured analytes can be retained within the container when other materials are added to and/or removed from the container. Further, a sample processing unit also typically includes a rotational mechanism that is configured to rotate the container, e.g., to effect mixing of sample materials disposed within the container. Related carrier mechanisms, sample processing stations, systems, and methods are also provided.
US08148161B2
Disclosed herein is a composition having: a polymer having a carbosilane or siloxane backbone and pendant hydrogen-bond acidic groups; and a filler material having polar groups. The polymer is not covalently bound to the filler material.
US08148158B1
Calix[4]arenes of Formula I are useful for selectively detecting Zn2+ ion.
US08148157B2
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods comprising two or more proteins in which at least one of the proteins has been altered to reduce their mutual recognition and binding. Such compositions are useful as reference, calibrators or controls in methods and assays for determining the amount of one or more of the proteins that may be present in a sample of interest or in confirming the presence of one or more of the proteins in the sample. More particularly, it relates to compositions and methods comprising altered placental growth factor-1 (PlGF-1) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) and methods for determining the amount or confirming the presence of sFlt-1 and/or PlGF-1 in a sample of interest.
US08148150B2
The invention relates to a method for the in vitro production of intervertebral disk cartilage cell transplants from affected intervertebral disk tissue from patients and to the use thereof as transplantation material for the treatment of affected intervertebral disks. The invention also relates to a three-dimensional, vital, and mechanically stable intervertebral disk cartilage tissue and to the use thereof as transplantation material for the treatment of affected intervertebral disks and in testing active substances. Furthermore, the invention is directed to the surgical technique for incorporating the transplants, to the intervertebral disk cell transplants and intervertebral disk cartilage tissues produced, and to therapeutic formulations, e.g. injection solutions, which include said tissue and said cell transplants.
US08148149B2
Provided are methods and compositions for constructing stable mammalian embryonic epithelial tissues and organs as well as constructing kidney tissue, and treating renal failure. Disclosed are methods of using an active epithelial growth factor having the capability of effectuating induction of growth and morphogenesis is cells.
US08148147B2
The present invention relates to the field of oncology and provides novel compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating pancreatic cancer. In particular, the present invention provides pancreatic cancer stem cells useful for the study, diagnosis, and treatment of solid tumors.
US08148145B2
Herein is described a modified viral vector comprising: a coat protein modified, for example by the addition of a cysteine residue, such that the modified viral vector yields less soluble virus relative to that from an unmodified viral vector upon extraction of plant material infected with the modified viral vector, thereby facilitating purification of a recombinant protein expressed from the modified viral vector. Also described is a method of reducing viral coat protein impurities during purification of a recombinant protein, a method of biocontainment for a recombinant viral vector, and a method of generating virus inoculum for the modified viral vector.
US08148141B2
Disclosed is a peptide-immobilized substrate for measuring a target protein, with which the peptide can have a structure required for being recognized by the target protein, with which the accurate loading amount of the peptide can be attained, and by which a trace amount of the target protein may be measured accurately and simply. The peptide-immobilized substrate for measuring a target protein according to the present invention comprises a chemically synthesized peptide having an expected spatial structure or having a binding ability with the target protein, which peptide can bind with the target protein and is immobilized on the substrate.
US08148137B2
The present invention relates to mutant microorganisms having improved productivity of branched-chain amino acids, and a method for producing branched-chain amino acids using the mutant microorganisms. More specifically, relates to mutant microorganisms having improved productivity of L-valine, which are produced by attenuating or deleting a gene encoding an enzyme involved in L-isoleucine biosynthesis, a gene encoding an enzyme involved in L-leucine, and a gene encoding an enzyme involved in D-pantothenic acid biosynthesis, and mutating a gene encoding an enzyme involved in L-valine biosynthesis, such that the expression thereof is increased, as well as a method for producing L-valine using the mutant microorganisms. The inventive mutant microorganisms produced by site-specific mutagenesis and metabolic pathway engineering can produce branched-chain amino acids, particularly L-valine, with high efficiency, and thus will be useful as industrial microorganisms for producing L-valine.
US08148130B2
T4 bacteriophages are bound to substrates such as liposomes using a binder.
US08148129B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for regulating gene expression using transcription factors linked to proteins that localize to the transcriptional machinery.
US08148126B2
The invention relates to thermostable polymerases that have polymerase activity temperatures in the range from 90.degree. C. up to 113.degree. C., such as those derived from Pyrolobus fumaria, and to polynucleotides encoding the polymerases In addition, methods of designing new thermostable DNA polymerases and methods of use thereof are also provided. The polymerases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.
US08148121B2
The present invention relates to Δ6 desaturases, which have the ability to convert linoleic acid [“LA”; 18:2 ω-6] to γ-linolenic acid [“GLA”; 18:3 ω-6] and/or α-linolenic acid [“ALA”; 18:3 ω-3] to stearidonic acid [“STA”; 18:4 ω-3]. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding Δ6 desaturases, along with methods of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [“PUFAs”] using these Δ6 desaturases in oleaginous yeast, are disclosed.
US08148120B2
Disclosed are methods that can advantageously utilize the natural consumptive and conversion processes of an aquatic organism culture system to concentrate and separate microbial plant-generated lipids. For instance, an aquatic organism culture can be maintained and/or grown upon an algal biomass. The natural conversion processes of the animals allows for uptake and processing of the components of the algal biomass into animal lipid. The aquatic animal culture can then be easily harvested such that a high percentage of the converted algal-generated lipid can be extracted using a low cost, simple and quick process. The disclosed processes provide an efficient oil production, conversion and recovery system that can be economically scaled up for use in, for example, integrated bioenergy and biodiesel production.
US08148119B2
A vitamin D3 hydroxylase is purified from Pseudonocardia autotrophica cell, and a primer is designed based on amino acid sequence obtained from hydroxylase. Subsequently, PCR is conducted using genomic DNA of Pseudonocardia autotrophica as a template to clone a gene for the vitamin D3 hydroxylase. By conducting a conversion reaction using a microorganism in which the vitamin D3 hydroxylase gene is expressed using a proper expression system, a hydroxide of vitamin D or the like (e.g., hydroxy vitamin D3) can be produced with high efficiency.
US08148118B2
The present invention relates to a recyclable method to prepare chirally pure epoxides directly from olefins using a novel chiral acid 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-L-gulonic acid monohydrate as chiral inducer and anhydrous hydrogen peroxide in the form of urea hydrogen peroxide adduct (UHP) as oxidant and lipase enzyme as catalyst. Under the influence of lipase, the chiral acid 2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-keto-L-gulonic acid monohydrate is converted to per-acid in situ by the oxidant urea hydrogen peroxide which in turn transfers oxygen to olefin inducing chirality to the product epoxide. Using this technique, important epoxide building blocks of different industrially important compounds can be prepared with good yield and moderate enantioselectivity. Chiral epoxidation of olefins with environment friendly catalytic system that can be recycled is highly desirable in the context of Green Chemistry for preparation of many industrially important compounds.
US08148116B2
A sample processing device may include an opening, a sample pretreatment unit, a thermal cycling reaction unit, and a detection unit.
US08148109B2
The present invention provides Interferon-Like (IFN-L) polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also provides selective binding agents, vectors, host cells, and methods for producing IFN-L polypeptides. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, and/or prevention of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with IFN-L polypeptides.
US08148096B2
A method for the detection and/or measurement in vitro of a lipase or phospholipase activity, including the addition of a sample likely to contain said lipase or phospholipase into the wells of microtitration plates coated with a layer of a lipid substrate which is able to be hydrolyzed by the lipase or phospholipase by releasing α-eleostearic acid, and the detection and/or the measurement of the lipase or phospholipase activity by UV spectrophotometry of the α-eleostearic acid released during the previous stage. The application of this method to the in vitro diagnosis of pathologies linked to an increase in the plasma lipase level.
US08148093B2
This invention relates to a method for assessing risk of prostate cancer. Specifically, it relates to utilizing both Pro108 and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in combination to determine the risk of prostate cancer. In addition, it is directed to a method for assessing risk of ovarian, colon, breast or stomach cancer utilizing Pro108 or specific antibodies to Pro108. The invention provides isolated anti-prostate, ovarian, colon, breast or stomach cancer antigen (Pro108) antibodies that bind to Pro108 on a mammalian cell in vivo. The invention also encompasses compositions comprising an anti-Pro108 antibody and a carrier. These compositions can be provided in an article of manufacture or a kit. Another aspect of the invention is an isolated nucleic acid encoding an anti-Pro108 antibody, as well as an expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid. Also provided are cells that produce the anti-Pro108 antibodies. The invention encompasses a method of producing the anti-Pro108 antibodies. Other aspects of the invention are a method of killing an Pro108-expressing cancer cell, comprising contacting Pro108 present in the ECM with an anti-Pro108 antibody and a method of alleviating or treating an Pro108-expressing cancer in a mammal, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-Pro108 antibody to the mammal.
US08148092B2
The present invention includes a system and method that uses optical LID biosensors to monitor in real time agonist-induced GPCR signaling events within living cells. Particularly, the present invention includes a system and method for using an optical LID biosensor to screen compounds against a target GPCR within living cells based on the mass redistribution due to agonist-induced GPCR activation. In an extended embodiment, the present invention discloses different ways for self-referencing the optical LID biosensor to eliminate unwanted sensitivity to ambient temperature, pressure fluctuations, and other environmental changes. In yet another extended embodiment, the present invention discloses different ways for screening multiple GPCRs in a single type of cell or multiple GPCRs in multiple types of cells within a single medium solution. In still yet another extended embodiment, the present invention discloses different ways to confirm the physiological or pharmacological effect of a compound against a specific GPCR within living cells.
US08148090B2
The present invention relates to a method for predicting the postoperative prognosis of a lung adenocarcinoma patient with high sensitivity and/or specificity by identifying a protein with an expression level that specifically varies in a lung adenocarcinoma patient, comprising: step (a) of determining expression levels of myosin IIA and/or vimentin in a biological sample collected from a lung adenocarcinoma patient; and step (b) of predicting or determining a prognosis based on the expression levels of myosin IIA and/or vimentin obtained as a result of determination.
US08148088B2
The invention relates to polypeptides and proteins known to function in the autophagy pathway that have novel phosphorylation sites. The invention also relates to antibodies specific to these polypeptides and proteins that are phosphorylated or not phosphorylated at novel phosphorylated sites. The invention also relates to methods of producing these antibodies and use of these antibodies in the treatment of diseases related to autophagocytosis.
US08148071B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for isolating and purifying nucleic acid. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of isolating nucleic acid from cells for use in further analysis.
US08148068B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for attaching oligonucleotide tags to polynucleotides for the purpose of carrying out analytical assays in parallel and for decoding the oligonucleotide tags of polynucleotides selected in such assays. Words, or subunits, of oligonucleotide tags index submixtues in successively more complex sets of submixtures (referred to herein as “tiers” of submixtures) that a polynucleotide goes through while successive words are added to a growing tag. By identifying each word of an oligonucleotide tag, a series of submixtures is identified including the first submixture that contains only a single polynucleotide, thereby providing the identity of the selected polynucleotide. The analysis of the words of an oligonucleotide tag can be carried out in parallel, e.g. by specific hybridization of the oligonucleotide tag to its tag complement on an addressable array; or such analysis can be carried out serially by successive specific hybridizations of labeled word complements, or the like.
US08148066B2
The present invention relates to a nucleic acid hybridization method and in particular to a method using a microfluidic chip-based hybridization device with modified procedures which shows the advantages of simplicity and efficiency. The method of the present invention is to mix the test nucleic acid and the probe nucleic acid in advance, feed the solution into a hybridization device with a porous substrate, let the nucleic acid to be analyzed absorb into the substrate. The washing solution is then injected into the same device to wash out the unhybridized probes and the signals of hybridization absorbed on the substrate are detected for analysis. The conventional 2-step approach for the hybridization of the nucleic acid to be analyzed and the probe is combined into one step by the method of the invention provided here, which simplifies the necessary steps and shorten the time needed for hybridization reaction and detection.
US08148064B2
Nucleosides and nucleotides are disclosed that are linked to detectable labels via a cleavable linker group.
US08148063B2
A nucleic acid probe for classification of pathogenic bacterial species is capable of collectively detecting bacterial strains of the same species and differentially detecting them from other bacterial species. Any one of the base sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 49 to 51 or a combination of at least two of them is used for detecting the gene of an infectious disease pathogenic bacterium.
US08148058B2
An allergic disease-related substance is screened from candidate substances based on the reactivity to a plurality of cell lines, which are basophil-like or mast cell-like cell lines derived from the same spleen tissue and have different sensitivities to allergic cytokines. Further, an allergic disease-related substance is screened from candidate substances using at least one basophil-like or mast cell-like cell lines selected from the group consisting of R cell (Deposit No. FERM BP-10918), N 62.5 cell (Deposit No. FERM BP-10919) and RCCM cell (Deposit No. FERM BP-10920).
US08148054B2
This invention discloses an immersion multiple-exposure method including a first exposure step of performing, using a first mask, immersion exposure of a photoresist film formed on a substrate, a cleaning step of clearing the surface of the substrate, and a second exposure step of performing immersion exposure of the photoresist film using a second mask. No heating process is performed between the first exposure step and the second exposure step.
US08148049B2
A manufacturing method of an ink jet recording head includes steps of forming a liquid flow path mold material of a soluble resin on a substrate on which an energy generating element is formed, the energy generating element being configured to generate energy for use in discharging ink; forming a coating resin layer of a negative photosensitive resin on the substrate on which the mold material is formed; exposing and developing the coating resin layer to form an ink discharge port in the coating resin layer; and dissolving and removing the mold material to form a liquid flow path. During the exposing of the coating resin layer, a total amount of exposure energy per unit area applied to an exposure region other than a region of the coating resin layer positioned above the mold material is greater than that of exposure energy per unit area applied to the region of the coating resin layer positioned above the mold material.
US08148044B2
A positive photosensitive composition includes at least one compound that when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, generates any of the sulfonic acids of general formula (I) and a resin whose solubility in an alkali developer is increased by the action of an acid, wherein each of X1 and X2 independently represents a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group, R1 represents a group with a polycyclic structure, provided that the polycyclic structure may have a substituent, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a chain alkyl group, a monocyclic alkyl group, a group with a polycyclic structure or a monocyclic aryl group, provided that each of the chain alkyl group, monocyclic alkyl group, polycyclic structure and monocyclic aryl group may have a substituent, and provided that R1 and R2 may be bonded to each other to thereby form a polycyclic structure.
US08148036B2
A photomask blank comprises a transparent substrate, a light-shielding film of an optionally transition metal-containing silicon material, and an etching mask film of a chromium compound base material. The etching mask film consists of multiple layers of different composition which are deposited by reactive sputtering, the multiple layers including, in combination, a first layer of a material which imparts a compression stress when deposited on the substrate as a single composition layer and a second layer of a material which imparts a tensile stress when deposited on the substrate as a single composition layer.
US08148032B2
A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and first and second metal plates sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. The first metal plate has positioning ribs for positioning the outer region of the membrane electrode assembly. The first and second metal plates are positioned in alignment with each other by the first and second insulating bushings attached to first and second positioning holes of the first and second metal plates. Further, the first and second metal plates sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly are fastened together by a plurality of metal clip members.
US08148026B2
Disclosed are a multi-layered electrode for fuel cell and a method for producing the same, wherein the electrode can be operated under non-humidification and normal temperature, the flooding of the electrode catalyst layer can be prevented, and the long-term operation characteristic can be increased due to the prevention of the loss of the electrode catalyst layer.
US08148017B2
An electrochemical energy storage device includes a negative electrode which contains a carbon material and has a negative electrode potential of 1.4 V or less relative to a lithium reference when being charged, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution prepared by dissolving a lithium salt, an ammonium salt, and at least one kind of fluorinated benzene selected among hexafluorobenzene, pentafluorobenzene, 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorobenzene, 1,2,3,5-tetrafluorobenzene, 1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene and 1,2,3-trifluorobenzene, in a non-aqueous solvent.
US08148016B2
A cathode active material composition of a cathode of a lithium battery includes a conducting agent, a binder, and a cathode active material coated on one surface of a current collector, wherein the cathode active material composition is coated with a vanadium oxide.
US08148012B2
In a method for manufacturing a negative electrode for a battery, an active material layer including a metallic element M and an element A that is at least any one of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon is formed on a current collector. This active material layer is irradiated with an X-ray and at least one of intensity of a Kα ray of the element A and intensity of a Kα ray of the metallic element M in fluorescent X-rays generated from the active material layer is measured.
US08148010B2
A bipolar battery and a battery assembly unit that reduces a current density change in a battery element is disclosed. The bipolar battery comprises a battery element configured by alternately stacking a bipolar electrode and an electrolyte layer, as well as cathode and anode terminal plates electrically connected to the battery element so as to extract the current from the battery element. In the bipolar battery, the total electrical resistance of the cathode and anode terminal plates along the surface direction is smaller than the total electrical resistance of the battery element along the stacking direction between the cathode and anode terminal plates.
US08148008B2
Negative active material compositions for rechargeable lithium batteries, negative electrodes for rechargeable lithium batteries, and rechargeable lithium batteries using the negative active material compositions are provided. The negative active material composition includes a negative active material, a polyimide precursor compound, and a highly flexible polymer. The negative active material composition prevents the electrode substrate from bending, thereby improving the capacity and cycle-life characteristics of the battery.
US08148007B2
An organic electrolyte solution includes a lithium salt; an organic solvent including a high permittivity solvent and a low boiling solvent; and a vinyl-based compound represented by Formula 1 below, wherein m and n are each independently integers of 1 to 10; X1, X2, and X3 each independently represent O, S, or NR9; and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are represented in the detailed description. The organic electrolyte solution of the present invention and a lithium battery using the same suppress degradation of an electrolyte, providing improved cycle properties and life span thereof.
US08148003B2
In a power storage apparatus, for storing DC electric power, which is configured by connecting in series a plurality of modules each including a plurality of cells connected with one another, by providing two first switches at the input portion and at the output portion of the power storage apparatus and a second switch, in series with the modules, at a connection position where the modules are connected, the voltage to ground in the apparatus is lowered.
US08147987B2
An organic electroluminescent element comprises: a pair of electrodes; and one or more organic compound layers at least one of which is a light-emitting layer, the one or more organic compound layers being provided between the pair of electrodes, wherein at least one of the one or more organic compound layers comprises a compound represented by general formula (Z): wherein R31 and R32 each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R3A represents a substituent other than an aromatic hetero ring connected through a nitrogen atom, or a hydrogen atom, X31 to X38 each represents a substituted or unsubstituted carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, and Y31 to Y33 each represents a nitrogen atom or C—R3B (wherein R3B represents a substituent other than an aromatic hetero ring connected through a nitrogen atom, or a hydrogen atom).
US08147983B2
A tin-plated steel sheet includes a plating layer containing tin on at least one surface of a steel sheet, and a chemical conversion coating containing P and tin on the plating layer is provided. In the steel sheet, a coated amount of the chemical conversion coating per surface is 1.0 to 50 mg/m2 in terms of P, an atomic ratio Sn/P obtained from the intensity of a P2p peak and that of a Sn3d peak is 1.0 to 1.5, the intensities being measured at the surface using an x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic method, and an atomic ratio O/P obtained from the intensity of the P2p peak and that of an O1s peak is 4.0 to 9.0. The phosphoric acid-based chemical conversion coating of the tin-plated steel sheet can suppress degradation in performance, which is caused by the growth of a tin oxide layer on the surface, instead of a conventional chromate coating.
US08147972B2
A coated article is provided that may be used as a vehicle windshield, insulating glass (IG) window unit, or the like. Ion beam treatment is performed on a layer(s) of the coating. For example, a silicon nitride layer of a low-E coating may be ion beam treated. It has been found that ion beam treatment, for example, of a silicon nitride underlayer is advantageous in that sodium migration from the glass substrate toward the IR reflecting layer(s) can be reduced during heat treatment.
US08147969B2
The invention relates to a substrate (1) provided with a thin-film multilayer comprising an alternation of n functional layers (3) having reflection properties in the infrared and/or in solar radiation, and (n+1) coatings (2, 5), where n≧1, said coatings being composed of a layer or a plurality of layers (2a, 2b, 5a, 5b), characterized in that, in order to preserve the optical and/or mechanical quality of the multilayer in the case in which the substrate (1) provided with said multilayer is subjected to a heat treatment of the toughening, bending or annealing type, at least one of the functional layers (3) includes a blocker coating (4) consisting of: on the one hand, a “protection” layer made of a material capable of helping to protect the functional layer from oxidizing and/or nitriding attack, immediately in contact with said functional layer; and on the other hand, at least one “adhesion” layer made of a material capable of promoting adhesion, immediately in contact with said “protection” layer.
US08147963B2
A synthetic ice apparatus and method are provided. In one embodiment, a first layer is molded utilizing a mold of a natural ice form. Additionally, a second layer is coupled to the first layer for providing a rigid backing to the first layer. In another embodiment, a layer is molded utilizing a mold of a natural ice form, where such layer is of a predetermined thickness for providing rigidity.
US08147958B2
A flexible thermoplastic composition comprises a poly(arylene ether), a first block copolymer, a second block copolymer and a flame retardant wherein the second block copolymer comprises a controlled distribution copolymer block. The flexible thermoplastic composition is useful in the manufacture of coated wires.
US08147953B2
An object of the invention is to provide a laminate which is good in adhesiveness between a substrate and a thin film laminated thereon by a dry film-forming method such as a chemical vapor growth method or a vacuum evaporation method even if the substrate is a polymer substrate made of a nonpolar polymer; and a process for producing the same. In order to attain the above-mentioned object, the invention provides a laminate comprising a polymer substrate, a primer layer comprising a cyclized rubber which is a conjugated diene polymer cyclized product or a derivative thereof, the layer being formed on the surface of the polymer substrate, and a thin film laminated on the surface of the primer layer by a dry film-forming method; and a process for producing the same.
US08147951B2
A composite air and foam protective packaging product comprises a packaging cushion having, in cross-section, at least three plies of plastic film, foam between a first ply and a second ply of the three plies of plastic film, and air between the second ply and a third ply of the three plies of plastic film.
US08147948B1
Printed articles are provided. In one aspect a printed article has a first toner image with a first toner particles having a median volume weighted diameter between about 3 um and 9 um and having a first charge-to-mass ratio, a second toner image with second toner particles having a median volume weighted diameter greater than about 20 um and having a charge-to-mass ratio that is between ⅓ to ½ of the first charge-to-mass ratio times the ratio of the volume weighted average diameter of the first toner to the volume weighted average diameter of the second toner, and a receiver on which the first toner image and the second toner image are formed.
US08147934B2
An easy-open package formed from a peelable thermoplastic laminate and adapted to peel open, whereby the manually tearing the package causes a removable strip to form thereby exposing a product enclosed therein.
US08147933B2
The invention relates to a tubular food wrapping made of an absorbent material that is imbibed with colorants and/or flavorings which can be transferred to a food item placed in the wrapping. The inventive food wrapping consists of a textile envelope, preferably comprising a longitudinal seam. Also disclosed are a method for producing said wrapping and the use thereof.
US08147920B2
A carbon nanotube (CNT) attraction material is deposited on a substrate in the gap region between two electrodes on the substrate. An electric potential is applied to the two electrodes. The CNT attraction material is wetted with a solution defined by a carrier liquid having carbon nanotubes (CNTs) suspended therein. A portion of the CNTs align with the electric field and adhere to the CNT attraction material. The carrier liquid and any CNTs not adhered to the CNT attraction material are then removed.
US08147906B2
The present invention relates to a polarizer and a method for produce for producing the same, and an LCD device. The polarizer includes a glass substrate and a metal wire grating disposed on the glass substrate. The polarizer disposed on the LCD device can greatly lower cost of the polarizer and the LCD device. Besides, the polarizer does not absorb incident lights so as to greatly reduce energy loss of lights passing through the polarizer and improve the utilization rate of light energy. The method includes: disposing a cathode and an anode in parallel on one glass substrate; connecting the cathode and the anode to a direct current power supply; dropping solution containing metal positive ions between the cathode and the anode; disposing another glass substrate on the cathode and the anode; adjusting temperature of the solution until the solution is frozen to be ice; adjusting the temperature until a liquid layer appears between the one glass substrate and the ice; and supplying power for the cathode and the anode so as to obtain the polarizer, which can greatly simplify the producing process of the polarizer and lower the producing cost of the polarizer.
US08147902B2
An electro luminescence display device having a display area and a non-display area includes a plurality of display organic light emission layers formed in the display area and a dummy organic light emission layer formed in the non-display area.
US08147901B2
Provided herein is a method of manufacturing a gas sensor. The method includes forming electrodes on a surface of a substrate, manufacturing a paste having a complex of CNTs and a metal-ligand complex comprising a metal that has gas adsorption selectivity for specific gases, coating the paste on the substrate to cover the electrodes, patterning the paste by a photolithography process, and reducing the metal-ligand complex included in the patterned paste.
US08147890B1
A method of testing pressed food product operational characteristics of a food processor having a press as a portion of a processing line as contemplated. Specifically, the test mold station provides a mold plate having at least one cavity less than an operational mold cavity and has spacers having a combined width greater than a width of the test mold plate.
US08147881B2
The invention describes stabile anthocyanin compositions, methods to prepare such compositions and also methods of use of such compositions to treat various afflictions. The present invention describes unique compositions of an anthocyanin and a stabilizing compound such that the combination of the two components provides that the anthocyanin does not readily undergo degradation, such as oxidation, pH instability, etc.
US08147880B2
This invention relates to a method of treating type II diabetes with a polyacetylenic compound of the following formula: in which R1 is H, C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkenyl, C1-C20 heterocycloalkyl, C1-C20 heterocycloalkenyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; R2 is H or a monosaccharide residue; R3 is H or C1-C10 alkyl; m is 2, 3, or 4; n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; o is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; and p is 1, 2, 3, or 4.
US08147868B2
The invention provides a physiologically active polypeptide- or protein-encapsulating polymer micelle composition derived from a block copolymer comprising hydrophilic segments and hydrophobic segments.
US08147851B2
The treatment of humans or other mammals for eczema and/or psoriasis using dosage forms or compositions that include cetyl myristate alone or (in admixture or serially) both cetyl myristate and cetyl palmitate.
US08147843B2
The present invention refers to fusion proteins comprising a TNF superfamily (TNFSF) cytokine or a receptor binding domain thereof fused to a trimerization domain and a nucleic acid molecule encoding the fusion protein. The fusion protein is present as a trimeric complex or as an oligomer thereof and is suitable for therapeutic, diagnostic and/or research applications.
US08147840B2
This invention relates to novel peptide immunogens that generate an immune response in mammals against HIV gp41, to pharmaceutical compositions that comprise such immunogens, and to methods of treating Immunodeficiency disease, especially HIV infection and AIDS, that employ such pharmaceutical compositions.
US08147828B2
Methods and compositions for modulating blood-neural barrier (BNB) for the treatment of CNS conditions such as edema, and for increased drug delivery efficacy across the BNB. The present invention further relates to improved tPA treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular and related diseases in combination with antagonism of the PDGF signaling pathway. The inventive method and composition is particularly suitable for conjunctive therapy of ischemic stroke using tPA and an anti-PDGF-C antagonist or an anti-PDGFR-α antagonist.
US08147820B2
An attenuated bacteria has been made by an insertion mutation in the iglC gene of Francisella asiatica, by allelic exchange. The attenuated strain proved to be an effective vaccine by providing protection against an infection of F. asiatica in tilapia, and is believed would at least partially immunize fish from other species of Francisella. The vaccine of the attenuated Francisella asiatica ΔiglC mutant can also serve as vectors to present antigens from other pathogens to the fish, thereby serving as vaccines against other pathogens as well. In addition, a highly sensitive and specific assay that can be used for the specific identification of F. asiatica in fish has been developed.
US08147803B2
The present invention provides a biomimetic contrast agent comprising an amine-functionalized iron (II) oxide/iron(III) oxide nanoparticle core a targeting ligand attached to the nanoparticle core via a linker and an inert outer layer of a hydrophilic polymer conjugated to the targeting ligand and imaging methods using the biomimetic contrast agents. Also, provided is a dual functional contrast agent comprising a metal-doped iron (II) oxide/iron(III) oxide nanoparticle core, an inert layer of gold coating the nanoparticle core and a biodegradable cationic polymer linked thereto. The dual functional contrast agent is complexed to a therapeutic gene and when transfected into mesenchymal stem cells comprises a dual contrast agent and gene delivery system. In addition, methods of using the dual functional system are provided. Furthermore, kits comprising the biomimetic contrast agents and the dual contrast agent and gene delivery system are provided.
US08147798B2
The present method for determining the efficacy of therapy in the treatment of amyloidosis involves administering to a patient in need thereof a compound of formula (I) or Formula (II) or structures 1-45 and imaging the patient. After said imaging, at least one anti-amyloid agent is administered to said patient. Then, an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or Formula (II) or structures 1-45 is administered to the patient and the patient is imaged again. Finally, baseline levels of amyloid deposition in the patient before treatment with the anti-amyloid agent are compared with levels of amyloid deposition in the patient following treatment with the anti-amyloid agent.
US08147797B2
A system for cooling and recuperative heating of a slurry in a metallurgical process which includes heat exchangers, pumps and autoclaves is described herein. The heat exchangers use a non-scaling common liquid heat transfer medium. Preferably, the heat exchangers are tube-in-tube heat exchangers with 3 to 7 slurry tubes in each heat exchanger. An advantage of this system is that it does not use flash tanks. To minimize abrasive wear on impinged surfaces, the velocity of the slurry is not more than 5 meters per second. The slurry comprises a solids concentration of 25% to 50%. Preferably, the pumps in the system are float-type pumps in which the driven liquid from the discharge pumps is also used as the drive liquid for the feed pumps.
US08147794B2
The invention relates to manufacturing titanium dioxide by oxidizing titanium tetrachloride by a multi-stage method, where liquid titanium tetrachloride is used in a first and gaseous titanium tetrachloride is used in a second stage. The process is energetically more favorable and offers the possibility, to a certain extent, of controlling the mean particle size of the end product.
US08147786B2
A film-forming apparatus includes a processing chamber, and TiCl4 gas and NH3 gas are supplied into the processing chamber for forming a TiN film on a substrate W in the processing chamber by CVD. The processing chamber has a gas exhaust system. The gas exhaust system includes a gas exhaust pipe for exhausting the exhaust gas in the processing chamber a trap mechanism provided to the gas exhaust pipe for trapping a by-product in the exhaust gas, and a heated reaction gas supply mechanism for supplying a heated reaction gas into the exhaust gas. The heated reaction gas is adapted to react with a component in the exhaust gas to produce a by-product. Specifically, NH3 gas is supplied by the heated reaction gas supply mechanism as the heated reaction gas, and NH4Cl is produced as the by-product.
US08147784B2
Combined removal of both ammonia from an ammonia-containing waste gas and nitrogen oxides from a nitrogen oxide-containing waste gas in a combined ammonia/urea synthesis plant is accomplished by mixing the gases and employing one or both of selective non-catalytic reduction at a temperature of 850° C. to 1100° C. or selective catalytic reduction at a temperature of 150° C. to 550° C., in which the ammonia and the nitrogen oxides react with one another to give nitrogen and water, the ammonia-containing waste gas derived from a low-pressure and/or atmospheric absorber of the urea synthesis plant, and the nitrogen oxide-containing waste gas derived from a flue gas duct of a primary reformer of the ammonia synthesis plant, both the ammonia and the nitrogen oxides of the mixed waste gas flows being depleted simultaneously during the same process step.
US08147780B2
Wet process of low environmental impact recovers the lead content of an electrode slime and/or of lead minerals in the valuable form of high purity-lead carbonates that are convertible to highly pure lead oxide by heat treatment in oven at relatively low temperature, perfectly suited for making active electrode pastes of new batteries or other uses. The process basically comprises the following steps: a) adding sulphuric acid to a different acid leach suspension of the starting impure material for converting all dissolved lead compounds to insoluble lead sulphate; b) separating the solid phase constituted by lead sulphate and undissolved impurities from the acid leach solution; c) selectively dissolving lead sulphate contained in said separated solid phase in an aqueous solution of a lead solubilizing compound comprising preferably sodium acetate; d) separating the solution containing dissolved lead sulphate from the solid phase residue including undissolved impurities; e) adding to the separated solution of lead sulphate a carbonate of the same cation of said dissolving compound for forming insoluble lead carbonate and/or and lead oxycarbonate and a dissolved sulphate of the same cation; f) separating the precipitated carbonate and/or oxycarbonate of lead from the dissolving solution now containing also sulphate of the cation of said solubilizing compound.
US08147779B2
To provide a method of generating, with good reproducibility and ease and without complicated operations, scorodite which satisfies the elution standard (in accordance with Notification of No. 13 of Japanese Environment Agency) and which has good filterbility and stability for processing arsenic contained in a non-ferrous smelting intermediate, particularly, for processing a diarsenic trioxide form. A method of processing diarsenic trioxide, including: a leaching step of adding water and alkali to a non-ferrous smelting intermediate that contains diarsenic trioxide to produce slurry, heating the slurry, and leaching arsenic; a solution adjusting step of adding an oxidizing agent to the leachate to oxidize trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic so as to obtain an adjusted solution; and a crystallizing step of converting arsenic in the adjusted solution to scorodite crystal.
US08147776B2
An apparatus for synthesizing polymer chains includes a controller, a plurality of precision fit vials circularly arranged in multiple banks on a cartridge, a drain corresponding to each bank of vials, a chamber bowl, a plurality of valves for delivering reagents to selective vials, and a waste tube system for purging material from the vials. A purging operation can be selectively performed on one or more of the banks of vials. The multiple banks of valves provide an additional number of reagent choices while operating in a serial mode and faster reagent distribution while operating in a parallel mode. The plurality of vials are stored in the cartridge and are divided among individual banks wherein each bank of vials has a corresponding drain. There is at least one waste tube system for expelling the reagent solution from vials within a particular bank of vials when the waste tube system is coupled to the corresponding drain. The cartridge holding the plurality of vials rotates relative to the stationary banks of valves and the waste tube system. The controller rotates the cartridge and operates the banks of valves and the waste tube system in response to the required sequence of dispensing various reagent solutions and flushing appropriate vials in order to form the desired polymer chain within each vial.
US08147775B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for mixing and self-cleaning elements in microfluidic systems based on electrothermally induced fluid flow. The apparatus and methods provide for the control of fluid flow in and between components in a microfluidic system to cause the removal of unwanted liquids and particulates or mixing of liquids. The geometry and position of electrodes is adjusted to generate a temperature gradient in the liquid, thereby causing a non-uniform distribution of dielectric properties within the liquid. The dielectric non-uniformity produces a body force and flow in the solution, which is controlled by element and electrode geometries, electrode placement, and the frequency and waveform of the applied voltage.
US08147773B2
A fluid dispenser useful in automated biological reaction systems comprising a barrel having a reservoir chamber, the barrel having an upper portion and a lower portion, a cap located on top of the upper portion of the barrel and connected to the reservoir chamber, the cap having an external surface with at least one hole therethrough, a valve comprising a biasing member and a hole sealer, the valve being located in the hole in the cap at the point where a downward force is applied against the cap, a coupler having a dispense chamber, the coupler being coaxial with the barrel and wherein the barrel lower portion moves into the dispense chamber during dispensing of fluid, and a vent located between the cap and the reservoir chamber, the vent including a vent opening and a vent material composed of oliophobic material.
US08147764B2
A honeycomb structure includes four honeycomb units each including inorganic particles, an inorganic binder, and cell walls extending from a first end face to a second end face along a longitudinal direction to define a plurality of cells. The cell walls includes a first cell walls extending along a first direction in a cross sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a second cell walls extending along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction in the cross sectional plane. Adhesive layers are provided between the four honeycomb units to connect the four honeycomb units. The adhesive layers extend in a first extending direction and a second extending direction substantially perpendicular to the first extending direction in the cross sectional plane. A minimum angle between the first direction and the first extending direction or the second extending direction is approximately 22.5 degrees to approximately 45 degrees.
US08147760B1
A portable apparatus is provided which generates high purity breathable oxygen. The oxygen is produced in a reaction chamber from the reaction between an oxygen generating composition and a water/catalyst solution. The reaction chamber comprises a first compartment containing an oxygen peroxide adduct and a temperature stabilizing material formulated into controlled release tablets and a second sealed compartment containing a catalyst dispersed in an aqueous solution. The temperature stabilizing material undergoes an endothermic reaction upon dissolution in the solution. The tablets dissolve in the solution releasing hydrogen peroxide at a constant rate. The hydrogen peroxide is further decomposed into oxygen and water from contact with the catalyst. A first membrane made from a hydrophobic and gas permeable material, lets oxygen through while containing the reaction materials. A second membrane made of hydrophilic superabsorbent material and impregnated with catalyst particles absorbs any unreacted hydrogen peroxide letting high purity oxygen through.
US08147759B2
A direct rapid automated protein analyzer is disclosed. The protein analyzer includes means for reducing protein samples to small particles, a reaction vessel in material transfer communication with the homogenizer, a reservoir for binding dye composition in fluid communication with the reaction vessel, a metering pump in fluid communication with the reservoir and the reaction vessel for distributing discrete predetermined amounts of a binding dye composition to the reaction vessel, a filter in fluid communication with the reaction vessel for separating solids from filtrate after a dye binding reaction has taken place in the reaction vessel, and a calorimeter in fluid communication with the filter and the reaction vessel for measuring the absorbance of the filtrate from the reaction vessel and the filter. The rapid analyzer can be used in conjunction with a kit that includes a sample cup for mixing a protein sample with a dye-binding solution and a filter holder for being positioned in the sample cup. The filter holder includes a filter media and a depending spout below the filter media that reaches bottom portions of the cup when the filter media is positioned above the cup. The kit can also include dye concentrate solution.
US08147758B2
A sensor including a substrate and a sensing element disposed on a substrate is provided. The sensing element includes a sensing matrix in contact with a flow of water, an indicator for one or more chemical species in the flow of water, and a selectivity component that reacts reversibly with the one or more chemical species. The sensor also includes a light source configured to direct light through the substrate and the sensing element. The sensor further includes a light detector configured to receive transmitted light from the substrate and the sensing matrix and to generate a signal representative of selective wavelengths of the light indicative of the one or more chemical species in the flow of water.
US08147752B2
The present invention provides an aqueous solution of a sterilant of peracetic acid series for use in aseptic filling comprised predominantly of hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid and water wherein a pH of the aqueous solution is 2˜4, a ratio of the concentration of hydrogen peroxide/the concentration of peracetic acid is 0.7 or less, and the concentration of peracetic acid is 500˜3000 ppm as well as a sterilization method wherein the sterilant thereof is used. The sterilant of peracetic acid series exhibits an excellent sterilizing effect even at an extremely low concentration of peracetic acid and so is economically advantageous. What is more, washing of the sterilant with sterile water after sterilization of a container is attained by injecting sterile water even for a short period of time to such level that the sterilized container can be filled with foods and drinks, so that the sterilant is remarkable in economical value and working efficiency. The sterilization method is carried out by heating the sterilant of peracetic acid series and/or a container for foods and the like or the interior surface thereof at 60° C. or higher to obtain more effective sterilizing effect and can be used in a recycling system, so far as a ratio of the concentration of hydrogen peroxide/the concentration of peracetic acid be maintained.
US08147747B2
A swirling column nozzle comprises a nozzle body with an air chamber defined therein; an outlet portion, a feed pipe penetrating through the air chamber and extending to the outlet portion, an oxygen supplying portion disposed on the nozzle body, the outlet portion is formed with a swirling guide part for moving a mixture of the oxygen gas and the concentrate downwardly in the form of a swirling column. Further, a swirling column smelting equipment and a method thereof are disclosed. The air flow moves downwardly in a substantially swirling column, so the chemical reaction path and reaction time are extended remarkably, allowing the reduction of the height of the reaction shaft.
US08147742B2
A lithography method includes the steps of: A) filling a mold having a patterned surface with a phase change composition at a temperature above the phase change temperature of the phase change composition; B) hardening the phase change composition to form a patterned feature; C) separating the mold and the patterned feature; optionally D) etching the patterned feature; optionally E) cleaning the mold; and optionally F) repeating steps A) to D) reusing the mold. The PCC may include an organofunctional silicone wax.
US08147717B2
A green emitting phosphor is provided, allowing the internal quantum efficiency to be increased. The green emitting phosphor comprises a mother crystal containing Sr, Ga and S, and a luminescent center, characterized in that, in an XRD pattern, the ratio of the diffraction intensity of the maximum peak appearing at diffraction angle 2θ=14 to 20° over the diffraction intensity of the maximum peak appearing at diffraction angle 2θ=21 to 27° is 0.4 or greater.
US08147702B2
The present disclosure describes using the naturally present dissolved chemicals as precipitants from local water sources to form an adsorbent. The adsorbent may be collected and used at the right pH and temperature to purify and remove heavy metals from waste water. Once the heavy metals are removed the concentration of the heavy metals are estimated in the reusable water. The local authority acceptable level heavy metal containing reusable water is reclaimed for non-human consumption. This disclosure enables to conserve water and provide a cheap and an effective method to decontaminate industrial waste water.
US08147697B2
Water from underground and other sources of water are brackish and not suitable for human consumption. Naturally present dissolved chemicals in water make it brackish. The precipitants and dissolved chemicals need to be separated from water to make it consumable. A combination of aeration systems, filtration systems, crystallizers and hydrophobic membrane carrying filter are used to desalinate the brackish water. Solar energy and ceramic filters are used as add on to existing technology. Various heat exchange apparatus are used for energy conservation and efficient processing of water in a feasible way. The disclosure enables to purify water and provide a useful technology to eradicate water scarcity.
US08147695B2
A process for removing phosphorus from wastewater wherein an iron or aluminum salt is added to the wastewater. The iron or aluminum salt results in the precipitation of certain iron or aluminum species that include phosphorus adsorption sites. These iron or phosphorus species are settled and become a part of sludge produced in the course of the wastewater treatment process. By recycling substantial portions of the sludge, the concentration of these iron or aluminum species in the wastewater is increased. This increased concentration results in the presence of large quantities of unused phosphorus adsorption sites that attract and adsorb phosphorus, resulting in phosphorus being removed from the wastewater.
US08147694B2
The induction of reducing conditions and stimulating anaerobic process through the addition of species of seaweed (Dulse, Nori, Ascophyllum nodosum, and Kelp) to accomplish accelerated dechlorinization of soil and groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents and heavy metals.
US08147689B1
A dewatering conveyor system for dewatering chunks of petroleum coke or the like material which is mixed with large volumes of water, wherein the conveyor employs lateral drag bars, the top flight of which conveyor slides forwardly on a screening deck having dewatering screens, and the bottom flight of which conveyor slides rearwardly on a sluice deck underlying the screening deck, wherein a major portion of the conveyor rearward of its discharge end is contained by tail end wall means and side and bottom wall means which can contain large volumes of coke and water, wherein, for handling large volumes of water the discharge end of the conveyor is elevated, e.g., up to 20 ft. or more above the tail end of the conveyor such that water dropping thru the screens will run down toward the tail end of the conveyor and leave the discharge end above the water line, and wherein a drain port is located thru the bottom wall means at a tail end portion thereof.
US08147684B2
A lubricant filtration assembly is provided for quick attachment with a lubricant reservoir, for pre-filtering lubricant and pumping the lubricant into its intended machinery.
US08147683B2
A portable lubricant filtration system and method is provided for facile pre-filtering of used or new lubricant prior to pumping the lubricant into its intended machinery.
US08147677B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for introducing a high-density hydrocarbon liquid into a hydrocracking reactor. The method comprises atomizing the high-density hydrocarbon liquid and injecting the atomized liquid into the hydrocracking reactor. The method may also comprise mixing hydrogen with the high-density hydrocarbon liquid prior to atomizing the high-density hydrocarbon liquid. The apparatus comprises an injection valve for introducing a high-density hydrocarbon liquid into a hydrocracking reactor comprises an atomizer coupled to receive the high-density hydrocarbon liquid. The atomizer comprises a nozzle configured to atomize the high-density hydrocarbon liquid and inject the high-density hydrocarbon liquid into the hydrocracking reactor. The injection valve may also comprise a mixer coupled to receive hydrogen and the high-density hydrocarbon liquid. The mixer may be configured to mix the hydrogen and high-density hydrocarbon liquid and deliver the mixture to the atomizer.
US08147668B2
Apparatuses for mixing droplets, such as a binary mixing apparatus, are provided. The binary mixing apparatus includes an array of electrodes and a conducting element positioned in relation to at least one of the electrodes to enable a droplet placed in electrical communication with the at least one electrode to electrically communicate with the conducting element. The binary mixing apparatus additionally includes an electrode selector for sequentially biasing one or more selected electrodes of the array to move a droplet disposed on the array into contact with another droplet. The apparatus further includes a first droplet supply area communicating with the array and a second droplet supply area communicating with the array.
US08147652B2
A belt conditioning method, apparatus and paper machine employing the method and apparatus are provided. The belt method and apparatus include multiple conditioning devices using chemicals to condition water impermeable surfaces of paper machine belts, such as transfer belts and prevent deposits from accumulating on the belts. In one embodiment, the belt supports a web at a first portion of the belt's loop and is separated from the web at a second portion. The conditioning apparatuses are placed in the second portion.
US08147648B2
A showerhead electrode for a plasma processing apparatus includes an interface gel between facing surfaces of an electrode plate and a backing plate. The interface gel maintains thermal conductivity during lateral displacements generated during temperature cycling due to mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion. The interface gel comprises, for example, a silicone based composite filled with aluminum oxide microspheres. The interface gel can conform to irregularly shaped features and maximize surface contact area between mating surfaces. The interface gel can be pre-applied to a consumable upper electrode.
US08147620B2
The support removal apparatus comprising in combination a retention tank having a manifold assembly comprising a plurality of nozzle heads, articulating arms or a combination of both in hydraulic communication with the discharge side of a pump, collectively configured for agitating an aqueous cleaning solution; a heating element mounted within the retention tank for heating the aqueous cleaning solution to a predetermined temperature set point; a basket strainer mounted within the retention tank in hydraulic communication with the intake side of the pump to mitigate passage of small rapid prototype parts and residual support material therethrough and into the pump and manifold assembly; a thermocouple for maintaining the temperature within a tolerable range for optimum removal of support material; a level indicator to ensure adequate solution level in the retention tank for operability of the pump and heating element; a cabinet having an interface controller mounted on an exterior panel thereof for setting timer and heat functions; and a microprocessor having capabilities for making minute adjustments to the heating element via feedback from the thermocouple and controlling operation of the pump and heating element for a pre-set time interval.
US08147617B2
A wafer W is processed by supplying a two-fluid, high pressure jet water, or mega-sonic water onto the wafer W, while rotating the wafer W in an essentially horizontal state. After supply of the cleaning fluid is stopped, the wafer W is dried by rotating the wafer W at a higher speed than that used in supplying the cleaning fluid. No rinsing process using purified water is performed in a period after stopping supply of the cleaning fluid and before rotating the substrate at the higher speed.
US08147610B2
Cementitious formulations and their products with enhanced reactivity are provided. Formulations in certain embodiments may include at least one calcium source, a reactant and a filler in a hydrated environment, wherein the reactant, in one form, is crystalline silica that has been modified for reactivity. Enhancement of a reactant may include one or more modifications to its content, grind and/or the cement to silica ratio, as well as addition of one or more additives in the formulation, additives in the form of at least one alumina source, defoamer, catalyst and/or a clay.
US08147607B2
Coating compositions of the present invention comprise hydrophobic particles, an alcohol, a solvent, and an effective amount of water such that coatings formed therefrom are hydrophobic. The hydrophobic particles may comprise a metal oxide, such as silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3), titania (TiO2), or zinc oxide (ZnO), or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the hydrophobic particles comprise fumed silica. The amount of hydrophobic particles is in the range of from about 0.3 wt. % to about 2 wt. %. In one embodiment, the effective amount of water is at least about 0.066 wt. %. The ratio of the amount of the solvent to the amount of the alcohol is slightly less than 100, and, in another embodiment, is at least about 50 to 50. A surface treated with the composition is characterized by a water contact angle of 115° or more, and more particularly 135° or more.
US08147605B2
A coating system for a mould for the directional solidification of silicon. The coating is applied as an aqueous slurry of silicon nitride particle, carbon black and microsilica.
US08147604B2
The present invention relates to a modified pigment comprising a pigment having attached at least one salt of a geminal bisphosphonic acid group or partial esters thereof, as well as to dispersions and inkjet ink compositions comprising such modified pigments. Preferably the salt comprises a quaternary ammonium counterion.
US08147592B2
A filter includes a metallocene for removing oxygen from a gas stream. The filter further includes a support for the metallocene.
US08147589B2
The invention relates to a method for producing spherical activated carbon, wherein polymer globules, which comprise thermally decomposing chemical groups, are carbonized. It is characterized by that during the carbonization, a supplier of free radicals is added to the polymer globules, the supplier of free radicals forming free radicals, which are different from the free radicals that are generated by the decomposition of the chemical groups.
US08147584B2
The present invention relates to a filter composed of a multi-ply filter medium, which comprises at least one non-woven stiffening layer, at least one filtration layer, at least one covering layer and where necessary at least one non-woven microfibre layer, the non-woven stiffening layer comprising fibers of synthetic polymers and the fibers being both partially oriented and oriented fibers.
US08147576B2
The invention relates to a filter element consisting of a filter medium (10) that is pleated in a zigzag manner and has a concentric shape, and a first end disk (11) and a second end disk (12) disposed on an opposite front, wherein the end disk (12) has a concentric opening (13) and extends substantially annularly across the pleats of the filter medium. The end disk (11) has a ring collar (14) extending radially toward the outside. Said ring collar (14) has a seal (15) that surrounds the ring collar at least partially, wherein the seal has an axially extending region, which carries radially peripheral sealing lips (17), and said radially peripheral sealing lips are supported in a groove (18) or in a housing wall (19) of a housing receiving the filter element.
US08147572B2
Thermally stable diamond constructions comprise a diamond body having a plurality of bonded diamond crystals and a plurality of interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. A metallic substrate is attached to the diamond body. A working surface is positioned along an outside portion of the diamond body, and the diamond body comprises a first region that is substantially free of a catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. The diamond body first region extends from the working surface to depth of at least about 0.02 mm to a depth of less than about 0.09 mm. The diamond body includes diamond crystals having an average diamond grain size of greater than about 0.02 mm, and comprises at least 85 percent by volume diamond based on the total volume of the diamond body.
US08147565B2
An electrode plate precursor on which an active material layer is formed by applying an active material onto at least one surface of a current collector in a lengthy belt shape by means of a die comprising a paste storing part where a paste containing the active material is accumulated and a discharge flow path discharging the above paste from the paste storing part. A plan view configuration of the discharge flow path is adjusted by adjusting a plan view configuration of thin plate-like members that are arranged respectively on both end portions of the discharge flow path so that the active material layer formed in the process has a uniform thickness throughout the entire length in the width direction of the electrode plate precursor.
US08147557B2
A mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray and a tibial insert configured to move relative to the tibial tray. The tibial insert includes a platform having an upper bearing surface defining a dwell point of the upper bearing surface. The dwell point is spaced-apart from a center of the bearing surface.
US08147556B2
Intervertebral arthrodesis for insertion in an intervertebral space separating opposite faces of two adjacent vertebrae has a ring shaped intervertebral cage having a bar that extends perpendicular to the axis of the spine. The bar has a height less than the rest of the cage. A surface of the cage contacting the vertebrae has an undulating shape for limiting sliding of the cage in a plane parallel to the vertebrae faces.
US08147547B2
Embodiments for a spinal implant having elements that are accessible by a surgical approach and releasably engagable by a surgical tool for improved revision of the spinal implant about a patient's spine.
US08147545B2
The present invention provides a device stenting the ET. The stent (device) provides enhanced ventilation and drainage to the middle ear. Also provided is a method for inserting the device into the Eustachian tube and through the isthmus of a human subject.
US08147544B2
A fenestration (36) piercing the otic capsule bone of the cochlea (34) receives a therapeutic appliance, such as a microactuator (78), plug (92), micropump for drug or therapeutic agent delivery, electrode (102), etc. Disclosed are several different ways of achieving a “water tight” seal between the otic capsule bone and the therapeutic appliance. Also disclosed are specific ways of implanting the therapeutic appliance both with and without a sheath (72) lining the wall of the fenestration (36) formed using specialized surgical burrs (122, 124, 162, 164).
US08147536B2
A catheter configured to carry one or more stents and having an inflatable balloon for expanding a stent surrounding the balloon. The catheter is characterized in having a positioner for moving the one or more stents relative to the balloon from a first position in which the stent does not surround the balloon to a second position in which the stent surrounds the balloon. Also disclosed is a method for deploying a stent at a desired location in the vascular system.
US08147530B2
A locking mechanism assembly to allow locking of a fastener in an orthopedic implant having its axis at a variable angle relative to the axis of a concavely rounded through opening in the implant. The assembly includes a convexly rounded ring shaped locking cam insert which mates with the through opening and further which includes an expansion slot. The cam insert includes two cam raceways on the inside that are engaged by cam members on the head of the fastener. The cam members increase radially and expand the insert in the through opening to hold it in position by friction. The cam insert further includes a stop member that inhibits the cam insert from rotating as the fastener is rotated in the cam insert and locks it into the desired position.
US08147527B2
An occipital plate for use in an occipito-cervico-thoracic (OCT) construct is mounted to a patient's occipital bone. The occipital plate includes an elongate central section aligned with a midline of the base and a pair of angled sections that project away from the central section and include attachment assemblies for securing a rod to the occipital plate. The attachment assemblies have multi-adjustability features. At least a portion of the attachment assemblies is rotatable with respect to the base so that the rods may be coupled to the occipital plate at a variety of angles with respect to the midline. The angular adjustability may accommodate any misalignments in the rods. Additionally, the position of the attachment assemblies relative to the midline of the occipital plate is adjustable to thereby provide for medial-lateral adjustability when attaching the rods to the occipital plate as part of the OCT construct.
US08147526B2
An interspinous process spacer diagnostic parallel balloon catheter and method. The balloon catheter has a plurality of maim expandable members disposed one inside another, a distal expandable member and a proximal expandable member that all can be expanded from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration and than collapsed again to a collapsed configuration. The device can be used to determine whether a particular patient is a candidate for implantation of an interspinous process spacer to treat the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis and the size of such a spacer if indicated.
US08147524B2
Instrumentation and methods for reduction of a spinal deformity, including a plurality of elongate alignment elements and first and second reduction elements engaged to the alignment elements. Each of the alignment elements extends generally along a longitudinal axis and includes a proximal portion adapted for coupling to a corresponding vertebra and a distal portion. The first reduction element extends along a first transverse axis and is engaged with the distal portions of the alignment elements to maintain the distal portions in general alignment along the first transverse axis. The second reduction element extends along a second transverse axis and is movably engaged with the alignment elements wherein the proximal portions are positioned in general alignment along the second transverse axis as the second reduction element is displaced in a proximal direction to thereby reduce the spinal deformity.
US08147521B1
Systems and methods of treating spinal deformity, including one or more intervertebral implants to be introduced laterally into respective intervertebral spaces, a plurality of bone screws introduced generally laterally into vertebral bodies adjacent to the intervertebral implants and/or the intervertebral implants themselves, and a cable dimensioned to be coupled to the bone screws and manipulated to adjust and/or correct the spinal deformity.
US08147519B2
A spinal rod connector is disclosed that allows end-to-end connection of at least two spinal rods. The connector may allow for angular adjustment in the construct which is associated with the patient's anatomy. Percutaneous length adjustment of the spinal rods may be available with visual assessment of the length of the rods via viewing windows on the connector. A locking mechanism may be used to fix a determined angle of the connector dependent upon the anatomy of the patient. The angle may be adjusted if necessary during a subsequent procedure.
US08147516B2
A method includes positioning a medical device within a body between adjacent spinous processes, moving the medical device from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration within the body using an actuator removably coupled to the medical device, and removing the actuator from the body while the medical device remains between the adjacent spinous processes.
US08147514B2
An anchor connected with a suture is moved through a passage between opposite sides of a bone. The anchor is then pivoted to change its orientation. A second anchor is connected with the suture. While tension is maintained in the suture, the suture is secured against movement relative to the anchors. This may be done by tying the suture or by using a suture retainer to hold the suture. A suture retainer may be used in place of the second anchor. The passage may extend across a fracture in the bone. The passage may have either a nonlinear or linear configuration. The passage may be formed by first moving a thin elongated member through the bone. The thin elongated member is then used as a guide for a drill. The thin elongated member is withdrawn from the drill and the suture anchor is moved through a passage in the drill.
US08147504B2
A fastener delivery tool includes a belt including pairs of features for releasably engaging tines of respective fasteners in a relaxed state defining a loop. The tool includes a loading chamber for receiving a fastener from the belt, a retaining member for limiting movement of the fastener within the loading chamber, an ejection track communicating with the loading chamber, a handle including an actuator, and a tongue and pusher member coupled to the actuator. Activation of the actuator advances the tongue to transform the fastener from the relaxed state to a U-shaped constrained state, and advances the pusher member to direct the fastener from the loading chamber down the ejection track.
US08147501B2
The present invention provides improved and simplified methods of vascular or hollow organ suture-less anastomosis for attachment of artificial standard vascular graft to the vessel wall in order to reduce the duration of the surgical procedure and its costs.
US08147496B2
A positioning block for use in knee surgery includes a rotational mounting removably engageable to the bone element by a multi-axial fastener such that the mounting element is selectively rotatable relative to the bone element about at least two substantially perpendicular axes of rotation. A guide body portion is engaged with the rotational mounting element such that it is translatable relative thereto along while being rotationally fixed relative to the mounting element. The guide body portion is moveable relative to the bone element in at least three degrees of freedom, the three degrees of freedom including at least two rotational degrees of freedom and at least one translational degree of freedom. A trackable member on the guide body portion is identified and tracked by a computer assisted surgery system.
US08147495B2
A method and kit for treating fractures in a subject entailing placing a temporary fixation device containing a wire in a percutaneous manner across a fracture line, drilling across the fracture line and delivering a biological agent. The biological device is delivered through an injection device which may be the same as the drilling device or different therefrom. The biological agent is delivered uniformly across the complete fractured bone and to the contralateral surface of the fractured bone through an injection device. The method may comprise additional steps of sliding a cannula over the fixation device and affixing the cannula to an outer surface of the fracture. In this embodiment, the drilling device, and later the injection device are placed within the cannula.
US08147490B2
A device to establish a connection of portions of a broken bone includes a base body adapted to receive a bone nail. A clamping holder has a receptacle to receive a fixation rod. A bearing element mounts the clamping holder on the base body for spherically displacement. A tensioning rod connection has a tensioning rod on which the base body, the clamping holder and the bearing element are arrangeable in a row for tensioning relative to each other. In a first connection state the tensioning rod connection is released so that the fixation rod and base body are adjustable relative to each other. In a second connection state there is sufficient closing tension in the tensioning rod connection to form a stable non-positive locking connection between the fixation rod and the base body. The clamping holder and the bearing element are in positive engagement in the first connection state with the tensioning rod passing through a through-opening of the clamping holder with sufficient play for spatial guiding in all directions.
US08147485B2
An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a processor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue. A tissue cooling period is provided to enhance operative outcomes.
US08147481B2
A controller for use with a guidewire, such as a vascular guidewire, provides a mechanism for gripping and applying a torque to the guidewire without the need to thread the guidewire axially through the controller and at a location close to a point of access of the guidewire. In one embodiment, the controller includes a side-access, multi-part assembly including a collet or other gripping element that applies a uniform radially inward force on the guidewire. In another embodiment, for use with guidewires having active electrically controllable elements, the controller integrally or removably incorporates a switch or other mechanism to initiate an energized state. The controller thereby permits ergonomic, single-handed control of an electronically steerable guidewire, including axially displacing, torquing and steering the guidewire.
US08147478B2
The present invention relates to a sling, methods of making and using a sling, and kits comprising a sling for treating urinary incontinence. The sling has multiple elongation properties that serve to improve the support of the urethra. The sling may comprise a coated material adapted for urethral suspension. The coated sling has properties that appear to enhance the sling elongation characteristics. The coated sling further includes properties that reduce its susceptibility to bacterial infections. The sling further includes properties to enhance the proper tensioning of the sling.
US08147468B2
A system for treating a linear wound on a patient has a closing dressing bolster for placing on the patient's epidermis over the linear wound, a sealing subsystem for providing a seal over the closing dressing bolster and the patient, and a reduced-pressure subsystem for delivering reduced pressure to the sealing subsystem. The sealing subsystem and reduced pressure subsystem are operable to deliver reduced pressure to the closing dressing bolster. The closing dressing bolster is operable under reduced pressure to develop a inward closing. The closing dressing bolster may include one or more closing members on each side of a center wound area to create the inward closing when under reduced pressure. A compressive force may also be developed. Other systems and methods are presented.
US08147466B2
A method of determining an amount of skin agent transferred from an absorbent article to an area of human skin is provided. An absorbent article is applied to and then after use removed from an area of skin. Tape is then releasably attached to and removed from the area of skin. The amount of skin agent that adheres to the tape is then analyzed to determine the amount of skin agent transferred to the area of skin.
US08147459B2
Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor sleeve that receives a catheter (or other medical instrument) though a working channel of the anchor sleeve. The anchor sleeve may include a first actuator that controls the extension of one or more subcutaneous tines into the subcutaneous region under the skin. The anchor sleeve can also include a second actuator that can cause the anchor sleeve to lock onto an outer portion of the catheter (or other medical instrument) arrange in the working channel.
US08147450B2
A disposable self-destruction safety syringe without fluid residua comprises a syringe tube (1), a push rod (2), a needle mount (3) and a needle (4). The push rod (2) and the needle mount (3) are mounted in the syringe tube (1). A plunger (5) slidably fitting with the inside wall of the syringe tube (1) is provided on the front end of the push rod (2). Wherein, an automatic retraction means (6) is mounted in the front end of the chamber of the push rod (2). The automatic retraction means (6) and the needle mount (3) are each provided with a snap-latch member, respectively, for connecting the needle mount (3) with the automatic retraction means (6). Each of said snap-latch member is provided with a fluid pass channel, such that the fluid remaining inside the syringe tube (1) flows, through the fluid pass channel when the snap-latch members form an interference fit and engage with each other, into the chamber of the needle mount (3) and the needle (4).
US08147448B2
A system architecture for closed loop control of infusion devices is described. The architecture provides means to control the flow from an infusion device as well as in some embodiments the pressure of the delivery. A variety of infusion systems are described that use the closed loop control architecture. In some embodiments the closed loop control may be adapted to current commonly used infusion means such as a gravity feed intravenous system. Other embodiments describe infusion pump system that use biasing or drive mechanisms of springs, elastomers, rotary and linear motors.
US08147442B2
A method and apparatus for treating gas for delivery into a body cavity, body space or body surface of an animal. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber having an entry port and an exit port. One or more agents are released into the gas stream that flows through the chamber so that the gas stream carries the agent to the animal. Also shown, for use with, or without, the chamber, is an agent chamber adapted to be coupled to at least one structure defining at least one fluid flow path extending at least a portion of the distance between an insufflation device and the body cavity, body space or body surface.
US08147438B2
Provided herein are wrist braces with improved adjustability and performance features. An exemplary wrist brace includes a flexible support casing to enclose a user's wrist; securing loops, mounted substantially along and extending outwardly from the support casing; an elastic securing member passing through at least one of the securing loops; and a puller, attached to the ends of the elastic securing member, configured to adjustably tension the elastic securing member with respect to the casing.
US08147436B2
A powered orthosis, adapted to be secured to a corresponding body portion of the user for guiding motion of a user, the orthosis comprising a plurality of structural members and one or more joints adjoining adjacent structural members, each joint having one or more degrees of freedom and a range of joint angles. One or more of the joints each comprise at least one back-drivable actuator governed by a controller for controlling the joint angle. The plurality of joint controllers are synchronized to cause the corresponding actuators to generate forces for assisting the user to move the orthosis at least in part under the user's power along a desired trajectory within an allowed tolerance. One embodiment comprises force-field controllers that define a virtual tunnel for movement of the orthosis, in which the forces applied to the orthosis for assisting the user may be proportional to deviation from the desired trajectory.
US08147433B2
A chest compressions monitor for measuring the depth of chest compressions achieved during CPR. A displacement detector produces a displacement indicative signal indicative of the displacement of the CPR recipient's chest toward the recipient's spine. A signaling mechanism provides chest compression indication signals directing a chest compression force being applied to the chest and a frequency of such compressions.
US08147416B2
Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring arterial blood pressure on a chronic basis are provided herein. A first signal indicative of electrical activity of a patient's heart, and a second signal indicative of mechanical activity of the patient's heart, are obtained using implanted electrodes and an implanted sensor. By measuring the times between various features of the first signal relative to features of the second signal, values indicative of systolic pressure and diastolic pressure can be determined. In specific embodiments, such features are used to determine a peak pulse arrival time (PPAT), which is used to determine the value indicative of systolic pressure. Additionally, a peak-to-peak amplitude at the maximum peak of the second signal, and the value indicative of systolic pressure, can be used to determine the value indicative of diastolic pressure.
US08147404B2
A driving block includes a plurality of magnetic-field generating elements and a driving signal generating section, and the magnetic field generated by the plurality of magnetic-field generating elements is detected by a plurality of magnetic-field detecting elements. A shape calculating block calculates a shape of an insertion portion of an endoscope based on a frequency component corresponding to a frequency of the driving signal in a detection signal detected by the plurality of magnetic-field detecting elements. Oscillation frequency of the reference clock for deciding the frequency of the driving signal is changeably set by the frequency setting section, and the reference clock with oscillation frequency set by the frequency setting section is supplied to both of the driving block and the shape calculating block.
US08147401B2
An endoscope insertion support tool includes an advancing and retracting member that is disposed in an insertion section of an endoscope, capable of advancing and retracting in a hollow passage, a distal end portion of which communicates with the outside, and has length projected from a distal end of the insertion section, a balloon member that includes an attaching portion attachable to an outer surface side of the insertion section of the endoscope and is connected to the distal end of the advancing and retracting member and capable of projecting from the distal end of the insertion section according to an advancing and retracting movement of the advancing and retracting member, and a fluid supplying and discharging unit including a conduit that is connected to the balloon member and inflates and deflates the balloon member according to supply and discharge of a fluid to and from the balloon member.
US08147400B1
A body implantable penile prosthetic assembly includes a penile implant and a reservoir. The penile implant includes a first bladder and a second bladder, where the second bladder contains a dilatant liquid. The reservoir is connectable with the first bladder of the penile implant. In this regard, fluid transferred from the reservoir into the first bladder of the penile implant imposes a shear on the dilatant liquid in the second bladder of the penile implant to increase viscosity in the dilatant liquid and harden the penile implant.
US08147397B1
Methods and devices for treating female urinary incontinence by injecting bulking material into the female urethral wall. Some devices include a handle, an elongate member attached to the handle, and a vacuum generating syringe removably secured to the handle. The elongate member can include a distal portion projecting distally from the handle, the distal portion having a wide proximal region, a narrowing shoulder, and a narrow distal region. The elongate member can include one or more vacuum ports on either side of the shoulder region. The shoulder can include a distally facing needle aperture allowing passage of a needle for injecting bulking agent. A rotatable connection between the elongate member and the handle facilitates rotatable positioning of the elongate member to permit injection of bulking material at different locations around the urethral wall. In use, the urethral tissue can be pulled to conform against the device elongate member by generating a vacuum through the elongate member ports, inserting the needle through the elongate member and needle aperture, and predictably injecting bulking material inside of and along the immobilized urethral wall. The self contained vacuum generator, simple design and wide allowable margin of needle travel allow for use in a practitioner's office.
US08147396B2
A radiographic imaging sub-system for treating neonates is disclosed. The subsystem includes a radiographic compatible incubator for providing a controlled environment for a neonate, a radiographic compatible RF coil selectively coupled to the incubator for providing radiographic imaging of the neonate, and a radiographic compatible trolley for transporting the incubator and the RF coil. Additionally, the sub-system can include a radiographic MR compatible vital signs monitor, a radiographic compatible infusion pump, a radiographic compatible injector, a radiographic compatible ventilator, a radiographic compatible blender, radiographic compatible intravenous pole, tanks, pressure reducers/gauges and flow pipes.
US08147395B2
A method of increasing bone mass throughout the body of a user. The method may include the steps of obtaining a distributor comprising a plurality of electromagnetic coils, obtaining a controller comprising a processor and a memory device, operably connected to one another, the memory device storing code executable by the processor, selecting a source of electrical current, connecting the source to the controller, and positioning a user proximate the distributor. The method may further include controlling, by the controller in accordance with the code, delivery of electrical current sequentially and exclusively to each coil of the plurality of electromagnetic coils to generate a magnetic field extending into the user.
US08147392B2
A centrifuge rotor includes a rotor body having first and second axial ends and a circumferential sidewall extending therebetween. The rotor body has a plurality of wells for receiving sample containers to be processed in the rotor. The rotor further includes an elongate reinforcement extending around the circumferential sidewall of the rotor body along a helical path. At least two portions of the elongate reinforcement interlock at one or more specific points on the surface of the rotor.
US08147391B1
An exercise bar for motocross muscle development. One embodiment has a bar and a special rocker member for use on floor exercises. A second embodiment has a spring-loaded pivot hub. That embodiment also has folding handgrips that make the device easy to story and carry. Both embodiments have handgrip eyes that can support the ends of the bar for a number of different exercises. Both embodiments have an eye that can support the handlebar as well. A sliding hook can be used to can carry weights and can act as a support when the device is used on a floor. The rocker member is an important feature that allows a user to do intensive push-up type exercises using the bar.
US08147384B2
An exercise apparatus links rotation of a crank to generally elliptical motion of a foot supporting member. A foot supporting linkage is movably connected between a rocker and a crank in such a manner that the foot supporting member moves through paths of motion which are fixed, adjustable or variable.
US08147382B2
A physical training system comprises a resistance structure, and at least one resistance unit disposed thereon, wherein an athlete may attach to the resistance unit by way of a cable that is incorporated in the resistance unit. The at least one resistance unit may exert a resistive force on an athlete through the cable. The system may further comprise at least one target object, against which an athlete may make selective physical contact as part of a training regimen. The system may further comprise sensors and data collection devices for tracking an athlete's performance. The system allows the exertion of force on an athlete from a plurality of directions and according to various movement patterns (including non-linear movement patterns) of an athlete.
US08147364B2
A flow control valve is provided in a primary pulley that is a rotor, and includes a first port; a second port; a working fluid channel formed between the first port and the second port and through which working oil passes; a check valve that is formed in the working fluid channel and is opened toward a first-port-side channel from a second-port-side channel of the working fluid channel; and a valve-opening control section (a guide member, a spool, a cylinder, and a drive pressure chamber) that is arranged at the check valve at the side of the second port, that forcibly opens the check valve when discharging the working fluid from the first port to the second port, and increases a channel resistance of the second-port-side channel as an opening amount of the check valve is small. The flow control valve can prevent over-discharge of the working fluid at the beginning of opening the valve.
US08147362B2
An archery arrowhead having a tip and a body with blade slots that each accept a blade. Each blade having a leading edge and an opposite trailing edge. The leading edge formed by a first cutting surface and a second cutting surface that diverge from each other in a rearward direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The first cutting surface and the second cutting surface forming a point, the point offset from a rearward edge of the tip.
US08147357B1
A swing training device comprises a swing guide, a mount adapted to position the swing guide at a height above the ground selected by a user and a swing implement comprising a handle portion for gripping by a user. The first channel has a rearward end cooperating with a rearward end of the second channel, the second channel positioned angularly with respect to the first channel. The first and second channels also have a lateral opening extending generally along their length. The swing implement includes a connector portion mounted to the swing implement generally adjacent to the handle portion and has a distal end thereon.
US08147354B2
A golf club head with multi-component construction. The golf club head includes a hollow body that is created from components constructed of different materials so that the weight distribution may be optimized.
US08147340B2
A regulated gaming system includes a plurality of computer nodes communicating over a network. At least one of the computer nodes includes a gaming machine, which may include a game controller and an interactivity apparatus to accept wagers from a player and to provide random outcomes while playing a game. The interactivity apparatus may include one or more video displays; a menu of available player-selectable games and one or more option buttons, the function of which changes depending upon which of the player-selectable games is selected by the player. A non-video display is associated with each option button, and is configured to indicate the status and/or the function thereof. The gaming machine includes a non-video services subscriber configured to receive, over the network, selected non-video display services to which the non-video services subscriber has subscribed from a non-video display services provider executing in one or more of the computer nodes.
US08147339B1
A multiplayer game is supported by a backend game server and a plurality of clients configured to communicate over a computing network such as the internet. Images for display on the clients are at least partially rendered by the backend game server and then delivered in an at least partially rendered form to the clients. At the clients the delivered images may be further rendered and are displayed to a player of the game. The displayed images optionally include images of real-world objects.
US08147332B2
In a wireless gaming system, one or more game controllers may be visually associated with corresponding player identities by using colored indicator lights on the game controller(s) and game console to identify which player in a computer game is controlled by a given controller. Indicator lights on the controller are illuminated in response to control signals sent via Bluetooth wireless signals so as to match the indicator lights on the console. When multiple controllers are used with a multi-player computer game, a single wireless interface device at the game console is used to issue control signals to each controller so that each controller has a light indicator that is illuminated to identify which player is controlled by the controller.
US08147305B2
A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU executes a game process. When a player character encounters an enemy character in a game world, a battle screen is displayed on a monitor. On the battle screen, an input pattern is displayed, and background music (BGM) is output from a speaker. A player determines an operation timing based on the input pattern and the BGM (drum part). If there is a high level of coincidence between the operation timing by the player and a timing of the music pattern, damage which the player character applies to the enemy character and experienced obtained by the player character increases.
US08147299B2
A system and method for sorting animal protein includes determining a desired characteristic of a cut of meat from an animal portion and associating the desired characteristic with an attribute of the animal portion. The attribute is ascertained and the animal portion is sorted based on the ascertained attribute. Like animal portions are grouped together for further processing as a group.
US08147295B2
A silicon wafer is polished by applying a polishing solution substantially containing no abrasive grain onto a surface of a polishing pad having a given fixed grain bonded abrasive and then relatively sliding the polishing pad to a silicon wafer to polish the surface of the silicon wafer, wherein a hydroplane layer is formed by the polishing solution supplied between the surface of the silicon wafer and the surface of the polishing pad and a thickness of the hydroplane layer is controlled to change a polishing state of the surface of the silicon wafer.
US08147294B2
A tip of a capillary used for microinjection is polished on a plurality of sides by using a polishing plate having a surface roughened by dry etching. A first side of the tip is placed on the polishing plate at a predetermined angle and with a predetermined amount of pressing. The polishing plate is repeatedly moved at a predetermined speed by a predetermined distance such that the first side is polished. The capillary is then rotated around an axis thereof to obtain a second side of the tip, and the process of polishing is repeated for the second side.
US08147292B2
The invention relates to a device for polishing hard surfaces, especially glass surfaces, said device comprising polishing system (5) provided with a replaceable polishing disk (6). Said polishing system (5) can be displaced in a two-dimensional manner by means of a displacement device (10) comprising a holding element (11) for the polishing system (5), and guiding elements (12, 18; 20, 25) for displacing the holding element (11) in XY directions. The inventive device enables hard surfaces to be repaired in a simple and precise manner.
US08147290B2
A means of directly attaching one or more strikers of a slate type turkey call to that call. The attachment keeps the strikers and call as a unit for ready access and eliminates one rattling against the other when the call is not in use. The attachment is accomplished by diametral engagement of the strikers by an extension of the call body. The extension is an integral part of the call body or added as an accessary to an existing slate turkey call. Providing accurate diametral location, the invention is also used, with abrasive material, to effectively shape or resurface the sound producing end of the striker.
US08147288B2
A method for aligning film sheets and rectangular panels in a continuous manufacturing system of display panels, each of the film sheets being formed between two longitudinally adjacent slit lines, one on an upstream side and the other on a downstream side, and extending in a transverse direction with respect to a feeding direction of a strip shaped film laminate, such that the rectangular panels conveyed to the lamination position are overlapped with the film sheets conveyed to the lamination position. The method includes steps of; angularly adjusting the rectangular panel conveyed to the lamination position such that a center line extending in the feeding direction of the rectangular panels is parallel to the center line extending in the feeding direction of the film sheets conveyed to the lamination position; and position adjusting the angularly adjusted rectangular panels by shifting for a displacement from a position of the film sheets conveyed to the lamination position.
US08147279B1
An electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of terminal passages. Each terminal passage has a deflectable latch for securing the terminal within the passage and is configured to permit an electrical terminal to be inserted into the passage. Openings are provided proximate the deflectable latches, with each opening extending from a first terminal passage of the plurality of terminal passages to an adjacent second terminal passage. Projections extend from side surfaces of the terminal passages, with at least one projection extending into each terminal passage. At least one projection is positioned to cooperate with a side surface of a respective deflectable latch to prevent the deflectable latch from being overstressed. The openings and the projections allow the terminal passages to be closely spaced thereby reducing the size of the connector while providing overstress protection for the deflectable latches.
US08147275B1
An interface adapter for an implantable medical electrical lead facilitates temporary electrical connection between an external medical device and a connector terminal of the lead. A sidewall of the adapter surrounds a receptacle of the adapter and includes a contact opening formed therethrough, to the receptacle; the sidewall further includes at least one external feature that holds a connector member of the external medical device in a tilted orientation. The tilted orientation biases a contact surface of the connector member through the contact opening and into electrical contact with an exposed connector contact of the lead connector terminal, when the terminal is inserted within the receptacle of the adapter.
US08147263B2
A mobile terminal device includes a movable side housing, a fixed side housing connected to the movable side housing with a hinge part and a thin-wire cable as an electrical current flow passage electrically connected between the movable side housing and the fixed side housing. A cable mount cover member protects the thin-wire coaxial cable. The thin-wire coaxial cable has a cable main body having plural thin wires embedded therein and a cable connector connected to the cable main body, and the cable mount cover has a cable enclosure member enclosing the cable main body and a connector enclosure member enclosing surrounding of the cable connector.
US08147261B2
A connector assembly has a male connector (10) with a receptacle (14), a female connector (60) to be fit into the receptacle (14) and a moving plate (40) for positioning male terminal fittings (20). The moving plate (40) includes a plate-like plate main body (42) with positioning holes 47 and is movable toward a back side of the receptacle (14) together with the female connector (60) from an initial position where leading ends of the male terminal fittings (20) project through the positioning holes (47). Protection walls (41) project forward to protect the leading ends of the male terminal fittings (20) projecting at the initial position. The female connector (60) is formed with recesses (66) for permitting the protection walls (41) to escape. Each protection wall (41) is arranged between adjacent male terminal fitting groups (20).
US08147260B2
A power outlet socket safety shield device comprises a left slider comprising a left transverse baffle and a left inclined stopper. A right slider comprises a right transverse baffle and a right inclined stopper. At least one elastic element is positioned between the left slider and the right slider. The left inclined stopper is inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the right inclined stopper. When the device is in a rest state, the left inclined stopper is above the right transverse baffle and the right inclined stopper is above the left transverse baffle. When the device is in an active state, the elastic element is compressed, the left slider and the right slider are moved in opposite directions to displace the left inclined stopper away from the right transverse baffle and to displace the right inclined stopper away from the left transverse baffle.
US08147252B1
An apparatus and a method of use to assist toddlers who are learning how to walk to be used with their parents/caregivers is herein disclosed. Although resembling a safety climbing harness, the apparatus is specifically designed to safely hold a child who is learning how to walk, climb, ascend steps, and perform other similar physical activities. A plurality of straps surrounds the child comfortably about the shoulder and waist area. These straps join together in a handle assembly located on the rear of the apparatus. This handle assembly is then held by the caregiver as the child walks, climbs stairs, or just generally explore their surroundings. The parent can completely support the child, prevent them from falling, and keep them from wandering off.
US08147241B2
Disclosed herein is method for use in a vertical heat treatment system which has an opening which is formed in a partition wall separating a housing-box transfer area from a treating-object transfer area (a wafer transfer area), and and through which an object to be treated is carried in the vertical heat treatment system to carry out a predetermined treatment. When the object to be treated is carried in via the opening of the partition wall, which separates the housing-box transfer area from the treating-object transfer area (wafer transfer area), to carry out a predetermined treatment, the structure of various mechanisms in the vicinity of the opening is simplified, and the space is saved.
US08147235B2
Apparatus and method for transferring a pattern from a template (10) having a structured surface to a substrate (12) carrying a surface layer of a radiation polymerisable fluid (14). The apparatus comprises a first main part (101) and a second main part (102) having opposing surfaces (104; 105), means for adjusting a spacing (115) between said main parts, support means (106) for supporting said template and substrate in mutual parallel engagement in said spacing with said structured surface facing said surface layer, a radiation source (110) devised to emit radiation into said spacing. A cavity (115) has a first wall comprising a flexible membrane (113) devised to engage said template or substrate, and means (114; 116) are provided for applying an adjustable overpressure to a medium present in said cavity, whereby an even distribution of force is obtained over the whole of the contact surface between the substrate and the template.
US08147234B2
An imprint apparatus for forming fine structure lithography comprises: a belt-like mold having a fine structure for imprint lithography formed on a surface of the belt-like mold; a cylindrical pressurizing mechanism including a pair of opposed rolls for pressurizing the belt-like mold against the surface of the imprinting object; and a supporting member for supporting the imprinting object at a position between the rolls of the cylindrical pressurizing mechanism. The belt-like mold, the imprinting object and the supporting member are configured to move to the cylindrical pressurizing mechanism in a mutually non-contact state, and then at the position between the rolls, be pressurized by the cylindrical pressurizing mechanism in a state where the imprinting object is positioned between the belt-like mold and the supporting member.
US08147232B2
The invention concerns a mold tool for the production of extrusion blow molded products, comprising at least three mold portions (2a, 2b, 3) which define a mold cavity (4) and of which two are in the form of outer molds (2a, 2b) and one is in the form of a central mold (3). The outer molds (2a, 2b) and the central mold (3) are displaceable from and towards each other in the sense of an opening and closing movement of the tool. The central mold (3) is provided with component holders (11) which can be moved out of and into the tool plane defined by the central mold and are arranged in turn on a carrier (10) which is also displaceable with respect to the central mold (3).
US08147231B2
A screw compressor includes a pair of male and female screw rotors which meshes with each other, where a casing storing the pair of screw rotors is divided into a discharge opening neighborhood portion including at least a discharge opening and an other portion other than the discharge opening neighborhood portion, the discharge opening neighborhood portion is configured so as to be removable from the other portion, further, the casing is divided, by two dividing surfaces orthogonal to rotor shafts, into three portions including a rotor casing around the pair of screw rotors, a discharge casing on a side of the discharge opening, and a suction casing on a side of a suction opening, and the discharge opening neighborhood portion is formed by dividing the rotor casing, and is configured so as to be removable from the dividing surface on the side of the discharge opening of a divided rotor casing. According to this configuration, the number of man-hours required for production thereof is reduced, and if operation conditions change, the size of a discharge opening can be easily changed.
US08147230B2
A scroll compressor includes a chamber formed in a casing and a compartment formed in a rearward end, a fixed scroll mounted within the casing and having a spiral scroll element extended from a base plate, and an orbiting scroll rotatably disposed in the casing, and having a spiral scroll element extended from a carrier plate and arranged to form a line contact between the spiral scroll elements, and the fixed scroll includes an inlet mouth and a fluid passage formed through the base plate, and the casing includes an inlet port and an outlet port formed in the rearward end for easily and quickly coupling to the tubings of the vehicle with pipings without bending or folding the pipings.
US08147227B1
Tapered valve guide and spring retainer assemblies are described for use in plunger pump housings that incorporate corresponding outwardly flared discharge and suction bores, as well as structural features for stress-relief. Plunger pumps so constructed are relatively resistant to fatigue failure because of stress reductions, and they may incorporate a variety of valve styles, including top and lower stem-guided valves and crow-foot-guided valves, in easily-maintained configurations. Besides forming a part of valve guide and spring retainer assemblies, side spacers may be shaped and dimensioned to improve volumetric efficiency of the pumps in which they are used.
US08147223B2
A flexible tube has a first portion and a second portion located close to each other in the vicinity of an opening of an accommodating case. A pressing member moves from the first portion to the second portion along the tube while pressing a portion of the tube. An assistant member is provided in the vicinity of the opening of the case. The assistant member has an assistant surface. When the pressing member passes the vicinity of the opening of the case, the assistant member transfers the pressing member from the second portion to the first portion via the assistant surface. This structure ensures a silent operation of the tube pump.
US08147212B2
A vertical wave powered air compressor where different parts of the structure are at different depths (and hence static pressures). A plurality of compression stages are stacked one below the other. Each level has two or more chambers. The chambers have a series of check valves or water seals between them. Each passing wave raises and lowers the entire stack. As the stack moves downward, increased water pressure causes water to enter the first chambers at each level compressing the air inside. As the stack returns upward, the decreased water pressure causes water to leave the first chambers allowing the air therein to expand. However, the check valves prevent the air in the second chambers from expanding or escaping back into the first chambers. Another set of check valves allow the air in the second chambers, as it expands, to be forced downward into the next lower first chamber. With each upward and downward movement of the stack, as waves pass, a quantity of air moves downward from stage to stage until, at the bottom, the lowest stage discharges compressed air into a return pipe.
US08147206B2
A jet vane for use in streams of hot gas, comprising a wing having a core area and a cover skin area surrounding the core area, is proposed. The cover skin area is made of a fiber-reinforced material, and the fibers in the cover skin area are oriented substantially parallel to the wing surface, and/or the cover skin area is made of a fiber-reinforced material that is reinforced with short fibers.
US08147205B2
The turbomachine blade has ribs formed in the vicinity of the trailing edge. Over the major fraction of the trailing edge (42), in zones where the temperature in operation is particularly high, the ends (53) of the ribs are closer to the trailing edge and/or the sections of the ribs (F) are greater.Thereby, the design of the blade is optimized and the lifetime thereof is increased.
US08147200B2
A wheel of a turbine engine such as an airplane turbojet is disclosed. The wheel includes a disk having blades and at least one ring of a metal matrix composite material mounted on the disk in order to take up centrifugal forces during operation. The wheel further includes at least one annular flange formed by sections arranged end-to-end and each including a radially internal annular portion applied on a flank of the disk and a radially external portion coming into contact with the ring in order to ensure the axial holding of the latter on the disk, and a device for radially holding flange sections on the disk.
US08147199B2
A balancing cover connected with a rotor structure includes a plate, a plurality of blades and at least one balancing element. A central portion of the plate has an opening. Each blade has one end connected with the plate and mounted on a circumference of the opening, and the other end connected with the rotor structure. Each blade has at least one hole, in which the balancing element is disposed.
US08147197B2
A turbine blade assembly is provided. The turbine blade assembly comprises a turbine blade comprising a cavity, and a blade platform supporting the turbine blade, the cavity extending into the blade platform. The blade platform comprises an upper surface adjacent the turbine blade and a lower surface comprising a first rib, the cavity extending into the first rib, the first rib coupled to the lower surface, tapering as it extends away from the turbine blade, and comprising a first port extending from the cavity to the upper surface.
US08147192B2
A turbine shroud includes a shroud hanger having an arcuate panel from which three inner hooks extend inwardly, and from which two outer hooks extend outwardly therefrom. The two outer hooks effect a statically determinate configuration of the shroud.
US08147189B2
A sectorized nozzle for a turbomachine, the nozzle being made up of cylindrical sectors and comprising two annular platforms interconnected by substantially radial vanes, together with an annular rail for supporting elements of abradable material, each inner platform having longitudinally-extending edges that are V-shaped, and each rail sector having, on at least one of its sides, means for bearing axially on corresponding means provided on an adjacent nozzle sector.
US08147188B2
A bucket for a turbine is described. The bucket includes a dovetail portion configured to couple the bucket to a turbine wheel, the dovetail portion having a lower surface. The bucket also includes a shank portion that extends from the dovetail portion and an airfoil having a root and a tip portion, an airfoil shape, and a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z set forth in Table I. The bucket also includes a plurality of cooling passages. The plurality includes no more than five cooling passages that extend between the root and the tip portion of the airfoil. Each of the cooling passages exits the airfoil at the tip portion, the plurality of cooling passages are positioned in a camber line pattern.
US08147181B2
An oil control device inhibits the flow of oil along a shaft (8) rotating about an axis. The oil control device comprises an annular body (19) for rotation with said shaft (8) and includes a first face (30) extending generally radially from said axis. A second radially outer circumferential surface (40) is provided, extending generally axially. An oil slinging groove (32) extends into said body (19) and has a mouth (37) defined between a first circumferentially extending rim (38) and a second circumferentially extending rim (39). The second rim (39) is spaced both radially and axially from the first rim (38). The groove (32) is defined at least in part by a wall (34) which meets the first rim (38) at an acute angle to a radial plane. The groove (32) is also defined at least in part by a wall (35) which meets the second rim (39) at an acute angle to the direction of the axis.
US08147180B2
An axial flow turbine stage structure has: an annular diaphragm inner ring; an annular diaphragm outer ring arranged radially outside and coaxially with the diaphragm inner ring and separated from the diaphragm inner ring by an annular flow path interposed between them; stationary blades arranged peripherally at intervals in the annular flow path and rigidly secured to the diaphragm inner ring and the diaphragm outer ring; and moving blades rigidly secured to the outer periphery of a rotatable rotor and arranged peripherally at intervals respectively at axially downstream sides of the stationary blades. Through holes are formed in the diaphragm outer ring so as to allow axial upstream side and axially downstream side of the stationary blades to communicate with each other.
US08147171B2
The present invention relates to embodiments of a cutting tool holder having at least one insert pocket, wherein at least one insert pocket comprises a side surface and at least one antirotation stop protruding from the side surface. The antirotation stop may comprise at least two substantially planar surfaces. In certain embodiments, the cutting tool holder may have a pocket which comprises a bottom surface and an antirotation stop having three substantially planar surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface. The antirotation stop may be integral to the tool holder or may be produced separately and attached, either permanently or temporarily, to the tool holder.
US08147160B2
A ring binder mechanism includes a housing and a ring support supported by the housing for movement relative thereto. Each ring of a plurality of rings includes first and second ring members. The first ring member is mounted on the ring support for movement with the ring support relative to the housing between a closed position and an opened position. An actuator is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the housing for moving the rings from their closed position to their opened position. The actuator includes a lower arm having a contact surface engageable with a lower surface of the ring support when the rings are in their opened position and out of engagement with the ring support when the rings are in their closed position. The contact surface defines an angle between its outer surface and a horizontal plane between about 16 degrees and about 55 degrees.
US08147159B2
A hand-held instrument comprising a writing utensil and associated handles interconnected to each other to allow a user to selectively position the writing utensil in either an extended position of use or a closed position of storage, as well as a variety of positions there between. The writing utensil may take a variety of forms, and the handles may incorporate additional devices or tools. The rotation of the handles about the writing utensil allows a user to manipulate the handles in a variety of ways, similar to that of a “butterfly knife” or similar device comprising balisong style openings. In one aspect of the invention, the writing instrument may be used to perform moves or tricks as a novelty device to provide entertainment and enjoyment to a user.
US08147157B2
A cartridge, detachably attached to a recording apparatus, includes a recording sheet container. The recording apparatus includes a sheet turning device. When a recording sheet is conveyed from the cartridge to an image forming section, the sheet turning device turns the recording sheet around an axis parallel to a normal line to the recording surface of the recording sheet. The longitudinal direction of the recording sheets contained in the recording sheet container is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the recording sheet being subjected to recording in the image forming section.
US08147147B2
A junction box and hybrid fiber optic cable connector which permit repair of damaged fibers or copper conductors carried by a hybrid fiber/copper cable without requiring replacement of the entire cable assembly or retermination of the cable. A method of repairing a hybrid fiber/copper cable and connector.
US08147144B2
A connecting rod bearing for internal combustion engines of a forced-feed lubrication type crank shaft is provided, consisting semicircular bearings. An inner surface of the semicircular bearings is provided with a circumferential groove formed on the inner surface within a maximum circumferential angle range of 45 degrees, measured from one circumferential end facing the same direction as a rotational direction of the crankpin toward a circumferential center region of the semicircular bearing, each of the semicircular bearings having two circumferential ends which are of butt ends brought into contact with those of a mating semicircular bearing. In an assembled state, an axial groove is formed on an inner surface of the semicircular bearings so as to extend along the butt end throughout a full length between both axial ends of the semicircular bearing, whereby the axial groove, as a lubricant-oil flow channel, is connected with the circumferential groove.
US08147138B2
An exemplary power supply circuit for a motherboard includes a control circuit, a self-locking circuit, and an unlocking circuit. The control circuit is configured for receiving a working mode signal. The self-locking circuit is arranged to receive a power ok signal and a power supply on signal from a power supply, and is connected to the control circuit and a standby power. The unlocking circuit is connected to the control circuit, the self-locking circuit and the standby power, and is also arranged to receive the power ok signal. When the motherboard is placed in an energy-saving mode, the unlocking circuit unlocks the standby power from the motherboard when the computer is turned off to achieve energy savings.
US08147115B2
An electro-optical device includes an electro-optical panel, a lighting unit that is disposed to overlap with the electro-optical panel in a plan view and that irradiates the electro-optical panel, and a frame-shaped holding member that has an adhesive layer for holding the electro-optical panel and the lighting unit. The holding member is provided at an outer peripheral end surface of the electro-optical panel and an outer peripheral end surface of the lighting unit, and fixes the electro-optical panel and the lighting unit.
US08147114B2
A backlight module includes a light guide plate and a flexible illuminating bar. The light guide plate has a light emitting top surface and a plurality of light incident side surfaces. Each of the light incident side surfaces is connected to the light emitting top surface. The flexible illuminating bar includes a circuit board module and a plurality of point light sources. The circuit board module includes a plurality of circuit boards and at least one flexible electrical connection member. The circuit boards are disposed at the light incident side surfaces, respectively. The flexible electrical connection member electrically connects two of the circuit boards and is bendingly disposed between corresponding two of the circuit boards. The point light sources are electrically disposed on the circuit boards and suitable for emitting light towards the light incident side surfaces. In addition, another backlight module is also provided.
US08147111B2
A light guide plate including a body and a plurality of prism microstructures is provided. The body has a bottom surface, a light emitting surface opposite to the bottom surface, and a plurality of side surfaces. The light emitting surface has a central area and at least one peripheral area outside the central area. The prism microstructures are disposed on the light emitting surface and the bottom surface. The prism microstructure disposed on the light emitting surface includes a plurality of first prism microstructures in the central area and a plurality of second prism microstructures in the peripheral area. A top angle θ2 of the second prism microstructure is greater than a top angle θ1 of the first prism microstructure. A backlight module including the above-mentioned light guide plate is also provided.
US08147094B2
An illumination system is provided, including a plurality of first illumination units, a plurality of second illumination units, a projecting adjusting module and a focus adjusting module. The projecting adjusting module is connected to the first illumination units to adjust the projection pattern. The focus adjusting module is connected to the first and second illumination units to adjust the focus position of the illumination units.
US08147092B2
An illuminating device comprises a base, a light source and at least one first layer, wherein said light source is assembled on said base to emit a first color temperature light, while first layer is located on the base along the first light irradiation path. The first light is passed through the first layer to react with said first layer to form a second color temperature light for emission, wherein said first color temperature is ranged from 2800K to 20000K, while excitation wavelength range of said first layer is mainly beyond the wavelength of ultraviolet lights for further adjusting the second color temperature range.
US08147082B2
A Safety reflector suitable as a road stud or hazard reflecting ornament able to utilize ambient light without solar panels batteries or diodes, in order to reflect light multi-dimensionally.
US08147081B2
An illumination apparatus includes a linear array of light emitting diode (LED) chips disposed on a support. A linear reflector assembly has a light coupling reflector portion and a one dimensional light collimation or focusing portion. The linear reflector assembly is secured to the support parallel with the linear array of LED chips. An encapsulant is disposed in the light coupling reflector portion of the linear reflector assembly and pots the LED chips. An elongate phosphor element is disposed over the encapsulant such that the light coupling reflector portion and the encapsulant enhance light coupling between the LED chips and the elongate phosphor element, and the one-dimensional light collimation or focusing portion one-dimensionally collimates or focuses light emitted by the combination of the LED chips and the elongate phosphor element.
US08147077B2
An exterior sideview mirror system includes an exterior sideview mirror assembly including a plano-auxiliary reflective element having a rearward field of view when attached to a side of an automobile. The plano reflective element and the auxiliary reflective element are mounted adjacently at the reflective element assembly in a side-by-side relationship and not superimposed. The plano reflective element and the auxiliary reflective element are supported at a backing plate element. The rearward field of view of the auxiliary reflective element may be different from and angled to the rearward field of view of the plano reflective element. The plano reflective element and/or the auxiliary reflective element may have one of (a) a glass substrate having a surface coated with a metallic reflector coating and (b) a polymeric substrate having a thin glass element applied to a surface thereof and with an opposing surface thereof having a reflecting layer applied thereto.
US08147074B2
Described herein are devices that provide projection-type video output in a portable and flexible design. The design includes a projection chamber, a base, and an interface that permits relative positioning between the projection chamber and base. The base maintains the position of the display device. The projection chamber includes components responsible for the production of images based on received video data and components responsible for the projection of those images. Relative pointing between the projection chamber and base allows the projection chamber to be pointed—and an output projected image to be positioned—with minimal effort.
US08147072B2
A cooling module for use with a DMD module of a projection apparatus is provided. The cooling module includes a heat conduction device, at least one heat pipe, and at least one fin. Heat accumulating on the DMD module can be released from the heat conduction device to the fins through the heat pipe. Meanwhile, the fins partially overlap along the direction of the light coming from the light source. Thus, the fins can also prevent the unused light in the casing of the projection apparatus from leakage.
US08147058B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a feed control unit configured to start feed of a next page before recording of a current page by a recording head is completed; an ejection wait time management unit configured to manage a time until the current page contacts a previous page which has been ejected by an ejection unit; and an ejection permission unit configured to permit ejection of the current page by the ejection unit after the time managed by the ejection wait time management unit becomes zero. The feed control unit does not start the feed of the next page until the ejection permission unit permits the ejection of the current page.
US08147055B2
A baffle for use in a printer to protect a printhead from particulates associated with a printing medium. The baffle including a member, incorporated within the printer, that is positioned below the printing medium and above the printhead. The member having a top surface that is angled and extends a width of the printing medium and an adhesive material disposed on the angled top surface, the adhesive material. The angled top surface being positioned to generally face toward the printing medium to trap the printing medium particulates on the adhesive material of the angled top surface.
US08147049B2
A method of recycling waste phase change ink includes collecting waste phase change ink in a container in a phase change ink imaging device. The waste phase change ink comprises melted phase change ink emitted by at least one print head in the phase change ink imaging device. The collected waste phase change ink is removed from the phase change ink imaging device, and at least a portion of the collected waste phase change ink removed from the imaging device is added to a quantity of melted phase change ink.
US08147042B2
An ink jet recorder that includes line heads (4) having a plurality of nozzle heads (41), main tanks (13) placed outside of the line heads (4) to store ink; an ink supply passage (13a, 49a, 49c) that connects the main tanks (13) to the associated nozzle heads (41), and distribution tanks (6) placed in each line head (4). The number of supply tube connections (67) provided in the distribution tank (6) is smaller than that of the nozzle heads (41) arranged in the line head (4).
US08147035B2
A fluid discharging apparatus including a head, a medium support portion, a contact member, and an actuator portion. The head includes a plurality of nozzles through which a fluid is discharged onto a target medium. The medium support portion supports the medium. The contact member is provided within the medium support portion. The actuator portion moves at least one of the head and the medium support portion so that the plurality of nozzles are located close to or far from the contact member. During a standby state when fluid is not discharged onto the medium, the contact member is brought into contact with the head in order to seal the plurality of nozzles, and in a discharging state, the head is located away from the contact member in order to provide a space through which the medium is allowed to pass between the plurality of nozzles and the contact member.
US08147034B2
A liquid discharge recording head includes a flow passage forming member having discharge ports and a flow passage, the discharge ports configured to discharge droplets, the flow passage communicating with the discharge ports. The flow passage forming member also has a first opening and a second opening, the first opening provided at a surface of the flow passage forming member with the discharge ports, the second opening causing the inside of the first opening to communicate with the outside of the flow passage forming member through a communication passage.
US08147032B2
A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table facing a drawing area by an X-axis table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes a periodic flushing unit which is disposed on a main scan moving axis at a position offset from the drawing area towards the main scanning direction and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head during non-drawing time and a pre-drawing flushing unit which is disposed adjacent to the set table and faces the drawing area and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head performed immediately before starting the drawing operation.
US08147031B2
A recording apparatus includes: a plurality of recording heads each of which includes an ejection surface; a head frame; at least one annular protrusion; a support tray; and a moving device. One or more positioning pins are provided in an inner area of the support tray that is enclosed with the annular protrusion, the positioning pins extending in a direction perpendicular to a flat surface which includes a contact portion of the annular protrusion that is come into contact with the head frame, and the head frame has one or more positioning holes into which the positioning pins are insertable in the contact state of the annular protrusion.
US08147023B2
A printing apparatus including: a first motor configured to provide a drive force for rotating a roll member that is a wound medium; a second motor configured to provide a drive force for driving a transporting drive roller provided on a downstream side of the roll member along a feeding direction of the medium for transporting the medium; and a control unit configured to drive at least one of the first motor and the second motor to cancel the slackness of the medium generated between the roll member and the transporting drive roller.
US08147019B2
By using an ink jet head, which has for each color two parallel columns of nozzles arranged side by side in the main scan direction and shifted from each other by one-half the pitch at which the nozzles are arranged in each column, odd-numbered rasters and even-numbered rasters making up an image are printed by the two nozzle columns. The registration between the odd- and even-numbered rasters is secured during the printing to produce an image with high print quality. For that purpose, the ink ejection timing between the two raster groups is shifted by a predetermined interval to form a plurality of adjustment patterns; the adjustment patterns printed are checked and, according to the check result, an adjustment value for the ink ejection timing between the two ink nozzle columns is entered, and the entered adjustment value is stored to be reflected on the actual printing operation. To facilitate the adjustment pattern check, the plurality of adjustment patterns have a dot distribution with a blue noise characteristic at a resolution at which the printing apparatus can print.
US08147013B2
In a rail assembly structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a shaking prevention member preventing the shaking of a storage container is provided at a position lower than a rail member so that the upper volume and the lower volume of the storage container received in the storage space of the refrigerator is increased as compared to the conventional refrigerator.
US08147011B2
A slide assembly includes a first slide member having a guiding base and a lock portion, a second slide member having a first slide segment and a second slide segment, a third slide member movably mounted on the second slide segment, an aid-sliding member slidably connected between the first slide member and the first slide segment, and a positioning device connected to the second slide member. The positioning device includes an elastic member and a positioning member which is movable by a force of the elastic member, so that two ends of the positioning member are respectively located corresponding to the guiding base and the third slide member. The positioning member is engaged with the lock portion when the second slide member is moved relative to the first slide member, and is disengaged from the lock portion when the third slide member is retracted relative to the second slide member.
US08147006B2
An anti-skid brake control system for a multi-wheeled vehicle includes both a paired function and an individual function. The paired function controls the wheels of the vehicle in unison. The individual function controls the wheels of the vehicle individually. A paired/individual logic circuit alternatively activates and deactivates the paired function and the individual function. A method for controlling the skid of a vehicle utilizing a paired function and a individual function is also provided.
US08147004B2
A wheel rim protective structure has a closed ring made of a semi-rigid durable plastic material. A plurality of spaced apart durable curved metal clips extend from the inner edge of the ring and are oriented to insert between the tire and rim. Each clip has a number of unidirectional barbs that facilitate installation but resist unwanted extraction by engaging the tire portion. Knurling on the opposite side provides more static friction against the wheel surface. The metal clips also provided a situs for a low profile fastener to allow other structures to be attached to the ring such as decorative panels, lights, flags streamers, or other decorative or counterbalancing structures. The ring and clips can be made from a unitary piece of injection molded material.
US08146998B2
A vehicle head restraint includes a head restraint frame having at least one post for attaching the head restraint to a seat back. The head restraint is pivotable relative to post. The head restraint also includes a spring clip attached to the head restraint frame and a stop rigidly held relative to the post, such that the stop contacts the spring clip when the head restraint in positioned in an upright position.
US08146995B2
A vehicle seat is provided, particularly for a motor vehicle. The seat includes a seat part and a backrest. A fitting allows for adjusting inclination of the backrest relative to the seat part. The fitting has a lower part connected to the seat part and an upper part that can be locked to a backrest part. The backrest part is mounted in a freely swinging manner relative to the upper part and can be locked in a plurality of positions. The locking takes place in at least one position of the lower part, or on a mounting connected directly to the seat part.
US08146993B2
A seat assembly supported for rotation and including a foot control supported below a seat base for rotation with a rotatable support member. The foot control illustratively includes a right control pedal configured to cause the actuator to drive the rotatable member in a clockwise rotation, and a left control pedal configured to cause the actuator to drive the rotatable member in a counterclockwise direction.
US08146974B2
An expandable grain tank is provided for covering the open end of a grain tank of an agricultural combine. The expandable tank includes a tarp and a support structure for raising and lowering the tarp. The support structure is configured with an upper frame, a plurality of expandable legs connected to the upper frame and the grain tank, and an actuator to expand and retract the expandable legs. The expandable tank is configured to be moved between a retracted position and an expanded position.
US08146970B2
A recovery net has a net, a connecting rope, a floating unit, a ballast and two pulling ropes. The net has an upper edge, a lower edge and a surface. The connecting rope and the floating unit are mounted on the upper edge of the net. The ballast and the pulling ropes are mounted on the lower edge of the net. The floating unit provides buoyancy, the ballast provides sinking force so the net can float on water and the surface of the net is vertical. Recoverers align the net near a corpse and then pull the pulling ropes to recover the corpse in its entirety so recovery work is more efficient.
US08146969B2
A pick-and-place module for test handlers includes a main body, and a kit. The main body has N-th vacuum paths (where N is plural). The kit has M-th pickers. The M-th pickers are provided so as respectively correspond to M-th vacuum passages (where 1≦M≦N), which are formed to respectively correspond to all or some of the N-th vacuum paths formed in the main body, and holds semiconductor devices or releasing the held semiconductor devices using vacuum pressures. The kit is detachably mounted to the main body.
