US08148751B2
A group III nitride semiconductor device and a group III nitride semiconductor wafer are provided. The group III nitride semiconductor device has a channel layer comprising group III nitride-based semiconductor containing Al. The group III nitride semiconductor device can enhance the mobility of the two-dimensional electron gas and improve current characteristics. The group III nitride semiconductor wafer is used to make the group III nitride semiconductor device. The group III nitride semiconductor wafer comprises a substrate made of AlXGa1-XN (0
US08148743B2
In the present invention, a semiconductor film is formed through a sputtering method, and then, the semiconductor film is crystallized. After the crystallization, a patterning step is carried out to form an active layer with a desired shape. The present invention is also characterized by forming a semiconductor film through a sputtering method, subsequently forming an insulating film. Next, the semiconductor film is crystallized through the insulating film, so that a crystalline semiconductor film is formed. According this structure, it is possible to obtain a thin film transistor with a good electronic property and a high reliability in a safe processing environment.
US08148742B2
An LED is provided comprising two or more light-emitting Type II interfaces wherein at least two of the Type II interfaces differ in transition energy by at least 5%, or more typically by at least 10%, and wherein at least one of the Type II interfaces is within a pn junction. Alternately, an LED is provided comprising two or more light-emitting Type II interfaces wherein at least two of the Type II interfaces differ in transition energy by at least 5%, or more typically by at least 10%. The Type II interfaces may include interfaces from a layer which is an electron quantum well and not a hole quantum well, interfaces to a layer which is a hole quantum well and not an electron quantum well; and interfaces that satisfy both conditions simultaneously. The Type II interfaces may be within a pn or pin junction or not within a pn or pin junction. In the later case, emission from the Type II interfaces may be photopumped by a nearby light source. The LED may be a white or near-white light LED. In addition, graphic display devices and illumination devices comprising the semiconductor device according to the present invention are provided.
US08148740B2
Provided are a semiconductor light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor light emitting layer comprises a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the active layer. The active layer comprises a quantum well layer, a quantum barrier layer, and a dual barrier layer.
US08148734B2
Provided are a light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer, and a passivation layer protecting a surface of the light emitting structure. The passivation layer includes a first passivation layer on a top surface of the light emitting structure and a second passivation layer having a refractive index different from that of the first passivation layer, the second passivation layer being disposed on a side surface of the light emitting structure. The second passivation layer has a refractive index greater than that of the first passivation layer.
US08148732B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) device is provided. The LED device is formed on a substrate having a carbon-containing layer. Carbon atoms are introduced into the substrate to prevent or reduce atoms from an overlying metal/metal alloy transition layer from inter-mixing with atoms of the substrate. In this manner, a crystalline structure is maintained upon which the LED structure may be formed.
US08148722B2
Provided are a method of manufacturing a transparent N-doped p-type ZnO semiconductor layer using a surface chemical reaction between precursors containing elements constituting thin layers, and a thin film transistor (TFT) including the p-type ZnO semiconductor layer. The method includes the steps of: preparing a substrate and loading the substrate into a chamber; injecting a Zn precursor and an oxygen precursor into the chamber, and causing a surface chemical reaction between the Zn precursor and the oxygen precursor using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique to form a ZnO thin layer on the substrate; and injecting a Zn precursor and an nitrogen precursor into the chamber, and causing a surface chemical reaction between the Zn precursor and the nitrogen precursor to form a doping layer on the ZnO thin layer.
US08148714B2
A method for producing a light-emitting device, includes: performing, on a first substrate made of III-V group compound semiconductor, crystal growth of a laminated body including an etching easy layer contiguous to the first substrate and a light-emitting layer made of nitride semiconductor; bonding a second substrate and the laminated body; and detaching the second substrate provided with the light-emitting layer from the first substrate by, one of removing the etching easy layer by using a solution etching method, and removing the first substrate and the etching easy layer by using mechanical polishing method.
US08148712B2
An object of the present invention is to obtain a group III nitride compound semiconductor stacked structure where a group III nitride compound semiconductor layer having good crystallinity is stably stacked on a dissimilar substrate.The group III nitride compound semiconductor stacked structure of the present invention is a group III nitride compound semiconductor stacked structure comprising a substrate having provided thereon a first layer comprising a group III nitride compound semiconductor and a second layer being in contact with the first layer and comprising a group III nitride compound semiconductor, wherein the first layer contains a columnar crystal with a definite crystal interface and the columnar crystal density is from 1×103 to 1×105 crystals/μm2.
US08148699B2
The present invention relates to a fluid treatment system comprising: an inlet; an outlet; and a fluid treatment zone disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The fluid treatment zone has disposed therein: (i) an elongate first radiation source assembly having a first longitudinal axis, and (ii) an elongate second radiation source assembly having a second longitudinal axis. The first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis are non-parallel to each other and to a direction of fluid flow through the fluid treatment zone. The present fluid treatment system has a number of advantages including: it can treat large volumes of fluid (e.g., wastewater, drinking water or the like); it requires a relatively small “footprint”; it results in a relatively lower coefficient of drag resulting in an improved hydraulic pressure loss/gradient over the length of the fluid treatment system; and it results in relatively lower (or no) forced oscillation of the radiation sources thereby obviating or mitigating of breakage of the radiation source and/or protective sleeve (if present). Other advantages are discussed in the specification.
US08148691B1
A method for calibrating a dual-beam NDIR gas sensor for detecting water vapor by obtaining a variant sensor components domain (“G0”) when there is no water vapor gas in the sample chamber, obtaining a physics measurement domain (“G”) for a set of known concentrations of the water vapor gas in the sample chamber, the known concentrations being measurable quantities exceeding zero, using G to calculate a G0i from a known concentration of water vapor in the sample chamber for each of multiple master calibration curves, and then selecting the master calibration curve with the lowest difference between its G0i and the G0 of the NDIR gas sensor as the calibration curve. G and the G0i are obtained, preferably, at substantially the same temperature, G is a signal channel output (“VS”) divided by a reference channel output (“VR”), and the master calibration curves are obtained from a set of multiple calibration curves obtained from a large number of NDIR gas sensors, each of the calibration curves being represented by an equation of P=F(G/G0) where P is equal to a gas pressure and F is a function.
US08148690B2
Web measurement system monitors properties of a web during manufacture without chopping measuring radiation during web measurement. A single chop is performed at each sheet edge or every nth sheet edge to measure edge temperature and edge thermal radiation for correction for Planckian radiation. Correction factors, including Planckian radiation correction factors, are derived for each point in a web profile. The measuring system also enables derivation of correction factors during operation in a single point and similar machine operating modes.
US08148682B2
Systems and methods using imaged device patterns to measure overlay between different layers in a semiconductor manufacturing process, such as a double-patterning process. Images of pattern features are acquired by scanning electron microscopy. The position of a patterning layer is determined using positions of pattern features for the patterning layer in the images. A relative position of each patterning layer with respect to other pattern features or patterning layers is determined in vector form based on the determined pattern positions. Overlay error is determined based on a comparison of the relative position with reference values from design or simulation. Overlay can be measured with high precision and accuracy by utilizing pattern symmetry.
US08148680B2
A method of transporting gas and entrained ions between higher and lower pressure regions of a mass spectrometer comprises providing an ion transfer conduit 60 between the higher and lower pressure regions. The ion transfer conduit 60 includes an electrode assembly 300 which defines an ion transfer channel. The electrode assembly 300 has a first set of ring electrodes 305 of a first width D1, and a second set of ring electrodes of a second width D2 (≧D1) and interleaved with the first ring electrodes 305. A DC voltage of magnitude V1 and a first polarity is supplied to the first ring electrodes 205 and a DC voltage of magnitude V2 which may be less than or equal to the magnitude of V1 but with an opposed polarity is applied to the second ring electrodes 310. The pressure of the ion transfer conduit 60 is controlled so as to maintain viscous flow of gas and ions within the ion transfer channel.
US08148673B2
A system and method of detecting and thwarting the use of unauthorized imaging systems at theatrical performances. A method includes determining, using a computing device and stored emission signatures of a plurality of different imaging devices, whether an emission is indicative of a presence of an imaging device that has transmitted a content signal and in response to determining that the emission is indicative of the presence of the imaging device that has transmitted the content signal, and initiating, using the computing device, transmission of a thwarting signal from a signal generator to thwart the imaging device.
US08148669B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for effectuating temperature control in roller grill assembly. Some embodiments provide a roller grill assembly which provides enhanced measurement by utilizing temperature probes located in convective air streams generated in the roller tube. Certain embodiments also provide an improved method for maintaining of a food product temperature by utilizing an intermediate holding mode. Finally, certain embodiments provide improved current control by limiting the number of heating circuits of a food heater that may be simultaneously enabled such that the current draw does not exceed a maximum current draw.
US08148651B1
A pet feeding and weighing system for efficiently providing a weighing platform having one or more feeding bowls therein to allow for a pet to be weighed in a consistent manner when the pet returns for food or drink. The pet feeding and weighing system generally includes a platform having a feeding portion and a weighing portion extending therefrom, wherein the feeding portion includes at least one opening extending therethrough and at least one feeding container is positioned within the opening. A plurality of weight sensors are in communicative contact with the weighing portion and a local digital display responsive to the weight sensor indicates a weight applied upon the weighing portion of the platform over the weight sensor. The present invention may also include a controller having memory for storing and allowing the retrieval of past weight measurements along with their respective date and time taken.
US08148647B2
An object of the invention is to provide a printed circuit board that has an excellent heat dissipation performance and excellent reliability, and its manufacturing method. The printed circuit board includes: prepregs (2a) and (2b) being cured after each covering the surfaces of a metal plate (1) provided with first throughholes (1a) therein and the inner walls of the first throughholes (1a); prepregs (4a) and (4b) being cured after glass clothes (3a) and (3b) are sandwiched between the prepregs (2a) and (2b), and the prepregs (4a) and (4b), respectively; and second throughholes (8) that connect wiring layers (7a) and (7c), and (7b) and (7d) provided on both surfaces of prepregs (6a) and (6b), respectively. The prepregs (2a) and (2b) and the prepregs (4a) and (4b) are characterized in that they contain inorganic filler. Furthermore, the prepregs (2a) and (2b) and the prepregs (4a) and (4b) may contain elastomer.
US08148638B2
A cord accommodation member is able to easily accommodate a connecting cord for a thin TV and video equipment in a hidden place under a glass shelf, having a hard-to-fall-off structure, and can be cut in the desired size for each type in order to cope with the development of various types different in lateral width, without need of raising the die every type, and its manufacturing method. The cord accommodation member comprises a cord accommodating portion for accommodating a connecting cord, a fixing arm for fixing the cord accommodating portion, which is attached to a glass shelf of a TV stand for mounting a television and video equipment, and a fixing rubber for increasing the fixing force for the glass shelf and the fixing arm.
US08148636B2
A cover (5) includes a first bent portion (5b) and a second bent portion (5c) which are provided in series to be continuous with a lid portion (5a). A casing (2) includes a hole (8) through which the cover is allowed to be inserted/removed and movably inserted into/removed from the casing, and includes a cover locking portion (9) to which the cover is locked in a substantially upright posture while covering an opening portion (4) with the lid portion. The cover can pivot in a fore-and-aft direction at a corner portion (5d) on an inner side of the first bent portion with an inner edge portion (8c) at an intersection between an upper inner wall surface (8a) of the hole and an inner wall surface (3a) of a front wall as a fulcrum. The cover can be displaced between the substantially upright posture and a substantially laid posture.
US08148626B2
Provided are an integrated thin-film solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same. The method comprises forming and patterning a conductive material to be adjacently spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other on a substrate; forming a solar cell (semiconductor) layer on the resultant substrate; obliquely depositing a first transparent conductive material on the solar cell layer; etching the solar cell layer using the first transparent conductive material as a mask; and obliquely depositing a second transparent conductive material on the resultant substrate, and electrically connecting the conductive material with the first transparent conductive material.
US08148620B2
A piano hammer stopper system includes a blocking rail movable between a first position, allowing unobstructed movement of piano hammers, and a second position, blocking at least one piano hammer from striking any corresponding strings. The piano hammer stopper system includes a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the blocking rail, a drive arm attached to the drive shaft and engaging a drive fulcrum, and a travel guide directing movement of the blocking rail between its first and second positions. Rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive arm to engage the drive fulcrum for moving the blocking rail between its first and second positions.
US08148618B1
A drum tune adjustment system is provided for adjusting the pitch of a drum having a shell, a batter head, a resonant head, and a cavity formed therewithin. The drum tune adjustment system includes an air pump or air source, and a conduit fluidly connected with the air pump or air source. The system further includes a connector that is configured to attach the conduit to the shell of the drum such that the cavity of the drum is fluidly connected with the air pump or air source via the conduit. The system further includes a pedal that is configured to actuate the air pump or open a valve that is fluidly connected with the air source and thereby move a mass of air between the air pump or air source and the cavity of the drum when the conduit is attached to the drum with the connector.
US08148612B1
The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar 04KG128407 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar 04KG128407 and its progeny, and methods of making 04KG128407.
US08148607B2
A method is described for the exact removal of a selected subfragment from a DNA molecule by intrachromosomal recombination between two directly repeated DNA sequences using a rare-cleaving double stranded break inducing DNA endonuclease expressed under control of a micro-spore specific promoter. This method can be applied in a method for the exact exchange of a target DNA fragment for a DNA fragment of interest in plant cells and plants.
US08148601B2
The present inventors succeeded in isolating the rice field resistance gene pi21 by linkage analysis, and found that field resistance to blast in plants could be modified by introducing or controlling the expression of the gene. Thus, it became possible to efficiently confer plants with field resistance. It also became possible to select, at an early stage, rice plants having field resistance to blast. Moreover, by changing the tissue specificity of expression and the expression level of the gene involved in field resistance, varieties having resistance as well as high practical use can be grown.
US08148597B2
A sanitary napkin including a body facing surface, a portion adapted to be arranged over the vaginal opening during use, a first colored portion, said colored portion extending over at least the portion of the napkin to be placed over the vaginal opening during use, a noncolored portion, wherein said first colored portion has a first color as measured from said body facing surface prior to staining, wherein the first colored portion has a second color as measured from said body facing surface after staining, wherein the first color has an average L value greater than 80; and wherein a Δa* between said first color and said second color is less than 18.
US08148595B2
A reduced pressure tissue treatment system includes an applicator having an aperture, a first pad section, and a second pad section substantially covering the aperture and positioned substantially adjacent the first pad section. A fabric layer is located at least partially between the second pad section and the drape, and the fabric layer includes a woven or non-woven fabric made from a fiber material. A drape substantially covers the first pad section, the second pad section, the fabric layer, and the applicator. A reduced pressure source is in fluid communication with at least one of the first pad section and the fabric layer for providing reduced pressure to the aperture.
US08148593B2
This invention relates to a process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising the steps of (A) feeding the feedstock to a reactor or adsorption unit; (B) contacting the feedstock in the reactor or adsorption unit with a solid particulate material useful for converting the feedstock under conversion conditions; (C) withdrawing converted feedstock from the reactor; and (D) removing, under the conversion conditions for a fractional time of step (B), at least a portion of the solid particulate material while the feedstock is being fed to the reactor or adsorption unit, wherein the portion is more than 0.1 wt. % of the solid particulate material in the reactor or adsorption unit and wherein the fractional time is less than 95% of the time of step (B).
US08148589B2
Process for producing alkene(s) from a feedstock containing at least one monohydric aliphatic paraffinic primary (or secondary) alcohol(s), consisting of ethanol or propanol(s) or a mixture thereof. The process includes the steps of converting the monohydric aliphatic paraffinic primary (or secondary) alcohol(s) into the corresponding same carbon number alkene(s) in a reactive distillation column at elevated pressure and temperature so that the heads stream extracted from the top of the reactive distillation column comprises essentially the alkene(s), cooling the heads stream from the first step to a temperature sufficient to condense at least part of the alkene(s) with the highest boiling point, recycling at least part of the condensed alkene(s) from the second step back into the reactive distillation column, as a reflux return, and simultaneously recovering the remaining alkene(s).
US08148577B2
Polyamine, polyamine/guanidino, and polyamine/biguanide compounds are disclosed. The compounds are useful as anti-cancer and anti-parasitic treatments. The compounds are also useful as inhibitors of the enzyme lysine-specific demethylase-1.
US08148568B2
Archiral (2-hydroxy-3-oxo-cyclopent-1-enyl) acetic acid) alkyl, alkylphenyl and phenyl esters, and a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of both enantiomers of homocitric acid gamma-lactone and the corresponding salts from these esters are described. The method is based on asymmetric oxidation of esters, and the steps of basic and acidic hydrolysis and final acidic lactonization of the homocitric acid into homocitric acid gamma-lactone. The homocitric acid salts are obtained after basic treatment of homocitric acid gamma-lactone. The esters, conditions and reagents used in chemical conversion and separating products are important constituents affording efficient and simple method for production of homocitric acid gamma-lactone and homocitric acid salts.
US08148563B2
Bimetal chelates are prepared from a solution formed by adding to a solvent one or more polyfunctional acids with basic salts of two or more coordination elements listed in Groups IIIA to VIIIA, Groups IB to IIIB, of periods 4 and 5 and aluminum in Group IIIB, period 3 of The Periodic Table of the Elements and recovering the chelate. Such chelates can be used to formulate useful products.
US08148556B2
A new method of producing metabolites of tibolone comprising fermenting tibolone with Rhizopus stolonifer (ATCC 12938) resulting in the formation of Δ4-Tibolone (C21H28O2), 6β-Hydroxytibolone, and 15β-Hydroxytibolone (C21H28O3) is reported.
US08148549B2
The present invention provides a (S)-methylhydroxylaminopropanol derivative as an intermediate for preparation of (S)-(+)-N-methyl-3-methyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propylamine. The present invention also provides a process for preparing (S)-(+)-N-methyl-3-methyl-3-(1-naphthyloxy)-3-(2-thienyl)propylamine with higher yield and lower cost, wherein the (S)-methylhydroxylaminopropanol derivative is used as an intermediate.
US08148544B2
The present invention relates to the discovery that specific human taste receptors in the T2R taste receptor family respond to particular bitter compounds present in, e.g., coffee. Also, the invention relates to the discovery of specific compounds and compositions containing that function as bitter taste blockers and the use thereof as bitter taste blockers or flavor modulators in, e.g., coffee and coffee flavored foods, beverages and medicaments. Also, the present invention relates to the discovery of a compound that antagonizes numerous different human T2Rs and the use thereof in assays and as a bitter taste blocker in compositions for ingestion by humans and animals.
US08148542B2
A method for producing crystal A of 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid by dissolving 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid in methanol or a mixed solvent of methanol and water (the volume ratio of methanol to water is 90/10 or more), then adding water until the ratio of methanol to water becomes 7/3, and further adding a specific amount of a seed crystal at a specific timing during the addition of water.
US08148541B2
Disclosed herein are rhodanine derivatives, a method for the preparation thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition containing the same. The rhodanine derivatives have inhibitory activity against protein phosphatases (PPase) such as PTP1B, Prl-3, LAR, CD45, Cdc25A, Cdc25B, Cdc25C, Yop, PP1 and VHR, and can be applied for the prevention and treatment of PPase-caused diseases, including autoimmune diseases, diabetes, impaired glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, obesity, cancers, etc. when the inhibitory activity thereof is modulated.
US08148540B2
The invention relates to new heterocyclic compounds of general formula (I), and their salts with a base or an acid: The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of these compounds as well as their use as medicaments, in particular as anti-bacterial agents.
US08148538B2
A compound of general formula (I): A process for preparing this compound.A compound of general formula (II) A fungicide composition comprising a compound of general formula (I).A method for treating plants by applying a compound of general formula (I) or a composition comprising it.
US08148523B2
The invention relates to 4-chloro-2-iodopyrrolo[1,2-f][1,2,4]triazine, which is an intermediate useful in preparing 2,4-disubstituted pyrrolotriazine compounds, and a process for preparing said intermediate.
US08148520B2
A process for preparing purified Meropenem trihydrate that involves the dissolution of Meropenem in water in presence of base, adjusting the pH to 4.0-7.0, and adding solvent to yield Meropenem trihydrate.
US08148515B1
The present invention relates to dyes in general. The present invention provides a wide range of dyes and kits containing the same, which are applicable for labeling a variety of biomolecules such as nucleic acids, cells and microorganisms. The present invention also provides various methods of using the dyes for research and development, forensic identification, environmental studies, diagnosis, prognosis, and/or treatment of disease conditions.
US08148512B2
The invention provides a diverse population of uniquely labeled probes, containing target specific nucleic acid probes each attached to a unique label bound to a nucleic acid. Also provided is a method of detecting a nucleic acid analyte. The method consists of (a) contacting a mixture of nucleic acid analytes under conditions sufficient for hybridization with a plurality of target specific nucleic acid probes each having a different specifier; (b) contacting the mixture under conditions sufficient for hybridization with a corresponding plurality of antigenedigits each having a unique label, the plurality of anti-genedigits having a diversity sufficient to uniquely hybridize to genedigits within the specifiers, and (c) uniquely detecting a hybridized complex between one or more analytes in the mixture, a target specific probe, and an anti-genedigit.
US08148504B2
This invention relates to novel aminoglycoside antibiotics, which have potent antimicrobial activity against bacteria, which induce infectious diseases, particularly MRSA, and has no significant nephrotoxicity, and process for producing them. More particularly, the present invention relates to compounds represented by formula (Ia) or their pharmacologically acceptable salts or solvates, or their diastereomer mixtures, antimicrobial agents comprising them, and a process for producing them.
US08148498B2
The invention provides human engineered antibodies, antigen-binding fragments thereof, that bind to, and inhibit the activity of, human DKK-1, and which are effective in treating diseases in which pathogenesis is mediated by DKK-1.
US08148497B2
The invention provides binding molecules that specifically bind to rabies virus and are capable of neutralizing the virus. The invention further provides nucleic acid molecules encoding the binding molecules, compositions comprising the binding molecules and methods of identifying or producing the binding molecules. The binding molecules can be used in the diagnosis, prophylaxis and/or treatment of a condition resulting from rabies virus. Preferably, they can be used in the post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies.
US08148496B2
The present invention relates to a multivalent Fv antibody construct having at least four variable domains which are linked with each over via the peptide linkers 1, 2 and 3. The invention also concerns expression plasmids which code for such an Fv antibody construct and a method of producing the Fv antibody constructs as well as their use.
US08148495B2
The present invention relates to methods for degrading or converting a cellulosic material and for producing a substance from a cellulosic material.
US08148490B2
The present invention is directed to a method for preparing a cyclic guanidine comprising reacting (i) a guanidinium, (ii) a polyamine, and (iii) a weak acid. The present invention is also directed to a coating composition comprising the cyclic guanidine.
US08148484B2
Norbornene-based biocidal polymers having primary, secondary or tertiary amine or phosphine end groups, the parent monomers, processes for preparing the monomers and polymers, and their use.
US08148473B2
Disclosed is a sulfur-containing conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber composed of a conjugated diolefin and an aromatic vinyl compound, wherein (1) the content of sulfur bound to the rubber is 0.01 mmol % or more, (2) the content of the aromatic vinyl compound polymerization unit is not less than 5 wt % and less than 45 wt % relative to the amount of the copolymer rubber, and (3) the content of a vinyl bond (a 1,2-bond) in the conjugated diolefin polymerization unit is 30 mol % or more relative to the amount of the conjugated diolefin polymerization unit. In the copolymerization between the conjugated diolefin and the aromatic vinyl compound, a sulfur-containing polymerization terminator is used to terminate the reaction of the copolymerization.
US08148472B1
This invention relates to a polymer composition comprising a blend comprising: (a) greater than 30 wt (based upon the weight of the composition) of a cyclic olefin polymer having a Tg greater than 60° C. and having a Tm heat of fusion (ΔHf) of 40 J/g or less selected from the group consisting of: i) copolymers comprising at least one acyclic olefin and at least 15 mole % of one or more cyclic olefins; ii) partially or completely hydrogenated copolymers comprising at least one acyclic olefin and at least 15 mole % of one or more cyclic olefins; iii) metathesis copolymers comprising two or more cyclic olefins; iv) partially or completely hydrogenated metathesis copolymers comprising two or more cyclic olefins; v) metathesis homopolymers comprising cyclic olefins; vi) partially or completely hydrogenated metathesis homopolymers comprising cyclic olefins; and vii) mixtures thereof; (b) from 1 to 50 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition) of an acyclic olefin polymer modifier having a glass transition temperature of less than 0° C.; (c) from 0.1 to 50 wt % (based upon the weight of the composition) of a non-functionalized plasticizer having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 3 to 3000 cSt, a viscosity index of 120 or more, a pour point of 0° C. or less and a flash point of 200° C. or more.
US08148468B2
Disclosed are a reactive hot melt adhesive composition having no problem in the initial adhesive strength, the adhesive strength obtained after moisture curing, stringiness and the like, and a method for producing the same. In the method, 1 to 50 parts by mass of a polymer (A), which is obtained by polymerization of a monomer composition including a vinyl monomer having a carboxyl group and a vinyl monomer having an epoxy group and has the equivalent ratio of the carboxyl group to the epoxy group in the range of 1/100 to 100/1, is mixed with 99 to 50 parts by mass in total of a polyisocyanate (B) and a polyol (C) so that the amount of the isocyanate group can become 1.1 to 10 moles relative to 1 mole of the hydroxyl group of the polyol (C), the sum of the components (A) to (C) being 100 parts by mass, and the resulting mixture is heated and mixed.
US08148465B2
The invention relates to a process for free-radically initiated heterophase polymerization, in which the polymerization of ethylenically monomers proceeds in a phase dispersed in the continuous phase, characterized in that one or more additives which are soluble in the continuous phase and insoluble in the disperse phase and stop the polymerization of the ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the continuous phase is/are added before or during the polymerization.
US08148458B2
A method of compounding a modified, epoxidized natural rubber for use as a tire tread which includes the steps of modifying an epoxidized natural rubber containing a ring-opened epoxy group, compounding the modified, epoxidized natural rubber with another rubber, to form a rubber compound, together with silica and/or carbon black to form a rubber composition, and forming the rubber composition into a tire tread.
US08148454B2
Disclosed is the use of glycerol acetals as coalescent agents and/or solvents for making lacquers and paints.
US08148453B2
A resin composition containing at least (A) a polylactic acid, (B) a phosphazene compound, and (C) a rubber and/or thermoplastic elastomer.
US08148443B2
The present invention relates to oxonium salts having [(Ro)3O]+ cations and sulfonium salts having [(Ro)3S]+ cations, where Ro denotes straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 1-8 C atoms or phenyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by Ro, ORo, N(Ro)2, CN or halogen, and anions selected from the group of [PFx(CyF2y+1−xHz)6−x]− anions, where 2≦x≦5, 1≦y≦8 and 0≦z≦2y+1, or anions selected from the group of [BFn(CN)4−n]− anions, where n=0, 1, 2 or 3, or anions selected from the group of [(Rf1SO2)2N]− anions or anions selected from the group of [BFWRf24−w]− anions, to processes for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof, in particular for the preparation of ionic liquids.
US08148434B2
A process for producing an aqueous silica-based sol is disclosed wherein a cationic ion exchange resin having part of its ion exchange capacity in hydrogen form is contacted with an aqueous alkali metal silicate to form a slurry having a pH from 5.0 to 11.5 and/or having particle aggregation or microgel formation corresponding to a S value up to 45%; adjusting the pH using a material comprising an aluminum compound; and separating the resin from the slurry.Silica-based sols having an S value from 15 to 25%, mole ratio Si:Al from 20:1 to 50:1, mole ratio Si:X, where X=alkali metal, from 5:1 to 17:1, SiO2 content of at least 5% by weight and containing silica-based particles having a specific surface area of at least 300 m2/g, as well as the use of such silica-based sols in producing paper are disclosed.
US08148431B2
It is intended to provide an osteogenesis promoter having a remarkable effect of positively promoting osteogenesis and thus preventing/treating bone diseases; a preventive/a remedy for bone diseases such as osteoporosis having both of an osteogenesis-promoting effect and a bone resorption-inhibiting effect; and a method of screening an active ingredient for preventing/treating bone diseases by using a compound having both of an osteogenesis-promoting effect and a bone resorption-inhibiting effect as a lead compound. It is confirmed that beta-cryptoxanthin, which occurs in a large amount in peel and sarcocarp of satsuma orange, has an osteogenesis-promoting effect and a therapeutic effect on bone disease. Thus, beta-cryptoxanthin or its composition is used as an osteogenesis promoter, a preventive/a remedy for bone diseases, a functional food or a food material for preventing/treating bone diseases and a feed composition.
US08148430B2
The present invention focuses on a process for the hydrogenation of aromatic or heteroaromatic compounds and in particular on the ring hydrogenation of compounds having the formula (I). Aromatic amino acids and amino alcohols can be successfully ring-hydrogenated using a platinum-rhodium mixed catalyst. The products can be used inter alia as mimetics in bioactive peptide active ingredients.
US08148429B2
The present invention relates to the use of compounds of general formula (I) as ligands to the melanocortin receptors and/or for treatment of disorders in the melanocortin system: wherein X is H or OH; R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, electron donor groups such as alkoxy having 1-5 carbon atoms or hydroxy, electron acceptor groups selected from cyano, nitro, trifluoroalkyl or amide; alkylamino, benzoyloxy, nitroxy, phenyl or sulpho; and the pharmacologically active salts thereof.
US08148426B2
A method of treating a Hsp70-responsive disorder in a subject includes administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. Y is a covalent bond or an optionally substituted straight chained hydrocarbyl group, or, Y, taken together with both >C═Z groups to which it is bonded, is an optionally substituted aromatic group.R1-R4 are independently —H, an optionally substituted aliphatic group, an optionally substituted aryl group, or R1 and R3 taken together with the carbon and nitrogen atoms to which they are bonded, and/or R2 and R4 taken together with the carbon and nitrogen atoms to which they are bonded, form a non-aromatic heterocyclic ring optionally fused to an aromatic ring.R7-R8 are independently —H, an optionally substituted aliphatic group, or an optionally substituted aryl group.Z is O or S.
US08148425B2
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for oral or rectal administration, that contains phloroglucinol and paracetamol in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The inventors have evidenced a synergy developed by these two active ingredients in antispasmodic therapy.
US08148423B2
Provided herein are fluorophore compounds including rhodol and rhodamine compounds which can be used as fluorescent labels and/or fluorogenic probes and methods of making same. Provided also herein are methods that can be used to track, measure, detect, or screen biological species such as protein, DNA, enzyme, antibody, organelle, cell, tissue, drug, hormone, nucleotide, nucleic acid, polysaccharide or lipid in living organisms. Specifically, the methods include the steps of contacting any of the fluorophore compounds, rhodol compounds and rhodamine compounds disclosed herein with the biological species to form one or more fluorescent compounds, and measuring fluorescence properties of the fluorescent compounds. Provided also herein are high-throughput screening fluorescent methods for detecting or screening biological species.
US08148422B2
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds are represented by Formula (I) and Formula (II) as follows: wherein Y, R1, R2, R3, R4, RA, and RB are defined herein.
US08148421B2
A compound represented by the formula (1) or a salt thereof ( represents a single bond, or a double bond; R1 represents hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group; R2 and R3 represent hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group; R4 and R5 represent hydrogen atom, hydroxy group, an alkoxyl group, a halogen atom, or a mono- or di-alkyl-substituted amino group; R6 represents hydrogen atom, cyano group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, or carboxy group; R7 represents one or two of substituents on the benzene ring (the substituents are selected from hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, nitro group, cyano group, hydroxy group, amino group, an alkyl group, and an alkoxyl group); A represents a 5-membered or 6-membered non-aromatic heterocyclic ring containing one or two contiguous sulfur atoms (the sulfur atoms may independently form oxide); W represents oxo group, hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, hydroxy group, an alkoxyl group, or a halogen atom; and X represents oxygen atom, or sulfur atom), or a salt thereof, which has a superior suppressing action against prostaglandin E2 production and is useful as an active ingredient of medicaments with reduced adverse reactions such as gastrointestinal disorders.
US08148409B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: or salt thereof, which are modulators of the glucocorticoid receptor. The compounds and salts of the invention are useful in the treatment of conditions mediated by glucocorticoid receptor activity.
US08148407B2
The invention relates to novel 5-thioxylose compounds, preferably derivatives of the 5-thioxylopyranose type, to the process for their preparation and to their use as active principles of drugs intended especially for the treatment or prevention of thrombosis or cardiac insufficiency.
US08148406B2
Polymorphs of N,N-diethyl-4-(3-fluorophenyl-piperidin-4-ylidene-methyl)-benzamide hydrochloride salt, methods of making these polymorphs and uses thereof are described.
US08148405B2
The invention provides N-{2-[((2S)-3-{[1-(4-chlorobenzyl)piperidin-4-yl]amino}-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)oxy]-4-hydroxyphenyl}acetamide benzoate or a solvate thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing the salt or solvate and use of the salt or solvate in therapy.
US08148402B2
Disclosed are isoindolinone derivatives, represented by Chemical Formula 1, having inhibitory activity against T-type calcium channels, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, a preparation method thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same as an active ingredient. wherein R1˜R6 are as defined in the specification.
US08148398B2
The invention provides novel neuromuscular blocking agents, methods of using the neuromuscular blocking agents as well as reagents, methods and kits for reversing the effects of the neuromuscular blocking agents.
US08148396B2
Novel compounds are provided which are 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors. 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitors are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases requiring 11-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I inhibitor therapy. These novel compounds have the structure: or stereoisomers or prodrugs or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein W, L, R3, R3a, R3b and R4 are defined herein.
US08148387B2
The present invention provides AKT and p70 S6 kinase inhibitors of the formula: The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I, uses of compounds of Formula I and methods of using compounds of Formula I.
US08148382B2
The disclosure provides compounds of formula I, including their salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and may be useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US08148381B2
A radiation therapy potentiator, which, when employed in combination with cancer radiation therapy, can reduce radiation dose and can mitigate adverse effects, the radiation therapy potentiator containing, as an effective ingredient, a uracil derivative represented by formula (1) the substitutents of which are defined in the specification.
US08148367B2
Disclosed are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, kits, articles of manufacture, methods of using, and methods of preparing compounds having the formula: wherein the variables are as defined herein. The disclosed compounds are inhibitors of Renin.
US08148364B2
A pyrimidone derivative represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof or a hydrate thereof: Wherein Y, Z, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, n, m, and o are as described herein. The invention relates also to a medicament comprising the said derivative or a salt thereof as an active ingredient which is used for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of a neurodegenerative disease caused by abnormal activity of GSK3β, such as Alzheimer disease.
US08148361B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The Formula (I) compounds inhibit the tyrosine kinase activity of growth factor receptors such as VEGFR-2, FGFR-1 and IGFR-1, thereby making them useful as anti-cancer agents. The formula (I) compounds are also useful for the treatment of other diseases associated with signal transduction pathways operating through growth factor receptors.
US08148358B2
The invention relates to a process for enhancing the contrast of color filters comprising α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine, wherein a 1,4-diamino-anthraquinone dye or 1,9-annellated derivative thereof, of which the most bathochromic solution absorption peak in the visible spectrum is at from 575 to 615 nm, preferably at from 585 to 605 nm (as compared with around 630 nm for usual 1,4-diamino-anthraquinone dyes or 1,9-annellated derivatives thereof) is used in combination with α copper phthalocyanine or ε copper phthalocyanine. Also claimed are color filters comprising such 1,4-diamino-anthraquinone dyes or 1,9-annellated derivatives thereof, as well as a novel compound of Formula (II), wherein R16 is halogen, phenyl, benzyl or C1-C8alkyl and R17 is H, R16 is H and R17 is C1-C8alkyl, or R16 and R17 are both H; R18 is H, halogen, C1-C8alkyl or SO2NR13R14; R19, R20 and R21 are each independently from the others halogen or C1-C8alkyl; and R22 is independently from R18 SO2NR13R14, with the proviso that at least one of R18 and R22 is SO2NR13R14, and two radicals of Formula (II) can optionally be linked together via a direct bond or a group —O—, —S—, —NR14—, —CO—, —CO2—, —CONR14— or —CO2— connecting together each a substituent R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21 and R11 from both radicals of formula (II).
US08148356B2
This invention relates to novel acetylcysteine compositions in solution, comprising acetylcysteine and which are substantially free of metal chelating agents, such as EDTA. Further, this invention relates to methods of making and using the acetylcysteine compositions. The present compositions and methods are designed to improve patient tolerance and compliance, while at the same time maintaining the stability of the pharmaceutical formulation. The compositions and methods of this invention are useful in the treatment of acetaminophen overdose, acute liver failure, various cancers, methacrylonitrile poisoning, reperfusion injury during cardio bypass surgery, and radiocontrast-induced nephropathy, and can also be used as a mucolytic agent.
US08148355B2
3-Hydroxy-7-hydroxy steroids and 3-oxo-7-hydroxy steroids, especially the 7β-isomers thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable esters thereof are useful for protection against ischaemia-induced damage to peripheral organs, such as the heart or kidneys, as well as treatment of spiral cord injury.
US08148351B2
The present invention relates to a composition for preventing, ameliorating or treating a bowel disease, comprising galactomannan and/or arabinogalactan; a liquid food for preventing, ameliorating or treating a bowel disease, characterized in that the liquid food comprises a protein and galactomannan and/or arabinogalactan; and a composition for preventing, ameliorating or treating an irritable bowel syndrome, comprising degraded galactomannan.
US08148347B2
PSD-95/SAP90 antisense-treated animals not only experience a significant decrease in MAC for isoflurane, but also experience an attenuation in the NMDA-induced increase in isoflurane MAC. PSD-95/SAP90 appears to mediate the role of the NMDA receptor in determining the MAC of inhalational anesthetics. Suppression of the expression of PSD-95/SAP90 in the spinal cord significantly attenuates responses to painful stimuli mediated through the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation. In spinal cord neurons PSD-95/SAP90 interacts with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits 2A/2B. Activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in spinal hyperalgesia results in association of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor with PSD-95/SAP90. PSD-95/SAP90 is required for hyperalgesia triggered via the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor at the spinal cord level.
US08148342B2
The invention relates to a double-stranded compound, preferably an oligoribonucleotide, which down-regulates the expression of a human p53 gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the oligoribonucleotide compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating a patient suffering from alopecia or acute renal failure or other diseases comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient. The alopecia may be induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and the patient may be suffering from cancer, in particular breast cancer.
US08148337B2
A method of treatment for a pelvic tissue infection by vaginally administering an antibiotic and a prostaglandin to a patient is disclosed. A method of reducing surgical trauma resulting from a gynaecological operation by administering vaginally a composition comprising an antibiotic and a prostaglandin to a patient is also disclosed.
US08148333B2
The present invention provides a storage-stable composition containing a parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) analogue and methods of using a PTHrP analogue and the PTHrP compositions described herein to treat osteoporosis, to increase bone mass or to increase bone quality. The composition is storage stable, in sterile form, and in general may be stored at room temperature for at least several weeks to allow convenient parenteral administration to human patients.
US08148330B2
C1q is shown to be expressed in neurons, where it acts as a signal for synapse elimination. Methods are provided for protecting or treating an individual suffering from adverse effects of synapse loss. These findings have broad implications for a variety of clinical conditions, including Alzheimer's disease.
US08148323B2
Disclosed herein are peptides or peptide analogs with multiple amphipathic α-helical domains that promote lipid efflux from cells via an ABCA1-dependent pathway. Also provided herein are methods of using multi-domain amphipathic α-helical peptides or peptide analogs to treat or inhibit dyslipidemic disorders. Methods for identifying non-cytotoxic peptides that promote ABCA1-dependent lipid efflux from cells are also disclosed herein.
US08148319B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, use of said compounds for the manufacture of a medicament for treatment of inter alia shock conditions as well as to a method for treatment of said conditions, wherein said compounds are administered. The compounds are represented by the general formula (I), as further defined in the specification.
US08148315B2
A method for uniform deposition of fabric care actives to a fabric article in a non-aqueous solvent based fabric treatment process; and compositions capable of uniformly depositing the fabric care actives on the fabric article being treated to achieve maximum benefit.
US08148314B2
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.
US08148311B2
The compositions and methods for the removal of residues and contaminants from metal or dielectric surfaces comprises at least one alkyl diphosphonic acid, at least one second acidic substance at a mole ratio of about 1:1 to about 10:1 in water, and pH is adjusted to from about 6 to about 10 with a basic compound, and optionally a surfactant. Particularly, a composition and method of cleaning residues after chemical mechanical polishing of a copper or aluminum surface of the semiconductor substrates. One of the embodiment is the method of using the compositions in dilution, wherein the solution may be diluted with DI water at dilution ratios, for example, of up to 1:10, up to 1:50, up to 1:100, up to 1:150, up to 1:250, and up to about 1:500 or any ratios therein.
US08148308B2
A liquid cleansing composition comprising a glyceryl caprylate/caprate ester that provides excellent viscosity-building properties, as well as enhanced foaming properties. The glyceryl caprylate/caprate ester is preferably glyceryl caprylate/caprate, and is preferably obtained by esterifying glycerin with C8-C10 fatty acids derived from coconut or palm kernel oil. The cleansing composition also comprises one or more surfactants, and optional additives, and can be formulated into a body wash, shampoo, 2-in-1 shampoo, facial cleanser, or liquid hand soap.
US08148307B2
Formulations using tartaric compounds of the present invention in a low sulfur, low ash and low phosphorous lubricant lower wear, and friction and improves fuel economy.
US08148305B2
The use of oligoglycerol fatty acid esters, prepared from (a) an acid component chosen from (a1) fatty acids of the general formula (I) R—COOH (I) in which R represents a saturated or unsaturated, branched or linear alkyl or alkenyl radical having 7 to 21 C atoms, and/or (a2) dicarboxylic acids and/or (a3) dimer fatty acids and/or (a4) oligomer fatty acids and/or (a5) hydroxy fatty acids with (b) a polyol component which is chosen from oligoglycerols or alkoxylates of oligoglycerols, as an additive in water-based drilling mud compositions for improving the lubricating action of these mud systems, is described.
US08148303B2
A method comprises providing a drilling fluid comprising: an aqueous fluid; and a microemulsion surfactant; and drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation comprising an oleaginous fluid using the drilling fluid, wherein the microemulsion surfactant forms a microemulsion with the oleaginous fluid within the well bore. In accordance with the method, the subterranean formation has a retained producibility greater than about 50%.
US08148296B2
An adsorbent composition and method of using the adsorbent composite is described. The method for removing heavy metals from contaminated water is done by mixing contaminated water having a concentration of one or more heavy metals with an adsorbent composite comprising granules of a mixture of 50.363 wt % kaolin clay, a 4.477 wt % roasted date pits powder, a 5.54 wt % silica powder a 14.99 wt % magnesite powder and a 24.623 wt % water. After reacting the contaminated water and adsorbent composite together for a specific time the water is filtered and was found to contain reduced amount of heavy metals. The cleaned water can further be used for industrial cooling systems or watering gardens.
US08148295B2
Low temperature activity of a vanadium-free selective catalytic reduction catalyst is provided by a mixed metal oxide support containing oxides of titanium and zirconium, the support having a promoter deposited on the surface of the mixed metal oxide support, and further having an active catalyst component deposited over the promoter on the mixed metal oxide support surface. Suitable promoters include oxides of silicon, boron, aluminum, cerium, iron, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, tin, silver, niobium, lanthanum, titanium, and combinations thereof. Suitable active catalyst components include oxides of manganese, iron and cerium.
US08148289B2
A titanium oxide photocatalyst that is capable of improving a decomposition rate, and a method for producing the same are provided. The titanium oxide photocatalyst of the present invention is a titanium oxide photocatalyst containing at least an anatase-type titanium oxide and fluorine, wherein a content of the fluorine is 2.5 wt % to 3.5 wt %, and 90 wt % or more of the fluorine is chemically bonded to the anatase-type titanium oxide.
US08148285B2
A catalytic composition for hydrotreating of hydrocarbons is made in which a metallic component for hydrogenation is carried on a carrier formed of zeolite Y with aluminum and titanium inserted therein and a porous inorganic oxide. The zeolite Y has: unit cell dimension in a range from 24.25 to 24.60 Å, crystallinity of 95% or more, specific surface area of 500 m2/g or more, total pore volume of a group of pores each having a diameter of 600 Å or below in a range from 0.45 to 0.70 ml/g, pore volume of a group of pores each having a diameter in a range from 100 to 600 Å in a range from 0.10 to 0.40 ml/g, and pore volume of a group of pores each having a diameter in a range from 35 to 50 Å in a range 0.03 to 0.15 ml/g.
US08148275B2
A method for forming dielectric films including metal nitride silicate on a silicon substrate, comprises a first step of depositing a film containing metal and silicon on a silicon substrate in a non-oxidizing atmosphere using a sputtering method; a second step of forming a film containing nitrogen, metal and silicon by nitriding the film containing metal and silicon; and a third step of forming a metal nitride silicate film by oxidizing the film containing nitrogen, metal and silicon.
US08148272B2
A method for fabricating semiconductor devices, e.g., strained silicon MOS device, includes providing a semiconductor substrate (e.g., silicon wafer) having a surface region, which has one or more contaminants and an overlying oxide layer. The one or more contaminants is at least a carbon species. The method also includes processing the surface region using at least a wet process to selectively remove the oxide layer and expose the surface region. The method further includes subjecting the surface region to a laser treatment process for a time period of less than 1 second to increase a temperature of the surface region to greater than 1000 degrees Celsius to remove the one or more contaminants provided on the surface region. The method also includes removing the laser treatment process to cause a reduction in temperature to about 300 to about 600 degrees Celsius in a time period of less than 1 second.
US08148264B2
Methods for fabrication of high aspect ratio micropillars and nanopillars are described. Use of alumina as an etch mask for the fabrication methods is also described. The resulting micropillars and nanopillars are analyzed and a characterization of the etch mask is provided.
US08148263B2
A method for forming conductive vias in a substrate of a semiconductor device component includes forming one or more holes, or apertures or cavities, in the substrate so as to extend only partially through the substrate. A barrier layer, such as an insulative layer, may be formed on surfaces of each hole. Surfaces within each hole may be coated with a seed layer, which facilitates adhesion of conductive material within each hole. Conductive material is introduced into each hole. Introduction of the conductive material may be effected by deposition or plating. Alternatively, conductive material in the form of solder may be introduced into each hole.
US08148261B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device is disclosed. A dielectric layer having a opening therein is formed on a semiconductor substrate. An inner surface of the opening is treated by plasma. A barrier metal layer is formed on the plasma-treated inner surface of the opening. A seed layer is formed on the barrier metal layer. A metal bulk layer is formed on the seed layer. High quality semiconductor devices can be fabricated by using these methods, which may stably fill the opening formed in the dielectric layer.
US08148255B2
Interconnects are formed on attachment points of a wafer by performing several steps. A plurality of cavities having a predetermined shape is formed in a semiconductor substrate. These cavities are then filled with an interconnect material to form the interconnects. The interconnects are subsequently attached to the attachment points of the wafer.
US08148254B2
There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes the successive steps of: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a plurality of semiconductor chips having electrode pads on the semiconductor substrate; (c) forming internal connection terminals on the electrode pads; (d) forming an insulating layer on the plurality of semiconductor chips to cover the internal connection terminals; (e) forming a metal layer on the insulating layer; (f) pushing a whole area of the metal layer to bring the metal layer into contact with upper end portions of the internal connection terminals; (g) pushing portions of the metal layer which contact the upper end portions of the internal connection terminals, thereby forming first recesses in the internal connection terminals, and thereby forming second recesses in the metal layer; and (h) forming wiring patterns by etching the metal layer.
US08148253B2
In an electronic component soldering method of connecting a terminal provided on a flexible substrate to an electrode of a rigid substrate, after solder-mixed resin in which solder particles are mixed in thermosetting resin has been applied onto the rigid substrate so as to cover the electrode, the flexible substrate is put on the rigid substrate and heat-pressed, whereby there are formed a resin part that bonds the both substrates by thermosetting of the thermosetting resin, and a solder part which is surrounded by the resin part and has narrowed parts in which the peripheral surface is narrowed inward in the vicinity of the terminal surface and in the vicinity of the electrode surface. Hereby, the solder parts are soldered to the electrodes and the terminal at acute contact angles so that the production of shape-discontinuities which lowers fatigue strength can be eliminated.
US08148248B2
There is provided a semiconductor device having a metal silicide layer which can suppress the malfunction and the increase in power consumption of the device. The semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate containing silicon and having a main surface, first and second impurity diffusion layers formed in the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, a metal silicide formed over the second impurity diffusion layer, and a silicon nitride film and a first interlayer insulation film sequentially stacked over the metal silicide. In the semiconductor device, a contact hole penetrating through the silicon nitride film and the first interlayer insulation film, and reaching the surface of the metal silicide is formed. The thickness of a portion of the metal silicide situated immediately under the contact hole is smaller than the thickness of a portion of the metal silicide situated around the contact hole.
US08148232B2
Methods and apparatuses for alignment are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a substrate having a device region and an alignment region; forming a first material layer over the substrate; forming a device feature and a dummy feature in the first material layer, wherein the device feature is formed in the device region and the dummy feature is formed in the alignment region; forming a second material layer over the first material layer; and forming an alignment feature in the second material layer, the alignment feature being disposed over the dummy feature in the alignment region. The device feature has a first dimension and the dummy feature has a second dimension, the second dimension being less than a resolution of an alignment mark detector.
US08148230B2
A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing an insulating layer containing a plurality of openings, forming a first conductivity type semiconductor layer in the plurality of openings, forming a second conductivity type semiconductor layer over the first conductivity type semiconductor layer in the plurality of openings, and selectively etching the second conductivity type semiconductor layer using an upper surface of the first conductivity type semiconductor layer as a stop to form a recess in the plurality of openings.
US08148222B2
Methods of forming an array of memory cells and memory cells that have pillars. Individual pillars can have a semiconductor post formed of a bulk semiconductor material and a sacrificial cap on the semiconductor post. Source regions can be between columns of the pillars, and gate lines extend along a column of pillars and are spaced apart from corresponding source regions. Each gate line surrounds a portion of the semiconductor posts along a column of pillars. The sacrificial cap structure can be selectively removed to thereby form self-aligned openings that expose a top portion of corresponding semiconductor posts. Individual drain contacts formed in the self-aligned openings are electrically connected to corresponding semiconductor posts.
US08148221B2
A method for forming a device with both PFET and NFET transistors using a PFET compressive etch stop liner and a NFET tensile etch stop liner and two anneals in a deuterium containing atmosphere. The method comprises: providing a NFET transistor in a NFET region and a PFET transistor in a PFET region. We form a NFET tensile contact etch-stop liner over the NFET region. Then we perform a first deuterium anneal. We form a PFET compressive etch stop liner over the PFET region. We form a (ILD) dielectric layer with contact openings over the substrate. We perform a second deuterium anneal. The temperature of the second deuterium anneal is less than the temperature of the first deuterium anneal.
US08148219B2
A circuit with dielectric thicknesses is presented that includes a low-pass filter including one or more semiconductor devices having a thick gate oxide layer, while further semiconductor devices of the circuit have thin gate oxide layers. The low-pass filter semiconductor device includes an N-type substrate, a P-type region formed on the N-type substrate, a thick gate oxide layer formed over the P-type region, a P+ gate electrode formed over the thick gate oxide layer and coupled to a first voltage supply line, and P+ pick-up terminals formed in the P-type region adjacent the gate electrode and coupled to a second voltage supply line. The low-pass filter semiconductor device acts as a capacitor, whereby a gate-to-substrate voltage is maintained at less than zero volts to maintain a stable control voltage for the circuit.
US08148216B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory of an aspect of the present invention comprises a semiconductor substrate, a pillar-shaped semiconductor layer extending in the vertical direction with respect to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of memory cells arranged in the vertical direction on the side surface of the semiconductor layer and having a charge storage layer and a control gate electrode, a first select gate transistor arranged on the semiconductor layer at an end of the memory cells on the side of the semiconductor substrate, and a second select gate transistor arranged on the semiconductor layer on the other end of the memory cells opposite to the side of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first select gate transistor includes a diffusion layer in the semiconductor substrate and is electrically connected to the pillar-shaped semiconductor layer by way of the diffusion layer that serves as the drain region.
US08148211B2
Methods and systems selectively irradiate structures on or within a semiconductor substrate using a plurality of laser beams. The structures are arranged in a row extending in a generally lengthwise direction. The method generates a first laser beam that propagates along a first laser beam axis that intersects the semiconductor substrate and a second laser beam that propagates along a second laser beam axis that intersects the semiconductor substrate. The method simultaneously directs the first and second laser beams onto distinct first and second structures in the row. The method moves the first and second laser beam axes relative to the semiconductor substrate substantially in unison in a direction substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the row, so as to selectively irradiate structures in the row with one or more of the first and second laser beams simultaneously.
US08148206B2
A method for packaging an integrated circuit comprises the steps of: providing a ground plane, the ground plane having a recessed area shaped to receive an integrated circuit die, wherein the integrated circuit die having a first surface with active circuitry, a second surface, and an edge generally orthogonal to the first and second surfaces; attaching the second surface of the integrated circuit die to a bottom of the recessed area with a thermally conductive adhesive; filling a space between the edge of the integrated circuit die and a side of the recessed area with a fill material; forming an insulating layer on the ground plane and the first surface of the integrated circuit die; patterning the insulating layer to expose contacts on the first surface of the integrated circuit die; and plating electrical conductors on the insulating layer and the contacts.
US08148203B2
A semiconductor on insulator (SOI) wafer includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second main surfaces opposite to each other. A dielectric layer is disposed on at least a portion of the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate. A device layer has a first main surface and a second main surface. The second main surface of the device layer is disposed on a surface of the dielectric layer opposite to the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of intended die areas are defined on the first main surface of the device layer. The plurality of intended die areas are separated from one another. A plurality of die access trenches are formed in the semiconductor substrate from the second main surface. Each of the plurality of die access trenches are disposed generally beneath at least a respective one of the plurality of intended die areas.
US08148199B2
A microelectronic assembly is provided which can include an element including a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer having an exposed surface defining an exposed major surface of the element. A plurality of substantially rigid metal posts can project beyond the exposed surface, the metal posts having ends remote from the exposed surface. The microelectronic assembly can include a microelectronic device which has bond pads and overlies the element. The microelectronic device can have a major surface which confronts the posts. Connections electrically connect the ends of the metal posts with the bond pads of the microelectronic device.
US08148192B2
The present invention provides improved devices such as transparent solar cells. This patent teaches a particularly efficient method of device manufacture based on incorporating the solar cell fabrication into the widely used, high temperature, Float Glass manufacture process.
US08148190B2
Disclosed are methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method of manufacturing one semiconductor device includes forming a transistor structure on a semiconductor substrate, forming a metal interconnection layer on the transistor structure, forming a protective layer on the metal interconnection layer, and implanting hydrogen ions into the semiconductor substrate having the protective layer by using a hydrogen ion implanter. Hydrogen ions are stably and effectively implanted into a selected region by using a hydrogen ion implanter in the manufacturing process of the semiconductor device, thereby facilitating the manufacturing process and improving the performance of the semiconductor device.
US08148180B2
A method of forming ohmic contacts on a light emitting diode that features a surface treatment of a substrate includes exposing a surface of a p-type gallium nitride layer to an acid-containing solution and a buffered oxide etch process. A quantum well is formed in a gallium nitride substrate and a layer of p-type gallium nitride is deposited over the quantum well. The surface of the p-type gallium nitride is exposed to an acid-containing solution and then a buffered oxide etch process is performed to provide an etched surface. A metal stack including a layer of silver disposed between layers of platinum is then deposited.
US08148178B2
There is provided a method of growing a nitride single crystal. A method of growing a nitride single crystal according to an aspect of the invention may include: growing a first nitride single crystal layer on a substrate; forming a dielectric pattern having an open area on the first nitride single crystal layer, the open area exposing a part of an upper surface of the first nitride single crystal layer; and growing a second nitride single crystal layer on the first nitride single crystal layer through the open area while the second nitride single crystal layer grows to be equal to or larger than a height of the dielectric pattern, wherein the height of the dielectric pattern is greater than a width of the open area so that dislocations in the second nitride single crystal layer move laterally, collide with side walls of the dielectric pattern, and are terminated.
US08148171B2
A method for the multiplexed diagnostic and genetic analysis of enzymes, DNA fragments, antibodies, and other biomolecules comprises the steps of constructing an appropriately labeled beadset, exposing the beadset to a clinical sample, and analyzing the combined sample/beadset by flow cytometry. Flow cytometric measurements are used to classify, in real-time, beads within an exposed beadset and textual explanations, based on the accumulated data obtained during real-time analysis, are generated for the user. A secondary reagent, such as a metal or magnetic particle, is added to the beadset to assist in the analysis. Detection techniques, such as such as light scatter, Rayleigh scatter, Raman scatter, surface plasmon resonance, magnetic induction, or magnetoresistance are used to detect the particle labels.
US08148167B2
Fluorescent pH detector and methods for measuring pH using the fluorescent pH detector.
US08148164B2
The present disclosure relates to various methods for measuring the amount of an analyte present in a biological fluid using an electrochemical testing process. Various embodiments are disclosed, including the use of AC test signals and the performance of tests having a Total Test Time within about 2.0 seconds or less, and/or having a clinically low Total System Error.
US08148154B2
This invention provides a method for identifying cells expressing a target single chain antibody (scFv) directed against a target antigen from a collection of cells that includes cells that do not express the target scFv, comprising the step of combining the collection of cells with an anti-idiotype directed to an antibody specific for the target antigen and detecting interaction, if any, of the anti-idiotype with the cells, wherein the occurrence of an interaction identifies the cell as one which expresses the target scFv. This invention also provides a method for making a single chain antibody (scFv) directed against an antigen, wherein the selection of clones is made based upon interaction of those clones with an appropriate anti-idiotype, and heretofore inaccessible scFv so made. This invention provides the above methods or any combination thereof. Finally, this invention provides various uses of these methods.
US08148144B2
A vector developed to transform fungi can be used to study the expression of a gene of interest. The vector can provide for the expression of signal proteins in fungi that can be observed and/or monitored. The vector can be used to investigate the effects of RNA interference on a gene of interest in pathogenic fungi. Systems and methods of using the vector are provided.
US08148131B2
The present invention relates to a novel bacteriophage, more particularly, a bacteriophage that has a specific bactericidal activity against Fowl Typhoid causing Salmonella Gallinarum (SG) and Pullorum disease-causing Salmonella Pullorum (SP). Further, the present invention relates to a composition for the prevention or treatment of infectious diseases caused by Salmonella Gallinarum or Salmonella Pullorum, comprising the bacteriophage as an active ingredient. Furthermore, the present invention relates to feed and drinking water for poultry, sanitizers and cleaners, comprising the bacteriophage as an active ingredient.
US08148123B2
A method for lowering elevated uric acid levels in patients is disclosed and consists of administering to the patients an intravenous injection of PEG-uricase having a dosage from about 4 to about 12 mg.
US08148117B2
The present invention relates to microorganisms and processes for the efficient preparation of L-amino acids such as L-methionine. In particular, the present invention relates to microorganisms and processes in which the formation and/or accumulation of homolanthionine in the methionine pathway is reduced and/or prevented.
US08148107B2
A human antibody or antigen-binding fragment of an antibody which specifically binds human nerve growth factor (NGF) with KD of 5 pM or less, as measured by surface plasmon resonance, wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds human NGF with an affinity of about 2-10-fold higher than the antibody or fragment binds rat and mouse NGF. The antibodies are useful in treating pain, including inflammatory pain, post-operative incision pain, neuropathic pain, fracture pain, osteoporotic fracture pain, post-herpetic neuralgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer pain, pain resulting from burns, gout joint pain, as well as diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, and liver cirrhosis.
US08148106B2
The present invention relates to antagonist antibodies that specifically bind to Notch 3 and inhibit its activation. The present invention includes antibodies binding to a conformational epitope comprising the first Lin12 domain and the second dimerization domain. The present invention also includes uses of these antibodies to treat or prevent Notch 3 related diseases or disorders.
US08148104B2
The invention relates to a xylanase originating from a Bacillus strain. This xylanase is active over a wide range of acid and basic pH. The invention also relates to new strains of microorganisms producing this xylanase and to methods for preparing this xylanase. The invention also relates to a DNA molecule and to an expression vector or an integration vector containing this DNA molecule. The invention also relates to uses of the latter and to compositions containing it.
US08148101B2
A method for distinguishing erythroblasts from bacteria by automated hematology analyzers, such as, for example, the CELL-DYN® 4000 automated hematology analyzer and the CELL-DYN® Sapphire™ automated hematology analyzer. Bacterial cells scatter light and fluoresce differently than do red blood cells, white blood cells, erythroblast nuclei, and platelets. Signals generated by bacteria are distinguishable from those of erythroblasts because the signals generated by erythroblast nuclei are sufficiently unique that erythroblast nuclei can be distinguished from signals generated by bacteria. Signals generated by platelets, lysed red blood cell ghosts, and other cell debris are blocked by the triple-trigger circuitry of the hematology analyzer, because all of the signals generated by noise are below the AND/OR thresholds. Algorithm(s) in the software of the system detect and count signals generated by bacteria by means of the location and the shape of the signals generated by bacteria and calculate the concentration of bacteria per unit of body fluid. In addition, certain body fluids, such as, for example, synovial fluid, can be pretreated with a viscosity reducing agent for a short period of time to reduce the viscosity of the body fluid prior to analyzing a sample of the body fluid by an automated hematology analyzer.
US08148100B2
The present invention comprises a method for assaying oxygenase activity the method comprising monitoring oxygenase activity of Mina53.
US08148099B2
A process for determining S-nitrosothiols, in particular S-nitrosoglutathione, in biological fluids that is easy, selective, cheap with respect to the prior art, which requires the use of equipment commonly available in laboratories, at low cost, which can be used by not qualified operators. The process is based on the hydrolysis of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) by an enzyme, in particular γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT). This enzyme hydrolizes the residual γ-glutamyl of GSNO for giving glutamate (GIu) and S-nitroso-cysteinylglycine (GIyCySNO). In the presence of ions of transition metals GGT speeds up the release of NO since the intermediate that is formed, the GIyCySNO, is much more sensitive to a metal-dependent decomposition. Advantageously, the amount of nitric oxide present in the sample is measured through a reaction thereof with 4,5 diaminof luorescein (DAF-2), said reaction creating a fluorescent compound in an amount proportional to the S-nitrosothiol amount present in the sample. Alternatively, the amount of released NO can be measured by a chemiluminescence analyser, commercially available. In the presence of biological fluids having complex matrix, the introduction of the enzyme is done after separation of the S-nitrosothiol from the other components of the fluid.
US08148085B2
The present invention concerns donor-specific antibody libraries derived from a patient donor who has suffered from, or is suffering from one or more diseases discussed herein. The present invention also concerns the method of making and using the donor-specific antibodies. The present invention further concerns the neutralizing antibodies obtained from the donor-specific antibody libraries and the methods of using these antibodies for the prevention/treatment of human disease.
US08148084B2
Methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating autoimmune disease, e.g., acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), are described.
US08148077B2
Methods and compositions for identifying novel genes that share regions of homology with known genes from target groups of genes of interest are provided. The methods comprise systematically designing oligonucleotide primers that are specific for regions of homology within the nucleotide sequences of a target group of known genes and performing successive rounds of PCR amplification of nucleic acid material from an organism of interest. The PCR steps are intended to identify and amplify nucleic acids comprising both known and novel genes. Nucleic acid molecules comprising known genes are detected and eliminated from further consideration by dot blot analysis using oligonucleotide probes specific for the known genes in the target group. Potentially novel genes are subjected to further sequence analysis to confirm novelty and assayed for biological activity. Compositions of the present invention include novel polynucleotides, and variants and fragments thereof, that comprise novel genes and the polypeptides encoded thereby.
US08148074B2
Methods and materials involved in diagnosing SLE are provided herein. The methods and materials can be used to diagnose SLE and/or assess a mammal's susceptibility to develop SLE, based on the presence or absence of one or more IRF-5 variants.
US08148073B2
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. 68 to 69 and complementary or modified sequences thereof or a combination of at least two of them is used for detecting the gene of an infectious disease pathogenic bacterium.
US08148056B2
Complexes of GPR81 receptor components and ligand components, such as L-lactate or GHB, may be used as an assay reagent for screening for modulators of GPR81 receptor activity.
US08148047B2
A carboxyl resin according to the present invention is obtained by a process including following steps: epoxy groups on a resin (a) having two or more epoxy groups in one molecule is made to react with 0.3-0.85 mol of a monocarboxylic acid (b) per one epoxy-group equivalent weight to obtain a reaction product (c); the epoxy group or groups on the reaction product (c) are made to react with 0.15-0.95 mol of a polybasic acid (d) per one epoxy-group equivalent weight to obtain a reaction product (e); and the epoxy group or groups on the reaction product (e) are further made to react with 1.0-5.0 mol of a monocarboxylic acid (f) per one epoxy-group equivalent weight. The carboxyl resin thus obtained has an acid value within a range from 20 to 200 mgKOH/g and is soluble in an organic solvent.
US08148042B2
A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye having a structure according to Formula I, wherein at least one of the Rd groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-donor than the Rd; or wherein at least one of the Ra groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-acceptor than the Ra. The imaging element is able to form a visible print-out image with a high contrast directly after image-wise exposure by IR-radiation or heating.
US08148039B2
An aromatic silicon-containing compound has the formula: Ar—[X-L-SiRn(OR′)3-n]m where Ar represents an aromatic group, X represents a divalent or trivalent group; L represents a divalent linking group; R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; R′ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; n is an integer of from 0 to 2; and m is an integer of from 1 to 5. The aromatic silicon-containing compound can be used in electrophotographic photoreceptors, particularly in outmost protective layers of such electrophotographic photoreceptors.
US08148031B2
A proton conductor system includes a solid oxide having at least one hydrogen vibrational mode defined by a bandwidth and resonance frequency. A light source irradiates the solid oxide with infrared light in a wavelength band having a center frequency matching the resonance frequency.
US08148029B2
An electrode for a fuel cell including a support and a catalyst layer formed on the support, wherein the catalyst layer comprises a supported catalyst and a polyurethane-based compound, wherein all or some of the polyurethane-based compound is synthesized from a polyol monomer where some or all of the polyol monomer is a polyol monomer that contains a phosphonyl group; a method of preparing the same; and a fuel cell including the same. The electrode for a fuel cell has excellent ion conductivity because it maintains stability at high temperature operation, and is capable of retaining phosphoric acid effectively even at high temperatures. A fuel cell can be prepared by using the electrode where the fuel cell can operate under these conditions of high temperature above 100° C. and no humidity and shows improved performance for generating electricity.
US08148018B2
A method of manufacturing a negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a step of imparting lithium to a precursor of the negative electrode capable of storing and releasing lithium, by a film forming method in a dry process. In this step, the precursor is brought into contact with a measuring terminal having a non-aqueous electrolyte and a counter electrode. The amount of lithium stored in the precursor is calculated from an open circuit potential of the precursor with respect to the counter electrode. Further, according to the calculated amount of stored lithium, the amount of lithium to be imparted to the precursor is controlled.
US08148014B2
A composite anode active material including a transition metal; an intermetallic compound which includes the transition metal as one component and is capable of alloy formation with lithium; and carbon, where both the transition metal and the intermetallic compound have crystallinity, and the transition metal exists in a phase structurally separated from the intermetallic compound capable of alloy formation with lithium, where a content of the transition metal elements as both a metal and a component of the intermetallic compound may be less than 45 wt % based on the total weight of the transition metal and the intermetallic compound capable of alloy formation with lithium. The composite anode active material is a composite anode active material having a new structure, and includes a crystalline intermetallic compound, a crystalline transition metal, and carbon. In addition, an anode and lithium battery prepared using the composite anode active material have excellent charge-discharge characteristics.
US08148002B2
An electric storage device 10 has a positive electrode 13, a negative electrode 14 and a separator 15 provided between the positive electrode 13 and the negative electrode 14. The negative electrode surface 14b is formed to be larger than the positive electrode surface 13b in such a manner that a positive electrode outer edge 13c and a negative electrode outer edge 14c are apart from each other by 2 mm or more. By this configuration, an ion restricting section 15b is formed at the outer peripheral portion of the separator 15. Accordingly, the movement of the lithium ions toward the negative electrode end surface 14a can be restricted, when the device is charged with a large current, whereby the deposition of metal lithium on the negative electrode end surface 14a can be prevented.
US08148001B2
An energy storage device includes at least one nanotube. An energy storage mechanism converts energy external to the device into the appropriate levels of strain on the at least one nanotube to produce stored energy, and an energy recovery mechanism converts the energy released by relaxing the at least one nanotube back to energy external to the device.
US08147996B2
A recording medium having a substrate, a first soft magnetic underlayer, a second soft magnetic underlayer and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer without a spacer layer between the first and second soft magnetic underlayers is disclosed.
US08147994B2
A layered structure includes an amorphous Ta layer, a metallic oxide layer formed from zinc oxide (ZnO) or magnesium oxide (MgO) on the Ta layer, and a FePt magnetic layer formed on the metallic oxide layer. Therefore, an L10 structural FePt ordered alloy is obtained at a temperature of 300° C. or lower.
US08147992B2
The present invention relates to ceramic cutting tools, such as, an aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic cutting tool with diffusion bonding enhanced layer and CVD coatings, particularly useful for machining modern metal materials. The method comprises a chemical reaction with a mixture including nitrogen and aluminum chloride introduced to form a diffusion bonding enhanced layer between the ceramic substrate and the CVD coatings. Thus formed diffusion bonding enhanced layer is highly adherent to the aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic substrate and significantly enhances the CVD coating properties, thus improving the machining performance in terms of the tool life of zirconium-based aluminum oxide with zirconium oxide ceramic cutting tools.
US08147989B2
The invention provides an OLED device including an anode, a cathode and a green light-emitting layer located therebetween, said light-emitting layer including an anthracene host, a bis-diarylamine 9,10-substituted anthracene and a stabilizer compound which is selected from a quinacridone or a biphenylstyrylamine. Devices of the invention provide improvement in features such as stability and efficiency while maintaining excellent color.
US08147975B2
A plasma display panel (PDP) includes a frameless EMI filter supported by a glass substrate for blocking/shielding substantial amounts of electromagnetic waves, with the filter being supported by a side of the substrate opposite a viewer. In certain example embodiments, the PDP filter includes a transparent conductive coating (TCC) for electromagnetic interference (EMI) and near infrared (NIR) blocking without the need for a conductive, peripheral buss bar. Additionally, in certain example embodiments, the need for a conductive frame is reduced or eliminated. The filter has high visible transmission, and is capable of blocking/shielding electromagnetic waves.
US08147964B2
The present invention provides curing agent compositions comprising benzylated polyalkylene polyamine compounds. Amine-epoxy compositions and articles produced from these amine-epoxy compositions are also disclosed.
US08147952B2
There is provided a coating material for a honeycomb structure, the coating material including inorganic particles or organic particles having D90/D10 of 5 to 50 with D10 of 50 μm or less and D90 of 4 μm or more (wherein D10 and D90 are values of 10% diameter and 90% diameter, respectively, in volume-based integrated fraction of a particle diameter distribution measured by a laser diffraction/scattering method from the smaller particle diameter side).
US08147950B2
The invention provides a method of applying a mutilayer coating film, in which two or more layers of coating are applied to a flat plate, such as steel plate; and a product with multilayer coating film obtained by the method. The method includes discharging paint films through multiple slits, simultaneously applying these films to a traveling plate to thereby form a multilayer paint film and carrying out drying or baking thereof, characterized in that the boiling point of the solvent contained in the layer close to the plate is equivalent to or lower than the boiling point of solvent contained in the layer remote from the plate, and that the boiling point of solvent contained in the layer closest to the plate is lower than the boiling point of solvent contained in the layer remotest from the plate.
US08147943B1
A thermal protection system capable of withstanding impact loads without a detrimental effect to its main function, i.e. a protection of the vehicle from high temperature during re-entry or flight in the atmosphere. The system consists of the outer ceramic matrix composite shield, a ceramic tile sandwiched between the shield and the skin of the vehicle and fasteners joining the system and the protected structure. The ceramic matrix composite fasteners are capable of working in the same high-temperature environment as the rest of thermal protection system. They are also strong and stiff due to the presence of ceramic fibers. Cracks in the outer shield produced by impact cannot propagate into the ceramic tile since the shield and tile materials are discontinuous along the interface. The tile cannot disintegrate from the vehicle since it is pressed to its skin by the outer shield. The system can easily be disassembled for inspection and/or repair.
US08147942B2
A write-once-read-many optical recording medium is disclosed that includes a support substrate; a recording layer on the support substrate, the recording layer containing an oxide of one of a metal and a metalloid as a principal component; and a layer adjacent to the recording layer. The recording layer includes a region where a constituent element of the adjacent layer is dispersed. Recording and reproduction are performable with laser light of a blue wavelength region.
US08147936B2
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a protective membrane having first and second layers. The first layer is air permeable, vapor breathable, and liquid repellant. The second layer is vapor breathable, liquid repellant, and adsorptive of chemical and/or biological agents.
US08147927B2
The present invention relates to a multilayered structure including at least one diamond layer and methods of making the multilayered structures. The multilayered structure includes a diamond layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, a first thin adhesion layer on the top surface, a second thin adhesion layer on the bottom surface, a first metal layer having a thermal conductivity greater than 200 W/m-K and a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than 12 ppm/K, wherein the first metal layer is deposited on the first thin adhesion layer, and a second metal layer having a thermal conductivity greater than 200 W/m-K and a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than 12 ppm/K, wherein the second metal layer is deposited on the second thin adhesion layer.
US08147926B2
Laser gas assisted nitriding of alumina surfaces is a process for applying a nitride coating to an alumina or alumina-based composite surface. The method involves the step of applying a phenolic resin to the alumina surface in a thin, uniform film. The resin-coated alumina surface is maintained in a controlled chamber at about 8 bar pressure at a temperature of about 175° C. for about 2 hours. The surface is then heated at about 400° C. for several hours in an argon atmosphere. This converts the phenolic resin to carbon. The carbon coated alumina surface is then scanned by a 2 kW laser beam while applying nitrogen under pressure. The end result is the conversion of the alumina at the surface to aluminum nitride, the oxygen being released in the form of carbon dioxide.
US08147924B2
An apparatus for manufacturing a magnetic recording disk includes a magnetic-film deposition chamber in which a magnetic film for a recording layer is deposited on a substrate; a lubricant-layer preparation chamber in which a lubricant layer is prepared on the substrate in vacuum; and a cleaning chamber in which the substrate is cleaned in vacuum after the magnetic-film deposition in the magnetic-film chamber and before the lubricant-layer preparation in the lubricant-layer chamber. The apparatus may further include a transfer system that transfers the substrate from the cleaning chamber to the lubricant-layer preparation chamber without exposing the substrate to the atmosphere.
US08147911B2
A production process of a perforated porous resin base, comprising Step 1 of impregnating the porous structure of a porous resin base with a liquid or solution; Step 2 of forming a solid substance from the liquid or solution impregnated; Step 3 of forming a plurality of perforations extending through from the first surface of the porous resin base having the solid substance within the porous structure to the second surface in the porous resin base; and Step 4 of melting or dissolving the solid substance to remove it from the interior of the porous structure, and a production process of a porous resin base with the inner wall surfaces of the perforations made conductive, comprising the step of selectively applying a catalyst only to the inner wall surfaces of the perforations to apply a conductive metal to the inner wall surfaces.
US08147897B2
A method for making an article comprising a core material and a coating thereon, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing the core material;(b) applying one or more layers of a crosslinkable polycationic material, wherein the polycationic material is a reaction product of:(i) an epoxide of formula (I) wherein X equals bromo, chloro, iodo, or cyano, and R1, R2, R3, R4, independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear or branched C1-C6-alkyl, and linear or branched C1-C6-alkyl which is substituted with halogen, and (ii) a polymer having repeating units comprising one or more secondary or tertiary amine group(s); (c) applying one or more layers of a polyanionic material; and (d) cross-linking the layers of polyelectrolytes formed by steps (b) and (c). The articles obtainable by the method of the invention have desirable characteristics regarding adherence to the core material, durability, hydrophilicity, and wettability and are thus useful for the manufacture of medical articles such as ophthalmic devices.
US08147896B2
The present invention concerns a solid product comprising oil-droplets having a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 100 microns, cross-linked proteins at the interface of said droplets and any polar, low molecular compound in between the cross-linked protein interfaces.
US08147885B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing fermented soybeans having increased gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content, and more particularly, a method of manufacturing fermented soybeans having increased gamma-aminobutyric acid content which comprises the steps of: adding lactobacillus having glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity and glutamate (MSG) to soybeans; grinding and molding the mixture; and spraying starch powder mixed with seed malt onto the surface of the molded mixture. The present invention can provide a method of manufacturing fermented soybeans including GABA, which has been known to accelerate sodium ion discharge through urine, so that it may lower blood pressure hypertension which may be caused from excessive consumption of salts to prevent and can produce functional paste foods satisfying people's taste and desire for health.
US08147884B2
The present invention provides an alcoholic beverage with improved a foam stability. A processing method of an alcoholic beverage with improved foaming properties comprising a process for processing a pre-fermentation, wherein a pea protein which was extracted and was obtained from green peas is added to a pre-fermentation liquid. The alcoholic beverage with improved foaming properties can be applied to the processing method of the alcoholic beverage with improved foaming properties by fermenting the pre-fermentation liquid which created raw materials containing malts or by fermenting the pre-fermentation liquid created using a syrup containing sources of carbon, sources of nitrogen, hops, a coloring matter, an improving substance for a generating of foam and for the foam stability and water as raw materials with a brewers' yeast.
US08147878B2
The present invention relates to a water insoluble helychrisum extract, a process for preparing the same and its use for preparing pharmaceutical compositions for oral and/or topical administration. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the pharmaceutical compositions including said extract.
US08147877B2
Disinfecting compositions having tuberculocidal and fungicidal efficacies for disinfecting and sanitizing inanimate surfaces is provided. The disinfecting compositions contain thyme oil or thyme oil and origanum oil, a salt of a transition metal, a biobased surfactant and water. This improved disinfecting composition is botanical, environmentally sustainable, non-toxic, mildly scented and highly stable.
US08147876B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a medical agent that has an excellent effect on the diseases resulting from one of inflammation and remodeling and that can prevent or treat them in response to various mechanisms of onset and development of the diseases. Thus, the present invention relates to a medical agent for preventing or treating diseases resulting from one of inflammation and remodeling in blood vessel, including nanobubbles.
US08147875B2
The invention provides a method for the treatment of acne comprising orally administering to a person suffering from acne an effective amount of a whey protein fraction containing lactoferrin, and preferably containing further specific whey proteins. The lactoferrin is preferably native bovine lactoferrin and the whey protein fraction is administered at a level of between 10 mg and 2 g lactoferrin per patient per day.
US08147865B2
Biocompatible intraocular implants include a steroid and an auxiliary agent, where the auxiliary agent is present in an amount sufficient to lessen the severity of at least one side effect compared to the use of an otherwise identical implant lacking said auxiliary agent. The steroid and the auxiliary agent may be present on the same intraocular implant or on different implants. The steroid and auxiliary agent may be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, such as a matrix of a two biodegradable polymers. Or, the steroid may be associated with a polymeric coating having one or more openings effective to permit the steroid to be released into an external environment. The implants containing the steroid and an auxiliary agent may be placed in an eye to treat one or more ocular conditions while reducing the side effects otherwise accompanying steroid use.
US08147864B2
A porous silicon implant impregnated with a beneficial substance, such as a micromineral required for healthy physiology, is implanted subcutaneously and is entirely corroded away over the following months/year to release the micromineral in a controlled manner. In a second embodiment the implant may have a large number of holes which contain beneficial substance and which are closed by bio-errordable doors of different thickness so as to stagger the release of the beneficial substance over time as the doors are breached.
US08147858B2
Alginate nanofibers, scaffolds that include alginate nanofibers, implantable devices that include alginate nanofibers, and methods for making the alginate nanofibers by electrospinning.
US08147856B2
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, or 38, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, or 37, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
US08147852B2
The present invention relates to the compounds of formula (I), their preparation and use as antifungal and/or antibacterial agents. where the values for R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and A are as defined herein.
US08147846B2
A method for the treatment of allergic airway diseases in mammals related to Pythiosis insidiosum is described. The method relies upon an immunotherapeutic product of pythium proteins as antigens. The method is particularly useful in equine cicatrix.
US08147842B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an altered emission spectrum. A specific amino acid residue(s) is substituted in a luciferase derived from Cypridina noctiluca and then the resulting mutant luciferase having luciferase activity with an emission spectrum differing from that of the wild-type luciferase is screened for.
US08147838B2
The present invention relates to peptide epitopes of 5T4 antigen and their use in immunotherapy. In particular, the present invention relates to any one of the peptide epitopes as described herein as well as their used in diagnosis and therapy of cancer.
US08147835B2
The invention relates to novel binding domain-immunoglobulin fusion proteins that feature a binding domain for a cognate structure such as an antigen, a counterreceptor or the like, a wild-type IgG1, IGA or IgE hinge region polypeptide or a mutant IgG1 hinge region polypeptide having either zero, one or two cysteine residues, and immunoglobulin CH2 and CH3 domains, and that are capable of ADCC and/or CDC while occurring predominantly as polypeptides that are compromised in their ability to form disulfide-linked multimers. The fusion proteins can be recombinantly produced at high express levels. Also provided are related compositions and methods, including cell surface forms of the fusion proteins and immunotherapeutic applications of the fusion proteins and of polynucleotides encoding such fusion proteins.
US08147834B2
The present invention is directed to antibodies against human transforming growth factor beta receptor II (TGFβRII), pharmaceutical compositions comprising antibodies and methods of using the antibodies, alone or in combination, for example, for treating cancer and fibrosis.
US08147831B2
The present invention provides humanized, chimeric and human anti-CD19 antibodies, anti-CD19 antibody fusion proteins, and fragments thereof that bind to a human B cell marker. Such antibodies, fusion proteins and fragments thereof are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of various B-cell disorders, including B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases. In more particular embodiments, the humanized anti-CD19 antibodies may comprise one or more framework region amino acid substitutions designed to improve protein stability, antibody binding and/or expression levels. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the substitutions comprise a Ser91Phe substitution in the hA19 VH sequence.
US08147829B2
The invention relates to antibodies which bind to insulin like growth factor receptor-1 (IGF-1R) and uses thereof, in particular in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Specific human and murine monoclonal antibodies which inhibit IGF-1R-mediated pro-survival and tumor proliferation pathways, and variants, fragments, and derivatives thereof are provided. Also provided are specific human and murine monoclonal antibodies which block the ability of the ligands, insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) to bind to IGF-1R, as well as fragments, variants and derivatives of such antibodies. The invention also includes polynucleotides encoding the above antibodies or fragments, variants or derivatives thereof, as well as vectors and host cells comprising such polynucleotides. The invention further includes methods of diagnosing and treating cancer using antibodies of the invention.
US08147827B2
The invention concerns an improved method for treating tumor, including cancer, which combines the administration of a chemotherapeutic agent and an antagonist of a gene product the expression of which is upregulated by the chemotherapeutic agent. The invention further concerns methods and means for the diagnosis and classification of tumors, and for the prognosis of the outcome of tumor treatment, and patient response to a particular treatment modality.
US08147823B2
A method for treating an ocular disorder characterized by the defect or absence of a normal gene in the ocular cells of a human or animal subject involves administering to the subject by subretinal injection an effective amount of a recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying a nucleic acid sequence encoding the normal gene under the control of a promoter sequence which expresses the product of the gene in the ocular cells. The ocular cells are preferably retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and the gene is preferably an RPE-specific gene, e.g., RPE65. The promoter is one that can express the gene product in the RPE cells. Compositions for subretinal administration are useful in this method.
US08147813B2
The present disclosure relates to novel detergent and conditioning compositions comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one sulfate or sulfonate anionic surfactant; at least one carboxylic anionic surfactant chosen from polyoxyalkylenated (C6-C24)alkyl ether carboxylic acids, polyoxyalkylenated (C6-C24)alkylaryl ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof, polyoxyalkylenated and (C6-C24)alkylamido ether carboxylic acids and salts thereof; at least one amphoteric and/or zwitterionic surfactant; and at least one water-insoluble carboxylic acid ester chosen from: 1) esters of a C3-C30 carboxylic acid and of a C1-C30 alcohol, with at least the acid or the alcohol being branched, and 2) esters of a C7-C30 aromatic acid whose carboxylic functional group is directly attached to the aromatic ring and of a C1-C30 alcohol; wherein the at least one water-insoluble carboxylic acid ester is present in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, and further wherein the sulfate or sulfonate anionic surfactant/carboxylic anionic surfactant weight ratio ranges from 2 to 12. The present disclosure also relates to a process for using the novel composition to cleanse and care for keratin materials, such as the hair, or the skin.
US08147811B1
Use of hyaluronic acid derivatives for the preparation of biomaterials for the prevention of the formation and the treatment of cutaneous scars, wherein the hyaluronic acid derivatives are optionally combined with pharmacologically or biologically active compounds.
US08147810B2
A method of making the antiperspirant active compositions having SEC chromatogram exhibiting high SEC peak 4 intensity, which are described in PCT/US2007/087145 (Published as WO2009/075678) and PCT/US2008/086556 (Published as WO2009/076591). The method uses a combination of sodium hydroxide with a source of calcium ions.
US08147801B2
Presented here are methods using alpha-methylglucoside (AMG) in vivo as an indicator for glucose absorption from the gastrointestinal (GI) system or glucose excretion in the urine after oral administration of AMG. The methods find use in, for example, but not limited to, determining the effect of a sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT) inhibitor in an animal, comparing the differences in the effects of a first and second SGLT inhibitor in an animal, and diagnosing a disease associated with glucose absorption from the gastrointestinal (GI) system or glucose excretion from the kidney in an animal.
US08147796B2
As a promising clean fuel for vehicles, hydrogen can be used for propulsion, either directly or in fuel cells. Hydrogen storage compositions having high storage capacity, good dehydrogenation kinetics, and hydrogen release and uptake reactions which are reversible are disclosed and described. Generally a hydrogen storage composition of a metal aluminum hexahydride and a metal amide can be used. A combined system (Li3AIH6/3LiNH2) with a very high inherent hydrogen capacity (7.3 wt %) can be carried out at moderate temperatures, and with approximately 95% of that inherent hydrogen storage capacity (7.0%) is reversible over repeated cycling of release and uptake.
US08147795B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing boehmitic aluminas by hydrolysis of aluminum alcoholates in aqueous, alkaline solution. It further relates to aluminas or alumina hydrates prepared by this process and their uses.
US08147793B2
Nano-sized metal-bearing powders and doped-powders are synthesized by means of a process whereby a non-volatile metal-bearing precursor powder or powder mixture is dispersed in a hot gas stream at relatively low temperatures. A first volatile reactant is added, converting the metal in the precursor into a volatile metal compound. Subsequently a second volatile reactant is injected into the gas stream, converting the volatile metal compound into a solid, which condenses as a nano-sized metal-bearing powder upon quenching. Finally, the vapour/metal-bearing powder mixture is separated from the gas stream.
US08147791B2
A method of creating graphene comprising the steps of dispersing graphene oxide into water to form a dispersion. Where the method further comprises adding a solvent to the dispersion to form a solution, and controlling a temperature of the solution to form graphene.
US08147789B2
A composition comprising at least 93% (w/w) neopentasilane; and a method of preparing neopentasilane, the method comprising treating a tetrakis-(trihalosilyl)silane with diisobutylaluminum hydride.
US08147788B1
A method is disclosed for directly preparing an alkaline earth metal borohydride, i.e. Mg(BH4)2, from the alkaline earth metal boride MgB2 by hydrogenating the MgB2 at an elevated temperature and pressure. The boride may also be doped with small amounts of a metal chloride catalyst such as TiCl3 and/or NiCl2. The process provides for charging MgB2 with high pressure hydrogen above at least 70 MPa while simultaneously heating the material to about 350° C. to about 400° C. The method is relatively simple and inexpensive and provides a reversible hydride compound having a hydrogen capacity of at least 11 wt %.
US08147781B2
There is provided a method of treating a metalliferrous material, comprising providing a metalliferrous material including at least one target metallic element, solubilising the metalliferrous material so as to effect production of an intermediate product including an operative solution. The operative solution includes a solvent component and a solute component. The solute component includes at least one solute component-based target metallic element and each one of the at least one solute component-based target metallic element corresponds to a one of the at least one target metallic element of the metalliferrous material such that the operative solution includes at least one target metallic element. The operative solution is contacted with an operative reagent in an operative reaction zone so as to effect production of a product mixture including an operative reaction product and hydronium ion, wherein the operative reaction product includes at least one operative reaction product-based target metallic element and each one of the at least one operative reaction product-based target metallic element corresponds to a one of the at least one solute component-based target metallic element of the operative solution. At least one hydronium ion depletion agent is provided in the operative reaction zone such that contacting between any one of the at least one hydronium ion depletion agent and the hydronium ion in the operative reaction zone effects a reactive process which consumes the hydronium ion. Each one of the at least one hydronium ion depletion agent include s at least one dissolved aluminium complex material.
US08147769B1
Stents and delivery systems with reduced chemical degradation and methods of sterilizing the same are disclosed.
US08147761B2
An air freshener has at least one vent rod configured to engage an air vent. A scent material is associated with the at least one vent rod. A head is coupled to the at least one vent rod. The head has a domed face opposite the vent rod. Indicia is associated with the head.
US08147757B2
The present invention describes a system and method for accurately measuring the concentration of a substance within a filter housing. A concentration sensor and a communications device are coupled so as to be able to measure and transmit the concentration of a particular substance within the filter housing while in use. This system can comprise a single component, integrating both the communication device and the concentration sensor. Alternatively, the system can comprise separate sensor and transmitter components, in communication with one another. In yet another embodiment, a storage element can be added to the system, thereby allowing the device to store a set of concentration values. The use of this device is beneficial to many applications. For example, the ability to read concentration values in situ allows integrity tests to be performed without additional equipment.
US08147755B2
A drum type container for analytical elements comprises a casing defining a compartment with a plurality of portions For receiving respective ones of the analytical elements. The container further comprises a base assembly to which the casing is rotatably mounted. The base assembly includes a dispenser mechanism for dispensing the glucose test strips from the casing and a locking mechanism for maintaining an alignment of a selected one of the compartment portions with the dispensing mechanism.
US08147754B2
A sample measuring apparatus of measuring a component in a biological sample, comprising: an input section for inputting a sample species of a biological sample; a measurement sample preparation section for preparing a measurement sample by mixing the biological sample with a reagent; a first measurement section; a second measurement section being different from the first measurement section; a measurement sample supply section for supplying the measurement sample prepared in the measurement sample preparation section to at least one of the first measurement section and second measurement section; and a control section for controlling the measurement sample supply section based on the inputted sample species.
US08147746B2
An apparatus for depositing and separating excess copper dissolved in molten lead-free solder containing tin as the main element is provided. An apparatus 1 deposits excess copper in the molten lead-free solder as an intermetallic compound and separates it from the molten solder. The apparatus includes a deposition bath 2 for causing an intermetallic compound in the molten solder, a metal added from the outside and copper in the molten solder to be deposited, a granulation bath 4 including plates 31 32 and 33 for allowing the molten solder to pass through the plates to merge the intermetallic compounds into particles having a larger diameter, and a separation bath 5 for causing the enlarged intermetallic compounds to precipitate and separate in the molten solder.
US08147744B2
A stent having a stent body made from a crosslinked bioabsorbable polymer is disclosed. A method of making the stent including exposing a tube formed from a bioabsorbable polymer to radiation to crosslink the bioabsorbable polymer and forming a stent body from the exposed tube is disclosed. The tube can include a crosslinking agent which induces crosslinking upon radiation exposure. Additionally or alternatively, the bioabsorbable polymer can be a copolymer that crosslinks upon exposure to radiation in the absence of a crosslinking agent.
US08147741B2
A glass fiber reinforced article can be manufactured by: applying a mixture of glass fiber and binder over a mold surface of a first mold section to form a glass fiber matrix, wherein the binder comprises an organic solvent based binder capable of holding the glass fiber in place at room temperature; closing a second mold section over the first mold section to form a plenum between the first mold section and the second mold section, wherein the glass fiber matrix is provided in the plenum between the first mold section and the second mold section; injecting a reactive polymer forming composition into the plenum; and allowing the reactive polymer forming composition to react and form a thermoset resin. A glass fiber reinforced article is provided according to the invention.
US08147738B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of granulate grains of polymers from thermoplastic polyesters or copolyesters from a polyester melt using an extrusion granulator. The polyester melt is fed to nozzles of the extrusion granulator and then, with draw-in rollers, to the granulation device via an extraction section as extrusions exiting from the nozzle, wherein, e.g., an extrusion extraction speed is set by the draw-in rollers. The invention also relates to an improved extrusion granulator according to the invention having a wave device between the nozzles and the extraction channel, and granulate grains produced according to the method according to the invention.
US08147737B2
A storage container is provided, which includes carbon dioxide containing a functional material and a container body in which carbon dioxide has been hermetically contained. Accordingly, a method for molding a resin, a method for forming a plating film, and the storage container for carbon dioxide, which are excellent in the mass productively at low cost, are provided without using any special high pressure apparatus for producing a supercritical fluid.
US08147736B2
A molding apparatus for making a cutting tool includes a cylindrically shaped elastic bag having an internal cavity for receiving a granulated material, such as a mixture of cobalt and carbide. The profile of the interior cavity substantially corresponds to the shape of the cutting tool being produced. The ends of the bag are open to provide access to the interior cavity of the bag. A substantially rigid tubular-shaped pressure sleeve encloses an outer circumference of the elastic bag. A pair of end caps operate to seal the open ends of the elastic bag and are engageable with the ends of the pressure sleeve. The granulated material can be formed into a solid coherent structure by placing the assembled mold containing the granulated material into a hydrostatic press for applying a substantially uniform compressive load to the outer periphery of the elastic bag.
US08147735B2
A polyamide membrane comprising reaction product of an anhydrous solution comprising an anhydrous solvent, at least one polyfunctional secondary amine and a pre-polymer deposition catalyst; and an anhydrous, organic solvent solution comprising a polyfunctional aromatic amine-reactive reactant comprising one ring. A composite semipermeable membrane comprising the polyamide membrane on a porous support. A method of making a composite semipermeable membrane by coating a porous support with an anhydrous solution comprising an anhydrous solvent, a polyfunctional secondary amine and a pre-polymer deposition catalyst, to form an activated pre-polymer layer on the porous support and contacting the activated pre-polymer layer with an anhydrous, organic solvent solution comprising a polyfunctional amine-reactive reactant to interfacially condense the amine-reactive reactant with the polyfunctional secondary amine, thereby forming a cross-linked, interfacial polyamide layer on the porous support. A method of impregnating a composite semipermeable membrane with nanoparticles selected from heavy metals and/or oxides of heavy metals.
US08147734B1
A method to create a hollow ornamental structure utilizing an inflatable balloon, the ornamental structure features an inner shell layer created by inflating the inflatable balloon to the predetermined size and shape with a filler material, allowing said filler material to harden and pouring out access filler material when a desirable thickness of hardened filler material is attained; and a textured and colored outer shell layer. The basic form of the hollow ornamental structure can be further modified to form a container such as a vase and other decorative pieces.
US08147733B2
Plastic foam has excellent heat insulation properties, however, moisture absorption is causing a decrease in the heat insulation, and plastic foam has almost no mechanical strength. Therefore, a heat insulation material that absorbs almost no moisture and has satisfactory strength is desired to appear. According to the present invention, a foam composite with a skin can be formed in one shot by charging plastic powders or minute particles together with polyolefin pellets that can be cross-linked and foamed in a mold, and heating the mold while rotating. The composite absorbs almost no moisture, having satisfactory strength, being excellent as an insulating material. Further, providing a covering of a non-foaming or a slightly foaming material to the pellet of polyolefin that can be cross-linked and foamed, and conducting the forming, foamed granules of preferably 5 to 50 mm largeness as a core, and a covering of a reinforcing member with 0.05 to 0.5 mm thickness for the core, can be formed, which permits that thus obtained shaped body is lightweight, strong, with an equivalent strength to wood that undergoes deformation without breaking when subjected to impact.
US08147729B2
A BCA mark is applied prior to molding of optical recording media. A stamper including a BCA code is formed. The stamper including the BCA code is used in the molding of optical recording discs. This technique can be used in manufacturing of read-only type discs, recordable discs, rewritable discs, hybrid discs, discs readable from both disc sides, discs having multiple information layers, high-density discs, etc.
US08147711B2
Disclosed is an adjuvant for controlling polishing selectivity when polishing a cationically charged material simultaneously with an anionically charged material. CMP slurry comprising the adjuvant is also disclosed. The adjuvant comprises: (a) a polyelectrolyte that forms an adsorption layer on the cationically charged material in order to increase the polishing selectivity of the anionically charged material; (b) a basic material; and (c) a fluorine-based compound. when the adjuvant for controlling polishing selectivity of CMP slurry according to the present invention is applied to a CMP process, it is possible to increase the polishing selectivity of a silicon oxide layer, to obtain a uniform particle size of CMP slurry, to stabilize variations in viscosity under an external force and to minimize generation of microscratches during a polishing process. Therefore, the adjuvant for CMP slurry according to the present invention can improve reliability and productivity during the fabrication of very large scale integrated semiconductors.
US08147709B2
Disclosed are compositions comprising HFC-245eb and at least one additional compound selected from the group consisting of HFO-1234ze, HFC-245fa, HFC-236cb, HFC-236ea, HFC-236fa, HFC-227ea, HFC-227ca, HFO-1225yc, HFO-1225zc, HFO-1225ye, methane, ethane, propane, HFC-23, HFC-143a, HFC-134, HFC-134a, FC-1216, HFO-1234yf, HFC-254eb, HFO-1243zf, and HFC-254fb. Compositions comprising HFC-245eb are useful in processes to make HFO-1234yf. Also disclosed are compositions comprising HFO-1234yf and at least one additional compound selected from the group consisting of HFO-1234ze, HFC-254eb, HFC-254fb, HFO-1243zf, HFCHFC-245eb, HFC-245fa, HFC-245cb, HFC-236cb, HFC-236ea, HFC-236fa, HFC-227ea, HFC-227ca, HFO-1225yc, HFO-1225zc, HFO-1225ye, methane, ethane, propane, HFC-23, HFC-134, HFC-134a, HFO-1132a and FC-1216. Compositions comprising HFO-1234yf are useful as heat transfer compositions for use in refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems.
US08147706B2
A low temperature flameless aerosol producing fire extinguishing composition containing potassium nitrate and binding fuel is characterized by using cellulose-fibrous mass as a binding fuel, with potassium nitrate at 30-70% and fibrous cellulose mass making up the remainder. A production method for the composition is further provided.
US08147705B2
When an ion beam 4 is to be extracted from an ion source 2 by using a gas containing boron trifluoride as an ion source gas 50 for supplying the gas into a plasma chamber 20 for the ion source 2, a bias voltage VB of a plasma electrode 31 with respect to the plasma chamber 20 for the ion source 2 is set to be positive by a bias circuit 64.
US08147703B2
The invention relates to a method for processing sludge, comprising the addition of a lime-based basic agent to a sludge having a first pH value in order to raise the pH to a second value higher than the first one, adding at least one anionic organic flocculating agent that is active at said second pH value, flocculating the sludge, and separating the flocculated sludge between dehydrated sludge and a liquid phase, wherein the sludge to be dehydrated has a first above-mentioned pH value lower than 9, while the lime-based basic agent induces said pH raise to said above-mentioned second value within less than 5 minutes. The invention also relates to a composition for implementing said processing.
US08147700B2
A wastewater treatment system and method comprises a treatment chamber having a filtration membrane spanning an effluent outlet of the chamber and a pair of electrodes in the treatment chamber so as to be in communication with the wastewater. An electrical potential difference is applied between the electrodes such that one of the electrodes functions as an anode and one of the electrodes functions as a cathode. A flow of fluid is induced out of the treatment chamber through the filtration membrane to the effluent outlet. Accordingly the treatment chamber is arranged to biologically treat the wastewater, electrochemically treat the wastewater and mechanically filter the wastewater through the filtration membrane commonly therein.
US08147699B2
A filtration apparatus that separates a liquid feedstock mixed with a gas into filtrate and retentate, the apparatus including at least one filtration device comprised of at least one monolith segment of porous material that defines a plurality of passageways extending longitudinally from a feed face of the structure to a retentate end face. The filtration device contains at least one filtrate conduit within it for carrying filtrate toward a filtrate collection zone, the filtrate conduit providing a path of lower flow resistance than that of alternative flow paths through the porous material of the device. The filtration device can also be utilized as a membrane support for a device for microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, or pervaporation. Also disclosed is a method for using such a filtration apparatus.
US08147698B2
The present disclosure describes novel standardized citrate replacement fluid solutions and a standardized dialysate solution for use with CRRT methods. The standardized citrate replacement fluid solutions and standardized dialysate solutions do not require modification based on the clinical status of the individual patients. The use of the standardized solutions described herein offers significant advantages over the prior art solutions used in CRRT. The present disclosure describes superior metabolic and electrolyte control and significantly increased dialyzer patency in: (a) 24 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with ARF using a 0.67% trisodium citrate replacement fluid solution, and (b) 32 ICU patients with ARF using a 0.5% trisodium citrate replacement fluid solution. Both groups were treated with Bicarbonate-25 dialysate and achieved effluent rates of 35 mL/kg/hr.
US08147696B1
A method for purifying a water process stream whereby a precipitating agent is added to the water process stream to elevate the process stream pH to at least 10.5 to drop out precipitates which form separated solids comprising at least one of calcium precipitate, magnesium precipitate, barium precipitate, strontium precipitate, and silica precipitate. The separated solids are then coagulated and removed from the water process stream so as to yield a purified water process stream.
US08147687B2
The present invention provides a ballast water treatment system including a reaction tank in which raw water and ozone are imported and made to react each other for a predetermined period of time to kill microorganisms existing in raw water, an ozone decomposer in which water containing residual ozone discharged from the reaction tank is imported and the residual ozone is decomposed, and a circulation pump installed between the reaction tank and ozone decomposer, forming a circulation system which removes the residual ozone by means of circulating the water containing the residual ozone between the reaction tank and ozone decomposer. Accordingly, this system dispenses with a deaeration tank which would require a wide space for installation, small cost and is able to be applied to existing ships easily.
US08147680B2
A water-based separating composition for separating hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing material includes at least about 71% by weight water, a hydrotropic agent, a dispersant having flocculating characteristics, a wetting agent, and at least one acid and at least one base in amounts sufficient to provide the separating composition with a pH of about 7 to about 8.5. The hydrotropic agent and the dispersant having flocculating characteristics are different.
US08147679B2
A continuous process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon includes the steps of: obtaining a heavy hydrocarbon; heating the heavy hydrocarbon; contacting the heavy hydrocarbon with a solvent at upgrading conditions so as to produce a first product comprising a mixture of upgraded hydrocarbon and solvent and a second product comprising asphaltene waste and water; continuously feeding the first product and the second product to a first separator; heating the first product; and continuously feeding the first product to a second separator to separate the upgraded hydrocarbon from the solvent. A system is also provided.
US08147672B2
A process for preparing sucrose-6-ester is provided, which comprises electrolyzing an electrolyte solution containing sucrose, an acylating reagent and a halide catalyst. Also disclosed is a process for preparing sucralose, which involves the preparation and chlorination of sucrose-6-ester followed by deacylation of the molecule. The process of the invention can be more readily performed with a higher yield than those in the art.
US08147671B2
A method for electroplating a substrate having an aluminum alloy surface comprises: applying a zinc layer onto the aluminum alloy surface; electroplating a first copper layer onto the zinc layer from an alkaline copper electroplating solution; electroplating a second copper layer onto the first copper layer from an acid copper electroplating solution; electroplating a Cu—Sn alloy layer onto the second copper layer from a Cu—Sn electroplating solution; and electroplating a chromium layer onto the Cu—Sn alloy layer from a trivalent chromium solution. The alkaline copper electroplating solution is substantially free of cyanide ion.
US08147665B2
The invention relates to a device for receiving a fluid sample, which is designed such as to form an electrode, such as a counter electrode or a working electrode, in an electrochemical cell. The inventive device comprises an end part having at least one cavity which opens to the exterior via an opening and which is equipped with a base. The invention is characterized in that the aforementioned end part comprises a first electrically-insulating hydrophobic zone which is adjacent to the cavity opening and a second electrically-conducting hydrophilic zone which is adjacent to the first zone and which at least partially covers the base of the cavity, such that, when the end part is immersed in the fluid and then removed therefrom, the cavity retains part of the fluid by means of capillary action.
US08147655B2
Materials such as biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) and hydrocarbon-containing materials are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, or oil sands, oil shale, tar sands, bitumen, and coal to produce altered materials such as fuels (e.g., ethanol and/or butanol). The processing includes exposing the materials to an ion beam.
US08147653B2
A woven filtration fabric for cellulosic sheet formation. The warp yarns comprise intrinsic binder yarn pairs, and a set of dedicated machine side layer warp yarns. The members of each intrinsic binder yarn pair alternate with each other to define a single combined path in each layer. Whenever a member interweaves with a machine side layer weft yarn, at least one machine side layer warp yarn interweaves with the same weft yarn in the same knuckle. In some embodiments, the members form double knuckles in the machine side layer, firstly together with a first machine side layer warp yarn and then together with a second machine side layer warp yarn. The warp yarn path ratio of machine side layer warp yarns to single combined paths of the intrinsic binder yarn pairs is at least 1.5:1. The fabrics provide increased center plane resistance, resulting in improved drainage and sheet uniformity.
US08147651B2
Methods to control and suppress odor in papermaking sludge are described. One method involves admixing sludge from a papermaking process and cyclodextrin to provide treated sludge with the cyclodextrin present in an effective amount to control odors in the treated sludge. The deodorized sludge may be used as a component of resin-wood composite products, such as composite decking materials, walls, flooring, casting forms, and the like.
US08147646B2
A semiconductor device producing method includes: vacuum-adsorbing a printed substrate on a vacuum adsorption surface of a stage with the printed substrate being pressed on the vacuum adsorption surface; temporarily fixing the printed substrate on the stage by commonly inserting a pin to a through hole formed in the printed substrate and a hole formed in the stage; and releasing the vacuum adsorption.
US08147639B2
This invention discloses a novel process for manufacturing very thin freestanding polymeric films with the steps of supplying a molten film layer stream and a molten assist layer stream by a first extruder and second extruder; intimately contacting the film layer stream and the assist layer stream in coplanar fashion; extruding the film layer stream and the assist layer stream through a planar coextrusion die lip; stretching the multilayer melt curtain; cooling the multilayer film; delaminating the assist layer or layers from the film layer; and transporting the film layer to downstream processing operations. This process allows manufacturing of very thin freestanding films made from amorphous polymers, highly filled films made from amorphous, semi crystalline, or crystalline polymers, chemically cross linked films, and films with diffused addenda that would normally cause undesirable reactions in an extrusion environment.
US08147638B2
A polarizing plate comprising a polarizing film having thereon a retardation film containing a plasticizer and a cellulose ester, wherein a free volume radius of the retardation film determined by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy is in the range of 0.250-0.310 nm.
US08147637B2
To fabricate a composite item, a first end effector is selected from a plurality of end effectors to apply tows to a form. The first end effector includes an integrated creel configured to store spools of the tow on an assembly of spindles. The assembly of spindles is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first integrated creel. The first end effector is secured to a positioning device. The tows are applied to the form and the tows are compacted on the form with a compaction device. The assembly of spindles are disposed circumferentially about the compaction device.
US08147635B2
A manufacturing apparatus of a fiber-reinforced resin strand including spreaders that spread a reinforcing fiber bundle and are provided inside a crosshead to which a molten resin material is supplied continuously from an extruding machine, twisting rollers provided at a downstream position from an exit nozzle of the crosshead and that pultrude a fiber-reinforced resin strand formed of a resin-impregnated fiber bundle from the exit nozzle while imparting twists thereto, and twist retaining rollers provided at a downstream position from the twisting rollers and that retain twists of the fiber-reinforced resin strand. The twisting rollers and the twist retaining rollers are made of metal with asperities being formed on the surface thereof. The manufacturing apparatus can achieve excellent durability and is capable of manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin strand at a high production rate without causing slipping.
US08147629B2
A ceiling tile of gypsum and cellulose fibers formed into a board by initially mixing the fibers and gypsum in a water-based slurry that is felted and thereafter pressed and dried with a desired board thickness, the dried board being processed to form a plurality of holes in a face thereof through at least the majority of the thickness of the board, the collective volume of the holes being sufficient to reduce the weight of the board by at least 10% and increase the NRC exhibited by the board over that which would otherwise be found in a board of the same composition without such holes.
US08147628B2
The invention relates to a method for producing (cryogenic) solid monopropellants which are cooled to below room temperature and are used for rocket drives, especially using heterogeneous liquid-solid propellants wherein at least one of the reactants in the form of an oxidizer or a fuel contains a phase which is liquid or gaseous at normal temperature, for example emulsions of liquid constituents which do not dissolve in each other, suspensions of solid in liquid constituents or liquid-impregnated feed materials. The invention also relates to a cryogenic solid propellant for rocket drives, especially heterogeneous quasi-monopropellant fuel-oxidizer combinations. The aim of the invention is to increase the efficiency of the cryogenic solid propellants compared with conventional storable solid drives, hybrid drives or liquid driving gears, and to improve in a simple manner the storage properties and economic efficiency of said propellants, avoiding costly liquid management, and simultaneously eliminating the permanent ignition of the cryogenic solid propellants. To this end, the at least one liquid or gaseous phase embodied as a reactant in the form of a fuel or an oxidizer is transferred into a solid structure comprising interconnected cavities, said structure consisting of reactants which are formed in such a way that they complement the liquid phase, and the liquid phase is converted into a cryogenic solid phase inside the solid structure by means of freezing, said solid phase being stable below normal temperature.
US08147623B2
To provide a steel pipe as a fuel injection pipe with high material strength, high internal pressure limit free from fatigue failure, prolonged fatigue life, and high reliability. A steel pipe as a fuel injection pipe of 500 N/mm2 or higher tensile strength comprising, by mass, C: 0.12 to 0.27%, Si: 0.05 to 0.40%, and Mn: 0.8 to 2.0%, and the balance being Fe and impurities, the contents of Ca, P, and S in the impurities being Ca: 0.001% or less, P: 0.02% or less, and S: 0.01% or less, respectively, characterized in that the maximum diameter of nonmetallic inclusions present in at least in a region extending from the inner surface of the steel pipe to a depth of 20 μm is 20 μm or less. Further, this steel pipe may contain, in place of a portion of Fe, at least one selected from among Cr: 1% or less, Mo: 1% or less, Ti: 0.04% or less, Nb: 0.04% or less, and V: 0.1% or less.
US08147618B2
Herein disclosed is a device and a method for liquid treatment of a disc-like article comprising rotating a disc-like article, dispensing liquid onto the disc-like article when rotated, collecting liquid, which is flung off the disc-like article when rotated, providing a plate arranged parallel to the disc-like article and facing the disc-like article when rotated, and directing gas parallel to the plate across the plate.
US08147613B2
A crystal puller for growing monocrystalline ingots includes a side heater adjacent a crucible for heating the crucible and a melt heat exchanger sized and shaped for surrounding the ingot and disposed adjacent a surface of the melt. The heat exchanger includes a heat source having an area for radiating heat to the melt for controlling heat transfer at the upper surface of the melt. The melt heat exchanger is adapted to reduce heat loss at the exposed upper surface portion. Methods for growing single crystal silicon crystals having desired defect characteristics are disclosed.
US08147612B2
There is provided a method for fabricating a gallium nitride crystal with low dislocation density, high crystallinity, and resistance to cracking during polishing of sliced pieces by growing the gallium nitride crystal using a gallium nitride substrate including dislocation-concentrated regions or inverted-polarity regions as a seed crystal substrate. Growing a gallium nitride crystal 79 at a growth temperature higher than 1,100° C. and equal to or lower than 1,300° C. so as to bury dislocation-concentrated regions or inverted-polarity regions 17a reduces dislocations inherited from the dislocation-concentrated regions or inverted regions 17a, thus preventing new dislocations from occurring over the dislocation-concentrated regions or inverted-polarity regions 17a. This also increases the crystallinity of the gallium nitride crystal 79 and its resistance to cracking during the polishing.
US08147611B2
A method of manufacturing a single crystal based on a Czochralski method of applying a horizontal magnetic field, wherein the single crystal is pulled in such a manner that a radial magnetic field intensity gradient ΔBr/ΔRc in a direction connecting central points of magnetic field generation coils exceeds 5.5 (Gauss/mm) and becomes 10 (Gauss/mm) or below where an origin O is a central part of the single crystal on a solid-liquid interface, ΔBr (Gauss) is a variation in a magnetic field intensity from the origin O to a crucible inner wall on a surface of a melt, and ΔRc (mm) is a radial distance from the origin O to the crucible inner wall on the surface of the melt.
US08147602B2
A dye-based ink includes a dye and a solvent. The dye-based ink has a high print quality on plain paper. The dye-based ink may have a print quality similar to pigment-based inks. This may be particularly relevant for black inks.
US08147601B2
This invention is directed to a process for electrolessly metallizing an article, as well as to a plating bath and the subsequent plated substrate. The process comprises contacting the surface of an article with an electroless metallizing bath which may be essentially free of toxic and/or heavy metals.
US08147599B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for loading and/or unloading a substance into or from a sorption media. A substance is presented at an edge of the sorption media, which comprises parallel layers of a sorption material. To load (i.e., via absorption and/or adsorption) the substance into the sorption media, heat is transferred away from the sorption media, a loading voltage is applied to the sorption media, and/or a pressure is increased relative to the sorption media. To unload the substance from the sorption media, heat is transferred into the sorption media, a voltage of an opposite polarity from the loading voltage is applied to the sorption media, and/or a pressure is decreased relative to the sorption media. In some embodiments, the sorption media includes surface structures that may load molecules of the substance.
US08147594B2
An air dryer includes a housing with an air inlet, an air outlet and a liquid drain outlet; and a membrane separator having surfaces extending between a first and second ends of the membrane. A first passage in the housing is connected to the air inlet and air outlet at it respective ends and extends between the first and second ends of the membrane separator along the surfaces of the membrane separator. A second passage in the housing is connected to the drain outlet and air outlet at it respective ends and extends between the first and second ends of the membrane along a surface of the membrane separator. A valve is connected between the second passage and the drain outlet for controlling the draining of the liquid and sweep air flow through the second passage. The dryer is to be inserted in a reservoir at its inlet or outlet. A coalescing filter may be provided in the housing in series with the membrane separator and the housing would include a second drain for the coalescing filter.
US08147591B2
Systems and methods for producing an ozone destructor are disclosed herein. Generally, these systems and methods include an ozone destructor that has a housing defining an air passage duct. In some cases, this air passage duct includes a first chamber and a second chamber that are arranged so that air is able to flow into the first chamber, through the second chamber, and out of the destructor. In some cases, an air drying mechanism is disposed in the first and/or the second chamber. Additionally, in some cases, the ozone destructor further includes multiple mechanisms that reduce ozone to oxygen. In light of these features, the ozone destructor is capable of incrementally drying and reducing air and ozone, respectively, as they pass through the first chamber and the second chamber.
US08147577B2
A filter body having a housing, a cavity for holding a filter media, intake ports each configured to receive an intake tube, and a plurality of intake port flaps configured for movement between a first position which restricts passage of a gas or liquid and a second position which allows passage of a gas of liquid. In one aspect, a filter body has flaps that have a magnet and the housing has an attracting material configured to attract the magnet in at least one of the flaps and configured to hold a flap in the first position. In another aspect, a filter in which a portion of the housing comprises an attracting means is configured to hold a flap in the first position. In another aspect, a filter having a housing configured to hold a filter media has a plurality of fluid passage holes and hole covers, in which the hole covers and an area adjacent to the holes on the filter housing each have an attracting material for holding the hole covers in a position.
US08147568B2
A diesel fuel composition containing metallic additives that are stabilized against phase separation. The diesel fuel contains a colloidally dispersed or solubilized metal catalyst compound, which can be used for diesel particulate trap regeneration and, as a stabilizer, 5-1,000 ppm (weight) of an oil-soluble or oil-dispersible organic compound having a lipophilic hydrocarbyl chain having attached directly thereto at least two contiguous polar head functional groups, i.e., the functional groups are separated by no more than three carbon atoms. The diesel fuel composition is particularly suitable for use with diesel engines fitted with a particulate trap for emissions control.
US08147558B2
A mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray, a tibial insert, and a platform separate from the tibial tray and the tibial insert. The platform is configured to be coupled to the tibial insert and the tibial tray. The tibial insert is movable relative to the platform and the platform is movable relative to the tibial tray.
US08147554B2
Disclosed is an assembly and method for implant installation between adjacent vertebral bodies of a patient. The implant has a support body and a rotatable insert therein and the support body is curved for installation between adjacent vertebral bodies transforaminally. An installation instrument is also disclosed for removable attachment to implant and engagement with the rotatable insert to selectively permit rotation between the insert and the support body. The installation instrument extends along a longitudinal tool axis and when the installation instrument is in a first position the insert is rotationally fixed with respect to the support body and when the installation instrument is in a second position the support body may rotate with respect to the insert.
US08147552B2
An intervertebral implant includes a first plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a ball shaped protuberance projecting from the inner surface and an annular groove surrounding the ball shaped protuberance. The implant includes a second plate having an inner surface, an outer surface, a curvate socket formed in the inner surface of the second plate and a raised rim surrounding the curvate socket. The first and second plates are assembled together so that the inner surfaces of the plates oppose one another and the ball shaped protuberance is disposed in the curvate socket and the annular groove aligned with the raised rim. The assembled first and second plates angulate and rotate relative to one another.
US08147541B2
Prosthetic valves and their component parts are described, as are prosthetic valve delivery devices and methods for their use. The prosthetic valves are particularly adapted for use in percutaneous aortic valve replacement procedures. The delivery devices are particularly adapted for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The preferred delivery device includes a catheter having a deployment mechanism attached to its distal end, and a handle mechanism attached to its proximal end. A plurality of tethers are provided to selectively restrain the valve during deployment. A number of mechanisms for active deployment of partially expanded prosthetic valves are also described.
US08147532B2
Methods and systems for determining patient specific treatment parameters for delivering vapor to the lung to treat lung tissue. In some embodiments vapor is delivered to the lung to cause coagulative necrosis, inducing fibrosis and thereby reducing the volume of at least one segment of the lung. The delivery parameters can be adjusted depending on the desired degree of injury to be induced in the lung tissue.
US08147528B2
A vertebral implant is provided that includes a distraction member having a first end configured to pivotally couple to a first cut portion of a vertebra and a second end configured to mate with a base member configured to couple to a second cut portion of the vertebra. The distraction member can move relative to the base member to create a force effective to adjust a distance between the first and second cut portions of the vertebra.
US08147520B2
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08147518B2
The present invention provides a dynamic stabilization device positionable about a portion of a spinal column. The stabilization device may generally include a first component and a second component, where the first and second components are movably coupled to one another to define an arcuate path of motion. The stabilization device may also include one or more adjustment elements positionable within first and second adjustment openings to affect the path of motion between the first and second components and/or the behavior and characteristics of the movement. In addition, one or more resistive elements may be adjustably positionable within either and/or both of the first and second adjustment openings to provide resistance and/or dampening of the forces experienced as the first and second components move relative to one another. The stabilization device may further define a joint having three degrees of freedom to adapt to movement of a spinal column.
US08147511B2
An apparatus and method for ejecting fluid from a fluid delivery system. The fluid delivery system has a pneumatic assembly that when triggered injects gas into a hydraulic assembly, which in turn ejects fluid through an external interface. An electronic interface displays various measurements, for example, how much fluid has been ejected and if the hydraulic system is closed the pressure of the system. The pneumatic assembly can also be depressurized such that fluid can reenter the hydraulic assembly through the external interface.
US08147499B2
A dynamic distractor is described for distracting an intervertebral space and determining a size of an artificial intervertebral disc to be implanted in the intervertebral space.
US08147494B2
An osteotomy resection procedure for removing a wedge from a bone utilizing a localization device. The localization device being used to track reference points associated with the bone, track surgical instruments, perform calculations to determine a resection angle for the wedge, and assist a surgeon in performing the procedure.
US08147493B2
The invention relates to a trochanter stabilizing device (40), especially for fixing bone fragments in the region of the hip joint (11) or for fixing the greater trochanter (12), including A) bone stabilizing means (1) consisting of a central plate (2) with at least one fixing perforation (13) for receiving a bone fixing means (20); B) a longitude bone plate (30) with a bushing (31) arranged at an angle for receiving a fixing element (50) which can be introduced into the region of the hip joint (11) fixed thereto, whereby C) at least three peripheral arms (4) originate from the central plate (2), whereby D) each peripheral arm (4) is provided with at least one hole (5) for receiving a bone fixing means (20).
US08147488B2
A surgical operating apparatus includes a sheath, a probe body which is inserted through the sheath, and in which ultrasonic vibration is configured to be transmitted, a probe distal end portion which is provided at a distal end portion of the probe body and configured to function as one of bipolar electrodes, and a jaw which is rotatably supported on a distal end portion of the sheath, has an engaging surface which is engaged with the probe distal end portion, and has a second electrode section which is the other of the bipolar electrodes, wherein the jaw includes, at a distal end portion of the engaging surface for engagement with the probe distal end portion, a distal end chip which tolerates a positional displacement relative to the probe distal end portion when the jaw is engaged with the probe distal end portion.
US08147487B2
A device and method of using the device to access a desired tissue site within a patient's body and separating a tissue specimen from the tissue site suitable for evaluation. The device includes a probe member having an arcuate tissue-cutting RF powered electrode secured to and distally spaced from the distal end of the probe and a small dimensioned distal extremity which when an inner lumen thereof is subjected to a vacuum, secured tissue for the specimen to the surface of the distal extremity. A circular tissue-cutting blade preferably secured to the distal end of a supporting tube is configured to rotate and move longitudinally along the shaft of the probe member effective to sever a tissue specimen from tissue secured to the surface of the distal extremity of the probe member. The supporting tube covers the separated specimen, and may be disposed within an accessing cannula.
US08147486B2
A catheter or lead having a flexible printed circuit for conveying signals and/or energy. Each trace may be in electrical connection with one or more external electrical contacts. More specifically, each trace is typically electrically connected to a single contact. The traces and contacts may assist in diagnosis and/or detection of bio-electrical signals emitted by organs, and may transmit such signals to a connector or diagnostic device affixed to the catheter. The external electrical contacts may detect bioelectric energy or may deliver electrical or thermal energy to a target site.
US08147483B2
The present invention provides a device for cauterising tissue, the device arranged to be mounted to a biopsy and/or sampling instrument and including a conductive cauterising portion and means for heating the cauterising portion. The device may be mounted either permanently or releasably removable from the biopsy and/or sampling instrument.
US08147469B2
A layered adhesive construction comprising a backing layer and a first and second layer of hydrocolloid adhesive, where the first and second layer of hydrocolloid adhesive have different composition, and the second layer of hydrocolloid adhesive is at least partly interposed between the first layer of hydrocolloid adhesive and the backing layer, the first and second adhesive layers consisting of a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase where the discontinuous phase of the first adhesive layer comprises a hydrocolloids providing a higher moisture absorption capacity and higher initial rate of absorption to the adhesive layer than the hydrocolloids in the discontinuous phase of the second adhesive layer, and the discontinuous phase of second layer of adhesive comprises hydrocolloids providing a higher cohesion following moisture absorption to the adhesive compared to the hydrocolloid in the discontinuous phase of the first adhesive layer.
US08147464B2
The fluid injector system includes a source of injection fluid, a pump device, a fluid control device operably associated with the pump device, and a fluid path set in fluid connection with the source of injection fluid and the pump device. The fluid path set includes a drip chamber including an elongated body having a top end, a bottom end and a raised projection, the raised projection being substantially rectangular in shape and extending longitudinally from the top end along the drip chamber body and terminating adjacent to the bottom end. A fluid level sensing mechanism is operably associated with the fluid control device, and includes a drip chamber support for supporting the drip chamber body and a fluid level sensor associated with the drip chamber support. The drip chamber support is adapted to support the drip chamber body such that the raised projection is in operational contact with the fluid level sensor and the fluid level sensing mechanism is operable to transmit ultrasonic or light energy through the raised projection to be sensed by the fluid level sensor for sensing the injection fluid level in the drip chamber.
US08147461B2
A fluid dispensing device for dispensing a fluid product having a dispensing outlet from which the fluid product is dispensable, a supply of the fluid product, a dispensing member mounted for movement in a dispensing direction along an axis X-X from a first position to a second position which causes a dose of the fluid product in the supply to be dispensed from the dispensing outlet, and a finger-operable actuator member mounted for movement in an actuating direction which is generally transverse to the axis.
US08147460B2
Method of producing an administering device for infusing or injecting a product, whereby in order to mold a housing shell (1) serving as a case for components of the administering device in a multi-component injection molding process at least one pre-molded, transparent insert part (22, 23) made from a first plastic material is inserted in an injection mold molded to a shape matching the shape of the housing shell (1), a dimensionally stable, curable second plastic material is injected into the injection mold around the insert part (22, 23) to render it watertight and an opening left free in the second plastic material is closed to render it watertight by injecting on an elastomeric third plastic material.
US08147446B2
A portable therapeutic apparatus and a method for controlling the apparatus are provided. In one aspect the apparatus and the method can be implemented using a patch unit (100, 200) removably attachable to a cradle unit (20), said cradle unit removably attachable to the body of the patient; a position detector (1000) comprising a patch portion (900) and a cradle portion (800), said patch portion coupled to the patch unit, said cradle portion coupled to the cradle unit; a processor adapted for receiving a position indication signal from the at least one position detector, said position indication signal corresponding to a physical proximity of the patch portion to the cradle portion, and, wherein the portable therapeutic apparatus is adapted for at least one therapeutic function selected from the group consisting of delivering a therapeutic fluid into the body of the patient and sensing a bodily analyte.
US08147443B2
A method for ablating tissue comprising controlling a heating element using a variable phase angle control to heat an ablation fluid to a desired temperature and determining a heating percentage corresponding to a percentage of a maximum available heating power represented by a current level of power supplied to the heating element and, when the heating percentage remains below a threshold level for a predetermined period of time, indicating a flow obstruction condition of the fluid.
US08147435B2
The present invention discloses a massage apparatus having a housing with a massage formation for contacting a body part of a user. A massage mechanism is oriented within the housing for imparting a massage effect to the massage formation. A light source is provided on the massage formation for conveying an illumination effect from the massage formation. A partially translucent massager is disclosed for providing a visual effect of the underlying massage operation. Further, a roller massage assembly is provided wherein a load imparted to a roller is distributed directly to a structure of the massager for preventing distribution of the load to the massage mechanism.
US08147430B2
An apparatus for testing a horse's tendons and ligaments includes a base plate and a rotatable plate with a guide member for receiving and positioning one of a horse's hooves thereon. A rod or lever is provided for manually rotating the rotatable plate up to and include an angle of 55° and a scale or indicator is provided for indicating the angle of rotation. A method for testing the horse's tendons and ligaments is also described.
US08147428B2
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed at a device that provides a reliable, accurate and quantifiable measure of a patient's edema. The device improves on the current method of digital manipulation by evaluating the pitting phenomena in a user-independent manner. The output of the device allows a physician to categorize edema into at least ten different levels of severity. The systems of the present invention provides the ability to distinguish between tissues of varying viscosity.
US08147427B2
To provide a means capable easily releasing twist of two or more guidewires passed through a guiding catheter without pulling out the guidewires. A twist releasing apparatus has a shaft, a first tube formed at the tip of the shaft and has a first lumen through which two or more guidewires can be passed, a second tube disposed through a gap at the tip side in the axis direction relative to the first tube and has a second lumen through the two or more guidewires can be passed, and a connection portion for connecting the first tube and the second tube so that the two or more guidewires can be passed through the first lumen and the second lumen. The second tube has a slit that is formed in an axis direction and can be elastically deformed. The connection portion can be elastically deformed into a curved shape in the axis direction.
US08147422B2
A method for detecting hearing impairment and a device thereof are provided. The device includes a sound collecting unit and analyzing unit. The sound collecting unit is used for receiving a voice signal from a subject based on the subject pronouncing a vowel. The analyzing unit is coupled to the sound collecting unit and is used for receiving the voice signal and performing a signal processing and a predetermined operation for the voice signal to provide the power of low-frequency oscillations of the voice fundamental frequency of the subject, wherein the hearing impairment of the subject is linear dependency with the low frequency oscillations.
US08147417B2
A timer for tourniquet, adapted for application in a surgery, emergency or military situations to stop arterial blood loss in an injured limb, which is optionally activated by use of the tourniquet and/or optionally provided in association with a monitor for a plurality of tourniquets.
US08147410B2
A method for performing ultrasound imaging and elasticity measurement, the method includes scanning an object to obtain a B-mode ultrasound image, selecting an A-mode signal from the B-mode ultrasound image, transmitting a high frame rate ultrasound signal, by a selected group of ultrasound transducers, at the selected A-mode signal location, forming a transient M-mode image based on the high frame rate ultrasound signal, enhancing propagation trace of shear wave based on the transient M-mode image, calculating elasticity of the object based on the propagation trace and displaying result, and displaying, simultaneously, the B-mode ultrasound image and the transient M-mode measurement result.
US08147405B2
A surgical access device includes a wound protector and an instrument seal. The instrument seal comprises a plurality of resilient membranes each having a plurality of parallel slits. The membranes are stacked relative one another to create a tortuous path preventing insufflatory gases from escaping through the instrument seal.
US08147402B2
An endoscope system of the invention includes: an endoscope including an insertion portion, a distal end portion provided on a distal end side of the insertion portion, and a bending portion which is capable of changing a position and an orientation of the distal end portion; a position detecting section for acquiring position information on a position where the distal end portion is located; a passing target position setting section for setting a passing target position for the distal end portion; a path estimating section for estimating a path through which the distal end portion is to be passed; a bending control target position setting section for setting a bending control target position such that the distal end portion reaches the passing target position along the path; and a bending control information calculating section for calculating an amount of bending and a bending direction of the bending portion.
US08147393B2
A centrifuge rotor includes a rotor body having a central hub and first and second bucket receiving spaces defined on diametrically opposed sides of the rotor body. A first pair of bucket supports is supported by the rotor body for pivotally supporting a swing bucket in the first bucket receiving space, and a second pair of bucket supports is supported by the rotor body for pivotally supporting a swing bucket in the second bucket receiving space. The rotor further includes reinforcing material wound around oppositely disposed ones of the first and second pairs of bucket supports.
US08147388B2
A bike trainer operable by a user for stationary riding when a conventional bicycle is coupled thereto. The bike trainer may be used by removing the rear wheel of the bicycle and selectively coupling the rear dropouts of the bicycle to an axle of the bike trainer. The bike trainer is operative to simulate the “feel” of riding a moving bicycle by providing resistance and inertia similar to that of a bicycle when used normally. To provide these features, the bike trainer includes a fan/flywheel as well as a freewheel mechanism. The bike trainer also includes features that permit simple coupling and decoupling to the bicycle using a “quick release skewer,” which allows users to easily use the bike trainer without required a substantial amount of time. The bike trainer also includes a base configured to support a user of the bike trainer in a fashion such that the user is sturdily supported during use.
US08147387B2
A muscle exercise device can include a crank having an axis of rotation. A first arm can be connected to the crank so that a downward external force applied to the distal end of the first arm causes rotation of the crank. The devices of the present invention can further include a second arm to which a counterweight is connected. Optionally, an assist mechanism other than a counterweight can be used to provide upward movement of the first arm with minimal application of force by a subject. A retrofit kit can be provided for modifying an existing device such as an ergometer or road bicycle. The retrofit kit can include a counterweight and a fastener for attaching to the device to the existing device. The devices of the present invention allow for increased exercise capacity, isolation of muscle groups, and biomechanical forces which closely approximate comparable paired limb motion.
US08147386B2
An integral treadmill resistance training apparatus includes a treadmill having a treadway; left and right support columns, each support column including a base portion connected to the treadmill and an upper portion extending upward from the base portion; first and second translation members, each of the first and second translation members rotatingly connected to the left and right support column upper portions, respectively, at a translation axis, each of the translation members including one or more resistance strap connection points radially distal from the translation axis; first and second articulated handles connected to the first and second translation members, respectively; first and second handle locking mechanisms engageable with the first and second translation members and the first and second handles, respectively; and, one or more resistance straps removably connectable between each of the first and second translation members and the left and right support columns, respectively.
US08147380B2
A hydraulic control device with a plurality of gear-actuating cylinders for engaging and disengaging the gears of an automated multi-step transmission, with pressure-controlled gear-regulating valves for controlling the pressure in one pressure chamber of the cylinders, and with a multiplex arrangement of singly switchable pressure-controlled selector valves for assigning the regulating valves to one pressure chamber of the actuating cylinders. The device includes a common pilot valve, designed as a regulating valve, for actuating one of the regulating valves and at least one of the selector valves. The pilot valve features a first control pressure range that contains the switching pressure of the selector valve and a second control pressure range that contains the regulating range of the gear-regulating valve.
US08147376B2
A construction vehicle includes a control unit configured to shift gear after performing pre-shifting to couple a target speed-change gear that corresponds to a target speed with a target speed-change shaft in non-transmitting state of rotation of the input shaft when the gear shift is performed from a current speed to the target speed, in a state in which the current speed gear that corresponds to the current speed step and the current speed-change shaft that corresponds to the current speed gear are coupled. When the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting section is zero, the control unit is configured to perform pre-shift auxiliary control prior to the pre-shifting control to input the rotation of the input shaft to the target speed-change shaft in a state in which the target speed-change shaft is not coupled to the plurality of speed-change gears.
US08147374B2
A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle including an automatic transmission and a motor generator comprises a pre-gearshift control, a mid-gearshift control, and a post-gearshift control. It is possible to prevent abnormal operations and damage of an automatic transmission due to reverse rotation of the input shaft of the automatic transmission and achieve smooth and stable pre-stop gearshift, by appropriately controlling reverse torque exerted in the input shaft of the automatic transmission, when a vehicle equipped with a hybrid driving apparatus including the automatic transmission performs the pre-stop gearshift.
US08147365B2
A drive belt includes an endless belt body made of an ethylene-α-olefin elastomer composition and a cord embedded in the belt body to form a spiral at a specified pitch in a widthwise direction of the belt. The drive belt has a bending stiffness not larger than 0.064 N·cm2 per a belt width of 4.8 mm and the belt body has a Wallace rubber hardness not smaller than 60°.
US08147363B2
A conical disk assembly including a shaft carrying an axially movable disk and having a fixed disk rigidly connected to the shaft. A support ring having first ramp surfaces facing the axially movable disk is carried on the shaft, and a rotatable sensing piston having second ramp surfaces that face the first ramp surfaces is axially movable along the shaft. Rolling elements are positioned between the ramp surfaces, and when the ramp surfaces are rotated relative to each other, the rolling elements move the sensing piston axially along the shaft. A guide ring is rigidly operatively connected to the axially movable disk and includes guide surfaces associated with the ramp surfaces for radially supporting the rolling elements. The guide ring and the support ring are connected with each other in a non-rotatable and axially movable manner to facilitate assembly of the conical disk assembly.
US08147361B1
A broadhead with expandable front pivot cutting blades has the cutting blades connected to the broadhead by low-friction rotary connections. The connections reduce frictional forces during outward rotation of the blades and permit locked blade deployment before the blades hit the target.
US08147359B2
A shuttlecock preferably includes a tail, a shuttle housing and an impact head. The tail includes at least three tail sections which are attached to each other and retained by a tail base. The shuttle housing preferably includes a first housing half, a second housing half and an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit preferably includes a circuit board, an vibration sensor, at least one light emitting device and a sound emitting device. The circuit board includes an electrical controller and a battery. The vibration sensor detects that the shuttlecock is in motion and sends an electrical signal to the electrical controller, which activates the at least one light emitting device and/or the sound emitting device, until the shuttlecock is no longer in motion. The impact head preferably includes a plurality head discs, a plurality of buffer discs and a disc strap.
US08147353B2
A a golf club including a club head having a club head main body, a supporting member and a muscle back shell. The muscle back shell is coupled to the club head main body and the supporting member.
US08147352B2
A golf club or component thereof has a surface, wherein at least one area of the surface has a level of hydrophilicity which is less than the level of hydrophilicity in at least one surrounding portion, causing moisture to be preferentially attracted to the surrounding portion. In one aspect, the surface is a striking face and the surrounding portion is one or more grooves formed in the striking face. In another aspect, the surface is a grip and the surrounding portion is one or more channels formed in the grip. In some examples, hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surfaces on golf club components repel water and, in some instances, also offer self-cleaning functionality.
US08147347B2
A golf practice mat including a surface pattern formed by thermally deforming and allowing setting of the deformed mat surface.
US08147342B2
Internal dimensions for fixed-type constant velocity universal joints are defined to optimize the geometry of the components of the joints and to readily achieve a larger operating angle of the joints.In the joint, the track grooves of an outer ring and an inner ring are tapered by an angle not exceeding 12°. The ratio (f/PCR) of the cage offset amount f to PCR is greater than 0 and smaller than or equal to 0.12. The ratio (Do/d) of the cage outer diameter (Do) to the ball diameter (d), the ratio (t/d) of the cage wall thickness (t) to the ball diameter (d), and the ratio (w/d) of the cage width (w) to the ball diameter (d) are such that 3.9≦Do/d≦4.1, 0.31≦t/d≦0.34, and 1.8≦w/d≦2.0, respectively. The end of the spherical outer surface of the cage adjacent to the open end is axially extended, and the end of the spherical inner surface of the cage adjacent to the open end is tapered so that the tapered surface has an increasing diameter toward the end of the spherical outer surface adjacent to the open end. Part of the spherical outer surface of the cage is cut on the open end side of pockets, and the outer diameter of the cage across the two opposing planer cut faces is smaller than the spigot diameter of the outer ring.
US08147341B2
A drive coupling has an inner plate positioned within an inner periphery of an outer plate. The inner plate includes a plurality of outwardly-extending projections. The inner periphery of the outer plate includes a plurality of recesses. A plurality of short heavy-duty compression springs are arranged to compress in a substantially-straight linear direction between respective projections of the inner plate and the respective side wall of the recess of the outer plate. The springs are further retained by spring travel limiting guides which protrude from the outer plate. The inner plate and an associated central shaft are positively supported by bushings and/or bearings which reside in outer retaining plates. These bushings and/or bearings retain the inner and outer plates in a fixed non-yielding radial and axial position. Bolts are used to hold the outer drive plate and the external retaining plates together. The drive coupling is designed to carry the entire rated torque requirement of the unit on the compression springs, thus providing a continual cushioning action to the drive line whilst providing accurately-controlled angular movement if an obstruction is encountered.
US08147333B2
An example system and method of providing an input to a processor-controlled system uses a handheld control device comprising an accelerometer. The example system and method involve determining magnitudes of outputs of the accelerometer for one or more axes based on movement of the handheld control device and controlling the processor-controlled system based at least in part on a combination of the determined magnitudes.
US08147328B2
The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GAME MECHANICS FOR GIFTING (“GGM”) transform social graph, interactions, behavior and characteristics data inputs via various GGM components to create optimal gift-giving dynamics. In one embodiment, the GGM may receive a request to provide a gaming resource to a user. In response to the request, the GGM may aggregate and analyze interaction data to identify a provider with prior interactions with the user. The GGM may in turn request the provider for a gaming resource. The GGM may receive may receive an indication to provide a gaming resource to the user in response to the request and may facilitate providing of a gaming resource to the user. The GGM may identify this indication as an instance of interaction and may update the user interaction data accordingly.
US08147327B2
A method for updating a game session comprises detecting a game event during a game session, sending an update request to a game data object server responsive to the game event, receiving a game data object from the game data server responsive to the update request, and updating the game session with the game data object. The update request preferably includes an event identifier associated with the game event and the identity of at least one game participant. Based on the player and event identified in the update request, the game data object server selects a corresponding game data object and sends the game data object to each of the players.
US08147323B2
A gaming machine having features for increasing player appeal is set forth. The machine generally includes a processor, a display, and a memory device. The processor randomly selects one of a plurality of outcomes of the gaming machine in response to a wager. The display displays visual elements to be viewed by the player. The memory device is coupled to the processor and stores at least two data sets for producing at least two different types of visual and/or audio elements in the basic game or bonus game, or at least two different types of bonus game formats. The processor selects one of the two data sets in response to the occurrence of a predetermined time, a number of wager inputs by players of the gaming machine, or after determining a favorite play content based on the number of wager inputs by players.
US08147318B2
A Roll 21 game is described. In one implementation, an example game method for one or more players includes accepting a bet from each of the one or more players, and selecting one of the players to be the shooter to roll two dice for all the players. Each six-sided die has the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 distributed on respective sides. The shooter rolls the two dice in multiple dice rolls until a cumulative total of the rolls equals or exceeds 17 or, until all players have stood and no bonus bets have been placed that require further accumulation of dice points. After each roll, each player may stand at the current cumulative total of the dice rolls. Then, when the cumulative total of the rolls equals or exceeds 17 (unless, e.g., all players have previously stood), the shooter rolls a host die to obtain a host total. The single six-sided host die has the numbers 17, 18, 19, and 21 distributed on four of the six sides and the word “Bust” is distributed on two of the six sides. The cumulative total of each player is compared with the host total to determine whether each player's bet receives a payout, for example a 1:1 payout on the initial bet. Bonus bet options are also available.
US08147312B2
A method and system for playing an interactive game includes inputting into a host computer an access code, wherein the access code is operatively associated with game data storing a predetermined outcome of a game play, transmitting from the host computer a game play for play by a player on a terminal device in response to the inputted access code, and increasing the amount of a progressive jackpot in response to the occurrence of at least one game playing event.
US08147297B2
A surface grinding machine generally consisting of a drive means provided with an output shaft; a planetary disk mounted on the shaft; and at least two grinding head units mounted on the planetary disk, each including a housing mounted on the planetary disk, a shaft having a flange portion, journaled in the unit housing, resilient means interposed between the housing and the flange portion of the unit shaft and a disk provided with a grit surface disposed on an outer side of the flange portion of the unit shaft.
US08147289B1
A toy helicopter assembly having a guard that prevents the vertical lift rotors of the toy helicopter from inadvertently contacting any object while spinning. The toy helicopter has a body that includes a fuselage and landing gear. A drive shaft extends upwardly from the fuselage. A least one rotor is connected to the driveshaft. Each rotor is rotated by the driveshaft in a circular path through a predetermined plane of rotation. A plurality of loop structures are attached to the toy helicopter. The loop structures extend along curved paths, therein creating a guarded area within the curved paths. The loop structures are oriented so that at least part of the circular path that is traversed by the rotors extends through the guarded area.
US08147286B2
A safety device includes an elongate tubular member formed of a buoyant material having gripping surfaces disposed on distal and proximal ends thereof. The elongate tubular member is positionable between initial and second positions. First and second appendages are disposed in mechanical cooperation with the proximal and distal ends of the elongate tubular member. A tether assembly is operably associated with the elongate tubular member and includes one or more couplings and a tether for releasably fixing the elongate tubular member in one or more second positions.
US08147285B2
A marine vessel propulsion unit includes an engine, a drive shaft, a propeller shaft, a propeller, an intermediate shaft, and a first reduction gear mechanism. The drive shaft is arranged to be rotated by the engine. The rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted to the propeller shaft. The propeller is arranged to be rotated together with the propeller shaft. The intermediate shaft is arranged on a central rotation axis of the propeller shaft or an extension of the central rotation axis. The intermediate shaft is arranged to transmit rotation between the drive shaft and the propeller shaft. The first reduction gear mechanism is arranged on a central rotation axis of the propeller shaft or the extension of the central rotation axis. The first reduction gear mechanism is arranged to decelerate the rotation of the intermediate shaft so as to transmit the decelerated rotation to the propeller shaft during both forward propulsion and backward propulsion.
US08147281B2
A crimp terminal 10 for an aluminum electric cable includes: a crimping part 12 which is connected to a core wire 21 of an aluminum electric cable 20 by crimping; and serrations 15 formed in inner surfaces 13a, 14a of this crimping part 12. In the crimp terminal 10 for an aluminum electric cable, the crimping part 12 is formed into an almost U-shape by including a base 13 and paired crimping pieces 14, 14 formed unitarily with the base 13 on two sides of the base 13; the multiple serrations 15 extending in a direction orthogonal to a lengthwise direction of the core wire 21 are continuously formed in the inner surface 13a of the base 13 and inner surfaces 14a of the respective paired crimping pieces 14, 14; and multiple serrations 16 extending in the direction orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the core wire 21 are formed in a top end 14c side of an outer surface 14b of each of the paired crimping pieces 14, 14.
US08147272B2
A header connector assembly includes an outer housing, an inner housing, a shield subassembly, and a seal body. The outer housing is disposed in an opening of a panel and includes a cavity. The inner housing includes a channel and is disposed in the opening of the panel. The inner housing is received in the cavity of the outer housing and includes a channel configured to have a contact disposed therein. The shield subassembly is disposed between the outer housing and the inner housing. The shield subassembly engages the panel to electrically couple the shield subassembly with the panel. The seal body is disposed between the panel and at least one of the outer housing and the inner housing. The seal body restricts passage of contaminants between the panel and at least one of the outer housing and the inner housing.
US08147268B2
Embodiments of electrical connectors include substantially identical first and second halves. The first and second halves each include insert molded leadframe assemblies that comprise electrical conductors. Each electrical conductor of the first half engages a substantially identical electrical conductor of the second half when the first and second halves are mated.
US08147267B2
A modified screw-in (Edison) type base for LED lighting devices that enables directional LED devices to be used in existing sockets. A movable center contact in a standard Edison type threaded base that enables the base to be screwed into a socket to make electrical contact while allowing the base to be rotated at least a half turn to allow a directional LED device to be aimed were the light is desired. The modified screw-type base that has a movable mount enabling a directional LED device to be firmly screwed into a standard bulb socket, then rotated to aim the light where it is desired.
US08147259B1
The present invention relates to a fixing device of an anti-theft signal connector. The fixing device includes a connection seat, a container and a positioning plug. The connection seat is an axial metallic pipe. The connection seat includes a positioning plate which is located in a rear section of the connection seat and integrally formed with the connection seat. The container is axially disposed in a front section of the connection seat. The container has a receiving trough therein facing the positioning plate. The receiving trough is adapted to receive a resistance and a capacitor which are connected in series. The positioning plug is disposed in the front section of the connection seat, so that the container is positioned between the positioning plate and the positioning plug. Thereby, the positioning plate is integrally formed with the connection seat for the resistance and the capacitor received in the container to be steady fixed between the connection seat and the positioning plug. The resistance and the capacitor won't cause signal loss under static electricity.
US08147251B1
A psychological testing and treatment system according to the present disclosure employs a computer to provide objective, unbiased language, independent interaction with users to circumvent natural human psychological defenses and gather information about traumatic or troubling events of the user. A user's interaction with relevant icons permits the computer to gather data to permit diagnosis and treatment. At the same time, the system enables the extraction, archiving and measurement of this data from the user. Subsequent and consequent to this communication via the system, the disturbance in the user is ameliorated to a degree by virtue of the interaction.
US08147246B2
A surgical bone wax applicator includes one or more layers of absorbent material such as cotton, and a mass of bone wax adhered on the material. A heating device such as, for example, a resistive electrical conductor is fixed on or within the absorbent material. The heating device has associated electrical contact terminals and operates to heat and soften the bone wax in response to an electric potential applied across the terminals. The potential may be applied through blades of bipolar forceps after the forceps are connected to a bipolar generator, and the forceps blades are placed in contact with the terminals of the heating device. When the wax softens, the surgeon may continue to grip the applicator with the forceps and manipulate the applicator over the pores of bone tissue to effect hemostasis.
US08147245B2
An acoustically activated dental instrument that comprises a working head attached to a shaft, the working head being covered with abrasive particles at its front end portion and having a spherical basic shape at its distal end, the outside of which is covered with abrasive particles. The working head is flattened at an upper side substantially up to a center plane of the spherical basic shape, and is flattened on the lower side opposite to the upper flattened side.
US08147243B2
Bracket (1) with a pad (3) for affixing it to a tooth of a patient, with a bracket body (5) that has a slot (7) for receiving an orthodontic wire (9), and with a channel-like wire guide (11) which has wire guide surfaces (11F) for guiding the wire (9) and which is assigned a lateral insertion area (13) for insertion of the wire (9) into the wire guide (11), wherein the insertion area (13) has, in the longitudinal direction of the wire (9), a curved section (13A) through which the wire (9) can be inserted into the wire guide (11) in an elastically deformed state, such that the wire (9), on forming back to a rectilinear state, locks in the wire guide (11), and that the wire guide surfaces (11F) enclose the wire (9) in a circle shape, such that the wire (9) is held longitudinally displaceably in the wire guide (11) by the wire guide surfaces (11F) and is secured against escaping laterally from the wire guide (11).
US08147240B2
A gas burner assembly includes a first sheet, a second sheet, and a conduit. The first sheet has an inner face, an outer face, an upper portion, and a lower portion. The second sheet also has an inner face, an outer face, an upper portion and a lower portion. The first and second sheets are secured relative to one another such that the first and second sheets are separated by a gap that defines a manifold between the inner faces of the first and second sheets with an elongate opening between the upper portions of the first and second sheets, the opening forming an outlet from the manifold. The conduit is in communication with the manifold, the conduit being adapted for connection to a source of gas.
US08147238B1
Disclosed is a mold having sliders, comprising a fixed half, an angle pin, a slider pushing element, a moving half, a main block, a driving block and a sub-block. The angle pin comprises an angle pin body; the slider pushing element has a push face and a pull back face; the main block is installed on the moving half and driven by the angle pin body; the driving block is installed on the main block and has a driving face in accordance with the push face, and a push slope and a pull slope are formed at the other end; the sub-block is slidably installed on the main block and has a push out face in accordance with the push slope, the sub-block can be driven by the push slope and driven by the pull slope to be initialized. The present invention can simplify the complicated structure of a mold.
US08147226B2
A pressure washer pump generally includes a pump housing that defines a cavity, an opening into the cavity and a bottom of the cavity generally opposite the opening. A valve assembly is disposed in the cavity through the opening. The valve assembly includes a cage member that contains a first valve mechanism. A plug member is received in the opening to fluidly seal the cavity of the pump housing. A compliant member is disposed between the plug member and the cage member. The cage member is disposed between the compliant member and the bottom of the cavity and spaced from the plug member.
US08147218B2
Motorized single-machine multi-pump apparatus and closed-loop methodology interconnected with a gas pipeline at a natural gas production well, using pressurized gas flow and differential pressure to drive a pumping system regulated by pneumatic controls using self-generated clean, low-pressure instrument air. The apparatus is connected to the gas flow line and the outlet is connected back into the gas flow line at lower pressure, creating a differential pressure corresponding to the source of motive power for actuating a piston which is directly connected to a plurality of plungers. This plurality of plungers is alternately pushed into and pulled out of corresponding plunger-cylinders for creating an integral drive and pump system prerequisite for gas well site pumping operations. Instead of venting to the atmosphere, well gas is returned to the flow line whereupon only clean air from the self-generated instrument air circuit is vented into the atmosphere.
US08147210B2
A hydraulic assembly has a pressure medium container which at least partially encloses an electric motor, and a hydraulic pump which is driven by the electric motor using a simple, compact, and quiet design in a manner such that the electric motor is situated in the pressure medium container and is cooled by pressure medium without using the electric motor fan, in that the pressure medium container includes a partition which subdivides a pressure medium container interior at least partially into an intake region and a return region, and which maintains a certain level of pressure medium in the return region, and the electric motor is located in the return region of the pressure medium container.
US08147208B2
An impeller with an axial inlet in relation to an impeller axis for pressurizing a fluid has: a nose section that has a nose section central hub and multiple nose vane sections, each nose vane section extending from a leading edge to a generally radial nose section interface plane; a tail section that has a tail section central hub and multiple tail vane sections, each tail vane section extending from a generally radial tail section interface plane to a vane tip; a coupling that joins the nose section central hub to the tail section central hub and aligns each one of the nose vane sections with a corresponding one of the tail vane sections with an axial gap between the radial nose section interface plane and the radial tail section interface plane.
US08147203B2
A fan includes an impeller, a motor, a plurality of first engaging members and a plurality of second engaging members. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades disposed around the hub. The motor includes a rotor housing coupled with the hub, and the motor is for driving the impeller to rotate. The first engaging members are disposed on an inner side of the top surface of the hub, and the second engaging members are disposed on the top surface of the housing. When the impeller and the rotor housing are assembled, the second engaging members are disposed corresponding to the first engaging members, so that parts of the first engaging members are engaged into and assembled with the second engaging members.
US08147198B2
A rotor yoke includes a blade attachment portion, a mast attachment portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the blade attachment portion and the mast attachment portion. The intermediate portion, the blade attachment portion, and the mast attachment portion define an optional inner edge, such that the inner edge, if present, defines an opening. The rotor yoke further includes a peripheral, outer edge extending about the blade attachment portion, the intermediate portion, and the mast attachment portion. At least one of the outer edge and the inner edge, if present, includes a reduced thickness portion exhibiting a thickness that is less than a thickness of an adjacent portion of the rotor yoke.
US08147190B2
A stator vane for a gas turbine includes a vane airfoil which extends in the longitudinal direction of the vane and which is delimited by a leading edge and a trailing edge, and also an outer platform, the inner side of which is exposed to the hot gas which flows through the gas turbine, and on which provision is made for a hook-like fastening element, projecting outwards in the region of the trailing edge, for fastening the stator vane on a casing of the gas turbine, which fastening element, on its side facing the trailing edge, has a locating slot above the trailing edge for the fixing of a heat shield which adjoins the outer platform of the stator vane in the flow direction of the hot gas. Provision is made on the outer platform of the stator vane between the locating slot and the trailing edge of a structure for reducing the thermal and mechanical stresses in the region of the transition between trailing edge and outer platform.
US08147184B2
In a compressor stage including a movable bladed wheel having movable blades and a fixed bladed wheel having fixed blades, an air tapping circuit arrangement includes a movable wheel manifold designed to collect an air flow aspirated from the movable blades and a fixed wheel manifold designed to collect an air flow aspirated from the fixed blades. The movable wheel manifold is placed on the periphery of the compressor stage facing the movable wheel and the fixed wheel manifold is superposed on the movable wheel manifold.
US08147182B2
A fan system comprises a hub, a plurality of fan blades, a drive system, and a stationary tube. The hub is configured to rotate. The fan blades are mounted to the hub. The drive system comprises a rotatable hollow output shaft. The hollow output shaft is in communication with the hub, such that the drive system is operable to rotate the hub via the hollow output shaft. The stationary tube is inserted through the hollow output shaft. The stationary tube is configured to remain stationary as the hollow output shaft rotates. Wires and the like may be passed through the stationary tube, to reach an accessory mounted at the bottom of the stationary tube. The fan system may also include a detector, such as a heat detector, a smoke detector, or an accelerometer. The detector may power down the fan system in response to detecting certain conditions.
US08147175B2
This is a stacker cart useful to collect a paper stack in a paper-handling system. The stacker cart has wheels so that it can be moved into and out of a housing in the system. At a top section of the stacker cart is a slidable plate that receives the paper stack after processing, finishing or marking. This slidable plate has on its lower surface sliders that allow easy moving of the slidable plate off the stacker cart. The slidable plate has at least one hook that is connected to a rope or other remover for moving the slidable plate to a second surface.
US08147174B2
The drill bit comprises a cutting blade formed at one end of a shank. The cutting blade has a pair of cutting shoulders that extend inwardly from the outer sides of the blade toward the bit axis. A tip having converging sides that create a point extends from the shoulders. The cutting edge of each shoulder is beveled with respect to the plane of the face of the blade. A flute is provided on the leading portion of each blade face adjacent the cutting edges. Each flute is a smooth curve that creates a substantially uninterrupted recess on each face of the blade that facilitates chip removal, increases the drill rate and lowers the power required to drill a hole. A non-stick coating may be applied to the blade to further facilitate chip removal.
US08147167B2
A method for selectively generating electrical power uses waste water gravity flow to generate electrical power. An electrical power generator is driven to generate electrical power in response to the waste. A portion of the electrical power generated by the at least one electrical power generator can be stored and tapped later to supplement the output of the electrical power generator. A portion of the waste water flow can be stored and tapped later to supplement the waste water flow.
US08147162B1
A coupling for joining together furniture members that has a center portion including a center portion geometric configuration, a first portion including a first portion geometric configuration, a second portion including a second portion geometric configuration, a first end and a second end.
US08147155B2
A roll paper printer having a roll paper compartment in which roll paper is mounted so that it is freely rotatable inside the roll paper compartment with the compartment designed to prevent the roll paper from meandering from a given path of travel along which the paper roll is unwound. The design of the compartment prevents the edges of the paper from catching on steps between pairs of roll paper guides connected to or forming the sides of the roll paper compartment. Movable roll paper positioning plates 31 and 32 are urged toward each other by a tension spring 37 in the roll paper compartment 9 of the printer 1 located near the top of one pair of roll paper guides 28 and 29. The movable roll paper positioning plates 31 and 32 have roll paper positioning surfaces 31a and 32a which can contact the outside circumference part of the ends 10b and 10c of the roll paper 10. If the paper 10a shifts sideways when the paper 10a is pulled off the roll paper 10, the paper 10a contacts the roll paper positioning surfaces 31a and 32a but the force of the tension spring 37 prevents the paper 10a from shifting widthwise to the transportation direction and prevents the paper 10a from becoming biased to the transportation path.
US08147152B2
An image sensing apparatus comprises a shutter driving member which drives a shutter blade; a shutter spring which urges the shutter driving member; a shutter charge unit which charges the shutter spring, and is switched between an over-charged state and a travel prepared state; a driving unit which drives the shutter charge unit; a retaining unit which, when the shutter charge unit is set in the travel prepared state, retains the shutter driving member in a state in which the shutter spring is charged; a determination unit which determines whether or not the apparatus is executing a continuous shooting operation; and a controller which, when it is determined that the apparatus is executing the continuous shooting operation, controls to drive the shutter charge unit to the travel prepared state without stopping the shutter charge unit in the over-charged state after the charge operation of the shutter spring is complete.
US08147146B2
An output cable 16c of a magnetic sensor 16a, which extends outward in the tangential direction of an arcuate sensor holding portion 15a formed on an annular core member 15 from a sensor unit mounted in the sensor holding portion 15a, is fixedly molded in a mold resin 17b which is fixed in a through hole 15c formed in the sensor holding portion 15a near the sensor unit 16. As a result, the output cable 16c is prevented, even if tensed, from coming out of the sensor unit 16.
US08147141B2
A linear motion guide unit is disclosed in which an end cap of a slider has a tube therein to feed even minor amounts of lubricant into a circulating circuit for rollers with no lubricant leakage, making sure of positive lubrication irrespective of working orientations or postures of the linear motion guide unit. A flexible tube made of fluorocarbon polymers is installed in the end cap to run from a lubricant inlet to a turnaround passage, thereby providing a lubricant-supply passage. A distal end of the tube fits into a three-way member made open to the turnaround passage on a spacer part, which is nested inside the end cap.
US08147135B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining an amount of bond between a structure and sensor. A method may include heating a sensor that is operably coupled to a measuring circuit and then measuring an output signal over time. The method may further include determining, from the output signal, a percentage of bond integrity remaining between the sensor and the structure. A system may include a measurement circuit having a sensor operably coupled to a sensing system. The sensing system may be configured for applying a thermal shock to the sensor and subsequently measuring an output signal of the measuring circuit. The sensing system may also be configured for determining, from the output signal, an amount of bond between the sensor and the structure.
US08147130B2
A heat flux measurement device includes at least two thermocouples disposed within a front portion of the device at different axial distances from a front wall of the device. A correlation between the measured heat fluxes from the device over a period of time is used to estimate a fouling thickness on a wall, for example, a water wall of a radiant syngas cooler (RSC).
US08147121B2
A pre-mixing apparatus for a turbine engine includes a main body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and an exterior wall that collectively establish at least one fluid delivery plenum, and a plurality of fluid delivery tubes extending through at least a portion of the at least one fluid delivery plenum. Each of the plurality of fluid delivery tubes includes at least one fluid delivery opening fluidly connected to the at least one fluid delivery plenum. With this arrangement, a first fluid is selectively delivered to the at least one fluid delivery plenum, passed through the at least one fluid delivery opening and mixed with a second fluid flowing through the plurality of fluid delivery tubes prior to being combusted in a combustion chamber of a turbine engine.
US08147119B2
The Convenience Nectar Mixing and Storage Device consists of a container that is divided proportionately to allow for the precise measuring of the recommended sugar to water ratios used for nectar type bird and butterfly feeders. The device is adapted for supporting a removable divider that separates the container into proportionate volumes, 4 to 1, 6 to 1, and 9 to 1 that correspond to the commonly recommended sugar to water ratios for hummingbird, oriole, and butterfly nectar feeders. The device allows for the water and sugar compartments to be filled to the same “line of sight” level to facilitate the making of precise nectar sugar to water ratios. Once the sugar and water compartments are filled to the same level, the divider is removed to allow for mixing. In the preferred embodiment of the Convenience Nectar Mixing and Storage Devices, the container divider can be used as a stirring implement and lid to cover the container during storage.
US08147110B2
A light pipe assembly includes a lamp assembly and a light pipe. The lamp assembly has a housing that holds a light source configured to emit light. The light pipe is elongated between an attachment end and an opposing distal end. The attachment end is received in the housing of the lamp assembly. The light pipe receives light emitted by the light source. Additionally, the light pipe includes surface elements that are configured to permit the light to emanate from the light pipe between the attachment and distal ends. The surface elements are arranged in a pattern that provides a predetermined distribution of light emanating from the light pipe.
US08147108B2
A modular light bar having crisscross lighting in the front and rear. Each module may include two horizontal layers of lighting supported on supports connected to a longitudinal base. A wire harness is positioned within a longitudinal channel in the longitudinal base, with the harness having one end connected to quick disconnects within the modules and having another end connected to a controller. Each of the light bar module is serviceable independent of the other light bar modules, such that the support positioned within and connected to the light bar module being serviced is removable from the light bar module without accessing the other light bar modules by disconnecting the quick disconnect positioned within each light bar module being serviced.
US08147106B2
A headlamp in which light source units are tilted about predetermined tilting center axes by means of an aiming mechanism interposed between a lamp body and the light source units. The aiming mechanism includes a tilting fulcrum (a ball and socket joint), aiming screws which are rotatably supported on the lamp body, and nut members which thread fit on the screws and mounted on the light source units movably in forward and backward in response to the rotations of the screws, so as to tilt the light source units about the tilting center axes. A leaf spring slide portion brought into elastic engagement with a guide groove is made of a polyacetal resin which is superior in resistance to wear. A nut member main body having a screw thread fitting portion is made of a nylon resin which is superior in resistance to heat. There is no permanent set on the slide portion and a slide contact surface does not wear, and no looseness is generated in the screw thread fitting portion of the nut member main body. An accurate optical axis adjustment can be ensured.
US08147103B2
According to some embodiments, a flasher 101 to be mounted on a rear portion of a straddle type vehicle includes a lens 120, a cover 160 mated with the lens 120, and a leg 180 connecting the cover 160 with a vehicle body. A mating face of the cover 160 and the lens 120 is slanted with respect to a direction in which the leg 180 extends. The lens 120 is shorter in a vehicle widthwise direction than in a vehicle lengthwise direction.
US08147098B2
A reflector lamp (1) comprising a reflector (2) having an opening (6) opposite to a light emission window (7), an electric lamp (10) comprising a closed lamp vessel (11) positioned with an end portion (16) in the lamp opening of the reflector, an electric element (13) arranged on the optical axis (4) in the lamp vessel, and a support body (20). The support body comprises reflector fastening means (22) for fastening the support body to the reflector, and lamp fastening means (21) for fastening the support body to the end portion of the lamp vessel. Viewed in a direction from the lamp opening along the optical axis towards the light emission window, the support body is fastened to the reflector solely at a location beyond the lamp opening of the reflector.
US08147095B2
A light source contains at least one light-emitting diode installed in the casing or on the base, and a lens system located along the light flux. The lens system comprises a plane-convex lens, a first plane-concave lens, and a composite lens 4 that are located along the light flux. The composite lens 4 is made up of a second and third plane-concave lenses. Flat surfaces of all of the lenses 4 are outflow faces for the light flux. Axes of symmetry of the second and third plane-concave lenses are normal to each other, whereas axes of symmetry of the first and second plane-concave lenses are parallel to each other. The first plane-concave lens is made movable along the light flux, and has a relocation drive therefor. A solenoid or an electric motor with a gear can be used as the drive. The technical result of the invention is believed to be the improvement of performance indicators, and the structure simplification.
US08147093B2
A compound light source is characterized by an output spectral measure that lies within a spectral measure design range and an average light intensity per component light source that lies within an output intensity design range. The plurality of component light sources includes light sources whose spectral measure value and output intensity lie outside the corresponding design ranges. The component light sources are chosen from a number of predetermined groups obtained by sorting the component light sources with respect to the spectral measure value and output intensity of each source such that the compound light source has a spectral measure value and output intensity that lies within the corresponding design ranges.
US08147090B2
A flashlight in accordance with the present invention includes a chamber, end cap, head assembly and lamp holder assembly. The end cap includes a bowed tripod portion to facilitate standing the flashlight on a flat surface. The head assembly includes a reflector and a lens. In one embodiment of the invention, the head assembly includes an elliptical reflector. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the flashlight having a elliptical reflector is matched with a negative or planar lens. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the head assembly includes an hyperbolic reflector. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the flashlight having a hyperbolic reflector is matched with a positive or planar lens. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the flashlight includes electrode connections which prevent the conduction of electrical energy from batteries which are improperly aligned within the flashlight. In another embodiment, the lamp holder assembly includes a lamp socket having a lamp guide which provides a guide for installing lamp bulbs into the lamp socket and also provides a secure position for the lamp bulb. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the flashlight includes a lamp holder assembly which includes a notch capable of receiving and holding a spare lamp. In another embodiment, the lamp holder assembly further includes a fluorescent coating or additive which illuminates light in otherwise dark conditions, thereby facilitating lamp replacement in the less than desirable light conditions.
US08147089B2
Various structures are provided that may be advantageously used in one or more illumination device designs. In one example, a lens is movable among a plurality of light sources to facilitate selection of which light source is used to provide light for the illumination device. In another example, electric power is provided only to the light source that is used to provide light for the illumination device. Rotation of a bezel of the light source can determine which light sources provides light for the light source and which light source receives electric power.
US08147086B2
A purse illumination assembly including a power source, a light emitting portion, a touch-sensitive switch, and a circuit assembly connecting the light emitting portion to the power source through the touch-sensitive switch. The touch-sensitive switch is located in an indentation to protect against accidental switching on. The light emitting portion includes a light emitting fabric or may include EL wire alone or in combination with LED lights to provide both lighting and a decorative effect. A driver circuit may be included for driving both the EL wire and the LED lights.
US08147079B2
A diffuser for releasable fastening to a reflector screen having screen spokes, includes a diffuser element and a fastening apparatus to fasten the diffuser element to the reflector screen. The fastening apparatus has a plurality of fastening elements constructed and adapted to receive corresponding screen spokes of the reflector screen. The fastening elements are constructed to apply a spring action and each fastening element has an opening to receive one screen spoke.
US08147076B2
An object is to provide a solar ray lighting device which is capable of reducing the blocking and the shadowing of beams of light reflected by heliostats and which is capable of fixing firmly and stably a heavy and large-sized center reflector. In a beam-down type solar ray lighting device, at least three supporting blocks are assembled together to form a pyramidal shape. In addition, an outer circumferential edge of the center reflector is fixed to the supporting posts so that the outer circumferential edge of the center reflector can internally touch the supporting posts.
US08147075B2
This invention provides a retroreflective sheeting which at least comprises a printed image-incorporated retroreflective sheeting and an optical element array sheet in which a large number of light-transmissive optical elements are regularly disposed at least at a fixed location; more particularly a printed image-incorporated retroreflective sheeting which reveals a stereoscopic image when the printed image is seen through a lenticular lens sheet or a convex lens array sheet; and a reflective sheeting which uses the stereoscopic image for tamper prevention.
US08147063B2
The invention is directed to over the counter (OTC) eyeglasses with improved optical center distance (OCD) settings. The improved settings include a single best OCD setting by gender for the eyeglasses. Alternatively, plural pairs of eyeglasses, having different OCD settings are provided for purchase.
US08147061B2
A recording apparatus includes: a housing which constitutes an appearance of a recording apparatus body; and an electronic substrate which is vertically disposed along an inner side surface of the housing. Here, an air supply hole and an air exhaust hole are formed on a side surface portion of the housing corresponding to a lower portion and an upper portion of the electronic substrate so that an air-flow path for external air is formed in an installation region in which the electronic substrate is provided.
US08147057B2
There is provided a resistance generating device including a resistance generating unit disposed inside the rotation axis, the resistance generating unit having an inner ring and an outer ring, one of the inner ring and the outer ring being combined with the rotation axis and the other one of the inner ring and the outer ring being combined with the fixed part, the one being rotated with respect to the other one while generating a rotational resistance, and a switch part disposed inside a surface of the rotation axis.
US08147056B2
With the width in the main scanning direction of the image region of which the recording width in the main scanning direction is the shortest of all of the image regions to be recorded on the recording surface of the recording medium as X1 in the main scanning direction, the width obtained by subtracting the width of the ink discharge orifice from the width between the ink discharge orifice closet to the discharge side, of the ink discharge orifices employed for recording of an image region and the roller as Y1 in the sub scanning direction, and the period necessary for completing another image region defined by the width X1 and the width Y1 as T1, the sub scanning of the recording medium is controlled such that the one image region comes into contact with the roller after the period T1 from the point of completion thereof.
US08147050B2
A liquid droplet jetting apparatus is capable of carrying out selectively a first purge mode and a second purge mode. In the first purge mode, a first air discharge purge of discharging air in an ink storage chamber is carried out while maintaining a meniscus of the ink. In the second purge mode, a second air discharge purge of discharging air inside the ink storage chamber is carried out while destroying the meniscus of the ink. Accordingly, there is provided a liquid droplet jetting apparatus in which it is possible to discharge a gas inside a liquid supply channel from an upstream side of the nozzle, and also, when the degree of thickening of the liquid inside the nozzle is extreme, it is possible to discharge the thickened liquid assuredly from the nozzle.
US08147048B2
A cartridge is constituted by a plurality of absorbing materials for retaining liquid, an interface formed by press-contact between opposing surfaces of the absorbing materials, an introducing portion for supplying the liquid out of the absorbing materials, and a filter provided at an end portion of the introducing portion. The absorbing materials press against the filter so that an end portion of the interface reaches the filter.
US08147046B2
In a refillable ink cartridge having an ink supply opening portion that is hermetically sealed with a sealing member, leakage of ink out of the cartridge due to a decrease in the sealing property of the sealing member is prevented. The sealing member, which is elastically deformable, is penetrated by a needle-shaped member when refilling the cartridge with ink via the ink supply opening portion. The ink supply opening portion is covered with a protection member including a projecting portion for hermetically sealing the ink supply opening portion outside the sealing member.
US08147043B2
The back pressure adjustment apparatus for a liquid ejection head has: a container having a liquid accommodating chamber which is connected to the liquid ejection head and accommodates liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejection head, and a gas accommodating chamber which accommodates gas; a movable film which separates the liquid accommodating chamber and the gas accommodating chamber, and forms a portion of whole walls of the liquid accommodating chamber; and a pressure adjustment device which causes all or a portion of the movable film to deform so as to adjust pressure of the liquid accommodated in the liquid accommodating chamber.
US08147039B2
A head substrate is capable of integrating driver transistors while keeping the size small even at high nozzle density, while integrating a functional circuit such as a temperature sensor or energy adjustment circuit. An ink supply port, a heater array which is arrayed along the longitudinal direction of the ink supply port and includes a plurality of heaters, a transistor array which is arrayed along the arrayed direction of the heater array and includes a plurality of transistors for driving a plurality of heaters, and a logic circuit which drives the transistor array are arranged on the head substrate. The logic circuit is arranged between the heater array and the transistor array.
US08147033B2
An inkjet printhead having arrays of nozzles wherein each of the arrays has a corresponding ink inlet. A mounting substrate includes a first face with first openings fluidly connected to corresponding ink inlets of the arrays. A second face opposed to the first face includes a plurality of second openings fluidly connected to openings of the first face. The ink outlets of the ink chambers are fluidly connected to corresponding second openings in the second face of the mounting substrate, an outer wall is disposed proximate to the plurality of inlet ports and a second outer wall is disposed opposite the first outer wall and distal to the plurality of inlet ports. Each ink chamber has a portion located proximate to the first outer wall and an outer chamber of the plurality of ink chambers has a portion located proximate to the second outer wall.
US08147015B2
An insertion-type hinge assembly may include a first hinge member including a mount unit and a shaft that is separated from and coupled to the mount unit, and that is positioned in parallel to the mount unit. The hinge assembly also includes a second hinge member that receives the shaft therein so as to rotatably couple the first and second hinge members. The first and second hinge members may be installed in corresponding recesses of a door and a main body such that they are not exposed.
US08147008B2
A multi-door enclosure includes an enclosure body, a primary door having an actuator and a secondary door. An interlock member having a holding section extends between the primary door and the secondary door. As the primary door closes, the actuator contacts the interlock member to translate the interlock member towards the secondary door until the holding section engages the secondary door.
US08146999B2
An aircraft seat has an adjustable armrest in which the armrest platform is supported by a hinged attachment to an armrest support member. The hinged attachment between the armrest platform and the arm support member is located at the wrist-end of the arm support member near the aircraft control stick. The armrest platform and the armrest support are locked into position by means of telescoping struts that are controlled at the wrist-end of the arm platform member. The telescoping struts can be selectively locked to create triangular and/or quadrilateral trusses that lock the armrest firmly into position and may include springs or other elements to bias the armrest platform up and forward so that the armrest “floats” when the telescoping struts re released.
US08146996B2
An inclination adjuster is provided for a vehicle seat. The adjuster includes a rail and a slide piece displaceable on the rail. The rail is curved and has a one piece flat profile. Latching means interacts with complementary latching means for engaging the rail. One or both latching means may include a claw or claws.
US08146994B2
A tube recliner mechanism for a vehicle seat having a reclining seat back includes an inner tube extending in a lateral cross vehicle direction and having inboard and outboard ends, an outer tube positioned around the inner tube, and a cylindrical spacer positioned between the inner tube and the outer tube. The relative rotational position of the inner and outer tubes is configured to change via rotation of one of the inner and outer tubes. The spacer, inner tube, and outer tube are all concentrically positioned to thereby reduce friction between the inner and outer tubes during relative movement between the tubes.
US08146992B2
An operator support assembly supported for rotation. The operator support assembly includes a seat bottom suspended below a rotatable member and a support coupling the seat bottom to the rotatable member. The support illustratively includes a shock absorbing device to dampen shock impulse between the rotatable member and the seat bottom. A quick release mechanism may be provided to cause the seat bottom to pivot downwardly about a pivot coupler.
US08146990B2
A mechanism for an office chair having a backrest support which may be pivoted rearwardly. Adjustment of the backrest pivotal motion is accomplished by the mechanism having a base support which may be positioned on a chair column, a seat support, the backrest support which may be pivoted to the rear, and a pre-tensioned spring arrangement for enabling the mechanism to counter or oppose the movement of the backrest support. The seat support and the base support form a movable unit, which may be moved relative to the chair column depending on the weight of a user applying a load to the seat support. Movement of the movable unit causes an adjustment of the pre-tension of the spring arrangement and/or an adjustment of the spring constant of the spring arrangement.
US08146985B2
Some embodiments of a cargo container door seal system can provide seal members to hinder leakage of conditioned air along the top edge and the side edges of an access door of a temperature-controlled cargo container. For example, the seal system may include mating seal members proximate to a top edge of a roll-up door of a refrigerated trailer, and may also include flexible side seal members proximate to the left and right side edges of the roll-up door.
US08146984B2
A protective vehicle cover is shown for protecting an outer surface of a vehicle from hail and other falling objects. The cover includes a flexible blanket having a front side, a back side and a thickness therebetween. The blanket is made up of an outer fabric cover and a protective central region, the protective central region being made up of a layer of foam cushioning material covered with a layer of flexible plastic-type material which together provide a cushioning effect to protect the outer surface of the vehicle from hail and other falling objects; Fastening elements are provided for attaching the flexible blanket to the outer surface of the vehicle.
US08146982B2
A protective cover assembly for covering a space defined by at least one wall. The protective cover assembly includes a plurality of rails coupled to one another to form a frame for securing a material over the space. At least one support bow spans the space to support the material. Clamp mechanisms are coupled to the ends of the support bow for securing the protective cover assembly over the space. The clamp mechanisms include a latch member for engaging the wall and a handle for biasing the latch member against the wall. A collar is coupled to a portion of the support bow for guiding the handle and the latch member between an operational position and a stowed position relative to the support bow.
US08146976B2
Slide-out tray systems for a vehicle comprise: a pair of tracks provided inside the trunk of the vehicle in a vehicle length direction; a tray mounted on the tracks; a bar pivotally connected to a connector part connecting the trunk lid to a vehicle body panel; and a cable connected to the tray and the bar and having a length such that when the trunk lid is open, the tray can be pulled out of the trunk in a rearward direction without interference by tension applied to the cable. With the systems, inconveniences associated with loading and unloading items can be eliminated or reduced.
US08146972B2
The fetching device has an arm which captures die-cut blanks located in the magazine of an erecting machine for erecting these blanks to form boxes or the like. The extractor arm is provided with suckers and these suckers are supplied by circuits and. The circuits and are connected to each end of the arm and they are also provided with dispenser-type devive and, respectively, so that they can be active together or separately. The suckers are wholly or partly provided with multifunction three-way valves. These valves are able to allow as many suckers as possible to be selected and used for the operation of extracting each die-cut blank and to isolate the circuits from each other in order to deactivate any suckers which are to be shunted in order to erect said die-cut blanks, for example.
US08146966B1
An electric strike which provides vertical adjustability of the position of the strike relative to the latch bolt in the closure with modification to the doorframe on the dust box. A ramp element in the strike housing is adjustable relative to the strike and is securable at the time of installation to align the center of the latch bolt and strike. The ramp element has a channel to allow entry and exit of a latch bolt having a dead latch. A keeper engages the dead latch and maintains it in a retracted position when the closure is locked and is released when the electric latch solenoid is energized.
US08146961B2
An exit device includes a housing, a latchbolt coupled to and movable relative to the housing, and an auxiliary bolt coupled to the housing and movable relative to the latchbolt. The exit device also includes a deadlock link coupled to the housing and movable relative to the latchbolt and the auxiliary bolt between a first position, in which the deadlock link allows movement of the latchbolt relative to the housing, and a second position, in which the deadlock link inhibits movement of the latchbolt relative to the housing. The exit device further includes a spring biasing the auxiliary bolt into engagement with a portion of the deadlock link to move the deadlock link toward the first position.
US08146947B2
A scooter having a spark generating device that is movable from a first position, in which the spark generating device does not contact the surface on which the scooter is being operated, and a second position, in which the spark generating device contacts the surface on which the scooter is being operated. The scooter includes a scooter body which rotatably supports the spark assembly. The spark assembly includes a spark portion which creates sparks when in frictional contact with a riding surface. The spark assembly also includes a foot actuation portion which is accessible to the user and allows the user to activate the spark assembly while riding. In one arrangement, the spark portion includes a removable cartridge with spark elements that emit sparks when in frictional contact with a riding surface.
US08146936B2
A child trailer includes a body which includes a plurality of wheel assemblies at the bottom and a joint assembly at the front side to adjust the angle relative to the body. Hence the child trailer can be maintained at a desired angle to support standing of a child or holding of goods. The joint assembly includes a coupler at the front side to fasten the child trailer to the chassis such as a wheel axle, frame or handle of a stroller, thereby can facilitate standing of the child or holding of goods.
US08146931B2
A wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a knuckle having an upper end and a lower end. A bracket is mounted to one of the upper end and the lower end of the knuckle by a plurality of fasteners. A ball joint is mounted to the bracket and configured for attaching the wheel assembly to the vehicle. One of the knuckle and the bracket defines a boss and the other defines a bore. The boss is slideably disposed within the bore in slip fit engagement. The boss transfers a load between the knuckle and the bracket in both a vertical direction along a king pin axis and a horizontal direction along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
US08146922B2
A seal assembly is for a compressor including a casing having first and second chambers and a shaft extending through the casing between the two chambers. The seal assembly includes a main body disposed about the shaft and between the two chambers and having a central axis, an inner surface spaced radially outwardly from the shaft to form a seal chamber. Annular sealing members are connected with the main body and extend radially from the body inner surface toward the shaft, the sealing members preventing flow between the first and second chambers through the seal chamber. A separator is coupled with the shaft adjacent to the main body and has separation passages fluidly connecting one of the two chambers with the seal chamber, each passage extending radially with respect to the shaft axis so as to direct liquids and solids contacting the passage inner surface away from the seal chamber.
US08146910B2
A conveying device for feeding printed products to a processing unit in which the printed products are conveyed along a conveying path by a first conveyor, from a stack in which the printed products are arranged vertically, to a second conveyor which has a higher circumferential speed than the first conveyor for forming an imbricated formation which is upwardly offset, wherein a holding-down device which acts on the printed products and is formed of at least one endless traction unit is arranged in a transition area formed by the conveying end of the first conveyor and the conveying beginning of the second conveyor.
US08146908B2
Certain embodiments provide a stapling unit including a stapler, a processing tray, a stapler moving mechanism, a sensor configured to scan sheets in a sheet width direction, and a controller configured to drive the stapler. The controller measures sheet width of the sheets according to an output of the sensor. The controller calculates a center position between other two sheet edges each orthogonal to a sheet edge where the stapler drives staples into stapling positions. The controller allocates the stapling positions in the two places with reference to the center position. The controller moves the stapler moving mechanism to the stapling positions.
US08146904B2
A sheet stacking apparatus includes an alignment roller which conveys a sheet to a sheet positioning member and an opening and closing shutter which is disposed so as to face a sheet stack surface of a sheet stack guide. The sheet positioning member abuts a sheet end in a sheet conveying direction to align the sheet. The sheet is stacked on the sheet stack guide. The opening and closing shutter has a regulating area where sheet conveying guide and buckling of the sheet are regulated from an upstream side to a downstream side in the sheet conveying direction of the alignment roller. A guide interval formed between the opening and closing shutter and the sheet stack surface can be changed. Therefore, in sheet conveying positioning, the buckling can securely be prevented in the sheet stack guide.
US08146903B2
Embodiments described herein include as apparatus for folding printed sheets. The apparatus including first crease roller and a second crease roller longitudinally aligned with the first crease roller. A spacing device separating the first and second crease rollers to form a nip space therebetween. A crease blade is disposed adjacent the nip space and adapted to urge the sheets toward the nip space.
US08146901B2
The invention relates to a modular positioning robotic system and method of use of the positioning system. In general, the modular positioning robotic system is comprised of a controller module, a positioning module and a base that can be either a stationary base or drive module. The positioning module also allows for additional flexibility by allowing for designs with multiple allowable adjustments that can be changed for a change in turn diameter, length, width and weight of a fixture and part combination.
US08146888B1
In a valve, the combination comprises a valve body defining an annular seat, and porting at upstream and downstream sides of the seat; a valve operating handle and stem; a tubular part connected into the body and defining a first side opening facing toward one of the sides; a tubular stopper sleeve received within the tubular part and having an open end facing the seat; and a second side opening rotatable by the stem into and out of registration with the first side opening whereby flow through the valve and stopper sleeve is established when the second side opening registers with the first side opening, and flow through the valve is blanked when the second side opening is rotated out of registration with the first side opening.
US08146875B2
A mosquito coil holder in the form of a clip. The clip has a first and second contact portions each adapted to contact a mosquito coil and to hold a mosquito coil therebetween. First and second support portions support the respective first and second contact portions relative to each other. A connection portion connects the first and second support portions. The clip includes at least one base portion which acts as a base upon which the clip can stand in use, while holding a mosquito coil.
US08146857B2
In example embodiments described herein, techniques are described for launching flying structures such as a plank wings or a gliders, canards, or any other flying structures. In some example embodiments, a rotational arrangement facilitates such launches. In operation, a rotational arrangement couples with the flying structure and is configured to allow a user to impart rotational movement to the flying structure. In imparting the rotational movement, the rotational mechanism allows an automatic variation of a radius of the associated radius of curvature.
US08146850B2
The subject mater herein relates to coal mills and, more particularly, inferential pulverized fuel flow sensing and manipulation within a coal mill. Various embodiments provide systems, methods, and software to manipulate a primary air flow rate and a coal feed rate into a coal mill to produce a target pulverized fuel flow. Some embodiments include sensing a differential pressure between two or more locations within a coal mill to estimate a recirculated load of coal at one or more stages within the coal mill.
US08146848B2
The present invention provides a pulverizer of a food waste treatment apparatus. The pulverizer of the present invention includes a main body, a pulverizing screw and an exhaust channel unit. The main body has a hollow space therein. The pulverizing screw includes a rotating shaft which is installed in the main body so as to be rotatable, and at least one drive blade which extends from the rotating shaft. The exhaust channel unit has an annular shape and is coupled to the upper end of the main body. An intake hole and an exhaust hole are formed through the outer surface of the exhaust channel unit. Furthermore, a cover may be removably coupled to the upper end of the exhaust channel unit.
US08146842B2
Provided is a method for drying and comminution of moist, mineral raw materials, including at least one of chalk, marl or clay. The moist, mineral raw material is dried and comminuted in a drier crusher while simultaneously supplying hot gases from a kiln system to form a dried material. The dried material in suspended form is directed to a first separator in which the dried material is separated into a coarse fraction and into a fine fraction. The fine fraction is directed to a separation cyclone and then to the kiln system. The coarse fraction is directed to a dosage means. The dosage means directs a first portion of the coarse material to the drier crusher and a second portion of the coarse material to a separate grinding unit where any hard material components, including at least one of flint, sand or marble, are subjected to grinding to form a ground material. At least a portion of the ground material from the separate grinding unit is supplied to the drier crusher. Also provided is an apparatus for conducting the method.
US08146822B2
A multi-imaging scanner (12) and method for imaging indicia (14) located on target objects (16) is featured in the present disclosure. The multi-imaging scanner (12) includes one or more cameras (30) for imaging indicia (14) on target objects (16) and a sensor array (48) associated with each of the one or more cameras (30) for capturing a series of frames (FR1-FR6) within a respective field of view of each of the one or more cameras (30). The multi-imaging scanner (12) further includes a processor (44) coupled the one or more cameras (30) for imaging and decoding the indicia (14) on the target objects (16) captured in the frames by the one or more cameras. The frames (FR1-FR6) include a first frame having a first pre-set exposure time and a second frame having a second pre-set exposure time such that first and second pre-set exposure times are of different duration.
US08146818B2
A symbol information reading apparatus may include an imaging element; an image memory structured to store image data; a position detecting processor structured to fetch the image data and structured to detect a position of symbol information. The position detecting processor may include a temporary area judgment unit that structured to calculate a variation of brightness, and structured to judge a temporary area having a possibility of corresponding to the symbol information; a correlation map creating unit that structured to calculate correlation between areas neighboring in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, and structured to create a map showing an area provided with large correlation values; a labeling unit that structured to check presence of a basic barcode on the correlation map, and structured to label an area judged as having the basic barcode; and a position determining unit that structured to detect a position of the symbol information recorded.
US08146814B2
In general terms, the present invention provides a method of automatically scanning an inventory field to allow the selection of a desired item for retrieval. A camera is positioned in the crane trolley located above the field. The camera continuously performs a scan of the field displaying an image to the operator of the items being scanned. This real-time image allows the operator to distinguish between items scanned in the field. The operator can subsequently choose the desired item triggering the camera system to automatically capture desired information from the item which is in turn communicated to an inventory control system. The camera system mitigates the requirement of a second individual to communicate information between the field and the operator.
US08146813B2
An optical characteristic system configured to couple to a container handler for transferring a container to/from a rail car. A server interface configured to receive from at least one container handler. An optical characteristic system configured to couple to a front end loader. A container handler configured to transfer at least one container to/from a rail car and to report its container image, optical characteristic, container code estimate of the container, a rail car identifier estimate and/or a container chassis identifier estimate. A rail kiosk configured to receive the container image, etc from at least one container handler to create the optical characteristic, the container code estimate, manifest for the rail car, confirmation of the manifest and/or an insurance record for the container. A method operating at least one of the server interface, the rail kiosk and a container inventory management system and the products of those operations.
US08146802B1
An automated banking machine can receive user card data from a cell phone. The phone stores the card data of several selectable cards, including electronic account number data. The machine generates and displays a random number correlated with a time period. A machine user manually inputs the displayed random number into their phone. A software application in the phone encrypts the selected card data along with the inputted random number data. The phone displays a bar code image containing the encrypted data. The banking machine includes a bar code reader which can read the displayed image. The machine causes the read data to be decrypted. The random number is used to verify the current transaction session. Thereafter, the user may provide other inputs, including PIN input. The process replaces physical insertion of a card yet allows secure input of the card data. Possible data interception from activities requiring card insertion are also reduced.
US08146792B2
A solder return apparatus for a wave solder machine that collects solder exiting a nozzle and returns the solder to a solder reservoir while limiting the degree to which the solder can splash onto electronic substrates (e.g., printed circuit boards), components of the wave solder machine, and/or the like. The apparatus includes a mounting section that may be placed over an upper surface of the nozzle and a collection section that collects the solder and returns the solder to the solder reservoir. The collection section includes a trough having an opening in a bottom wall of the trough and a flow control member that can adjust a quantity of solder exiting the trough as well as the velocity of the solder exiting the trough. One or more deflection plates can be mounted so as to extend from the trough into solder in the solder reservoir to further contain the solder and limit the degree to which splashing solder can reach unintended locations.
US08146781B2
A dispenser is provided for viscous condiments. The dispenser includes a tubular sidewall having opposite ends. One opposite end is open and can receive a plunger or piston therein for applying force to condiment contained within a compartment inside of the sidewall. The other end of the sidewall includes a dispenser valve assembly comprising a member secured to an inturned flange portion of the sidewall with the flange portion being generally normal to the sidewall. The dispenser valve assembly is suitably secured to the flange portion as by heat sealing to form a composite laminated structure that is resistant to the penetration of liquids from the condiments. A bead of hot melt can be provided to seal an exposed outer edge of the dispenser valve assembly and to seal the dispenser valve assembly to the sidewall. The dispenser valve assembly includes a valve plate having one or more selectively openable discharge openings formed therein that will open and close under the influence of pressure applied to the condiment within the dispenser.
US08146780B2
The presently disclosed subject matter comprises a pouch to house a pumpable product, a pouch fitment to the pouch, and an enclosing carton for containing the pouch and fitment. The system further comprises a pump assembly that pierces the pouch fitment and interacts with the carton to dispense the pouch contents.
US08146765B2
A sealing cover includes a cover coupling with a seal ring which has two blades to form a double sealing effect. Thus a container can be sealed by the cover more securely and the opening of the container can be maintained intact. The cover also has a coupling opening and a plurality of air vents. The coupling opening is coupled with an air permeable parasol valve which can release air to facilitate capping of the cover on the opening of the container. Through an air suction means the container can be vacuumed.
US08146764B2
A barrel type cooler having an open top cylindrical icing chamber an open bottom cylindrical lid slidably that fits over the icing chamber. The icing chamber includes hooks and the lid includes slots, each slot configured to receive a hook and having an open bottom allowing the lid to be removed from engagement with the icing chamber. Each slot has a length sufficient to allow the lid to slide over the icing chamber to a closed position. In addition, each slot includes a side channel configured to engage a corresponding hook to support the lid in a raised position. The side of the top has ingress openings allowing a user to reach through the side of the lid and into the icing chamber when the lid is supported by the icing chamber in the raised position.
US08146760B1
A baby bottle comprising an asymmetrically divided lower portion continuous with a common upper portion that is attachable to a nipple assembly. The upper portion and lower portion together define a single, continuous fluid chamber. The upper portion includes an open top providing access to the fluid chamber. The lower portion comprises first and second side-by side tubular sections together defining a central opening between them and through the bottle. The central opening is sized to receive the hand of a nursing child so that each of the first and second tubular sections is alternately grippable by the child nursing from the bottle. The diameter of the first tubular section is greater than the diameter of the second tubular section so that the bottle is grippable by different sized hands, that is, by infants and toddlers of different ages and sizes.
US08146755B2
Storage systems and methods of use of the same are disclosed. The storage systems are configured to be connected to wall structures and to be modular in construction, so as to be able to use a plurality of horizontally disposed hang rails and/or a plurality of vertical standards, and/or modular storage components that are received on a hang rail or a vertical standard, or that may be connected directly to a wall structure.
US08146735B2
A gas storage system includes a tank, having a tank gas outlet, and a multitude of gas emitting entities encapsulated by the tank. The gas emitting entities are arranged for providing a gas volume, which when released from the gas emitting entities, is considerably larger than a volume of the gas emitting entities themselves. The gas emitting entities are freely contained in the tank. There are no gas conduits or electrical connections to the tank which has a sealable opening suitable for removal or insertion of the gas emitting entities. The latter have a respective gas release device, which is operable as a response on a stimulation signal. A volume surrounding the gas emitting entities inside the tank is the sole fluid connection between an opening of the gas release device and the tank gas outlet. Methods for storing and releasing gas are also presented.
US08146731B2
Apparatus for transporting containers with a transport device, which transports a multiplicity of holding devices for the containers individually along a pre-specified transport path. At least one of these holding devices comprises at least two holding elements for gripping the containers. The holding device can be rotated in relation to the transport device about a pre-specified common rotary axis.
US08146725B2
The present invention provides a friction plate having a friction surface formed by sticking an annular friction material to a substantially annular core plate and wherein the friction surface is provided with a first oil groove having an opening portion opened to an inner peripheral edge of the friction plate and an end terminating at a point between the inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge, and a second oil groove having an opening portion opened to the outer peripheral edge of the friction plate and an end terminating at a point between the inner peripheral edge.
US08146724B2
A vehicle clutch includes a clutch outer member, a clutch inner member, and a clutch center member movable in an axial direction between a first position and a second position. A cam mechanism is provided between the clutch inner and outer members. The cam mechanism generates an axial pulling force for moving the clutch center member to the first position when positive torque acts on the clutch inner member from the clutch center member.
US08146722B1
Disclosed is a travel assisting luggage system to carry articles and otherwise assist a person while traveling with the luggage system. The luggage system may include a frame, a container connected around the frame, an axle connected to the frame and to wheels, an entertainment center attached to a container side, a seat system connected to the frame, where the seat system may include a seat extension, a backrest, a support feet, a support feet housing, and a support plate. The luggage system additionally may include an organization system positioned within the container interior.
US08146720B2
A shock absorber comprises a sleeve, a cylindrical piston with a seal attached to the cylindrical surface of piston with two side surfaces, a rod coupled with the piston, a piston cap enclosing the sleeve on the piston's side, and a rod cap enclosing the sleeve on the rod's side. The piston and rod move within the sleeve overcoming resistance of oil/gas cross-flows from one sleeve's chamber to the other, friction between the seal and the sleeve's walls, and friction between the rod and a seal mounted in the rod cap. The proposed absorber allows increasing the resistance offered to the movement of piston thereby improving the efficiency of damping, and suppressing/avoiding auto-oscillation and resonance regimes. This is achieved by providing a number of narrowing/widening necks arranged on the sleeve's walls within regions adjoined to the caps. Different embodiments combine features conditioned by various diameter differences for the necks, etc.
US08146719B2
A brake rotor providing reduced brake pad radial taper wear by providing brake rotor friction surface indent patterns. For example, the indent patterns are the form of radial-biased grooves or linearly arranged cross-drill hole sets, patterned in a configuration that balances brake pad wear, thereby reducing brake pad radial taper wear in a manner tuned specifically for a given type of brake caliper and brake pad material, wherein the reduction in brake pad radial taper wear is accomplished with virtually no penalty to brake pad life.
US08146715B2
A disk brake, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided. The disk includes a rotatable brake disk, a brake caliper covering the brake disk, an actuator for applying an actuation force and a friction lining applicable to the brake disk by means of the actuation force, and a device for measuring the actual braking force. In order to obtain the more reliable and accurate actual braking force measurement, the device for measuring the actual braking force uses the elastic enlargement of the brake caliper in the form of a measuring parameter and comprises an element having a first end secured to the brake caliper and a second free end, wherein a gap is formed in the extension direction between the brake caliper and the element. The device for measuring the actual braking force produces a signal according to the actual measure gap width.
US08146701B2
A component, especially a part of an intake system or an air filter, for installation under the hood of a motor vehicle has a housing with a first housing part and a second housing part that are connected to one another. The first housing part is of a two-part configuration and has a support frame and a receiving part. The support frame is supported on the second housing part. The receiving part and the support frame are secured relative to one another by a releasable connection. The releasable connection is designed such that, when an external force acts on the receiving part, the releasable connection is released and the receiving part and the support frame slide telescopingly into one another.
US08146699B2
A motorcycle includes a head pipe arranged at a front portion of a body and configured to pivotally support a front fork; a main frame passing an upper side of an engine from the head pipe and extending towards a rear of the body; a rear frame extending towards the rear of the body from the main frame and supporting a seat at an upper side thereof; an air cleaner case at a lower side of the seat; and an air cleaner element arranged inside the air cleaner case and configured to clean air, wherein the rear frame includes a pair of left and right rear bodies of a plate shape which cover sides of the air cleaner case, and a plurality of cross members configured to couple the left and right rear bodies, and wherein each rear body is formed with a projection projecting towards an inner side of the body, and a receiving portion configured to fit the projection is formed on the air cleaner case.
US08146697B2
A brake system for a motorcycle includes a pressure-regulating unit interposed between a fluid pressure-generating unit and a wheel brake. Operation of a pressure-regulating unit is managed and controlled by a control unit, based primarily on an applied force detected by an operating amount detector. The fluid pressure-generating unit is disposed between an engine body, mounted on a body frame, and an exhaust pipe which is connected to a front surface of a cylinder head of the engine body, and which extends downwardly from the cylinder head. The fluid pressure-generating unit is arranged on the body frame such that, during operation of the motorcycle, the fluid pressure-generating unit is substantially shielded and isolated from heat emitted by the engine body and the exhaust pipe.
US08146692B2
The correction coefficient α is set such that, when the atmospheric pressure Pa is lower than the threshold pressure Paref, the maximum dischargeable electric power of the battery is made smaller than it is when the atmospheric pressure Pa is equal to or higher than the threshold pressure Paref (S120, S220). Then, the maximum dischargeable electric power Wout of the battery is calculated by multiplying the basic maximum dischargeable electric power Woutb by the correction coefficient α (S140), and the engine and the two motors are controlled such that the required vehicle torque Tr* is produced to propel the hybrid vehicle without discharging electric power from the battery beyond the maximum dischargeable electric power Wout (S150-S210). As such, an excessive decrease in the charge level SOC of the battery can be prevented even when the hybrid vehicle is running in an area where the atmospheric pressure is low, such as high-altitude areas.
US08146690B2
A method of operating an auxiliary pump for an electrically variable transmission includes purging the auxiliary pump when an auxiliary pump temperature is below a minimum operating temperature and above a minimum purge temperature. The auxiliary pump fluid temperature and the minimum purge temperature are determined based upon the transmission fluid temperature and the ambient temperature.
US08146686B2
Fibers for diamond-impregnated cutting tools and their associated methods for manufacture and use are described. A matrix is formed that contains fibers made from carbon, glass, ceramic, polymer, and the like. The matrix is then sintered to form a cutting portion of a drill bit. The type and concentration of the fibers can be modified to control the tensile strength and the erosion rate of the matrix to optimize the cutting performance of the tools. Additionally, the fibers may be added to the cutting section to weaken the structure and allow higher modulus binders to be used for the cutting tools at a lower cost, allowing the amount of fibers to be tailored to retain the diamonds in the cutting portion for the desired amount. As the cutting portion erodes, the fibers may also increase the lubricity at the face of the cutting portion.
US08146683B2
A drilling assembly for drilling two or more casing sections into a subterranean formation includes a first casing bit and a second casing bit, each casing bit of different diameter affixed to a respective casing section of different diameter, at least two casing bits and the two or more casing sections arranged in a telescoping relationship. The second casing bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutting elements are disposed, the first type being cutting elements for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being cutting elements for drilling through the first casing bit.
US08146677B2
A hydraulic breaker assembly including a head cap, a cylinder, and a front head, which are mounted in a casing, wherein corresponding faces of the front head and the cylinder are connected by connecting pins, wherein the cylinder and the head cap located above the cylinder are fixed together by fastening bolts, and wherein the front head, the cylinder, and the head cap are supported on an inner side of the casing by variable dampers, which are brought into close contact with the front head, the cylinder, and the head cap. The movement in the casing is thus prevented so that the head cap, the cylinder, and the front head are strongly coupled together. The length of the fastening bolt is reduced to minimize the impact-generating section so that the bolt is protected from distortion stress occurring upon striking of the rod, thereby increasing durability.
US08146673B2
A downhole tool assembly has a sleeve with a continuous j-slot, a lug rotator ring configured to move axially relative to the sleeve and having a lug configured to move within the continuous j-slot, and a rupture disk configured to prevent the lug from moving within the continuous j-slot during run-in. A method of activating the downhole tool assembly includes lowering the downhole tool assembly into a well bore on a tool string, rupturing the rupture disk, allowing the lug to move within the continuous j-slot, and setting the downhole tool assembly by lifting upward and pushing downward on the tool string.
US08146662B2
A well screen assembly includes an elongate base pipe and a wire wrap layer. The wire wrap layer includes a wire wrapped around support ribs. The wire wrap layer has an axial end section wrapped at a first gage and an intermediate section wrapped at a second, larger gage. A mesh layer is provided around the wire wrap layer. An outer shroud is provided around the mesh layer, the outer shroud sealed to the wire wrap layer.
US08146661B2
Systems and methods of treating a gas stream are described. A method of treating a gas stream includes cryogenically separating a first gas stream to form a second gas stream and a third stream. The third stream is cryogenically contacted with a carbon dioxide stream to form a fourth and fifth stream. A majority of the second gas stream includes methane and/or molecular hydrogen. A majority of the third stream includes one or more carbon oxides, hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 2, one or more sulfur compounds, or mixtures thereof. A majority of the fourth stream includes one or more of the carbon oxides and hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 2. A majority of the fifth stream includes hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 3 and one or more of the sulfur compounds.
US08146657B1
A method of inferring gas production utilizing a conduit having an outlet controlled by a valve in communication with a space within a well through which a gas volume is being produced. A selected number of measurements are taken during a selected period of time, with each measurement including closing the outlet valve to allow gas pressure within the conduit to change, sampling the gas pressure within the conduit over a sampling time period, calculating a rate of pressure change from samples taken over the sampling time period, and calculating a rate of gas production in the conduit from the calculated rate of change of pressure, the gas volume, well characteristics and gas properties. The calculated rates of gas production for the selected number of measurements are summed to determine an inferred rate of gas production through the conduit during the selected period of time.
US08146655B2
A method (and corresponding apparatus) for downhole fluid analysis of petroleum formation fluids. The method includes capturing in a chamber of a downhole tool at least two immiscible formation fluids in a generally segregated state (the fluids including petroleum), activating a fluid mixing means to mix the fluids in the chamber to create an emulsion therefrom, and allowing the emulsified fluids to segregate while measuring light transmittance through the segregating fluids in order to calculate a transition time period based on the light transmittance through the fluids in the chamber. The transition time period is preferably bounded by the time required for the light transmittance values measured by the light detector to reach a baseline light transmittance. The transition time period characterizes the stability of an emulsion formed by the captured fluids. The methods and apparatus can also be used for other fluid testing applications beyond downhole formation fluid testing.
US08146654B2
A waxy oil-external emulsion is provided for injection into a selected zone of a subsurface formation. The selected zone is typically a high permeability zone. The emulsion generally comprises oil, added wax, and water. The emulsion may also include an emulsifying agent and a solvent. The emulsion is formulated to be a liquid at a temperature greater than a targeted temperature in the subsurface formation, but a solid at the targeted temperature. The targeted temperature is typically the maximum operating temperature for the formation. A method of formulating the emulsion is also provided. Further, a method of plugging a high permeability zone using the emulsion is disclosed.
US08146649B2
A method of continuously casting molten steel to produce high surface quality slab by preventing depressions and cracking. The steel is high Al steel having an Al content of 0.1% or more. High-Al molten steel is continuously cast using mold powder containing T—CaO (T—CaO presumes total Ca converted to CaO): 35 to 55%, SiO2: 10 to 30%, Al2O3: 4.0% or less (excluding 0%), MgO: 0.2 to 1.0%, Li2O: 7 to 13%, F: 7 to 13%, C: 10.5 to 14%, and inevitable impurities; and satisfying: 1.6≦[T—CaO]/[SiO2]≦5 and 0.2≦[Li2O]/[SiO2]≦1.1. The method is performed by controlling the molten steel surface level fluctuation speed in the mold; the pouring angle of the molten steel in the width direction of the mold; the stroke in the amplitude; and the negative strip time tN as defined.
US08146647B1
A frame has a circumferential slot and a circumferential chamber. Each of a plurality of similarly configured clips has a base and a leg. A screen has an attachment region through the slot and within the chamber. The leg of each clip is in contact with the attachment region of the screen. An elongated flexible spline is located within the chamber in contact with the attachment region of the screen. The clip is adapted to hold the screen in position with respect to the frame until the spline is inserted into the chamber in contact with the attachment region of the screen for securement purposes.
US08146637B2
The invention relates to a tire having a radial carcass reinforcement comprising a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers of inextensible reinforcement elements, which are crossed from one layer to the other, forming with the circumferential direction angles of between 10° and 45°, which itself is topped radially by a tread, said tread being joined to two beads by means of two sidewalls and the crown reinforcement comprising at least one layer of circumferential reinforcement elements of an axial width less than that of at least one of the working crown layers.According to the invention, the ratio of the axial width of at least one layer of circumferential reinforcement elements to the axial width of the tread is greater than 0.6, and preferably greater than 0.65, and the ratio of the axial width of the tread to the maximum axial width of the tire is strictly greater than 0.89.
US08146628B2
A shear type tree cutter assembly is adapted to be mounted on a four wheel field vehicle. The assembly includes an anvil with a concave section for supporting the trunk of a tree. The blade portion has a convex portion that cooperates with the concave section of the anvil to shear the tree. The blade and anvil section also may include a straight portion useful for pruning brush and small limbs.
US08146625B2
A method for preventing either the introduction of air into a liquid aspirated from a container through an aspiration line passing through a container cap, or the over-filling or non-filling of a container by a liquid dispensed through a dispensing line passing through a container cap. Such method comprises the steps of simultaneously detecting that (a) the container cap is properly positioned on and secured to a liquid container from which liquid is to be aspirated, or into which a liquid is to be dispensed, and (b) detecting that the level of liquid in the container is either above or below a predetermined level.
US08146621B2
A heddle shaft (1) with heddles (3) that are supported with little play or free of play has at least one heddle support rail (7), which is supported movably for elastically tensing the heddles (3) as a whole, or has at least one movably supported part (55). A spring means (16, 56) serves to exert a tensing force on the heddle head (5) of each heddle (3) for supporting that heddle without play. This makes a high operating speed of a power loom, provided with such a heddle shaft, possible without the heddles digging into the heddle support rails and without producing excessive noise.
US08146618B2
In the valve according to the invention the supporting blind (6) of the deflected channel (5) is terminated at its free ends with the oblique surfaces (10), and the guiding rail (7) of the ball (4) is terminated with the supporting directional arrangement (8) directing the ball (4) toward the supporting blind (6) of the deflected channel (5), and the top (9), which is positioned closer to the valve outlet than to the inlet, and together with the oblique surfaces (10) of the supporting blind (6) of the deflected channel (5) produce a slot (11) widening itself to the direction of deflected channel (5) interior.
US08146617B2
A check valve has a valve body, a piston and a spring. The valve body has a tube, a nozzle and a valve seal. The tube has a sealing protrusion and an inner surface. The sealing protrusion is formed around the inner surface of the tube. The nozzle is combined with the tube and has an insert hole and multiple outlets. The valve seal abuts a shoulder of the sealing protrusion. The piston is mounted in the valve body and has a shaft, a sealing ring and a plug. The shaft is mounted through the insert hole. The sealing ring is mounted in the sealing groove. The plug is a conic frustum and is mounted on a plug end of the shaft. The spring is mounted around the shaft. In operation, the check valve regulates outflow volume under varying pressure to prevent a waste of water.
US08146614B2
A beverage holder attachment for a crutch has an annular cup holder portion and two molded C-shaped protrusions for snapping onto two side rails of a crutch. The cup holder has a vertical slot on the outside to accommodate a handle of a mug or cup. The cup holder sits in between the two rails of the crutch below the hand bar so that it does not interfere with the use of the hand bar. The cup holder is tilted slightly to avoid spillage on the user of the crutches, so that any coffee drips will spill on the outside of the crutch. The beverage holder can be snapped onto the crutch side rails to carry beverages or other objects around the home or office while on crutches. The beverage holder can be made out of plastic, rubber or any other molded material that will snap onto the crutch.
US08146596B2
A vent assembly for use with a respiratory mask of the type used in CPAP treatment includes a porous disk portion that is attached to a biasing member such that the disk portion is maintained in a substantially sealed position against a main vent to minimize airflow through at least one side vent of the vent assembly. Debris build-up on the disk portion can cause the biasing member to deflect to provide an additional path for airflow through the at least one side vent. In another embodiment, the vent assembly can also include an anti-asphyxia feature to provide an airflow path from the environment to the user. An oxygen diverter valve may be disposed between the breathing apparatus flow generator and an oxygen injection port.
US08146578B2
An archery release including a release body having a longitudinal axis, a fixed jaw having a bowstring facing surface and a movable jaw. The movable jaw can define a bowstring notch. The fixed jaw bowstring facing surface can define a fixed jaw bowstring notch. The fixed jaw bowstring notch and movable jaw bowstring notch can cooperate so that a bowstring held by the release is disposed at least partially in the fixed jaw notch and at least partially in the movable jaw notch. A method also is provided for drawing and releasing a bowstring with the assistance of the release.
US08146575B2
A system for supply of LPG/methane, ammonia, or gas for supply of petrol or diesel engines, which can be connectable to the electronic control unit (8) provided on board the vehicle, the system being equipped with a gas tank (1); a valve (2), a line (3) for delivery of the gas, a rail (6) for supply of the gas to the engine, a pressure and temperature sensor (7); injectors for the petrol (10), and injectors for the gas (11), is characterized in that, to carry out a continuous variation of the pressure of the gas supplied to the injectors (11), it further comprises an electronic pressure regulator and heat exchanger (5) with injector (4), as well as a control unit for deviation and regulation of the pressure (9), which, during operation of the engine with LPG/methane or ammonia or gas, is designed to receive from the electronic control unit of the engine (8) electrical signals as a function of the injection times, the engine r.p.m., and the signal sent by the lambda probe and/or by the rheostat of the accelerator/said electronic control unit for control and regulation of the pressure (9) being further designed to process said signals and send them, at a variable frequency, to the injector (4) of the pressure regulator and heat exchanger (5), which, in this way, is designed to vary continuously and with a constant progression regulation of the pressure of the fuel with which said gas injectors (11) are supplied.
US08146574B2
An engine air management system is provided for an internal combustion engine generating blowby gas in a crankcase containing engine oil and oil aerosol. The system includes combinations of two or more of an air-oil separator, an air filter, and an acoustic silencer.
US08146545B2
An oil-collecting can (500) for a filter cartridge (300) comprises a plurality of capillary ribs (530) that are sized and shaped to contact filter media in the outlet chamber. The oil-collecting can (500) can be used in conjunction with a filter cartridge (300), which is installed in a filter assembly to encourage the downward flow of oil droplets. Such a filter assembly could be used, for example, in a crankcase ventilation system, to remove particulates and other contaminants from piston-bypass fumes.
US08146539B2
A method of reducing herbaceous fuels may include identifying a region to reduce herbaceous fuels, dividing the region into susceptible areas, placing the susceptible areas in an order, and introducing an ingestible into a first susceptible area in the order. The method may also include selecting an ungulate group and the ingestible may be highly palatable, portable, and self-limiting. Placing the susceptible areas in an order may include analyzing the susceptible areas for a level of susceptibility, prioritizing the susceptible areas based on each area's conditions and surroundings, and/or considering practical aspects of treating all of the susceptible areas of the region. The ingestible may be moved throughout the region to reduce herbaceous fuels.
US08146538B2
An aerodynamically interactive artifact is proportioned to experience at least one of tumbling, fluttering, and autorotating motion when subjected to free fall in a gravitational field. Suitable shapes include films, strips, butterflies, birds, and the like. The artifact may be contain a nutraceutical, may be dissolvable in pet saliva, and may provide an olfactory sensation for a pet. Dimensionless parameters such as Froude number and length-to-thickness ratios may be used to select aerodynamically interactive motions.
US08146537B2
The present invention relates to methods of raising crustaceans, comprising maintaining crustaceans in low salinity water having a Calcium-sensing Receptor (CaSR) modulator(s), and adding feed that contains an agent that contributes to modulation of a crustacean CaSR to the water.
US08146535B1
A thermally controlled drinking water system for animals having a thermally insulated cabinet containing a water reservoir, a water bowl, a vapor-compression refrigeration water-cooling system, and an electric water heating system, maintains the drinking water at an optimal temperature in both hot weather and freezing weather conditions. The reservoir stores at least five days of water and automatically maintains the water bowl in a constantly filled condition through a water supply conduit and visual indicator indicates when the reservoir water level is getting low. The evaporator coil of the cooling system is engaged with the water bowl in heat exchange relation and electrical heating elements are engaged in heat exchange relation with the water bowl and reservoir. Cooling and heating operations are controlled by an ambient air temperature sensor on the cabinet exterior and a water temperature sensor on the side wall of the water bowl.
US08146529B2
There is provided a liquid application apparatus capable of performing stable application without providing a new mechanism, by efficiently removing an application liquid increased in viscosity and fixedly adhered to an abutting portion between an application member and a liquid supplying member. A liquid application apparatus includes an application member that applies a liquid supplied to an applied face to a printing medium by rotating an application roller and a liquid holding member that abuts against the applied face to form a liquid holding space for holding the liquid, and the amount of liquid that is held in the liquid holding space and makes contact with the application member in unit time is larger before an applying operation for applying the liquid to the printing medium than in the applying operation.
US08146528B2
Described is manual prescription use recording device. The device includes a lid for connection with a prescription container. A slider is rotatably connected with the lid such that the slider is rotatable in the X-axis around the lid to reveal markings that are indicative of at least one of a time and date. A second slider can also be included to reveal additional time and date markings. Finally, a thumb wheel can be included that is rotatable in the Y-axis to reveal additional markings. Protrusions and corresponding deviations are included in the lid and sliders so that they can be maintained in a desired position. Thus, the present invention allows a user to log the time and date the medication was last taken by using rotary dials placed on or in the lid of the prescription bottle.
US08146525B2
Method and apparatus in a system in connection with the spinnaker pole (8) or similar of a sailing boat, in which system a control line (12, 13) is attached to both guys (6, 7) of the sail (4). The control lines (12, 13) are arranged to run through the pole (8) and to move a piston (20) and the piston (20) is connected to means, with the aid of which the length of the pole (8) can be altered or the pole can be lowered to a lower position at its outer end. The piston (20) is preferably moved by the lines running around pulleys (23) and attached to the moving part (17) of the telescopic pole.
US08146523B2
A circular stitching device for a sewing machine includes a body base attachable to a sewing bed or an upper surface of a needle plate, a movable base located on the body base so as to be movable in a predetermined direction, a cloth fixing member including a cloth-fixing pin which is passable through a workpiece cloth and is formed with an engagement portion, and a holder holding a proximal end of the cloth-fixing pin, a cloth-fixing pin support detachably attachable to the movable base thereby to support the cloth fixing member so that the cloth fixing member is detachably attachable thereto, and a locking unit which is located on the cloth-fixing pin support and is disengageably engageable with the engagement portion of the cloth-fixing pin, thereby locking the cloth-fixing pin.
US08146518B2
A foldable stool or table having hinges comprises a plurality of support members. In one embodiment, a foldable device comprises three legs. In another embodiment, the foldable stool or table comprises two foldable support members and two non-foldable support members. Relative to the top and bottom of the device one or more intermediately located steps or shelves, wherein the steps or shelves are located along at least one of the non-foldable support members, may be included. The one or more intermediately located steps or shelves may be forwardly-offset relative to a front surface of the non-foldable support members. A method of using the stool is also provided.
US08146506B2
An active rail transport system for the automated transport of persons or goods on conventional rails includes a car having an autonomous drive unit, brake and steering mechanism. The car may be directed away from a running through car, decelerated unloaded and/or loaded and thereafter redirected to the running through car after the speed of the car is adjusted to the speed of the running through car. A first conducting system which includes a first scanning system provides continuous traction. The first scanning system can be adjusted to account for different rail gauges during travel. A second conducting system includes scanning systems and associated guide rails for determining the direction of the car when going over diverge points and crossings.
US08146503B2
A linear charge system (100) for applying a destructive explosive charge to a barrier structure; said system comprising a charge carrier (101) and an explosive charge element (120) assembled within said charge carrier (101); said explosive charge element (120) adapted to effect a directed explosive charge for the penetration of a said barrier in which a tamping fluid forms at least a portion of a penetrating agent.
US08146495B2
A device as well as method for deactivating without developing an exposed lithographic printing plate is disclosed. The device comprises a structure for providing a deactivating agent that is capable of deactivating without developing the plate. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer capable of hardening upon exposure to a radiation, and becoming incapable of or having reduced rate of hardening after contacting with a deactivating agent. The deactivated plate is safe or has better stability at room lighting, and can be handled under room lighting before and during development. The development can be on press with ink and/or fountain solution or off press with a liquid developer.
US08146489B2
The present invention relates to a system for transporting and/or washing and/or pasteurization thermal treatment of foodstuffs, particularly leaf products comprising at least a treatment section. The treatment section can be comprised of one or more sections of rectilinear tubes and one or more corresponding curved tube sections, wherein products within the treatment section being conveyed by a fluid, such as water, flowing along the tubes.
US08146484B2
A system for filtering spent grains from unfermented beer is disclosed. The system has a pot assembly having a stock pot wall, lid, drain tube and outlet valve. A louvered false bottom is positioned in the pot assembly and forms an opening between the false bottom and the stock pot wall. The louvered false bottom has a plurality of raised louvers spaced over the false bottom. Each of the louvers has a top surface, a bottom surface, a leg and a slot. The slot can be made larger or smaller according to the grain crush size.
US08146479B2
A retractable light turret mounted in a platform, a firing device that can be deployed through an opening in a protective cowling for ensuring the closing of the opening, and elevation and azimuth aiming devices for the firing device, wherein the protective cowling has, on its external face, a close-in defense device, and at least one observation device coupled with a display device arranged inside the platform.
US08146477B2
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system for protecting a vehicle from a mine. Upon detonation the mine may yield ejecta having an expected trajectory. The system has a first layer of material disposed outside of an underbody of a hull of the vehicle. The first layer includes a base disposed in a direction substantially parallel to the underbody and a protrusion that narrows as it extends away from the base in a direction opposing the expected ejecta trajectory. The system also has a second layer including a material having a shock wave transmission velocity that is higher than a shock wave transmission velocity of the material of the first layer. The system further has an exterior layer substantially covering the first and second layers, and the exterior layer has an exterior surface that faces away from the underbody and toward the expected ejecta trajectory.
US08146475B1
A method of cutting grooves having a trapezoidal profile into an airport runway. Each of the grooves has a base of a first width, an open top of a second width and sloped sidewalls. The grooves are cut by the single pass of a rotating blade. The blade used to cut the trapezoidal shaped grooves has a plurality of cutting teeth. Each of the cutting teeth has a wide body section, a face surface, a bottom surface and side surfaces that extend from the face surface to the wide body section. The wide body section has a width equal to the maximum width of the groove being cut. However, the face surface has a width equal to the minimum width of the groove being cut. The result is a cutting tooth that cuts smoothly and maintains its trapezoidal shape as it wears.
US08146473B2
A machine for creating holes in a structural angle, including parallel plates including (1) an earth plate perpendicular to an axial direction and positionable at a fixed position relative to the structural angle, (2) a top plate mounting a workpiece tool, (3) a bottom plate spaced a fixed distance from the top plate, both plates being supported for axial movement relative to the earth plate, and (4) a support plate between the earth plate and the top plate and supported for axial movement relative to the earth plate. The support plate is biased toward the top plate and away from the earth plate. A first stop limits movement of the bottom plate toward the earth plate and a second stop limits movement of the support plate away from the earth plate. A drive selectively moves the support and bottom plates axially away from each other.
US08146466B1
1) The carving vise holds an article to be carved at optimal positions for ease of carving. Its design reduces carvers fatigue; damage to the carving article while being held; and the likelihood of carving injuries. It also greatly improves the carvers carving efficiency.2) Significant design features are the reduction in the amount of repositioning release mechanisms to reposition the craving article. The design is unique in that the carving article can be moved in three ways. Rotated 360 degrees around the head and tail stock axis, 2) rotated 90 degrees relative to the work bench to which it is mounted, 3) slides in and out relative to the mounting point. The head and tail stock will move independently and also can be repositioned while securely holding a carving article by moving the square tube assembly. The locking mechanism for rotational movement and the brake assembly for locking the vise in vertical positions are new simplistic designs that securely lock in all positions.3) The vise is constructed of steel for durability as well as providing slenderness by design for minimal interference to the carver during the process of carving.
US08146465B2
An installation for sequential loading of bars of material in a machining center includes a frame, a first device, and a second device. The frame includes at least one first arcuate bearing surface and at least one second arcuate bearing surface connected to the first bearing surface at a first station. The first device includes a first elongated body having a peripheral first face engaging the at least one first bearing surface and a plurality of first longitudinal cavities in the first face. The first elongated body is configured to rotate such that the first bearing surface blocks an opening of the first longitudinal cavities between a first position where a bar is loaded into the first longitudinal cavity and a second position where a bar exits the first longitudinal cavity at the first station.
US08146462B2
A variable compression tool comprising a retaining surface attached to a lever arm and a cam surface attached to a second lever arm. The two arms are moveably connected through a fixed pivot point. The profile of the jaw pocket may be of various shapes. In one instantiation, the jaw pocket conforms to at least two sides of a nut. The orientation of the cam surface to the jaw pocket is such that the force generated by closing the jaws forces the nut into the retaining surface. Adjustment of the cam lever arm is regulated by an eccentric cam adjuster bearing which changes the effective center of rotation of lever arm two in two dimensions simultaneously by rotation of the bearing.
US08146453B2
A motion guide device is provided which comprises a chain of rollers in which retainers are interposed, in which the chain of rollers is given a degree of freedom of rotation. The motion guide device comprises a track member (5) on which a roller rolling part (5a) is formed which allows rollers (7) to roll on along the roller rolling part; a moving member (6) on which a loaded roller rolling part (6a) facing the roller rolling part (5a) is formed; a plurality of rollers (7) arranged on a roller circulation path containing a loaded roller rolling path (9) formed between the roller rolling part (5a) of the track member (5) and the roller rolling part (6a) of the moving member (6); and a plurality of retainers (8) respectively interposed between rollers of the plurality of rollers (7). The plurality of retainers (8) are mutually separated, each of the retainers (8) which is divided into a first divided member (31) contacting one roller of a pair of rollers (7) with each retainer (8) sandwiched therebetween and a second divided member (32) contacting the other roller (7) of the pair of rollers, and the first divided member (31) is allowed to rotate relative to the second divided member (32).
US08146451B2
A drive has a drive source with an outgoing drive shaft, which can be connected via a clutch to a first input of a gear, which is formed by an input shaft. The gear also has an output, which is formed by an output shaft. The gear also has a second input, which is formed by a gear wheel of a first gear wheel pair concentrically present on the input shaft and which can be directly connected via a further clutch to the drive shaft. The drive also has a pre-reduction, which is formed by a planetary gear with three rotation bodies, one of which is connected to the input shaft, one to the drive shaft and one that can be connected via a clutch or brake to the fixed entities.