US08169073B2
External connection terminals 27 which are electrically connected to semiconductor chips 11-1, 11-2, 12-1, 12-2 and also protrude beyond the semiconductor chips 11-1, 11-2, 12-1, 12-2 are disposed on a substrate 13 of the side to which the plural semiconductor chips 11-1, 11-2, 12-1, 12-2 are connected.
US08169065B2
Stackable circuit structures and methods of fabrication are provided employing first level metallization directly on a chips-first layer(s), which includes: a chip(s), each with a pad mask over its upper surface and openings exposing its contact pads; electrically conductive structures; and structural dielectric material surrounding the side surfaces of the chips and the conductive structures. Each chips-first layer further includes a metallization layer on the front surface of the layer, residing at least partially on the pad mask and extending over an edge of the chip. Together, the pad mask and the structural material electrically isolate the metallization layer from the chip. Input/output interconnect structures physically and electrically contact the metallization layer over the front surface and/or the lower surfaces of the electrically conductive structures at the back surface of the chips-first layer, to facilitate input/output connection to chips of the layers in a stack.
US08169052B2
A metal electrode is disposed on each of a plurality of resistor groups which are made of polycrystalline silicon resistors and constitute a resistor circuit. The metal electrode is connected to an end of the resistor via another interconnecting layer. Accordingly, the external influence which the metal electrode receives during a semiconductor manufacturing process is prevented from directly acting on the resistor, whereby resistance variation is suppressed.
US08169047B2
The present invention aims to enhance the reliability of a semiconductor device equipped with a Schottky barrier diode within the same chip, and its manufacturing technology. The semiconductor device includes an n-type n-well region formed over a p-type semiconductor substrate, an n-type cathode region formed in part thereof and higher in impurity concentration than the n-well region, a p-type guard ring region formed so as to surround the n-type cathode region, an anode conductor film formed so as to integrally cover the n-type cathode region and the p-type guard ring region and to be electrically coupled thereto, n-type cathode conduction regions formed outside the p-type guard ring region with each separation portion left therebetween, and a cathode conductor film formed so as to cover the n-type cathode conduction regions and to be electrically coupled thereto. The anode conductor film and the n-type cathode region are Schottky-coupled to each other.
US08169045B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to a Seebeck temperature difference sensor that may be formed in a trench on a semiconductor device. A portion of the sensor may be substantially surrounded by an electrically conductive shield. A plurality of junctions may be included to provide a higher Seebeck sensor voltage. The shield may be electrically coupled to a local potential, or left electrically floating. A portion of the shield may be formed as a doped well in the semiconductor substrate on which the semiconductor device is formed, or as a metal layer substantially covering the sensor. The shield may be formed as a first oxide layer on a sensor trench wall with a conductive shield formed on the first oxide layer, and a second oxide layer formed on the conductive shield. An absolute temperature sensor may be coupled in series with the Seebeck temperature difference sensor.
US08169032B2
The invention includes methods of forming PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors. The NMOS transistors can be formed to have a thin silicon-containing material between a pair of metal nitride materials, while the PMOS transistors are formed to have the metal nitride materials directly against one another. The invention also includes constructions which contain an NMOS transistor gate stack having a thin silicon-containing material between a pair of metal nitride materials. The silicon-containing material can, for example, consist of silicon, conductively-doped silicon, or silicon oxide; and can have a thickness of less than or equal to about 30 angstroms.
US08169027B2
A multi-gate transistor and a method of forming a multi-gate transistor, the multi-gate transistor including a fin having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion having a first band gap and the lower portion having a second band gap with the first band gap and the second band gap designed to inhibit current flow from the upper portion to the lower portion. The multi-gate transistor further including a gate structure having sidewalls electrically coupled with said upper portion and said lower portion and a substrate positioned below the fin.
US08169023B2
An impurity concentration profile in a vertical direction of a p type base contact layer of a power semiconductor device has a two-stage configuration. In other word, the impurity concentration profile is highest at an upper face of the p type base contact layer, has a local minimum value at a position other than the upper face and a lower face of the base contact layer, and has a local maximum value at a position lower than the position of the local minimum value.
US08169019B2
A metal-oxide-semiconductor chip having a semiconductor substrate, an epitaxial layer, at least a MOS cell, and a metal pattern layer is provided. The epitaxial layer is located on the semiconductor substrate and has an active region, a termination region, and a scribe line preserving region defined on an upper surface thereof. An etched sidewall of the epitaxial layer is located in the scribe line preserving region. The boundary portion of the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate is thus exposed. The MOS cell is located in the active region. The metal pattern layer is located on the epitaxial layer and has a gate pad coupled to the gate of the MOS cell, a source pad coupled to the source of the MOS cell, and a drain pattern, which is partly located on the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08169010B2
Provided are an image sensor and a method of sensing the same. The image sensor includes: a light receiving device; a signal conversion unit including a transfer transistor having a plurality of transfer gates and for converting photocharges generated by the light receiving device into a voltage to output the voltage; and a sensing control unit for generating at least two reset signals and/or at least two transfer signals applied to the transfer gates of the transfer transistor during a one-time photosensing cycle. The image sensor is obtained by changing the structure and driving method of a transfer transistor of a typical 4-transistor CMOS image sensor and employs a deep depletion operation and a multiple reset operation, thereby reducing an image lag and increasing the well capacity of the light receiving device.
US08169005B2
A multiple field plate transistor includes an active region, with a source, a drain, and a gate. A first spacer layer is over the active region between the source and the gate and a second spacer layer over the active region between the drain and the gate. A first field plate on the first spacer layer is connected to the gate. A second field plate on the second spacer layer is connected to the gate. A third spacer layer is on the first spacer layer, the second spacer layer, the first field plate, the gate, and the second field plate, with a third field plate on the third spacer layer and connected to the source. The transistor exhibits a blocking voltage of at least 600 Volts while supporting a current of at least 2 Amps with an on resistance of no more than 5.0 mΩ-cm2, of at least 600 Volts while supporting a current of at least 3 Amps with an on resistance of no more than 5.3 mΩ-cm2, of at least 900 Volts while supporting a current of at least 2 Amps with an on resistance of no more than 6.6 mΩ-cm2, or a blocking voltage of at least 900 Volts while supporting a current of at least 3 Amps with an on resistance of no more than 7.0 mΩ-cm2.
US08168989B2
After the LEDs 2 (red LEDs (R), green LEDs (G) and blue LEDs (B), or white LEDs (W)) are mounted on the frame 3, without dicing the frame 3 for dividing the LEDs 2 into pieces, the tie bar is punched off to form an electric circuit. Thus, the RGB three primary color LED light source 1A or the white LED light source 1B that emits light in the state of the frame 3 can be manufactured.
US08168986B2
A GaN-based semiconductor light-emitting element is provided and includes a first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer; an active layer having a multi-quantum well structure; and a second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer. At least one of barrier layers constituting the active layer is composed of a varying-composition barrier layer, and the composition of the varying-composition barrier layer varies in the thickness direction thereof so that the band-gap energy in a region of the varying-composition barrier layer, the region being adjacent to a boundary between a well layer disposed closer to the second GaN-based compound semiconductor layer and the varying-composition barrier layer, is lower than that in a region of the varying-composition barrier layer, the region being adjacent to a boundary between a well layer disposed closer to the first GaN-based compound semiconductor layer and the varying-composition barrier layer.
US08168982B2
Disclosed is a substrate for an electro-optical device including: a substrate; a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scanning lines which intersect with other on the substrate; a pixel electrode formed in each of a plurality of pixels which configure a display region on the substrate and are defined in correspondence with intersections between the plurality of data lines and the plurality of scanning lines; a transistor provided in each of non-opening regions which discriminate between opening regions of the plurality of pixels and including a semiconductor layer including a channel region having a channel length in one direction of the display region, a data line side source/drain region electrically connected to the data line, a pixel electrode side source/drain region electrically connected to the pixel electrode, a first junction region formed between the channel region and the data line side source/drain region, and a second junction region formed between the channel region and the pixel electrode side source/drain region; and a light-shielding section which is formed above each of the semiconductor layers, extends along the one direction, and includes a first portion which covers the first junction region and a second portion which covers the second junction region and has a width larger than that of the first portion in a direction intersecting the one direction.
US08168979B2
According to a crystallization method, in the crystallization by irradiating a non-single semiconductor thin film of 40 to 100 nm provided on an insulation substrate with a laser light, a light intensity distribution having an inverse peak pattern is formed on the surface of the substrate, a light intensity gradient of the light intensity distribution is controlled, a crystal grain array is formed in which each crystal grain is aligned having a longer shape in a crystal growth direction than in a width direction and having a preferential crystal orientation (100) in a grain length direction, and a TFT is formed in which a source region and a drain region are formed so that current flows across a plurality of crystal grains of the crystal grain array in the crystal growth direction.
US08168978B2
The present invention provides a display device where thin film transistors are formed on a substrate on which an image display portion is formed, wherein the thin film transistors comprise: a gate electrode; a gate insulating film formed so as to cover the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer in island form which is formed on the gate insulating film so as to overlap with the gate electrode; and a pair of electrodes formed on the semiconductor layer so as to face each other, and the semiconductor layer is provided within a region where the gate electrode is formed as viewed in a plane, and formed of a crystal semiconductor layer and an amorphous semiconductor layer, which are layered in sequence on the gate electrode side, characterized in that the gate electrode is formed so as to have such a film thickness that the light transmittance is 0.3% or less at least in the region facing the semiconductor layer.
US08168974B2
A novel field-effect transistor is provided which employs an amorphous oxide. In an embodiment of the present invention, the transistor comprises an amorphous oxide layer containing electron carrier at a concentration less than 1×10−18/cm3, and the gate-insulating layer is comprised of a first layer being in contact with the amorphous oxide and a second layer different from the first layer.
US08168972B2
A method for simultaneous recrystallization and doping of semiconductor layers, in particular for the production of crystalline silicon thin layer solar cells. A substrate base layer 1 is produced, and subsequently, an intermediate layer system 2 which has at least one doped partial layer is deposited on the base layer. An absorber layer 3 which is undoped or likewise doped is deposited on the intermediate layer system 2, and in a recrystallisation step, the absorber layer 3 is heated, melted, cooled and tempered. Alternately, instead of an undoped capping layer, a capping layer system 4 which has at least one partial layer can also be applied on the absorber layer 3.
US08168958B2
A method, composition and system respond to ionizing radiation to adjust biological activity. In some approaches the ionizing radiation is X-ray or extreme ultraviolet radiation that produces luminescent responses that induce biologically active responses.
US08168954B2
A radiation image detector includes a radiation-image-detector main body and a vacuum container. The radiation-image-detector main body generates charges by irradiation with an electromagnetic wave for recording that carries a radiation image and records the radiation image by accumulating the charges. The vacuum container is sealed to store the radiation-image-detector main body in a vacuum.
US08168952B2
A portable target marker includes a quantum cascade laser configured to generate a thermal infrared beam. The target marker also includes a driver operably connected to the quantum cascade laser and configured to pulse the beam at a desired repetition rate. The pulsed beam intersects a target. The target marker further includes a thermal imager configured to form a visible image of the pulsed beam intersecting the target.
US08168951B2
A charged particle beam apparatus having an aberration correction capability at high acceleration voltages. The charged particle beam apparatus comprises a charged particle beam source; an extraction electrode to extract charged particles from the charged particle beam source; a charged particle beam gun including a means for converging a charged particle beam; an acceleration means for accelerating a charged particle beam emitted from the charged particle beam gun; and an aberration correction means disposed between the charged particle beam gun and the acceleration means, in which an aberration enough to cancel out an aberration of a charged particle beam on the specimen surface is provided to an extraction electrical potential or an equivalent beam at the initial acceleration stage.
US08168946B2
A charged particle separation apparatus that separates ionized gas clusters is disclosed. The charged particle separation apparatus includes an electric field applying part including two electrodes across which electric voltage is applied in order to generate electric field between the two electrodes thereby deflecting a trajectory of the ionized gas cluster, the electrodes including one of an opening and a void; and a plate opening that allows the ionized gas cluster whose trajectory is deflected by the electric field applying part to go therethrough.
US08168944B2
A two-dimensional substantially quadrupole field is provided. The field comprises a quadrupole harmonic of amplitude A2 and an octopole harmonic of amplitude A4, wherein A4 is greater than 0.01% of A2, A4 is less than 5% of A2, and, for any other higher order harmonic with amplitude An present in the field, n being any integer greater than 2 except 4, A4 is greater than ten times An.
US08168940B2
A light transmission module includes a light transmission path for transmitting light, an optical element including a light emitting and receiving surface for optically coupling with the light transmitted by the light transmission path, and being formed with a light emitting and receiving point having a function of photoelectric conversion and an electrode pad on the light emitting and receiving surface. The light transmission module further includes a substrate mounted with the optical element and an electrical wiring and an electrical connecting member for electrically connecting the electrode pad and the electrical wiring. The substrate includes a wiring exposed surface where the electrical wiring is exposed. The electrical connecting member is made of solidified object of a liquid conductive material arranged to contact the electrical wiring, which is exposed at the wiring exposed surface, and the electrode pad.
US08168939B2
Methods and systems for a light source assembly supporting direct coupling to a photonically enabled complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip are disclosed. The assembly may include a laser, a microlens, a turning mirror, reciprocal and/or non-reciprocal polarization rotators, and an optical bench. The laser may generate an optical signal that may be focused utilizing the microlens. The optical signal may be reflected at an angle defined by the turning mirror, and may be transmitted out of the light source assembly to one or more grating couplers in the chip. The laser may include a feedback insensitive laser. The light source assembly may include two electro-thermal interfaces between the optical bench, the laser, and a lid affixed to the optical bench. The turning mirror may be integrated in a lid affixed to the optical bench or may be integrated in the optical bench.
US08168932B2
A semiconductor image sensor module and a method for manufacturing thereof as well as a camera and a method for manufacturing thereof are provided in which a semiconductor image sensor chip and an image signal processing chip are connected with a minimum parasitic resistance and parasitic capacity and efficient heat dissipation of the image signal processing chip and shielding of light are simultaneously obtained. A semiconductor image sensor module 1 at least includes a semiconductor image sensor chip 2 having a transistor forming region on a first main surface of a semiconductor substrate and having a photoelectric conversion region with a light incident surface formed on a second main surface on the side opposite to the first main surface and an image signal processing chip 3 for processing image signals formed in the semiconductor image sensor chip 2, wherein a plurality of bump electrodes 15a are formed on a first main surface, a plurality of bump electrodes 15b are formed on the image signal processing chip 3, both the chips 2 and 3 are formed to be laminated through heat dissipating means 4 and the plurality of bump electrodes 15a of the semiconductor image sensor chip 2 and the plurality of bump electrodes 15b on the image signal processing chip 3 are electrically connected.
US08168917B2
A system for encoding information on a movable object including a laser optically coupled to a moveable object, wherein the moveable object includes a circumferential surface and a longitudinal axis. The laser is configured to project concentrated electromagnetic radiation onto the moveable object. The concentrated electromagnetic radiation heats a portion of the surface of the moveable object affected by the radiation so as to anneal the portion of the surface affected by the radiation, thereby modifying the reflective characteristics of the annealed portion. The system also includes a mounting apparatus configured to adaptively position the moveable object relative to the laser. The system further includes a controller in communication with the laser and the mounting apparatus and configured to control one or more of the mounting apparatus and the laser to project a desired encoding pattern onto the moveable object.
US08168910B2
A vacuum circuit-breaker wherein at least in one of the contacts at least one stud is used as a spacer, and is disposed between the mechanical connection portion and the circular plate of the contact body in such a manner as to avoid the collapse thereof during a closing operation of the vacuum circuit-breaker, and in the closed position the contacts can withstand very high compression forces, typically greater than 700 kg-force or 2 t-force.
US08168909B2
A vacuum switchgear comprising a vacuum container, two fixed contacts and two movable contacts for being in contact with and out of contact with the fixed contacts which are disposed in the vacuum container, and two operation rods linked to the each movable contact, respectively, characterized that a connection conductor having a current collector for making electrical sliding contact with the external surface of the each operation rod, which is fixed to outlet parts of the vacuum containers, from which extend the operation rod outwardly.
US08168878B2
Embodiments described herein provide a musical performance system that produces a set of signals or cues to individual members of a choir or group of musical instruments as to when each member is to play their particular instrument. Typically, the musical instrument is comprised of a handbell as used in bell choirs. The system alerts, e.g., via vibration or light, children or physically challenged individuals at a predetermined, specified time such that they may perform music with the correct rhythm and timing. The system comprises a computer readable medium for storing data, a musical instrument digital interface unit, a sequencer, a sending unit, and at least one receiving unit.
US08168876B2
Music information is displayed during playback of multimedia content performed by a multimedia playback device. The multimedia content comprises audio and video. To obtain the music information, audio of the multimedia content is retrieved, environmental noise is filtered out of the audio to generate filtered audio, a rhythm of the filtered audio is obtained, and the music information is generated based on the rhythm of the filtered audio. The music information is displayed simultaneously during playback of the multimedia content.
US08168870B1
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated NPDI4014, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPDI4014 with plants of another corn plant. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred NPDI4014 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line NPDI4014 and plants produced by said methods.
US08168866B2
The present invention is directed to plants that display an altered oil content phenotype due to altered expression of a HIO32.2 nucleic acid. The invention is further directed to methods of generating plants with an altered oil content phenotype.
US08168858B2
Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding novel delta-9 elongases along with a method of making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using these delta-9 elongases in plants.
US08168852B2
A substrate that contains an odor control composition is provided. The odor control composition includes activated carbon for adsorbing one or more odorous compounds to reduce odor. The odor control composition also contains a water-soluble binder for increasing the durability of the activated carbon when applied to a substrate. In addition to improving durability, such a water-soluble binder may also provide good drapability and low residual odor in the resulting coated substrate.
US08168851B2
An adhesive skin patch sheet comprises a support, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a release sheet laminated in that order, the release sheet is divided by a cut line into a small first release sheet and a large second release sheet, the cut line is formed so as to be convex only from the second release sheet toward the first release sheet.
US08168849B2
The present invention provides a method of making a bandage from a fabric such as a knitted fabric, for example. The fabric is steamed, sprayed with a solution containing an antibacterial/antimicrobial agent in a spraying chamber 28 and then dried in a drying chamber 40.
US08168834B2
The present invention is directed to novel 4-alkyl 1-(3-methoxy-2-propen-1-yl)benzene compounds and a method of improving, enhancing or modifying a fragrance formulation through the addition of an olfactory acceptable amount of the novel compounds.
US08168832B2
The invention relates to novel 2,4,6-trialkylphenyl-substituted cyclopentane-1,3-diones of the formula (I) in which X, Y, A, B, Q1, Q2 and G have the meanings given above, to a plurality of processes and intermediates for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and/or herbicides, and also to selective herbicidal compositions comprising, firstly, the 2,4,6-trialkylphenyl-substituted cyclopentane-1,3-diones of the formula (I) and, secondly, at least one crop plant compatibility-improving compound.
US08168828B2
The present invention encompasses novel intermediates of pregabalin, namely 3-cyano-5-methyl hexanamide (28) and 3-(amino methyl)-5 methyl hexanamide (29), and processes for their preparation. The invention also encompasses a process for converting the novel pregabalin intermediates into pregabalin, Formula (I): The present invention further provides a cost effective method for the synthesis of (S)-pregabalin, which involves the recovery of mandelic acid and tartaric acid used in the resolution process and recycling them, increasing the yields of the final product formed, which substantially reduced the cost of the production.
US08168827B2
Amide derivatives represented by the formula (I): wherein: A is a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group or a heteroaryl group; X is a nitrogen atom or CR17; Y is —NRa-, —(CRbRb′)m-, and the like; m is 0 to 4; and R1 to R17 may be the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a carboxyl group, a formyl group, a hydroxyl group, an ammonium group, an alkyl group optionally having one or more substituents, -ZR18 and the like, Z is —O—, —S(O)p-, —S(O)pO—, —NH—, —NR19-, and the like; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a hydrate thereof, or a solvate thereof may be applied to pharmaceutical use such as anti-inflammatory and analgesic action and the like.
US08168826B2
The invention is directed to compounds and methods of synthesizing hydroxyethylamino amides and their use in treatment of aspartyl protease mediated diseases and conditions.
US08168821B2
The present application relates to novel cyclopropylacetic acid derivatives, to processes for their preparation, to their use for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and to their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular for the treatment and/or prevention of cardiovascular disorders.
US08168820B2
The present invention concerns deuterated catecholamine derivatives as well as pharmaceuticals containing these compounds. In addition, the invention concerns the use of deuterated catecholamine derivatives as well as physiologically compatible salts thereof, and also pharmaceutical compositions, which contain these compounds, also in combination with enzyme inhibitors, for the treatment of dopamine deficiency diseases or diseases which are based on disrupted tyrosine transport or disrupted tyrosine decarboxylase, as well as other disorders.
US08168811B2
Precursors useful for vapor phase deposition processes, e.g., CVD/ALD, to form metal-containing films on substrates. The precursors include, in one class, a central metal atom M to which is coordinated at least one ligand of formula (I): wherein: R1, R2 and R3 are each independently H or ogano moieties; and G1 is an electron donor arm substituent that increases the coordination of the ligand to the central metal atom M; wherein when G1 is aminoalkyl, the substituents on the amino nitrogen are not alkyl, fluoroalkyl, cycloaliphatic, or aryl, and are not connected to form a ring structure containing carbon, oxygen or nitrogen atoms. Also disclosed are ketoester, malonate and other precursors adapted for forming metal-containing films on substrates, suitable for use in the manufacture of microelectronic device products such as semiconductor devices and flat panel displays.
US08168798B2
This invention relates to prodrugs of caspase inhibitors comprising of a furo[3,2-d]oxazolin-5-one moiety which, under specific conditions, can convert into biologically active compounds, particularly caspase inhibitors.This invention also relates to the processes for preparing these prodrugs of caspase inhibitors.This invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said prodrugs and to the use thereof for the treatment of diseases related to inflammatory or degenerative conditions.
US08168796B2
There are provided novel fluorescent agents, such as pyrazoline compounds represented by formula (I): (wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the specification), having an ethynyl group in the molecule, which have high absorptivity in the ultraviolet-visible short wavelength range (for example, 350 nm-420 nm).
US08168767B2
Chitosan-containing blends and methods of dissolving and using chitosan are disclosed. A blend includes a solid acid or a solid agent that generates a proton in situ in the presence of water mixed together with a dry solid chitosan, and may optionally contain other components. The blends are in a dry, free-flowing, particulate form. Methods of dissolving a blend typically comprise adding a quantity of the blend to a low volume of water and mixing until the chitosan and solid acid or solid agent are dissolved and then further diluting this mixture by the addition of water, or used as-is. Devices containing the blends are also described along with methods of using the devices, such as for controlled release of solubilized chitosan in a body of water, such as a stream, containing impurities (e.g., particles, sediment, or suspended matter or dissolved substances) to cause flocculation or precipitation of such impurities.
US08168763B2
Ferritin 2 is a tick secreted protein, which serves in the tick plasma as a non-heme iron transporter from the gut to the peripheral tissues. It can be exploited as an antigen for raising up host antibodies, which can reversely block this antigen in the tick and the attached tick will not have functional mechanism of the non-heme iron transport from the gut to the peripheral tissues. This mechanism is essential for the further tick development and its blocking eventually prevents transmission of tick-borne pathogens.
US08168761B2
The present invention is directed to isolated polypeptides and antibodies suitable for producing therapeutic preparations, methods, and kits relating to bone deposition. One objective of the present invention is to provide compositions that improve bone deposition. Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide methods and compositions to be utilized in diagnosing bone dysregulation. The therapeutic compositions and methods of the present invention are related to the regulation of Wise, Sost, and closely related sequences. In particular, the nucleic acid sequences and polypeptides include Wise and Sost as well as a family of molecules that express a cysteine knot polypeptide.
US08168760B2
The invention relates to batch crystallization methods for crystallizing an anti-hIL-12 antibody that allows the production of the antibody on an industrial scale, antibody crystals obtained according to the methods, compositions containing the crystals, and methods of using the crystals and the compositions.
US08168754B2
The invention provides vitamin K-dependent polypeptides with enhanced membrane binding affinity. These polypeptides can be used to modulate clot formation in mammals. Methods of modulating clot formation in mammals are also described.
US08168752B2
The present invention relates to mouse and human J12 polynucleotides, polypeptide and anti J12 antibody molecules. The J12 is a cytokine that is preferentially expressed in Th2 cells. The polypeptides and/or antibodies described herein can be used in methods for detection and treatment of certain autoimmune and inflammatory diseases including asthma.
US08168750B2
A nucleic acid sequence encoding a fragment of the adenovirus fiber capsid protein, a DNA construct including a replicable expression vector and at least one heterologous nucleic acid, and recombinant protein including fragment of the adenovirus fiber capsid protein. The fragment comprises the C-terminal knob and part of the shaft domain of the fiber protein of these adenoviruses. The use of recombinant proteins as an active ingredient in vaccinating compositions for conferring to an animal immunity against a pathogenic infection by an adenovirus, and methods for vaccinating a domestic bird against a pathogenic adenoviral infection.
US08168748B2
Polypeptides and fusion proteins that bind to eukaryotic viruses, in particular, eukaryotic single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses are provided. The polypeptides and fusion proteins bind to the replication initiation proteins (Rep) of ssDNA viruses and optionally inhibit viral replication and/or viral infection. The virus can be a plant pathogen or animal pathogen. Consensus sequences used to identify polypeptides that bind to eukaryotic viruses are also provided.
US08168744B2
To provide a polyimide film for molding that is light and has excellent surface smoothness, safety, moldability, heat resistance, and handleability and thus can be used as the reflector base material for illuminating devices.The polyimide film for molding is made of a thermoplastic polyimide obtained from a reaction between an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid or its dianhydride and an aromatic diamine. The lowest viscoelasticity of storage elasticity (E′) of viscoelasticity is 108 Pa or lower, and the tensile elongation at glass transition temperature (E″) A is 150% or higher.
US08168731B2
Provided is a curable resin composition that exhibits good heat resistance and low thermal expansion, and that realizes good solubility in solvents, a cured product thereof, a printed wiring board including the composition, a novel epoxy resin that imparts these properties, and a process for producing the same. A curable resin composition contains, as essential components, an epoxy resin (A) having, in its molecular structure, a glycidyloxy group and a skeleton in which a naphthalene structure and a cyclohexadienone structure are bonded to each other via methylene group(s); and a curing agent (B).
US08168728B2
A polycarbonate diol comprising repeating units represented by the following formula (A) and a terminal hydroxy group. It is characterized in that 60-100 mol % of the repeating units represented by the formula (A) are repeating units represented by the following formula (B) or (C), the amount of the repeating units represented by the formula (B) is 10-50 mol %, excluding 50 mol %, based on the total amount of the repeating units represented by the formula (A), and the polycarbonate diol has a terminal primary OH ratio of 95-98.5%. (A) (In the formula, R represents a C2-12 divalent aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon.)
US08168727B2
A polyester resin having excellent dimensional stability against environmental changes and excellent dimensional stability in the processing step while having excellent moldability and a biaxially oriented polyester film comprising the same. The polyester resin comprises a recurring unit represented by the following formula (A) and a recurring unit represented by the following formula (B) as the main constituents: —O—C(O)—R1—C(O)—O—R2—O— (A) —O—C(O)—R3—C(O)—O—R2—O— (B) (R′ is a phenylene group or naphthalenediyl group, R2 is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms or cyclohexylene group, and R3 is 6,6′-(alkylenedioxy)di-2-naphthoic acid), wherein the content of the recurring unit (B) is not less than 5 mol % and less than 50 mol %, and the ratio of adjacent recurring units (A) and (B) is less than 0.9 based on a value obtained by doubling the product of the content of the recurring unit (A) and the content of the recurring unit (B).
US08168725B2
The invention relates to novel composition comprising hydroxylamine esters and thio compounds, which are suitable for lowering the molecular weight of polypropylene, propylene copolymers or polypropylene blends and result in an excellent degradation performance at temperatures below 220° C.
US08168717B2
Disclosed is a heat-fusible electrostatic image developing toner which has an excellent balance between fixability at low temperatures and grindability and is excellent in glossiness after fixing. Also disclosed is a resin for toners. A polyester resin for toners which is obtained by polycondensing a polyol component and a polycarboxylic acid component is characterized by containing 20-100 weight % of one or more polyester resins (A1) having a storage elastic modulus from 2.5 x 103 Pa to 5 x 106 Pa at 150° C. wherein the molar average cohesive energy of the polyol component is between 7.0 x 104 and 1.4 x 105 J.
US08168715B2
According to the invention, a sliding coating for winter sports equipment is provided, which has a copolymer (I) and optionally a copolymer (II), wherein the sliding coating for a winter sports equipment comprises a copolymer (I) having 10% or more of structural building blocks derived from propylene monomers, based on the total number of the structural building blocks of the copolymer (I), and 1% or more of structural building blocks derived from another olefin, based on the total number of the structural building blocks of the copolymer (I), wherein the sliding coating does not have a copolymer, which has 50% or more of structural building blocks derived from ethylene monomers, based on the total number of the structural building blocks of the copolymer.
US08168698B2
A method for producing random form of nanosilicate platelets comprises mixing and acidifying an exfoliating agent with an inorganic acid to form an acidified exfoliating agent; intercalating layered inorganic silicate clay with the acidified exfoliating agent to form a mixture; and dissolving the mixture in a solvent and reacting it with a hydroxide or chloride of alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal. The hyperbranched polyamines serving as the exfoliating agent are prepared by polymerizing poly(oxypropylene)-triamine and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA). Hydrophilic amine groups of the exfoliating agent are acidified and then reacted with the layered inorganic silicate clay through cation exchange reaction and physical clay exfoliation to give random form of nanosilicate platelets.
US08168696B2
Porous aggregates are coated with latex or water-based paints so as to lower the absorbility of the aggregates. When the paint-coated aggregates are mixed with an asphalt binder to produce an asphalt composition, the paint-coated aggregates absorb less of the asphalt binder, resulting in costs savings of the asphalt binder. In addition, the paint-coated aggregates avoid problems associated with selective absorption of components of the asphalt binder.
US08168689B2
A high optical contrast pigment and colorful photosensitive composition employing the same are disclosed. The composition comprises a solvent, an alkali-soluble resin, reactive monomer, and a modified pigment which has low crystallization. The low crystallization degree means that the grain size variation R is not more 80%, wherein the grain size variation R is represented by a formula R=G1/G0×100%, G0 is the original grain size, and G1 is the grain size after modification.
US08168681B2
Novel amidoacetonitrile compounds are disclosed. The compounds have pesticidal properties and are suitable for controlling endoparasites on warm-blooded animals.
US08168678B2
Described herein are compounds that are antagonists of PGD2 receptors. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds described herein, and methods of using such antagonists of PGD2 receptors, alone or in combination with other compounds, for treating respiratory, cardiovascular, and other PGD2-dependent or PGD2-mediated conditions or diseases.
US08168677B2
Method for therapeutic treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a retinoid as an active ingredient to treat the inflammatory bowel disease, the retinoid being selected from the group consisting of 4-[(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl) carbamoyl]benzoic acid, 4-[(3,5-bis-trimethylsilylphenyl)carboxamido]benzoic acid, 4-[2,3-(2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexano)dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepin-11-yl]benzoic acid, and 4-(5H-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5,7,7,10,10-pentamethylbenzo[e]naphtho[2,3-b][1,4]diazepin-13-yl)benzoic acid.
US08168664B2
Disclosed herein are methods of using metaxalone. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining that a patient in need metaxalone therapy is taking a substance that is a n inhibitor or an inducer of a cytochrome p450 isozyme, wherein the cytochrome P450 is CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, or CYP3A4, and adjusting administration to the patient of metaxalone or the substance to avoid an adverse event associated with metaxalone. In another embodiment, the method comprises informing a user that metaxalone is metabolized by a cytochrome p450 isozyme, wherein the cytochrome P450 is CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, or CYP3A4. Also included are articles of manufacture comprising a container containing a dosage form of metaxalone, wherein the container is associated with published material informing that metaxalone affects activity of a cytochrome p450 isozyme. Also disclosed are a method of treatment and a method of manufacturing a metaxalone product.
US08168660B2
A composition comprising at least a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I) (a) and a compound capable of inhibiting the ergosterol biosynthesis (b) in a (a)/(b) weight ratio of from 0.01 to 20.A composition further comprising an additional fungicidal compound.A method for preventively or curatively combating the phytopathogenic fungi of crops by using this composition.
US08168652B2
The instant invention provides for substituted naphthyridine compounds that inhibit Akt activity. In particular, the compounds disclosed selectively inhibit one or two of the Akt isoforms. The invention also provides for compositions comprising such inhibitory compounds and methods of inhibiting Akt activity by administering the compound to a patient in need of treatment of cancer.
US08168649B2
The present invention encompasses compounds of Formula (I): as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts and hydrates thereof, that are useful for treating atherosclerosis, dyslipidemias and the like. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use are also included.
US08168644B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I), their use as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, n, m and X have defined meanings.
US08168622B2
β-lactamase resistant cephalosporin ester compound chosen from those represented by formula (I): wherein, and pharmaceutical salts thereof, composition thereof, and use thereof are disclosed.
US08168615B2
This invention provides for prodrug Compounds I, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and their use in treating HIV infection. wherein: X is C or N with the proviso that when X is N, R1 does not exist; W is C or N with the proviso that when W is N, R2 does not exist; V is C; E is hydrogen or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and Y is selected from the group consisting of Also, this invention provides for intermediate Compounds II useful in making prodrug Compounds I. wherein: L and M are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C6 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, trialkylsilyl, -2,2,2-trichloroethoxy and 2-trimethylsilylethoxy.
US08168603B2
The present invention concerns particular G-quartet oligonucleotides that are employed for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer. In specific cases, the G-quartet oligonucleotides inhibit HIF-1α.
US08168602B2
The invention relates to compositions, kits, and methods for detecting, characterizing, preventing, and treating human cancer. A variety of chromosomal regions (MCRs) and markers corresponding thereto, are provided, wherein alterations in the copy number of one or more of the MCRs and/or alterations in the amount, structure, and/or activity of one or more of the markers is correlated with the presence of cancer.
US08168596B2
A method of treating a disease associated with cartilage defect in a subject in need thereof by administering to the subject an effectively amount of a cycloartane compound of Formula (I).
US08168595B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I) oligosaccharide-spacer-A (1), wherein the oligosaccharide is a negatively charged oligosaccharide residue comprising two to twenty five monosaccharide units, the charge being compensated by positively charged counterions, and wherein the oligosaccharide residue is derived from an oligosaccharide which has (AT-III mediated) anti-Xa activity per se; the spacer is an essentially pharmacologically inactive flexible linking residue having a chain length of 10 to 70 atoms; A is the residue —CH[NH—SO2—R1[CO—NR2—CH(4-benzamidine)-CO—NR3R4], wherein R1 is phenyl, naphthyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, (iso)quinolinyl, tetrahydro(iso)quinolinyl, 3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinolinyl, chromanyl or the camphor group, which groups may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from (1-8C)alkyl or (1-8C)alkoxy; and wherein R2 and R3 are independently H or (1-8C)alkyl; R4 is (-8C)alkyl or (3-8C)cycloalkyl; or R3 and R4 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded are a nonaromatic (4-8) membered ring optionally containing another heteroatom, the ring optionally being substituted with (1-8C)alkyl or SO2-(1-8C)alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof a prodrug or solvate thereof; wherein the compound of formula I further comprises at least one covalent bond with a biotin residue or an analogue thereof. The compounds of the invention have antithrombotic activity and can be used in treating or preventing thrombosis or other thrombin-related diseases. The antithrombotic activity of the compound of this invention can be neutralized in case of emergency upon administration of avidin, streptavidin and analogues thereof having high biotin affinity.
US08168591B2
The invention relates to an isolated amino acid that can act as an antagonist to FGF signaling, comprising at least a portion of the FGF protein amino acid sequence, and including a mutation in either a) the integrin αvβ3 binding region of FGF-1; or b) the FGFR binding region of FGF-1.
US08168590B2
The invention relates to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in which the alanine at AA position 111 is replaced by proline. The arginine at AA position 110 may moreover be replaced by another amino acid. The invention also relates to derivatives of the VEGF according to the invention, nucleic acids, expression systems, medicaments and the use of the VEGF mutants of the invention for the treatment of chronic wounds.
US08168583B2
2′-Fluoro-nucleoside compounds are disclosed which are useful in the treatment of hepatitis B infection, hepatitis C infection, HIV and abnormal cellular proliferation, including tumors and cancer. The compounds have the general formulae: wherein Base is a purine or pyrimidine base; R1 is OH, H, OR3, N3, CN, halogen, CF3, lower alkyl, amino, loweralkylamino, di(lower)alkylamino, or alkoxy; R2 is H, phosphate, or a stabilized phosphate prodrug; acyl, or other pharmaceutically acceptable leaving benzyl, a lipid, an amino acid, peptide, or cholesterol; and R3 is acyl, alkyl, phosphate, or other pharmaceutically acceptable leaving group; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08168581B2
A process for the manufacture of a detergent tablet comprises filling a recess in a first pre-formed body with a gel; adding a second body to the gel; and allowing/causing the gel to solidify.
US08168573B2
The present invention provides a lubricating oil composition comprising a mixture of both a poly-alpha-olefin and an ester compound, the lubricating oil composition having an SAE viscosity grade of 75W-85, satisfying GL-5 in terms of API gear oil designation and having a viscosity index of 160 or more. The above mixture of the poly-alpha-olefin and ester compound is preferably contained in an amount of from 75 to 90 wt % with reference to the total amount of the lubricating oil composition. The poly-alpha-olefin is preferably a mixture of a poly-alpha-olefin having low viscosity of from about 3 to 6 mm2/s at 100° C. and a poly-alpha-olefin having high viscosity of from about 35 to 45 mm2/s at 100° C.
US08168571B2
A lubricant composition for thermoplastic processing including at least one natural fat and/or oil with an iodine value below 10 and at least one lubricant different from the natural fat and/or oil is provided. A method for processing thermoplastics including incorporating into a thermoplastic polymer a lubricant composition including at least one natural fat and/or oil with an iodine value below 10 and at least one lubricant different from the natural fat and/or oil, and processing the thermoplastic polymer is also provided.
US08168570B2
Proppants having added functional properties are provided, as are methods that use the proppants to track and trace the characteristics of a fracture in a geologic formation. Information obtained by the methods can be used to design a fracturing job, to increase conductivity in the fracture, and to enhance oil and gas recovery from the geologic formation. The functionalized proppants can be detected by a variety of methods utilizing, for example, an airborne magnetometer survey, ground penetrating radar, a high resolution accelerometer, a geophone, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultra-sound, impedance measurements, piezoelectric activity, radioactivity, and the like. Methods of mapping a subterranean formation are also provided and use the functionalized proppants to detect characteristics of the formation.
US08168566B2
The present invention relates to novel 4-biphenyl-substituted pyrazolidine-3,5-dione derivatives of the formula (I) in which A, D, G, W, X, Y and Z are as defined above, to a plurality of processes for the preparation and to their use as pesticides and/or herbicides and/or microbicides. Moreover, the invention relates to selective herbicidal compositions comprising both the 4-biphenyl-substituted pyrazolidine-3,5-dione derivatives of the formula (I) and a crop plant compatibility-improving compound.
US08168562B2
A new method for preparing supported palladium-gold catalysts is disclosed. The method comprises sulfating a titanium dioxide support, calcining the sulfated support, impregnating the calcined support with a palladium salt, a gold salt, and an alkali metal or ammonium compound, calcining the impregnated support, and reducing the calcined support. The resultant supported palladium-gold catalysts have increased activity and stability in the acetoxylation.
US08168561B2
A core-shell catalyst material can include a core and a shell material. Each of the core material and the shell material can have crystal structures and lattice parameters which allow for a substantially coherent core-shell interface. The shell material can include a catalytically active metal. The circumferential stress of the shell material, σθθ, at the core-shell interface and at the shell surface, is greater than 0 (tensile) or can be compressive of a lower magnitude than a catalyst made of the shell material alone. The crystal structures of the core material can often be the same as the shell material, although this is not always required.
US08168547B2
The transistor characteristics of a MIS transistor provided with a gate insulating film formed to contain oxide with a relative dielectric constant higher than that of silicon oxide are improved. After a high dielectric layer made of hafnium oxide is formed on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate, the main surface of the semiconductor substrate is heat-treated in a non-oxidation atmosphere. Next, an oxygen supplying layer made of hafnium oxide deposited by ALD and having a thickness smaller than that of the high dielectric layer is formed on the high dielectric layer, and a cap layer made of tantalum nitride is formed. Thereafter, the main surface of the semiconductor substrate is heat-treated.
US08168542B2
A tubular object is fabricated by a method comprising the steps of providing a first layer, forming a second layer on the first layer, and then patterning the second layer to form a raised feature with one or more sidewalls. Subsequently, the first layer is processed such that components of the first layer deposit on the one or more sidewalls of the raised feature.
US08168541B2
The present invention relates to a CMP polishing slurry, comprising cerium oxide particles, a dispersing agent, a water-soluble polymer and water, wherein the water-soluble polymer is a compound having a skeleton of any one of an N-mono-substituted product and an N,N-di-substituted product of any one selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide and α-substituted products thereof. The amount of the water-soluble polymer is preferably in the range of 0.01 part or more by weight and 10 parts or less by weight for 100 parts by weight of the polishing slurry. Thus it is possible to provide a polishing slurry and a polishing method which make it possible to polish a film made of silicon oxide or the like effectively and rapidly and further control the process therefore easily in CMP technique for flattening an interlayer insulating film, a BPSG film, an insulator film for shallow trench isolation, and other films.
US08168532B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an oxygen-containing insulating film disposed above the above-described semiconductor substrate, a concave portion disposed in the above-described insulating film, a copper-containing first film disposed on an inner wall of the above-described concave portion, a copper-containing second film disposed above the above-described first film and filled in the above-described concave portion, and a manganese-containing oxide layer disposed between the above-described first film and the above-described second film. Furthermore, a copper interconnection is formed on the above-described structure by an electroplating method and, subsequently, a short-time heat treatment is conducted at a temperature of 80° C. to 120° C.
US08168529B2
The formation of a seal ring in a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) die is described. Through-silicon vias (TSVs) are typically formed in a semiconductor IC die to facilitate the formation of a three dimensional (3D) stacking die structure. The TSVs may be utilized to provide electrical connections between components in different dies of the 3D stacking die structure. A seal ring is formed in the inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layers of an IC die, enclosing an active circuit region. The real ring is formed prior to the formation of the TSVs, preventing moistures or other undesired chemical agents from diffusing into the active circuit region during the subsequent processes of forming TSVs.
US08168528B2
Methods of making interconnect structures are provided. In one aspect of the innovation, when forming a trench or via in a dielectric layer, the sidewall surface of another via and/or trench is covered with a metal oxide layer. The metal oxide layer can prevent and/or mitigate surface erosion of the sidewall surface. As a result, the methods can improve the controllability of critical dimensions of the via and trench.
US08168522B2
An aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, including, forming a gate insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, forming a metal film on the gate insulating film, depositing a metal-silicon compound film on the metal film without exposing the semiconductor substrate into atmosphere after forming the metal film, forming a silicon film on the metal-silicon compound film, and etching the metal film, the metal-silicon compound film, and the silicon film.
US08168521B2
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a recess is formed in an active region of a substrate. A gate insulation layer is formed in the first recess. A barrier layer is formed on the gate insulation layer. A preliminary nucleation layer having a first resistance is formed on the barrier layer. The preliminary nucleation layer is converted into a nucleation layer having a second resistance substantially smaller than the first resistance. A conductive layer is formed on the nucleation layer. The conductive layer, the nucleation layer, the barrier layer and the gate insulation layer are partially etched to form a buried gate structure including a gate insulation layer pattern, a barrier layer pattern, a nucleation layer pattern and a conductive layer pattern.
US08168514B2
A method of separating a sheet of coated brittle material comprises the steps of providing a sheet of layered brittle material comprising a brittle layer and a coating material adhered to a surface of the brittle layer and applying a laser along a separation line in the sheet, thereby cutting the coating material and separating the brittle layer by inducing a stress fracture therein.
US08168509B2
In an etching method, a thin layer is formed on a first surface of a first substrate doped with first impurities having a first doping concentration. The thin layer is doped with second impurities having a second doping concentration lower than the first doping concentration. A second substrate is formed on the thin layer. A second surface of the first substrate is polished. The polished first substrate is cleaned using a cleaning solution including ammonia and deionized water. The cleaned first substrate is etched to expose the thin layer.
US08168501B2
A semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof wherein a PMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate includes a first strained layer in the PMOS source/drain region and a first capping layer in contact with the first strained layer. Further, the semiconductor device and method provide for an NMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate including a second strained layer in the NMOS source/drain region and a second capping layer in contact with the second strained layer.
US08168490B2
A voltage converter includes an output circuit having a high-side device and a low-side device which can be formed on a single die (a “PowerDie”). The high-side device can include a lateral diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) while the low-side device can include a planar vertical diffused metal oxide semiconductor (VDMOS). The voltage converter can further include a controller circuit on a different die which can be electrically coupled to, and co-packaged with, the power die.
US08168487B2
A technique for and structures for camouflaging an integrated circuit structure and strengthen its resistance to reverse engineering. A plurality of transistors are formed in a semiconductor substrate, at least some of the transistors being of the type having sidewall spacers with LDD regions formed under the sidewall spacers. Transistors are programmably interconnected with ambiguous interconnection features, the ambiguous interconnection features each comprising a channel formed in the semiconductor substrate with preferably the same dopant density as the LDD regions, with selected ones of the channels being formed of a conductivity type supporting electrical communication between interconnected active regions and with other selected ones of the channels being formed of a conductivity type inhibiting electrical communication but ambiguously appearing to a reverse engineer as supporting electrical communication.
US08168485B2
A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a p-type semiconductor region to an n-type semiconductor substrate in such a manner that the p-type semiconductor region is partially exposed to a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, forming a Schottky electrode of a first material in such a manner that the Schottky electrode is in Schottky contact with an n-type semiconductor region exposed to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and forming an ohmic electrode of a second material different from the first material in such a manner that the ohmic electrode is in ohmic contact with the exposed p-type semiconductor region. The Schottky electrode is formed earlier than the ohmic electrode.
US08168482B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises preparing a base; forming a silicon oxide film including hydrogen or deuterium on the base; diffusing nitrogen into the silicon oxide film to form a gate insulating film; forming a gate electrode on the gate insulating film; ion doping the base to form source and drain regions along side a channel region; and forming a source electrode connected to the source region and a drain electrode connected to the drain region, the gate insulating film having a region where B/A is in the range of 1.6 to 10, where A is a concentration of nitrogen, and B is a concentration of hydrogen or deuterium, and the region is Y/10 of the thickness of the gate insulating film from the interface between the gate insulating film and the base, where Y is an average thickness of the gate insulating film.
US08168475B2
Provided are a semiconductor package which is small in size but includes a large number of terminals disposed at intervals equal to or greater than a minimum pitch, and a method of fabricating the semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip having a bottom surface on which a plurality of bumps are formed, redistribution layer patterns formed under the semiconductor chip and each including a first part electrically connected to at least one of the bumps and a second part electrically connected to the first part, an encapsulation layer surrounding at least a top surface of the semiconductor chip, and a patterned insulating layer formed below the redistribution layer patterns and exposing at least parts of the second parts of the redistribution layer patterns.
US08168470B2
A semiconductor device is made with a conductive via formed through a top-side of the substrate. The conductive via extends vertically through less than a thickness of the substrate. An integrated passive device (IPD) is formed over the substrate. A plurality of first conductive pillars is formed over the first IPD. A first semiconductor die is mounted over the substrate. An encapsulant is formed around the first conductive pillars and first semiconductor die. A second IPD is formed over the encapsulant. An interconnect structure is formed over the second IPD. The interconnect structure operates as a heat sink. A portion of a back-side of the substrate is removed to expose the first conductive via. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the back-side of the substrate. The second semiconductor die is electrically connected to the first IPD and first semiconductor die through the conductive via.
US08168461B2
The present invention improves mechanical strength of a micro-electro-mechanical device (MEMS) having a movable portion to improve reliability. In a micro-electro-mechanical device (MEMS) having a movable portion, a portion which has been a hollow portion in the case of a conventional structure is filled with a filler material. As the filler material, a block copolymer that is highly flexible is used, for example. By filling the hollow portion, mechanical strength improves. Besides, warpage of an upper portion of a structure body in the manufacture process is prevented, whereby yield improves. A micro-electro-mechanical device thus manufactured is highly reliable.
US08168455B2
A method for manufacturing light emitting diode (LED) is revealed. By means of wet etching, a plurality of pyramids is formed on epitaxial structure. The depth of the pyramids is beyond a n-type semiconductor layer, reaching a p-type semiconductor layer. Thus light emitting directions of the LED made by the method of the present invention are increased. Therefore, the light emitting efficiency of LED is improved.
US08168449B2
A method for fabricating a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) includes forming a mask over a magnetic layer; forming a template on the mask; applying a diblock copolymer to the template; curing the diblock copolymer to form a first plurality of uniform shapes registered to the template; etching the mask to form a second plurality of uniform shapes; and etching the magnetic layer to form a third plurality of uniform shapes, the third plurality of uniform shapes comprising a plurality of magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). A diblock copolymer mask for fabricating a magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) includes a magnetic layer; a mask formed on the magnetic layer; a template formed on the mask; and a diblock copolymer mask comprising a plurality of uniform shapes formed on and registered to the template.
US08168445B2
A method of immobilizing a target molecule on a substrate, which comprises exposing the target molecule to the substrate in the presence of a metal complex, wherein the target molecule is an unmodified target molecule, and wherein the metal complex is selected to provide a stable binding interaction between the target molecule and the substrate.
US08168438B2
The presently-disclosed subject matter provides sensors and methods for detecting hydrogen by determining the conductivity of a chemiresistant film upon exposure to hydrogen, including for example chemiresistant films comprised of alkylamine-, alkylthiolate-, and/or surfactant-coated metal alloy nanoparticles.
US08168432B2
Gas permeable devices and methods are disclosed for cell culture, including cell culture devices and methods that contain medium at heights, and certain gas permeable surface area to medium volume ratios. These devices and methods allow improvements in cell culture efficiency and scale up efficiency.
US08168425B2
Two mechanisms are provided for improving the expression of Factor IX in gene therapy vectors. The first is the use of a specific Factor IX polynucleotide coding sequence designed for optimal expression. The second is the use of transcriptional regulatory regions minimized in size so that they can be used to express Factor IX, as well as any other gene of interest, in a size-constrained environment such as in a self complementary gene therapy vector system.
US08168424B2
A biosensor for detecting particular substances biosensor comprises a piezoelectric material, an input transducer supported by the piezoelectric material to receive an input signal and propagate a corresponding acoustic wave within the piezoelectric material and an output transducer supported by the piezoelectric material to receive the acoustic wave. At least two chemically orthogonal or semi-orthogonal biolayers are supported by the piezoelectric material to receive substances to be tested and cause corresponding changes in the acoustic wave. The output transducer can transmit a corresponding output signal embodying separate channel data indicative of the substances received.
US08168414B2
The present invention concerns a new β-galactosidase with transgalactosylating activity isolated from Bifidobacterium bifidum. The β-galactosidase is capable of converting lactose to a mixture of galactooligosaccharides which are β-linked and unexpectedly produces the α-linked disaccharide galactobiose. The mixture may be incorporated into numerous food products or animal feeds for improving gut health by promoting the growth of bifidobacteria in the gut, and repressing the growth of the pathogenic microflora.
US08168412B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing an optically-active amine compound. The method is characterized by using a transaminase (A), an α-keto acid reductase (B), and an enzyme (C), each having specific properties, in an identical reaction system to convert a ketone compound into a corresponding optically-active amine compound in which a carbon atom with an amino group bonded thereto serves as an asymmetric point. The present invention also relates to a recombinant vector for use in the method. The present invention makes it possible to efficiently produce an optically-active amine compound.
US08168411B2
Thermostable fluorescent proteins (TSFPs), methods for generating these and other stability-enhanced proteins, polynucleotides encoding such proteins, and assays and method for using the TSFPs and TSFP-encoding nucleic acid molecules are provided. The TSFPs of the invention show extremely enhanced levels of stability and thermotolerance. In one case, for example, a TSFP of the invention is so stable it can be heated to 99° C. for short periods of time without denaturing, and retains 85% of its fluorescence when heated to 80° C. for several minutes. The invention also provides a method for generating stability-enhanced variants of a protein, including but not limited to fluorescent proteins.
US08168405B2
A mutant hydrolase optionally fused to a protein of interest is provided. The mutant hydrolase is capable of forming a bond with a substrate for the corresponding nonmutant (wild-type) hydrolase which is more stable than the bond formed between the wild-type hydrolase and the substrate and has at least two amino acid substitutions relative to the wild-type hydrolase. Substrates for hydrolases comprising one or more functional groups are also provided, as well as methods of using the mutant hydrolase and the substrates of the invention. Also provided is a fusion protein capable of forming a stable bond with a substrate and cells which express the fusion protein.
US08168404B2
The present invention relates to a method for assessing the sensitivity of a patient's cancer to treatment with 10-propargyl-10-deazaminopterin and a method for selecting a patient for treatment of cancer with 10-propargyl-10-deazaminopterin, by determining the amount of a selected polypeptide expressed by the cancer and comparing the amount with the amount of the selected polypeptide expressed by a reference cancer, wherein the polypeptide includes a member of folate pathways within cells and may include at least one of reduced folate carrier-1 enzyme (RFC-1), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), folylpoly-gamma-glutamate synthetase (FPGS), thymidylate synthase (TS), γ-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH), and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT). The present invention also relates to the use of 10-propargyl-10-deazaminopterin in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
US08168396B2
Methods for identifying individuals who are not yet diabetic (pre-diabetic), but who are at significant risk of developing diabetes, such as type 2 diabetes, are disclosed herein. Methods are also provided for the identification of diabetic subjects. Also disclosed are methods for identifying individuals with diabetic complications. The methods include the identification of an overall glycosylation profile of proteins in a biological fluid, such as saliva, urine, or serum. In some examples, the methods include determining the amount of one or more protein in a biological fluid or determining the glycosylation pattern of one or more proteins in a biological fluid.
US08168393B2
The invention provides methods for diagnosing tumors in mammals using a reagent that bind to LEDGF/p75 or to a nucleic acid encoding LEDGF/p75. For example, the tumor may be located in the CNS, the prostate, the skin, the bone marrow, or the gut of the mammal. Also provided are methods for diagnosing brain tumors such as medulloblastomas, meningiomas, astrocytomas, glioblastomas multiforme, and ependymomas by examining LEDGF/p75 or a nucleic acid encoding LEDGF/p75 localization. The invention also involves methods for diagnosing cancers involving cancerous epithelial cells such as colon cancer. The instant invention also provides methods for isolating stem cells from a heterogeneous population of cells, as well as methods for identifying neuroepithelial stem cells, newly differentiated neurons, and astrocytes in a subject. Also provided are methods for inducing the differentiation of neuroepithelial stem cells into astrocytes or neurons and methods for screening candidate compounds that regulate the differentiation of neuroepithelial stem cells.
US08168390B2
Disclosed is a method for identifying an individual who has an altered risk for developing age-related macular degeneration comprising detecting an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the ARMS2 gene.
US08168386B1
The present invention is generally related to products and methods that facilitate the use of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) virus TC-83 (TC-83) as a non-hazardous simulant, or surrogate, for viable pathogenic viruses. Specifically, TC-83 nucleic sequences are used in a method of detecting VEE or TC-83 in a sample thought to contain a biological threat agent. TC-83 and its nucleic acid sequence may therefore be used in the research, development, testing, evaluation, and training for technologies that enable the detection of biological threat agents. More particularly, specific primers and probes may be used to verify that instruments and systems using PCR detection methods are functioning properly.
US08168382B2
In a first aspect, the present invention features methods for differentiating DNA species originating from different individuals in a biological sample. These methods may be used to differentiate or detect fetal DNA in a maternal sample or to differentiate DNA of an organ donor from DNA of an organ recipient. In preferred embodiments, the DNA species are differentiated by observing epigenetic differences in the DNA species such as differences in DNA methylation. In a second aspect, the present invention features methods of detecting genetic abnormalities in a fetus by detecting fetal DNA in a biological sample obtained from a mother. In a third aspect, the present invention features methods for differentiating DNA species originating from an organ donor from those of an organ recipient. In a fourth aspect, the present invention features kits for differentiating DNA species originating from different individuals in a biological sample.
US08168377B2
The pattern forming method includes forming a catalyst film on a base layer having an uneven surface, wherein the catalyst layer is formed along the uneven surface of the base layer; forming a coating film by coating a fluid material on the catalyst film; forming an insoluble layer which is insoluble in a solvent in the coating film by reacting the coating film along the catalyst film; and maintaining the insoluble layer by removing an unreacted portion of the coating film by using the solvent.
US08168370B2
A lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support; and an image forming layer formed from a photosensitive composition, wherein the photosensitive composition includes: a photopolymerization initiator; a polymerizable compound; and a binder polymer including a graft chain, and the graft chain is a hydrophilic graft chain including a hydrophilic group.
US08168369B2
The present invention relates to a photoactive compound of a novel structure represented by Chemical Formula 1 below In Chemical Formula 1, R1 and R2, R3, and A are as defined in the specification, and a photosensitive resin composition comprising the same. The photoactive compound of the present invention comprises a nitro group and a phosphonate structure and thus exhibits excellent sensitivity through efficient absorption for UV light, excellent compatibility between the photoactive compound and the alkali-soluble binder resin, and an improved solubility of the photosensitive resin composition. Furthermore, the photosensitive resin composition of the present invention has excellent residual film thickness and mechanical strength characteristics and heat-resistant, chemical-resistant, and development-resistant properties. Accordingly, the photosensitive resin composition of the present invention is advantageous in hardening the column spacers of liquid crystal displays, an overcoat, and passivation materials and also advantageous in a high-temperature process characteristic.
US08168367B2
The present invention relates to: a resist composition such as a chemically amplified resist composition for providing an excellent pattern profile even at a substrate-side boundary face of resist, in addition to a higher resolution in photolithography for micro-fabrication, and particularly in photolithography adopting, as an exposure source, KrF laser, ArF laser, F2 laser, ultra-short ultraviolet light, electron beam, X-rays, or the like; and a patterning process utilizing the resist composition. The present invention provides a chemically amplified resist composition comprising one or more kinds of amine compounds or amine oxide compounds (except for those having a nitrogen atom of amine or amine oxide included in a ring structure of an aromatic ring) at least having a carboxyl group and having no hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to a nitrogen atom as a basic center.
US08168365B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a step of forming a first surface layer and a second surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by supplying a source gas into a reaction vessel so that C2/S2, which are respectively flow rates of CH4 and SiH4 flowing when the second surface layer is formed, can be 3 or more and 25 or less, and C1/S1, which are respectively flow rates of CH4 and SiH4 flowing when the first surface layer is formed, can be C2/S2 or more but 60 or less. The method includes an additional step of adjusting the high-frequency power so that P2>P1 can be satisfied, which are high-frequency powers respectively when the second surface layer is formed and when the first surface layer is formed, and C/(Si+C) of the first surface layer and C/(Si+C) of the second surface layer can be 0.50 or more and 0.80 or less.
US08168364B2
A resin-filled carrier for an electrophotographic developer obtained by filling resin into voids of a porous ferrite core material, wherein the porous ferrite core material has a pore volume of 0.04 to 0.16 mL/g and a peak pore size of 0.9 to 2.0 μm, and an electrophotographic developer using this resin-filled carrier.
US08168362B2
An electrostatic image developing toner includes a polyester resin, the electrostatic image developing toner having a sulfur element concentration S at % and a nitrogen element concentration N at % which satisfies 0.5≦N/S≦10, the nitrogen element concentration N being from 0.002 at % to 2.5 at %.
US08168361B2
An emulsion aggregation toner composition includes toner particles including: an amorphous polyester resin; an optional crystalline resin; an optional colorant; an optional wax; an optional coagulant; and a polymeric or oligomeric hydroxy ketone photo initiator capable of initiating crosslinking of said polyester resin, wherein at least one of the amorphous polyester resin and the optional crystalline resin when present is unsaturated.
US08168359B2
Nano-sized phthalocyanine pigment particles include a phthalocyanine chromogen structure as the main component, and a substituted soluble metal-phthalocyanine dye as a minor component that is associated non-covalently with the phthalocyanine chromogen structure, wherein the presence of one or more sterically bulky substituents on the substituted soluble metal-phthalocyanine dye limits an extent of pigment particle growth and aggregation, to afford nano-sized pigment particles.
US08168358B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer, and wherein the charge transport layer contains a polysulfone.
US08168356B2
The presently disclosed embodiments relate in general to electrophotographic imaging members, such as layered photoreceptor structures, and processes for making and using the same. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to the incorporation of a liquid compound having a high boiling point into the charge transport layer such that an anticurl back coating is no longer needed for reduction or elimination of photoreceptor upward curling.
US08168348B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of electrochemical catalysts of the polymer electrolytes-based fuel cells. With the process of the present invention, high catalyst activity while uniformly supporting a large amount of metal particles on a surface of a support can be achieved. Also, the present invention provides a process for the preparation of electrochemical catalysts of the polymer electrolytes-based fuel cells capable of using a small amount of toxic solvent without an additional high-temperature hydrogen annealing.
US08168341B2
A fuel cell includes a plurality of electrolyte electrode assemblies and a pair of separators sandwiching the electrolyte electrode assemblies. A fuel gas supply channel formed by a channel member fixed to the separator is connected to a fuel gas inlet formed in an inner end of a trapezoidal section. Unburned hydrogen in an exhaust fuel gas consumed in the reaction at the anode, and discharged from the fuel gas channel to an oxygen -containing gas supply unit, is mixed with an oxygen-containing gas before consumption, burned, and then supplied to an oxygen-containing gas channel.
US08168340B2
A bipolar plate includes angled facets oriented to form V-shaped projections on the plate edge. Liquid leaving the reactant channels is drawn back into the V-shaped grooves of the projections, leaving no liquid to obstruct the channel exit openings. The bipolar plate includes one portion of the bipolar plate offset from another portion of the bipolar plate so as to expose the reactant channels. The liquid is drawn toward the end portions of the reactant channels by capillary forces, while the gas flows can exit near the beginning of the offset portion. A fuel cell stack includes angled facets that are rotated to lie in the plane of the bipolar plate edges. The edges are chamfered so the channel exit openings of the reactant channels are at the tip portions thereof, thus allowing the liquid to flow away from the channel exit openings and the gas to exit freely.
US08168334B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a non-aqueous solvent and a solute dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent, wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte further contains a chain phosphoric acid ester and at least one imide salt represented by the formula (1): where R1 and R2 each independently represent CnX2n+1, X represents a hydrogen atom or halogen atom, and n is an integer equal to or greater than 1, and the amount of the chain phosphoric acid ester is 50 to 20000 ppm relative to the total weight of the non-aqueous electrolyte.
US08168316B2
A frame structure for collecting a plurality of batteries comprises a cover covers one end surface of the batteries with positive and negative terminals, and the positive and negative terminals of the batteries are protruded out of the cover. A base is provided for collecting the batteries. A plurality of jointing structures is inserted through both sides of the cover and the base. Such arrangements not only is portable and easy to disassemble, but also is environmental protection.
US08168315B1
A method for detecting cell failure within a battery pack based on variations in the measured electrical isolation resistance of the battery pack is provided. The method includes the steps of monitoring the isolation resistance; determining when the isolation resistance falls below a preset value; and performing a predetermined response when the isolation resistance falls below the preset value. The method may include additional steps such as (i) determining how long the isolation resistance remains below the preset value; (ii) determining the rate of change in the isolation resistance; (iii) determining how long it takes for the electrical isolation resistance to recover; (iv) determining when the isolation resistance falls below a third preset value, wherein this step is performed after the isolation resistance recovers to greater than the second preset value; and (v) monitoring for a secondary effect associated with cell failure.
US08168308B2
The present invention is to provide an organic compound having excellent characteristics as a material for an organic EL device having a high efficiency and a high durability, and to provide an organic EL device having a high efficiency and a high durability by using the compound. The invention relates to a compound having a pyridoindole ring structure having a substituted pyridyl group attached thereto, which is represented by the general formula (1); and to an organic electroluminescent device comprising a pair of electrodes and at least one organic layer interposed between the electrodes, wherein at least one of the organic layer(s) contains the compound: wherein Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group, or a substituted or unsubstituted condensed polycyclic aromatic group; R1 to R10 may be the same or different from one another and each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group; Z represents a 6-membered aromatic heterocyclic ring containing one nitrogen atom; and m and n each independently represents an integer of 1 to 3, provided that n is 1 when m is 2 or 3.
US08168307B2
An organic compound is represented by following Formula (I): wherein Cz1 and Cz2 may be the same as or different from each other and each represent a carbazolyl group; Q1 and Q2 may be the same as or different from each other and each represent a direct bond or an arbitrary linkage group; and Cz1, Cz2, Q1, Q2, Ring B1 and Ring B2 may each be substituted. The organic compound and charge transporting material show both excellent hole transporting ability and excellent electron transporting ability and have satisfactory durability against electric oxidation/reduction and a high triplet excitation level. An organic electroluminescent device using the organic compound emits light with a high efficiency and is highly stably driven.
US08168302B2
A multilayered polymer film includes a first set of optical layers and a second set of optical layers. The first set of optical layers is made from a polyester which is often birefringent. The polyesters of the first set of optical layers typically have a composition in which 70-100 mol % of the carboxylate subunits are first carboxylate subunits and 0-30 mol % are comonomer carboxylate subunits and 70 to 100 mol % of the glycol subunits are first glycol subunits and 0 to 30 mol % of the glycol subunits are comonomer glycol subunits, where at least 0.5 mol % of the combined carboxylate and glycol subunits are comonomer carboxylate or comonomer glycol subunits. The multilayered polymer film may be used to form, for example, a reflective polarizer or a mirror.
US08168300B2
The present invention provides a method of producing an electromagnetic interference shield glass, which comprises (a) forming a conductive pattern on at least one side of a front side and a rear side of the glass by using a conductive paste comprising a colored glass frit, and (b) firing the conductive pattern to blacken the conductive pattern, and a blackened electromagnetic interference shield glass.
US08168293B2
Formulation for cellular, foamed-polymer product based on polyvinyl chloride, comprising: a polyvinyl chloride homopolymer having a K-value of from 60 to 85 and a pH value of the aqueous extract ranging of from 8 to 12; at least one isocyanate selected from isomers and homologues of diphenylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate and modified diphenylmethane-4,4-diisocyanate s and mixtures thereof; at least one anhydride selected from the group of succinic anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, methyl-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, 4-methyl-hexahydrophthalic anhydride, cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride, methyl-endomethylene tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, dodecenyl succinic anhydride, trimellitic anhydride and mixtures thereof; at least a surfactant; at least a foaming agent.
US08168290B2
The multilayer film serves as a laminate. The film is a multilayered structure that, in its base form, encompasses an intermediate layer with first and second outer layer affixed to opposing sides of the intermediate layer. The first outer layer is a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer. The intermediate layer includes a polyester and the second outer layer is an olefinic polymer. The layers are bonded together in the noted order to provide the multilayer film.
US08168289B2
A component (10) including a substrate material (12) and a wear alloy coating (14) applied to the substrate by a cold spray process. Particles of the wear alloy coating material (16) are directed toward a target surface (18) of the substrate at a velocity sufficiently high for the particles to deform and to adhere to the target surface. The size and/or composition of the particles may be varied during the cold spray process to produce a coating with a varying property across the depth of the coating. Particles of the wear alloy material may be applied by cold spraying along with particles of a second material such as a lubricant or a ceramic material. For Group 5 hard facing materials, the size and distribution of the embedded carbide nodules may be controlled by controlling the selection of the carbide particles being sprayed. The cold spray process permits a wear alloy coating to be applied proximate a brazed joint or over a directionally stabilized or single crystal material without degrading the underlying material.
US08168285B2
A joined component, in particular a rotation symmetrical component for connecting to another second joined component into a unit for creating a continuous material, non-disengageable connection through compression welding, comprising a joined surface and a joint portion, provided at the joined surface, for contacting the other, second joined component. A recess for receiving weld bead material is provided at the joined surface around the joint portion.
US08168284B2
Methods of fabricating complex three-dimensional structures on patterned substrates and related compositions are provided. The methods involve depositing on the substrate a block copolymer material that is “mismatched” to the substrate pattern, and then ordering the material to form a complex three-dimensional structure. According to various embodiments, the copolymer material mismatches the substrate pattern in that the symmetry and/or length scale of its bulk morphology differs from that of the pattern. When ordered, a balance between the physics that determines the bulk block copolymer morphology and the physics that determines the substrate surface interfacial interactions results in a thermodynamically stable complex three-dimensional film that varies in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and has a morphology that differs from its bulk morphology.
US08168282B2
The present invention relates to a trimethine cyanine represented by the formula (1): wherein each of the symbols are defined in the specification. The present invention also relates to a use of the above dimeric trimethine cyanine compound as a dye, which is used in an optic element, particularly a high density recordable optical media.
US08168266B2
A method for changing the color of a substrate includes applying a color enhancing composition to the substrate to provide a first color; and applying a stimulus to the color enhancing composition to provide a second color; where the color enhancing composition includes a carrier fluid; chromatically selective scattering particles having a particle size distribution as measured by (weight average diameter)/(number average diameter) of less than or equal to 1.1; and an absorber of visible light.
US08168251B2
A method of making nanowire probes is provided. The method includes providing a template having a nanoporous structure, providing a probe tip that is disposed on top of the template, and growing nanowires on the probe tip, where the nanowires are grown from the probe tip along the nanopores, and the nanowires conform to the shape of the nanopores.
US08168245B2
A coral is washed with purified water or tap water, and a crushed coral is heat-treated. Proteins and other organic matter are incorporated between calcium molecules in the coral skeleton, and the organic matter is decomposed and released as volatile components. In the skeleton from which organic matter is released, a calcium skeleton having a porous structure is formed, and the surface area of pores is increased. A hydrogen gas can be retained in the structure by adsorbing a hydrogen gas to the pores in such a calcium skeleton a porous structure (micropores). The resulting coral powder, with which ions dissolved in water are easily extracted, shows a low oxidation reduction potential when dissolved in water.
US08168242B2
The invention pertains to an in situ process for producing fructooligosaccharides in a food product by contacting the food product with a fructosyltransferase to enzymatically convert sucrose to fructooligosaccharides in the food product. The increase in fructooligosaccharides results in an increase in dietary fiber content of the food product.
US08168236B2
Disclosed herein are processes for preparing extract products from the root of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. and the extract products thus obtained, which are biologically active in promoting the proliferation, growth and/or differentiation of hematocytes and bone marrow cells in vitro and in vivo.
US08168225B2
The invention relates to microcapsules, and a continuous micro-encapsulation water-in-oil-in-water microencapsulation process through in situ and interfacial polymerization of the emulsion. The formulation comprises a continuous water phase having a dispersion of microcapsules which contain oil drops and wherein the inside of each oil phase drop—containing optionally oil-soluble materials—there is a dispersion of water, or aqueous extract or water dispersible material or water soluble material. The oil drops are encapsulated with a polymerisable material of natural origin. Such microcapsules are appropriated for spray-dry processes, to be used as dry powder, lyophilized, self-emulsifiable powder, gel, cream and any liquid form. The active compounds included in the microcapsules are beneficial to the health and other biological purposes. Such formulations are appropriate to be incorporated in any class of food, specially for the production of nutraceuticals, as well as cosmetic products (such as rejuvenescence creams, anti-wrinkle creams, gels, bath and shower consumable products and sprays). The preparations are adequate to stabilize compounds added to the food, media for cultivating microbes and nutraceuticals, specially those which are easily degradable or oxidizable.
US08168222B2
Compositions and methods for transporting biologically active proteins and polypeptides, particularly across the blood-brain barrier, are provided.
US08168220B2
The invention relates to novel dosage forms containing hydroxystilbene, to a method for producing said dosage forms and to their use for treating female menopausal complaints, juvenile oligomenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea, primary and secondary amenorrhoea or endometritis.
US08168206B1
Animal protein-free, solid-form Clostridial toxin pharmaceutical compositions comprising a Clostridial toxin active ingredient and at least two excipients.
US08168204B2
The present invention relates to antigenic polypeptides expressed by pathogenic microbes, including antigenic polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid sequence of FIG. 1, vaccines comprising the antigenic polypeptides and therapeutic antibodies directed to the antigenic polypeptides.
US08168203B2
The present invention relates to protein antigens IcsP2 and SigA2 from Shigella that are common among numerous Shigella types and species and which can protect against shigellosis or other enteric infections when administered as vaccines. In addition, the present invention relates to antigens that are in common between Shigella species and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC). The invention also relates to the use of antibodies raised against these antigens and of DNA probes for use in the diagnosis of Shigella and EIEC infections.
US08168195B2
This invention relates to conjugates of the O-specific polysaccharide of E. coli O157 with a carrier, and compositions thereof, and to methods of using of using of these conjugates and/or compositions thereof for eliciting an immunogenic response in mammals, including responses which provide protection against, or reduce the severity of, bacterial infections. More particularly it relates to the use of polysaccharides containing the tetrasaccharide repeat unit: (→3)-α-DGalpNAc-(1→2)-α-D-PerpNAc-(1→3)-α-L-Fucp-(1→4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→), and conjugates thereof, to induce serum antibodies having bactericidal (killing) activity against hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) causing E. coli, in particular E. coli O157. The conjugates, and compositions thereof, are useful as vaccines to induce serum antibodies which have bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity against E. coli, in particular E. coli O157, and are useful to prevent and/or treat illnesses caused by E. coli O157.The invention further relates to the antibodies which immunoreact with the O-specific polysaccharide of E. coli O157 and/or the carrier, that are induced by these conjugates and/or compositions thereof. The invention also relates to methods and kits using one or more of the polysaccharides, conjugates or antibodies described above.
US08168194B2
Hybrid molecules comprising CD4 minimal modules or mimetics that bind to HIV Env polypeptides in combination with one or more HIV Tat polypeptides are described. Also described are complexes of these hybrid molecules with Env as well as methods of diagnosis, treatment and prevention using the polynucleotides and polypeptides.
US08168192B2
The invention provides a new type of a capsid protein VP1 of human enterovirus 71, named as MEL701-VP1 and functional/structural variants thereof, which is used for protection against enterovirus. The transgenic animal producing the protein, the composition comprising the protein and the method for production thereof are also provided.
US08168191B2
The present invention relates to a T lymphocyte having an activity to induce a T lymphocyte recognizing an antigen and a technique to use the T lymphocyte.
US08168184B2
The present invention relates to the treatment of immune system abnormalities that can be found in lethal human cancers and also in the progressive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) infections and provides medicaments to correct abnormalities in a subject with cancer or HIV-1-infected subjects, in order to allow the immune system to fight the cancer or HIV-1 infections. The present invention also discloses multivalent polypeptides which specifically bind to and enable destruction and/or inactivation of immune cells that have CD11b and CD3 on their surface, therefore dissipating the deleterious effects of the CD11b+T cells.
US08168180B2
Methods and compositions suitable for modulating angiogenesis in a mammalian tissue are provided. Further provided are methods suitable for inhibiting metastasis and fibrosis in a mammalian tissue and for assessing the malignancy of colon cancer tumors.
US08168176B2
Methods of treating endotoxin-mediated disorders are provided.
US08168171B2
The present invention relates to folic acid-producing bacterial strains belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, pharmaceutical, veterinary or food formulations containing them and the use thereof. In particular, the invention relates to new bacterial strains of human origin belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, adolescentis species (2), the genus Bifidobacterium, breve species (1) and the genus Bifidobacterium, pseudocatenulatum species (2) deposited in the DSMZ collection center (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH; Braunsweig, Germany), in accordance with the Treaty of Budapest, on 21 Jul. 2004.
US08168159B2
The present invention discloses a method for the enzyme-mediated, site-specific, in-vivo precipitation of a water soluble molecule in an animal. The enzyme is either unique to tumor cells, or is produced within a specific site (e.g., tumor) at concentrations that are higher than that in normal tissues. Alternatively, the enzyme is conjugated to a targeting moiety such as an antibody or a receptor-binding molecule.
US08168155B2
The invention is directed to a method for the production of ammonium paratungstate tetrahydrate by thermal treatment of ammonium paratungstate decahydrate in an aqueous suspension. The ammonium paratungstate tetrahydrate can be produced with high purity and high yield. The production method may furthermore be carried out in a simple and energy-efficient manner.
US08168144B2
A system and method for providing an integrated indirectly fired reactor and steam generator are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the reactor comprises an indirect heating zone heating water and generating steam, a mixing zone mixing feedstock and the steam and providing a mixture of the feedstock and the steam, and a reaction zone comprising a first reactor and a second reactor. The first reactor converts the mixture to a first syngas at a first temperature. The second reactor converts the first syngas to a second syngas at a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature.
US08168143B2
A process and system for producing hydrocarbon compounds or fuels that recycle products of hydrocarbon compound combustion—carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, or both, and water. The energy for recycling is electricity derived from preferably not fossil based fuels, like from nuclear fuels or from renewable energy. The process comprises electrolysing water, and then using hydrogen to reduce externally supplied carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, then using so produced carbon monoxide together with any externally supplied carbon monoxide and hydrogen in Fischer-Tropsch reactors, with upstream upgrading to desired specification fuels—for example, gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel fuel, and others. Energy released in some of these processes is used by other processes. Using adiabatic temperature changes and isothermal pressure changes for gas processing and separation, large amounts of required energy are internally recycled using electric and heat distribution lines. Phase conversion of working fluid is used in heat distribution lines for increased energy efficiency. The resulting use of electric energy is less than 1.4 times the amount of the high heating value of combustion of so produced hydrocarbon compounds when carbon dioxide is converted to carbon monoxide in the invention, and less than 0.84 when carbon monoxide is the source.
US08168142B2
It is an object of this invention to provide a sample integration cassette, a spotting device and a sample integration device which enhance a sample integration density and reduce the size of a sample assembly and a probe. The sample integration cassette has the sample assembly and the sample support carrier so arranged therein that the sample support can be fed from the sample support carrier onto the sample assembly at a predetermined angle to the sample assembly at all times. The cassette is formed so as to be connectable with a drive unit that applies a drive force to the sample assembly and the sample support carrier interlockingly and synchronously. The spotting device has a delivery member mounting table which is vertically moved over the sample support carrier to apply samples to the sample support from the delivery member. The sample integration device rotatably supports the sample support carrier and includes a rotary drive unit for rotating the sample support carrier and the sample assembly and a biasing means connected to the rotary drive unit to pull the cassette in one direction. The sample assembly rotating device includes a rotating shaft to which the sample assembly is fitted at one end, a drive means to drive the rotating shaft, and a power supply for the drive means.
US08168141B2
The invention relates to a holder for holding a carrier, wherein the holder is inserted into a cylinder-shaped well, for example, of a multiwell plate. In addition the invention relates to a multiwell plate with such a holder. In order to provide a possibility for the reliable support of a carrier in a holder, wherein the holder ensures a secure and specified positioning of the carrier in a well and reliably prevents the carrier and the holder from falling out of the well, a holder is proposed for insertion into a cylindrical well and to support the carrier. The holder comprises a support, a holding piece and a connecting piece which connects the supporting piece with the holding piece, wherein the holder together with the lateral external surfaces of the supporting piece, the holding piece and/or connecting piece lies against at least one lateral internal surface of the well, and wherein the carrier is inserted on the support and under the holding piece.
US08168129B2
An apparatus and method are for disinfection and purification of a liquid, gaseous or solid phase, or a mixture thereof. The apparatus includes: a central electrode, a dielectric layer adjacent to the electrode, a first area adjacent to the dielectric layer, and is configured to introduce a first medium into the first area, a second area adjacent to the first area. The apparatus is also configured to introduce a second medium into the second area, and for creating a plasma in the first medium, while the first medium is present in the first area, by applying a voltage between the first electrode and a second electrode. An injector injects the plasma into the second area, in order to be mixed with the second medium.
US08168122B2
The present invention relates to methods and devices for providing microbial control and/or disinfection/remediation of an environment. The methods generally comprise: generating a Purified Hydrogen Peroxide Gas (PHPG) that is substantially free of, e.g., hydration, ozone, plasma species, and/or organic species; and directing the gas comprising primarily PHPG into the environment such that the PHPG acts to provide microbial control and/or disinfection/remediation in the environment, preferably both on surfaces and in the air.
US08168120B1
A sensor, having a resonant frequency responsive to presence of an analyze, comprising a DC electrostatic excitation component, to produce a static force pulling a moveable element toward a backplate; an AC electrostatic excitation component, to produce an oscillation in the moveable element with respect to the backplate; and a sensor to detect contact between the moveable and the backplate.
US08168117B2
A powder metallurgy method includes the steps of forming a member, such as a work piece or an aerospace component, from a titanium alloy powder. The average size of a carbide phase in the titanium alloy powder is controlled in order to control an average size of a carbide phase in the member. In one example, an amount of carbon within the titanium alloy and size of the carbide phase are selected to provide a desirable balance of good hot workability, resisting formation of an alpha-titanium phase within the member and a desired level of fatigue performance.
US08168114B2
A process for producing cellular thermoplastic articles. The process comprises the steps of treating a solid parison made from a thermoplastic material with a saturating gas at an elevated pressure for a period of time to provide a gas-saturated parison; heating the gas-saturated parison to prepare a cellular parison; placing the cellular parison in a mold; and blowing a molding gas into the cellular parison to expand the cellular parison into the shape of the mold to provide a shaped cellular article.
US08168109B2
Coating compositions suitable for UV imprint lithographic applications include at least one vinyl ether crosslinker having at least two vinyl ether groups; at least one diluent comprising a monofunctional vinyl ether compound; at least one photoacid generator soluble in a selected one or both of the at least one monofunctional vinyl ether compound and the at least one vinyl ether crosslinker having the at least two vinyl ether groups; and at least one stabilizer comprising an ester compound selectively substituted with a substituent at an ester position or an alpha and the ester positions. Also disclosed are imprint processes.
US08168108B2
A molding apparatus can include a primary mold, a stripper, and a swinging member. The swinging member can comprise a molding surface defining an undercut portion of a molded item. The swinging member can directly contact or attached to the stripper and the primary mold. To facilitate removal of a molded item, the swinging member can withdraw through a hole in the primary mold as a direct result of a motion of the stripper to pull the molded item off the primary mold. The molded item can then be easily removed.
US08168099B2
A laboratory test tube is formed between male and female mold elements by injection of molten plastic material. The female element has a bottom element formed by first and second alternating complementarily shaped wedges. At least the second wedges are able to move under the pressure of the molten plastic from a rest position to an operative position in order to form slits which allow air, but not molten plastic, to exit from the mold.
US08168098B2
The present invention provides an injection molding method capable of impregnating a supercritical fluid stably and partially in molten resin in a plasticizing cylinder of an injection molding apparatus. The above object is achieved by providing the method of injection molding which includes measuring a filling amount of the molten resin in the plasticizing cylinder, introducing a supercritical fluid into the molten resin in the plasticizing cylinder while moving back the screw by a predetermined distance without rotating the screw from a position of the screw at the time of completing the measuring, detecting a pressure of the molten resin, and determining based on the pressure an injection start position for the screw.
US08168093B2
A cable for ensuring the authenticity thereof and discouraging the unauthorized counterfeiting of the cable may include a cable core and an opaque outer jacket surrounding the cable core. The jacket may include identifying indicia visible on an inner surface of the opaque outer jacket when opened, but visually obscured from viewing from outside the opaque outer jacket when unopened. The indicia may be integrally molded plastic stripes, for example.
US08168091B2
The invention provides a polyvinyl alcohol film composition including: (A) 100 parts by weight of polyvinyl alcohol; and (B) 0.001 to 30 parts by weight of a multi-hydroxyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). The POSS is soluble in polar solvents, but insoluble in water. The invention also provides a polarizing plate containing the polyvinyl alcohol film composition.
US08168090B2
This invention relates to processes for a range of compounds, polymeric compounds, and compositions used to prepare semiconductor and optoelectronic materials and devices including thin film and band gap materials for photovoltaic applications including devices and systems for energy conversion and solar cells. In particular, this invention relates to polymeric precursor compounds and precursor materials for preparing photovoltaic layers. A compound may contain repeating units {MA(ER)(ER)} and {MB(ER)(ER)}, wherein each MA is Cu, each MB is In or Ga, each E is S, Se, or Te, and each R is independently selected, for each occurrence, from alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, amido, silyl, and inorganic and organic ligands.
US08168083B2
The present invention relates to an electro-optical light-modulation element of the FFS type, and to electro-optical displays and display systems, such as, for example, television screens and computer monitors, which contain elements of this type. The light-modulation elements according to the invention contain a liquid-crystalline modulation medium which has optimised elastic constants and are distinguished, in particular, by high contrast and/or optimised transmission in addition to good contrast, a low viewing-angle dependence, short response times and low addressing voltages. The present invention likewise relates to the liquid-crystalline modulation media used in the electro-optical light-modulation elements.
US08168078B2
Neutral calcium-aluminum double salts of the formula (A): Ca2m(Zn2n)Al2(OH)6+2(2m+2n−1)An*oH2O (A), where the following apply for m and n:m=0.5 to 3 and 0.5m≧n>0; An=CO3, where this may be replaced completely or partially by at least one of the following groups selected from OH, ClO4 and H3CS(═O)2O (triflate) and o=0 to 3. The present invention further relates to their preparation, use in compositions and stabilizer systems and uses thereof.
US08168068B2
The present invention is a method for treating contaminated water streams resulting from the production of coal-bed-methane. The method of treating contaminated water streams typically includes the steps of: providing a reaction vessel that contains a bed of weak acid cation ion exchange resin beads; introducing the contaminated water stream to the reaction vessel; allowing for the exchange of hydrogen ions for sodium ions; removing the ion exchanged treated water from the reaction vessel; stopping the stream of contaminated water; and regenerating the weak cation exchange resin.
US08168059B2
A method for inhibiting corrosion in at least one required region of an elongate metal structure, comprising applying a high-frequency electromagnetic signal to the structure in a manner such that a voltage standing wave is established in the structure with a corrosion-inhibiting potential at the required region(s) of the structure. The method is advantageously applied to an oil well riser pipe, to inhibit corrosion of the external surface thereof in the vicinity of an oil production zone.
US08168040B2
A process of making paper or paperboard with improved ash retention relative to total retention comprising the steps of providing a thick stock cellulosic suspension that contains filler, diluting the thick stock suspension to form a thin stock suspension, in which the filler is present in the thin stock suspension in an amount of at least 10% by weight based on dry weight of thin stock suspension, flocculating the thick stock suspension and/or the thin stock using a polymeric retention/drainage system, draining the thin stock suspension on a screen to form a sheet and then drying the sheet, in which the polymeric retention/drainage system comprises, i) a water-soluble branched anionic polymer and ii) a water-soluble cationic or amphoteric polymer, wherein the anionic polymer is present in the thick stock or thin stock suspension prior to the addition of the cationic or amphoteric polymer. The process brings about improved ash retention relative to total retention.
US08168031B2
The present invention provides a method for joining a metallic material, a glass material or a ceramic material, and a resin material, that have no limitation in their field of application and that can form a strong joint by an easy method. The method for joining a metallic material, a glass material or a ceramic material, and a resin material is characterized in that joining is effected by heating a portion to be joined, in such a state that the metallic material, glass material or ceramic material is coupled with the resin material, to a temperature at which bubbles (preferably the sphere equivalent diameter from 0.01 mm to 5.0 mm) are generated in the resin material at the portion to be joined. As a heating source for heating the portion to be joined, a laser light source is used, especially.
US08168027B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a fiber-reinforced laminate (101), which laminate comprises at least one area on the surface of the laminate configured with projecting fibers for being joined to one or more other elements. This is accomplished by arrangement of a hybrid mat (505) most distally in the laminate which comprises at least two layers with fibers (105) transversally across the joining face (402) of the layers. The outermost layer (301) of the hybrid mat is removed prior to joining, whereas the innermost layer (506) of the hybrid mat remains a constituent of the laminate (101). The invention relates to different methods of causing fibers to project from the surface of the laminate, said fibers thus having a reinforcing effect on the joints. The invention also relates to a laminate manufactured by the disclosed methods and a blade for a wind power plant comprising such laminate.
US08168026B1
The present invention is directed to a ball including an outer shell formed from a first thermoplastic material and having an inner surface defining a cavity, outer details formed from a second thermoplastic material and disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer shell, and a core formed from a foamable polymeric material and disposed within the cavity of the outer shell. The ball may be produced by forming a pair of half shells having inner surfaces defining corresponding portions of the cavity of the outer shell, forming the outer details on the outer surface of at least one of the half shells, and foaming a polymeric material to form the core.
US08168022B2
Process for producing a laminate being built of at least two monolayers of polymeric tapes, the polymeric tapes having a tensile strength of at least 200 MPa, said process comprises the steps of -forming a first monolayer of polymeric tapes by pre-tensioning the polymeric tapes and subsequently positioning the polymeric tapes under tension in a unidirectional, parallel manner, -forming at least a second monolayer over the first monolayer in the same manner the first monolayer is formed, thereby -stacking the at least two monolayers of polymeric tapes in such a way that the direction of the polymeric tapes is the same in every monolayer and that the polymeric tapes of each monolayer are offset to the tapes of the adjoining monolayer above or below that monolayer -consolidating the thus stacked monolayers of polymeric tapes to obtain a laminate.
US08168021B2
A process for assembling a tire, including producing a crown of said tire on a drum of variable diameter of a generally cylindrical form. The assembling process includes: positioning the drum at a first diameter D1; depositing a first crown belt ply N1 of reinforcement cables coated in a rubber mix forming a given angle α1 with a circumferential direction, by activating first and second holding devices to make an entire first crown belt ply N1 adhere to a surface of the drum; depositing a second crown belt ply N2 of reinforcement cables coated in a rubber mix forming a given angle α2 of an opposite sign to the angle α1 with the circumferential direction; making the second crown belt ply N2 adhere to the first crown belt ply N1; while keeping the first holding device in the preceding configuration, activating the second holding device so as to permit sliding of the first crown belt ply level with said second holding device; positioning the drum at a second diameter D2 greater than the first diameter D1; activating the second holding device so as to make the first and second crown belt plies adhere to the surface of the drum; depositing additional plies and profiled products to form the crown of the tire; and removing the crown from the drum.
US08168019B2
Improved long open time one component primer compositions for bonding substrates, methods and the articles made therefrom. The primer compositions include an ingredient including an oxazolidine ring or derivative or analog thereof.
US08168018B2
A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure includes molding a ceramic raw material to manufacture honeycomb molded bodies. The honeycomb molded bodies are fired to manufacture honeycomb fired bodies. End faces of at least two of the honeycomb fired bodies are joined interposing a joining material between the end faces to manufacture honeycomb joined bodies each having a length larger than a length of each honeycomb fired body. Side faces of the honeycomb joined bodies are bonded interposing an adhesive paste between the side faces to manufacture an aggregated body of the honeycomb joined bodies. The adhesive paste is dried and solidified to manufacture a honeycomb block including the aggregated body. The honeycomb block is separated at the joining material into at least two honeycomb blocks.
US08168015B2
A heat treatment method for the direct quench of aluminum alloy castings is presented. An aluminum alloy casting can be heated to the solutionizing temperature. The temperature can be maintained for a period of time sufficient to dissolve the hardening elements into the aluminum solid solution and affect any morphological changes to non-soluble phases, such as speriodization of the eutectic silicon phase. After solutionizing, the aluminum alloy casting can be quenched. The aluminum alloy casting can be rapidly cooled from the solutionizing temperature directly to the aging temperature, eliminating the room temperature hold of a conventional process. Thereby, the process can reduce process steps and equipment, can improve throughput, and can eliminate some waste heat. Further, the process can reduce residual stress and can provide a potential to form new precipitates. Direct quench can also be used with the sequential aging of aluminum casting alloys.
US08168013B2
A method includes: preparing a molten aluminum alloy consisting of 0.3-0.8 mass % Mg, 0.5-1.2 mass % Si, 0.3 mass % or more excess Si relative to the Mg2Si stoichiometric composition, 0.05-0.4 mass % Cu, 0.2-0.4 mass % Mn, 0.1-0.3 mass % Cr, 0.2 mass % or less Fe, 0.2 mass % or less Zr, and 0.005-0.1 mass % Ti, with the balance being aluminum and unavoidable impurities; casting the alloy into a billet at a speed of 80 mm/min or more and a cooling rate of 15° C./sec or more; extruding the billet into an extruded product; water cooling the product immediately after extrusion at 500° C./min or more; and artificially aging the product, thereby yielding an extruded product with fatigue strength of 140 MPa or more, fatigue ratio of 0.45 or more, an interval between striations on a fatigue fracture surface of 5.0 μm or less, and a maximum length of Al—Fe—Si crystallized products of 10 μm or less.
US08168011B2
The invention provides wire rod excellent in drawability and steel wire made from the wire rod as starting material with high productivity at good yield and low cost. A hard steel wire rod of a specified composition is heated in a specified temperature range to conduct post-reaustenization patenting and thereby obtain a high-carbon steel wire excellent in ductility that has a pearlite structure of an area ratio of 97% or greater and the balance of non-pearlite structures including bainite, degenerate-pearlite and pro-eutectoid ferrite and whose fracture reduction of area RA satisfies Expressions (1), (2) and (3) below: RA≧RAmin (1), where RAmin=a−b×pearlite block size (μm), a=−0.0001187×TS (MPa)2+0.31814×TS (MPa)−151.32 (2) b=0.0007445×TS (MPa)−0.3753 (3).
US08168003B2
The present invention relates to a fiber having starch and a surfactant, and a web employing such a fiber.
US08168000B2
A method of fabricating a III-nitride power semiconductor device which includes selective prevention of the growth of III-nitride semiconductor bodies to selected areas on a substrate in order to reduce stresses and prevent cracking.
US08167997B2
Flowable concrete mixtures have an aqueous foam admixture mixed therein to give the concrete mixture desired strength, flowability, and density. The concrete mixtures include a hydration stabilizer to stabilize the aqueous foam. The hydration stabilizer inhibits the reaction between the hydraulic cement and the water in the aqueous foam. The aqueous foam can be stabilized using a fluorochemical surfactant.
US08167991B2
The present invention relates to a trisazo compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof, The formula (1) wherein, the group A is a substituted phenyl group, the group B and the group C are substituted para-phenylene groups, R1 represents a C1 to C4 alkyl group which may be substituted by a carboxy group, a phenyl group which may be substituted by a sulfo group, or a carboxy group, R2 represents a cyano group, a carbamoyl group or a carboxy group, each of R3 and R4 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a chlorine atom or a sulfo group, respectively and a water-based black ink composition containing said compound; said compound has high solubility in a medium where the main component is water, its aqueous solution having a high concentration and ink are stable when stored for a long period of time, black-recorded images with it can be provided where both light fastness and ozone gas fastness of the printed images are excellent.
US08167983B2
The present invention relates to compositions for producing membranes, the compositions comprising at least 0.1% by weight of highly branched polymer, at least 0.5% by weight of linear polymer and at least 30% by weight of solvent. The present invention additionally describes membranes obtainable from the compositions, and methods of producing these membranes.
US08167980B2
A system for use with an inlet of a gas turbine through which airflow toward the gas turbine proceeds is provided and includes a first stage to remove primary aerosol droplets from the airflow by coalescing the primary aerosol droplets into secondary aerosol droplets, which are larger than the primary aerosol droplets, and to remove solid particulates from the airflow, a second water tight stage, disposed downstream from the first stage, to prevent the secondary aerosol droplets and aqueous solutions of deliquesced particulates, which are not removed by the first stage and which are re-released into the airflow from the first stage, from proceeding along the airflow and to remove solid particulates not removed by the first stage from the airflow, and a third water removal stage, disposed downstream from the second stage, to remove from the airflow the remaining secondary aerosol droplets leaking from the first and second stages.
US08167979B2
Scrubbing systems and methods for removing carbon dioxide from a gas are provided. The scrubbing system can include a scrubber defining a vertically oriented tubing assembly, a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The tubing assembly has a tank section, a reduced diameter section, and an expansion section such that the expansion section is positioned above the reduced diameter section and the reduced diameter section is positioned above the tank section. An aqueous liquid-phase scrubbing media is contained within the tank section. The scrubbing system can further include a water bath configured to receive the CO2-free gas exiting the scrubber.
US08167977B2
A method of purifying a gaseous mixture rich in hydrogen and in carbon monoxide, commonly termed an H2/CO mixture or syngas, by adsorption prior to treating it cryogenically with a view to producing a CO-rich fraction, and/or one or more H2/CO mixtures of determined content, such as a mixture of 50 mol % H2/50 mol % CO and generally a hydrogen-rich fraction is provided.
US08167970B2
A method for purifying Al—Ti—B) alloy melt includes putting and melting industrial aluminum ingot in an electromagnetic induction smelting furnace, the melt of Al being covered by a high-temperature covering agent, and its temperature up to at about 670˜900° C.; adding material of K2TiF6 and KBF4 into the smelting furnace and then stirring the compounds therein to react; adding compound comprising Mg, L, Na and F to the evenly stirred K2TiF6 and KBF4, the compound having an amount about 0.01%˜1% of a sum weight of total K2TiF6 and KBF4, and uniformly stirring for about 15˜60 minutes under a reaction temperature being constantly at about 670˜900° C., the dregs being removed, the Al alloy being casting molded.
US08167960B2
The present invention, in one configuration, is directed to producing a methane-containing gas from a hydrocarbon fuel energy source extracted from an in-situ recovery operation, such as a SAGD or HAGD operation, and subsequently converting at least a portion of the gas into steam, electrical power and diluents for subsequent use in the aforementioned in-situ recovery operation while emitting only controlled amounts of carbon dioxide into the environment.
US08167959B2
A natural algae-based synthetic lubricant derived from harvesting kelp from the ocean, recovering sieve sap from the kelp, drying the sieve sap, and removing salts and oxides to leave a composition having a concentration of polyols (Mannitol about 70% and Mannose about 0.4%) and about 28% by weight of a high molecular weight polymer. The synthetic lubricant may be used as a drag reducing agent and additive for existing lubricants and also further reacted with fatty esters to form a hybrid lubricant that may serve as a total replacement for existing lubricants.
US08167950B2
A system, device and method are disclosed for minimally invasive lateral intervertebral fixation. An intervertebral fixation device includes a weight-bearing shell configured to fit into a disk space between plural vertebrae, the weight-bearing shell including a keyway opening between and through plural sidewalls. A first plurality of anchors is rotatably disposed in a first orientation in relation to the weight-bearing shell. A second plurality of anchors is rotatably disposed in a second orientation in relation to the weight-bearing shell. A key is adapted to rotate the first plurality of anchors in divergent directions from the second plurality of anchors and to secure a first vertebra and a second vertebra, respectively. The key is further adapted to support the first plurality of anchors and the second plurality of anchors in divergent directions in relation to the weight-bearing shell, the first plurality of anchors and the second plurality of anchors secured to the first vertebra and the second vertebra.
US08167944B2
Devices, systems and methods for dynamically stabilizing the spine are provided. The devices include an expandable spacer or member having an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the expandable member in an expanded configuration has a size, volume and/or shape configured for positioning between the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae in order to distract the vertebrae relative to each other. The systems include one or more expandable members and an expansion medium for injection within or for filling the interior of the expandable member via the port. The methods involve the implantation of one or more devices or expandable spacers.
US08167943B2
Disclosed herein is an improved Bone Tendon Bone graft for use in orthopedic surgical procedures. Specifically exemplified herein is a Bone Tendon Bone graft comprising one or more bone blocks having a groove cut into the surface thereof, wherein said groove is sufficient to accommodate a fixation screw. Also disclosed is a method of harvesting grafts that has improved efficiency and increases the quantity of extracted tissue and minimizes time required by surgeon for implantation.
US08167937B2
A heart pump including a casing internally defining a substantially spherical cavity (10) housing: a rotating shutter (12) secured to the cavity (10) so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis; an oscillating shutter (14) secured to the rotating shutter (12) and rotatable relative to the latter about a rotation axis transverse to the rotation axis of the rotating shutter relative to the casing; a guide ring (18) secured to the oscillating shutter (14) such that the latter can rotate relative to the ring. The guide ring is arranged to move within a seal formed in the substantially spherical cavity (10) while lying in a substantially slanting plane relative to the rotation axis of the rotating shutter (12) and thereby making the rotating shutter rotate. This allows constructing an artificial heart of very small size that can be driven either by a motor member or by an induced muscle contraction.
US08167936B2
A mechanical heart valve implantable as heart valve replacement comprising of an annular valve body with a central orifice and an exterior surface incorporating a suture ring having a plurality of suture tunnels, and a valve implantation flap assembly disposed on the valve body surface and wrapping around the suture ring. The inside lumen carries the occluder mechanism. The valve holder comprises of at least two parts, both parts having suture guiding grooves on the outer surface corresponding to and matching with the tunnels on the suture ring, such as to form a continuous path for the sewing material. The parts of the valve holder can be detached separately from the valve after taking all the sutures, the part on the ventricular side before lowering the valve into the heart and the other part after lowering and positioning the heart valve in the; desired position inside the heart.
US08167931B2
A stent with at least one severable supporting device and methods of coating using the same are disclosed. The severable supporting device can be an end tube or a tab attached to some portion of the stent by at least one “gate” or attachment. The end tube or tab may be part of the design of the stent when it is originally manufactured, or it may be attached to the stent in a secondary process by a biocompatible glue or solder. The end tube or tab can be used to support a stent during a coating process eliminating the need for a mandrel which would otherwise contact the stent during the coating process.
US08167930B2
A stent graft (2) for treatment of an emergency rupture of, for instance, the aorta adjacent the aortic bifurcation. The stent graft comprising a tubular body (8) with a bifurcation (10) in the tubular body defining a first long leg (12) and a second short leg (14). The second leg has a valve arrangement (18) to prevent fluid flow through the second leg from the stent graft. The valve can be opened from external of the stent graft for the placement of a leg extension stent graft (90) therethrough.
US08167920B2
Increasing intranasal lymphatic circulation as a means of decreasing intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury.
US08167919B2
The present invention is directed to a drill guide and methods of using a drill guide with a plate having at least one slotted hole extending therethrough. The drill guide positions a bone engaging fastener away from the ends of the slot, allowing compression or distraction of the bony segment to which the plate is attached.
US08167910B2
A bone screw assembly comprises a bone screw having a shaft and a head, a stabilizer retainer, a set screw, and a housing having a proximal opening, biased to one side, and a distal opening that open on an interior cavity. The stabilizer retainer has a cylindrical channel that receives a stabilizer. The retainer has flexible portions that allow passage of the stabilizer into the channel. An arcuate wall of the channel maintains contact with the stabilizer within the channel. The housing is adapted to receive the bone screw, the stabilizer retainer and the set screw in the interior cavity. The housing has a channel that permits passage of the stabilizer though the housing. The set screw is engaged in the distal opening. The set screw and stabilizer retainer engage and prevent movement of the flexible portions, preventing movement of the stabilizer from the stabilizer retainer.
US08167906B2
Methods and devices are provided for anchoring suture to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a cannulated suture anchor is provided and it includes a suture-engaging member formed therein and configured to receive a suture therearound such that trailing ends of the suture can extend through the suture anchor. The present invention also provides exemplary sutures and drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.
US08167903B2
In at least one embodiment of the present invention, a retrieval device for entrapping and retaining a foreign object located in a body vessel for its extraction therefrom is provided. The device comprises a cage having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. The cage is radially expandable about the longitudinal axis to define an expanded state and to form an opening at the distal end for receiving the foreign object. The cage is collapsible to define a collapsed state and to retain the foreign object therein such that the foreign object is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis. Extending proximally from the proximal end of the cage is a cable for retrieval of the device in the collapsed state.
US08167891B2
A system for fracture reduction includes a reduction plate for reducing a fracture between a first bone segment and a second bone segment. The reduction plate includes, on a first side of the reduction plate, a travel slot and a screw hole. The travel slot is configured to slidably engage a first positioning element that extends into the first bone segment through the travel slot and the first screw hole is configured to affix the first side of the reduction plate to the first bone segment. The reduction plate includes, on a second side of the reduction plate, an adjustment hole and a second screw hole. The adjustment hole is configured to engage a second positioning element that extends into the second bone segment through the adjustment hole and the second screw hole is configured to affix the second side of the reduction plate to the second bone segment.
US08167873B2
A robotic arm including a parallel spherical five-bar linkage with a remote center of spherical rotation. The robotic arm movably supports an endoscopic camera. Two outboard links are pivotally coupled together. At least one of the two outboard links supports the endoscopic camera. Two inboard links are respectively pivotally coupled to the two outboard links such that the two inboard links are able to cross over one another. The two inboard links moveably support the two outboard links. A ground link is pivotally coupled to the two inboard links. The ground link moveably supports the two inboard links.
US08167872B2
A robotic arm including a parallel spherical five-bar linkage with a remote center of spherical rotation. The robotic arm movably supports an endoscopic camera. Two outboard links are pivotally coupled together. At least one of the two outboard links supports the endoscopic camera. Two inboard links are respectively pivotally coupled to the two outboard links such that the two inboard links are able to cross over one another. The two inboard links moveably support the two outboard links. A ground link is pivotally coupled to the two inboard links. The ground link moveably supports the two inboard links.
US08167869B2
A system for subatmospheric pressure therapy in connection with healing a wound includes a wound dressing adapted for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject to apply a subatmospheric pressure to the wound and a subatmospheric pressure mechanism. The subatmospheric pressure mechanism may be portable and adapted to be carried or worn by the subject.
US08167864B2
A holding device for a container having a closure system to be pierced by a spike includes a base, a shield, and a mounting unit supporting the base. The base includes an elongate body having opposed first and second ends and an elongate body extending therebetween. The base body defines an elongate open spike cavity extending between opposing ends thereof. The channel receives an elongate spike therein so that a free end of the spike extends beyond the base body from the channel. The shield includes first and second opposed open ends and an elongate cylindrical wall extending therebetween. The shield is telescopically mounted over the base so as to be movable between a first position wherein an inserted spike is clear of inserted container cap and a second position wherein the spike pierces through the septum of the container cap at the intended location.
US08167858B2
A novel collection device for collection, storage and disposal of biological products, in conjunction with an improved cleansing method. Disclosed is an apparatus which includes a locking closing member handle to allow for safe transport and disposal of medical waste. Closing member allows for secure containment of medical waste and subsequent apparatus cleaning. Closing member design includes a gap between closing member and housing which facilitates device cleaning after waste disposal.
US08167853B2
The present invention relates to a self service cleaning device for woman comprising a handle and a flexible conduit. The handle has a connector at its one end and is removably connected with a water supply pipe by the connector. The flexible conduit has one end connected with the handle and the other end which has a curved portion with a closed top corresponding to a curvature of vagina, wherein an opening is arranged at an introverted segment of the curved portion, and a plurality of outlets are orderly arranged on a circumferential surface of the curved portion, a plurality of circular protrusions are projecting outwardly and radially from the circumferential surface; and a counterflow preventer is arranged around an inlet of the flexible conduit. The present invention is low in cost, portable, simple in use, and good in cleaning effect, whereby it is easy to promote and widely adapted for effective prevention and treatment of diseases.
US08167851B2
A safety transfusion catheter includes a flexible retention tube fitted over a metal guiding needle. The flexible retention tube is provided with a needle handle connected with it. The angle between the end of the flexible retention tube and its longitudinal axis or longitudinal tube wall is less than 90.degree. The cross section of the needle handle has an outer contour line of a closed curve formed with a curve intersecting a beeline. A further safety transfusion catheter includes a flexible retention tube fitted over a metal guiding needle, a transfusion connecting tube in fluid communication with flexible retention tube and a rubber casing cap at the end of the flexible retention tube. The transfusion connecting tube and flexible retention tube form a T-shaped or an oblique Y-shaped structure.
US08167845B2
A catheter includes a proximal end, a distal end, a tubular member, and an inner member extending through the tubular member. The inner member is movable axially relative to the tubular member. The catheter also includes a seal member including a first portion and a second portion. The seal member extends between the tubular member and the inner member. The first portion of the seal member remains stationary relative to the tubular member, and the second portion of the seal member remains stationary relative to the inner member during relative axial movement between the tubular member and the inner member.
US08167841B2
A medical device is provided comprising a cannula having a distal portion adapted to be arranged through the skin of the subject, and an outer needle arranged coaxially with and being axially moveable relative to the cannula, the needle comprising a pointed distal end, wherein the device is adapted for advancing the cannula with the distal end of the needle projecting there from through the dermis of the subject, and subsequently retract the needle.
US08167834B2
A pen injection device designed for use with dual or multi-chamber cartridges (14), is provided with an extended length plunger (24) having a non-drive portion (24′) on its forward end and the usual screw-threaded drive portion (24′) on its rearward end. This arrangement allows the plunger to be pushed forwardly whilst the dosing drive mechanism is disengaged to effect a reconstitution movement of the rearward bung (18′) in the cartridge. Thereafter the threaded portion on the plunger (24′) engages the drive mechanism to allow metered dosing.
US08167832B2
Infusion devices with blockage detection capability and methods of monitoring infusion devices. High resolution pressure sensing and/or the sensing of a reflected pressure event may be used to detect a blockage.
US08167828B2
A massage assembly includes a top cover and a base which is connected to the top cover to define a space therebetween, a massage unit and a movable unit is received in the space. The massage unit is connected to the movable unit, and a transmission mechanism is received in the movable unit to drive the movable unit to move reciprocally in the massage assembly so as to massage the user's body by the massage unit. The massage unit provides different types of massage features.
US08167824B2
It is intended to feed back any somatic sensation information on given body surface portion in easily understandable form without the use of special sensations, such as visual and auditory sensations. Walking rehabilitation supporting apparatus (10) comprises sensation detection unit (11) for detecting the sole pressure of patient (H); sensation presentation unit (13) for imparting given stimuli to the patient (H); and control unit (15) for controlling the behavior of the sensation presentation unit (13) so as to impart stimuli corresponding to the sole pressure detected by the sensation detection unit (11). The sensation detection unit (11) is disposed so as to be capable of detecting the sole pressure on a paralyzed side, and the sensation presentation unit (13) is fitted to a body surface portion of sensation superior to that of the sole.
US08167814B2
A biopsy system comprises a control module, a localization assembly, a biopsy device, and a targeting cube. The biopsy device comprises a probe and other components, which selectively couple with a targeting cube that is configured to selectively couple with a grid plate having apertures for receiving the targeting cube. The targeting cube comprises a body defined by faces, and guide holes that originate and terminate at the faces and pass through the body of the targeting cube to provide passageways through the targeting cube. The body of the targeting cube is at least partially comprised of elastomeric material to allow for adjustment of the orientation of the passageways. The body of the targeting cube is further comprised of malleable members that flank the passageways and allow for angulation of an instrument, such as by maintaining an adjusted orientation of a passageway into which the instrument is inserted.
US08167809B2
An imaging probe for use in a catheter for ultrasonic imaging is provided. The catheter may be of the type including a sheath having an opening at a distal end for conducting a fluid there through. The imaging probe includes a distal housing coupled to a drive shaft for rotation, a transducer within the distal housing for generating and sensing ultrasonic waves, and a fluid flow promoter that promotes flow of the fluid within the sheath across the transducer.
US08167797B2
A sheath for containing and manipulating of a single-use laryngoscope blade is constituted by a closed outer bag (S) enabling its content to be sterilized and kept sterile, and an inner sheath (G) containing the blade between a closed end of the sheath and an open end of the sheath, the sheath being thin and tear-resistant so as to enable the blade to be mounted on the handle and separated therefrom without removing the sheath and so that the sheath can be turned inside out. The invention is applicable to packaging laryngoscope blades.
US08167783B2
A machine for the manufacture of paper padding has a shaping device and a drive which is provided in a housing to pull a paper web through the shaping device and to form a piece of padding from the paper web. A shaft is provided in the housing and serves as a drive for a drive wheel.
US08167780B2
A physical training device includes two arm portions connected to each other and movable toward and away from each other. Two grip portions are provided at the respective arm portions. The grip portions together have the shape of a ball, such as a basketball or football. A resilient device urges the grip portions away from each other toward an extended position. The physical training device is particularly useful in training for basketball rebounding.
US08167778B2
A transmission structure of a waist twirling exercise machine for body-building and a method thereof includes left and right stepping rods which are obliquely or horizontally connected to a machine base, left and right stepping platforms having left and right shafts inserting through lubricating members provided in through holes of the left and right stepping rods, left and right transmission members having first ends connected to the left and right shafts and second ends provided with eccentric blocks, left and right connecting rods having first ends connected to the eccentric blocks of the left and right transmission members and second ends pivotally connected to either of the machine base and pneumatic cylinders. When the left and right stepping platforms are treaded in turn, the left and right connecting rods subject to their lengths will drive the left and right stepping platforms to turn left and right in turn synchronously, enhancing a waist twirling effect.
US08167777B2
A support block for supporting the weight of a user above a support surface during exercise includes a support body having a first side, a second side and a support edge. In one embodiment, the first side and/or the second side can be substantially planar and/or can have a substantially similar configuration as one another. The support edge can be substantially orthogonal at least one of the first side and the second side. The support edge includes a curved first section that rollingly contacts the support surface while the support body supports part of the weight of the user above the support surface. The support edge can form at least approximately a 30 degree arc of a circle. In another embodiment, the support body includes a beveled edge positioned between the first side and the support edge. In one embodiment, the support body can be formed substantially from an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam material.
US08167769B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include five clutches and one brake arranged within a transmission housing.
US08167767B2
A front wheel drive transmission is provided having a transmission input member, a transmission output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake arranged within a transmission housing.
US08167761B2
A differential assembly, in particular for motor vehicles, transmits the motion from an input shaft to a pair of reciprocally counterposed coaxial output shafts and is provided with a ring gear rotably fed in use by the input shaft about a rotation shaft; the assembly being further provided with a gear set transmitting the motion from the ring gear to the output shafts and having a satellite gear carrier pin, whose axis is orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the ring gear; a single leaf spring is abuttingly coupled to two satellite gears to automatically adjust the position of the satellite gears themselves.
US08167757B2
A plurality of microscopic grooves are created on the surface of the teeth of planetary gears, and thus, irregular unevenness is created. This irregular unevenness includes a plurality of first microscopic grooves which function as lubricant grooves and a plurality of second microscopic grooves which are shallower than the first microscopic grooves.
US08167750B2
A resin pulley includes: an outer cylindrical portion having an outer circumferential surface on which a belt is to be wound; an inner cylindrical portion which is disposed radially inwards of and concentrically with the outer cylindrical portion; and a plurality of ribs connecting an inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical portion and an outer circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical portion. The outer cylindrical portion, the inner cylindrical portion and the ribs are formed integrally from a resin material, and the ribs are provided in such a manner as to be inclined towards a circumferential direction relative to a radial imaginary line as viewed in an axial direction.
US08167744B2
A rubber or synthetic texture sleeve that fits loosely over the existing grip. It is made from typical grip material for the application with the exception of having a smooth or textured interior and being oversized for the handle. The sleeve may be used with an interior liner between the handle and the grip for additional cushioning. The length of the sleeve will vary, but can be cut to fit the specific application. The sleeve fits loosely around the bat grip and does not replace or modify the existing grip or bat handle. The degree of twist is determined by the give in the material used allowing for a stronger grip because the friction normally generated from rotating hands around a stationary grip is reduced dramatically. The sleeve reduces vibration because of the increased padding and ability to have a stronger grip.
US08167741B1
This invention relates to a golf tee extender of a simple but effective structure for repetitive tee shots that does not require re-inserting a new tee into the ground. The golf tee extender for repetitive tee shots comprises a ball support portion for receiving a golf ball thereon, an upper opening for allowing insertion of a golf tee, a hollow body for allowing passage of the golf tee, and a tee head chamber for engaging head of the golf tee therein and securely confining and holding head of the golf tee. The tee head chamber is configured in a shape reverse to the shape of the head of the golf tee to securely engage and confine the head of the golf tee. The tee head chamber comprises a middle opening and a lower opening wherein the middle opening is smaller in diameter than the head of the golf tee.
US08167737B2
A hollow wood-type golf club head with stable flight direction and flight distance performances, the club head having a moment of inertia Ix 4,000 to 5,900 g·cm2 about a vertical axis passing through the club head's center of gravity, and comprising a face with face bulge and face roll such that the radius of curvature Rx of the face bulge is from 12 to 25 inches, and the Ry/Rx ratio of the radius of curvature Ry of the face roll to the radius of curvature Rx of the face bulge is 0.50 to 0.90.
US08167733B2
A training device assisting golfers in reading putting greens includes a housing having a central cavity shaped and dimensioned for receiving the golf ball therein. The housing includes a closed first end and an open second end. A force producing mechanism is positioned at the closed first end of the housing and extends toward the open second end within the housing. The force producing mechanism is positioned within the housing for selective actuation thereof so as to contact and push forward a golf ball positioned within the housing. Upon actuation, the force producing mechanism launches the golf ball smoothly onto the golf putting green surface at a pre-determined speed.
US08167727B2
The coupling apparatus includes a gear shaft, including a sun gear at one shaft end for connecting to a reduction gear box. The sun gear drives a planetary gear train inside the gearbox. The coupling apparatus has outer splines on the gear shaft other end that mesh with inner splines of a ring gear connected to a coupling flange member by bolts and nuts. The flange member transmits high torque from a high speed turbine shaft to the gear shaft through the intermeshed splines. The teeth of the inner and outer splines are kept lubricated from a stationary spray source on the turbine side via an oil catcher mounted on the flange member opposed to the ring gear. The flow of lubricating oil during operation is from the oil catcher, through holes in the flange member, and to the intermeshed splines. Both oil catcher and ring gear are centered by a rim positioned on the flange member.
US08167715B2
A gaming terminal includes a gaming cabinet, at least one display, an adjustable playing area, and a player-input button. The at least one display is mounted to the gaming cabinet and configured to display a randomly selected outcome from a wagering game. The randomly selected outcome is selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager input from a player. The adjustable playing area is mounted to the gaming cabinet below the at least one display. The adjustable playing area is operable to translate linearly between a proximal position and a distal position, the proximal position being near the gaming cabinet and the distal position being away from the gaming cabinet. The player-input button is mounted in the adjustable playing area for receiving game play input from the player.
US08167714B2
Puzzle game apparatus and computer readable storage medium having puzzle game program stored thereon
In a solution area which has a plurality of cells arranged in a matrix thereof, a connective cell, which is obtained by interrelating a predetermined plurality of cells with one another, is displayed. Further, a normal numerical clue, which is caused to correspond to a row and a column in the matrix and represents the number of cells to be marked in the corresponding row and column, is displayed. Still further, a large numerical clue, which represents the number of cells to be marked in a contiguous form over a plurality of adjoining rows or a plurality of adjoining columns, is displayed so as to range over the plurality of rows or the plurality of columns. In accordance with an operation performed by a player, specific cells are marked, and then whether or not a set of the marked cells presents a figure which is a solution of a puzzle having been previously set.
US08167707B2
A loss limit system and method automatically tracks a player's entry and cash play, and does not allow to play more than an allotted dollar amount during a given time frame or lose more than the establishment limit. Typically, excursions of play sessions are set up by day. Play is tracked at gaming machines and locked from all other play during card in at a machine. No other play is allowed at gaming machines, auto table rating systems or open table ratings, purchase of tokens, unless buy-in has not reached the loss limit for the session. At rollover, players are allowed to play again until they meet the same criteria for loss limit.
US08167697B2
A method of playing a wagering rummy-type card game on an electronic device wherein the object of the game is to create sets or melds of cards that each comprise exactly a straight, flush, straight flush, royal flush, and/or like ranks. The game begins with a total wager from each player, the total comprising at least one separate wager, and is played with a predetermined number of initially-dealt cards to each player. The initially-dealt cards are placed into and completely fill at least two melds. Preferably the cards are automatically placed into the melds by an Optimum Expected Value function. Each player then has the option of folding, or alternately forfeiting one wager or placing an additional wager to receive each of a predetermined number of community cards that are then sequentially dealt. The player has the option to replace any card in any meld with a community card, and the cards in the melds may be rearranged after any replacement. The game result may be determined before or after the final community card is dealt and/or replaced, with the winning wagers being determined by a predetermined paytable.
US08167696B2
A gaming machine and a method for playing the gaming machine. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of providing a gaming machine having a plurality of games and a plurality of corresponding pay-tables wherein each pay-table corresponds to a particular game, making a wager so as to provide a player with an opportunity to play the gaming machine, playing at least two of the games simultaneously if the wager fulfills predetermined criterion, and providing a pay-out to the player in accordance with the pay-tables that correspond to the games being simultaneously played.
US08167680B2
A method and device for edging an ophthalmic lens, includes turning the lens about a first axis of rotation and working on the edge face of the lens with a beveling grindwheel or cutter having a beveling groove or chamfer and mounted to rotate about a second axis of rotation. While machining the edge face of the lens with the beveling grindwheel or cutter, the first and second axis of rotation are moved dynamically relative to each other as a function of the angle of rotation of the lens about the first axis of rotation, in such a manner that during machining of each portion of the edge face of the lens, the tangent to the curve of the working portion of the beveling groove or chamfer is substantially parallel to the tangent to the curve of the bevel desired on the portion of the edge face.
US08167679B2
Disclosed herein is a breast supporter for properly and comfortable supporting breasts.
US08167678B2
A bra cup that supports and augments different areas of the breast. The bra cup includes different sections having different combinations of multilayer fabric and foam materials to create a round, smooth, silhouette underneath the clothing of the wearer without sacrificing the comfort of the wearer or the accuracy of the fit. The bra cup includes two or more discrete sections that are attached together and then covered on an outward facing surface with a continuous foam and fabric layer that provides a smooth outer surface. The first section includes a stabilizer material that creates a sling-like mechanism that causes the first section to cradle the breasts of a wearer, while pushing the breasts simultaneously upwards towards the neckline and inwards towards the other breast. The second section includes an area of increased thickness in a location corresponding to the superior lateral quadrant of the breast. The combination of the stabilizer in the first section and the area of thicker cross section in the second section cooperate to create a rounded overall appearance to the breasts of the wearer. The addition of the continuous foam layer and laminated fabric layer cooperate with the first and second sections in the bra cup to create a round and smooth silhouette underneath the clothing of the wearer.
US08167667B2
A watercraft for transportation and exercise including a boat for floating on water and having a portion thereof above a waterline and a portion thereof below the waterline The boat has an opening therein for permitting a person to be partially below the waterline and partially above the waterline. A sub-frame is operatively attached to the boat, the sub-frame having a lower position at least partially in the water and an upper position at least mostly out of the water. A propulsion device is operatively attached to the sub-frame for propelling the watercraft forwardly in response to movement of the person's feet, the propulsion device having a foot contact portion. The foot contact portion of the propulsion device being disposed a predetermined distance from the waterline in a transportation mode so that that a person can be at least partially above the waterline when using the propulsion device in the transportation mode, said foot contact portion of the propulsion device being disposed in the water and a substantial distance below said predetermined distance when the propulsion device is being used in an exercise mode wherein at such time the person's legs are at least partially disposed below the waterline.
US08167664B2
A receptacle connector includes a body; a conductive member received in the body and having a bottom, in which a soldering portion extends from the bottom, the bottom is bent upwards to form a base, an angle is formed between the planes of the base and the bottom, two opposing sides of the base are bent to form a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms are on the same side and are in the same direction as a bending direction of the base, the first arm has a first contact portion, and the second arm has a second contact portion; and a third arm extending from one end of the base away from the bottom, inclined towards the first and second arms, in which the inclination of the third arm does not exceed initial contact positions of the first and second arms with a pin, the third arm has a third contact portion, and the first, second and third contact portions are used for jointly retaining and contacting the pin.
US08167653B2
A shield shell is composed of a tubular shell body made of a conductive resin and a metallic conductive body mounted in the shell body. The conductive body is capable of, in the base end part, connecting with a shielding member by being exposed on the surface of the shell body, while in the tip part, connecting with a shield case by being exposed on the surface of the shell body. The shielding member and the shield case are connected via the metallic conductive body of a low electric resistance, and thereby achieving excellent shielding performance in a low-frequency region in the shield shell.
US08167630B2
Electrical connectors capable of being mounted on circuit substrates by BGA techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing such connectors. There is at least one recess on the exterior side of the connector elements. A conductive contact extends from adjacent the interior side of the into the recess on the exterior side of the housing. A controlled volume of solder paste is introduced into the recess. A fusible conductive element, in the form of solder balls is positioned in the recess. The connector is subjected to a reflow process to fuse the solder ball to the portion of the contact extending into said recess. Contacts are secured in the insulative housing of the connector by deformable sections that minimize stress imposed on the housing, thereby reducing warpage. Solder resist areas are formed on central portions of the contacts to promote uniformity of solder volume. As a result of these features, substantial coplanarity of the BGA array along the mounting interface of the connector is achieved.
US08167629B2
An electronic device has: a connector having plural kinds of terminals with respectively different cross section shapes; and a substrate having a plurality of through-holes with lands formed therein. In the electronic device, a width W1 of an insertion portion of the first terminal, a width W2 of an insertion portion of the second terminal, a land-inclusive hole diameter D1 of the first through-hole, and a land-inclusive hole diameter D2 of the second through-hole are configured to fulfill conditions of W1
US08167626B2
Several novel probes are shown, highlighting the designs and non-linear spring rates of their contact springs. These springs work in conjunction with a novel comb, which affects the movement of the springs tips, so as to create the desirable scrub or wipe at the surface of the contact pads of the devices under test. At least three versions of the probes are covered by the claims, where one probe works on one device, a second probe works on two devices and the third probe comprises a lid, which controls the protrusion distance of the spring tips above the housing surface, so as to protect the springs from getting damaged prematurely.
US08167623B2
A sliding-contact arrangement or slipring includes a slide-track having a V-shaped groove and also a brush having at least two slide-wires which simultaneously make sliding contact with the V-shaped groove of the slide-track. Furthermore, the two slide-wires have different diameters and contact the slide-track at different angular positions. Thereby an increased tolerance to mechanical vibrations and shocks as well as a reduced contact resistance results.
US08167621B2
A training device is described for perfecting the art of forcibly opening a door in an emergency. The training device has a frame and a door placed in the frame. A dead bolt is mounted in the door and protrudes from the door in a locked position relative to the frame. A vise is attached to the frame. The vise has a movable jaw mounted on a block and a stationary jaw, and means for tightening the movable jaw against the dead bolt. The dead bolt protrudes from the door between the stationary and movable jaw. A method of using the training device causes the door to pivot and the dead bolt to move off of the vise, thus simulating an actual forced opening.
US08167615B2
The present invention relates to a method for making a guiding template for dental implantation. The method provides for associating a base template to a reference device, subjecting the patient to CAT, loading the data to a computer program, making an implant planning, generating the volume model, coupling the volume model to the reference device model, projecting the elements of the implant planning on the volume model, making a volume suitably drilled on the basis of the projection, coupling the volume to the reference device and making the holes of the planning on the base template. The present invention also relates to the guiding template thus obtained and the reference device for carrying out the method.
US08167608B2
An injection molding system is disclosed that utilizes a melt channel wherein at least a portion of the melt channel has a noncircular cross-section for balancing shear in a melt stream of moldable material that flows therethrough. The noncircular cross-section of the melt channel portion may be, for e.g., capsule-shaped, extended egg-shaped, oval, teardrop-shaped, or peanut-shaped. A flow splitter is also disclosed that is positioned offset from a central axis of an upstream melt channel to protrude between inlets of respective downstream melt channels, where the upstream melt channel splits into the downstream melt channels, to thereby create a narrower inlet into one of the downstream melt channels and a wider inlet into the other of the downstream melt channels.
US08167603B2
The invention under consideration concerns a device for the production of corrugated pipes made of thermoplastic, in which mold jaws, which complement each other in pairs, are conducted jointly in a cycle along a mold section that leads away from an extruder head; they are moved apart at the end of the mold section and are returned to its beginning separately from one another with a mold section device for the movement of the mold jaws along the mold section, which has a supporting table with drive means for the mold jaws on the mold section, and with a return conveying device for the return conveyance of the mold jaws from the end of the mold section to its beginning, which has an outlet assembly to move apart the mold jaws at the end of the mold section and/or an inlet assembly to move in the mold jaws at the beginning of the mold section. In accordance with the invention, the outlet assembly and/or the inlet assembly have drive means, which can be moved perpendicularly with reference to the plane of the supporting table.
US08167602B2
The invention relates to a tool (3) for compacting a sintered component or a powder for the sintered component, with a clamping element (10) and a compacting element (11) which can be radially adjusted in terms of its dimensions, with a contact surface for the sintered component or powder, which has a surface complementing the surface of the sintered component to be produced, and the clamping element (10) has an oblique first surface (12) and the compacting element (11) has an oblique second surface (13) complementing it, and the first and the second oblique surface (12, 13) co-operate in order to prise apart and open or make smaller the compacting element (11), and the clamping element (10) and/or the compacting element (11) can be displaced in the axial direction, and a support element (9) is provided if necessary.
US08167596B2
The compressor includes a first constituent element and a first slider. The first constituent element is capable of being laser welded. The first slider is composed of cast iron capable of being laser welded and having a carbon content of from 2.0 wt % or more to 2.7 wt % or less. This first slider is joined to the first constituent element by laser welding without using a filler.
US08167591B1
A reciprocating air pump with a frame and a pump for compressing air through a series of linear close-strokes and open-strokes between a first portion and a reciprocating portion. The pump includes plural cylinders, slideably and sealably engaged therein, and arranged as multiple-chambers defining multiple-stages, for compression of air. A manifold with an air inlet cavity and inlet vent, and a compressed air outlet cavity with outlet vent. An outlet valve body is disposed between the first portion and the manifold, with an outlet valve that directs high-pressure compressed air into the outlet cavity, and with an inlet port coupled to the inlet cavity. A reciprocating linear drive with an electric motor delivers linear force to the reciprocating portion. A control system sequentially alternated the direction of force of the reciprocating linear drive, thereby applying linear force to the reciprocating portion.
US08167589B2
In order to optimize the clearances between both end surfaces of a sleeve 5 and each of the end surfaces of the fixed bodies 3 and 5, respectively, magnetic forces of repulsion being caused by each of the permanent magnets 3a, 5b, 5c and 8a is adjusted. At this time, by adjusting each of the distances between the permanent magnets 3a, 5b, 5c, 8a, respectively, by adjusting the quantity of the adjustment rings 9, the magnetic force of repulsion being caused by each of the permanent magnets 3a, 5b, 5c and 8a is adjusted.
US08167586B2
A valve arrangement for placing a supply of motive fluid in alternating communication with first and second motive fluid chambers. The valve arrangement includes a power valve including a supply chamber, a pilot chamber, and a shiftable member separating the supply chamber from the pilot chamber. The valve arrangement also includes a pilot valve actuable between an on condition in which the pilot valve generates a pilot signal that shifts the power valve, and an off condition in which the pilot valve does not generate the pilot signal. At least a portion of the pilot valve is exposed to motive fluid, and the portion of the pilot valve exposed to motive fluid includes surface areas giving rise to a net zero actuating force arising from pressure of the motive fluid. Because there is no biasing force on the pilot valve, the pilot valve is shifted between the on and off conditions without significant resistance.
US08167580B2
An axial piston machine is provided. A housing of the machine receives an eccentric disk and a rotatably mounted cylinder drum. The drum has cylinders and pistons. The pistons are reciprocatable in the cylinders. The ends of the cylinders project from the cylinders and are supported via sliding blocks against a sliding surface on the eccentric disk. The sliding blocks are held in abutment with the sliding surface through a holding-down device. A pressure prevailing in a pressure chamber under the sliding blocks by a throttle point partially compensates a force that is exerted by the holding-down device on the sliding blocks, through a hydraulic pressure between an annular seating surface of the sliding blocks and a support surface of the holding-down device.
US08167579B2
An air compressor assembly is disclosed. The air compressor assembly includes a substantially curved frame including a lower frame portion and an upper frame portion, a fluid tank carried by the lower frame portion, a compressor mechanism carried by the lower frame portion, and a storage bin including an engagement mechanism releasably coupled to the upper frame portion.
US08167577B2
A fuel pump device includes a fuel pump in which pressure-generating components in the form of a movable piston movable through a cylinder in the fuel pump together are operable to pressurize the fuel in a chamber exposed to the components to high pressure. To prevent the clearance between the pressure-generating components from increasing with increased heating of the fuel pump and to maintain a predetermined clearance between the piston and the surrounding cylinder, a temperature-regulator maintains a temperature within a predetermined temperature range in a region of the fuel pump which includes the clearance and at least portions of the pressure-generating components.
US08167575B2
The invention relates to a connection between components of a wind turbine. More specifically, the present invention relates to components for a wind turbine having a diameter of more than 0.5 m, preferably more than 1.0 m, and more preferably more than 1.5 m. The wind turbine includes two components that are connected together, whereby each component has a contact surface. The surface of the contact surface of a first component is softer than the surface of the contact surface of a second component. Further, the surface of the contact surface of the second component is annealed.
US08167573B2
A gas turbine airfoil (20) having a load-bearing core (30). A honeycomb structure (40A, 42A) is attached to pressure and/or suction sides (22, 24) of the core and is filled with ceramic insulation (50). A ceramic matrix composite boot (60A, 60B, 60C) may cover the leading edge (26) of the core. Edges (61, 62) of the boot may be attached to the core by rows of pins (63A, 63B) or by flanges (65) inserted in slots (69) in the core. The pins may be formed in place by forming pin holes (64) in the boot, clamping the boot onto the core, filling the pin holes with metal or ceramic and metal particles, and heating the particles for internal cohesion and solid-state diffusion bonding (66) with the core. The boot may have a central portion (71) that is not bonded to the core to allow differential thermal expansion.
US08167566B2
A male dovetail for a bucket mounted on a drum rotor for a steam turbine is provided by a tight hook-to-hook fit with the female dovetail of a retaining groove around the periphery of the drum rotor wheel. The tight hook-to-hook fit eliminates the use of loading pins which heretofore have been driven between a base of the male dovetail and a bottom of the retaining groove, a manually intensive operation with the potential to damage the bucket and the rotor.
US08167563B2
A blade arrangement, with a rotor and a plurality of blades which are arranged on the periphery of the rotor in a ring, and a plurality of damping elements are provided. Between two directly adjacent blades at least two damping elements are arranged in series in the circumferential direction of the rotor. As a result of a centrifugal force, which acts in the radial direction, during a rotation of the rotor around a rotor axis adjacent damping elements come into contact with each other, and one of the two damping elements comes into contact with one of the two blades and the other of the two damping elements comes into contact with the other of the two blades.
US08167558B2
A cooling system for use in a turbine engine component exposed to high temperatures during engine operation. The system includes a serpentine flow passage and an exhaust region. The serpentine flow passage includes a coolant supply inlet. The passage can be configured so that neighboring portions of the passage have coolant flowing in the same direction or, alternatively, in opposite directions. A number of flow disrupting structures, such as microfins and trip strips, can be located along the flow passage. The exhaust region can discharge coolant from the system at reduced exit momentum. The exiting flow can provide film cooling to the component. The cooling system can be provided in a small modular form, which can increase cooling design flexibility and can allow cooling designs tailored to the unique cooling requirements of the individual component. As a result, the modules can result in high levels of cooling effectiveness.
US08167556B2
A method of damping tower oscillation in a wind turbine is provided. The method includes the steps of determining a rotor rotational speed of the wind turbine and controlling the rotor rotational speed such that a critical rotor speed is avoided, characterized in that it further comprises the following steps: selecting at least one input parameter value; selecting, according to the input parameter value, an operation mode for controlling the rotor rotational speed, wherein the operation mode is selected from a set of modes comprising a mode of auto tune operation; on the condition of the selected operation mode comprising the mode of auto tune operation, performing the following steps: detecting the tower oscillation frequency; calculating the critical rotor speed based on the detected tower oscillation frequency and controlling the rotor rotational speed to avoid the calculated critical rotor speed. An apparatus and a computer program product are also provided.
US08167555B2
Disclosed a horizontal axis wind turbine including: a rotor; a nacelle; a tower; an independent pitch control device; and a yaw control device, wherein the horizontal axis wind turbine is an up-wind type one including a waiting mode, wherein (1) the independent pitch control device performs a first step of changing all the blades to be in feathering states when the wind speed exceeds the predetermined value, a second step of changing the blades to be in reverse feathering states one by one sequentially, and a third step of holding all the blades in the reverse feathering states, and (2) the yaw control device controls a yaw brake to take a braking value allowing the yaw rotation when the wind speed exceeds the predetermined value, wherein the rotor is allowed to swing a leeward of the tower by executing the control operations (1) and (2) as the waiting mode.
US08167550B2
A blower unit includes a rotation shaft, a centrifugal fan and a casing. The centrifugal fan has blades arranged around the rotation shaft. The casing has a wall part defining an opening. The ring part has a ring shape having a center coinciding with an axis of the rotation shaft. The ring part is provided at first axial ends of the blades and support the blades. The ring part includes an arcuate wall curved in a radially inward of the centrifugal fan. The centrifugal fan is housed in the casing such that the arcuate wall of the ring part is located radially inside of the opening of the wall part.
US08167545B2
Self-balancing face seals and gas turbine engine systems involving such seals are provided. In this regard, a representative self-balancing face seal assembly includes: a rotatable seal runner having a first seal runner face and an opposing second seal runner face; a first face seal operative to form a first seal with the first seal runner face, the first face seal being one of a hydrostatic seal and a hydrodynamic seal; and a second face seal operative to form a second seal with the second seal runner face, the first face seal being one of a hydrostatic seal and a hydrodynamic seal.
US08167540B2
A system for reducing compressor noise includes a rotor having a plurality of blades. The blades have a nominal geometry characterized by a blade parameter. At least some of the blades are mistuned, such that they differ from the nominal geometry by greater than a manufacturing tolerance in the blade parameter. The blades produce shock waves at a blade passing frequency, and the mistuned blades shift acoustic energy away from the blade passing frequency to multiple lower amplitude tones at other frequencies. The system is configurable to be deployed with an inlet silencer that preferentially absorbs acoustic energy at some of the shifted frequencies.
US08167528B2
A lift that is configured to securely lift, carry and deposit a control unit using three degrees of movement. The lift comprises a chassis having a support frame and a power source connected to the support frame. A pivot member rotatably connects to the support frame, wherein the pivot member has a pivot plate and a rod rotatably connected to the pivot plate. A lift frame connects to the rod of the pivot plate, wherein a lift arm rotatably connects to the lift frame. The lift further comprises a pressurized fluid drive operatively connected to the power source and operatively connected to the pivot plate, the lift frame and the lift arm. The fluid drive is configured to reciprocally move the pivot plate, the lift frame and the lift arm such that the lift arm moves in three degrees of movement with respect to the chassis.
US08167525B2
An unloader for unloading material from a container. In some embodiments, the unloader can include an unloader arm movable within the container, a first chain coupled to the unloader arm and movable to unload material from the container, and a second chain coupled to the unloader arm and positioned to engage material within the container upon movement of the unloader arm. The unloader can have a sensor adapted to transmit signals indicative of a force applied to the unloader arm, the first chain, and/or the second chain. A controller can receive the signal from the sensor, and can alter an operation of the unloader arm, the first chain, and/or the second chain based upon the signal received from the sensor.
US08167509B2
A container enclosing an applicator and a dental composition including a volatile organic solvent. The container is sealed. The volatile organic solvent is effectively retained within the container, even after storage at about 43° C. for one week. Preferably the container is made of a copolymer of a cycloolefin and an open chain olefin.
US08167497B2
A sensor-equipped bearing for a wheel rotatably supporting the wheel relative to a vehicle body includes an outer member (1) provided with a double-row raceway surface (3) on an inner periphery thereof, an inner member (2) provided with raceway surfaces (4) opposing to the raceway surfaces (3) of the outer member (1), one of the outer and inner members serving as a stationary member, double-row rolling elements (5) interposed between the outer and inner raceway surfaces, a sensor fitting member (22) fixed to a peripheral surface of the stationary member, and a plurality of strain sensors (23) attached to the sensor fitting member (22) for measuring a strain thereof.
US08167496B2
A slide bearing has at least one bearing shell for accommodating a component to be supported. The at least one bearing shell has two grooves that run in the circumference direction on its slide surface, into which grooves guide elements for lubricant are laid. The grooves and/or the guide elements have at least one holding element.
US08167493B2
a ball spline enabling easy machining of a spline shaft by drawing and manufacturable at low cost. The ball spline includes a spline shaft in which multiple lines of ball rolling faces are formed along the longitudinal direction; and a spline nut having a hollow hole for inserting the spline shaft therein, having load rolling faces opposed to the ball rolling faces of the spline shaft. Multiple lines of torque transmission grooves along the longitudinal direction are formed at equal intervals around the spline shaft, and the ball rolling faces are formed on the lateral both sides of these torque transmission grooves. Further, a distance between a pair of ball rows rolling on both sides of the land parts of the spline shaft is set larger than a distance between a pair of ball rows rolling on both sides of the torque transmission grooves.
US08167492B2
A lubricating device for a linear rolling bearing which has a guide rail and a carriage that is longitudinally moveable on the guide rail and supported on the guide rail by rolling bodies. The rolling bodies are guided in longitudinal grooves along the guide rail, and the lubricating device is fastened to the carriage and lubricate the longitudinal grooves and/or the rolling bodies. The lubricating device also has lubricant supply ducts, which supply a lubricant to the longitudinal grooves and clear outlet openings in the region of the longitudinal grooves for transferring the lubricant to the longitudinal grooves. The lubricant supply ducts are covered by at least one absorbent repository element along the courses thereof in coverage areas. The repository element is designed and/or arranged to absorb lubricant in the coverage areas and to conduct it to the longitudinal grooves in parallel with the lubricant supply channels.
US08167490B2
The disclosed subject matter relates to a multilayer stretchy drawstring and methods of making the same. The drawstring of the disclosed subject matter is a stretched multilayer coextruded or laminated film that offers good balance between easy stretching at low strain and high strain hardening at high strain. The multilayer film includes a first layer of elastomeric polymer and second and third layers of thermoplastic polymer and is stretched beyond the deformation limit of the thermoplastic polymer and allowed to recover. This novel drawstring can be incorporated into a bag to enable the bag to be securely fitted to the upper portion of a trash container while not interfering with the intrinsic strength and operation of the drawstring.
US08167489B2
A packaging bag for secondary packaging which allows safety transport of infectious substances is provided. Front and back surface materials are placed on top of another and formed into a bag member by heat-sealing both side edge and bottom edge portions continuously. Partitioning materials formed of a plastic sheet or film having a required size are disposed on inner surfaces of the upper ends of the front and back surface materials and attached to the front and back surface materials by heat-sealing both side edge and bottom edge portions except for an upper end edge portion to form pocket portions. A sealing material is stuck to the back surface material on the outside of the upper end portion thereof so as not to be opened. The internal pressure is received by one of the pocket portions when the internal pressure in the packaging bag is increased.
US08167483B2
Temperature measurement instruments and methods are provided for visually identifying a selected area of a target with a light beam. After imaging infrared radiation from a measurement area on a target, a selected area satisfying a temperature criterion is determined. An actuator system moves a light beam relative to the instrument and measurement area to visually identify the selected area. In some embodiments the actuator system may repeatedly move the light beam to visually identify the selected area of the target as the instrument is moved and the selected area's position changes within the measurement area.
US08167472B2
An optical sheet (140) includes a base layer (142a) and a light condensing pattern (142b) formed on the base layer integrally with the base layer and including one or more peaks and one or more valleys. Each of the base layer and the light condensing pattern includes a continuous phase and a dispersed phase. The dispersed phase is stretched in a main stretching direction.
US08167466B2
An LED illumination device includes a lampshade, and a plurality of lamp units mounted on the lampshade. Each lamp unit includes a light-emitting module having a plurality of light sources and a heat sink arranged above the light-emitting module. The heat sink includes an elongated base and a plurality of fins on the base. The base has an outer convex surface formed at a top side thereof and an opposite inner concave surface formed at a bottom side thereof. The fins extend outwardly from the convex surface of the base. The concave surface defines an elongated recess extending along an axial direction of the base. Two opposite free ends of the base are spaced from each other and cooperatively define a light emitting window below the concave surface. The light sources are received in the recess and thermally attached to the concave surface.
US08167458B2
A portable device having within it a multicolour illumination arrangement comprising: a surface; a plurality of light sources, at least one of the plurality of light sources being capable of generating two or more emission colors; and drive means for causing the emission color of the at least one light source to vary; whereby the illumination arrangement can produce a varying illumination through at least part of the surface.
US08167453B2
An illumination device includes an illumination lamp installed to a device housing, a sensor for use in controlling the lighting operation of the illumination lamp, and a sensor attachment unit through which the sensor is detachably attached to the device housing such that a sensing unit of the sensor is exposed to the outside. The illumination device further includes a decoration member for attachment to the sensor attachment unit when the sensor is not attached to the sensor attachment unit, the decoration member having substantially the same outward appearance as that of the sensor. The sensor and the decoration member are interchangeably attached to the sensor attachment unit.
US08167451B2
A fluorescent tube is prevented from being wrongly attached and broken when being attached, and luminance nonuniformity of backlight due to luminance difference generated in the tube axis direction of the fluorescent tube is reduced. In a backlight device (2), a plurality of fluorescent tube sets, each of which is composed of four fluorescent tubes (21) having electrodes (211) at the both ends and a pair of lamp holders (5) storing portions close to the both electrodes at the both ends of the four fluorescent tubes (21), and the fluorescent tube sets are driven by a pair of inverter circuit board. The backlight device (2) is provided with a power transmitting member (10), which is connected to electrodes (211) at the ends on one side of the two fluorescent tubes (21), for every two adjacent fluorescent tubes configuring the fluorescent tube set, gathers wirings (9) from the electrodes (211) at the ends and transmits power; and a conduction member (7), which is connected to the electrodes (211) on the other side of the two fluorescent tubes and permits a current to flow between the electrodes at the other ends. In the lamp holder (5), the power transmitting members (10) and the conductive members (7) are alternately arranged.
US08167440B2
A light source unit includes a light source group wherein light sources are arranged into rows and columns so as to form a planar configuration and a primary reflecting mirror group disposed on an optical axis of the light source group to reflect light beams emitted from the light source group as light beams whose sectional areas are reduced in a column direction by narrowing intervals between light beams emitted from the light sources making up the rows of the light source group, the primary reflecting mirror group includes different strip-like reflecting mirrors disposed on optical axes of light beams emitted from the rows of the light source group in a step-like fashion, and the reflecting mirrors are disposed to eliminate intervals between reflected light beams from the reflecting mirrors, thereby making it possible to reduce the sectional areas of the light beams.
US08167439B2
A field-sequential-type image forming device which includes: a light valve element which divides one field of a color image to sectors corresponding to primary colors different from each other and forms images corresponding to the primary colors during periods of the respective sectors; a light emission control unit which controls light emission quantities of the light sources; and an image control signal outputting unit which outputs control signals to the light valve element. In such an image forming device, the image control signal outputting unit outputs signals for forming the image by controlling light quantities of lights emitted from the primary color sources during the primary color light emission period and light quantity correction signals for controlling light quantity of the image corresponding to the positions of the pixels which form the image during the high-brightness light emission period.
US08167437B2
A projection display is provided with a light engine including a damped piezo-electric smooth picture actuating device. The light engine comprises a mirror and an actuator for positioning the mirror. The actuator includes a tilting means that couples the actuator to the mirror. The tilting means has damping material attached thereto. The damping material may be a polymeric material.
US08167428B2
An applicator for an ophthalmologic treatment or diagnostic device, wherein a laser beam and an illumination beam are directed at the eye and light reflected from the eye is fed to an examining beam path. A reflective surface is provided for the reflection of the illumination beam and comprises an optical aperture for the laser beam.
US08167424B2
An ink jet printer includes a restraint device which applies a restraining force, applied to a support surface used for supporting a recording sheet, to the recording sheet transported from an upstream side to a downstream side in a transport direction. The restraint device includes a second support member which includes the support surface and a suction hole opened to the support surface and generating a negative pressure therein and which is capable of sucking the recording sheet supported to the support surface toward the support surface on the basis of the negative pressure generated inside the suction hole and a shield belt which is disposed to face the support surface.
US08167419B2
An ink jet recording head includes a plurality of ink jet head substrates each including ejection outlets for ejecting ink and energy generating elements for generating energy for ejecting the ink; a supporting substrate for supporting the plurality of ink jet head substrates; an ink accommodating portion for accommodating the ink; and a filter provided at a communicating portion between the plurality of ink jet head substrates and the ink accommodating portion so as to be inclined with respect to gravitational direction. At a highest position of the filter with respect to gravitational direction, a suction opening through which the ink in the plurality of ink jet head substrates is capable of being sucked is provided.
US08167418B2
A method of feeding ink sticks into an imaging device enables identification of data useful for device control. The method includes inserting at least one ink stick into an ink loader, the at least one ink stick including a plurality of code element patterns formed in the ink stick, each code element pattern having a plurality of code elements that include a first code element identifying a start of a code element pattern and a second code element identifying an end of the code element pattern, each code element pattern being configured to generate a same coded signal pattern; urging the ink stick toward a melt device; actuating at least one sensor in the imaging device with the plurality of code element patterns to generate a predetermined coded pattern of signals; and comparing the predetermined coded pattern of signals to identify a code word.
US08167411B2
This invention is directed to an element substrate including a plurality of print element arrays in which print elements are arranged at different arrayed densities. The element substrate can efficiently transfer data to each print element. The element substrate includes the following arrangement. More specifically, the first print element array having a relatively large number of print elements, and the second print element array which is equal in length to the first print element array and has a relatively small number of print elements are juxtaposed. The element substrate includes one shift register which holds data for driving the print element of the second print element array, and a plurality of shift registers for dividing and holding data for driving the print elements of the first print element array.
US08167410B2
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus, which is able to prevent the adherence of toner on the surface of toner controlling means and around a toner passage hole, and to stably carry out toner passage ON/OFF control when forming an image using the direct recording method. This image forming apparatus includes: a toner carrier; recording medium means; toner controlling means, disposed between the toner carrier and recording medium means, and having a plurality of toner passage holes; and cloud electrode means disposed between the toner carrier and toner controlling means, a toner cloud being formed by applying an AC bias between the toner carrier and cloud electrode means. A control electrode and a common electrode are disposed in toner controlling means, and when the toner of the toner carrier is able to pass through the toner controlling means toward recording medium means, a loop-shaped line of electric force is formed between the recording medium means side and the toner controlling means common electrode, the loop-shaped line by-passing the control electrode.
US08167402B2
In a structure in which a printing medium is subjected to a maintenance ejection in order to maintain a favorable ink ejection performance of a printing head, dots formed on the printing medium by the maintenance ejection have a reduced visibility. Specifically, an area of dots formed by landing ink droplets ejected from the printing head for the maintenance ejection onto the printing medium is smaller than an area of similar dots formed by a normal printing. Specifically, by flowing currents having different waveforms into an ejection heater of the printing head depending on the ejection for printing an image and the maintenance ejection, an area of dots formed by the maintenance ejection can be smaller than an area of dots formed by the normal ejection for printing an image.
US08167397B2
In the present invention, a conveying operation of a recording medium is controlled on the basis of a first correction value and a second correction value. The first correction value is used for correcting a conveying amount when the recording medium disengages from a first conveying roller, and the second correction value is used for correcting the phase of the first conveying roller and a second conveying roller when the recording medium disengages from the first conveying roller before the recording medium is nipped by the first conveying roller.
US08167392B2
A user-friendly ink jet recording apparatus is capable of preventing a sudden ink exhaustion and a resulting unclear print that may result from canceling a no-ink error signal without an ink tank replacement. In the ink jet recording apparatus, in a case of a no-ink error signal, a no-ink timer is activated and time information of a no-ink state is stored in a non-volatile memory, a period from such time is measured and compared, and after the lapse of predetermined time, a no-ink error signal is generated even before a threshold value for the no-ink error signal is reached, thereby issuing a request for ink tank replacement to the user.
US08167390B2
A shelf assembly mounting structure for a refrigerator includes stoppers respectively provided on both sides of a shelf assembly, a plurality of supporting ribs respectively provided on both side surfaces of a storage space, the supporting ribs being formed to extend in a fore and aft direction of the storage space to support a bottom surface of the shelf assembly; and a plurality of guide slots respectively provided in upper surfaces of the supporting ribs, the stopper sliding in the guide slot in a state where the stopper is positioned therein when the shelf assembly is moved in the fore and aft direction of the storage space. The stopper is moved in the fore and aft direction along the guide slot and brought into contact with front and rear ends of the guide slot, whereby a moving distance of the shelf assembly is restricted.
US08167387B1
A portable and collapsible storage container formed of rigid, interconnected panels which, when fully assembled, form a self-standing, integrally strong unit and, when collapsed, fold together to occupy a minimal volumetric space. Opposed side walls are hingedly connected to a front frame, and opposed end walls are hingedly connected to a rear wall panel, both to fold inwardly in interlocking fashion such that the side walls overlie the rear panel and the end walls overlie the side walls within the region bounded by the front frame. The storage container may optionally include a door or lid for closure which may be fitted with a lock if desirable. The side walls include means for supporting a removable interior panel to prevent the side walls from folding inwardly which, in turn, prevent the end walls from folding inwardly.
US08167384B2
A track roller frame cleaning mechanism is provided. The track roller frame cleaning mechanism includes a linkage configured to pivotally attach to a rotating track member and means for cleaning a surface of the track roller frame coupled to the linkage.
US08167377B2
An intermediate support structure provides a device whereby individual members of a furniture item can be assembled into an optimized configuration. The use of the intermediate structure allows the individual members of the furniture item to be assembled to achieve maximum structural benefit from their arrangement.
US08167368B2
Disclosed is a fastening mechanism (50) to secure an air delivery device (21) to a carrier device (40). It is specified that this is provided with at least one swivel mechanism (17), which enables a swiveling of the air delivery device (21) relative to the carrier device (40), and at least one fastening mechanism (50), which holds the swivel mechanism (17) on the carrier device (40).
US08167362B2
In a vehicular hood hinge arrangement structure in which the rear end part of a front hood is pivotally supported on a vehicle body via a hood hinge attached to the top end surface of a dash side front member at the side of a cowl box adopting a hollow structure the upper side of which is open, the hood hinge is arranged on the outside in the vehicle width direction of a vertical surface extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction of a cowl side panel closing the side end of the cowl box and in front of a front surface of a side body outer panel (front pillar) erected almost vertically in the side part of a vehicle body.
US08167356B1
An automated vehicle sunshade includes a compartment mountable to a roof of a vehicle, a flexible shade, a plurality of rods coupled to the flexible shade and a drive device coupled to the plurality of rods. The plurality of rods are retractable and extendable so that the sunshade repeatably alternates between an extended position and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the flexible shade, plurality of rods and drive device are enclosed within the compartment. The sunshade also includes guide wires and support wires for properly guiding and supporting the flexible shade during retracting and extending.
US08167355B2
The invention relates to a device (9) for locking a retractable roof of a motor vehicle (2), comprising: a strike (11) fixed to a lateral roof element (7a, 7b); a locking finger (12) pivotally mounted on a support (13) fixed to the front roof element (3) between an unlocked position and a locked position in which said finger (12) exerts on the strike (11) a force along a substantially vertical axis Z so as to press the lateral roof element (7a, 7b) towards its covering position in which it bears on the central element (6) and/or on the front element (3). The invention also relates to a locking system, a retractable roof and a vehicle equipped with such a device.
US08167342B2
An automobile outer door handle, comprising a lever-shaped handle portion which is manually gripped from the door's outer side and which is fitted with at least one bearing element resting in pivotably manner on a mating bearing element of the door and is coupled by a linkage to a door lock in a manner that, when this lock shall open when the handle portion is pivoted out of a rest position into an open position, an inertial mass being supported in excursion-limited manner in the region of the swivel bearing of the handle portion in a similar direction as the handle portion, said inertial mass locking in one limit position (blocked position) the handle portion into the rest position whereas releasing it in the other limit position (release position) and being moved into the blocked position when a predetermined transverse acceleration acts on the automobile to exert an opening force on the handle portion.
US08167341B2
In one embodiment, the present invention is a latch device having a latch and a base portion, where the latch is selectively connected to the base portion, and pivotable about the base portion along a first axis. The present invention also includes a cam mechanism for securing the latch such that the latch is secured for rotation and support of a door for a vehicle along a second axis when the door is rotated about a first axis but allows free movement of the latch when the door is actuated for rotation about a second axis.
US08167330B2
The invention provides space saving, locking and support features for most single pole trailer tongue, having: a support leg, which has the coupler hitch on the opposite end, pivots on the tongue into a vertical position where it acts as a support for the tongue. This leg is secured vertically, using aligned brackets on both sections, by a hitch pin or locking device, so that it can be locked in place as a deterrent to theft. When in the horizontal position, the support leg is secured to the tongue by a hitch pin and may be connected to a towing vehicle. A flip-down leg, pivotally mounted on the tongue, which drops down when the securing hitch pin is removed part way, to provide temporary support for the tongue while the support leg is being moved to the vertical position.
US08167327B2
A bicycle assembly can include a bicycle frame that can have a head tube, a top tube and a down tube. The top tube and down tube can be attached to the head tube. The head tube can include at least one ledge configured to fit inside either of the top and down tubes. The top of the top tube and/or the bottom of the down tube can be substantially flush with the top of the head tube or bottom of the head tube, respectively.
US08167322B2
A portable hand cart particularly suited for carrying a welding system is provided. The cart includes a bottom platform carried by a rectangular bottom frame; a back frame extending upward from the bottom frame and including an angled handle; a top platform carried by a rectangular top frame that is somewhat narrower than the bottom frame; a front frame extending upward from the front sides of the bottom frame; two front wheels; two back pneumatic wheels; a lower tank frame extending rearward from the back bottom frame and supporting a tank platform; and an upper tank cradle extending rearward from the back of the top frame. The cart is stable and balanced both in a shop and in the field when loaded with a welding system and with or without a compressed gas cylinder.
US08167319B2
A stabilizer apparatus including: (a) torsion bars; (b) a cylinder device including a movable piston and cooperating with the piston to define a fluid chamber accommodating therein a working fluid; and (c) a mechanism configured to hold the piston in a movement end position when the torsion bars are positioned in a neutral angular position, move the piston away from the movement end position when the torsion bars are rotated away from the neutral angular position, and move the piston toward the movement end position when the torsion bars are rotated toward the neutral angular position. The apparatus is capable of switching between a state that allows the piston to be moved in both the opposite directions by allowing outflow and inflow of the working fluid from and into the fluid chamber and another state that allows the piston to be moved only toward the movement end position by allowing only one of the outflow and inflow of the working fluid.
US08167304B2
A diversion member 21 rotationally moves to at least three stopping positions including a first stopping position connecting a first transport path 11 and a second transport path 12 to form a first transport passage, a second stopping position connecting the first transport path 11 and a third transport path 13 to form a second transport passage and a third stopping position connecting transport paths other than the first transport path 11 to form a third transport passage. The rotation speed of the diversion member 21 between the first stopping position and the second stopping position is lower than that between the first stopping position and the third stopping position and that between the second stopping position and the third stopping position.
US08167283B2
A mount assembly having a support structure mounted to a frame of a vehicle and a carrier mounted to a vehicle body. The support structure is displaceable relative to the carrier along a central axis (L). The support structure defines an inverted cup having a bottom with an aperture and a cylindrical skirt on a central axis (L) extending below the frame. A lower insulator is disposed between the support structure and a plate allowing the lower insulator to interact with the bottom and cylindrical skirt of the support structure and the plate to isolate forces in a vertical and/or lateral direction. The interaction with the support structure and the plate improves handling of lateral forces seen in a vehicle during driving events such as braking or corning.
US08167281B2
A tray deck with a distillation column includes a sump suspended from the tray deck for receiving a liquid mixture from the tray deck, at least one vapor opening for rising vapor through the tray deck and at least one vapor baffle for receiving vapor passing through the vapor opening.
US08167268B2
Methods and apparatus for positioning an orifice plate within a body having a straight flowbore. One embodiment includes a carrier supporting the orifice plate and a drive member operable to engage the carrier and move the carrier along a first axis perpendicular to the flowbore. The drive member is also operable to limit the movement of the carrier along a second axis perpendicular to the flowbore and perpendicular to the first axis. A pin is operable to engage the carrier so as to limit movement along the first axis.
US08167264B2
Self-supporting intermediate walls (12) for cellular division of mould lower parts in a concrete casting machine of the kind typically used for making cast items in the form of concrete blocks for wall construction and elements, solid blocks or blocks with cavities or recesses in two or more rows. By the self-supporting design, the distance between rows of products may be reduced for better utilization of the production plate while at the same time maintaining the replaceability of wear parts. By the invention is indicated a self-supporting intermediate wall (12) consisting of two halves, an intermediate wall with lower pins (18) and an intermediate wall with upper pins (20) which, when the two halves are assembled with the pins engaging a partitioning plate (8), form a self-supporting intermediate wall (12). For moulds with core supports (28), intermediate wall parts (22 and 23) are used with a recess (25) in which the boss (29) on the core support iron (28) fits.
US08167259B2
Rapid attach and release clamps for attaching to supports include a threaded rod, an arm pivotally attached to the threaded rod, and a knob having an exterior surface and an interior surface. The knob defines a passageway sized to fit the threaded rod. A lock comprises at least one thread and is rotatably attached to the interior surface of the knob. The lock is constructed and arranged to move between a closed position with the thread entering the passageway and engaging the threaded rod and an open position with the thread not entering the passageway. A lever is moveably attached to the clamp and constructed and arranged to rotate the lock about a pivot point.
US08167256B1
A mounting bracket allows an electronic whiteboard to be positioned in front of a blackboard. The mounting bracket is attached above the blackboard and extends in front of a portion of the blackboard. A lower portion of the mounting bracket abuts the front of the blackboard. The mounting bracket includes an adjustable portion at the lower end to adjust the distance between the blackboard and the mounting bracket. A standard mounting bracket for the electronic blackboard is attachable to the mounting bracket of the present invention. The height of the standard mounting bracket may be adjusted.
US08167250B2
An adjustable cable tray joint is provided. The joint has first and second tray receptacles, each having a web and opposing walls. The first tray receptacle may further include joint flanges extending from its walls. The first and second tray receptacles are attached together by pivotal connection, the receptacles defining a rotation relative to each other about the pivotal connection. The joint flanges of the first tray receptacle are disposed proximate to the corresponding walls of the second tray receptacle. The joint includes a locking member extending through a wall of the first tray receptacle and the corresponding wall of the second tray receptacle, the locking member configured to selectively fix and release the rotation between the two tray receptacles.
US08167245B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus, method, and system for managing deflections comprising a fuel dam, a first portion of the fuel dam connected with a stringer, a second portion of the fuel dam connected with the first portion, and a third portion of the fuel dam. The second portion is more flexible than the first portion. The third portion is connected with the second portion, and connected with a rib. The second portion accommodates deflection between the stringer and the rib.
US08167242B2
A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10). The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and picks up enough airspeed in the dive to perform a pull-up into level controlled flight. The preferred method of recovery is for the UAV to fly into and latch onto the parasail tow line (4) or cables hanging off the tow line and then be winched back down to the boat (2).
US08167239B2
The disclosed embodiments relates to a jet engine for an aircraft, characterized in that it bears at least one stabilizer, the stabilizer being fastened on the rigid structure of said jet engine so as to form a one-piece assembly. The jet engine can also bear one or more auxiliary devices required for the operation of the jet engine. The disclosed embodiments also relates to an aircraft provided with such a jet engine, and to a method of mounting such a jet engine on an aircraft.
US08167229B2
The present invention relates to a reeling apparatus (1) for fiber web by which fiber web may be wound to successive reels (4). The reeling apparatus has cutting devices (6) for cutting the web during a reel change, the cutting device being provided with at least one cutting head (6.2) disposed movable in a direction essentially transverse to the web direction to cut the web. A contactless web supporting arrangement (7) is been provided in operational connection with the cutting device to maintain the running of the web stable in a controlled manner during the cutting.
US08167228B2
A roll recording material transport device includes a driving side roll holder, a driven side roll holder, a driving side spindle, a driven side spindle, a spindle driving source, a driving side support mechanism, a driven side support mechanism, a transport roller, and an assist executing section. The assist executing section executes assist control in which a rotating force in the direction of transporting the roll of recording material is applied by the spindle driving source through the driving side spindle and the driving side roll holder in an engaged state to the roll portion. The frictional force between the driving side spindle and the driving side roll holder is set smaller than the frictional force between the driven side spindle and the driven side support mechanism.
US08167217B2
A thermostatic element includes a metal cup that contains a material, which can expand and contract according to variation in its temperature, and is provided on an inside thereof with an insert that separates its inside volume (V1) into at least two cavities for storing the material. The thermostatic element also includes a piston which is axially reciprocally movable relative to the cup depending on whether the material expands or contracts. The insert includes at least one opening there through for enabling passage of the material between the at least two cavities.
US08167213B1
A method and system for attaching a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to an ordnance is provided. By tailoring the packaged tag and electronics to accommodate existing ordnance body cavities the integrity of the bomb casing is maintained. Likewise, fin assemblies also remain intact and are mounted in a conventional manner to the tagged ordnance. Numerous ordnance types, to include the mark (MK) 80 series general purpose bombs and equivalents are compatible with the tagging method and system described herein. Set screw mounted tail assemblies of various fin configurations are readily assembled onto the metal body casings of tagged ordinances. A curved dipole antenna provides access to external query signals and transmission of tag locating signals. As described herein, tag antennas can mount between ordnance assembly parts, adding to the ease of retrofitting existing ordnance inventory for a RFID tag localizing system.
US08167209B2
The exemplary system requires a 2D barcode be located on an object, a portion of which is to be captured in an image. The module size of the 2D barcode is chosen to match the smallest feature to be preserved on the output image. While the target is moving with respect to the imager the 2D bar code is also moving and the resulting image is degraded. The imager will properly decode the 2D barcode only if the bar code is stationary (or moving very slowly) and hence will provide an acceptable image in the region of the 2D bar code.
US08167208B2
In an electro-optical reader, an aiming or a scanning laser has an internal laser chip and a monitor photodiode. A controller deenergizes the chip in a deenergized state, and energizes the chip to emit a laser beam with an output power in an energized state. A positive voltage power supply forward biases and maintains the photodiode at a substantially constant positive voltage below a threshold voltage, to support a substantially constant photodiode leakage current in both states. A signal processor supports a total current comprised of a main photodiode current indicative of the output power of the laser beam in the energized state and of the leakage current which flows opposite to the main current, and removes the leakage current from the total current to output only the main current in the energized state.
US08167188B2
A friction stir welding method includes providing a joining tool including a friction surface, a first workpiece, and a second workpiece, and arranging the first workpiece and second workpiece in position with a first joining surface abutting a second joining surface. A friction surface of a joining tool resists at least one of the first treating surface and the second treating surface, and the first workpiece and the second workpiece cooperatively define a slot. Then positioning, rotating, and moving the joining tool to rub and stir at least one of the first workpiece and the second workpiece, thus plasticizing at least part of the first workpiece and the second workpiece to join the first workpiece and the second workpiece.
US08167183B2
A lock lever is provided in association with a trigger, and the trigger is configured not to be turned on unless the third operation for unlocking the lock lever is performed, so that it is ensured that an erroneous operation of the trigger is prevented further reliably.
US08167178B2
A perfume bottle sealing structure includes a cover, which is covered on the bottleneck of a perfume bottle and has an air hole and a tubular center shaft defining a longitudinal fluid passage, and a seal that is fastened to the top end of the tubular center shaft to seal the longitudinal fluid passage and the air hole during transportation of the perfume bottle and, which has a plug rod and a bottom pin respectively fitted into the longitudinal fluid passage and the air hole to seal the bottleneck when the seal is fastened to the cover.
US08167176B2
A fluid dispenser device a body in which the direction in which an actuating element (5) moves is different from, and in particular perpendicular to, the axial direction in which the piston or the valve member of the dispensing member moves, the actuating element (5) having an end portion provided with the cam surface (6) which co-operates with the reservoir (3) or a fixing ring (8) adapted to fix the dispensing member to the reservoir (3) so that the actuating element (5) being moved substantially radially into its actuating position causes the reservoir (3) to be moved axially relative to the piston or to the valve member of the dispensing member so as to dispense a dose of fluid.
US08167174B2
An Inline Fluid Dispenser including a reservoir having at least one chamber for containing reservoir contents, a fluid supply tube extending through the reservoir, an entry tubing adapter attached to a first end of the fluid supply tube and including an entry flow valve, an exit tubing adapter attachable to a second end of the fluid supply tube and including an exit flow valve, an activation system for controlling fluid flow between the fluid supply tube and the reservoir. The fluid supply tube contents and the reservoir contents mix together and flow through the exit flow valve when there is fluid communication between the reservoir and the fluid supply tube. A supply fluid flow path is always available between the entry tubing adapter and the exit tubing adapter.
US08167173B1
A tap is provided that allows multiple streams of draught beers to be dispersed from one keg handle. The tap has one tap handle, one spigot, at least three fluid streams for connecting to at least three pressurized tanks corresponding with the fluid streams. A floating transfer block functions as a selection valve that aligns with a selected fluid stream no that multiple streams of draught beers to be independently dispersed from said one tap handle.
US08167168B2
A dispenser with an automatic pump output detection system provides a pump with an adjustable output. The pump is coupled to a current sensor that generates an operating profile based on the electrical current consumed during each dispensement of material by the pump. A controller that includes one or more previously-stored reference profiles that correspond to discrete pump output amount values that are compared with each generated operating profile, whereby the discrete pump output amounts associated with the matching reference profile is used to compute various usage data associated with the operation of the dispenser.
US08167163B2
A pot comprises a pot body having at least one handle and a pot lid having a lifting handle for covering the pot body. The pot lid is connected with the lifting handle by the lower end of a fixed portion of the lifting handle. The lifting handle is provided with a handle portion extending towards the outer edge of the pot lid from the upper end of the fixed portion. The handle of the pot body is provided with a pilot recess adapted to receive the tail of the handle portion. The tail of the handle portion is inserted into the pilot recess or lean against the outer edge of the pot body at the internal side, while the top surface of the pot lid leans against the upper portion of the inner wall of the pot body at two points, so as to ensure the pot lid to be laterally and stably retained on the pot body when the pot lid is laterally placed on the pot body. The pot according to the present invention within the configuration described above does eliminate the inconvenience, when the food in the pot is cooked without the lid, the pot lid has to be rested on a counter top, which not only takes up room, but could cause residue to drip onto the countertop.
US08167162B2
A sanitary, protective barrier covering, which is attachable to lids that accompany beverage containers/cups, particularly disposable containers for coffee or other hot beverages. The sanitary barrier comprises a thin flexible strip of material that covers the entire area on which consumers place their mouths. It is adhered to the lid with a light, food grade adhesive. The sanitary barrier has an extended pull tab that is not adhered to the lid and extends beyond the bottom wall of the lid and can be easily gripped to allow the strip to be pulled up and away from the lid for easy removal of the sanitary barrier.
US08167159B2
A collapsible and reusable drum having an outer sleeve, an injection molded bottom end cap, an injection molded top end cap, an input port positioned on the top end cap, and an output port positioned near the outer sleeve's lower portion. The drum may also include an inner sleeve positioned within the outer sleeve. The drum may also include at least one strap for securing the bottom and top end caps to the inner and outer sleeves. The at least one strap secures the end caps to the sleeves via strap retaining loops located on the top and bottom end caps and recessed channels traveling from one strap retaining loop located at one end of an end cap to another strap retaining loop located at the opposite end of the end cap. Moreover, the at least one strap is internalized between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.
US08167152B1
A variable angle panel mounting system can include at least one variable-angle panel mounting member, which in turn includes an elongate support member and an angularly-adjustable mounting plate adapted to secure an end of the elongate support member to a plurality of mounting surface angles. In some embodiments, the variable angle panel mounting system may also include a pressure-fit mounting system. These components can provide the ability to angularly and vertically adjust the variable-angle panel mounting member between opposing support surfaces.
US08167150B2
A drawer partition kit is described. The drawer partition kit comprises at least one partition board and a partition rack. The partition rack, applied in a drawer having a space, has a U-shaped space for storing things. The U-shape space has a size. The partition rack has slots under the U-shaped space for positioning the partition board and for reducing the size of the U-shaped space. The partition board has a first side plate for being positioned and has a vertical plate capable of being moved to change the space of the drawer. A plurality of such partition racks may be connected with each other. The materials of the partition rack may alternatively be metals or other materials having excellent weather-resistance and supporting forces.
US08167148B2
A convertible instrument rack includes a frame and multiple yoke sets. The frame includes support members and the yoke sets each include at least three yoke members which are each placed on a respective one of the support members. The respective position of the support members can be selectively shifted on the frame and the yoke members can be selectively shifted along their respective support member to accommodate tubas or sousaphones, as well as tubas or sousaphones of different sizes.
US08167145B2
Granules comprise binder-agglomerated active particles for liquid treatment or filtration. Each granule has a center core of a material that itself has binding properties without the addition of other binders or sprays or adhesives, or, alternatively, each granule comprises a matrix of active materials stuck together with the binder. The binder structure preferably ranges from a non-uniform matrix of binder formed by heat-deformed binder particles, to a clump of binder particles generally retaining the original shape or the binder particles, to non-continuous connectors of binder between active particles. The invented two-part media has high surface area per volume of media, which, because the outer surface and inner void surfaces of the particles are preferably substantially covered with active particles, translates to high activity for the preferred treatment process. Therefore, while a mixture of active particles may be used and a mixture of binders may be use, each media granule preferably consists only of a matrix, clump, or plurality of connectors of binder coated with active particles, with preferably no support for the active component other than the binder material.
US08167137B2
An apparatus is provided for transporting textile items into sorting bins with reduced energy consumption and improved load measuring accuracy and which provides textile item counting and sorting for a commercial laundry using vacuum air systems to move textiles into sorting bins and using a variable frequency drive to increase on/off response time of vacuum in the system.
US08167130B2
A first aid kit organized with pockets containing first aid and emergency preparedness supplies and equipment and a system for refilling. Each pocket in the kit contains supplies and equipment useful in providing initial care for a particular illness or injury and is quickly identified through textual labels and transparent elements. The pockets are connected into a strip of pockets which is folded to fit within a case. The strip of pockets is easily deployed from the case facilitating rapid and accurate identification, selection, and acquisition of items appropriate for initial care of a particular illness or injury by comprehensive visual presentation of the organizational scheme and the supplies and pieces of equipment themselves.
US08167123B2
A barrel has an external metal cylinder and a plastic vessel. The external metal cylinder has a cylinder body, an open top and an open bottom. The plastic vessel has an inner space with a sealed bottom as well as a through top flange. The top flange of the plastic vessel is sleeved tightly into the external metal cylinder, and embedded into the internal curling portion formed by the open top of external metal cylinder. Moreover, the sealed bottom of the plastic vessel is extended into the open bottom of the external metal cylinder, and kept with a recessed spacing to the curling flange, while the bottom of the external metal cylinder is exposed. The barrel can be applied to toilet brush assemblies in order to reduce the manufacturing cost, prevent rust and facilitate the cleaning process with better economic benefits and applicability.
US08167120B2
A load moving apparatus is operable to move a load, such as a stack of sheet product, in a first and second direction on a staging area. The load moving apparatus includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor, and a translating device. The first conveyor defines the staging area and is configured to move a load in a first direction. The second conveyor is positioned within the staging area and is configured to move the load in a second direction different from the first direction. The translating device is configured to move vertically one of the first conveyor and the second conveyor relative to the other of the first conveyor and the second conveyor. The load moving apparatus can be used to build or break down loads entering the staging area.
US08167115B2
The invention relates to method of supporting a unloading conveyor bridge extending substantially horizontally at the bottom level of a bulk material pile storage, implemented as supports in the area of the bridge ends as well as in at least one point therebetween. At least one of the supports is positionally adjusted in the vertical direction. The support force is thereby kept substantially constant at the actual support point. For the adjustment can be used spring loading, fluid pressure loading or gravity loading, for example.
US08167111B2
A sortation conveyor includes a method of calibrating the control system to provide a calibration value indicative of the spacial correlation between the sort induct sensor and the first shoe sensor.
US08167110B2
A coin discrimination apparatus according to the present invention which discriminates a bimetallic coin having a ring part, and a core part provided on an inner side of the ring part and composed of a different material from that of the ring part, includes: a conveyor which conveys the bimetallic coin; a ring sensor which is arranged at a position where only the ring part of the bimetallic coin conveyed by the conveyor transits, and which detects magnetic properties; and a core sensor which is arranged at a position where the core part of the bimetallic coin conveyed by the conveyor transit, and which detects magnetic properties.
US08167107B2
A wet clutch having friction surfaces, where at least one friction surface consists of a porous friction lining with essentially flat surface placed on a supporting part. In order to achieve better cooling of the friction lining and supporting part and of the opposing friction surface by means of cooling oil pressed through the porous friction lining under pressure, the friction lining is provided with at least one cut-out.
US08167104B2
The invention relates to a gear shifting point (10) for producing a rotationally fixed connection between a toothed wheel (16, 18) and a shaft (12). Said gear shifting point (10) comprises a shaft (12), a sliding sleeve (24) and at least one toothed wheel (16, 18). The toothed wheel (16, 18) is mounted rotationally with respect to the shaft (12). The sliding sleeve (24) is mounted on the shaft (12) in such a way that it is not rotatable therewith. The toothed wheel (16, 18) and the sliding sleeve (24) are embodied in such a way that a rotationally fixed connection can be produced therebetween in the coupled state of the gear shifting point (10) and no connection can be produced between the toothed wheel (16, 18) and the sliding sleeve (24) in the neutral state of the gear shifting point (10). The aim of said invention is to develop and improve the gear shifting point (10) which is used for producing a rotationally fixed connection between the toothed wheel (16, 18) and the shaft (12), is cost effective and operates in as interference-free manner as possible. For this purpose, the inventive gear shifting point (10) is characterized in that the sliding sleeve (24) is provided with at least one electromagnet (38, 40) and the coupled state of the gear shifting point (10) is obtainable by activating said electromagnet (38, 40).
US08167093B2
A power ramp for a vehicle and a control method thereof are disclosed. A power ramp for a vehicle includes a main frame defining an exterior appearance thereof, a base plate provided in a bottom of the main frame to define a base of the main frame, a main ramp provided on the base plate, a ramp holder having an end hingedly coupled to the main ramp to support the main ramp, at least one sliding part provided in right and left end portions of the main frame to guide forward-and-rearward motion of the ramp holder, a pair of power generating device provided in the ramp holder to supply power required for the forward-and-rearward motion of the main ramp, a pair of sliding chains longitudinally provided along the right and left end portions of the main ramp, the pair of the sliding chains supporting the main ramp to be movable forward and rearward, and a manual operation changing part provided in the main frame, the manual operation changing part selectively controlling rotation of the sliding chains to enable the main ramp to be movable manually.
US08167092B2
A method for lubricating a metal workpiece during a metalworking process includes delivering supercritical carbon dioxide to the workpiece during the metalworking process. The supercritical carbon dioxide acts as a lubricant, coolant, chip evacuator, and/or carrier for another lubricant or corrosion inhibitor.
US08167091B2
An oil scavenge system of a gas turbine engine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a housing defined about an axis of rotation, the housing confining an air/oil mixture in motion within the housing and defining an oil scavenge area below the axis of rotation. The housing further includes an outlet at a low location of the housing. A churning damper is supported within the housing and is located in the oil scavenge area. The churning damper includes at least one plate, allowing the air/oil mixture in motion to pass over or through the plate only in a peripheral area of the at least one plate to cause flow energy dissipation.
US08167087B2
A safety device for measuring and indicating the level of a ladder having rungs extending between a pair of elongated ladder rails, the safety device comprising a housing dimensioned to be inserted into one of the rungs of the ladder, an electronic sensor disposed in the housing, a controller disposed in the housing, which is in electronical communication with the sensor, at least one indicator, and a power supply for supplying power to the device. The electronic sensor measures the inclination of the ladder to produce a measured inclination which the controller compares to a stored predetermined level value to produce a comparison signal. The at least one indicator receives the comparison signal and indicates to the user the comparison signal.
US08167083B2
A reconfigurable loudspeaker enclosure. A loudspeaker enclosure, includes a first section that includes a mounting location for an acoustic driver. The mounting location includes a first section mating surface and first section walls, a second section that includes an exit for an acoustic element from which acoustic energy can be radiated. The second section includes a second section mating surface and second section walls. The first section mating surface and the second section are rotatably coupled so that in a first configuration the first section walls and the second section walls are substantially continuous, and so that in a second configuration, the walls of the two sections are substantially non-continuous or perpendicular or both and so that in both the first configuration and the second configuration the two sections are coupled acoustically.
US08167081B2
A hydrostatic steering system has a steering cylinder for coupling to steerable wheels, a gerotor pump, a steering valve and an actuator controlled mode select valve. The steering valve is mechanically and hydraulically coupled to the gerotor pump, and controls fluid communication between the gerotor pump and the steering cylinder. The steering valve has a center position wherein communication between the gerotor pump and the steering cylinder is closed. The actuator controlled mode select valve controls fluid communication between the gerotor pump and the steering cylinder independently of the steering valve.
US08167079B2
The presented system is a full-mechanical system composed of 60 metal parts all of which parts are made of steel and iron metals. This system is placed in the deck of vehicles and over the car mat and connected to clutch and gas pedals such that it connects gas and clutch pedals through levers. This system is fixed in its place through two levers called “fulcrum shafts” such that head of these two levers are placed in a due place avoiding any slide helping to install the system tightly in its due place.
US08167063B2
A power plant 1 for driving driven parts DW and DW includes a prime mover 3, and first and second generator-motors 20, 30. The first generator-motor 20 is comprised of a first stator 22, a first rotor 21 formed by magnets, and a second rotor 23 formed by soft magnetic material elements and disposed between the first stator 22 and the first rotor 21. The second generator-motor 30 is comprised of a second stator 32, a third rotor 31 formed by magnets, and a fourth rotor 33 formed by soft magnetic material elements and disposed between the second stator 32 and the third rotor 31. The first and fourth rotors 21, 33 are mechanically connected to the driven parts DW and DW, and the second and third rotors 23, 31 are mechanically connected to an output shaft 3a of the prime mover 3.
US08167058B2
A method for supplying a jet of abrasive fluid for the purpose of providing a borehole by removing earth formation material through abrasion comprises a drill string and a drilling assembly connected to the drill string. The drilling assembly comprises a jetting device with a mixing space, a drilling fluid, a particle inlet, an abrasive fluid outlet for discharging a mixture of drilling fluid and magnetic particles, and a magnetic particle circulation system comprising a supporting surface which is exposed to a return stream along the drilling assembly. The method includes fixing a magnetic device with respect to the supporting surface, selecting a magnetic field density that which increases along the sloping supporting surface, attracting magnetic particles onto the supporting surface, and making the magnetic particles move over the sloping supporting surface (under the influence of the magnetic field of the magnetic device.
US08167057B2
An intrusion-resistant apparatus may include a magnetic memory array disposed with an enclosure. The magnetic memory may include a plurality of magnetic memory elements, each adapted to store a binary value only in the presence of a predetermined bias magnetic field having a magnetic field strength and direction within predetermined limits. Means for providing the predetermined bias magnetic field and an encryption/decryption engine may be disposed within the enclosure. An encryption/decryption key may be stored in the magnetic memory array. The encryption/decryption key may be used by the encryption/decryption engine to encrypt and decrypt data.
US08167053B2
Various attachments (different dozer blade arrangements, a gantry crane, large auger) are designed for use with multiple identical powered mobile modules including a main support frame housing an internal combustion engine as a prime mover and being supported on either powered tracks or wheels. The modules can be either equipped with a cab and manned or used without a cab and controlled remotely. One or more of the mobile modules may be equipped with a GPS unit to aid in positioning the associated attachment.
US08167051B2
A fluid actuated downhole tool for inducing movement of a downhole apparatus is described. The tool comprises a body for coupling to downhole apparatus, the body being adapted to accommodate now of fluid therethrough and including a flow-modifying arrangement for modifying the flow of fluid through the body. The flow-modifying arrangement is configurable in an inactive configuration and in an active configuration. The fluid activated tool is selectively operated from the surface by varying an operating condition which causes the flow through the tool to either bypass or flow through the flow-modifying arrangement to induce movement of the downhole apparatus.
US08167050B2
An internally gripping tong to rotate tubular segments comprising a central cam body rotatably disposed within a housing having a plurality of windows. The cam body is surrounded by a plurality of angularly distributed gripping jaws slidably received within the windows. The tong is disposed within a bore of a tubular segment, and rotation of the housing relative to the cam body deploys the gripping jaws radially outwardly within the windows to engage the interior wall of the tubular segment. The tong may be self-energizing in both the make-up and the break-out modes of operation. The tong may be deployed to grip the tubular segment using a device to frictionally couple the housing to the tubular segment that cooperates with the top drive assembly, or by an internal actuator that imparts rotation to the housing relative to the cam body.
US08167049B2
Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retrofitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replace the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described.
US08167038B2
The present invention generally provides methods and apparatus for connecting threaded members while ensuring that a proper connection is made, particularly for premium grade connections. In one embodiment, a method of connecting threaded tubular members for use in a wellbore or a riser system is provided. The method includes the acts of operating a power drive unit, thereby rotating a first threaded tubular member relative to a second threaded tubular member; measuring the rotation of the first threaded tubular member; and compensating the rotation measurement by subtracting a deflection of at least one of: the power drive unit, and one of the tubular members.
US08167037B2
A method and system for feeding liquefied carbon-dioxide gas into the ground, by which liquefied carbon-dioxide gas can be efficiently permeated and diffused in a deep aquifer. The disclosed method for feeding liquefied carbon-dioxide gas into the ground includes the following steps:using a pumping well to pump up water from a deep aquifer to aboveground; creating injection water; applying pulsatile hydraulic pressure to the injection water; feeding the injection water to which pulsatile hydraulic pressure has been applied into the deep aquifer via an injection well; feeding liquefied carbon-dioxide gas—while maintaining carbon-dioxide gas in a liquefied condition—from a storage tank into the injection well to a depth having such pressure and temperature in which the liquefied condition can be maintained; mixing the liquefied carbon-dioxide gas—in the form of fine droplets—with the injection water, thereby generating a mixture of those two liquids.
US08167035B2
The present invention relates to a method of forming downhole apparatus. The method comprises disposing a plastics material (26) on a reinforcing apparatus (24) to form a body (12) having a bore extending through the body. The reinforcing apparatus (24) provides reinforcement of the plastics material (26) and the thus formed body (12) is configured to provide, when in use, standoff between downhole components, with the reinforcing apparatus being configured to at least one of contract and expand.
US08167029B2
The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger (1) having a package of heat transfer plates (2), which are provided with through inlet ports (10) forming an inlet channel (12) through the package, and between the heat transfer plates arranged sealing means, which together with the heat transfer plates in every other plate interspace delimit a first flow passage (14) for one fluid and in each of the remaining plate interspaces delimit a second flow passage (13) for a second fluid, wherein the inlet channel (12) communicates with each first flow passage (14) by way of a first inlet passage (15), and is sealed from communication with each second flow passage by the sealing means.
US08167026B2
A collector tank for a heat exchanger of an automotive cooling system includes a one-piece tank element comprising a first collecting region and a second collecting region, wherein at least one of the first collecting region and the second collecting region comprises a projection; a base that closes off the collecting regions of the tank element, the base comprising at least one channel; a sealing element disposed within the at least one channel; and a stress generating means located adjacent to the channel and clamping at least a portion of the one-piece tank element to the base such that the sealing element is compressed between the projection and the base within the channel. The stress generating means is a means selected from the group consisting of a tensile stress generating means, a compressive stress generating means, and a combination thereof.
US08167015B2
A pneumatic tire includes a non-conductive tread surface and has an electrically conductive rubber in a wave-like or other configuration arranged in a tire circumferential direction. The tire has an electrically conductive sidewall rubber. Upper portions of the wave-like conductive rubber configuration are on the tread surface, while lower portions of the wave-like rubber configuration contact the electrically conductive sidewall rubber. As the tread surface and the electrically conductive rubber on the tread surface are worn away through use, the diametrically outermost portion of the electrically conductive sidewall rubber of the tire comes into contact with the ground and maintains an effective electrically conductive path.
US08167013B2
A locking component for locking a clamping component to a movable base on a wood working machine is disclosed which includes a locking component body having an externally threaded portion to engage the clamping component, a head having a shoulder to engage the machine, a through bore for receiving a threaded fastener and driving features for driving the locking component into and out of threaded engagement with the clamping component.
US08167010B2
Problems to be solved:To provide a fuel filler port closing apparatus that can be adapted to fuel filling nozzles of various shapes and that excels in operability.Means to solve the problems:Problems are solved through the fuel filler port closing apparatus adapting two-action fuel filling operation. The first action is to open a cover 5 closing an opening 44 of a fuel filler port by pushing a slider 53 with fuel filling nozzle 71, and the second action is to push and open a flapper 3 closing an opening 211 of a nozzle guide.
US08167006B1
An automated baby formula dispenser for preparing bottles of formula at programmable time intervals includes a housing, a formula reservoir designed for holding dry formula, a water reservoir, and a water dispensing line that extends into the formula reservoir. A dispensing nozzle is in environmental communication with the formula reservoir for dispensing mixed baby formula through the dispensing nozzle. A filter prevents unmixed dry formula from being dispensed through the dispensing nozzle. A tray is positioned beneath the dispensing nozzle. Bottles are positionable on the tray and the tray is rotatable such that the bottles are fillable in succession with mixed baby formula dispensed from the dispensing nozzle. A control unit is operationally coupled to the water reservoir and the tray for dispensing water into the formula reservoir and rotating the tray.
US08167005B2
A machine for filling cups with foodstuff has metering stations having metering modules provided with filling nozzles, respectively, for introducing product flows into horizontally supplied cups. A programmable control unit cooperates with the metering modules in such a way that in a filling process, by means of controlled tilting and/or lifting actions of the filling nozzles, variable filling structures are generated from the product flows in the cups.
US08167004B2
An automatic liquid dispenser is disclosed wherein a liquid adjustor is disposed to prevent liquid from splashing outside of a receptacle, thereby saving the automatic liquid dispenser from being polluted with splashed liquid. A receptacle and level detector emits ultrasound to the receptacle and detects the ultrasound reflected from the receptacle to generate a signal. A controller receives the signal from the receptacle and level detector to control the liquid adjusting unit, and an identifying mark at the receptacle accommodator facilitates the correct arranging of the receptacle.
US08167001B2
Dome-loaded pressure regulators are disclosed. An example pressure regulator includes a body having a pressure inlet and first and second pressure outlets and a first dome-loaded pressure regulating valve fluidly coupled to the pressure inlet, the first pressure outlet, and a first control pressure. The first dome-loaded pressure regulating valve includes a first piston having a transverse bore defining a fluid path through the first piston to fluidly couple the pressure inlet to the first pressure outlet and configured to engage a first valve seat and to respond to the first control pressure to control the flow of fluid between the pressure inlet and the first pressure outlet via the first valve seat. The example pressure regulator includes a second dome-loaded pressure regulating valve fluidly coupled to the pressure inlet, the second pressure outlet, and a second control pressure.
US08166998B2
A valve assembly for reducing water loss from a leak from a water device. The valve assembly includes a first passage through which water flows from a water source to the water device and a second passage through which water flows from the water device. A first valve is in fluid communication with the first passage and the second passage. The first valve is operable for obstructing the first passage in response to a change in pressure differential between water in the first passage and water in the second passage resulting from a leak of water from the water device. The valve assembly also includes a second valve in fluid communication with the first passage. The second valve is responsive to the obstruction of the first passage to close the first passage and thereby stop water from flowing from the water source to the water device.
US08166994B2
A ball (1) for valves is described, comprising a substantially ball-shaped body (2), a hole (4, 5) bored in the body (2) for fluid flow passage between the entry and exit of the valve, and a slot (10) cut into the body (2) to house a pin for ball (1) rotation. The ball (1) is produced in a single element, and the hole (4, 5) terminates in a wall (6) in which a specifically shaped opening (12) is cut to regulate the amount of fluid flow between the entry and exit of the valve.
US08166982B2
A hair barrette includes two barrette members each having an outer head engaging end and an ear extended from an inner coupling end, and a coupling device includes two coupling members disposed above and below the ears and having two pivot axles for pivotally coupling the ears between the coupling members and for allowing the barrette members to be folded to an opened working position where the barrette members are opened and oppositely spaced from each other for forming or operating as a hair barrette device, and to be folded relative to each other to a folded storing position where the barrette members are engaged with each other for forming or operating as a hair clip device.
US08166973B2
A breathing apparatus structure with a two-stage reduced-pressure spare air bottle head is provided, which includes an air bottle head mounted at an outlet end of a spare air bottle and an inhalation mouthpiece, so as to provide an air at a suitable pressure to a diver or drowning person for emergency use. The air bottle head is sequentially provided with an air bottle head switch, a high pressure reducing valve, and a low-pressure valve connected in series on an air passage thereof. Thus, an air leakage of a high-pressure air in the air bottle can be avoided when the high-pressure air is not used, and the service life of elastic elements of the low-pressure valve can also be prolonged.
US08166959B2
A system and a method of facilitating fuel vaporization in a directly injected internal combustion engine are provided. As one example, the method comprises: closing an exhaust valve of the cylinder; opening an intake valve after the exhaust valve has closed; moving a piston of the cylinder away from top dead center between the closing of the exhaust valve and the opening of the intake valve to expand the cylinder volume and reduce a pressure within the cylinder to below a pressure of an air intake manifold of the cylinder; and initiating an injection of fuel directly into the cylinder via an in-cylinder injector after the exhaust valve has closed.
US08166953B2
Fuel injection apparatus comprising a solenoid coil (40); an armature (41) coupled with a valve element (34) operable to open and close a fuel valve (32) when the solenoid coil (40) is selectively energized and de-energised. The valve element (34) is biased to the closed position by a biasing device (42). Magnetic force from the energized solenoid coil moves the armature (41) and valve element (34) to open the valve to an opening position to deliver fuel reached when a controller (170) calculates opening forces balance closing forces. Such opening position control is used to control fuel flow rate to a gas fuelled engine (20) and/or reduce noise vibration harshness in varied engine types. Balance of forces control, on closing of the valve, reduces or avoids impact of the valve element (34) with a physical stop (106), thus reducing engine noise, and can be used in fuel metering.
US08166952B2
A method of operation of an internal combustion engine including an intake valve coupled to a combustion chamber, and a port fuel injector positioned upstream of the intake valve in an intake manifold including a throttle, the port fuel injector fluidly coupled to a fuel rail included in a fuel delivery system housing a fuel at least partially composed of alcohol. The method including, during a start-up operation when the temperature of the engine is below a threshold value and fuel is actively being injected into the intake manifold, adjusting a cone angle of a fuel spray from the port fuel injector, via adjustment of the throttle and/or fuel delivery system, based on the position of the intake valve.
US08166942B2
An electric power generation system (20) is disclosed, which includes an electric power generator (22) driven by a four-cycle internal combustion engine (30). The engine (30) includes a plurality of reciprocating cylinders (C1-C6) each rotatably coupled to a crankshaft (34), which drives the electric power generator (22). A controller (90) is included that is operable to control fueling to start the engine (30) as a function of engine temperature and determine initial engine start-up as a function of rotational engine speed. This controller (90) regulates engine acceleration until a target engine speed is reached from initial start-up. Once this target speed is reached, the controller (90) provides a speed governor function.
US08166938B2
A camshaft cover mounts to a cylinder head and defines cavities for oil control valves that adjust the position of camshafts via camshaft phaser assemblies. The cavities are positioned above the camshafts when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head. A feed passage communicates pressurized fluid from the cylinder head to the cavities when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head. Control passages communicate fluid from the cavities to the camshaft phaser assemblies when the camshaft cover is mounted to the cylinder head.
US08166926B2
The invention provides methods of providing fuel to an internal combustion engine, fuel systems for an internal combustion engine and a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine. Ammonia may be heated and pressurized to a selected condition and may used as fuel which is supplemented with hydrogen to assist with ignition, flame propagation, and/or combustion speed.
US08166923B2
An approach to monitoring, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or conditioning of animals such as horses does not require use of restrictive equipment such as treadmills or force plates and that can provide either or both of more or less immediate or continuous processing of data to perform the monitoring or diagnosis. One or more wireless sensors are attached to the animal, for example, to measure motion-related parameter associated with one or more parts of the animal. Sensor data is received from the sensors and processed to identify a characteristic of the motion of the animal, such as a quality of gait. The sensor data can also be used to avoid injury to the animal and/or the rider, and to verify the identity of an animal.
US08166916B2
The invention refers to appetence measurement for animals.In particular, the invention proposes an automated system for measuring the appetence of animals, including a feeding area (2) and an accommodation area (1), wherein the feeding area includes a room (3) whose dimensions are chosen so that the animal is able to move therein, and the system also includes access control resources (6, 10-12) that are designed so that the animals can gain access in turn to the room (3) from the accommodation area.
US08166913B2
In the present invention, a substrate is first rotated at a first rotation speed, and a resist solution is applied to the rotated substrate. Subsequently, the rotation of the substrate is decelerated to a second rotation speed lower than the first rotation speed so that the substrate is rotated at the low speed to smooth the resist solution on the substrate. The rotation of the substrate is then accelerated to a third rotation speed higher than the second rotation speed, and a solvent for the coating solution and/or a dry gas are/is supplied to the resist solution on the substrate. In this event, the solvent gas is supplied to a portion of the resist solution on the substrate thicker than a set thickness, and the dry gas is supplied to a portion of the coating solution on the substrate thinner than the set thickness. This thins the thicker portion of the resist solution and thickens the thinner portion to uniform the resist solution.
US08166910B2
A device used for a process of coating fibers with a metal by a liquid method is disclosed. In this process, a fiber is drawn through a bath of molten liquid metal so as to be coated with the molten liquid metal. The liquid metal bath is maintained in a crucible of the “levitation” type, which at least partly eliminates contact between the liquid metal and the crucible. The bath is fed with metal, during the process, by a metal powder.
US08166896B2
The seed meter includes the combination of a vacuum housing and a seed disc coupled together in a sealed manner to form a vacuum chamber. Disposed within the vacuum chamber is a generally flat finger wheel having plural radially extending resilient fingers. Also disposed in the vacuum chamber is a fixed arm. A seed hopper is disposed adjacent the seed disc for providing seeds to an outer surface of the seed disc, with the seeds adhering to the plural spaced apertures on the seed disc's periphery with vacuum applied to the disc's inner surface. A rotary drive spindle rotates the vacuum housing, seed disc and finger wheel combination, with each resilient finger sequentially deflected by the fixed arm to sequentially engage each disc aperture, interrupting vacuum communication with each aperture, for sequentially releasing the seeds.
US08166890B2
Provided is a cab isolation system for a locomotive is provided including a cab having a front and a rear. The cab isolation system further includes a pivot located generally near the rear of the cab and at least one spring generally located near the front of the cab. In another embodiment, dampers may further be provided and generally located near the front of the cab. In another embodiment, lateral links may further be provided and generally located near the front of the cab. This system may include any of the above elements, alone or in combination, to provide for a cab isolation system for isolating a locomotive cab from engine generated structure borne noise and vibration, while lower frequency track induced motions are not magnified.
US08166888B2
This structural assembly provided is of the type intended to be fixed to a longitudinal end of a rail car body including a chassis, a roof and lateral faces forming a tubular cell, in order to articulate the body to a body of another adjacent car and to transfer the load of the body to a body support bogie that is common to that other car. A lower cross-member may have a central portion and two lateral portions, the central portion being provided in order to carry a member for articulating the body to a body of another car, and each lateral portion being suitable for being supported on suspension devices for the body on a bogie.
US08166877B2
A printing press and a method of drying printed or varnished sheets in a printing press include heating printed and/or varnished sheets, before the sheets enter a dryer, to a temperature higher than the ambient temperature, through the use of a heatable impression cylinder in the last printing and/or varnishing unit upstream of the thermal dryer device.
US08166872B2
An appliance system including a module removably mounted to an appliance, one or more removable gas canisters operably connected to the module, and a food retaining enclosed space operably connected to the module. The one or more gas canisters supply a modified atmosphere in the food retaining enclosed space to produce a modified atmosphere that enhances preservation of the food contained in the food retaining enclosed space. A method of modifying the atmosphere in a food storage space for food includes the steps of: providing a module capable of being removably engaged to an appliance and typically receiving power from the appliance and at least one removable gas canister; operatively connecting or otherwise engaging the module with the appliance; operatively connecting or otherwise engaging the module to a food storage area having an existing atmosphere; and removing at least a portion of the existing atmosphere from the food storage space and replacing it with a modified food storage atmosphere using at least one of the at least one removable gas canisters to supply the modified atmosphere to the food storage area.
US08166870B2
Apparatus (20) for cooking food by contact comprising a continuous cooking surface (26) heated on its underside by one or more gas burners (33) which are housed in one or more combustion chambers (25) and which are supplied with fuel gas by a portable tank (B). The continuous cooking surface (26), the combustion chambers (25), the burners (33) and the valvular means (34) constitute a cooking unit (21) that is removably mounted on a supporting cart (22) suited to house said portable tank (B) and to allow the use of the apparatus (20) either in an indoor or in an outdoor environment.
US08166869B2
An infusion assembly, particularly for machines for preparing beverages, comprising a first shoulder and a second shoulder which face each other and are adapted to define internally a space for the movement of a piston, a dispensing assembly being arranged between the first and second shoulders, means for locking a capsule being provided, the piston being rigidly coupled to the locking means in order to move the locking means from an open position to a closed position in which the capsule is accommodated within the dispensing assembly.
US08166855B2
A thin section preparing apparatus prepares a thin section from an embedded block having a biological sample embedded and carries the thin section. The thin section preparing apparatus includes a cutter, an approaching and separating mechanism, a carrying mechanism, a moving unit, a sliding mechanism and a control unit. The cutter slices the block at a pull angle. The approaching and separating mechanism relatively moves the block and the cutter along an approaching and separating direction. The carrying mechanism having a carrying body is arranged as one end side is near a nose, and the moving unit moves the body along a transport direction. The sliding mechanism relatively moves the block and the body along a moving direction. The control unit controls a combined velocity vector that combines a transport velocity vector of the body along the transport direction with a travel velocity vector of the body along the moving direction to be nearly equal to a block velocity vector of the embedded block along the approaching and separating direction.
US08166852B2
A ratchet wrench has a handle, a transmitting device, a torque adjusting device and a ratchet head. The transmitting device is connected to the handle and has a barrel, a transmitting seat and a transmitting shaft. The barrel is connected to the handle and has two threaded segments and multiple elongated holes. The transmitting shaft is rotatably mounted in the barrel and has a driving disk and an eccentric rod. The torque adjusting device is connected to the transmitting device and has a casing, a limiting assembly and a spring. The casing is connected to the barrel. The limiting assembly is mounted around the transmitting shaft and has two pressing rings and a push bearing. The spring is mounted around the transmitting shaft and presses against the pressing rings to push the holding pins abutting with the holding recess. The ratchet head is connected to the transmitting device.
US08166851B2
Embodiments of a driving tool are disclosed that comprise a shank portion, and a working portion, wherein the working portion is configured to drive either a Phillips head fastener or a Robertson® head fastener.
US08166848B2
A transmission case includes a housing that accommodates a starting device, the housing having rib portions on an inner surface; and a speed change mechanism case connected to the housing, the speed change mechanism case accommodating a speed change mechanism, wherein a thin wall portion is provided in the housing by a groove formed in the housing, and the transmission case is structured such that stress is concentrated on the thin wall portion by at least one of the rib portions when an impact load is applied to the transmission case.
US08166834B2
An apparatus for testing of medical products such as a feminine hygiene product, is presented. The apparatus includes a body, a pump and a vaginal canal assembly. The body includes an internal chamber and a bottom surface having a bore open to the internal chamber. The pump provides a fluid to the body. In one embodiment, the fluid is a menses simulant. The vaginal canal assembly includes an interior canal accepting the product. The vaginal canal assembly includes a passage providing the fluid to the interior canal. The apparatus includes a pressure regulator controlling pressure exerted on the vaginal canal assembly from a volume of air within the internal chamber. The apparatus includes a stand. The stand includes a retaining device and a locking device. The locking device cooperates with the retaining device to selectively secure the body in at least one of a rotational position and an angular position.
US08166827B2
A MEMS device, including: a substrate having a first principal plane and a second principal plane opposite to the first principal plane; a through hole formed in the substrate; and a vibrating film formed over the first principal plane so as to cover the through hole. The first principal plane and the second principal plane are both a (110) crystal face; and the through hole has a substantially rhombic shape on the second principal plane.
US08166825B2
Method and apparatus for noise reduction in ultrasound detection with the steps of: an optical interferometer having a reference arm and a signal arm that includes a polarization-maintaining probing fiber having a reflective coating at a distal end, a way to couple the probing fiber to ultrasound, a way to generate two output beams from the interferometer, a device to modulate the polarization state of the light in the probing fiber, and a detection mechanism responsive to the ultrasonic signals at the distal tip of the probing fiber.
US08166814B2
A flow sensor may be formed by bonding a sensor chip formed with a flow rate detecting part and a flow path-forming member that is provided on the sensor chip and is formed with a flow path for a fluid flowing in the flow rate detecting part to each other on the upper surface of a substrate. The flow path-forming member may be formed by bonding a transparent first flow path forming member and a second flow path-forming member to each other. The first flow path forming member has a plate shape, and is provided with an inflow port and a outflow port for the fluid to be measured, and the second flow path forming member has a plate shape, and is provided with a through hole that forms the flow path along the flow of the fluid flowing along the flow rate detecting part.
US08166813B2
A thermal, flow measuring device for determining and/or monitoring flow of a measured medium through a measuring tube. The thermal, flow measuring device includes: a first pin-shaped shell and at least a second pin-shaped shell; a first resistance thermometer and at least a second resistance thermometer. At least the first resistance thermometer is embodied so as to be heatable, wherein the resistance thermometers, in each case, have a first surface, and at least a second surface, which lies opposite the first surface. The first pin-shaped shell surrounds the first resistance thermometer, and the second pin-shaped shell surrounds the second resistance thermometer. The pin-shaped shells are fillable with a fill material; wherein, in each case, at least one spacer is placeable between the pin-shaped shell and the first surface of the resistance thermometer, and the second surface of the resistance thermometer is at least partially covered with fill material.
US08166808B2
A diagnostic system includes a temperature derivative module and a heater use module. The temperature derivative module determines a derivative of a temperature of one of a fluid of an engine of a vehicle and a component of the engine measured by a temperature sensor after a vehicle startup event. The heater use module selectively indicates that an engine heater was used before the vehicle startup event based on the derivative.
US08166791B2
A die cushion pad 13 is divided into four small pads 15 and a large pad 16. With this arrangement, a load applied to an action point of each of the small pads 15 can be equalized by the large pad 16, and an overturning moment arising between the action point and a reaction force point that equates the center of the small pad 15 can be canceled, thereby preventing flexure of the small pad 15. Accordingly, since flexure of the cushion pin and the like can be prevented, there is no risk that the cushion pin is frictioned against the penetrating hole of a bolster, and the lifting operation can be smoothly performed, whereby a higher-accuracy pressing forming operation can be realized.
US08166785B2
This invention relates to a rolling mill apparatus and a method of shape control of a rolled strip which enables satisfactory shape control even in extremely thin rolling. A rolling mill apparatus of this invention has a rolling mill, which rolls a rolled strip P between upper and lower work rolls; a shape detecting portion, which detects the degree of flatness of the rolled strip in the width direction of rolled strip which has been rolled by the rolling mill; a spray portion, having a plurality of spray nozzles arranged along the length direction of the upper and lower work rolls, which sprays the upper and lower work rolls with coolant C; and, a shape control portion, which adjusts the spray amount and/or temperature of the coolant C sprayed from the spray portion based on detected information from the shape detecting portion, to control the shape of the rolled strip P. The shape control portion has two control modes, in which the relationship of the detected information of the shape detecting portion and the spray amount and/or temperature of the coolant C sprayed from the spray portion are inversely proportional, and switches between these two control modes based on the strip thickness of the rolled strip P.
US08166781B2
A detergent supply apparatus comprising a storage space adjacent to a washing space in which washing is performed, a detergent bottle seat provided in the storage space and adapted to receive a detergent bottle containing a liquid detergent, a detergent reservoir in fluid communication with the detergent bottle, and a connecting part adapted to fix a portion of the detergent bottle to the detergent reservoir such that the liquid detergent can flow through the connecting part and into the detergent reservoir by gravitational force.
US08166758B2
A cooling arrangement for a vehicle engine including at least one cooling element which has flowing through it a gaseous medium operable to being cooled by an external air flow which flows in a specified direction through the cooling element during operation of the combustion engine. A heat-supplying element is fitted at a location upstream from the cooling element with respect to the direction of the cooling air flow so that at least part of the air flowing through the heat-supplying element also flows through the cooling element. A control device is operable to activate the heat-supplying element so that the air flowing through the heat-supplying element is warmed during situations where there is risk of the gaseous medium in the cooling element being cooled to below a lowest acceptable temperature. The heat-supplying element and the cooling element have a connection so that they constitute a composite unit.
US08166745B2
A tool for inserting and extracting pins of roller chains includes a body having a bridge adapted to engage a chain and a drive screw assembly coupled to the main body on a first side of the bridge. The drive screw assembly includes a drive screw which is rotatable to provide a force and a pin mounted concentrically within the drive screw. The drive screw assembly further includes an alignment sleeve that surrounds the pin mounted concentrically within the drive screw. The alignment sleeve guides and supports the pin up to a face of a roller chain. The tool further includes a rotatable backing wheel coupled to the main body on a second side of the bridge. The rotatable backing wheel includes multiple channels such that the multiple channels correspond to different roller chains having different sizes.
US08166744B2
An articulating pin for the links of a bicycle chain, of the type capable to be inserted in aligned holes of an outer link and of the corresponding inner link of the chain, to hinge the links to one another, has a central portion and a distal portion. The distal end is elastically deformable for the insertion through the holes.
US08166737B2
A walk-behind lawnmower having a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting the height of a housing above the ground. The height adjusting mechanism includes: a front wheel supporting member and a rear wheel supporting member that are attached to the housing so as to be capable of swinging up and down; a linking member for linking the front and rear wheel supporting members so as to be capable of concerted motion; and a locking mechanism for restricting and releasing displacement of the linking member in the forward-and-backward direction. The locking mechanism includes: a plurality of locking grooves arranged in a row from front to rear on the linking member; a locking pin capable of selectively interlocking with one of the locking grooves; a pin-guiding part for guiding the locking pin to be capable of entering into and retracting from one of the locking grooves; and an operating member for sliding and operating the locking pin.
US08166730B2
A device for closing containers, particularly bottles, with screw caps, having at least one rotatably drivable closing head in which a closure-specific closing element is exchangeably retained, a positive-fit quick-change mechanism for the respective closing element is embodied in the closing head, and in the release state of the quick-change mechanism the closing element can be laterally removed or inserted essentially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the closing head.
US08166729B2
A light source device includes: a light source lamp; and a housing, wherein the housing includes: a pair of openings formed, along a top and bottom with direction of a luminous flux emission of the light source device; a duct member provided so as to cover the pair of openings, and having an intake which outside air is introduced from the pair of openings to an air flow channel upstream side; a first air flow guide member provided inside the duct member, and causing the air introduced from the intake to circulate to either one of the pair of openings via the duct member by pivots under its own weight; and a second air flow guide members provided in positions in the housing corresponding to the openings, and causing the air introduced from the openings to circulate toward the light source lamp.
US08166725B2
A bottom trim member secures a curved sheet element such as a windshield or the like on a surface. The bottom trim member includes a bottom trim extrusion having a connecting leg affixable to the curved sheet element and a gasket receiving leg. A gasket is disposed in engagement with the gasket receiving leg, where the gasket is shaped such that the bottom trim extrusion is positionable in multiple orientations relative to the surface and such that the gasket maintains a sealing engagement in any of the bottom trim extrusion multiple orientations. A securing member is affixable to the surface and cooperable with the bottom trim extrusion to secure the bottom trim extrusion to the surface in any one of the bottom trim extrusion multiple orientations.
US08166714B2
Prefabricated, steel framed, rectangular building modules are joined in groups to form multi-unit residences, or commercial or institutional buildings. The modules are disposed in rectangular groups abutting one another so as to form a central rectangular core bounded by the units. Utilities are connected to each module through the core. Multiple story buildings are formed by similar groups having cores aligned vertically. Alternating stories are rotated relative to one another about the central core axis to produce cantilevered structures.
US08166713B2
A roof mounting system can include a roof substrate and flashing supportable on the substrate and including an outwardly extending projection having a concave interior side and an aperture extending through the projection between top and bottom surfaces of the flashing. A seal can extend through the aperture and contact at least a portion of the top surface and at least a portion of the bottom surface. The seal can be conformable with the concave interior side and can define a seal aperture substantially aligned with the flashing aperture. A mounting bracket can be supportable on the flashing and can define an aperture sized to receive at least a portion of each of the seal and the projection. A fastener can extend through the mounting bracket aperture, seal aperture, and flashing aperture to inhibit fluid flow through the flashing aperture.
US08166710B2
A system and method is described generally for providing a high altitude conduit the high altitude conduit includes a first material layer forming an elongated duct. The high altitude conduit also includes a second material layer outside the first material layer. The second material layer defines a space between the second material layer and the first material layer. A gas has a density that is less dense than that of the atmosphere outside of the second material layer. The gas is disposed in the space between the first and the second layer. An introducer is configured to provide the gas into the space between the first material layer and the second material layer. The gas causes the conduit to extend in an approximately upright orientation.
US08166704B1
A plant watering device that includes a central reservoir and a number of valve-controlled outlet lines that allow an individual to individually control the outflow of water into one or more outlet lines.
US08166701B1
A rotating base for house plant planters is herein disclosed, wherein said base slowly turns to complete a revolution within a pre-determined period, to urge the plant in the planter to grow in a vertical direction. The planter base is powered by a battery which is charged using a solar panel, thereby providing a completely self-contained and maintenance free rotating base and a light sensor causing rotation of the planter base only when light is present. The planter base is available in multiple sizes to fit all sizes of pots and planters.
US08166681B2
A soleplate includes a metallic layer, a non-ferromagnetic layer and a ferromagnetic layer sandwiched between the metallic layer and non-ferromagnetic layer. The soleplate is used in an induction heating-based cordless iron. The electromagnetic field from an induction coil located in a stand, where the iron rests and gets charged, can pass beyond the non-ferromagnetic layer and heat the ferromagnetic layer efficiently. The non-ferromagnetic layer that is forming an ironing plate ensures a uniform heat transfer to the metallic layer for good steaming performance for effective cordless ironing.
US08166674B2
A human shoe sole or insole, sockliner or orthotic for insertion into a human shoe having a foot supporting upper surface including a first region for supporting the first, second, third, fourth and optionally fifth metatarsal heads of the foot, and a second region surrounding the first region for supporting the remainder of the foot, at least in part. The first region provides less resistance to downward motion than the second region, and includes a hollow or depressed area relative to the remainder of the first region having a medial border portion and a lateral border portion, wherein the depression has its lowest point skewed to the medial side of center, whereby to promote eversion of the first metatarsal head as the wearer moves from midstance through propulsive phase.
US08166670B2
A method and apparatus for removing lint from air that is discharged from a clothes dryer uses a lint filtration housing mounted on the frame of the clothes dryer, the filtration housing having an interior that contains a filter for removing lint from the dryer exhaust air flow stream. The housing provides an influent fitting for transmitting heating exhaust air from the drying chamber to the housing interior. An ambient air supply enables ambient air to be added to the filtration housing interior. One or more vanes is provided that create an annular vortex within the filtration housing interior. The flow of the annular vortex within the filtration housing interior can be between about 500 and 3,000 cubic feet per second. A flow line transmits pre-heated air from the filtration housing interior to the dryer interior.
US08166653B2
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board (PCB) having embedded resistors, including providing a PCB on which internal layer circuit patterns, including electrode pads, are formed; layering insulating layers on the PCB; forming first via holes on the electrode pads and simultaneously forming second via holes at predetermined locations on the internal layer circuit patterns; forming contact pads for connecting the electrode pads with resistors by filling the first via holes with oxidation-resistant conductive material and flattening the oxidation-resistant conductive material; forming the resistors so that ends of each resistor are connected to two respective contact pads, which are spaced apart from each other; forming circuit patterns on the PCB, in which the second via holes are formed; and layering insulting layers on the PCB having the formed circuit patterns, and forming external layer circuit patterns.
US08166649B2
A sheet in an electronic display is composed of a substrate containing an array of wire electrodes. The wire electrodes are preferably electrically connected to patterned transparent conductive electrode lines. The wire electrodes are used to carry the bulk of the current. The wire electrodes are capable of being extended away from the substrate and connected directly to the printed circuit board. The transparent conductive electrode (TCE) is used to spread the charge or voltage from the wire electrode across the pixel. The TCE is a patterned film and must be at least 50% transparent, and, for most applications, is preferably over 90% transparent. In most applications, the electroded surface of the electroded sheet has to be flattened. Use of a thin polymer substrate yields a light, flexible, rugged sheet that may be curved, bent or rolled.
US08166648B2
There is provided a wiring substrate manufacturing method. The wiring substrate includes: a plurality of conductor patterns formed on a mounting surface on which an electronic component is to be mounted, wherein each of the conductor patterns is covered with a corresponding one of solder layers; and partition walls made of insulating material and formed along the conductor patterns on the mounting surface such that each of the partition walls is provided between the adjacent conductor patterns with a clearance interposed therebetween.
US08166641B2
Disclosed are a holding tray, a substrate alignment system using the same and a method thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to a holding tray for substrate capable of accomplishing high-precision alignment and conducting a stable deposition. A holding means is included in at least one side of the substrate to hold and support the substrate in a manner that the substrate is vertically held and supported on a flat surface of the holding tray during a vacuum process.The holding tray according to the present invention, the substrate alignment system using the same, and the method thereof include a substrate on which a deposition is made, a frame formed to receive the substrate, a tray formed to receive the frame, and at least one holding means formed to hold the substrate on the frame.The holding tray for substrate according to the present invention, the substrate alignment system using the same, and the method thereof are useful to accomplish high-precision alignment and conduct a stable deposition process due to the stable vertical arrangement of the substrate during the deposition process.
US08166640B2
Provided is a terminal pressing mold assembly including a first mold and a second mold having a projection. The first mold includes a main body, a pair of claws, and a groove. The main body includes a pair of first connecting portions. The claws each include a second connecting portion for adjoining a corresponding one of the first connecting portions, and adjoin the main body to thereby form the groove and a first slit between the claws. A second slit is formed between the main body and each of the claws. The claws include a pair of first guiding edges spaced apart by a first width. The projection includes a pair of second guiding edges spaced apart by a second width. The second width is not greater than the first width. The difference between the first and second widths is not greater than the width of the first slit.
US08166637B2
An apparatus for mounting semiconductor chips as flip chips on a substrate includes a chip supply, a pick-and-place system with a bonding head having a chip gripper, a flipping apparatus operable to rotate the chip from a first position to a second (flipped) position through an angle with a gripper and two cameras. The first camera determines a position of the chip before the flipping apparatus receives the chip and also determines a position of the flipped chip received by the chip gripper of the bonding head once the flipping apparatus has transferred the chip to it. The apparatus also comprises an optical switch, e.g., a rotatable mirror located in the field of view of the first camera. The mirror operates to rotate with the gripper of the flipping apparatus but at half the angle.
US08166634B2
When a lift moves up, the lift is moved by a lifting guide under an urging force of urging means in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of a hanger. Consequently, a synchronizing bar of the lift approaches the hanger and makes contact with a front surface in the direction of movement of the hanger in a sure and also soft manner, thus resulting in synchronization between the hanger and a self-propelled lifting carriage, regardless of a relative speed between the hanger and the self-propelled lifting carriage. Therefore, because no excessive impact is applied to the synchronizing bar and thereby a necessity to provide excessive strength in the synchronizing bar and the neighboring part thereof is eliminated, the self-propelled lifting carriage can be avoided from becoming large in size or being increased in weight. In addition, acceleration, deceleration, and quick stop of the self-propelled lifting carriage also become easy.
US08166633B2
A method for manufacturing an extraordinary magnetoresistive sensor (EMR sensor) having reduced size and increased resolution is described. The sensor includes a plurality of electrically conductive leads contacting a magnetically active layer and also includes an electrically conductive shunt structure. The electrically conductive leads of the sensor and the shunt structure can be formed in a common photolithographic masking and etching process so that they are self aligned with one another. This avoids the need to align multiple photolithographic processing steps, thereby allowing greatly increased resolution and reduced lead spacing. The EMR sensor can be formed with a magnetically active layer that can be close to or at the air bearing surface (ABS) for improved magnetic spacing with an adjacent magnetic medium of a data recording system.
US08166632B1
A method and system for providing a PMR transducer including an intermediate layer. The method and system include providing a hard mask layer on the intermediate layer. The hard mask layer is for a reactive ion etch of the intermediate layer. The method and system also include providing a bottom antireflective coating (BARC) layer on the hard mask layer. The BARC layer is also a masking layer for the hard mask layer. The method and system also include forming a trench in the intermediate layer using at least one reactive ion etch (RIE). The trench has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The method and system also include providing a PMR pole. At least a portion of the PMR pole resides in the trench.
US08166631B1
A method provides a magnetic transducer that includes an underlayer and a nonmagnetic layer on the underlayer. The method includes providing a plurality of trenches in the nonmagnetic layer. A first trench of corresponds to a main pole, while at least one side trench corresponds to at least one side shield. The method also includes providing mask covering the side trench(es) and providing the main pole. At least a portion of the main pole resides in the first trench. The method also includes removing at least a portion of the nonmagnetic layer residing between the side trench(es) and the main pole. The method also includes providing at least one side shield. The shield(s) extend from at least an air-bearing surface location to not further than a coil front location.
US08166629B2
A stator having a stator core and coils is disclosed. The stator core includes split core pieces each having a tooth portion. The split core pieces are arranged annularly such that the distal ends of the tooth portions face radially inward. A lead wire is continuously wound about an adjacent pair of the tooth portions such that coils of different phases are formed in the circumferentially adjacent tooth portions, so that a plurality of connecting wires are provided, each connecting wire connecting coils of different phases. The connecting wires are connected to one another while being connected to one another, such that a neutral point is created.
US08166627B2
The prosthetic temporomandibular implant (10) comprises a concave surface (16) and a convex surface (17) designed to cooperate, respectively, with the natural outer surface (9) of the condyle (5) and the natural inner surface (7) of the fossa (8) of a damaged joint (2) of a human mandible (1). It is made of a rigid biocompatible material such as ceramic, stainless steel or an aluminum/zirconium alloy. The implant is designed based on an image of the joint (2) generated by a medical imaging system and incorporating an image of a healthy joint (3); these three-dimensional images are processed by a CAD (segmentation, vectorization) system to obtain a vector representation of the implant (10) and a data file capable of controlling a digital milling machine. The invention is applicable to the restoration of a damaged TMJ (2).
US08166626B2
A method and a jig for mounting of a stack of Belleville springs about a shaft. The individual springs of the stack are first positioned over the shaft. A jig is then placed over the shaft and the springs and has at least one axially extending pressure bar that is radially inwardly biased to urge the inner circumferences of all the springs into contact with axially aligned points on the surface of the shaft. The springs are then compressed using a compression element while they are still urged by the pressure bar against the shaft. Finally, to retain the springs on the shaft and maintain the springs in compression, a split retaining clip is pressed onto to the shaft until it engages in a groove.
US08166615B2
A wearable, item attaching, apparel clamp is disclosed. The clamp broadly includes a clamping jaw and an underlying opposed clamping jaw capable of permanently or temporarily attaching a personal item either directly or indirectly to whatever substrate or fabric edge the clamp is attached. The clamping jaw attaches to the underlying jaw via a hinge element which includes a fulcrum. An article connecting element attaches to the clamping jaw and extends toward or beyond the securing portion of the clamping jaws. The connecting element contains a resilient opening large enough to attach a second item directly or indirectly. Such other item may include a key chain, chain link, receptacle, or the like, thus enabling the item to hang below the bottom of the clamp. The underlying clamping jaw(s) distribute the weight of the attached item relative to the clamp preventing the flexible substrate to which the clamp can fasten from excessive bending. The clamp can also be used to attach the personal item to another accessory such as a purse, beach bag, backpack, etc. In addition it is conceivable that the invention could be used to attach items to upholstery, curtains, blankets, towels, or even to hang items from a clothes line, cooking pots, etc.
US08166610B2
An electrically weldable spring hinge for eyeglasses includes a housing open on a bottom side having a cavity into which a spring element may be inserted and in which at least one support element is provided. The spring hinge additionally includes a hinge element displaceably supported in the housing. The at least one support element is essentially centrally located in the region of an open end face section of the housing and, starting from a base area of the housing, protrudes into the cavity in a freestanding manner. A welding button for electrically welding the housing to the eyeglass element is provided on the bottom side of the support element facing an eyeglass element.
US08166608B2
A floor treatment device including a housing, a brush motor and a rotatable roller disposed in the housing. A suction mouth is disposed in a portion of the housing. The rotatable roller is driven by the brush motor and at least partially extends from the suction mouth. The rotatable roller is resiliently mounted in the housing such that the distance between an axis of rotation of the rotatable roller and the housing portion is variable.
US08166604B2
A vehicle wiper assembly may include an arm and a wiper blade attached to the arm. The wiper assembly may be placed into a parked condition by supporting the wiper blade to a wiper lifter. To prevent unintentional removal of the wiper blade, as may occur for example in a car wash, the wiper blade remains irremovable from the arm due to physical interference between the wiper assembly and the wiper lifter. When removal of the wiper blade is desired, the wiper assembly may be manually moved to a position where the wiper blade can be removed from the arm without physical interference between the wiper assembly and the wiper lifter.
US08166589B2
An embodiment of the present invention discloses a mattress including an underlayer, an air chamber layer arranged above the underlayer, granular material incorporated in the air chamber layer, and adjusting devices for adjusting the amount of air in the air chamber layer between a rest position, wherein the granular material at least almost fills the whole air chamber layer, and an adjusting position wherein the air chamber layer is only partially filled with granular material.
US08166585B2
A medical workstation and workstation system for patients includes a bed for positioning the patient in the lying position, a plurality of mobile work units, which are connected to the bed, a control unit, which is arranged at the bed and which can be connected via a first supply cable to a stationary media port, on the one hand, and via a second supply cable to a mobile media port, on the other hand, for supplying a work unit. The control unit is designed as a distribution unit, to which a plurality of mobile work units (4, 4′) are connected via connection cables.
US08166577B2
Provided is a helmet including a half helmet-shaped helmet main body including a main body through hole at each side thereof; a shield that is rotated vertically at a front side of the helmet main body and inserted into the helmet main body and has a through hole at each end thereof so as to be detachably connected to the helmet main body; and a holder having a penetrating connection shaft at its lower surface, the penetrating connection shaft capable of being inserted through the main body through hole and the shield through hole from the outside of the helmet main body and connecting the shield to the helmet main body so as to be rotated vertically.
US08166575B2
A protective headgear combination has a helmet and at least one ear defender secured on the helmet rotational position of the at least one ear defender relative to the helmet is adjustable about a first axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation is positioned relative to the vertical at an angle of less than 45° for an upright head position of a user of the protective headgear combination.
US08166570B2
The invention is related to a knee protection system having a knee pad permanently attached to a garment such as pants. The pad is made of silicone rubber. The pad may be shaped and have a number of pad areas including a patella covering part of the pad, a pair of side parts and a top part of the pad. The side parts of the pad protect the user when they roll on their knees and the top part of the pad protects the user knee when they lean forward. The silicone rubber pad is waterproof, inert, and fire resistant. The pad is permanently attached to a knee region of a pair of pants. By manufacturing the pad in a pair of pants a user can comfortably walk around with the knee protection system.
US08171567B1
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the production and labeling of objects in a manner suitable for the prevention and detection of counterfeiting. Thus, the system incorporates a variety of features that make unauthorized reproduction difficult. In addition, the present invention provides a system and method for providing a dynamically reconfigurable watermark, and the use of the watermark to encode a stochastically variable property of the carrier medium for self-authentication purposes.
US08171563B2
Systems and methods for secure messaging are provided. A sender may encrypt content and send the encrypted content to a recipient over a communications network. The encrypted content may be decrypted for the recipient using a remote decryption service. Encrypted message content may be placed into a markup language form. Encrypted content may be incorporated into the form as a hidden form element. Form elements for collecting recipient credential information such as username and password information may also be incorporated into the form. At the recipient, the recipient may use the form to provide recipient credential information to the remote decryption service. The recipient may also use the form to upload the encrypted content from the form to the decryption service. The decryption service may provide the recipient with access to a decrypted version of the uploaded content over the communications network.
US08171556B2
A prescribed virtual person was created for allowing a real person (user) in the actual world to pretend to be the virtual person (virtual person) and act as the virtual person when acting on a network and registered in a database 12a of a financial institution 7 for enabling the user to make shopping or the like as the virtual person with an electronic certificate issued by the financial institution 7 for the virtual person when pretending to be the virtual person and acting on the network, and the address of the virtual person necessary as the destination of a purchased article was set to a nearby convenience store. When acting on the network as the virtual person, cookies are rendered easily acceptable as compared with the case of the real person.
US08171547B2
Method and system using a designated known secure computer for real time classification of change events in a computer integrity system are disclosed. In the embodiment of the invention, the known secure computer is dedicated for providing permissible change events, which are compared with change events generated on client operational computers. An alert is raised when the change event at the client operational computer and the respective permissible change event provided by the known secure computer differ.
US08171541B2
Various example embodiments are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a method may comprise authenticating a subscriber based upon one or more messages received from a subscriber equipment, via an Access Network Gateway (ANG); sending an access authorization message to the ANG authorizing the subscriber equipment; and wherein the access authorization message includes an address of a tunnel endpoint node and a tunnel method identifier (ID) to be used by the ANG to establish a tunnel between the ANG and the tunnel endpoint node for the subscriber equipment.
US08171535B2
A system enables a client coupled to a server via a network to exchange security policy information across the network. The client is configured to determine security policy associated with the server based on a notification returned from the server. The notification having policy information embedded therein is issued by the server in response to the server's decision to deny client's access request. Based on the policy information embedded in the notification, the client is configured to generate a new access request by either acquiring information from a client user or selecting a different credential from a library of credentials.
US08171528B1
A hybrid device includes a personal digital key (PDK) and a receiver-decoder circuit (RDC). The PDK and RDC of the hybrid device are coupled for communication with each other. In one embodiment, the hybrid device also provides a physical interconnect for connecting to other devices to send and receive control signals and data, and receive power. The hybrid device operates in one of several modes including, PDK only, RDC only, or PDK and RDC. This allows a variety of system configurations for mixed operation including: PDK/RDC, RDC/RDC or PDK/PDK. The present invention also includes a number of system configurations for use of the hybrid device including: use of the hybrid device in a cell phone; simultaneous use of the PDK and the RDC functionality of hybrid device; use of multiple links of hybrid device to generate an authorization signal, use of multiple PDK links to the hybrid device to generate an authorization signal; and use of the hybrid device for authorization inheritance.
US08171516B2
Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing multi-viewpoint, media-sharing activities related to proximity-centric media content associated with an event whereby the media-sharing activities are performed via portable communications devices. The method includes identifying an alternate feed of media content by a first portable communications device that was captured by a second portable communications device at the event. The method also includes performing real-time auditioning of the media content by the first portable communications device for assessing a vantage point of the media content with respect to the event. The method further includes receiving the alternate feed of media content at the first portable communications device in response to a request transmitted by the first portable communications device. The first portable communications device and the second portable communications device are in geographic propinquity of the event.
US08171515B2
A favorite channel list for a media system is generated by observing the viewing, surfing, and recording habits of a user. The viewing habits may include the duration and frequency of viewing a channel. A user's surfing habits, including navigation habits of a guide, the method used for navigation to a channel, and information queries made during a surfing session may be used to determine which channels may be added to a favorites list. When the user has an ability to record a program and view the program later, the user's behavior in selecting programs for recording, and the behaviors of playing back and archiving recorded shows may also be used to identify favorite channels. In some embodiments, the favorites list may be customized for a user or node of a playback system, as well as time of day.
US08171510B2
Apparatus is provided by which a television viewer can view other images e.g. during commercials or main program. For example, during a commercial, a viewer may channel surf or surf the internet. A banner is provided on a viewing screen while the viewer watches these other images. In this way the advertiser providing those commercials can still reach those viewers who are channel or internet surfing. Also, the banner will indicate to the viewer when the commercial is over and the normal programming has resumed. In another embodiment, during the main program user can activate one or more small commercial windows and position them on the screen based on his preference, e.g. using a remote device. Information is communicated to a broadcaster by the viewer's video system indicating the above-mentioned commercial windows are open on the viewer's screen. When each commercial window is positioned on the screen the viewer receives compensation based on the amount of time the commercial windows are displaying commercials to the viewer. All or part of commercial windows automatically close when a main commercial block starts. The commercial windows automatically open when the main commercial block finishes. In one embodiment, the viewer can turn the commercial windows ON/OFF on his discretion.
US08171499B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for object clone event notification. The apparatus is provided with a logic unit containing a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of detecting an event on a primary software object, referencing a set of clones of the primary software object, and notifying one or more clones in the set of clones of the event in response to the event. The event may include events occurring on the primary software object, or events occurring on a software object monitored by the primary software object. These modules in the described embodiments include a detection module, a reference module, and a notification module. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would notify object clones of changes within the software system without requiring resource intensive broadcasts or implementation of a separate notification manager.
US08171494B2
In an example embodiment, a method is provided to receive a request message. A client that transmitted the request message then is identified. Here, the client is associated with a client identifier. The client identifier is inserted into a response message, and this response message includes a redirect to a portal. The response message then is transmitted.
US08171491B2
A system for synchronizing shared objects among multiple applications includes a shared object space in which the shared objects are stored and accessible to the multiple applications. In order to properly control access to shared objects, each shared object includes a header that is capable of storing an identification of a sole application that is the only application currently accessing the shared object or a reference into a lock table that stores lock nodes corresponding to a number of applications that are currently seeking access to the shared object.
US08171488B1
Management of contexts that execute on a computer system is described. More specifically, context scheduling in a virtual machine environment is described. A set of coscheduled contexts, including at least a first context and a second context, are monitored. The first and second contexts are alternately scheduled and descheduled so that both the first context and the second context are not concurrently scheduled.
US08171483B2
A method and system for associating installation scopes within an isolation environment, where the method includes defining an isolation environment for encompassing an aggregation of installation scopes. Associations are created between a first application and a first installation scope. When the first application requires the presence of a second application within the isolation environment for proper execution, an image of the required second application is mounted onto a second installation scope and an association between the second application and the second installation scope is created. Another association is created between the first installation scope and a second installation scope, and this third association is created within a third installation scope. Each of the first, second, and third installation scopes are stored and the first application is launched into the defined isolation environment.
US08171480B2
In a processing system which includes a physical processor that includes multiple logical processors, multiple domains are defined for multiple processes that can execute on the physical processor. Each of the processes is assigned to one of the domains. Processor utilization associated with the logical processors is measured, and each of the domains is allocated to a subset of the logical processors according to the processor utilization.
US08171478B2
The present invention relates to a processor (1) and a method for a processor comprising processing means (2), the method comprising the steps of—admitting a data packet (D1, D2, D3) to the processing means (2) based at least partly on a value (CS1) of a first credit, parameter and a first limit (L1S1) of the first credit parameter,—decreasing the value (CS1) of the first credit parameter if the data packet (D1, D2, D3) is admitted to the processing means (2), and—increasing the value (CS1) of the first credit parameter, in dependence on a value (CS2) of a second credit parameter, based on which a data packet (D1, D2, D3) is admitted to the processing means (2).
US08171477B2
An information processing system performs a real-time operation including a combination of a plurality of tasks. The system includes a plurality of processors, a unit which stores structural description information and a plurality of programs describing procedures corresponding to the tasks, the structural description information indicating a relationship in input/output between the programs and including cost information concerning time required for executing each of the programs, a unit which determines an execution start timing and execution term of each of a plurality of threads for execution of the programs based on the structural description information, and a unit which performs a scheduling operation of assigning the threads to at least one of the processors according to a result of the determining.
US08171465B2
An applicable patch selection device comprises a first extraction unit for extracting, on the basis of information on an application target system, information on all the patches unapplied to the application target system from among information on released patches, an input unit to which a user's policy is input, a second extraction unit for extracting, in accordance with the user's policy input into the input unit, information on an unapplied patch to be actually applied to the application target system from among the information on all the unapplied patches extracted by the first extraction unit, and an unapplied patch obtainment unit for obtaining an unapplied patch corresponding to the information, extracted by the second extraction unit, on the unapplied patch to be actually applied to the application target system.
US08171464B2
An approach is provided for vectorizing misaligned references in compiled code for SIMD architectures that support only aligned loads and stores. In this framework, a loop is first simdized as if the memory unit imposes no alignment constraints. The compiler then inserts data reorganization operations to satisfy the actual alignment requirements of the hardware. Finally, the code generation algorithm generates SIMD codes based on the data reorganization graph, addressing realistic issues such as runtime alignments, unknown loop bounds, residual iteration counts, and multiple statements with arbitrary alignment combinations. Loop peeling is used to reduce the computational overhead associated with misaligned data. A loop prologue and epilogue are peeled from individual iterations in the simdized loop, and vector-splicing instructions are applied to the peeled iterations, while the steady-state loop body incurs no additional computational overhead.
US08171463B2
A data processing apparatus has an interpreter environment for dynamically implementing a program constructed based on a command set defined independently of a native command group, in a native environment constructed based on the native command group processed by a processor configuring hardware. The apparatus generates an intermediate data stream in each of a plurality of stages into which an input data stream is divided in interpretation in the native environment and filters the intermediate data stream to generate a filtered data stream in the interpreter environment.
US08171454B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for programming software components that treats software components as the basic unit of abstraction and computation. A software component is encapsulated and classes and other program entities, such as data fields and methods, within a given component do not exist beyond a component boundary. A component interacts with other components only by means of a defined set of input and output ports. A component can inherit and implement ports declared in a template and can declare and implement new ports. A component can only access the external environment through its output ports. An output port of one component can only be connected to a conforming input port of another component. A connect statement is an explicit plumbing operation for connecting components together. Interactions between components are loosely coupled. A related set of templates can be grouped together to form a group. Groups are useful for implementing implicit invocation and multicasting.
US08171450B2
A system and apparatus are disclosed for graphically building business rule conditions. The apparatus of graphically building business rule conditions comprises an expression icon module that displays a menu of function icons for the user, and a business attribute module that displays a menu of business rule attribute icons for the user. A user interface module allows the user to freely drag and drop functions and attributes onto a staging canvas, and relate the functions and attributes to build a graphical depiction of the desired business rule condition. A source code module generates source code directly from the graphical depiction such that the user does not have to understand the specific syntax and nuances of the development environment or runtime environment for the business rule.
US08171442B2
A method to at least partially isolate a net of a circuit design is provided and includes testing a timing characteristic of a circuit design, identifying from a result of the testing a net of the circuit design to be at least partially isolated from an adjacent net and determining a percentage of the identified net to be partially isolated.
US08171441B2
Methods and apparatuses to design an Integrated Circuit (IC) with a shielding of wires. In at least one embodiment, a shielding mesh of at least two reference voltages (e.g., power and ground) is used to reduce both the capacitive coupling and the inductive coupling in routed signal wires in IC chips. In some embodiments, a type of shielding mesh (e.g., a shielding mesh with a window surrounded by a power ring, or a window with a parser set of shielding wires) is selected to make more routing area available in locally congested areas. In other embodiments, the shielding mesh is used to create or add bypass capacitance. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08171431B2
The claimed subject matter provides techniques to effectuate and facilitate efficient and flexible selection of display objects. The system can include devices and components that acquire gestures from pointing instrumentalities and thereafter ascertains velocities and proximities in relation to the displayed objects. Based at least upon these ascertained velocities and proximities falling below or within threshold levels, the system displays flags associated with the display object.
US08171426B2
A method is provided to assist a user in selecting, identifying, and handling email messages. A display of color coding and selection highlighting may be provided. A secondary highlighting color may be provided to indicate messages related to a selected message. One or more of the following may also be provided: an indicator that provides the user with a number of items that are off the screen for a particular category, a command that causes the first entry for a category to be scrolled into view, a label to indicate the number of items in a particular category matching a particular criteria, and/or a control for scrolling between next or previous categories.
