US08283846B2
The object of the invention is to provide a spark plug including a central electrode and/or a ground electrode with a gap, which can suppress generation of corrosion-like generated foreign substances while maintaining high thermal conductivity and high strength. The gap between the central electrode and the ground electrode with at least one of the central electrode and the ground electrode formed from an electrode material including 96% by mass or more of Ni, in which the electrode material includes a total content of from 0.05% by mass to 0.45% by mass of at least one selected from a group consisting of Y and rare earth elements, 0.05% by mass or more of Mn, and a total content of 0.01% by mass or more of at least one selected from a group consisting of Ti, V, and Nb, and the ratio (a/b) of the total content (a) of Ti, V, and Nb to the content (b) of Mn is from 0.02 to 0.40.
US08283839B2
Devices employing electroactive polymer actuators are disclosed. Acrylic dielectric material based actuators are optionally provided in which architectures are presented that allow for improved power output as compared with other known acrylic dielectric material based transducers. Such technology may be applied in motor-driven applications, lightweight flight applications and lighting applications among others.
US08283836B2
In a piezoelectric actuator driver circuit, a resistor provided to detect current is inserted in a current path for a piezoelectric actuator. A signal of a decreased voltage of the resistor is subjected to positive feedback to an amplifier circuit via a band-pass filter. An output signal of the amplifier circuit is subjected to negative feedback to the amplifier circuit via a band-elimination filter. The band-pass filter allows a signal of a fundamental resonant frequency of a piezoelectric device, which includes the piezoelectric actuator, to pass therethrough, and the band-elimination filter blocks the signal of the fundamental resonant frequency. Thus, a loop gain at a higher-order resonant frequency with respect to the fundamental resonant frequency becomes very low and a higher-order resonant mode can be effectively suppressed.
US08283835B2
Guided bulk acoustic wave devices and method for manufacturing guided bulk acoustic wave devices are provided. A guided bulk acoustic wave device includes a resonator structure with a piezoelectric layer, an electrode layer for exciting guided bulk acoustic waves and a wave guide layer. The thickness of the piezoelectric layer is less than or equal to 50 μm.
US08283834B2
A power generating apparatus (100) is provided with first substrates (2b, 2c) whereupon a first electrode (3) is arranged on one surface; a second substrate (1a) which includes a second electrode (6) arranged to face a first electrode on the one surface side of the first substrate; and sliding mechanisms (10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) arranged at least on the one surface side or the other surface side of the first substrate. The sliding mechanism holds the first substrate so that the first substrate moves relatively to the second substrate in a second direction (X direction) while suppressing movement of the first substrate in a first direction (Z direction).
US08283818B2
A motor that includes a motor portion structured to house a stator and a rotor mounted to a shaft of the motor. The motor additionally includes a cooling portion disposed adjacent to the motor portion and separated from the motor portion by a structural interface. The cooling portion provides a cooling chamber structured to have a cooling fluid passed therethrough via a cooling fluid moving device that is structured to be coupled to and driven by the motor shaft. Furthermore, the motor includes a plurality of heat pipes having evaporator ends disposed within the motor portion and condenser ends disposed within the cooling chamber. During operation of the motor and cooling fluid moving device, the cooling fluid contacts the heat pipe condenser ends to extract heat from the condenser ends, hence cooling the evaporator ends of the heat pipes, thereby cooling the motor portion of the motor and the stator and rotor housed therein.
US08283804B2
A semiconductor IC device capable of power-sharing includes a first power line configured to be supplied with a first power, a second power line configured to be supplied with a second power, a switching block configured to connect the first power line with the second power line in response to a first control signal, and a power-sharing control block configured to generate the control signal in accordance with a plurality of operation command signals.
US08283799B1
A vent turbine generator. A generator mount is configured to couple to a top portion of a turbine base in turn configured to couple to a vent turbine. A threaded rod is configured to couple the vent turbine to a generator coupled to the generator mount. The rotational ratio of vent turbine to generator is one to one. A multi-device mount couples to the generator mount, partially encloses the generator, and receives a rectifier and inverter. A rectifier housing coupled to the multi-device mount houses the rectifier and has openings for access to the rectifier. An AC power plug couples the inverter to an electrical outlet. The generator, rectifier, inverter and AC power plug are electrically connected. When the vent turbine is rotated the vent turbine generator converts the rotational energy into electricity which is supplied to the building's power grid through the AC power plug plugged into the outlet.
US08283798B2
A method for controlling a wind energy system is provided wherein the method comprises determining the effective wind speed taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. A computer-readable medium is provided that provides instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause the computing platform to perform operations wherein the operations include the method according to embodiments described herein. Further, a wind energy system having a calculation unit adapted for calculating the effective wind speed by taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. Further, a wind speed sensor free wind energy system having a generator for generating electric energy and a controller for shutting down and/or starting the electric energy generation in dependence of the wind speed is provided.
US08283796B2
A hybrid engine installation (200) includes drive element (204) suitable for driving a mechanical element (BTP, BTA) in rotation. In addition, the hybrid engine installation is remarkable in that it includes at least one gas turbine (253, 254) and at least one electric motor (201) mechanically linked to the drive element (204) to drive it in rotation.
US08283794B2
The invention concerns a floor suitable for generating, converting and/or storing energy, wherein this energy can be generated, converted and/or stored by placing and/or displacing mass thereon, wherein the floor can comprise discrete modules (2), each with an own energy generation system. The discrete modules (2) are couplable in different configurations and form a floor which may or may not be continuous.
US08283783B2
A zinc based solder material 55 of the present invention is prepared by providing on the surface of a zinc based material 50, from which an oxide film 501 has been removed or at which an oxide film 501 does not exist, with a coating layer 51 containing primarily a metal whose oxide is more easily reducible than the oxide film 501. In a joined body and a power semiconductor module of the present invention, the zinc based solder material 55 is used in the joining portion, and after joining, the coating layer 51 does not exist.
US08283773B2
A semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate having a ceramic substrate and metal coating layers on opposite surfaces of the ceramic substrate, a semiconductor chip mounted on one surface of the insulating substrate, a heat sink directly or indirectly fixed to the other surface of the insulating substrate and thermally connected to the semiconductor chip through the insulating substrate and at least one anti-warping sheet disposed on at least one surface of the heat sink. The anti-warping sheet is made of a metal sheet having a coating layer and has coefficient of thermal expansion between those of the insulating substrate and the heat sink.
US08283772B1
A semiconductor device package, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device package and a method of testing an integrated circuit utilizing a semiconductor device package are disclosed. Embodiments create a flip-flop semiconductor device package by coupling a semiconductor device, with a wire-bonded arrangement of conductive pads, in a face-up orientation beneath multiple bent leadfingers. The flip-flop package offers improved signaling properties, durability, reliability, and package density at reduced cost given that the conductive pads of the device couple directly to the bent leadfingers, without requiring the manufacture of a new device or the rerouting of signal paths. Additionally, the flip-flop configuration provides convenient means for exposing surfaces of the device (e.g., to increase heat transfer therefrom, thermal performance of the device, etc.) and/or surfaces of the leadfingers (e.g., to provide test points, wire bondouts, etc.).
US08283765B2
A semiconductor chip and a stacked semiconductor package are presented. The semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate, circuit patterns, first input/output pads and second input/output pads. The semiconductor substrate is divided into cell and peripheral regions and has first and second surfaces which oppose each other. The circuit patterns are formed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and are connected with the cell region and the peripheral region. The first input/output pads are formed in the cell region and are connected to the circuit patterns. The second input/output pads are formed in the peripheral region and connected with the circuit patterns.
US08283758B2
Several embodiments of microelectronic packages with enhanced heat dissipation and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a microelectronic package includes a semiconductor die having a first side and a second side opposite the first side and a lead frame proximate the semiconductor die. The lead frame has a lead finger electrically coupled to the first side of the semiconductor die. The microelectronic package also includes an encapsulant at least partially encapsulating the semiconductor die and the lead frame. The encapsulant does not cover at least a portion of the second side of the semiconductor die.
US08283752B2
In a semiconductor device, a first semiconductor chip includes a first circuit and a first inductor, and a second semiconductor chip includes a second circuit and chip-side connecting terminals. An interconnect substrate is placed over the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip. The interconnect substrate includes a second inductor and substrate-side connecting terminals. The second inductor is located above the first inductor. The chip-side connecting terminals and the two substrate-side connecting terminals are connected through first solder balls.
US08283741B2
A magnetic tunnel junction stack that includes a pinned magnetic layer, a tunnel barrier layer formed of magnesium oxide (MgO), and a free magnetic layer formed adjacent to the tunnel barrier layer and of a material having a magnetization perpendicular to an MgO interface of the tunnel barrier layer and with a magnetic moment per unit area within a factor of 2 of approximately 2 nanometers (nm)×300 electromagnetic units per cubic centimeter (emu/cm3).
US08283738B2
A semiconductor device includes a sensor member and a cap member. The sensor member has a surface and includes a first sensing section. The first sensing section includes first and second portions that are located on the surface side of the sensor member and electrically insulated from each other. The cap member has a surface and includes a cross wiring portion. The surface of the cap member is joined to the surface of the sensor member in such a manner that the first sensing section is sealed by the sensor member and the cap member. The cross wiring portion electrically connects the first portion to the second portion.
US08283737B2
An MEMS chip is mounted face-down on a semiconductor wafer such that a movable section is opposed to the semiconductor wafer. A resin layer is formed on the semiconductor wafer around the MEMS chip to reduce a step between the MEMS chip and the semiconductor wafer. After the semiconductor substrate is removed, the land electrode is formed on the resin layer.
US08283731B2
The present invention provides a programmable memory array including a plurality of memory cells. At least one and preferably each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells include an isolation layer formed of a dielectric material, a field effect transistor, and a programmable element. The programmable element includes a conductive gate, a gate insulator present beneath the conductive gate, and a semiconductor body present under the gate insulator. The semiconductor body of the programmable element is of a different doping type then the doping of the channel region of the field effect transistor. Apart from these components, the memory cell also includes a bit line connected to the source of the field effect transistor, a select word line connected to the gate of the field effect transistor and a program word line connected to the conductive gate of the programmable element.
US08283726B2
A system and method for electrostatic discharge protection. The system includes a first transistor coupled to a first system and including a first gate, a first dielectric layer located between the first gate and a first substrate, a first source, and a first drain. The first system includes or is coupled to a core transistor, and the core transistor includes a second gate, a second dielectric layer located between the second gate and a second substrate, a second source, and a second drain. The first transistor is selected from a plurality of transistors, and the plurality of transistors include a plurality of gate regions, a plurality of source regions, and a plurality of drain regions. A plurality of polysilicon regions are disposed in an proximity of at least one of the plurality of gate regions. The plurality of polysilicon regions are separated from the first substrate a plurality of dielectric layers.
US08283719B2
Provided are a nonvolatile memory device and a method for fabricating the same. The nonvolatile memory device may include a stacked structure, a semiconductor pattern, an information storage layer, and a fixed charge layer. The stacked structure may be disposed over a semiconductor substrate. The stacked structure may include conductive patterns and interlayer dielectric patterns alternately stacked therein. The semiconductor pattern may be connected to the semiconductor substrate by passing through the stacked structure. The information storage layer may be disposed between the semiconductor pattern and the conductive patterns. The fixed charge layer may be disposed between the semiconductor pattern and the interlayer dielectric pattern. The fixed charge layer may include fixed charges. Electrical polarity of the fixed charges may be equal to electrical polarity of majority carriers of the semiconductor pattern.
US08283713B2
An electronic device includes an active layer located over a substrate with the active layer having a logic circuit and an eDRAM cell. The electronic device also includes a first metallization level located over the active layer that provides logic interconnects and metal capacitor plates. The logic interconnects are connected to the logic circuit and the metal capacitor plates are connected to the eDRAM cell. The electronic device additionally includes a second metallization level located over the first metallization level that provides an interconnect connected to at least one of the logic interconnects, and a bit line that is connected to the eDRAM cell. A method of manufacturing an electronic device is also included.
US08283712B2
A channel layer is deposited on a first impurity layer, a second impurity layer is deposited on the channel layer, a gate electrode is placed to surround a circumference of the channel layer with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, a spin-injection magnetization-reversal element is deposited on the second impurity layer, a bit line is placed on the spin-injection magnetization-reversal element, and a word line is placed on the bit line to be electrically connected to the gate electrode.
US08283711B2
Provided are a non-volatile memory device, which may have a stacked structure and may be easily integrated at increased density, and a method of fabricating and using the non-volatile memory device. The non-volatile memory device may include at least one pair of first electrode lines. At least one second electrode line may be between the at least one pair of first electrode lines. At least one data storage layer may be between the at least one pair of first electrode lines and the at least one second electrode line and may locally store a resistance change.
US08283709B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed which includes a silicide substrate, a nitride layer, two STIs, and a strain nitride. The silicide substrate has two doping areas. The nitride layer is deposited on the silicide substrate. The silicide substrate and the nitride layer have a recess running through. The two doping areas are at two sides of the recess. The end of the recess has an etching space bigger than the recess. The top of the silicide substrate has a fin-shaped structure. The two STIs are at the two opposite sides of the silicide substrate (recess). The strain nitride is spacer-formed in the recess and attached to the side wall of the silicide substrate, nitride layer, two STIs. The two doping areas cover the strain nitride. As a result, the efficiency of semiconductor is improved, and the drive current is increased.
US08283701B2
An integrated circuit device includes a plurality of dynamic array sections, each of which includes three or more linear conductive segments formed within its gate electrode level in a parallel manner to extend lengthwise in a first direction. An adjoining pair of dynamic array sections are positioned to have co-located portions of outer peripheral boundary segments extending in the first direction. At least one of the linear conductive segments within the gate electrode level of a given dynamic array section is a non-gate linear conductive segment that does not form a gate electrode of a transistor. The non-gate linear conductive segment of either of the adjoining pair of dynamic array sections spans the co-located portion of outer peripheral boundary segment toward the other of the adjoining pair of dynamic array sections, and is contained within gate electrode level manufacturing assurance halo portions of the adjoining pair of dynamic array sections.
US08283696B2
An integrated low leakage diode suitable for operation in a power integrated circuit has a structure similar to a lateral power MOSFET, but with the current flowing through the diode in the opposite direction to a conventional power MOSFET. The anode is connected to the gate and the comparable MOSFET source region which has highly doped regions of both conductivity types connected to the channel region to thereby create a lateral bipolar transistor having its base in the channel region. A second lateral bipolar transistor is formed in the cathode region. As a result, substantially all of the diode current flows at the upper surface of the diode thereby minimizing the substrate leakage current. A deep highly doped region in contact with the layers forming the emitter and the base of the vertical parasitic bipolar transistor inhibits the ability of the vertical parasitic transistor to fully turn on.
US08283676B2
A method for fabricating a light emitting device includes forming a trench in a first surface on a first side of a substrate. The trench comprises a first sloped surface not parallel to the first surface, wherein the substrate has a second side opposite to the first side of the substrate. The method also includes forming light emission layers over the first trench surface and the first surface, wherein the light emission layer is configured to emit light and removing at least a portion of the substrate from the second side of the substrate to form a protrusion on the second side of the substrate to allow the light emission layer to emit light out of the protrusion on the second side of the substrate.
US08283670B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes: a thin film transistor array substrate having a gate line and a data line provided on the substrate; a gate insulating film between the gate line and the data line; a thin film transistor having a source electrode, a drain electrode and a gate electrode; a pixel electrode; a protective film for protecting the thin film transistor; a plurality of pads; a transparent electrode pattern formed on the data line, source electrode and drain electrode; and a color filter array substrate joined to the thin film transistor array substrate so that the color filter substrate does not overlap the pad area of the thin film transistor array substrate, wherein at least one of the gate insulating film and protective film in the pad area is etched using the color filter array substrate as a mask to expose at least one of the plurality of pads.
US08283669B2
An object is to reduce the adverse influence which a portion of a gate insulating layer where the thickness has decreased, that is, a step portion, has on semiconductor element characteristics so that the reliability of the semiconductor element is improved. A semiconductor layer is formed over an insulating surface; a side surface of the semiconductor layer is oxidized using wet oxidation to form a first insulating layer; a second insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor layer and the first insulating layer; and a gate electrode is formed over the semiconductor layer and the first insulating layer with the second insulating layer interposed therebetween.
US08283666B2
A thin film transistor array substrate having a high charge mobility and that can raise a threshold voltage, and a method of fabricating the thin film transistor array substrate are provided. The thin film transistor array substrate includes: an insulating substrate; a gate electrode formed on the insulating substrate; an oxide semiconductor layer comprising a lower oxide layer formed on the gate electrode and an upper oxide layer formed on the lower oxide layer, such that the oxygen concentration of the upper oxide layer is higher than the oxygen concentration of the lower oxide layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the oxide semiconductor layer and separated from each other.
US08283664B2
A method of forming a semiconductor package is disclosed including disguising the test pads. Test pads are defined in the conductive pattern of the semiconductor package for allowing electrical test of the completed package. The test pads are formed in shapes such as letters or objects so that they are less recognizable as test pads.
US08283661B2
Provided is an organic EL display manufacturing method which has: a step wherein an organic EL panel having a substrate and organic EL elements arranged in matrix on the substrate is prepared, and each organic EL element is permitted to have a pixel electrode disposed on the substrate, an organic layer disposed on the pixel electrode, a transparent counter electrode disposed on the organic layer, a sealing layer disposed on the transparent counter electrode, and a color filter disposed on the sealing layer; a step of detecting a defective portion on the organic layer in the organic EL element; and a step of breaking the transparent counter electrode in a region on the defective portion of the transparent counter electrode by irradiating the region on the defective portion with a laser beam. The laser beam is radiated by being tilted with respect to the normal line on the display surface of the organic EL panel.
US08283653B2
Techniques are disclosed for forming a non-planar germanium quantum well structure. In particular, the quantum well structure can be implemented with group IV or III-V semiconductor materials and includes a germanium fin structure. In one example case, a non-planar quantum well device is provided, which includes a quantum well structure having a substrate (e.g. SiGe or GaAs buffer on silicon), a IV or III-V material barrier layer (e.g., SiGe or GaAs or AlGaAs), a doping layer (e.g., delta/modulation doped), and an undoped germanium quantum well layer. An undoped germanium fin structure is formed in the quantum well structure, and a top barrier layer deposited over the fin structure. A gate metal can be deposited across the fin structure. Drain/source regions can be formed at respective ends of the fin structure.
US08283646B2
A flame detector includes a sensor module, which carries a plurality of pyroelectric sensors, and a filter module which carries a plurality of replaceable filters with one filter being associated with each sensor. The modules are coupled together and carried in an exterior housing. A cover can overlay the filters to retain them in predetermined positions relative to the respective sensors.
US08283645B2
A particle therapy system that includes at least one irradiation chamber, in which an object is irradiated with a treatment beam, an antechamber, which is screened off from radiation occurring in the irradiation chamber and from which access is made to the irradiation chamber, and an access area, which leads to the irradiation chamber and connects the irradiation chamber to the antechamber, is provided. A support for a patient moves along a path of travel from the antechamber, through the access area, to the irradiation chamber. A radiation protection door is arranged in the access area, and the access area is configured geometrically in such a way that the path of travel in the access area is substantially rectilinear.
US08283642B2
Disclosed are embodiments of an ion beam sample preparation apparatus and methods for using the embodiments. The apparatus comprises a tilting ion beam irradiating means in a vacuum chamber that may direct ions toward a sample, a shield blocking a portion of the ions directed toward the sample, and a shield retention stage with shield retention means that replaceably and removably holds the shield in a position. The shield has datum features which abut complementary datum features on the shield retention stage when the shield is held in the shield retention stage. The shield has features which enable the durable adhering of the sample to the shield for processing the sample with the ion beam. The complementary datum features on both shield and shield retention stage enable accurate and repeatable positioning of the sample in the apparatus for sample processing and reprocessing. The tilting ion beam irradiating means may direct ions at the sample from more than one tilt angle. A rotating shield retention stage is also disclosed which works in concert with the tilting ion beam irradiating means to improve the flexibility and efficiency of the apparatus in preparing samples for microscopic observation.
US08283623B2
A method of analyzing a spectrum of one-dimensional or multi-dimensional signal X(t) requires a number of steps including deriving coefficients [AN(ω), BN(ω)] of an Lp-norm harmonic regression of tie signal with 0
US08283622B2
A method and apparatus for testing a magnetic medium. The method comprises applying a magnetic field of a time-varying strength; directing a polarized optical beam towards a portion of the medium that is in the magnetic field, wherein the optical beam is reflected by a surface of the medium at a point of incidence in the magnetic field; moving the medium relative to the optical beam so as to cause the point of incidence to repeatedly traverse each of a plurality of sectors along a track on the surface; obtaining a series of Kerr signal measurements of the reflected optical beam; grouping measurements into ensembles such that the measurements in an individual ensemble are those obtained while the point of incidence was in a corresponding one of the sectors; and determining at least one magnetic property of at least one of the sectors from the measurements in the corresponding ensemble.
US08283618B2
A method of reading electrical charges produced by a photo-detector of a photo-detector matrix includes collecting and storing electrical charges produced by the photo-detector in a first capacitive element, transferring the charges stored in the first capacitive element to a second capacitive element, and reading the voltage at the terminals of the second capacitive element. The transfer followed by the reading is carried out in at least two phases: at least one first phase taking place during the collection and storage of the charges in the first capacitive element, and a second phase taking place at the end of the collection and storage of the electrical charges in the first capacitive element.
US08283609B2
An on die thermal sensor in a semiconductor memory device includes: a reference voltage generating unit for generating a band gap voltage and generating a reference voltage by using the base band gap voltage; a voltage amplifying unit for outputting a temperature voltage by amplifying the band gap voltage; and a temperature information code generating unit for generating a temperature information code corresponding to a voltage level of the temperature voltage, wherein voltage variation of the temperature voltage is amplified as much as a preset amplifying value and a maximum voltage level of the temperature voltage is maintained lower than that of a power supply voltage used in the semiconductor memory device.
US08283604B2
A chip warming device (10, 1000, 2000) is provided with a support structure (15) and a heating device. The support structure (15) has a first door (100) that selectively seals a first opening (60), a second door (110) that selectively seals a second opening (70) and a chip tray (120) that selectively seals a third opening (80). The heating device is positioned in the support structure (15) that supplies heat to the chips. The first and second openings (60, 70) are adjacent to each other. The second door (110) can be at an angle with respect to vertical when in a closed position. The chip tray (120) can be at an angle with respect to vertical when in a closed position. The support structure (15) can have a floor that is at an angle with respect to horizontal. An antimicrobial coating or treatment can be used on at least a portion of the support structure (15) for suppression of microbe growth.
US08283603B2
The present disclosure relates to a handheld clamp device for applying heat to a golf ball. The clamp may have two lever arms each attached at one end to a pivot. A golf ball receiving unit may be attached to each lever arm at the opposite end as the pivot. Each golf ball receiving unit may include a heating element. The internal heating surface of each golf ball receiving unit may contain a pattern, which can be a dimple pattern. When in use, the handheld device may heat the surface of a golf ball such that the pattern on the internal heating surfaces forms a dimple pattern into the surface of the golf ball. The handheld clamp device may be included as part of a kit, along with multiple sets of golf ball receiving units, and sometimes at least one golf ball.
US08283601B2
A bonding apparatus of metal plates includes an upper mold having a first guide pathway formed vertically inside thereof; a middle mold having a second guide pathway formed vertically inside thereof, where the middle mold is disposed under the upper mold; a lower mold having a metal removing pathway formed vertically inside thereof, where the lower mold is disposed under the middle mold; a heating unit for heating the metal plates and a metal tape; a punch for applying a bonding load to the metal plates; a clamping unit that applies a clamping load for clamping the metal plates to the upper mold; and a bonding unit that applies the bonding load to the punch for bonding the metal plates.
US08283598B2
An electric arc welder includes a short detecting circuit for creating a short signal upon occurrence of a short circuit between an advancing electrode and a workpiece, and a boost circuit to create a plasma boost pulse after the short circuit is cleared during the time period when the welder is not outputting a peak pulse current.
US08283586B2
The present invention discloses a circuit board sensing module comprising a plurality of circuit boards and a sphere. The circuit boards form a hollow polyhedron with multiple surfaces and included angles. When the sphere is in any of the included angles, a circuit board is controlled to be electrically conducting, and the other circuit boards are open circuits in the meantime. Besides, the present invention further discloses a multi-surface operation apparatus comprising the circuit board sensing module. It comprises a plurality of control interfaces and at least a circuit board sensing module. When any of the control interfaces is operated, the circuit board sensing module enables the switch of the selected control interface, and shuts down the switches of the other switches.
US08283584B2
An electronic device includes a housing and a button. The housing defines a through hole. The sidewall of the through hole defines a pair of positioning holes. The button includes a frame, a sliding bar assembly, an elastic conductive member, and a pressing member. The sliding bar assembly is received in the frame with two external ends respectively received in the positioning holes to cause the frame to be received in the through hole. The elastic conductive member is fixed in the housing. The pressing member hooks the frame and extends through the frame to resist the sliding bar assembly. When the pressing member is depressed, the pressing member resists the sliding bar assembly to cause the external ends to move out of the positioning holes. Further depress on the pressing member causes the frame to press the elastic conductive member to actuate the button.
US08283578B2
Disclosed herein is a device for reducing noise generated by an electrical component, the device including a stiffening component secured to an electrical component, wherein the stiffening component provides rigidity to the electrical component, thereby reducing the mechanical resonance of the electrical component during operation. The electrical component has at least one end face and a flange portion that includes a flange face that extends about a perimeter of the end face. The flange face is substantially parallel to the end face, wherein the stiffening component is secured to the flange face of the electrical component such that it does not extend into a plane of the end face. Further, the stiffening component can include a stiffening portion and a securing portion, wherein the stiffening portion is secured to the flange face of the electrical component by the securing portion. Further, the electrical component can be a power semiconductor device.
US08283574B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) with compound via includes a substrate and a pair of through holes passing through the substrate. The substrate includes a signal layer which is the top layer of the substrate, a first reference layer adjacent to the signal layer, and a second reference layer not adjacent to the signal layer. A first and a second pair of pads are mounted on the signal layer. Each of the through holes extends through the first pair of pads such that the through hole and the first pair of pads jointly form a compound via. A first reserved opening is formed on the first reference layer and corresponds to the first and the second pair of pads and the compound via. A second reserved opening is formed on the second reference layer and surrounds the through hole thereon.
US08283568B2
A device mounting board includes: an insulating resin layer; a wiring layer provided on one main surface of the insulating resin layer; and a bump electrode, electrically connected to the wiring layer, which is protruded from the wiring layer toward the insulating resin layer. Asperities are formed on the side surface of the bump electrode and the surface roughness of the side surface of the bump electrode is greater than that of the top surface of the bump electrode.
US08283560B2
A photovoltaic device including at least one active layer and a transparent cover plate which contains on at least one side an array of geometrical optical relief structures and which is in optical contact with a surface receiving side of the at least one active layer of a photovoltaic device, characterized in that the optical relief structures include a base and a single apex which are connected by at least three n-polygonal surfaces where n is equal to 4 or higher.
US08283542B2
The present invention provides a reliable, easily adjustable bridge for a string instrument and preferably a guitar and even more preferably a six-string electric guitar. The adjustable bridge of the present invention allows for adjustment of string length using only four intonation adjustment screws.
US08283540B2
A musical instrument tuning device includes a tuning sleeve and a tuning collar threadingly engaged to the tuning sleeve. The apparatus is mountable onto a first portion of a musical instrument which also has a second portion, the second portion being slidingly adjustable relative to the first portion to change the length of an air passage to tune that musical instrument. In one embodiment, the musical instrument tuning device is mounted on a neck portion of a saxophone to which a mouthpiece is typically engaged. Rotation of the tuning collar moves a saxophone mouthpiece relative to the neck portion and thereby enables a musician to quickly and precisely tune the saxophone.
US08283539B2
A musical instrument string with hyper elliptical wound cover wire includes a wound musical string assembly (10) having a center string (12) and a shaped cover wire (24) wrapped in a spiral winding pattern (18). The shaped cover wire (24) is shaped to have a wire height (30) which is greater than a wire width (32) and is wound such that the wire height (30) is aligned perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (14) of the center string (12) while the wire sides (26) abut tightly against those of adjacent iterations (20). The shaped cover wire (24) is shaped during the winding process by passing between pinch rollers (38) while under extrusion pressure.
US08283538B2
In the case of a string of a musical instrument (1) with at least one composite core (2), wherein the at least one composite core (2) comprises a first core element (3) and a second core element (4), to achieve high volumes with little expenditure of force to excite the string as well as a rapid and precise response to quick changes of excitation, in particular quick bow changes, to achieve a natural sound and to extend a musician's artistic range, it is proposed that the first core element (3) and the second core element (4) comprise at least one organic material, and that the first core element (3) and the second core element (4) are joined at least in certain regions by means of a first polymer element (11) lying therebetween.
US08283535B1
An inbred rice line designated 103006 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred rice line 103006, to the plants of rice line 103006 and to methods for producing a rice plant by crossing line 103006 with itself or another rice line. The invention further relates to hybrid rice seeds and plants produced by crossing inbred rice line 103006 with another rice line.
US08283527B2
A novel soybean variety, designated XB02U10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB02U10, cells from soybean variety XB02U10, plants of soybean XB02U10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB02U10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB02U10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB02U10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB02U10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB02U10 are further provided.
US08283520B1
A novel maize variety designated X8R673 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X8R673 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8R673 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8R673, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8R673. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8R673.
US08283512B1
A waste elimination apparatus includes a natural gas ignition system, a silica material bed, a heat transfer device, and a system for collecting plasma produced energy. A reaction formed by heat from ignition, carbon from the waste material, supercritical water, —OH radicals, and muons released from the silica bed transform the waste into a fuel. This fuel is more efficiently consumed by the complete combustion process resulting in near total elimination of the waste, increased energy production, and virtually no emissions.
US08283510B2
A process of producing PX comprising providing a C8+ feedstock, the C8+ feedstock has C8 hydrocarbons and C9+ hydrocarbons, to a crystallization unit under crystallization conditions to produce a PX enriched stream having a PX concentration of at least 99.5 wt % based on the weight of the PX enriched stream, wherein the C8+ feedstock has a PX concentration of at least 70 wt % based on total weight of xylenes in the C8+ feedstock, which the C8+ feedstock having a C9+ hydrocarbons concentration in a range from 1 wppm to 10 wt % based on the total weight of the C8+ feedstock.
US08283506B2
A process has been developed for producing fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal oils and greases. The process involves treating a first portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a first reaction zone and a second portion of a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating in a second reaction zone and treating the effluents in a finishing reaction zone to provide a diesel boiling point range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the first reaction zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.
US08283503B2
A method of forming a tellurium alkoxide includes providing a tellurium halide and a non-tellurium alkoxide in a liquid organic solvent. The liquid organic solvent has less moles of alcohol, if any, than moles of tellurium halide in the liquid organic solvent. The tellurium halide and the non-tellurium alkoxide within the liquid organic solvent are reacted to form a reaction product halide and a tellurium alkoxide. The liquid organic solvent is removed from the reaction product halide and the tellurium alkoxide to leave a liquid and/or solid mixture comprising the reaction product halide and the tellurium alkoxide. The mixture is heated effective to gasify the tellurium alkoxide from the reaction product halide. Other implementations are disclosed, including methods of forming a mixed halide-alkoxide of tellurium.
US08283498B2
Oxidative desulfurization (ODS) is an attractive alternative to hydrodesulfurization (HDS) technology due to its lower energy requirement for the removal of refractory sulfur species, such as dibenzothiophene (DBT), from heavier petroleum streams. Diesel containing DBT may be oxidized using a heterogeneous titanium(IV) catalyst and organohydroperoxide oxidant, such as tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), cumyl hydroperoxide (CHP) and/or ethylbenzene hydroperoxide (EBHP), which proves effective for the selective oxidation and removal of refractory sulfur compounds from diesel fuel.
US08283490B2
Process for the production of methyl acetate by carbonylating a dimethyl ether feed with carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen under substantially anhydrous conditions, at a temperature in the range of greater than 250° C. to 350° C. and in the presence of a zeolite catalyst effective for said carbonylation. The concentration of dimethyl ether is at least 1 mol % based on the total feed.
US08283482B2
To provide a method for performing a cross-coupling reaction of a Grignard compound with an alkyl halide simply, efficiently and in high yield, a method for obtaining a ω-bromo long chain carboxylic acid simply and efficiently using an easily obtainable raw material and a method for producing a useful branched fatty acid simply and efficiently [R1: an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, R2: an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms with a carboxyl group and X and X′: a halogen atom] [n: an integer of 9 to 17] [n: an integer of 9 to 17, R1a: a branched alkyl group having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and X: a halogen atom].
US08283472B2
A synthetic process for the preparation of amino acid esters such as methylphenidate and analogs thereof is disclosed. The process involves reacting an amino acid such as α-phenyl-α-(2-piperidinyl)acetic acid or an analog thereof with an alcohol such as methanol in the presence of an acid and a water sequestrant such as trimethyl orthoacetate. In some embodiments, the water sequestrant is added to the reaction mixture after an initial period of esterification and then the reaction is allowed to continue. The α-phenyl-α-(2-piperidinyl)acetic acid methyl ester or analog thereof is then isolated from the reaction mixture. In one variation of the process, the supernatant liquid may be recycled in subsequent runs to increase yield and product purity.
US08283463B2
A process for sterilizing a solution comprising hyaluronic acid. The process comprises providing an aqueous solution of hyaluronic acid with a weight average molecular weight from 0.6 MDa to 3.6 MDa, and the concentration of the hyaluronic acid is from 0.04% to 0.8% by weight. The aqueous solution also has an ionic strength equivalent to an aqueous concentration of sodium chloride from 3% to 30% by weight. Once the aqueous, high salt, hyaluronic acid solution is prepared the solution is maintained at a temperature from 40° C. to 80° C. for at least 1 hour and not longer than six days. Following the heat treatment step, the aqueous solution is filtered through a sterilization filter medium to provide a sterilized high salt, hyaluronic acid solution.
US08283451B2
The present invention relates to a method of predicting pre-eclampsia (PE). The present invention also relates to a diagnostic kit for performing a method of predicting PE. In particular, the method determining the level of two or more markers selected from placenta growth factor (PlGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) and leptin.
US08283445B2
The invention relates to kinase inhibitor ligands and polyligands. In particular, the invention relates to ligands and polyligands that modulate ERK activity. The ligands and polyligands are utilized as research tools or as therapeutics. The invention includes linkage of the ligands and polyligands to a cellular localization signal, epitope tag and/or a reporter. The invention also includes polynucleotides encoding the ligands and polyligands.
US08283442B2
The invention is related to anti-viral compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US08283440B2
Fragments of snapin important for interaction with cypin and thus regulating microtubule assembly are provided. Also provided are methods of use of said fragments and kits to facilitate said methods.
US08283437B2
The invention provides methods and systems for manufacturing low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The invention also provides methods and systems for preparing macrocyclic polyester oligomer (MPO) from low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate. Finally, the invention provides methods and systems for preparing MPO via reaction of a diol and a dialkyl ester in an organic solvent to form non-isolated, low-acid polyalkylene terephthalate which undergoes cyclization (depolymerization) to form MPO.
US08283435B2
PHA adhesive compositions, and related methods and articles are disclosed.
US08283429B2
The invention provide a new class of silicone-containing prepolymers containing dangling hydrophilic polymer chains. This class of silicone-containing prepolymer is capable of being actinically crosslinked to form a silicone hydrogel material with a hydrophilic surface without post curing surface treatment. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made from this class of silicone-containing prepolymers and to methods for making the silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
US08283427B2
A process for cationically polymerizing olefin monomers in a reaction mixture includes the step of contacting olefin monomers and a catalytically effective amount of an initiating composition containing (A) a heterogeneous perfluoroaryl substituted Lewis acid coinitiator selected from the group consisting of open chain and cyclic aluminoxane compounds or Group 13 perfluoroaryl Lewis acid compounds of formula (III) and (B) an initiator selected from the group consisting of (i) organic compounds, (ii) halogens, (iii) interhalogens; (iv) Brönsted acids, (v) boron halides; (vi) silicon compounds; and (vii) germanium compounds. A novel initiator system is further disclosed.
US08283423B2
The present invention generally relates to methods for the synthesis of species including monomers and polymers. Methods of the invention comprise the use of chemical techniques including metathesis chemistry to synthesize, for example, monomers and/or polymers with desired functional groups.
US08283421B2
Composition obtained by reacting a polyisocyanate which is a diphenylmethane diisocyanate, optionally comprising a homologue comprising 3 or more isocyanate groups, and/or a variant of such diisocyanate with a monoalkylether of a polyoxyalkylene monoamine having an average molecular weight of 550-3000 and an oxyethylene content of more than 50% by weight, calculated on the weight of the monoamine, and the alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms at index of 100-250. It is used as plasticizer, particularly in polyurethane and/or polyurea materials.
US08283415B2
A resin composition comprising at least 0.1% by weight of poly(hydroxy carboxylic acid) and at least 50% by weight of polyethylene prepared with a single-site catalyst, preferably a metallocene.
US08283414B2
The invention provides modified collagen and related therapeutic and diagnostic methods.
US08283409B2
Systems and methods for providing a thermoplastic product that includes packaging therefore. Implementation of the present invention takes place in association with packaging of one or more ingredients of a thermoplastic product, wherein the packaging is used to contain the ingredients during storage and/or transportation, and wherein at least a portion of the packaging itself is an ingredient for inclusion into the thermoplastic product. In some implementations, the entire packaging is incorporated into the thermoplastic product for utilization thereof.
US08283408B2
Composite materials that contain thermoplastic-toughened cyanate ester resins as the resin matrix. The composite materials exhibit low levels of heat release when burned. The matrix resins are composed of from 50 to 80 weight percent of a cyanate ester resin component. The matrix resin composition also includes from 10 to 40 weight percent of a thermoplastic blend that is composed of polyetherimide and polyamideimide. The epoxy resin composition further includes from 1 to 10 weight percent of a curative agent. The composite materials may be used for primary structures in aircraft and other load-bearing structures.
US08283381B2
Novel chemical conjugates of psychotropic drugs and organic acids, uses thereof in the treatment of psychotic and/or proliferative disorders and diseases and as chemosensitizing agents, and their syntheses are disclosed. The organic acids are selected to reduce side effects induced by the psychotropic drugs and/or to exert an anti-proliferative activity.
US08283372B2
A SMAC mimetic and pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods of use.
US08283358B2
The current invention provides compounds having a structure according to Formulae 1, 2, 3, and 4: wherein the A-ring, B-ring, C-ring, m, n, R25, R50, and R51 are as described in the specification. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formulae 1, 2, 3, and 4, as well as methods of treating cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention further provides intermediates useful in preparing the compounds of Formulae 1, 2, 3, and 4.
US08283343B2
Amorphous, polymorphic, and solvated forms of 17-amino geldanamycin are disclosed. These compounds are particularly useful for the treatment of cancer, a neoplastic disease state and/or a hyperproliferative disorder, and inhibiting Heat Shock Protein 90 (“Hsp90”).
US08283339B2
The present invention provides LPA analogs that are antagonists at the LPA receptors.
US08283331B2
The present invention relates generally to methods to regulate microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, in particular the regulation of the processing of pri-miRNA to mature miRNA by Lin-28 and/or variants such as Lin28B. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and compositions comprising at least one agent which inhibits Lin-28 function or activity and/or expression to increase the processing of pri-mRNA to mature miRNA. More specifically, one aspect of the invention is directed to treating and/or preventing cancer in a subject by administering an agent that inhibits Lin-28 activity or expression to a subject, preferably a human subject.
US08283330B2
The biological activity of nucleic acid ligand is regulated (i.e. enhanced or inhibited) in vivo to produce a desired biological effect. This is accomplished through the administration of a modulator, or regulator, that changes the binding of the nucleic acid ligand for its target or that degrades or otherwise cleaves, metabolizes or breaks down the nucleic acid ligand while the ligand is still exerting its effect. Modulators of the present invention can be administered in real time as needed based on various factors, including the progress of the patient, as well as the physician's discretion in how to achieve optimal therapy. Thus, this invention provides for the first time a regulatable therapeutic regime in the course of nucleic acid ligand therapy.
US08283327B2
The present invention is directed to a dietary supplement comprising palatinose or a derivative thereof. The dietary supplement may be a nutritional product, a sports performance product, a weight loss product or a meal replacement product. The present invention is also directed to a method of increasing the absorption of a compound into the bloodstream, cells and tissue comprising administering palatinose, or a derivative thereof, in combination with the compound. The present invention also relates to a diluent for parenteral compounds. The diluent comprises palatinose or a derivative thereof. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of decreasing the recovery time to pre-performance levels of total adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in a mammal comprising administering palatinose, or a derivative thereof, to the mammal. The present invention is further directed to a method of supplying a compound to a diabetic patient, burn victim patient or trauma victim patient. The method comprises administering palatinose, or a derivative thereof, in combination with the compound.
US08283320B2
A haemostatic kit to be used as a medical device provides for a containment unit and a haemostatic agent in said containment unit, said haemostatic agent occupying less than 90% of the volume of the containment unit. This allows for facile and consequently sterile preparation of, for instance, a gelatin paste for use in haemostatis when combined with saline, thrombin or another agent to assist in haemostatis.
US08283317B1
The invention discloses particulate complexes composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one bioactive agent, wherein equal moles of the positively charged chitosan and the negatively charged poly-glutamic acid substrate form an electrostatic network enabling improved loading the bioactive agent.
US08283314B1
Dermatological and cosmetic compositions and methods are provided to reduce the appearance of biological and/or environmentally-caused aging.
US08283308B2
An emulsion includes a substantially continuous liquid medium, and a plurality of droplet structures dispersed within the substantially continuous liquid medium. Each droplet structure of the plurality of droplet structures includes an outer droplet of a first liquid having an outer surface; an inner droplet of a second liquid having an inner surface contained within the outer surface of the outer droplet of the first liquid, the second liquid being immiscible in the first liquid, wherein the inner and outer droplets have a boundary surface region therebetween; an outer layer of block copolymers disposed on the outer surface of the outer droplet; and an inner layer of block copolymers disposed on the inner surface of the inner droplet. The block copolymers include a hydrophilic polymer block and a hydrophobic polymer block that act in combination to stabilize the droplet structure, and the first liquid is immiscible in the substantially continuous liquid medium.
US08283305B2
A cleaning implement comprises an erodible foam substrate, such as a melamine foam substrate and a controlled release system comprising an active agent. The controlled release system comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a polymer matrix, a microcapsule, a particulate porous carrier, a complexing agent, a semi-permeable film and a combination thereof and the active agent is selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a bleaching agent, a limescale reducing agent, a biocide, a solvent and a mixture thereof.
US08283303B2
The present invention includes a liquid detergent composition which yields superior detergency and whitening effects, exhibits excellent storage stability, and comprises 50 to 70% by mass of nonionic surfactant (A) represented by formula (I) or formula (I′), 1 to 10% by mass of anionic surfactant (B), and 0.05 to 1% by mass of 4,4′-bis(2-sulfostyryl)biphenyl disodium salt serving as fluorescent whitening agent (C). R1CO—(OR2)n—OR3 (I) R4—O—(R2O)m-H (I′) In formula (I), R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group of 5 to 21 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkylene group of 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and n is 5 to 30. In formula (I′), R4 represents a hydrocarbon group derived from a secondary alcohol of 8 to 30 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkylene group of 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and m is 5 to 20.
US08283300B2
A water-soluble pouch suitable for use in machine dishwashing and which comprises a plurality of compartments in generally superposed or superposable relationship, each containing one or more detergent active or auxiliary components, and wherein the pouch has a volume of from about 5 to about 70 ml and a longitudinal/transverse aspect ratio in the range from about 2:1 to about 1:8, preferably from about 1:1 to about 1:4. The water-soluble pouch allows for optimum delivery of dishwashing detergent. A process for the manufacture of multi-compartment pouches and a pack to contain the pouches are also disclosed.
US08283298B2
Mineral oil distillates having an aromatics content of less than 21% by weight, a water content of less than 150 ppm and a conductivity of at least 50 pS/m, and comprising from 0.1 to 200 ppm of at least one alkylphenol-aldehyde resin (constituent I) which includes a structural element of the formula in which R5 is C1-C200-alkyl or C2-C200-alkenyl, O—R6 or O—C(O)—R6, R6 is C1-C200-alkyl or C2-C200-alkenyl and n is from 2 to 100, and from 0.1 to 200 ppm of at least one polar oil-soluble nitrogen compound (constituent II), excluding those mineral oil distillates in which between 0.001 and 10 ppm of an oil-soluble, organic sulfonic acid-ammonium salt are present.
US08283289B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet provided with a black dye layer which can form a black image having jet-black color tone, small gradation difference of black and high resistance to light, and which has little offset of dyes to a back side layer during storage in a wound state. The above object is achieved by a thermal transfer sheet comprising a substrate, a heat resistant slip layer provided on one side of the substrate, and a black dye layer containing a dye and binder provided on the other side of the substrate, wherein the black dye layer contains 2 or 3 kinds of specific magenta dyes and 2 or 3 kinds of cyan dyes in the specific weight ratios with respect to a specific yellow dye.
US08283284B2
The present invention presents a thermosensitive recording medium having an excellent color developing property, water resistance and preservation properties (such as anti-self-color-development) and is harmless to the environment. The present invention is a thermosensitive recording medium having a thermosensitive recording layer comprising a colorless or pale colored basic leuco dye and an electron accepting developing agent on a substrate, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer further comprises a resin containing a carboxyl group, an epichlorohydrin resin and a polyamine/amide resin. This thermosensitive recording medium is suitable for recording with a low applied energy.
US08283281B2
A catalyst for purification of automobile exhaust gas comprising: a support and rhodium supported on the support in an atomic state, wherein an amount of the rhodium supported is 0.05 to 0.30% by mass relative to the total amount of the support and the rhodium, 50 at. % or more of the rhodium is supported on the support as two-atom clusters of rhodium, and an average distance between adjacent ones of the two-atom clusters is 1.0 nm or more.
US08283279B2
The present invention relates generally to ultradispersed catalyst compositions and methods for preparing such catalysts. In particular, the invention provides catalyst composition of the general formula: BxMyS[(1.1 to 4.6)y+(0.5 to 4)x] where B is a group VIIIB non-noble metal and M is a group VI B metal and 0.05≦y/x≦15.
US08283263B2
An integrated circuit method for manufacturing an integrated circuit system including loading a wafer into a processing chamber and pre-purging the processing chamber with a first ammonia gas. Depositing a first nitride layer over the wafer and purging the processing chamber with a second ammonia gas. Depositing a second nitride layer over the first nitride layer that is misaligned with the first nitride layer. Post-purging the processing chamber with a third ammonia gas and purging the processing chamber with a nitrogen gas.
US08283255B2
A method for etching features in a silicon layer is provided. A hard mask layer is formed over the silicon layer. A photoresist layer is formed over the hard mask layer. The hard mask layer is opened. The photoresist layer is stripped by providing a stripping gas; forming a plasma with the stripping gas by providing a high frequency RF power and a low frequency RF power, wherein the low frequency RF power has a power less than 50 watts; and stopping the stripping gas when the photoresist layer is stripped. The opening the hard mask layer and the stripping the photoresist layer are performed in a same chamber.
US08283253B2
A pattern forming method for forming a pattern serving as a mask, includes a process for forming a first pattern 105, a process for trimming a width of the first pattern 105, a process for forming a boundary layer 106 on a surface of the first pattern 105, a process for forming a second mask material layer 107 on a surface of the boundary layer 106, a process for removing a part of the second mask material layer 107 to expose top portions of the boundary layer 106, and a process for exposing the first pattern 105 and forming a second pattern having the second mask material layer 107 at a top portion thereof by etching the boundary layer 106.
US08283247B2
In sophisticated semiconductor devices including copper-based metallization systems, a substantially aluminum-free bump structure in device regions and a substantially aluminum-free wire bond structure in test regions may be formed on the basis of a manufacturing process resulting in identical final dielectric layer stacks in these device areas. The number of process steps may be reduced by making a decision as to whether a substrate is to become a product substrate or test substrate for estimating the reliability of actual semiconductor devices. For example, nickel contact elements may be formed above copper-based contact areas wherein the nickel may provide a base for wire bonding or forming a bump material thereon.
US08283233B2
MOS structures that exhibit lower contact resistance and methods for fabricating such MOS structures are provided. In one method, a semiconductor substrate is provided and a gate stack is fabricated on the semiconductor substrate. With the gate stack serving as a mask, impurity dopants are implanted into a semiconductor material having a first surface and disposed proximate to the gate stack. A trench is etched into the semiconductor material such that the semiconductor material has a trench surface within the trench. Further, a metal silicide layer is formed on the first surface of the semiconductor material and on the trench surface. Also, a contact to at least a portion of the metal silicide layer on the first surface and at least a portion of the metal silicide layer on the trench surface is fabricated.
US08283219B2
Provided is an organic light-emitting display device (OLED) and method of manufacturing the same. The OLED comprises a substrate and a thin film transistor, with source/drain electrodes, located at a predetermined area on the substrate. A passivation layer is located on the source/drain electrodes with a via hole exposing one of the source/drain electrodes. A first pixel electrode is located at the bottom of the via hole, electrically coupled to the exposed source/drain electrode, and extending onto the side wall of the via hole and the passivation layer. A planarization pattern fills the via hole in which the first pixel electrode is located and exposes the portion of the first pixel electrode on the passivation layer.
US08283217B2
A method of forming fin field effect transistor (finFET) devices includes forming a plurality of semiconductor fins over a buried oxide (BOX) layer; performing a nitrogen implant so as to formed nitrided regions in a upper portion of the BOX layer corresponding to regions between the plurality of semiconductor fins; forming a gate dielectric layer over the semiconductor fins and the nitrided regions of the upper portion of the BOX layer; and forming one or more gate electrode materials over the gate dielectric layer; wherein the presence of the nitrided regions of upper portion of the BOX layer prevents oxygen absorption into the gate dielectric layer as a result of thermal processing.
US08283214B1
Methods for forming a NiO film on a substrate for use with a resistive switching memory device are presenting including: preparing a nickel ion solution; receiving the substrate, where the substrate includes a bottom electrode, the bottom electrode utilized as a cathode; forming a Ni(OH)2 film on the substrate, where the forming the Ni(OH)2 occurs at the cathode; and annealing the Ni(OH)2 film to form the NiO film, where the NiO film forms a portion of a resistive switching memory element. In some embodiments, methods further include forming a top electrode on the NiO film and before the forming the Ni(OH)2 film, pre-treating the substrate. In some embodiments, methods are presented where the bottom electrode and the top electrode are a conductive material such as: Ni, Pt, Ir, Ti, Al, Cu, Co, Ru, Rh, a Ni alloy, a Pt alloy, an Ir alloy, a Ti alloy, an Al alloy, a Cu alloy, a Co alloy, an Ru alloy, and an Rh alloy.
US08283213B2
This invention discloses an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) formed in a semiconductor substrate. The IGBT comprises a buffer layer of a first conductivity type formed below an epitaxial layer of the first conductivity having body and source regions therein. The IGBT further includes a lowly doped substrate layer below the buffer layer and a dopant layer of a second conductivity type disposed below the lowly doped substrate layer and above a drain electrode of said IGBT attached to a bottom surface of said semiconductor substrate wherein the dopant layer of the second conductivity type has a higher dopant concentration than the lowly doped substrate layer.
US08283212B2
A method for making a wire bond package comprising the step of providing a lead frame array comprising a plurality of lead frame units therein, each lead frame unit comprises a first die pad and a second die pad each having a plurality of tie bars connected to the lead frame array, a plurality of reinforced bars interconnecting the first and second die pads; the reinforced bars are removed after molding compound encapsulation.
US08283198B2
Resistive memory and methods of processing resistive memory are described herein. One or more method embodiments of processing resistive memory include forming a resistive memory cell material on an electrode having an access device contact, and forming a heater electrode on the resistive memory cell material after forming the resistive memory cell material on the electrode such that the heater electrode is self-aligned to the resistive memory cell material.
US08283196B2
A method and device is disclosed for reducing noise in CMOS image sensors. An improved CMOS image sensor includes a light sensing structure surrounded by a support feature section. An active section of the light sensing structure is covered by no more than optically transparent materials. A light blocking portion includes a black light filter layer and an opaque layer covering the support feature section. The light blocking portion may also cover a peripheral portion of the light sensing structure. The method for forming the CMOS image sensors includes using film patterning and etching processes to selectively form the opaque layer where the light blocking portion is desired but not over the active section.
US08283189B2
Methods for integrating wide-gap semiconductors with synthetic diamond substrates are disclosed. Diamond substrates are created by depositing synthetic diamond onto a nucleating layer deposited or formed on a layered structure including at least one layer of gallium nitride, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, or zinc oxide. The resulting structure is a low stress process compatible with wide-gap semiconductor films, and may be processed into optical or high-power electronic devices. The diamond substrates serve as heat sinks or mechanical substrates.
US08283188B2
A method for fabricating a light emitting diode chip is provided. Firstly, a semiconductor device layer is formed on a substrate. Afterwards, a current spreading layer is formed on a portion of the semiconductor device layer. Then, a current blocking layer and a passivation layer are formed on a portion of the semiconductor device layer not covered by the current spreading layer. Finally, a first electrode is formed on the current blocking layer and the current spreading layer. Moreover, a second electrode is formed on the semiconductor device layer.
US08283179B2
The present invention provides for functionalized fluorescent nanocrystal compositions and methods for making these compositions. The compositions are fluorescent nanocrystals coated with at least one material. The coating material has chemical compounds or ligands with functional groups or moieties with conjugated electrons and moieties for imparting solubility to coated fluorescent nanocrystals in aqueous solutions. The coating material provides for functionalized fluorescent nanocrystal compositions which are water soluble, chemically stable, and emit light with a high quantum yield and/or luminescence efficiency when excited with light. The coating material may also have chemical compounds or ligands with moieties for bonding to target molecules and cells as well as moieties for cross-linking the coating. In the presence of reagents suitable for reacting to form capping layers, the compounds in the coating may form a capping layer on the fluorescent nanocrystal with the coating compounds operably bonded to the capping layer.
US08283167B2
Labeled annexin is formed by reacting annexin or a modified annexin with a phosphatidylserine group or an analogue of phosphatidylserine. This phosphatidylserine annexin conjugate is then reacted with an appropriate label to form a labeled annexin and the annexin is separated from the phosphatidylserine group. The reaction between the phosphatidylserine group and the annexin is calcium ion concentration dependent. Therefore, the reaction can be promoted by having a high calcium ion concentration and the separation of the phosphatidyl group from the annexin group is facilitated by reducing the calcium ion concentration preferably by addition of an appropriate calcium chelating agent.
US08283159B2
The invention relates to a fermenter (10) for producing biogas from organic material, having a fermentation chamber (11) with a substantially round basal surface to receive fermentation material; arranged, in the peripheral region of the fermentation chamber, filling means (12) for substrate to be fermented; arranged, above the fermentation chamber, an unpressurized gas store (13) with gas discharging means (14); stirring means (15); a settling chamber (16) with overflow rim; and also pumping means (17) for the continuous or batchwise removal of fermentation material from the fermentation chamber and introduction into the settling chamber.
US08283156B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting analytes in a medium, and more particularly the present invention relates to an assay based on light diffraction which appears or changes upon the binding of analytes to their specific receptors laid out in patterns on a substrate, which has high sensitivity due to the appropriate choice of such patterns. The present invention is based on the principle that the pattern of recognition elements, which gives rise to the diffraction of the incident light in a diffraction-based assay, can be chosen in such a way so as to facilitate detection, and to enhance the signal to be detected compared to known gratings such as parallel straight lines. In one aspect the substrate itself has a surface topography designed to enhance the diffraction pattern signals. In another aspect the substrate is a diffractive optic element having the analyte-specific receptors affixed to the optic element. In another aspect the diffractive optic element is used as a master stamp for producing patterns of analyte-specific receptors which give the signal enhancements.
US08283147B2
The invention relates to a method for producing pancreatin with reduced viral and microbial contamination, comprising the steps of (a) providing the pancreatin in solid form with a residual moisture of 0.5 weight % or less, down to almost zero, based on the pancreatin provided; (b) subjecting the pancreatin provided in step (a) to a heat treatment at a temperature of 84° C., preferably 80° C. and below; wherein, the biological activity of the pancreatin obtained in step (b) corresponds to at least 50% of the biological activity of the pancreatin provided in step (a); and the viral infectiousness of the pancreatin obtained in step (b) has been reduced by a factor of more than 1 log10 in comparison with the viral infectiousness of the pancreatin provided in step (a), as well as a pancreatin produced according to this method and its use for producing a medicine or a nutritional supplement.
US08283145B2
Chondroitin is produced by culturing a UDP-glucuronic acid-producing bacterium transfected with a kfoA gene derived from Escherichia coli K4 strain and a kfoC gene derived from Escherichia coli K4 strain and having chondroitin-producing ability. Chondroitin is collected from the bacterium.
US08283143B2
Genetically engineered cells and microorganisms are provided that produce fatty alcohols from the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, as well as methods of their use.
US08283138B2
Methods for high level expression of active lymphotoxin-β receptor immunoglobulin chimeric proteins and their purification.
US08283122B2
A method of predicting the outcome of a patient with neuroblastoma that includes obtaining experimental data on gene selections. The gene selection functions to predict the outcome of a patient with neuroblastoma when the expression of that gene selection is compared to the identical selection from a non-neuroblastoma cell or a different type of neuroblastoma cell. The invention also includes a method of targeting at least one product of a gene that includes administration of a therapeutic agent. The invention also includes the use of a gene selection for predicting the outcome of patient with neuroblastoma.
US08283121B2
The present invention relates to a method for identifying a target nucleotide sequence. This method involves forming a ligation product on a target nucleotide sequence in a ligase detection reaction mixture, amplifying the ligation product to form an amplified ligation product in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mixture, detecting the amplified ligation product, and identifying the target nucleotide sequence. Such coupling of the ligase detection reaction and the polymerase chain reaction permits multiplex detection of nucleic acid sequence differences.
US08283119B2
Methods for determining the prognosis and therapeutic interventions for cancer and for utilizing the expression of the homeoprotein Six1 to determine the prognosis and therapeutic interventions for cancer, in particular for ovarian carcinomas.
US08283116B1
The present invention provides compounds and assays for the identification and validation of compounds for use in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), in which said compounds up-regulate the post-transcriptional expression of SMN1 or SMN2.
US08283115B1
The present invention provides compounds and assays for the identification and validation of compounds for use in the treatment of muscular dystrophy (MD), or a form thereof, in which said compounds increase the post-transcriptional expression of a target gene (i.e., mIGF1, ITGA7, or UTRN).
US08283113B2
Compositions and methods for preventing and treating cancer via modulating UBE1L, ISG15 and/or UBP43
Compositions and methods of using compositions that induce UBE1L or a ubiquitin-like protein ISG15, or inhibit a deconjugase UBP43 to degrade oncogenic proteins and enhance apoptosis of cancer (neoplastic) or pre-cancerous (pre-neoplastic) cells are provided. Methods for the prevention or treatment of cancer via administration of these compositions are also provided.
US08283112B2
A photoresist processing method includes treating a substrate with a sulfur-containing substance. A positive-tone photoresist is applied on and in contact with the treated substrate. The method includes selectively exposing a portion of the photoresist to actinic energy and developing the photoresist to remove the exposed portion and to form a photoresist pattern on the substrate. The treating with a sulfur-containing substance reduces an amount of residual photoresist intended for removal compared to an amount of residual photoresist that remains without the treating.
US08283109B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing high-resolution microfluidic structures by means of the modification of the sealing temperature and photolithography.
US08283103B2
There is provided a composition for forming a resist underlayer film that can be homogeneously applied and a sublimate is suppressed during the thermal curing. There is also provided a composition for forming a resist underlayer film having a high selection ratio of dry etching relative to a resist applied thereon. A composition for forming a resist underlayer film for lithography comprising: a polysilane compound having a unit structure of Formula (1): (where R1 and R2 are independently a group of —X—Y (where X is an oxygen atom, a C1-18 alkylene group or a group of —OCnH2n— (where n is an integer of 1 to 18) and Y is a lactone ring or an adamantane ring), or one of R1 and R2 is the group of —X—Y and another thereof is an aryl group, a methyl group, an ethyl group or a C3-6 cycloalkyl group); and an organic solvent.
US08283102B2
Disclosed are a photoacid generator, a copolymer, a chemically amplified resist composition, and a method of forming a pattern using the chemically amplified resist composition. The photoacid is connected with a main chain of the copolymer, whereby the photoacid is equally dispersed within a resist layer, and characteristics of line edge roughness of a resist pattern is improved.
US08283093B2
An optical proximity correction process for designing a mask according to a target exposure intensity of each edge of a pattern is provided. Each edge is at a corresponding current edge position which corresponds to a current exposure intensity. The process comprises repeating a convergence process on each edge to determine an adjusted position for the edge until an adjusted exposure intensity of the edge is equal to the target exposure intensity. For each edge, the convergence process comprises comparing the target exposure intensity with the current exposure intensity to determine an in-position correlating to a first exposure intensity and an out-position correlating to a second exposure intensity, wherein the target exposure intensity is within a range between the first and the second exposure intensities. An interpolation is performed to obtain the adjusted position according to the target exposure intensity. The pattern is updated according to the adjusted position.
US08283087B2
First reinforcing members, having a low modulus of elasticity, are disposed between an electrolyte membrane and second reinforcing members having a high modulus of elasticity, so as not to allow the electrolyte membrane to readily rub against the first reinforcing members as the electrolyte membrane expands and shrinks and to ultimately prevent degradation of the electrolyte membrane.
US08283084B2
There is provided a hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell capable of improving power density per unit volume, wherein the hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell comprises a hollow solid electrolyte membrane, an outer electrode layer formed on the outer circumferential surface of the solid electrolyte membrane and an inner electrode layer formed on the inner circumferential surface of the solid electrolyte membrane, and wherein the hollow-shaped membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is formed in the shape of a spiral.
US08283083B2
A fuel cell system including: a fuel cell supplied with a fuel gas to a fuel electrode thereof and air to an air electrode thereof; a fuel gas supplying device which supplies the fuel gas to the fuel electrode; an air supplying device which supplies air to the air electrode; a fuel gas pressure regulator which regulates fuel gas pressure at the fuel electrode; a purge valve which discharges exhaust fuel gas from the fuel electrode to the outside; and a controller. The controller continues power generation of the fuel cell, controlling the fuel gas pressure regulator to lower the fuel gas pressure at the fuel electrode, having the air supplying device continuing supplying air to the air electrode with the purge valve closed; and after the fuel gas pressure at the fuel electrode becomes equal to or lower than the atmospheric pressure, stops power generation of the fuel cell.
US08283060B2
To provide a substrate for information recording medium having various properties, in particular higher fracture toughness, required for application of the substrate for information recording medium of the next generation such as perpendicular magnetic recording system, etc. and a material with excellent workability for such purpose. A crystallized glass substrate for information recording medium, consisting of a crystallized glass which comprises one or more selected from RAl2O4 and R2TiO4 as a main crystal phase, in which R is one or more selected from Zn, Mg and Fe, and in which the main crystal phase has a crystal grain size in a range of from 0.5 nm to 20 nm, a degree of crystallinity of 15% or less, and a specific gravity of 3.00 or less.
US08283047B2
Method of making a composite casting involves providing a reinforcement insert with a ceramic coating, positioning the coated insert in a mold, and casting the molten metallic material into the mold where the metallic material is solidified. The composite casting produced includes the reinforcement insert disposed in a solidified metallic matrix with a ceramic coating between the reinforcement insert and the matrix.
US08283045B2
The present invention is an award that serves as a trophy and as a golf club head cover. The cover of the award is positioned on a stand that is supported by a base or positioned on a golf club head as a golf club head cover.
US08283042B2
Coating compositions are disclosed that include corrosion resisting particles such that the coating composition can exhibit corrosion resistance properties. Also disclosed are substrates at least partially coated with a coating deposited from such a composition and multi-component composite coatings, wherein at least one coating later is deposited from such a coating composition. Methods and apparatus for making ultrafine solid particles are also disclosed.
US08283037B2
Microspheres, populations of microspheres, and methods for forming microspheres are provided. One microsphere configured to exhibit fluorescent and magnetic properties includes a core microsphere and a magnetic material coupled to a surface of the core microsphere. About 50% or less of the surface of the core microsphere is covered by the magnetic material. The microsphere also includes a polymer layer surrounding the magnetic material and the core microsphere. One population of microspheres configured to exhibit fluorescent and magnetic properties includes two or more subsets of microspheres. The two or more subsets of microspheres are configured to exhibit different fluorescent and/or magnetic properties. Individual microspheres in the two or more subsets are configured as described above.
US08283034B2
This invention describes a process for producing a nanoscale zero-valent metal, including reduction of a metal ion solution with a dithionite compound, wherein the reduction is carried out under alkaline conditions under substantially an inert atmosphere. A nanoscale zero-valent metal obtainable by this process, and having a new crystalline form, is also described. The nanoscale zero-valent metal produced by the process of the invention is preferably iron, and is advantageously used for the remediation of contaminated water.
US08283027B2
A composite material formulated for slow release of a small molecule in seawater includes a porous inorganic oxide framework and micelles embedded within the pores of the framework. The micelles include a surfactant and a small molecule, the surfactant being present in the composite material at no more than 80 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight inorganic oxide, the composite material being stable in seawater for releasing the small molecule over at least 20 days.
US08283026B2
The present invention is directed to a method for the production of highly demanded pieces at low cost. The method is especially well suited for deep drawing dies, but also any other type of tooling. It is also very well suited for machine components of big dimensions and with high mechanical solicitations, like rotors and cages in wind mills and other big machines. The pieces or tools are cast with a low cost ceramic, like a high resistance concrete (with special mention to HPC or UHPC) or a low water admixture castable or any other low cost high mechanical resistance material (low cost ceramics or high resistance polymers are especially suited). Once cast, the working surface of the die or piece is coated with a metal, an intermetallic or a high performance ceramic. Projection or deposition techniques are used to obtain the high value working surface.
US08283024B2
A corrosive gas resistant laminate comprises an outer polymer layer desirably containing a volatile corrosion inhibitor therein, a corrosion gas resistant barrier layer that can be a hydrophilic polymer, and a tie layer located between said outer and said barrier layers. The various laminates have improved transmission resistance with regard to corrosive gases such as oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and halogen gases such as chlorine. The laminates can be used to protect metal during storage and transit.
US08283016B2
The invention relates to an artificial grass fiber in particular for use in an artificial mat for an artificial lawn, which artificial grass fiber is made of at least one synthetic material. The invention also relates to an artificial mat, in particular for use in an artificial grass sports field, which artificial mat is built up of a carrier to which at least artificial grass fibers according to the invention are attached. The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved artificial grass fiber which on the one hand can be produced by means of the existing techniques and which on the other hand reduces the number of injuries on the field. According to the invention, the artificial grass fiber to that end furthermore comprises at least one additional material component, which additional material component imposes a permanent volume increase on the artificial grass fiber under the influence of an external stimulus after the artificial mat has been provided with the artificial grass fiber. Thus it is possible to create an artificial mat for a lawn, which can be produced by means of the standard production techniques and wherein the artificial grass fiber in question foams and transforms into, for example, a dampening layer after the manufacture of the artificial lawn, which layer improves or influences the playing characteristics of the sports field, such as the absorption of shocks, the restition of energy, the vetical deformation, grip and ball bounce and which furthermore reduces the number of player injuries.
US08283015B2
An article comprising the compound of Formula (I): wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 12 carbons, an aromatic functionality having 3 to 20 carbons, and a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 20 carbons; R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, an aliphatic functionality having 1 to 12 carbons, an aromatic functionality having 3 to 20 carbons, and a cycloaliphatic functionality having 3 to 20 carbons; Y is either an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; “n” has a value of 0 to 4; and “m” has a value of 0 to 3.
US08283010B2
The present invention relates to peelable resealable multilayer films which include at least a first polymer layer, a second polymer layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive in direct contact with and bonded to both the first and third layers. The bond formed between the second and third layers includes a peelable resealable interface having a first interfacial peel strength, A, and a second interfacial peel strength, B. The peelable resealable interface includes a first interfacial peel strength, A, having a value of less than 3500 gram-force/inch (1350 newton/meter) as measured in accordance with ASTM F-904-98 test method when the films of the present invention are peeled from a second thermoplastic film to which the film has been heat-sealed. The second interfacial peel strength, B, has a value of at 400 gram-force/inch (154 newton/meter) as measured in accordance with ASTM F-904-98 test method when the films are peeled from and re-adhered to a second film.
US08283006B2
An injection molding material that includes a renewable resin containing a combination of renewable polymers (e.g., starch and plant protein) and a plasticizer is provided. Although such compounds are normally difficult to process into thermoplastics, the present inventors have discovered that injection molding materials may nevertheless be formed by melt blending the renewable resin with a synthetic resin (e.g., polyolefin) while selectively controlling the nature of the resins and their relative concentrations. In this manner, a morphology may be achieved in which the renewable resin is present as a discontinuous phase that is dispersed within a continuous phase of the synthetic resin (e.g., “island-in-the-sea” morphology). The discontinuous and continuous phases may each constitute from about 30 vol. % to about 70 vol. %, and in some embodiments, from about 40 vol. % to about 60 vol. %. With such a morphology, the continuity of the synthetic resin can minimize the aggregate properties of the renewable resin such that the molding material possesses melt properties similar to that of the synthetic resin. Further, this morphology may also minimize the need to use different molding tools as the shrinkage properties of the overall composition may be substantially similar to that of the synthetic resin.
US08283004B2
The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under UV light. This fluorescent mark comprises a substrate containing optical brightening agents, and a first colorant mixture pattern printed as an image upon the substrate. The colorant mixture pattern layer has as characteristics a property of strongly suppressing substrate fluorescence, as well as a property of low contrast under normal illumination against the substrate or a second colorant mixture pattern printed in close spatial proximity to the first colorant mixture pattern. The second colorant mixture pattern having a property of providing a differing level of substrate fluorescence suppression from the first such that the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an ultra-violet light source, will yield a discernable image evident as a fluorescent mark.
US08283000B2
A liquid crystal composition includes 100 parts by mass of a nematic liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy and 0.01 to 3 parts by mass of a polymerizable compound of general formula (I). On being irradiated with an energy ray, such as UV rays, the liquid crystal composition provides an LCD capable of high-speed response without undergoing reduction in reliability (voltage holding ratio). In formula (I), rings C1-3 are benzene, cyclohexane or naphthalene; M1-2 are hydrogen or methyl; Z1 is a direct bond, -L1-, -L1O—, etc.; Z4 is a direct bond, -L2-, —OL2-, etc.; at least one of Z1 and Z4 is not a direct bond; L1,2 are C1-C10 alkylene; when Z1═Z4, one or more hydrogen atoms of the rings C1, C2, and C3 are substituted; Z2 and Z3 are each a direct bond, an ester bond, etc.; p and q are each 0 or 1, provided that p+q≧1.
US08282996B2
A process for extending the cyclic service life of thermal barrier coatings made of yttrium-stabilized zirconium oxide (YSZ) or the like which have been applied to a substrate with an oxidizing bond coat in between includes increasing or long-term stabilizing the strain tolerance of the thermal barrier coating.
US08282994B2
A coating composition includes a base coating resin; and an overlay coating resin; where the base coating resin includes micro-impressions and planar areas, where the following expression is satisfied for the coating composition: P*TB>A*TO, where A is the area of the micro-impressions, P is the area of the planar areas; TBis the tensile strength of the base coating resin, and TO is the tensile strength of the overlay coating resin. In some cases, TB, is greater than TO. A process for preparing the coating compositions includes applying a base coating resin to a substrate, micro-impressioning a top surface of the base coating resin to provide a micro-impressioned top surface of the base coating including micro-impressions and non-impressioned planar areas, and applying an overlay coating resin to the micro-impressioned top surface of the base coating.
US08282992B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods for depositing materials on substrates during vapor deposition processes, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD). In one embodiment, a chamber contains a substrate support with a receiving surface and a chamber lid containing an expanding channel formed within a thermally insulating material. The chamber further includes at least one conduit coupled to a gas inlet within the expanding channel and positioned to provide a gas flow through the expanding channel in a circular direction, such as a vortex, a helix, a spiral, or derivatives thereof. The expanding channel may be formed directly within the chamber lid or formed within a funnel liner attached thereon. The chamber may contain a retaining ring, an upper process liner, a lower process liner or a slip valve liner. Liners usually have a polished surface finish and contain a thermally insulating material such as fused quartz or ceramic. In an alternative embodiment, a deposition system contains a catalytic water vapor generator connected to an ALD chamber.
US08282983B1
Apparatus and methods to minimize wafer-to-wafer process variation in RF-based semiconductor processing reactors with shared RF source for multiple processing areas. RF sensors associated with each processing area sends signal to the RF balance controller. The controller modifies station impedance using power adjustment mechanisms. As a result, station to station distribution of a selected RF parameter (e.g., load power) may match the station set points. Closed loop control maintains balance despite changing conditions.
US08282974B2
A method for de-soiling and disinfecting produce, the method including: treating the produce with a catholyte solution to yield a catholyte treated produce; sonicating the catholyte treated produce to yield a sonicated produce; and treating the sonicated produce with an anolyte solution.
US08282967B2
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to nitric oxide-releasing particles for delivering nitric oxide, and their use in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.
US08282966B2
The invention relates methods of reducing the risk or preventing the occurrence of an adverse event (AE) or a serious adverse event (SAE) associated with a medical treatment comprising inhalation of nitric oxide.
US08282964B2
The present invention provides an ex vivo method of treating plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) in Th2- or Th17-associated diseases by modulating the cytokine expression or secretion using interferon lambda (IFN-λ). For the Th-2 or Th17-associated diseases, pDC cells from a patient having the disease are exposed ex vivo with IFN-λ in an effective amount to inhibit cytokine releases. The IFN-λ exposed pDC are administered back into the patient. The present invention also provides a method of ex vivo IFN-λ treatment of pDC, in conjunction with co-administration of a composition comprising IFN-λ.
US08282949B2
Bioactive agrichemical concentrates and compositions having improved bioactivity comprising metal-acid solutions.
US08282941B2
The present invention provides compositions including siderophore receptor polypeptides from gram negative microbes, and preferably, lipopolysaccarhide at a concentration of no greater than about 10.0 endotoxin units per milliliter. The present invention also provides methods of making and methods of using such compositions.
US08282935B2
The invention provides novel vaccination strategies based on a prime-boost vaccination regiment. The inventors have determined improved ways of boosting an immune response in a patient previously primed or exposed to a plurality of epitopes. The improved method requires the epitopes in the boosting phase to be administered individually, i.e. held on separate peptide constructs.
US08282933B2
The present invention provides an antigenic composition, the composition comprising at least one recombinant protein. The recombinant protein comprises at least one epitope. The epitope is reactive with an antibody which is reactive with a polypeptide having the sequence set out in SEQ. ID. NO. 3 or SEQ. ID. NO. 5. The invention also provides methods and compositions for the production of the recombinant protein. Also provided are methods for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of P. gingivalis infection.
US08282924B2
Hybrid antibodies and/or hybrid antibody fragments and methods of making them are provided. In one embodiment the hybrid antibodies and/or hybrid antibody fragments 5 contain heavy and/or light variable regions that contain two or more framework regions derived from at least two antibodies. In another embodiment, at least two of the framework regions are classified in the same germline gene family. In one embodiment, at least two framework regions are classified in the same germline gene family member. The hybrid antibodies or hybrid antibody fragments may contain human framework regions and 10 nonhuman CDRs.
US08282919B2
The present invention provides a biologically pure isolate of the genus Salmonella having a disruption of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of aroA, rfaH, and thyA, as well as a method of treating cancer including the step of administering such a Salmonella to a subject in need thereof.
US08282915B2
Delivery systems and methods are provided for delivering a biologically active protein to a host animal. The systems and methods provided include obtaining an algal cell transformed by an expression vector, the expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the biologically active protein, operably linked to a promoter. In one illustrated embodiment, the biologically active protein is an antigenic epitope and upon administration to the animal the algal cell induces an immune response in the host animal.
US08282907B2
Hydrogen generators and processes for operating hydrogen generators using partial oxidation/steam reforming of fuel are provided that can achieve desirable Net Hydrogen Efficiencies over a range of fuels and hydrogen product production rates and purities. Superheated steam for the reformer feed is provided through indirect heat exchange with the reformate and through indirect heat exchange with a flue gas. The relative portions of superheated steam from each heat exchange is adjusted to enhance Net Hydrogen Efficiency as a demand condition such as hydrogen product production rate or purity changes, and cooler oxygen-containing gas is used to avoid precombustion temperatures in the reformer feed.
US08282901B2
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) may be removed from carbon dioxide feed gas by contacting the carbon dioxide at an elevated temperature and an elevated pressure with a catalyst for oxidizing SO2, in the presence of oxygen (O2) to convert SO2 to sulfur trioxide (SO3); contacting SO3 in the resultant SO3-enriched carbon dioxide gas with water to produce sulfuric acid and SO2-depleted carbon dioxide gas; and separating the sulfuric acid from the SO2-depleted carbon dioxide gas. If present, NOx is also removed from the carbon dioxide feed gas as nitric acid to produce SO2-depleted, NOx-lean carbon dioxide gas. The method has particular application in the removal of SO2 and NOx from flue gas produced by oxyfuel combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel or carbonaceous fuel, within or downstream of the CO2 compression train of a CO2 recovery and purification system.
US08282900B2
An agent for rendering harmless a halogen-containing gas such as a halogen-containing exhaust gas, which comprises a faujasite zeolite having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 2.0 to 2.3 and containing at least one cation selected from alkali metal cations and alkaline earth metal cations. The cation is preferably selected from Na and K, and, more preferably, the cation comprises at least 70 mol % of Na and not larger than 30 mol % of K. The agent is used in the form of a molded body made using a binder.
US08282893B2
A test tape unit with a flexible carrier tape that can be wound forwardly by a tape drive is provided. The carrier tape includes a plurality of analytical test fields for the application of body fluid that are each applied in an associated tape section. Each tape section has a plurality of position markers for different functional positions that can be scanned by means of a tape sensor and can thereby be individually identified by measured quantity.
US08282890B2
A vessel comprising a bed of randomly oriented ceramic media having fluid distribution channels incorporated in the outer surface of the media is disclosed. The channels capture and redirect the fluid thereby improving distribution of the fluid in the vessel.
US08282889B2
An object of the invention is to provide a decomposing system for polyisocyanate residues that is capable of suppressing reaction of polyisocyanate residues with high temperature and high pressure water to allow smooth start-up of the operation, and a start-up method for the decomposing system for the polyisocyanate residues. The decomposing system is used for hydrolyzing the polyisocyanate residues to polyamine using high temperature and high pressure water, comprising a hydrolyzer, a water feed pipe connected to the hydrolyzer, a residual feed pipe connected to the water feed pipe, a solvent feed line for filling an organic solvent in a solvent filling portion of the residual feed pipe, and a solvent draining line. Upon start-up of the operation, the organic solvent is previously filled in the solvent filling portion via the solvent feed line and the solvent draining line, first, and then, the high temperature and high pressure water is fed from the water feed pipe to the hydrolyzer. Then, the organic solvent is fed from the residual feed pipe to the water feed pipe, first, and then, the polyisocyanate residues are fed thereto.
US08282880B2
A bottle, a system and a method sterilize a liquid. The bottle has an interior to hold the liquid and an ultraviolet light emitting lamp that extends into the interior. A cord may be attached to the bottle so that pulling the cord may power the ultraviolet light emitting lamp and/or charge a battery used to power the ultraviolet light emitting lamp. The bottle may have a status light that indicates that the ultraviolet light emitting lamp may have an amount of power equal to or greater than a threshold value, such as, for example, an amount of power necessary for the ultraviolet light emitting lamp to operate for ninety seconds. The bottle may have a removable lid located opposite to the ultraviolet light emitting lamp.
US08282876B2
An extrusion blow molded container is provided comprising a closed base, a body portion extending from the closed base having a surface finish that is substantially free of striations, and an open neck portion extending from the body portion. In an embodiment, the container is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET); the base portion includes a support portion and a substantially elevated portion having a center and a major diameter; and the center is disposed an elevated distance above said surface that is less than about 0.05 the major diameter. A method and apparatus for extrusion blow molding an article is also disclosed.
US08282868B2
According to the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device fabrication method comprising, bringing a mold having a predetermined pattern into contact with at least a portion of an imprinting material formed on a substrate to be processed, and forming the pattern on the substrate to be processed by sequentially transferring the pattern for each shot, wherein one of a dicing region and a monitor pattern formation region of the substrate to be processed is coated with the imprinting material.
US08282867B2
An insert molding die, an insert molding apparatus and an insert molding method are disclosed, wherein a pair of dies 10a, 10b are arranged in a manner capable of clamping, from axis X side, an insert part 2 arranged along axis X to be insert molded. The dies 10a, 10b include first separated dies 10a1, 10b1, second separated dies 10a2, 10b2 and third separated dies 10a3, 10b3 adapted to perform the clamp operation independently of each other.
US08282842B2
A cleaning method following an opening etching is provided. First, a semiconductor substrate having a dielectric layer is provided. The hard mask layer includes at least a metal layer. The opening etch is then carried out to form at least an opening in the dielectric layer. A nitrogen (N2) treatment process is performed to clean polymer residues having carbon-fluorine (C—F) bonds remained in the opening. Finally, a wet cleaning process is performed.
US08282839B2
A floating separating element for use in centrifugal separation of components of a physiological fluid comprises a positioning part and a separating part, where the positioning part is designed to automatically assume a position in a supernatant and a separating part is positioned at a desired location with respect to the interface between the supernatant and heavier components. In preferred embodiments the physiological fluids are blood or bone marrow aspirate, and the heavier components comprise red blood cells. The positioning part comprises the majority of the mass of the separating element and is thin so that differences in the position of the separating element with respect to the interface are small compared to differences in the densities of the separated components, particularly the component comprising red blood cells. A method allows red blood cells to move the separating element during decanting to ensure complete decant of the supernatant.
US08282831B2
A method for the chromatographic separation of components of a multicomponent fluid mix by means of the simulated moving bed method wherein the multicomponent fluid mix and at least one solvent are fed to inflows of a plurality of chambers containing at least one solid substance and connected to each other in series to form a closed loop. An extract stream containing at least one first component separated from the multicomponent fluid mix as well as a raffinate stream containing at least one second component separated from the multicomponent fluid mix are carried out of the chambers through a first and second outflows. At least part of the raffinate stream and/or extract stream carried off at the first and/or second outflows is preliminarily stored and recirculated to the first and/or second inflow of the chambers alternately or simultaneously with the multicomponent fluid mix and/or the solvent within one clock unit.
US08282827B2
A method of producing methane, an organic based fertilizer and usable water from animal waste includes the step of separating the animal waste into liquid waste and solid waste. The solid waste is subjected to anaerobic digestion to produce methane and a wet by-product. The wet by-product is pressed to into a filter cake which is pelletized into the organic based fertilizer. The liquid waste is clarified to produce a supernatant and a sludge which is pressed into a filter cake together with the wet by-product. Ammonia is extracted from the supernatant to produce ammonium sulfate and an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is filtered to produce a concentrate and water filtrate. The water filtrate may be used as drinking or washing water. The ammonium sulfate and concentrate may be used to supplement to the solid waste which is pelletized into the organic based fertilizer. In alternative embodiments a portion of the supernatant and aqueous solution may be used as a liquid fertilizer.
US08282812B2
An apparatus for producing hydrogen from salt water by electrolysis. The apparatus includes a cathode plate and an anode plate spaced apart from the cathode plate. The apparatus also includes a cathode end connector for electrically connecting the cathode plate to a negative terminal of a direct current electrical power supply, and an anode end connector for electrically connecting the anode plate to a positive terminal of the direct current electrical power supply. The cathode plate is made from aluminum, and the anode plate is made from zinc. The aluminum cathode plate may have a multiplicity of apertures therein. It has been determined that the aluminum cathode plate and the zinc anode plate tend to provide an effective combination for salt water electrolysis.
US08282804B2
An electrostatic coalescing device including at least one pair of sheet-shaped electrodes arranged at a distance from each other side-by-side. Each one of the electrodes includes a sheet-shaped conductive member of electrically conductive material. The mutual distance between the conductive members of the two electrodes of the pair varies along the electrodes as seen in a direction perpendicular to the intended flow direction of fluid passing through the flow passage between the electrodes. A power supply is configured to apply mutually different electric potentials to the conductive members of the electrodes of the pair so as to form an electric field between the electrodes. The conductive member of one electrode of the pair is planar, whereas the conductive member of the other electrode of the pair is corrugated.
US08282795B2
The torch with integrated electrolytic action for the surface treatment of metals, comprises a peak-paddle (2) connected with the unipolar electric current supply (7, 16) from an external apparatus, the other pole being connected with the metal surface being treated, and has the electrolytic solution used, for the specific treatment, arranged in a tank (6, 21) connected to said torch to supply said peak-paddle through channels inside said torch; the electrolytic solution being put under pressure in the delivery direction through a dosaging device of said solution controlled by the user. Different embodiments are described with manually actuated pumps and/or rigid or flexible tanks for spraying by the user. The tank (6, 21) is advantageously made removable, to allow the replacement of the electrolytic solution and to change the type of work to be carried out on the metallic surface in a quick and clean manner.
US08282788B2
The invention relates to extraction apparatus and method for obtaining essential oils and essence and pigments from odorous raw materials by microwave radiation heating under sub-critical conditions, which has advantages of easy operation, higher extracting temperature and efficiency. The microwave chamber has a power level of 100 W to 1,500 W and its microwave radiation has a frequency at 915 MHz or 2,450 MHz. The extraction process can be performed without any preheating necessary. A condenser unit is operated at temperatures between −20° C. and 15° C. for cooling the gas extractive flowing out of the extraction unit. Because both volatile aromatic compounds and pigments of the odorous raw materials can be extracted successfully, the extracted essence is colorful. Since the extraction process by microwave radiation heating is free from adding any organic solvent and/or any artificial chemical compound, the extraction apparatus and method applied are really environmentally friendly.
US08282784B2
Provided is a paper-making machine belt (or a paper-making shoe-press belt), which is excellent in a wet-web water-squeezing property, which is stable in a paper quality (e.g., wet-web smoothness or marking property), and which has little damage (e.g., cracking or wear) of the outer circumference of the belt being used. The paper-making shoe-press belt carries a felt for accepting the squeezed water from the wet-web and has draining grooves extended in the felt-side surface. The paper-making shoe-press belt is characterized in that the draining grooves extended in the felt-side surface have at least two kinds of different groove shapes in the transverse direction (or the CMD direction) of the paper-making machine. The groove shape enables the grooves of two continuous and discontinuous kinds to share the functions thereby to satisfy the improvements in the drainage and in the paper quality and the wet-web surface smoothness at the same time.
US08282777B2
A high utility (strong in both dry and wet states, highly absorbent, abrasion resistant, thick, and soft) disposable wiper or towel that contains 40% or more cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste and/or in excess of 50% pre and/or post consumer waste. The base sheet is produced in a wet-pressed, creped process and is post-treated using a DRC process. The final wiper or towel is a double re-creped, non-woven sheet having a first side and a second side. The non-woven sheet includes about 85% to about 90% by weight of-cellulose fibers. The cellulose fibers include about 40% to about 80% of cellulose fibers from post-consumer waste. The non-woven sheet includes at least about 10% to about 15% by weight of binder. The wiper meets EPA guidelines related to the level of PCW in wipers.
US08282775B2
The present disclosure provides for a web substrate having at least one ply having a surface thereof. The surface of the at least one ply defines a surface area of the at least one ply. The surface comprises an emboss pattern disposed thereon. The emboss pattern has a surface area defined by a perimeter circumscribing the emboss pattern. The surface area of the emboss pattern ranges from about 5 percent to about 40 percent of the surface area of the at least one ply.
US08282771B2
In a spin unit for rotating a substrate and a method of processing the substrate, the substrate is secured on a support and is rotated on the support. Processing materials including drying gases, etching solutions and cleaning solutions are selectively supplied onto a bottom surface of the rotating substrate. The same processing materials are also selectively supplied onto a top surface of the substrate. The top and bottom surfaces of the substrate are simultaneously processed by simultaneous supply of the processing materials through the first and second sub-injectors.
US08282767B2
A plasma processing apparatus including a chamber having an inner wall with a protective film thereon and a sample stage disposed in the chamber in which plasma is generated by supplying high-frequency wave energy to processing gas to conduct plasma processing for a sample on the sample stage using the plasma. The apparatus includes a control device which determines, based on monitor values of a wafer attracting current monitor (Ip) to monitor a current supplied from a wafer attracting power source, an impedance monitor (Zp) to monitor plasma impedance viewed from a plasma generating power source, and an impedance monitor (Zb) to monitor a plasma impedance viewed from a bias power supply, presence or absence of occurrence of an associated one of abnormal discharge in inner parts, deterioration in insulation of an insulating film of a wafer attracting electrode, and abnormal injection in a gas injection plate.
US08282765B2
The present invention provides an adhesive sheet for attaching to a plasticized vinyl chloride resin article such as a blood bag made of a plasticized vinyl chloride resin, and having a center-line surface roughness Ra of 1.0 μm or higher, which includes a film substrate and a heat-sensitive adhesive layer formed on a backside surface of the film substrate, wherein the heat-sensitive adhesive layer is composed of a resin containing a crystalline polyester resin as a main component. The adhesive sheet of the present invention is excellent in adhesive property when the adhesive sheet is attached to the article made of a plasticized vinyl chloride resin. The adhesive strength of the adhesive sheet of the present invention is not decreased even after an autoclave treatment or storage at a low temperature.
US08282764B2
The invention relates to a process that makes it possible to improve the mechanical strength of bonds between substrates when these bonds are produced by means of an adhesive that comprises a resin that can be cured by chain polymerization, and in particular a resin that can be cured under the effect of ionizing or light radiation.This process is characterized in that it comprises the grafting of groups capable of acting as chain transfer agents during the polymerization of said resin to the surface of the substrates, before the latter are brought into contact with the adhesive.Applications: assembling of structural, engine, passenger compartment or bodywork parts in the aeronautical, space, railway, ship-building and automotive industries.
US08282760B2
A process for wrapping an edge flap of a workpiece having a covering sheet extending over a front face thereof and edge flaps protruding outwardly beyond the front face. The workpiece is positioned on a table, with one edge and the protruding flap overhanging and protruding outwardly beyond the table. The workpiece is disposed in proper location by positioning elements and clamps fix it to the table. adhesive is applied to the edge flap. A wrapping arrangement is provided with wiping blades so that upward movement of the wiping arrangement causes a first wiping blade to engage the edge flap and wipe it upwardly into engagement with an edge face, following which the wiping arrangement moves the second blade over the workpiece so that a second wiping blade engages the end part of the flap and wipes it downwardly into engagement with the back face of the workpiece.
US08282757B2
Method and apparatus for forming an annular composite structure is provided. In one embodiment an apparatus for forming annular composite structures is provided. The apparatus includes an annular shaped tool and a forming head. The annular shaped tool includes a forming surface of a select cross-sectional geometry. The forming head is configured to form continuous ply layers one ply at a time circumferentially about the forming surface of the tool.
US08282755B2
A method for producing a ceramic material is disclosed. A ceramic raw material mixture is produced by comminuting and mixing starting materials containing Pb, Zr, Ti, Nd and oxygen. Nickel or an nickel compound is introduced. The raw material mixture is calcined and a ceramic is sintered.
US08282752B2
Apparatus for storing and dispensing flowable explosive, the apparatus including an explosive pump for pumping flowable explosive into an explosive tank having a fluid pressure-actuated piston movable therein for expelling flowable explosive out of the explosive tank through a delivery hose fitted with an injector through which one or more additives from one or more additive tanks can be pumped by an additive pump.
US08282751B2
A sensitized explosive that comprises an explosive precipitated onto a sensitizer. The explosive is CL-20, PETN, RDX, HMX, or mixtures thereof and the sensitizer is aluminum, titanium, zirconium, magnesium, melamine, styrene, lithium aluminum hydride, or mixtures thereof. The sensitized explosive is used in a percussion primer that includes a bismuth compound and a melt binder. The bismuth compound is bismuth oxide, bismuth subnitrate, bismuth tetroxide, bismuth sulfide, or mixtures thereof and the melt binder is a wax having a melting point above ambient temperature, trinitrotoluene, poly(3,3-bis(azidomethyl)oxetane), poly(3-azidomethyl-3-methyloxetane), ethyl-3,5-dinitrobenzoate, or mixtures thereof. A gun cartridge and other primer-containing ordnance assemblies employing the percussion primer are also disclosed. Methods of forming the sensitized explosive and the percussion primer are also disclosed.
US08282741B2
A sequencing spray arm assembly includes a plurality fluid spray arms rotatably mounted on respective radially spaced carrier arms. The rotating fluid spray arms are in fluid communication with a fluid distribution manifold and adapted to distribute washing fluid throughout a washing chamber of the appliance. A sequencing diverter valve system enables delivery of washing fluid from the fluid distribution manifold to one or more of the plurality of rotating fluid spray arms. A fluid responsive rotating drive arm drives the rotation of a sequencing disk in the valve system between discrete positions and enables delivery of fluid to one or more of the plurality of rotating fluid spray arms in a sequential manner such that, for each discrete position, less than the total number of spray arms are supplied with washing fluid at a time.
US08282738B2
The invention relates to a process for producing xylose and cellulose from a biomass comprising: (a) mixing a biomass with a reactive fluid comprising water and a supercritical C1-C5 alcohol to form a mixture at a first temperature and a first pressure; (b) maintaining the mixture at the first temperature and first pressure for a first time period, wherein a reaction occurs; and (c) quenching the reaction to form at least one reaction product mixture; wherein xylose and cellulose are produced by the process. Lignin may also be produced by the processes of the invention.
US08282731B2
A process for treating beta calcium sulfate hemihydrate is disclosed. The process comprises exposing beta calcium sulfate hemihydrate to steam at a pressure above atmospheric pressure.
US08282727B2
A water-borne primer coating composition including a water-borne non-chlorinated polyolefin resin (A), a water-borne polyurethane resin (B), a water-borne epoxy resin (C) and an internally crosslinked acrylic particle emulsion (D), wherein the content of resin (A) is 15 to 60%, the content of resin (B) is 10 to 50%, the content of resin (C) is 20 to 50%, and the content of emulsion (D) is 5 to 20%, all by weight on the solid equivalent basis in 100% by weight of the total amount of resin (A), resin (B), resin (C) and emulsion (D), and resin (A) is a polypropylene resin having crystallinity of 35 to 55% and a weight average molecular weight of 50000 to 200000. The composition can achieve an adhesion property to a substrate, gasohol resistance, inhibition of peeling of a multilayer coating film in washing by high pressure cleaning and moisture resistance.
US08282716B2
A jacket material into which a gas adsorbing device and core material are inserted is decompressed in a vacuum chamber, the opening is sealed, and then the jacket material is exposed to the atmosphere. In the atmospheric pressure, a pressure of about 1 atm which is equivalent to the pressure difference between the inside and outside is applied to the jacket material of the heat insulator. The jacket material is made of a plastic laminated film and is deformed by pressure. A protruding portion is plunged into a container to drill through holes, and a gas adsorbent in the container communicates with the inside of the jacket material. Thus, both during holding and in applying to the vacuum heat insulator, the gas adsorbent can be applied to the vacuum heat insulator without degradation, and the high degree of vacuum can be kept for a long time.
US08282709B2
ETS-10 type materials preferentially adsorb ethane and, if present, C3+ paraffins from mixtures comprising methane, ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins at pressures above 200 psia. A process in which ETS-10 type materials are used to separate ethane and C3+ paraffins from natural gas streams at over 200 psia is provided.
US08282708B2
Methods for the purification of steam, systems for purifying steam, methods for measuring and/or controlling steam flow rates, and uses for purified steam are provide. Also provided are substantially gas-impermeable membranes, such as perfluorinated ionomers (e.g., perfluoroethylene-sulfonic-acid/tetrafluoroethylene membranes), having a high ratio of water vapor permeation relative to gas permeation through the membrane. Also provided are methods of operation of such membranes at relatively high operating temperatures for the purification of steam and for operation of such membranes at relatively low temperature and sub-atmospheric pressures for the purification of steam. In a preferred embodiment, the system 400 for purifying steam comprises heater 404 for creating a source of a steam feed, and a purification device 416 for housing a substantially gas-impermeable membrane 424. In the operation of system 400, water, such as deionized water, is added to vessel 402 to provide a source of the steam feed.
US08282706B2
An engine exhaust after-treatment system is provided, which may include a particulate trap configured to remove at least some constituents of the exhaust flowing from an engine through an exhaust system. The system may also include a controller configured to collect in-service data related to an operating parameter indicative of the amount of time the engine operates. In addition, the system may include a memory device attached to the particulate trap and including a memory. The memory may be configured to store usage data indicative of how much time the particulate trap has been used in service. The memory may be configured to communicate with the controller to receive information related to the in-service data collected by the controller and update the usage data in the memory, based on the communication with the controller, to reflect a total amount of time the particulate trap has been in service.
US08282698B2
In various exemplary embodiments described herein, a system and related method to reduce particle contamination on substrates is disclosed. The system includes a substrate traverser mechanism having tracks to transport substrate carriers with one or more traverser ducts arranged to surround, at least partially, the tracks. The one or more ducts have slits along at least a substantial portion of a length of the tracks. A traverser exhaust fan is coupled to one end of each of the one or more traverser ducts. The fan provides sufficient volumetric airflow such that a velocity of the volumetric airflow through the slits is greater than a terminal settling velocity of a predetermined particle size. The fan draws particles less than approximately the predetermined particle size generated by the substrate traverser mechanism into the one or more traverser ducts.
US08282689B2
The present invention relates ways to increase the output of a high quality product from the precipitation liquor crystallization process exemplified through the aluminum hydroxide recovery processes such as the Bayer process. The invention is a method of increasing the size of precipitated of a liquor. The invention in one embodiment relates to the use of a crystal growth modifier compositions added to the precipitation process to increase the particle size distribution of the precipitated alumina trihydrate.
US08282687B2
A security apparatus and method is provided for a portable computer, wherein a solenoid within the portable computer is controlled by a specified program running on the computer. Activation of the solenoid is usefully enabled by a password or computer security chip. One embodiment, comprising a security apparatus, includes a locking mechanism such as a conventional manually operated USS locking device having a locking element. The security apparatus further includes a component positioned proximate to a slot disposed to receive the locking element, the component being adjustable to vary a dimension of the slot entrance between hold and release modes. The component is coupled to the solenoid and is actuated to adjust the slot entrance dimension, from the hold mode to the release mode, when the solenoid is energized in response to a command generated by the specified program running on the computer.
US08282686B2
A socket assembly for use with a prosthetic device. The socket assembly receives at least a portion of a residual limb on which the prosthetic device is attached. The socket assembly includes an airtight outer shell adapted and constructed to receive a portion of the residual limb of an amputee, the shell having an interior and an exterior. A vacuum-permeable skin interface is secured to at least a portion of the interior of the outer shell. A high-vacuum valve communicates between the interior of the socket and the exterior of the socket, the valve being adapted and constructed to be attached to a vacuum source. When the residual limb is positioned in the socket assembly and the high-vacuum valve is connected to a vacuum source, the vacuum force exerted by the source is evenly distributed to the residual limb through the skin interface.
US08282672B2
A spinal column implant for elastic stabilization of vertebrae, includes a pedicle screw and an elastic rod which is anchored in a frictional fashion in a receptacle of pedicle screws by means of a filling piece, and a clamping element. The frictional connection is supported additionally by an indirect form-fit portion.
US08282660B2
A lung volume reduction system is disclosed comprising an implantable device adapted to be delivered to a lung airway of a patient in a delivery configuration and to change to a deployed configuration to bend the lung airway. The invention also discloses a method of bending a lung airway of a patient comprising inserting a device into the airway in a delivery configuration and bending the device into a deployed configuration, thereby bending the airway.
US08282638B2
An instrument assembly for bone drilling. The instrument assembly can include a soft tissue sleeve defining an internal channel, and an irrigation cap removably coupled to the sleeve. The irrigation cap can include a delivery port connectable to an irrigation source for delivering irrigation to the internal channel, the port in fluid communication with the internal channel.
US08282634B2
A bipolar forceps is provided. The bipolar forceps includes a housing having a shaft including an electrically conductive distal end. A drive assembly is operable to reciprocate an actuation tube within the shaft. A portion of the actuation tube is electrically conductive. An end effector assembly operatively connects to the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members biased in an open configuration. The first and second jaw members are pivotable about a living hinge. Distal reciprocation of the actuation tube causes each of the jaw members towards one another about the living hinge. One of the jaw members is in electrical communication with the distal end of the shaft and the other jaw member is in selective electrical communication with a distal end of the actuation tube such that when the jaw members are in a closed configuration a closed loop electrical circuit is formed.
US08282633B2
A high-frequency surgical apparatus for treating patent foramen ovale in a heart includes a flexible probe which has such a length as to allow the probe to be placed in the patent foramen ovale by passing through the blood vessel; an electrode section which, being placed at a distal end of the probe, has three or more electrodes along a longitudinal direction of the probe; a high-frequency power supply section which supplies predetermined high-frequency power to the patent foramen ovale via the electrode section; a switching section which switches among a plurality of signal lines connected to the three or more electrodes; and a high-frequency power control section which controls switching of the switching section so as to supply the high-frequency power to two electrodes.
US08282622B2
A ureteral access sheath adapted for insertion into a urethra includes an elongate tube extending between a proximal end and a distal end. A handle assembly is disposed at the proximal end and includes enlarged portions which inhibit migration of the sheath into the urethra. The enlarged portions are shaped like the bell of a horn with a concave, distally-facing outer surface and a convex, proximally-facing inner surface. The inner surface functions as a funnel while the outer surface is sized and configured to receive adjacent fingers of a user's hand held in its natural position. In an associated method, this shape of the handle assembly facilitates maintaining the sheath in a stationary position during insertion and removal of instrumentation. The handle assembly can be movable on the tube to facilitate variation of the sheath link in situ.
US08282613B2
A disposable urine bag is provided. The bag includes an upper delimiting edge, a lower delimiting edge and lateral delimiting edges defining a space in the bag. The lower delimiting edge includes a drain valve, whose first drain mouthing in a first hollow element communicates with the space in the bag, and whose second mouthing in a second element is situated outside the delimiting edges of the bag. The drain valve is a disposable valve including a seal between the first and the second element and at least one indicator situated in the area of the seal. A disposable urine bag is provided whereby the drain valve seal may be broken without using significant finger strength and without a risk of the user being soiled with urine.
US08282601B2
Some embodiments of an infusion pump device may include a drive system that accurately and incrementally dispenses fluid from the pump device in a controlled manner. Particular embodiments of the drive system may include a rotational motor that is coupled to a string member, which is used to adjust a pawl relative to a ratchet body. In such circumstances, the drive system can provide a reliable and compact infusion pump device that accurately dispenses the desired volume of fluid.
US08282599B2
A catheter device having a proboscis, such as a needle, and a transducer which detects the axial displacement of the proboscis in relation to the distal tip of the catheter. The transducer is positioned at a distal portion of the catheter and may comprise an induction coil or a potentiometer. Axial displacement of the proboscis changes the amount of inductance or resistance in the transducer. This change in inductance or resistance can be calibrated to the amount of axial displacement of the proboscis and provided as feedback to the user.
US08282598B2
Components may be used separately or in combination to create anchoring systems for intra-luminal implants for the treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Various systems include an external component adapted for deployment around a portion of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., the duodenum) and an internal component adapted for implantation within the gastrointestinal tract. Various systems use anchors that are based on mechanical interference, elasticity, spring force, shape memory transformation, magnetic attraction, repulsion and/or levitation. Various embodiments rely on longitudinal anchoring of the implants with minimal force against tissue.
US08282597B2
The single use catheter has a lumen with a hydrophobic filter tip at one end. The lumen is divided into two parallel conduits. A first conduit terminates in a one-way valve. A syringe is attached to the one-way valve. Air, saline solution or sterilized water can be introduced through the one-way valve and inflate a cuff about the lumen. The second parallel conduit terminates in a charcoal filter for elimination of bowel gas. The one-way valve prevents deflation of the cuff unless the lumen is cut to allow the fluid from the cuff to exit and deflate the cuff.
US08282593B2
Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable shunt configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent an infection.
US08282592B2
An ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm's canal of an eye. In some embodiments the implant has a body extending in a curved volume whose longitudinal axis forms an arc of a circle, and a plurality of open areas and strut areas formed in the body, the open areas extending over more than 50% of a surface defining the curved volume, the strut areas surrounding the open areas, the body having a diameter of between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches. The invention also provides a method of treating glaucoma including the steps of supporting tissue forming Schlemm's canal in an eye with an implant extending at least partially in the canal along an axial length within the canal; and contacting with the implant less than 50% of the tissue forming the canal along the axial length.
US08282575B2
An endoscopic puncture needle includes a sheath, an outer needle, an outer needle moving member, an inner needle, an inner needle moving member, and an operation portion. The outer needle moves along an axial direction of the sheath in the sheath, and is retractable with respect to a distal end of the sheath. The outer needle moving member is arranged at a proximal end portion of the outer needle, and moves the outer needle with respect to the sheath. The inner needle moves in the outer needle along the axial direction of the sheath, and is retractable with respect to a distal end of the outer needle. The inner needle moving member is arranged at a proximal end portion of the inner needle, and moves the inner needle with respect to the outer needle. The operation portion operates the outer needle moving member and the inner needle moving member.
US08282568B2
A system and a method for estimating changes in cardiac pumping capacity in response to an intervention from data recorded by an accelerometer positioned on an outer surface of the heart. Interventions such as intravenous administration of nitroprusside, betablocker, epinephrine (adrenaline), or changes in the intravascular volume such as by fluid filling, are considered. It is shown that it is possible to directly correlate changes in cardiac pumping capacity to changes in parameters or graphical representation derived from signals characteristic to the acceleration an outer surface of the heart. In particular, it is shown how the effect of the interventions can be directly read from these parameters or graphical representations, and can thereby assist in decisions regarding the treatment of a cardiac surgery patient. The invention is preferably used in a post-surgery monitoring unit for surveillance of cardiac surgery patients.
US08282552B2
The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging device. The ultrasound imaging device includes: a data acquiring unit for acquiring 3-dimensional ultrasound image data based on receive signals formed based on ultrasound echoes reflected from a target object; a filtering unit for determining a size of a filtering mask of a filter, said size being adaptively determined according to an amount of the 3-dimensional ultrasound image data in data acquisition directions, the filtering unit being further configured to filter the 3-dimensional ultrasound image data by using the filtering mask; a scan converting unit for scan-converting the filtered 3-dimensional ultrasound image data; and a 3-dimensional rendering unit for performing 3-dimensional rendering upon the scan-converted 3-dimensional ultrasound image data to form a 3-dimensional ultrasound image.
US08282541B2
An apparatus for sterilizing a blood vessel in a patient's inner skin includes a generator for providing gaseous radioisotope and a chamber adapted to exposure of a portion of a patient's body to the gaseous radioisotopes. When a patient is contacted with gaseous radioisotopes, alpha and beta particles are emitted from the gaseous radioisotopes into inner skin of the patient. Ultraviolet rays, subsequently emitted from the skin, sterilize viruses or bacteria present in a blood vessel. A method of treating a patient with the apparatus is also provided.
US08282534B1
A safety mat securement assembly for providing an open and a closed position for a climbing wall assembly using a safety mat. The safety mat securement assembly may utilize a plurality of security hand hold members each having latching means and a safety mat having a plurality of bottom securement members, top and side loop members. The security hand hold members may be used as hand holds on the climbing wall assembly and may have a locking structure. The hand holds may also have embedded securement structures to provide for the attachment of climbing related devices. The bottom securement members function to hold the safety mat to the bottom of a climbing wall assembly during both open and closed positions of the safety mat. The mat securement assembly is opened or unlocked by loosening the latching means, removing security mat top loop members from the hand hold, and placing the mats on the floor along the base of the climbing wall. When in closed or locked position, the security mats may contain a printed message communicating that the climbing wall is closed and climbing should not take place. A cover member may be provided to further secure the climbing wall.
US08282533B1
A trampoline board includes a resilient body with a foam core. At least one flex zone (e.g., a channel) which acts as a living hinge extends from a first lateral edge to a second lateral edge to facilitate bending to conform to the shape of a depressed trampoline surface. Sandal-like trampoline board bindings are threadedly coupled to inserts molded into the resilient body. Each binding includes a shock absorbing midsole and is devoid of any potentially harmful structures that extend above the ankle of a user, such as the molded support behind the heel characteristic of snowboard bindings. Adjustable cushioned straps secure the sandal-like trampoline board bindings to a user's feet. The insert pack includes a base with a plurality of parallel threaded shanks extending perpendicularly therefrom.
US08282516B2
A ball bat includes a transparent or translucent cap attached to a bat barrel. One or more security labels are bonded or otherwise attached to the cap and the barrel such that removal of the cap damages or destroys the one or more security labels, providing an indication that the cap has been removed and that tampering with the interior of the bat may have occurred.
US08282495B2
A fixed type constant velocity universal joint is capable of, without involving decreases in load capacity of an inner joint member (inner member) and in spherical area, increasing rigidity of a cage and stabilizing durability. The cage has four pockets including a pair of long pockets with large circumferential intervals and a pair of short pockets with small circumferential intervals. The pair of long pockets can be shifted by 180 degrees along a circumferential direction, and the pair of short pockets can be shifted by 180 degrees along the circumferential direction. The long pockets and the short pockets are arranged alternately to each other along the circumferential direction. Two balls are accommodated in each of the long pockets, while one ball is accommodated in each of the short pockets. A cutout portion is provided to an inner end portion of at least one of the track grooves of the inner member.
US08282492B2
A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a gaming machine cabinet having a front, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall are adjacent to the front. The gaming machine further comprises a display, a CPU, and a power supply mounted within the gaming machine cabinet. The gaming machine further comprises a first fan mounted adjacent to the CPU and oriented to pull air from outside the gaming machine cabinet over the CPU along a first air path. The gaming machine further comprises a second fan mounted adjacent to the power supply and oriented to push air exiting the power supply out of the gaming machine cabinet along a second air path. The first air path does not substantially intersect the second air path.
US08282480B2
A candle device for a gaming machine including a secondary processor is described. The candle device can include a number of stages that when activated convey information about the status of the gaming machine. The secondary processor, disposed within a secure enclosure in the candle device, can be configured to control peripheral devices disposed with a main cabinet of the gaming machine that receive control commands from a game controller. In particular, the secondary processor can be configured to determine a size and a position of windows on the main touch screen display where a first window is for outputting video content from the game controller and a second window is for outputting video content from the secondary processor. The secondary processor can use the second window to add new features to the gaming machine, such as a verification interface for transactions involving mobile devices.
US08282474B2
Wagering game providing a progressive award having an actual value determined by follow-up game play
A gaming system includes a progressive award having game play and an actual value. The game play has at least one variable element and an expected value that is representative of a value amount that should be won by the player, on average in the long term, via the game play. At least one controller is operative to change a state of the variable element based on received wager inputs at a plurality of gaming terminals such that the expected value of the game play increases as the state of the variable element changes. The state of the variable element is displayed on a display device and, in response to a progressive triggering event, game play is awarded, but not the actual value. The game play is conducted based on the variable element in its current state to determine the actual value, which is awarded to the player.
US08282473B2
Methods and systems for issuing cashless instruments and providing a printer interpreter for a gaming machine are disclosed. A printer and specialized printer interpreter (controller) are provided to facilitate the conversion of a specific credit amount to a currency amount in differing units (first form of currency), and the subsequent issuance of a cashless instrument reflecting that currency amount. Where the printer interpreter is reconfigurable, a second currency amount in different units (second form of currency) could also be selected. Multiple different currencies and their corresponding languages can be available to the printer interpreter, such that a given credit amount can be issued to a cashless instrument in one of many different currencies. Game execution operations of the MGC are isolated from the printer interpreter, such that recertification of the gaming machine or system is not necessary when reconfiguring the printer interpreter from one form of currency to another.
US08282471B1
A network based sporting event wagering system includes a licensed wagering exchange company having a central office with a central computer, memory storage unit, and an instruction set executable by the central computer and at least one licensed bookmaker associated with said wagering exchange company. A first network terminal is accessible by the bookmaker, and a second network terminal is accessible by a bettor for posting a desired sporting event wager with odds preferred by the bettor. An electronic network connects the first network terminal and the second network terminal with the computer at the betting exchange company. The executed instruction set operates on the central computer to receive the desired wager from the bettor and displays the desired wager to the bookmaker such that the bookmaker has the option of accepting the desired sporting event wager at the odds preferred by the bettor.
US08282470B2
A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes having a special award that includes first and second award levels. A first set of selectable elements is displayed without informing the player that the first award level has been awarded. The elements mask indicia corresponding to all or a portion of first and second level award criteria. A selection is received of a selectable element from the first set of selectable elements and the indicium for the selected element is revealed. If the indicium for the selected element does not meet the criteria corresponding to the first award level, another set of selectable elements is displayed. A player selection of one of the selectable elements from the another set of elements is received and the indicium for the selected element is revealed. The steps are repeated until a cumulative result of the revealed indicia corresponds to the first level award criteria.
US08282457B1
Provided is an electronic game table which has one or more cup stations which contain one or more cups or other containers into which a game ball is meant to be thrown or bounced. The cups are connected to means of extending them through the table. The cups are also connected to means for retracting them below the table when a game ball has entered the cup. Also provided are means for returning the game ball to a designated area when the cup and ball have been retracted. The electronic game table is provided with electronic devices to direct various actions of the table and during game play. The table can be in provided in a plethora of geometric shapes.
US08282456B2
A gaming machine is provided which includes: an operation sequence table 211 storing an operation sequence in which one or more groups of time-series input timings are associated with operation means to be operated for input by a player based on the group of the input timings; operation instructing means 202 that outputs an operation instruction based on the operation sequence; evaluation means 205 that evaluates a game score based on comparison between the input timings and an operation timings; a criterion table 212 storing a criterion for determining a master level of the player; a master level determining means 203 that determines a master level of the player based on the criterion; and operation sequence changing means 204 that changes a part of at least one group of input timings, in the case where the player has a master level equal to or more than a predetermined value.
US08282451B2
A system for directing airflow within a plenum comprising sizeable, shapeable, and interconnectable baffles that can be nondestructively attached to plenum support structures. The system includes means for removably interconnecting the baffles and also for removably and non-destructively attaching the baffles to plenum support structure without tools.
US08282448B2
A sharpening device 1 for knife blades comprising a base plate 2 with a guiding slot 6, designed as an incision in the base plate 2, for a knife blade to be sharpened and sharpening rods 10a, 10b disposed on both sides of the guiding slot 6 to be pivotable against an elastically resilient restoring force, wherein the guiding rods 10a, 10b intersect at a point of intersection 11 in the area of the guiding slot 6. At least one of the two walls of the base plate 2, which are disposed opposite to each other and form the guiding slot 6, thereby forms a knife abutment surface 7a, 7b and at least one magnet 20, 21, 22 is mounted to the base plate 2 in the area of the knife abutment surface 7a, 7b.
US08282445B2
A floor finishing apparatus includes a chassis, a housing pivotably mounted to the chassis and having a mounting surface and at least partially defining a chamber, and a plurality of floor finishing units mounted to the mounting surface of the housing. The apparatus may include a rolling device carried by the housing and adapted to contact the ground to assist the housing in being pivoted with respect to the chassis.
US08282444B2
A belt sander includes a housing and an endless sanding belt supported by the housing. A first shaft is connected to the housing, and the housing is pivotable about the first shaft. A second shaft is connected to the housing and offset from the first shaft. The sander is mounted to the rotating portion of a rotary machining clam shell trackway and revolved around a pipe surface to be sanded while biasing the sander against the surface. The sander may also be pivotable to sand a tapered surface.
US08282437B2
A set includes a launchable doll having a body portion and wings fixed to the body portion between a torso portion and a waist portion of the body portion to impart aerodynamic lift to the doll when the doll is rotated and the legs are fixed into a substantially vertical orientation when the wings are fixed to the body portion; and a launcher including a base, a tube that contains the legs and a mechanism that rotates the tube and the doll with respect to the base.
US08282436B2
A light emitting device having at least one pixel having a light emitting element includes a substrate, a partition wall formed over the substrate, and a luminous layer of the light emitting element, where the luminous layer is formed in at least one groove partitioned by the partition wall. The partition wall has a plurality of first partition walls and at least one second partition wall. Each of the first partition walls is extending in the first direction and the second partition wall is formed to extend in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and connect end portions of the plurality of first partition walls. A lyophobic degree of the second partition wall is lower than that of a center region between both ends of each of the first partition walls in the first direction.
US08282430B2
An electrical contact includes a soldering plate, first curved plate extended upwardly from one end of the soldering plate, a middle plate extended from the free end of the curved plate, a second curved plate extended upwardly from the free end of the soldering plate, a contact plate extended from the free end of the second curved plate, a vertical plate extended downwardly from each of opposite lateral edges of the contact plate and beyond a bottom surface of the middle plate, and a restricting plate extended inwardly from the vertical plate and positioned between the soldering plate and the middle plate. The movement of the contact plate and the middle plate are limited to resist a vertical force for preventing the electrical contact from permanent deformation in a vertical direction by the restricting plates.
US08282423B2
A connector whose terminal portions of contacts can be reliably inserted into through holes of a circuit board. The connector comprises a housing, contacts, and an alignment member. Each contact includes a holding portion held by the housing, a terminal portion inserted into a circuit board, and a linking portion connecting the holding and terminal portions. The alignment member is mounted on the contacts and positions the terminal portions. The contacts are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the connector, and in two rows in a vertical direction thereof. Each pair of adjacent contacts in the longitudinal direction are connected by a connecting portion, to form first and second combination contacts. The alignment member has receiving portions receiving the linking portions, open portions from which the connecting portions are exposed, and grooves preventing a relative movement of the connecting portions in the vertical direction.
US08282417B2
An electrical connector (100) includes a dielectric housing (1) having a base portion (11) and a tongue portion (12) extending from the base portion; a number of terminals (2) received in the housing; and an upper shield (31) and a lower shield (32) enclosing the insulative housing. The upper shield includes a main cover (310) located above the insulative housing and a pair of wing portions (312) extending oppositely, laterally relative to the main cover. The lower shield includes a main plate (320) located below the insulative housing and a pair of wings (321) extending oppositely, laterally relative to the main plate. One of the wing portion and corresponding wing defines a closed slot (3122) and the other one of the wing portion and the corresponding wing integrally, interiorly fits in the closed slot.
US08282413B2
A connecting terminal structure allows providing additional terminals without an increase in the width of a battery pack and an electric apparatus. In a connecting terminal structure according to the present invention, a battery pack is provided with a plurality of terminals having different functions arranged in a sliding direction, and an electric apparatus is provided with a terminal to be connected to one of the plurality of terminals of the battery pack. Through relative sliding between the battery pack and the electric apparatus, before the terminal in the electric apparatus reaches the terminal in the battery pack, the terminal in the electric apparatus can pass through another terminal in the battery pack.
US08282409B2
An electrical connector includes an insulting housing defining a receiving room and an inserting opening through which the module is inserted in the receiving room in an inserting direction. A plurality of contacts are retained in the housing and each contact comprises an engaging portion extending in the receiving room. A pair of latching structures is located in front of the inserting opening to limit the module in the receiving room in the inserting direction of the module, the latching structures being urged to move downward to allow the module into the receiving room.
US08282403B2
A connecting unit includes a wiring board and a connector. The wiring board has a main face and a side face substantially perpendicular to the main face, and includes a soaking plate and a first terminal. The connector has a through hole for passing the first terminal therethrough. The first terminal is disposed in an intermediate layer of the wiring board and is projected outwardly from the side face. When the connector is connected to the wiring board, the first terminal passes through the through hole.
US08282400B2
An electronic connector includes an insulating case, a metal plate and a contact module. The insulating case includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a receiving space defined therein, and a plurality of grooves defined at the top surface. The metal plate is retained in the receiving space and attached to the bottom surface of the insulating case. The contact module is retained in the receiving space, which includes an insulating housing, a plurality of contacts and a ground terminal. Each contact includes a first connecting portion extended above the top surface and aligned with the corresponding groove of the insulating case. The ground terminal includes a second connecting portion and a contacting portion. The second connecting portion is extended above the top surface and aligned with the corresponding groove of the insulating case. The contacting portion is connected to the metal plate.
US08282398B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for x-y tables wherein rolling elements of rolling-element bearings are transferring electrical energy between a fixed part of the x-y table and a movable part of the x-y table. The electrical energy transferred could be power to electrical devices as well as signals to and from devices on the movable part of the x-y table. Electrically conducting rolling elements are moving on electrically conducting grooves on the fixed and movable part of the x-y table. Conductor tracks on the fixed and movable part are connected to the grooves and to devices on the movable platform. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the x-y table is part of a camera wherein linear motors, preferably with integrated position sensing, are moving the x-y table back to a home position in case of a dislocation due to a mechanical shock. The invention allows an exact and fast positioning of an x-y table without requiring a flexible cable. The rolling-element bearings could be ball bearings, roller bearings, needle bearings, or other kind of bearings having electrically conductive rolling elements.
US08282388B2
An injection molding system comprising an actuator, a mounting plate, a mold and a manifold mounted between the mounting plate and the mold, the mounting plate being removably coupled to the mold, a valve pin comprising a pin stem and a pin connector; the actuator housing being mounted on or within the mounting plate for radial movement upon decoupling of the actuator housing from the mounting plate.
US08282380B2
A conveyor or other transport mechanism is provided to support multiple, sequential builds from a three-dimensional fabrication machine. The conveyor may be heated/cooled, coated, or otherwise treated to assist in adhesion during a build, as well as removal of objects after a build. Each fabricated object may be automatically removed from the conveyor as the conveyor moves in order to restore a buildable surface for fabrication of additional objects.
US08282370B2
A scroll compressor having an improved compression efficiency by optimizing a step mesh gap in an operating state is provided. The scroll compressor having a step-like shape has a step-mesh-gap set value occurring between step side surfaces of a connecting wall of a fixed scroll and a connecting edge of a revolving scroll and a step-mesh-gap set value occurring between step side surfaces of a connecting walls of the revolving scroll and a connecting edge of the fixed scroll, and a fixed-side set value for when the two move close together due to the revolving scroll tilting by receiving gas pressure during operation is set greater than that for when the two move apart.
US08282366B2
A pump including a stator, a rotor comprising an axial extension slidably and rotatably mounted at least partially in a rotor chamber of the stator, and at least first and second valves between an inlet and the rotor chamber, respectively between the rotor chamber and an outlet, that open and close as, a function of at least the angular displacement of the rotor. The pump comprises interacting cam elements on the rotor and stator and biasing elements acting on the rotor for applying a force on the rotor in the axial direction of the stator cam elements.
US08282359B2
A pump assembly and estimation and control system therefor, the pump adapted for continuous flow pumping of blood. In a particular form, the pump is a centrifugal pump wherein the impeller is entirely sealed within the pump housing and is exclusively hydrodynamically suspended therein against movement in three translational and two rotational degrees of freedom as the impeller rotates within the fluid urged by electromagnetic means external to the pump cavity. Hydrodynamic suspension is assisted by the impeller having deformities therein such as blades with surfaces tapered from the leading edges to the trailing edges of bottom and top surfaces thereof.
US08282354B2
A rotor blade for a gas turbine engine having an edge buttress having an aperture. A method of reducing rotor blade weight includes removing material from within a truss area bounded by a platform section, an internal airfoil cooling passage, and an underplatform fillet.
US08282350B2
A blade system and method of use for a wind turbine to produce electrical power. The system has a vertical rotor shaft coupled to an anchor pad and supports a horizontal blade arm. A blade assembly having a rotatable flap is coupled to the blade arm. The flap captures the wind which causes the rotor shaft to rotate and generates electrical power from an electrical generator.
US08282346B2
A seal formed between at least two blades in the turbine of a turbine engine, a first turbine blade and a second turbine blade, wherein one of the turbine blades comprises a turbine rotor blade and the other turbine blade comprises a turbine stator blade, and wherein a trench cavity and the seal is formed between the first turbine blade and the second turbine blade when first turbine blade is circumferentially aligned with the second turbine blade, the seal comprising: a cutter tooth and a honeycomb; wherein: the cutter tooth comprises an axially extending rigid tooth that is positioned on one of the first turbine blade and the second turbine blade and the honeycomb comprises an abradable material that is positioned on the other of the first turbine blade and the second turbine blade; and the cutter tooth and the honeycomb are positioned such that each opposes the other across the trench cavity when the first turbine blade is circumferentially aligned with the second turbine blade.
US08282343B2
A vane for a gas turbine engine includes a cap arrangement having a cap insert and a cap adapted to receive the insert. The cap insert has a wall defining a through passage from top to bottom of the cap insert for receiving a cable or the like therethrough. The wall has a slot with a convoluted profile.
US08282333B2
A workpiece transfer robot system including a machine tool provided with a workpiece support section and a robot capable of transferring a workpiece relative to the workpiece support section of the machine tool. The machine tool includes a cover surrounding at least the workpiece support section. The cover includes a first side wall provided with a first opening usable for a workpiece transferring task of the robot. The robot includes a track member defining a traveling axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the first side wall of the cover of the machine tool; a slider attached to the track member and capable of traveling along the traveling axis; a first arm attached to the slider and capable of swinging about a first swing axis; a second arm attached to the first arm and capable of swinging about a second swing axis parallel to the first swing axis; and a workpiece hold section provided on the second arm and capable of accessing the workpiece support section through the first opening of the cover of the machine tool.
US08282330B2
A press plate (8) with a cover (12) is moved upwardly from a standby position to a press position to press the cover against a book block (4) by first and second elevation units. The book block (4) is clamped by nip plates (9, 10), together with the cover (12). The height of each of first and second ends (X, Y) of the press plate (8) at the press position can be set separately by separately controlling the first and second elevation units by a control section (30).
US08282324B2
A liner for a transverse trough of a coil-transport railway car for cushioning a coil and for preventing lateral creep of the load during transport. Each sloping wall of a transverse trough is lined with at least one liner to prevent lateral creep in both transverse directions. Each liner is comprised of a horizontal bottom base or support layer, from which upwardly project a plurality of spaced-apart, flexible fingers or ribs. The fingers or ribs of the liner of the invention may be oriented leftward or rightward in direction of cant, and oriented such as to face or incline toward the centerline of the transport vehicle, and behave or act as leaf springs. When the load of coil is placed onto the liner of the present invention, the fingers thereof serve as the load-bearing surface, and bend or deflect in accordance with the weight of the load, to thereby support the load of coil. In addition, those remaining fingers or ribs not deflected by the load and immediately adjacent to the coil at either end, act as leaf springs to resist any side-to-side, lateral movement of the roll or coil, as would otherwise occur due to vibration and shock imparted during transport.
US08282322B2
Race grooves and lobe outer surfaces of a constant-velocity race gear centered on a gear axis are finished by engaging a first groove of the race gear with a rotating groove-machining tool and relatively moving the race gear and rotating groove-machining tool arcuately to finish the first groove while holding the race gear against rotation about its gear axis. Then the first groove of the race gear is disengaged from the rotating groove-machining tool while holding the race gear against rotation about its gear axis. Then the race gear is rotated about its gear axis to align a second groove with the rotating groove-machining tool while engaging a first lobe outer surface with a rotating surface-machining tool to finish same. These steps are repeated in the same order to finish the second groove and a second lobe outer surface and so on until all the grooves and lobe outer surfaces of the race gear are finished.
US08282314B2
A floating structure includes a water pollution preventing membrane having a float part extending so as to define a water area, and a curtain part suspended at a lower end of the float part to define the water area in water. A float net having floatable ropes anchored to the float part and knitted into a lattice with a predetermined mesh size is disposed in an outer water area defined by the water pollution preventing membrane. Of the ropes constituting the float net, the rope which is disposed in parallel to the float part has a light reflection rope and a support rope for supporting a trap net suspended into water. The propeller of a watervehicle moved into the float net is caught by part of the ropes or the trap net to prevent the watervehicle from approaching the water pollution preventing membrane or an inner water area.
US08282312B2
A method of operating machine system includes receiving expected material placement data for a paving machine and comparing the expected material placement data with actual material placement data. The method further includes outputting a signal based on the comparison, and commanding replenishing material from a supply machine to the second supply volume responsive to the signal. A paving control system for a paving system includes a computer readable memory configured to store expected material placement data, a receiver configured to receive actual material placement data and a data processor configured to output a control signal to a supply machine to controllably replenish material to an external material supply volume for the paving system in a manner responsive to comparing the expected material placement data with the actual material replacement data.
US08282299B2
A friction body that produces frictional heat allowing development, disappearance or change of color of handwriting formed with a writing instrument for producing thermochromic handwriting, with the friction body having a friction coefficient of 0.2 to 1.0 when rubbed against paper surface, and a writing instrument for use in forming thermochromic handwriting which is equipped with the friction body and a writing instrument set including the friction body and a writing instrument for use in forming thermochromic handwriting.
US08282292B2
A mirror drive apparatus incorporating a brake mechanism of an SLR camera includes a mirror pivoted about a mirror rotational shaft and swingable between a viewing position and a retracted position, wherein the mirror is biased to swing from the viewing position to the retracted position; a brake drum which rotates in association with a swing movement of the mirror; a mirror brake member including a brake shoe which is brought into contact with and disengaged from the brake drum; a mirror control cam driven by a motor to return the mirror, which is biased to swing from the viewing position to the retracted position, to the viewing position from the retracted position; and a brake lever control mechanism which makes the brake shoe contact the brake drum and moves the brake shoe off the brake drum by a rotating operation of the mirror control cam.
US08282289B2
A retainer comprises a roller retaining click which is bent from an inner diameter edge of a rib portion toward the inside in an axial direction and extends so as to protrude and positioned between adjacent rollers. A part of the retainer other than the roller retaining click is hardened by high-frequency quenching and high-frequency tempering.
US08282288B2
The invention relates to a double-row wheel bearing unit for a vehicle, comprising an axle journal fixed to the vehicle, and a wheel hub bearing a wheel flange rotatably mounted on said axle journal by means of two rows of rolling bodies spaced axially apart. In order to adapt the loading capacity of the rows of rolling bodies to the respective load conditions, the two rows of rolling bodies have different rolling circle diameters respectively adapted to the highest expected load.
US08282283B2
A linear motion device has a first assembly and a second assembly which is linearly movable relative to the first assembly, in which at least one, and preferably at least two, first rolling surface(s) which extend(s) in a longitudinal direction is/are provided on the first assembly, each first rolling surface being located opposite a second rolling surface provided on the second assembly, and in which a row of rolling elements is located between the first and second rolling surfaces, and in which the first assembly includes a single-pieced, first body and at least one return assembly, at least one return passage being provided in the first body, and furthermore in which at least one curved deflection passage is located entirely within the deflection assembly and connects the first rolling surface to the return passage in a manner such that the rolling elements may circulate endlessly, and in which at least one projection that engages in the return passage is provided on the deflection assembly. The projection is formed by a flexible tube that limits a flexible passage for the rolling elements, the flexible passage connecting the deflection passage to the return passage.
US08282279B2
The bag may include a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first fastening strip and a second fastening strip. The fastening strips may include a base portion having a pair of spaced-apart webs extending from the base portion. The webs may include hook portions extending from the webs. The fastening strips may have wide base portions. The fastening strips may have thick base portions. The fastening strips may provide a greater surface area for the user to apply a force during the occlusion process and may reduce the occlusion effort. The fastening strips may have a lower occlusion force. The fastening strips may provide improved alignment of the fastening strips. The fastening strips may have an improved perception of seal security with a high opening force and/or a high peel force.
US08282278B2
A medical imaging apparatus (100) includes a rotating gantry (302). The rotating gantry (302) includes a first side (108) and a second side (302, 304). The first and second side (108 and 302, 304) are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis, thereby defining a plenum (116) therebetween. The first side (108) includes at least one material free region (110). At least one air mover (126), located in the plenum (116), that expels air in the plenum (116) through the at least one material free region (110).
US08282276B2
A mount (20) for a temperature-compensated fiber optic strain gauge (10), the mount (20) comprising: a void (19) located at a middle portion of the mount (20) to separate the mount (20) into a first section (17) and a second section (18); and removable bridges (24) to connect the first section (17) to the second section (18); wherein after the mount (20) has been operatively attached to a host structure (5), the removable bridges (24) are removed.
US08282264B2
A vibrator includes a tubular element including one or more sections, the upper end of which is provided with an element for suspension from a hoisting and/or guiding machine and the lower end of which is connected to an endpiece successively including a damper-isolator, a generator of vibrations (4) and a tip (5). This vibrator is made in several detachable elements assembled end-to-end by an element of a plurality of fixing screws (30), the heads or nuts of which are accessible by an element of at least one cavity (27) provided in at least one of the elements and at least one removable locking part (C1, C2) which engages into the cavity (27) by bearing upon the heads or the nuts, so as to ensure the captivity of the screws (30) and to avoid that the assembly be able to dissociate during use.
US08282260B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a light source and a plurality of a light guiding plate. The LGP includes light incident, counter, light emitting and rear surfaces. The counter and rear surfaces are respectively opposite to the light incident and light emitting surfaces. The light emitting surface includes an ineffective light emitting area making contact with the light incident surface and an effective light emitting area connecting the ineffective light emitting area with the counter surface. The counter surface of a first light guiding plate is disposed overlapping the light incident surface of a second light guiding plate along a first direction, so that the rear surface partially overlaps with the effective light emitting area of the second light guiding plate, and the light guiding plates collectively form a light guiding plate array along the first direction.
US08282259B2
The light-guide plate has an extended portion. The extended portion has a recess formed in a thickness direction, and the optical sensor is arranged within the recess.
US08282256B1
A lighting system for efficiently illuminating various structures using LEDs and fiber-optics. The lighting system generally includes a base unit including at least a first socket and a second socket. A first light source is positioned within the first socket and a second light source is positioned within the second socket, wherein more light sources are used for additional sockets. A first lens may be positioned within the first socket over the first light source to emit a first color and a second lens may be positioned within the second socket over the second light source to emit a second color. At least some of the colors of the lenses are preferably different. At least one light transmitter including a light gathering end and a light dispersing end is positioned within a selected socket to emit a respective color through the light dispersing end.
US08282244B2
In a color-selectively dimmable and focusing LED emitter comprising a plurality of different-colored LEDs arranged, on a support element, as a plurality of similar LED tuples, each of the LED tuples comprising at least two different-colored LEDs, each LED tuple having assigned thereto a separate reflector, and each of the LED tuples being rotated about the optical axis of the associated reflector relative to a neighboring LED tuple. Improved color mixing is achieved together with high efficiency and good focusing in that the LED-emitter comprises more than four LED tuples and each of the LED tuples is rotated about the optical axis of the associated reflector relative to a preceding neighboring LED tuple by a respective angle φ, the angle φ being calculated as 360° divided by the number of the LED tuples.
US08282238B2
The present invention provides a light emitting apparatus comprising: a first light emitting portion for emitting white light with a color temperature of 5700K or more; and a second light emitting portion capable of changing the color temperature of the white light emitted from the first light emitting portion, wherein the first and second light emitting portions are independently driven. Accordingly, the present invention has the advantage that it can be diversely applied to desired atmospheres and uses by implementing white light with various light emitting intensities and color temperatures. Further, there is an advantage in that the cumbersomeness in a process is reduced, the space efficiency is enhanced, and the costs are reduced.
US08282235B2
A lighted workbag or backpack having a positionable light source configured so as to provide significant illumination into the interior portion of the workbag or an external work area or the path in front of the backpack. The light source having a gooseneck configuration is mounted in a column or pouch positioned in the back of the backpack that allows the light to extend over the shoulder of a user wearing the backpack so as to illuminate the area in front of the user.
US08282231B2
Changeable facial expression configuration and changeable facial expression garment composed thereof
This invention relates to a changeable facial expression configuration, including a facial expression layer and an eyeball changeable device. The eyeball changeable device includes a light transmission eyeball body, and a light transmission eyeball pattern layer located in the light transmission eyeball body that is able to embody at least two different expressions with different colors, and a luminous body located with a certain distance in the rear area of the pattern layer that is able to respectively emit the light colors in accordance with the light colors of the eyeball pattern layer. The luminous body connects with the control circuit, and emits light alternately by the control of control circuit. The changeable facial expression configuration in the invention exhibits pattern layers alternately by the light transmission eyeball pattern layers with two or more different colors that located in the light transmission eyeball body and the LED luminous body located with a certain distance in the rear area of the light transmission pattern layers, and by omitting light with different colors from LED luminous body, to achieve a perfect effect of eye movement or wink. The utility mode has merits with simple structure and less raw material consumption, and is able to apply to in all the ornaments that need to decorate with changeable facial expression such as clothes, handbags and fruit plates.
US08282230B2
An LED bulb includes at least one LED mount disposed within a shell. At least one LED is attached to the at least one LED mount. A thermally conductive liquid is held within the shell. The LED and LED mount are immersed in the thermally conductive liquid. A plurality of beads is suspended in the thermally conductive liquid. The plurality of beads is configured to displace a predetermined amount of the thermally conductive liquid to reduce the amount of thermally conductive liquid held within the shell.
US08282221B2
A projection apparatus using a spatial light modulator (SLM), comprising the following: at least one variable light source, at least one spatial light modulator for modulating the illumination light emitted from the variable light source in accordance with the modulation state of arrayed pixel elements, a variable light source controller for controlling modulation of the variable light source, and a spatial light modulator controller for controlling modulation of each pixel element of the spatial light modulator, wherein the variable light source controller controls the variable light source so as to reduce the period in which the modulation states of the pixel element are in transition on a display image.
US08282220B2
A projector with a color sensor module is provided. The projector includes a light source providing a light, a prism device refracting the light, a reflecting device reflecting the light refracted by the prism device, an optical lens receiving the light reflected by the reflecting device and forming a first light path between the optical lens and the reflecting device, and a color sensor module disposed on a second light path and comprising a light inlet receiving the light reflected toward the second light path by the reflecting device.
US08282215B2
A spatial light modulation device includes: a light modulation unit which modulates light according to an image signal; and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on a surface of one of an optical element disposed either on the entrance side of the light modulation unit or the exit side of the light modulation unit and the light modulation unit. Voltage is applied to the first electrodes and the second electrodes.
US08282208B2
The coupling structure for a pair of eyeglasses includes a one-piece lens, a pair of connecting elements and a pair of temples. Each pair of fixing articles of the lens are inserted through each curved groove of each connecting element and respectively into the extension through holes in both distal ends of each curved groove, so as for each pair of fixing articles to respectively protrude outward both extension through holes, and each flange in each hollow is caught in each concave of each curved groove so as for each connecting element to be firmly coupled to each end of the lens. Each pair of fixing articles outward each pair of extension through holes are respectively inlaid in each pair of receiving rooms in both distal ends of each curved portion of each temple, and each curved portion is caught in each curved opening of each connecting element, so as for each temple to be pivotally coupled to each end of the lens as well as each connecting element.
US08282204B2
A printing apparatus includes: a medium holding unit which is divided into a plurality of members to form a holding surface and holds a printing medium being transported on the holding surface; a heat transfer type first heating unit which is disposed in the medium holding unit and heats the printing medium held by the medium holding unit; and a printing head which performs printing by ejecting ink onto the printing medium. Boundaries formed by gaps between the plurality of members on the holding surface of the medium holding unit are curved in both a transport direction and a width direction of the printing medium so as not to be in a straight line shape in the transport direction.
US08282195B2
There is provided a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid from an aperture of a nozzle plate toward a recording material while reciprocating over the recording material and a platen that supports the recording material from a rear face thereof to position the recording material at a position facing the nozzle plate in a direction in which the liquid is ejected. The liquid ejecting apparatus further includes: a first electrode being provided on the platen side between the liquid ejecting head and the platen; a second electrode being provided on the liquid ejecting head side between the liquid ejecting head and the platen; and a potential difference generating section of which one end is connected to the first electrode and the other end is connected to the second electrode and that generates a potential difference between the second electrode and the first electrode.
US08282188B2
The inkjet head cleaning apparatus includes: a cleaning liquid holding device having a cleaning liquid holding surface with which cleaning liquid is held and applied to a liquid ejection surface of an inkjet head in which the liquid ejection surface is oblique to a horizontal plane, the cleaning liquid holding surface being arranged with an inclination such that the cleaning liquid holding surface is substantially parallel with the liquid ejection surface of the inkjet head and faces the liquid ejection surface at a prescribed distance from the liquid ejection surface; and a cleaning liquid supply device which has a cleaning liquid supply port through which the cleaning liquid is supplied from an upper portion of the inclined cleaning liquid holding surface in such a manner that the cleaning liquid slides down the inclined cleaning liquid holding surface while forming a meniscus between the cleaning liquid holding surface and the liquid ejection surface.
US08282180B2
A buffer circuit for shaping a waveform of a logic signal is arranged where a line for a logic circuit included in a recording-head substrate is divided into substantially equal portions, the line having an unignorable parasitic component due to its increased length. Therefore, the recording-head substrate, a recording head using the recording-head substrate, and a recording apparatus including the recording head are capable of minimizing the adverse effects of parasitic resistance and parasitic capacitance in lines even when the length of a heater array is increased.
US08282178B2
A refrigerator includes support rails which are positioned adjacent a back wall for supporting a plurality of removable shelf assemblies. First and second shelf support brackets project from the rails and include rear shelf support flanges spaced from support arms. A shelf panel has a back frame member including at least one support hook adapted to engage the shelf support flanges such that the back edge portion of the shelf panel is positively engaged with the shelf support brackets. At the same time, a section of a central portion of the shelf panel is supported on the support arms, while both another section of the central portion and a forward portion of the shelf panel extends in a cantilevered manner beyond the brackets.
US08282171B1
A seat assembly for improving posture of a user comprises a substantially firm seat portion angled downwardly from rear to front, a back support extending upwardly in a rear area of the seat portion, a pad positioned on the back support and, the back support positionable at at least two locations for varying seat depth.
US08282168B2
A component for a vehicle seat includes a plurality of plate-like elements generally parallel to one another, with pairs of the elements being connected, such as by welding. At least one element of each pair has a bend that creates a gap spacing with respect to the other element of the pair. Each element is connected to a next element to form a further pair in the region of the spacing.
US08282165B2
The invention is directed to a reboard system comprising a steeply inclined backrest for transporting infants and toddlers approximately in a half-lying, half-sitting posture, particularly in a car opposite the direction of travel thereof, it being possible to vary the length of the backrest in the direction of the spine of an infant sitting in the reboard system when a child is in the reboard system and/or when the reboard system is fastened to a seat of a car opposite the direction of travel thereof, by a guided parallel shift of an extendible part of the backrest relative to said seat surface along a straight line, which is inclined by a constant acute angle α against the horizontal plane in the direction of travel, whereby the extendible part (10) of the backrest (6) is provided with upper lateral body rests (12) for substantially guiding the shoulders and/or upper arms of the infant during the travel in a car.
US08282162B2
A vehicle seat is configured to be adjustable in height having a height adjusting mechanism composed of a link mechanism disposed between a lower rail provided at a vehicle body side and the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat comprises a guide plate provided on the vehicle seat, a gear plate attached to the lower rail and movably provided on the guide plate in a straight direction, a pair of lock arms provided on the guide plate and engageable with a pair of gear portions of the gear plate when an emergency load is applied to a seat belt of a vehicle seat occupant. The pair of gear portions is formed by mutually deviating by half pitch P each between an engagement plane of one gear portion and an engagement plane of the other gear portion.
US08282159B2
A roof apparatus for a vehicle includes a guide member sliding along a guide rail, a support member supporting a movable panel, a drive member driving the movable panel and the guide member, a first garnish supported by the guide rail and covering a clearance between the support member and the guide rail from an interior space of the vehicle under tilt-up and opening operations of the movable panel, a second garnish supported by the movable panel and covering the support member from the interior space, the second garnish covering the guide member under a fully closed state and the tilt-up operation of the movable panel; and a third garnish connected to the guide member or the support member and covering an opening portion between the first and second garnishes from the interior space under the tilt-up and opening operations and the fully closed state of the movable panel.
US08282158B2
A vehicle is provided with a pair of front pillars extending upward from a vehicle body. A pair of rails extends rearward from the pair of front pillars. A pair of rear pillars extends downward and rearward from the pair of rails to the vehicle body. A pair of roof panels is spaced apart along the vehicle body longitudinal axis, and each panel extends inboard from a respective rail. A transparent roof panel is interposed between the roof panels.
US08282156B1
A stop device is provided for a vehicle slide door for an opening of a vehicle side body structure. The slide door is guided in a front-to-rear direction by a sliding door mechanism which moves the slide door on a rail fixed to the side body structure. The stop device comprises a bracket for securing to the side body structure near a rear end of the lower rail. The bracket includes a base having a forward end portion and a rear end portion. A full stopper is mounted to the rear end portion of the bracket, and a mid-stopper is mounted to the forward end portion of the bracket. A strengthening member is connected to and extends at least partially outwardly from the base. The strengthening member is provided at least partially below the full stopper. The strengthening member has a generally stepped configuration.
US08282140B1
The present invention relates to a hidden locking mechanism for furniture that includes a pivoting locking bar that locks and unlocks a lid of the furniture in response to the horizontal movement of a sliding leg provided on the furniture that is attached to one end of the locking bar. When viewed from outside the furniture, the bar is not visible and the leg appears to be fixed and unmovable so that it is not obvious how to unlock the lid of the furniture.
US08282138B2
An annular shaped crimp ring construction which incorporates two separate and distinct sections formed adjacent each other on the same annular member. In accordance with the present invention, the first section of the crimp ring comprises an axial length which is substantially greater than the axial length of the second section, with the first section also comprising a thickness which is substantially greater than the thickness of the second section.
US08282129B2
An air bag cushion for vehicles has a connection part which is formed in front portions of the left and right chambers by sewing the inner surfaces of the left and right chambers along sewing lines in a shape of closed curve to form a vertical valley which separates the left and right chambers from each other. A through hole is formed in the connection part to permit gas to flow between the left and right chambers. The cushion includes a tether which passes through the connection part and connects the left and right chambers to each other in a lateral direction of the cushion. The air bag cushion is simple in structure and is superior in uniform expanding performance of the left and right chambers.
US08282120B2
A stroller includes laterally spaced apart hubs that interconnect upper, middle and front frame member assemblies of a chassis of the stroller. The hubs are disposed one each along opposite sides of the stroller, and include mounting structures for coupling two or more of the strollers together in a side-by-side fashion. The hubs further include other mounting structures for mounting a seat assembly to the stroller chassis and for supporting both rearward facing and frontward facing orientation of the seat assembly as well as selectable inclination positions. Each of the hubs includes a folding mechanism for supporting folding of the stroller, such as for transport in a vehicle or for storage. Other laterally spaced apart hubs are provided along the upper frame members for providing a second point of attachment between two coupled strollers and for mounting of accessories.
US08282119B1
A collapsible child stroller system with a means for attaching an infant carrier at an upper location along with a second child at a lower position occupying a typical front facing seat, is herein disclosed. The infant carrier comprises a molded plastic seat that is attachable thereto an upper frame portion of the stroller. The stroller system may also be reconfigured to allow an infant occupying the upper position to sit facing the caregiver in a similar manner as a grocery cart. The child stroller system provides enhancements such as removable and washable padded cloth padding, a cup holder, and snack trays at upper and lower locations. When the infant carrier is attached to the upper stroller frame, an infant can be safely transported on the same stroller with a second child. The second child would sit facing forward on the lower portion similar to most existing child strollers.
US08282115B2
A suspension system for use on off-road trailers may be an independent air suspension system that may provide ample wheel travel and stability to keep the wheels on the ground through rough and uneven terrain. Conventional suspension systems may lack adequate wheel travel, may bounce too much, or may not be soft enough. The suspension system of the present invention may use an air bag to normalize the suspension for varying weights of the trailer load, allowing proper suspension for both heavy and light loads.
US08282104B2
The reduction in real operation objects in game systems that use real operation objects is detected. The quantity of real operation objects, which are repeatedly used by being circulated, is detected, it is judged whether the quantity is sufficient or not, and the judging results are output. For example, in a ball throwing game, balls are used in rotation by repeatedly supplying and recovering the balls. The quantity of balls in circulation is detected, and if the quantity is less than a threshold value, the manager of the game system is notified whether a sufficient quantity of balls is being supplied to the player or not, by for example outputting a warning message. By playing with an insufficient quantity of balls the level of difficulty of the game is essentially increased, so the player will feel that this is unfair.
US08282101B2
An interactive entertainment system that includes a universal puzzle piece for each game or activity participant. The puzzle piece includes an updatable display displaying a first graphic image. The system includes an interactive display device with a display surface with an update mechanism that is operable such as by a controller, when the puzzle piece is in a predefined proximate position, to program the updatable display to update the first graphic image into a second graphic image. The updatable display includes an electrophoretic display layer storing the second graphic image. A transparent electrode layer is provided on a first side of the electrophoretic display layer. The update mechanism includes a puzzle piece update pad for receiving a second side of the electrophoretic display. The update pad includes a conductor layer or bottom conductor providing an electrical connection with the second side to provide the update to the first graphic image.
US08282100B2
A roulette game device is provided that allows a ball revolving on the roulette wheel to be easily observed from players and spectators around the roulette game device, and can facilitate betting for a player. An outer circumferential wall 29 of an inclined face 28, which is formed so as to extend from pockets 23 of a roulette device in an outer circumferential direction, includes a guide portion 291 that is provided at an upper portion thereof so as to protrude towards inside of the inclined face 28, in which a length that the guide portion 291 protrudes towards the inside of the inclined face 28 is shorter than a length of a radius r of the ball 11, which is thrown onto the roulette wheel.
US08282099B2
A sheet delivery mechanism including: a first roll; a second roll; and a plurality of convexes formed circumferentially for pushing a rear end of a sheet to be delivered, wherein: a sheet delivery roll pair comprises the first roll and the second roll in contact with each other; at least one of the first roll and the second roll is provided with the plurality of convexes; and one of the plurality of convexes is arranged to be more inside radially than the tangential line drawn from the radial tip of another convex upstream adjacent in the rotating direction to the one convex at issue to the outer periphery of the roll.
US08282095B2
A double-feed detection apparatus includes a sensor configured to detect double feed of transfer materials conveyed along a conveying path, and a control unit configured to execute detection of the transfer material under conveyance plural times with the sensor, and to determine the double feed of the transfer materials based on detection results. The control unit determines a detection timing based on both a distance along the conveying path from the sensor to an image forming unit which forms an image on the transfer material and a length of the transfer material in the feed direction.
US08282094B2
A tray which holds documents to be fed has a document holding portion which holds document in a stacked state thereon and guide members which are arranged on the document holding portion in the cross direction (document width direction) and at least one of which is movable in the document width direction. The document feeding tray further has an extending portion which extends from the document holding portion in the feeding direction (document length direction) to freely increase or decrease the extending amount and a adjusting mechanism which decreases the extending amount of the extending portion as a distance between the guide members becomes narrower and increases the extending portion as the distance between the guide members becomes wider.
US08282090B2
An interfolder separator apparatus and method utilize a pair of count fingers that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to a stream of folded sheets, for temporarily supporting each successive pack formed by the separator and then releasing each successive pack when partly completed to alternating build fingers, so that the operation of separating successive packs from one another is performed separately from the operations of completing the build of each pack and transporting the completed packs to downstream operations. The count fingers may be mounted to pivot about axes that are movable longitudinally along and transversely to the stream of sheets. A first or last panel of the completed pack may also be folded back partly upon itself, after the partly completed pack is released by the count fingers. Some or all of the fingers may be spring loaded and automatically resettable for clearing jams.
US08282086B2
There is provided a vibration isolator in which a restriction passage for causing a main fluid chamber and a sub-fluid chamber to communicate with each other is changed over to one of a first restriction passage and a second restriction passage according to a change in the frequency of vibrations in a short period of time, and the size of the isolator is made small efficiently. A plunger member 78 closes an orifice opening 74 when being moved to a closing position against the urging force of a coil spring 90 by the fluid pressure in a pressurization space 130, and opens the orifice opening 74 when being returned to an opening position by the urging force of the coil spring 90. For the orifice opening 74, the opening ratio R between the transverse opening width along the axial direction and the longitudinal opening width along the circumferential direction is set in the range of 2≦R≦25, further preferably 5≦R≦20. Thereby, the longitudinal opening width can be made sufficiently small while an opening area necessary for the orifice opening 74 is secured. Therefore, the distance between the opening position and the closing position of the plunger member 78 can be shortened according to the longitudinal opening width.
US08282083B1
A corrosion resistant railing insert including a stainless steel upper body for insertion into a railing post and including channels for liquid drainage from the railing post, an elongated stainless steel mounting arm protruding from the upper body. The mounting arm has a smaller cross-sectional area than the upper body, which are integrally associated as a unitary device. The upper body is secured within a railing post while the mounting aim is inserted into a complimentary aperture or sleeve formed in a concrete substrate and secured therein with an adhesive.
US08282059B2
A mounting system comprising an incremental angular position and locking system. A tilt bracket is configured to operatively connect to a surface, and an adapter bracket is operatively and movably connected to the tilt bracket, with the adapter bracket being configured to operatively connect to an object such as an audio/video device. A plurality of angular position features are associated with one of the tilt bracket and the adapter bracket, and an angular positioning element is configured to selectively engage at least one of the plurality of angular position features. When the angular positioning element is in engaged with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is impeded from moving relative to the tilt bracket. When the angular positioning element is not in engagement with at least one angular position feature, the adapter bracket is substantially free to move relative to the tilt bracket.
US08282053B2
An apparatus for adjusting the length of a leg of a boat lift is described wherein the length of the leg may either be shortened or lengthened without the necessity of entering the water in which the boat lift is positioned.
US08282052B2
A screen supporting apparatus includes a supporting member and a movable assembly. The supporting member includes a base and an upright supporting rod disposed fixedly on and above the base. The movable assembly includes a mounting member disposed on the supporting rod and including a slideway unit. The sliding member has two spaced-apart engaging portions slidable within the slideway unit of the mounting member to adjust the inclination angle of the sliding member relative to the mounting member.
US08282049B2
The invention relates to a holder for fixing additional parts to a fin-tube block (19) of a heat exchanger and/or for supporting the heat exchanger, said fin-tube block (19) comprising parallel front surfaces (19a, 19b) and lateral surfaces or lateral parts (21). According to the invention, the holder is embodied as a clip connection consisting of two lockable plastic clip elements (1, 10) which receive the fin-tube block (19) thereinbetween.
US08282047B2
A one-piece cable tie includes a locking head and an attached strap, the locking head being adapted to receive and selectively engage a portion of the strap when the tie is formed into a closed loop. The cable tie additionally includes an insert fastener formed onto the locking head that is sized and shaped to be retained within a rectangular slot formed in a panel. The insert fastener includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel arms which extend orthogonally away from an outer end wall of the locking head, a cross-member extending transversely across the free ends of the pair of arms and a pair of offset retention fingers. Each retention finger is connected at one end to the cross-member and is capable of being independently pivotally displaced along an arcuate path. As a result of the offset design of its retention fingers, the cable tie can be manufactured as a unitary plastic member using simplified and inexpensive molding techniques.
US08282046B2
A device having a surface on which an intravenous administration set is organized and temporarily retained in a desired configuration to prevent undesirable tangling during setup of the set. The device further includes a plurality of clips to retain various components of the intravenous administration set in a desired orientation to improve priming of the components. The intravenous administration set is released from the device by pulling a terminal end of the set in a direction away from the device.
US08282043B2
The present system and methods enable simultaneous momentum dumping and orbit control of a spacecraft, such as a geostationary satellite. Control equations according to the present system and methods generate accurate station-keeping commands quickly and efficiently, reducing the number of maneuvers needed to maintain station and allowing station-keeping maneuvers to be performed with a single burn. Additional benefits include increased efficiency in propellant usage, and extension of the satellite's lifespan. The present system and methods also enable tighter orbit control, reduction in transients and number of station-keeping thrusters aboard the satellite. The present methods also eliminate the need for the thrusters to point through the center of mass of the satellite, which in turn reduces the need for dedicated station-keeping thrusters. The present methods also facilitate completely autonomous orbit control and control using Attitude Control Systems (ACS).
US08282042B2
An apparatus may comprise a first skin panel having a first surface, a second skin panel having a second surface, a first flange located at an end of the first skin panel, a second flange located at an end of the second skin panel, and a strip having a third surface. The first skin panel may be located adjacent to the second skin panel such that the first flange and the second flange form a channel. The strip may be bonded in the channel. Fluid flow over the third surface of the strip, the first surface of the first skin panel, and the second surface of the second skin panel may have a desired state.
US08282039B2
A device is provided for storing at least one emergency equipment item. The device includes, but is not limited to at least one receptacle that is positioned above passenger seats and respectively provided with an access opening and at least one closure element for closing the access opening. In order to provide simpler access, at least one emergency equipment item is held in the receptacle and connected to a pulling element that protrudes from the access opening when the closure element is opened. The closure element may be opened and closed by means of a remote-controlled locking mechanism on the receptacle.
US08282034B1
Disclosed is a device and method for storing and dispensing multiple rolls of toilet paper. The present invention comprises a weighted base with an elongated vertical body, onto which several rolls of toilet paper can be placed. The top portion of the elongated body pivots, and can lock in a vertical position, allowing for storage of additional rolls of toilet paper. The top portion can also lock into a horizontal position for use of a toilet paper roll mounted thereon. Once a roll of toilet paper is depleted, a user slides a replacement roll up the vertical body, and over the pivot, where it rests on the top portion.
US08282030B2
A device for comminuting input material, especially for fine and ultrafine grinding of input material, includes a rotor revolving around a shaft inside a housing, the rotor having a cylindrical or conical jacket surface. An annular gap is present between the housing and the jacket surface, the gap forming a comminution zone and the input material being introduced axially to it. To increase the economic efficiency of the device, it is provided that a plurality of first pin-shaped comminuting tools for comminuting the input material are disposed over the circumference of the rotor, wherein the tools are aligned with their longitudinal direction perpendicular to the jacket surface in the direction of the housing.
US08282028B2
The liquid supplied to an emitter electrode located at a tip of an atomization nozzle receives the high-voltage and electrically charged. The mist of the charged minute water particles of nanometer sizes is generated from the emitter electrode. A pressure regulating means regulates a pressure applied to the liquid on the tip of the emitter electrode. Therefore, the mode of generating the mist of the charged minute water particles of nanometer sizes or the mode of generating the mist of the charged minute water particles of nanometer and micron size is selected.
US08282020B2
Three-way valves having reduced leakage and fuel injectors using the same. Three-way spool poppet valves are disclosed having a spool with a poppet valve thereon cooperating with a seat on the valve housing to provide a substantially leak free valve closing in one direction characteristic of a poppet valve while preserving the advantages of a spool valve. Three-way ball valves are also disclosed having substantially leak free valves closing in both directions, but further including reduced short circuit losses due to direct flow from a high pressure source to a low pressure vent during transition of the ball from one position to the opposite position. Fuel injectors with direct needle control using the three-way valves of the present invention are also disclosed.
US08282019B2
A cold spray nozzle assembly includes a venturi having converging and diverging portions interconnected at a throat. An air supply conduit is in communication with the venturi for supplying a carrier gas to the converging portion. A powder feed tube is in communication with the venturi for supplying a powder material. An adjustment member is arranged within the venturi and is axially moveable relative thereto between multiple positions. The multiple positions respectively provide multiple different areas or throat clearances including a desired area between the adjustment member and the venturi or throat clearance. As a result, the adjustment member can be axially positioned to achieve desired gas pressures, deposition rates, and accommodate machining tolerances and component wear based upon the selected area. A retention member maintains the adjustment member in the desired position during operation of the cold spray nozzle assembly.
US08282017B2
A heat transfer system comprises a plurality of cells, a plurality of heating elements, and a controller for independently controlling the plurality of heating elements. The heat transfer system is capable of maintaining a fluid temperature within a predetermined range. A second pump pumps fluid through a heat exchanger in operative relationship with the blower upon a call for heat.
US08282011B1
A tamper sensitive RFID tag includes a housing defining a channel that is configured to receive a portion of an object associated with the RFID tag. Included with the tamper sensitive RFID tag is a tamper sensitive RFID label that is adhesively secured to a first portion of the housing, and a second securement means for securing the RFID label to a second portion of the housing in a position between the first and second portions.
US08281997B2
A reading device for identifying a tag or an object adapted to be identified is disclosed. The reading device includes a first reading element for reading a first set of identification features located in the tag or the object adapted to be identified, wherein the first reading element is a magneto-optical reading element; and a second reading element for reading a second set of identification features located in the tag or the object adapted to be identified; wherein the reading device is configured such that a first signal generated from reading the first set of identification features and a second signal generated from reading the second set of identification features are independently used to derive a first signature and a second signature for identifying the tag or object.
US08281988B2
The invention relates to an invention for the central monitoring of the operation of automated banking machines (ATM). The operating signals from actuators (31) and sensors (32) of an automated banking machine (ATM) are used to assemble operating characteristics of the actuators (31) and sensors (32) into data records from operating signal patterns (by time segments. These data records are transmitted from the automated banking machine (ATM) to a central monitoring device (20) in which the operating signal patterns are compared with operating signal patterns from corresponding earlier time segments. A trend toward a change in operating characteristics can be ascertained for the respective actuator (31) or sensor (32), which trend can be used for early replacement of said actuator or sensor.
US08281986B1
An automated banking machine operative to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine is operative responsive to the card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The automated banking machine is further operative to provide users with a receipt for transactions conducted. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser operative to dispense cash to machine users and to cause the value of cash to be assessed to financial accounts corresponding to card data. The automated banking machine is further operative to receive currency bills or other sheets from a user and to process and store such sheets through operation of a currency accepting device. The account corresponding to card data may be credited for the value of bills or other sheets received.
US08281967B2
A storage unit is anchored in a truck bed with an attachment system incorporating side modules forming a track for easy pull-out and yet security when moved to a storage position within the truck bed. The storage unit and/or the side modules have recesses and components shaped for function and utility, as well as security and yet easy access. For example, the side modules can include a stationary light, a pull-out spot light, an electrical plug, a storage recess with a lockable cover, and/or a tool-holding recess. The storage unit includes functionally-shaped walls, pull-out containers and drawers, repositionable dividers for the storage recess, a lockable cover, handles to facilitate carriage, wheels for rolling transport, walls with external cable anchors for tying down items, and/or an air deflector/spoiler. The side modules can be releasable for use as a suitcase-like separate unit.
US08281963B2
A dispensing apparatus includes a mounting plate and a dispenser fixed to the mounting plate. The dispenser includes a nozzle valve, a valve plug, an actuating shaft, and a nozzle. The nozzle valve defines a cavity containing a material, and defines an inlet opening on a sidewall thereof to communicate with the cavity. The valve plug is disposed in the cavity. The actuating shaft extends through an end of the nozzle valve, and is connected to the valve plug. The nozzle is disposed at the other end of the nozzle valve facing the actuating shaft. The actuating shaft moves the valve plug away from or closer to the nozzle so as to close or open the inlet opening.
US08281956B2
The present invention relates to apparatus for the storing and dispensing of products. A cartridge includes at least one sealing element adapted to engage an outer surface of an end of the cartridge to close the end of the cartridge and thereby contain dispensable contents of the cartridge. A substantially rigid outer casing is adapted to receive the cartridge. A removable member is configured to engage the at least one sealing element. The at least one sealing element is adapted such that the at least one sealing element is removed for removal from the cartridge upon removal of the removable member in a single step to enable the contents of the cartridge to be dispensed from the end of the cartridge.
US08281944B2
The present invention relates to an anti-tamper closure (1, 1′) for threaded bottles (100, 100′) comprising an outer cap (20, 20′) and an outer skirt (22, 22′) which is connected to the outer cap (20, 20′) prior to initial opening, and an inner cap (30, 30′) and an inner annular element (32, 32′) which is connected to the inner cap (30, 30′) prior to initial opening, in which the inner annular element (32, 32′) is connected to the inner cap (30, 30′) with respect to both rotation and translation by inner connection means (31, 31′) which render the inner annular element (32, 32′) free to rotate and to translate relative to the inner cap (30, 30′) after initial opening.
US08281934B1
A screen panel retainer assembly, that is utilizable with a vibrating separatory machine, is configured with a plurality of discrete, mushroom-shaped screen panel retainers. Each such retainer has a retainer head that is generally in the shape of a portion of a cylinder, such as a right cylinder. A shank connects each such retainer head to a suitable retainer bar. The retainer bar can be adapted to be attached either to screen stringer tubes of the vibrating separatory machine, or to underlying cross tubes and end cross tubes. The screen panels, which are to be secured to the vibrating separatory machine, have complementary shaped mushroom-shaped screen panel retainer head receiving chambers in their side surfaces. Two such panel edges define a whole chamber. The retainer heads are metal whereas the screen panel edges are resilient. The mushroom-shaped heads securely snap into their complementary chambers yet can be removed from those chambers when the screen panels have to be replaced.
US08281927B2
The present invention is directed to a shipping and display tray for holding a plurality of articles contained therein in an upright position at a point of sale. The shipping and display tray is made of paperboard and defined by a one-piece shallow tray having a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, and opposite side walls foldably joined with one another. A plurality of parallel spaced apart bumpers are foldably joined to the respective opposite side walls and forming two rows, an aisle, and a plurality of channels when positioned on the bottom wall. The plurality of the channels engages with bottom edges of the plurality of articles to hold the article in standing upright position and prevent the articles from falling over when one of the articles is removed from the display tray. The front wall of the tray includes a flap panel foldably joined thereto and has a pair of openings used to engage with the bumpers.
US08281922B2
A slide and shell container for consumer goods includes an outer shell and an inner slide. The inner slide includes a box and a lid, which is hingedly connected to the box at a hinge. The inner slide is slidable within the outer shell between a closed position in which the lid is closed and an open position in which the lid is open. The lid includes a lid flap which is arranged between the inner slide and the outer shell such that an engagement of the lid flap and the outer shell is capable of opening the lid. The lid flap is capable of engaging with the outer shell during movement of the inner slide from the closed position to the open position. The lid also includes a top wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall is connected through a fold line to the back wall and is connected through a fold line to the top wall.
US08281916B2
A housing for a multi-stage clutch assembly is formed to include a shoulder upon which a backing plate of a first stage clutch pack may be positioned to transfer a load from the first stage clutch pack to the housing.
US08281914B2
An auger brake clutch and drive assembly and related methods for a power equipment device such as a snowblower are provided. In use with a snowblower, the auger brake clutch assembly and related methods can be used for driving both the auger and driven wheels of a snowblower. The auger brake clutch can include a transmission wheel rotatably movable for rotating at least one wheel with the transmission wheel having a contact surface. A drive pulley can be provided that has a drive surface. The drive pulley is rotatable and configured for causing the transmission wheel to rotate when the drive surface and the contact surface of the transmission wheel are in contact. An actuation plate is movable to move the drive pulley in and out of contact with the contact surface of the transmission wheel. A friction member can be provided to be selectively rotated by the drive pulley and configured to transfer the rotation to an output shaft, which can attach for example to at least one of an auger or blower blades.
US08281913B2
A motor vehicle transmission device is described. The transmission has an actuating unit, used for canceling a tooth-on-tooth position of coupling elements, wherein the actuating unit actuates a transmission brake when the tooth-on-tooth position is detected. The transmission also has a second actuating unit for actuating a disconnect clutch, the second actuating unit actuating the disconnect clutch when the tooth-on-tooth position is detected. The actuating unit for actuating the transmission brake and the second actuating unit for actuating the disconnect clutch are actuated in coordination with one another, in order to cancel the tooth-on-tooth position.
US08281904B2
Disclosed herein is a disk brake for vehicles including a gap adjuster to compensate for a gap between a frictional pad and a disk based upon the wear of the frictional pad. The disk brake includes a disk rotatable along with each wheel of a vehicle, a movable frictional pad configured to press against one side of the disk to generate a braking force, a wedge member having the movable frictional pad attached to one side thereof, the wedge member being movable to the rotation direction of the disk by a drive motor to generate a power such that the wedge member advances to the disk, and a guide member to guide the wedge member such that the wedge member advances to the disk. The disk brake further includes a gap adjuster to uniformly maintain a gap between the movable frictional pad and the disk.
US08281900B2
In an industrial truck, in particular a fork-lift truck, having a vehicle frame and a load pickup means (16), which can be displaced in relation to the vehicle frame, at least one wheel which is closer to the load pickup means and, at a distance from this, at least one wheel (20) which is further away from the load pickup means being provided on the vehicle frame, the wheel axle (18) of at least one wheel (20) being capable of moving in relation to the vehicle frame along a movement trajectory with a movement component which is orthogonal with respect to the standing area of the industrial truck, in addition a loading force (B), which is caused by the tare weight of the industrial truck and a load (L) which may have been picked up by said industrial truck, acting on the at least one moveable wheel axle (18), which loading force changes operationally, the at least one moveable wheel axle (18) in addition has or can have an arbitrarily variable additional force applied to it.
US08281899B2
Methods and apparatus for brokering food services are disclosed. The methods and apparatus described herein provide quality controlled room service to guests of hotels that do not otherwise have traditional room service available. A call center operator routes each call to the appropriate restaurant and stays on the phone line to monitor the call. The restaurant delivers the order and collects the appropriate fee. Menus used by the system are generated by a process that maintains a consistent look and feel despite the fact that each area uses a unique menu.
US08281897B1
A grease accumulator apparatus for use in subsea applications has a bottle with an internal chamber, a plunger positioned within the internal chamber and slidable therealong, and an end cap assembly affixed to one end of the bottle. The end cap assembly has an indicator member slidably connected thereto. The indicator member is cooperative with the plunger such that an end of the indicator member moves outwardly of the end cap assembly as the plunger moves in the bottle toward the end cap assembly. The end cap assembly has a body with a housing affixed to one end thereof. The housing has a hydraulic fluid inlet and a hydraulic fluid outlet. The indicator member is movable between a position in which the inlet and outlet are fluidically connected in a second position in which fluid flow is blocked between the inlet and the outlet.
US08281883B2
A method and apparatus for permitting construction equipment, and particularly backhoe loaders, to be transported in the hold of a seagoing vessel within the interior of an enclosed cargo container includes front and rear rollers that temporarily replace the wheels of the equipment and allow it to be driven into and out of the container without any disassembly of the equipment.
US08281867B2
A pipe connection system (200) includes a stationary support frame (202, 204) and a slip control system (300) coupled to the stationary support frame including a slip wedge (302) and at least one actuator (306, 308) coupled between the slip wedge and the stationary support frame, wherein the actuator is operable to move the slip wedge between a retracted position and an extended position in engagement with a downhole tubular string (118). A pipe connection system also includes a stationary support frame (202, 204), a slip control subsystem including a slip wedge moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in engagement with a downhole tubular string, a support frame subsystem (400) movably coupled to the stationary support frame, a stabbing arm subsystem (600) movably coupled to the moveable support frame subsystem, a thread lubricator subsystem (500) movably coupled to the moveable support frame subsystem, and a mud bucket subsystem (700) movably coupled to the moveable support frame subsystem.
US08281864B2
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 replacing the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described.
US08281862B2
An aspect encompasses a method of testing a subsea umbilical where a first portion of testing is performed on the subsea umbilical, the testing comprising hydraulic testing and at least one of electrical or optical testing, and a second portion of the testing is performed independent of a diver or an ROV.
US08281858B2
Application of the method and device to a water well will permanently seal the well casing in order to prevent hydraulic cross-contamination with other water wells in the area. The method employs a string to explosive modules in spaced relation along the depth of a well casing. This weighted string of explosive modules is lowered into the well casing, wet concrete should then be introduced into the casing, after which the explosive elements are detonated sequentially, starting at the top of the well. Detonation of the elements in such a manner should force the wet concrete or cement out through the well casing perforations, so that the well casing will be entirely captured within the cured concrete. The individual explosive elements are made from detonating cord and metallic ball bearings wrapped into bundles, and then the bundles are bound in suitable adhesive tape.
US08281849B2
The invention relates to a heat exchanger with at least two plate-shaped flow ducts which are in parallel to one another and at a distance from one another and have a flow connection through at least one connecting duct (8) which spans the distance. It is proposed that the at least one connecting duct (8) be formed by two self-centering tube connectors (4, 6) which can be plugged one into the other.
US08281842B2
A window blind assembly includes a roller blind unit, a curtain member unit, and a clamping unit. The roller blind unit includes a roller rod that extends horizontally and that is rotatably mounted at or in proximity to an upper edge portion of the window, and a roller blind piece a top edge of which is connected to the roller rod and which is able to be wound around and extended from the roller rod. The curtain member unit includes a curtain member having a sheltering portion and a plurality of partitioning portions. The clamping unit includes a plurality of connecting members associated respectively with the partitioning portions. Each of the connecting members has a confining portion, and two securing portions connected to opposite ends of the confining portion and that connect the confining portion to a respective one of the partitioning portions.
US08281821B2
A water cooler assembly and/or liquid dispensing apparatus and method for using same, having various, alternative features including: a bottom load water cooler, including such a cooler with a door stop mechanism; an adjustable drip tray assembly; a leak stop mechanism; an adjustable bottle interface accommodating dimensional variations in water bottles; an instaboil feature; and programmable dispensing and visual display modes.
US08281818B1
A sealing apparatus is disclosed. In some embodiments, the sealing apparatus includes a shaft assembly that couples a laterally expandable plug and a longitudinally expandable member. The plug and the expandable member are captured within the ends of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is configures so that longitudinal expansion of the expandable member results in lateral expansion of the plug. Thus, such a device can be inserted into a pipe and the plug can be expanded within the pipe to provide a seal about the shaft assembly. In some embodiments, the shaft assembly can define a longitudinally extending hollow pathway that allows flow between the two ends of the shaft assembly. Examples of how such hollow pathway and the plug operation can be implemented are disclosed. Example applications, such as pressure measurements, are also disclosed.
US08281816B2
There is provided a fluid control apparatus which enables reducing widths of lines for further reducing space occupied by the apparatus. Support flow-channel blocks 9 and 10 are constituted by large block portions 25 and 27 which have openings of fluid flow channels 9a and 10a abutted against openings of fluid flow channels 11c and 11d in extended flow-channel blocks 11a and 11b with seal portions 20 interposed therebetween and, also, are abutted against lower surfaces of the extended flow-channel blocks 11a and 11b, and small block portions 26 and 28 which have lower surfaces flushed with the large block portions 25 and 27 and have heights smaller than those of the large block portions. The small block portions 26 and 28 are provided with male-screw-members insertion holes 26a and 28a for mounting the support flow-channel blocks 9 and 10 to a base member 30.
US08281815B2
Provided are a valve filler and a valve unit including the valve filler. The valve filler includes: a phase transition material; and a heating fluid comprising a carrier oil and a plurality of micro heating particles suspended in the carrier oil, the heating fluid being mixed with the phase transition material, wherein, when external energy is supplied, the micro heating particles receive the external energy and generate heat to melt the phase transition material into a fluid state, and when no external energy is supplied, the phase transition material hardens into a solid state.
US08281810B2
A dry valve is provided for a sprinkler system, including a housing including a valve body having an inlet end and a valve cover having an outlet end. A prime chamber housing is disposed within the housing and defines a prime chamber. A prime piston is disposed within the prime chamber and is movable between a closed position seated against a valve seat and an open position received within the prime chamber. A check valve diaphragm assembly is disposed within the housing and disposed against the prime chamber housing in a closed position and spaced from the prime chamber housing in an open position.
US08281804B2
Pressure relief valves are described herein. An example pressure relief valve includes a body having external threads to threadably engage another body having a pressurized chamber. Additionally, the pressure relief valve includes a relief valve orifice that is threadably engaged with the body via internal threads of the body. The relief valve orifice includes a seating surface. Further, the pressure relief valve includes a pressure-balanced piston assembly that is slidably movable within the body relative to the relief valve orifice and the seating surface to control the flow of fluid between the pressurized chamber and the relief valve orifice.
US08281802B2
A valve for an anti-lock brake system is capable of reducing the cost of production through structural improvement of a valve housing. The valve includes a valve core, an armature located below the valve core and having a ball, a cylindrical sleeve coupled to the valve core and armature and guiding the armature to move backward and forward, a first elastic member installed between the valve core and the armature, a valve housing coupled to the sleeve and having a longitudinal hollow space, a seat plunger movably installed in the hollow space and having a first orifice, a second elastic member installed between the seat plunger and the valve housing, a seat having an outlet and a second orifice that communicates with the first orifice, and a seat housing coupled to the valve housing and the seat, supporting the valve housing and the seat spaced apart from each other, and having an inlet between the valve housing and the seat.
US08281798B2
A seal assembly in a rotary ball valve is installable and replaceable through a bonnet opening in a valve body of the rotary ball valve. The seal assembly includes an anchor ring located in an internal recess in the valve body and one or more seal assembly components, such as a flexible seal member, a seal carrier, a seal retainer, and a rigid seal ring, are secured to the anchor ring.
US08281789B2
A cuffed silicone tracheostomy tube has two tapered recesses (17) and (18) on its outer surface in which opposite ends (7) and (8) of a resilient cuff 6 are bonded using an adhesive or solvent. Two shallow ribs (22) and (23) extend around the tube on the inner edge of each recess (17) and (18), projecting outwardly to prevent the adhesive or solvent spreading onto the inflatable portion (10) of the cuff (6). The cuff (6) has several shallow ribs (9) extending around the cuff and spaced along its inflatable portion (10) to promote even inflation.
US08281787B2
A system including a mask to detect an EEG signal and to deliver a gas, the mask having a forehead support extending from the body and adapted to contact a forehead surface of the patient during use, the forehead support having a plurality of sensors located thereon for detecting electrophysiological signals of the patient, with the plurality of sensors including EEG sensors positioned proximate to FP1/FP2 standard electrode placement positions of the patient, a gas delivery device in fluid communication with the mask and having an adjustable gas output, and a control system for determining a sleep stage from EEG signals detected by the mask and adjusting a gas delivery device based on the sleep stage.
US08281775B1
A rigging structure for a compound archery bow includes first and second pulley assemblies, pivotally mounted on axles at tips of corresponding first and second limbs of a compound bow and interconnected by cables. Each pulley assembly includes a dynamic synchronizing component, and the rigging preferably also includes structure adapted to avoid the usual leaning moment imposed upon the pulley assemblies by the cables of conventional riggings.
US08281770B2
The present invention discloses Aa vehicle oil-way catalytic fuel economizer which includes a catalyzing device, a heating box enveloping the catalyzing device, electric heating temperature controlling parts, return oil amount regulating parts and a return pipeline for economizing fuel oil. The catalyzing device includes a metal box, catalyzing stack sealed in the metal box, inlet and outlet joint communicating with the gaps of the catalyzing stack. The oil inlet is connected with the outlet of the pumping oil pipe, and the oil outlet is connected with main flown pipeline of the engine. The return pipeline for economizing fuel oil is connected between the inlet of the catalyzing device and original return pipeline of the vehicle engine. The present invention heats a catalytic stack using by the electricity of a vehicle storage battery. The fuel can converse a gas with a plurality of small molecules by the effect of accelerant and heat energy as the fuel through the gap of the catalytic stack, and then entrances into an engine cylinder and burns. The catalytic fuel economizer not only can burn the fuel completely and improve the heat efficiency of the engine, but also can decline the oil wear of electrical-spray vehicle in 100 kilometers of 40%-42% and decline the oil wear of carburetor vehicle in 100 kilometers of 48%-52%, and also takes off the contaminant in exhaust gas of the vehicle.
US08281768B2
A control system and method for controlling a fuel system of an engine includes a steady state determination module determining the engine is operating at a steady state and a memory storing a first fuel correction. A fuel pump control module commands a predetermined fuel rail pressure change. The memory stores a second fuel correction after the predetermined fuel rail pressure change. A sensor error correction module determines a fuel rail pressure sensor error based on the first fuel correction and the second fuel correction and determines a fuel rail pressure in response to the sensor error.
US08281764B2
An internal combustion engine having a piston reciprocating in a cylinder between TDC and BDC positions to influence a drive shaft. The drive shaft is associated with an expandable piston rod extension which in turn attaches to a piston rod to connect the piston with the drive shaft. The piston rod extension's length may increase and decrease in accordance with the angular position of the drive shaft. The increasing and decreasing length is governed by a guide pin which travels within a channel formed by a portion of the engine block. Increasing the length of the piston rod extension during the power phase of the engine increases the available torque of the engine without any alteration of the displacement. The assembly may also include a counterweight, which itself may travel along an eccentric path generally equal and opposite to the eccentric path along which the piston rod extension guide travels.
US08281760B2
A control system for an engine including a starter may include a speed determination module that determines a first rotational speed of the engine during a run period contiguously following a period of starting the engine using the starter, and a speed control module that, when the first rotational speed falls below a predetermined speed greater than zero during the run period, selectively activates the starter to increase the first rotational speed. The speed control module may selectively activate the starter by selectively adjusting, based on the first rotational speed, a second rotational speed of a motor drive of the starter that supplies torque for cranking the engine and subsequently selectively engaging one of the motor drive and a first rotational member of the starter rotationally driven by the motor drive with a second rotational member of the engine. A related method is also provided.
US08281757B2
The oil pressure for a hydraulic actuator (60) of a variable valve train (52,54) is controlled in accordance with a duty value of a control signal for a hydraulic control valve (66,68). When predetermined inching control execution conditions are established, inching control in which the duty value is varied in a pulsed manner between a retention duty value, which retains an operation of the hydraulic actuator, and a forced drive duty value, which forcibly drives the hydraulic actuator, is exercised instead of duty value feedback control in which the duty value is calculated in accordance with the deviation between an actual valve opening characteristic and a target valve opening characteristic. If the oil temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, inching control is exercised to ensure that the first pulse width generated after the start of inching control is wider than normal.
US08281755B2
An internal combustion engine including a cylinder with bore and a piston disposed to reciprocate in the bore is operated by moving the piston in the bore between top and bottom dead center positions and applying lubricant to a portion of the piston that protrudes from the bore. Lubricant is wiped from the piston as the piston travels into the bore toward its top dead center position.
US08281752B2
A natural circulation water tube package boiler is assembled in a factory in two self-contained steam generating units. The first unit has a combustion chamber, but no convection tubes. The second unit has convection tubes, but no combustion chamber. Each unit has a mud drum, a steam drum, and tubes connecting the drums. Each steam generating unit is transported separately by truck or railcar to the operating site, where the rear end of the first unit is connected to the front end of the second unit by a large connecting duct; the mud drums of the respective units are connected to each other by water piping; the steam drums of the respective units are connected to each other by water piping and steam piping located above and below the waterline respectively; and the steam drum of the second unit is connected to the water drum of the first unit by water piping. The two steam generating units operate in tandem, with combustion gases flowing through the full width of both units serially, and out the rear of the second unit.
US08281741B2
A plasma deposition apparatus is provided. The plasma deposition apparatus comprises a chamber. A pedestal is placed in the chamber. A plasma generator is placed in the chamber and over the pedestal. The plasma generator comprises a plasma jet for plasma thin film deposition having a discharge direction angle θ1 larger than 0° and less than 90° between a normal direction of the pedestal and the discharge direction of the plasma jet. A gas-extracting pipe extends into the chamber and over the pedestal. The gas-extracting pipe provides a pumping path for particles and side-products having a pumping direction angle θ2 larger than 0° and less than 90° between the normal direction of the pedestal and the pumping direction of the gas-extracting pipe. The chamber is kept at an ambient atmospheric pressure.
US08281740B2
The present invention provides a substrate processing apparatus capable of suppressing mutual contamination and/or damage of the insides of ion beam generators arranged opposite each other via a substrate, and a magnetic recording medium manufacturing method. A substrate processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first ion beam generator that applies an ion beam to one surface to be processed of a substrate W, and a second ion beam generator that applies an ion beam to another surface to be processed, which are arranged opposite each other via the substrate W, and an area of a first grid in the first ion beam generator, and an area of a second grid in the second ion beam generator, each area corresponding to an opening of the substrate W, are occluded.
US08281732B1
A boat tower conversion kit for converting from a half tower to a full tower without the need for complete removal and/or destruction of the original half tower. A custom hard top incorporates a central core platform with several integral reinforcing plates. The plates provide structural support for the later expansion of the half tower by adding the upper tower section and upper platform(s). Leg members and ladder members of the upper and lower tower sections automatically mate with one-another in coaxial alignment, and are structurally secured to one-another through the interfacing integral reinforcing plates. Integral channels, wiring conduits and tubes provide for electrical wiring, electrical and mechanical components in conjunction with the custom platform core.
US08281726B2
A holding device (3) for a tool, e.g., a textile marker (5), for the processing of a textile or non-textile sheet material (44) is attached to the presser foot bar (23) of a sewing machine (1). The tool is supported by a tool holder (15) so that it can move on a base part (19) of the holding device (3) and can be changed in its position or activation through movements of the needle bar (9) of the sewing machine (1).
US08281715B2
A pallet assembly for use in simultaneously printing multiple articles of manufacture. The assembly includes a pallet having a support surface, a carrier mountable onto the pallet and conforming with the pallet surface features (e.g., individual article of manufacture platforms) such that individual articles of manufacture may be place on the support surface(s) of the pallet yet the carrier substantially covers the remaining areas of the top surface of the pallet to protect the pallet from unintentional application of ink by the printer. The carrier also includes supports which allow a carrier loaded with articles of manufacture to be lifted off of the pallet and carried away for further processing. The assembly may also include a positioner which is mountable over the carrier on the pallet. The positioner operates as a jig for aligning each of the articles of manufacture in proper position on the support surface of the pallet.
US08281712B1
A twist-tie catch twister apparatus is taught that consists of dual feed rollers that feed twist-tie material through a back opening in a catch twister into the groove of a peripheral ring, which continues around the ring penetrating the front side of the catch twister through a second opening. The twist-tie material is then retained by a twist-tie clamp and the rollers reverse rotation drawing the twist-tie material onto a workpiece. The catch twist motor rotates the catch twister one half turn twisting to hold tension on the workpiece. A twist-tie cutter, positioned between the feed rollers and split ring, severs the twist-tie material and the twist-tie tape clamp opens with the motor rotating the catch twister a predetermined number of turns and then reverses at least one half turn to release the twisted material and the split ring opens for removal of the twist-tie secured workpiece.
US08281709B2
An indoor range-top grill allows a user to substantially duplicate outdoor grilling indoors. In some embodiments, the indoor range-top grill sits on top of a gas or electric burner of a stove and uses heat from the burner to grill and cook food. Typically, the indoor range-top grill comprises a grill enclosure having an opening at a top and a hole at a bottom, a burner shield positioned inside the grill enclosure, an optional cone positioned above the burner shield, a grate positioned above the cone, and an optional separator configured to position the grill enclosure thereon. In some embodiments, the burner shield comprises a heat director integrally coupled to a grease ring. The grease ring typically guides food residue away from the hole, trapping the food residue between the grease ring and the grill enclosure.
US08281700B2
The invention provides a composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from high-velocity projectiles, the plate comprising a single internal layer of pellets which are bound and retained in plate form by an elastic material, substantially internally within the elastic material, such that the pellets are bound in a plurality of spaced-apart rows and columns, the pellets being made of ceramic material, and the pellets being substantially fully embedded in the elastic material so that the pellets form an internal layer, wherein the solidified material and the plate are elastic, and wherein a majority of each of the pellets is in direct contact with six adjacent pellets in the same layer to provide mutual lateral confinement therebetween, each of the pellets being characterized by a body having a substantially regular geometric cross-sectional area and first and second end faces, each of the end faces projecting from the body and having an outwardly decreasing cross-sectional area wherein the height of the end face disposed substantially opposite to an outer impact receiving major surface of the plate is less than 15% of the length of the diameter of the pellet body from which it projects.
US08281682B2
An accelerator operating device including a body fixed to a handlebar; an accelerator lever supported on the body so as to rotate freely around a predetermined axial line and that rotates between a close position and a maximum open position; a first return spring that returns the accelerator lever to the close position; and a load generation mechanism that generates a load on a rotational operating force of the accelerator lever by frictional resistance. The load generating mechanism includes a rotational slider arranged to freely rotate around the axial line that can be pressed and rotated by opening rotation of the accelerator lever; a slide receiving part formed in the body that allows the rotational slider to slide; a biasing spring that biases the rotational slider toward the slide receiving part; and a second return spring that returns the rotational slider to a rest position.
US08281677B2
An electromotive linear drive with a drive unit having a drive motor and a spindle driven by the drive unit. The drive includes a spindle nut disposed on the spindle. The spindle nut is movable longitudinally on the spindle. A lifting tube is operatively connected to the spindle nut so that the spindle nut moves together with the lifting tube. A connecting part is disposed on a free end of the lifting tube. A braking assembly is disposed in the lifting tube and is operatively connected to the spindle nut via an adjustable, frictional connection. The braking assembly is manipulable. During operation of the drive motor, the spindle nut frictionally engages the braking assembly, preventing rotation of the spindle nut. The frictional connection may be adjusted to permit the spindle nut to rotate with respect to the spindle, thereby manipulating a linear speed component of the lifting tube.
US08281676B1
A transmission system for transmitting a rotary motion input to a rotary motion output utilizing hypocycloid motion multiplication is disclosed. The system comprises an input mechanism, at least one hydraulic transmission means, an output mechanism and an output bladder linkage. The input mechanism includes a plurality of rollers that each capture at least one arcuate linkage against an inside surface of a cylindrical hub, causing the linkage to rotate as the roller traverses thereacross and compress one of a plurality of input bladders. The compressed input bladders cause an output bladder to expand to drive the output mechanism in reciprocal linear motion, which the output mechanism converts to rotational motion at the rotary motion output. The output mechanism can be located proximate to, or distal from, the input mechanism.
US08281670B2
A modular force sensor apparatus, method, and system are provided to improve force and torque sensing and feedback to the surgeon performing a telerobotic surgery. In one embodiment, a modular force sensor includes a tube portion including a plurality of strain gauges, a proximal tube portion for operably coupling to a shaft of a surgical instrument that may be operably coupled to a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system, and a distal tube portion for proximally coupling to a wrist joint coupled to an end portion.
US08281669B2
A flow meter device that improves a way to obtain an accurate differential pressure across an orifice body situated in line with the flow of gas and liquids. The orifice body is held in place by sealing components integrated into the orifice body. The differential pressure is sensed via openings incorporated into the body of the device, upstream and downstream of the orifice body. The device with its improved accuracy may be used for small and large applications measuring flow. The device is comprised of a meter body; an orifice puck with characteristics; a sealing method; a cover plate, and a way to secure the device into a fluid stream where the device may be used to easily and accurately measure fluid flow in a pipe.
US08281668B2
A partially bonded brace bar assembly is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. A vibrating element adapted to vibrate about a bending axis (W, W′) is provided. The vibrating element has a high stress region (412). A brace bar (201 204) is bonded to the vibrating element using a partial bond (420). The partial bond (420) is formed only in the high stress region (412).
US08281665B2
A pressure sensor assembly having a pressure tube, in which a diaphragm is situated as a pressure pickup, and having means for detecting the diaphragm deformations, which allow a spatial separation between the measuring medium acting on the diaphragm and the means for detecting the diaphragm deformations. The diaphragm of this pressure sensor assembly includes at least two diaphragm sections oriented at an angle to one another. A first diaphragm section is situated as a partition diaphragm in the cross-section of the pressure tube, while at least one second diaphragm section forms an area of the wall of the pressure tube as a side wall diaphragm. The means for detecting diaphragm deformations are situated on the outer side of the pressure tube on the side wall diaphragm.
US08281657B2
The gauge lens with anti-fog film includes a substantially planar transparent lens substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface and a thin film possessing anti-fog properties adjacent and substantially covering the inner surface of the lens substrate to provide a low angle of contact for water and moisture. The anti-fog film is bonded to the lens substrate during the molding process that produces the lens substrate shape. The anti-fog film comprises a hydrophilic material or is coated with a hydrophilic coating. In addition to the anti-fog film, in another embodiment, the outer surface of the lens substrate has a hard coat film adjacent and substantially covering the outer surface of said lens. The materials for the lens substrate, anti-fog film, and hard coat film are selected based on the application, performance, and stability of the gauge lens in the environment that it is operated.
US08281654B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to flow meters and more particularly to improved plastic water flow meters for commercial or residential use. In various embodiments, a plastic water meter is provided that may include metal threads for connecting the water meter to a water system. In particular, the plastic water meter may include at least one spud that is shaped to receive and engage a plastic spud insert, in which the plastic spud insert may include a metal ring with a threaded outer surface. The plastic spud insert may include an annular lip portion extending outwardly to discourage removal of the metal ring when the spud insert is engaged with the water meter. Furthermore, the plastic spud insert and the inner surface of the metal ring may have complementary circumferential profiles to discourage relative rotation between the metal ring and the spud insert.
US08281651B2
A vehicular abnormality diagnosing apparatus that diagnoses an abnormality regarding a connection state of a pair of members that are mounted in a vehicle and connected together, includes a detecting portion that outputs, as an output signal, a first detection signal when the pair of members are in a normal connected state, and a second detection signal when the pair of members are in a state other than the normal connected state; a counting portion that counts at least one of the number of times that the output signal changes from the first detection signal to the second detection signal and the number of times that the output signal changes from the second detection signal to the first detection signal, as an output signal fluctuation count; and a determining portion that determines that there is an abnormality in the connection state when an abnormality determining condition including a condition that the output signal fluctuation count during a predetermined period be equal to or greater than a predetermined count is satisfied.
US08281649B1
A test rig that reproduces high temperature and high pressure conditions found in a gas turbine engine for testing materials under these conditions. The test rig includes a combustor surrounded by an upper plenum chamber and an exhaust plenum that receives a hot gas stream from the combustor. A transparent channeling vessel guides the hot gas stream from the combustor over a test specimen on which a material to be tested is mounted. The hot gas stream exits the clear channeling vessel and into the exhaust plenum where the stream is cooled by diluting the stream with cooling air. A viewing portal is located in the exhaust plenum so that the material can be observed through the clear vessel.
US08281646B2
This invention relates to a measurement tool, and in particular to a measurement tool for use in determining the density and/or viscosity of a stationary or moving fluid. The measurement tool has been designed for use in borehole applications during the location and exploitation of oil and gas reserves. The measurement tool has a resilient pipe with a substantially uniform cross-section along its length, and the fluid is located within the pipe. The pipe carries an exciter which is connected to a signal generator, the exciter and signal generator being adapted to impart transverse and/or rotational oscillations to the pipe. Measuring the frequency of the oscillations can be used to determine the density and/or the viscosity of the fluid within the pipe.
US08281645B2
An apparatus and method for liquid leak detection includes first and second flexible members each constructed of an electrically conductive material that is in a normally open circuit state. Also included is a liquid wicking permeable surrounding sidewall that is positioned adjacent to the first and second flexible members, the liquid permeable surrounding sidewall is constructed of a non electrically conductive material. Operationally, the liquid wicking permeable surrounding sidewall becomes electrically conductive when a liquid is present in the liquid wicking permeable surrounding sidewall, facilitating the first and second flexible members to move to a closed circuit state that results in a perceptible output. Additionally, included is a liquid permeable planar web reinforcing element that is oriented adjacent to the liquid wicking permeable surrounding sidewall wherein the liquid permeable planar web reinforcing element is oppositely disposed of the first and second flexible members.
US08281642B2
Provided are an environmental gas sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The environmental gas sensor includes an insulating substrate, metal electrodes formed on the insulating substrate, and a sensing layer in which different kinds of nanofibers are arranged perpendicular to each other on the metal electrodes. Thus, the environmental gas sensor can simultaneously sense two kinds of gases.
US08281633B2
An apparatus for actively transferring a coil of hot metal within a coilbox in hot strip mill. The apparatus is located downstream of the initial coilbox uncoiling station and includes at least one singly pivoting coil cradle. Such a coil cradle has a first support roller with a fixed rotational axis, a swing-frame mounted to pivot about that axis, and a second support roller mounted to the swing-frame, able to pivot about the fixed rotational axis of the first support roller to permit the coil of hot metal to be passed from the coil cradle. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a plurality of such singly pivoting coil cradles. The apparatus may also include at least one dually pivoting coil cradle.
US08281631B1
A corrugated metal sheet member fabrication system formed of a material feeder, a roller-ramming unit, a cutting unit, a conveyer, and a finished product receiving rack is disclosed. When the reciprocating cutting-off device is moved forwards or backwards, the belt frame of the conveyer is synchronously moved to carry the movable frames forwards or backwards, and therefore the front driven roller and the rear driven roller with the conveying belt are moved with the movable frames forwards to the extended position or backwards to the retrieved position. After the movable frames has been moved forwards, the front side of the conveying belt is kept spaced above the base for receiving finished products from the reciprocating cutting-off device of the cutting unit and delivering collected finished products to the finished product receiving rack. Therefore, the invention automatically and accurately conveys finished products from the reciprocating cutting-off device of the cutting unit to the finished product receiving rack.
US08281629B2
A method of producing a ring member includes a cutting process in which a rectangular sheet is formed by cutting a strip-shaped material pulled out from a coiled material; a joining process in which opposite edges of the sheet are butted, and a cylindrical member is formed by joining the edges to each other; and a ring formation process in which a ring member is formed by cutting the cylindrical member in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the cylindrical member. In the cutting process, the strip-shaped material is i) cut along one of a first section line parallel to an edge of the strip-shaped material facing a direction in which the strip-shaped material is pulled, or a second section line perpendicular to the edge, and then ii) cut along the other of the first or second section line, that is perpendicular to the line previously cut.
US08281626B2
A security device includes a locking member, a ratchet mechanism, and a plurality of cables. The cables are wrapped around an object. An attachment clip is releasably snap-fitted into the body of the security device. The ratchet mechanism includes a spool and a locking pawl or lever. A key is used to unlock the clip from the housing. An alarm system is contained in the housing and actuates an audible alarm upon certain unauthorized actions occurring. Insertion of the clip into the housing automatically actuates the ratchet mechanism preventing movement of the cable in the unwind direction and activates the alarm system.
US08281625B2
A skewer assembly for a rack mount having a cam disposed against a cam follower actuable from an open configuration to a closed configuration, the skewer assembly further having a lock assembly integrated with the cam follower and a locking member located within a radial contact surface perimeter of the cam. The skewer further having a tightening assembly with a ratcheting nut which is incapable of being loosened when the skewer is placed in tension. Moreover, the skewer assembly covers the access holes to the internal hardware of the rack mount when inserted therein.
US08281623B2
A top loading drum type washing machine is provided. The washing machine may include a cabinet, a tub installed in the cabinet, and a drum rotatably installed in the tub. Openings respectively provided in the cabinet, the tub and the drum may be aligned to allow laundry items to be loaded into and removed from the drum. A door may be provided at the opening formed in the drum to open and close the opening. At least one side assembly may be provided an axial end of the drum to support rotation of the drum by a motor. A buffer may be connected between the at least one side assembly and the tub, and a suspension may be connected between the at least one side assembly and the cabined to absorb and damp vibration.
US08281620B1
During fabrication of a vitreous silica crucible, contamination of the vitreous silica crucible due to wear particles and debris of components of an apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible is reduced by preventing damage and wear of the components of the apparatus due to silica fume. The apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible is divided into a lower section for accommodating a mold and a mold driving system and an upper section for accommodating an arc electrode driving system, wherein a sectioning member including one or more communication paths for allowing penetration of arc electrodes, thereby the air flow is controlled so as to reduce exchange between gas in the upper section and gas in the lower section.
US08281618B2
The invention provides an alkali-free glass substrate small in the variation of the thermal shrinkage and a process for producing the same. An alkali-free glass substrate of the invention has an absolute value of a thermal shrinkage of 50 ppm or more when the alkali-free glass substrate is heated at a rate of 10° C./min from a room temperature, kept at a holding temperature of 450° C. for 10 hr and then cooled at a rate of 10° C./min.
US08281616B2
A bracelet with links articulated to each other like a hinge, includes first links provided with a male hinge part pierced by a first through hole, second links provided with a female hinge part pierced by second and third through hole, the first, second and third holes forming an alignment when a male hinge part is engaged in a female hinge part. The bracelet further includes pins occupying the hole alignments, and axial locking elements for the pins formed of a first radially elastic tube and a second tube, axially locked in the first through holes, the pins being driven inside the first slit tubes. The first and second tubes include an annular end via which the tubes are secured to each other so as to preserve the radial elasticity of the first tube.
US08281610B2
An ice-making device for a refrigerator includes an ice maker for making ice, which is provided on a backside of a door of the refrigerator; and an ice maker cover for selectively opening or closing the ice maker. Fixing recesses are formed to be open downwardly on outsides of both sides of the ice maker cover, and receive fixing protrusions provided at corresponding positions on opposite sides of a pair of support steps that protrude rearward from both side ends of the backside of the door by a predetermined length and are formed to be elongated in an up and down direction. Play prevention steps are provided at lower ends of both sides of the ice maker cover and are seated on play prevention ribs provided to be elongated in a horizontal direction at corresponding positions of the opposite sides of the support steps below the fixing protrusions.
US08281597B2
A combustor swirl cup includes coaxial inner and outer swirlers separated by a tubular centerbody. The centerbody includes a bypass inlet surrounding the inner swirler and diverges aft along a perforate inner nozzle to terminate at an annular flameholder. An impingement ring is spaced forward from the flameholder in flow communication with the bypass inlet for receiving cooling air therefrom to impingement cool the flameholder.
US08281596B1
A combustor assembly for a turbomachine includes combustor housing and a flow sleeve arranged between the combustor housing and a combustor liner. The flow sleeve defines a first annular fluid passage, and a second annular fluid passage. A quaternary cap is mounted to the combustor housing. The quaternary cap includes a first fluid plenum fluidly connected to the first annular fluid passage, a second fluid plenum fluidly connected to the second annular fluid passage, and a plurality of vanes fluidly connected to each of the first and second fluid plenums. Each of the plurality of vanes includes a body portion having a first fluid channel coupled to the first fluid plenum, and a second fluid channel coupled to the second fluid plenum. The first fluid channel extends completely through the body portion and the second fluid channel extends partially into the body portion.
US08281595B2
A fuel nozzle assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine including: a nozzle body having a front and an inner tube defining a fuel passage extending through the nozzle body, wherein the front proximate to a combustion section of the combustor; an outer casing around the inner tube, wherein an air passage is defined between the outer casing and the inner tube; a gas conduit arranged in the air passage and having an outlet proximate to the front of the nozzle body, wherein fuel starts flowing through the expandable conduit only after a flashback condition occurs in the combustor, and a premix fuel passage and port discharging fuel to a premix section of the combustor, wherein the gas conduit has an inlet open to the premix fuel passage.
US08281593B2
A waste heat recovery system and a method for operating a thermodynamic cycle using a working fluid in a working fluid circuit which has a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The system comprises a waste heat exchanger, a waste heat source, an expander, a recuperator, a cooler, a pump, and a mass management system connected to the working fluid circuit. The mass management system comprises a working fluid vessel connected to the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and configured to passively control an amount of working fluid mass in the working fluid circuit.
US08281580B2
A method to monitor a particulate filter includes determining an equivalent bypass area corresponding to a difference between a mass flowrate of an exhaust gas feedstream flowing to the particulate filter and a mass flowrate of the exhaust gas feedstream flowing through porous walls of a substrate.
US08281578B2
A method for correcting an estimated amount of NH3 store within a SCR is described. In one example, SCR efficiency is determined from a NOx sensor output and the estimated amount of NH3 is corrected based on the SCR efficiency. Engine emissions may be reduced via improving the estimated NH3 storage level, at least during some conditions.
US08281577B2
An exhaust gas purification system, which upgrades exhaust gas purification while curtailing an increase in an operating cost, is disclosed. The exhaust gas purification system comprises an SCR catalyst for reducing and removing nitrogen oxides in an exhaust gas from an engine (10) by bringing the nitrogen oxides into contact with a reducing agent, oxidation catalysts (11, 17) for oxidizing gas components in the exhaust gas, a water electrolysis device (24) for producing oxygen by electrolyzing water, and an oxygen supply pipe (29) for supplying the oxygen produced by the water electrolysis device (24) to the exhaust gas.
US08281575B2
A removable exhaust treatment unit for an aftertreatment assembly is provided. The removable exhaust treatment unit include a housing, at least one exhaust treatment element coupled within the housing, and a flange on one end of the housing. The removable exhaust treatment unit also includes a plurality of apertures on the flange configured to receive a plurality of fasteners. The removable exhaust treatment unit further includes at least one handle coupled to the flange.
US08281574B2
The present invention has an object to provide an exhaust-gas processing device for a diesel engine, able to inhibit the deterioration of the fuel-consumption and the output reduction.In order to accomplish the above object, the device is provided with a DPF, a means for presuming the amount of PM to be deposited on the DPF, a DPF-regeneration means, a DPF-regeneration control means, a storing means, a means for sending message to demand an accelerated regeneration, and an operation means for starting the accelerated regeneration. While a normal regeneration processing is being continued (S6) since it has started (S2), the time when a term (T1) for reserving judgment as to the demand for accelerated regeneration has elapsed is taken as the judging time (T3). At this judging time (T3), if the assumed value of the PM deposed amount exceeds a value (J2) for judgment as to the demand for accelerated regeneration, the accelerated regeneration is deemed to be demanded. Then the DPF-regeneration control means allows the means for sending message to demand the accelerated regeneration to start (S8) sending the message to demand the accelerated regeneration.
US08281573B2
An evaporation unit for producing a gas flow including ammonia, in particular in connection with an SCR system in motor vehicles, includes at least a housing, at least one meandering flow channel delimited by a closed wall and having an inlet and an outlet and at least one heat conductor disposed in a first evaporation section of the at least one flow channel coaxially between the housing and the wall. A device and a motor vehicle having the evaporation unit are also provided.
US08281571B2
A method to regenerate a diesel particulate filter in an exhaust system with a fuel doser for normal and transient vehicle travel. The vehicle may be equipped with an electronically controlled compression ignition engine with an electronic control unit having memory and capable of receiving data signals from remote senor indicative of vehicle operating conditions.
US08281568B2
A solid fuel rocket motor, a castellated propellant cartridge and a method of controlling a pressure differential in a cartridge-loaded rocket motor are disclosed. The rocket motor may include a housing having an inside surface, a plurality of propellant cartridges disposed within the housing, an igniter disposed to ignite propellant material within the propellant cartridges, and a nozzle disposed to exhaust combustion gases out of the housing. At least some of the propellant cartridges may be castellated propellant cartridges.
US08281564B2
A combined cycle power plant includes a first generator driven by a gas turbine for generating electricity. The combined cycle power plant further includes a heat recovery steam generator disposed to receive exhaust gas from the gas turbine. The heat recovery steam generator includes an evaporator having tubes receptive to water flow therethrough. The tubes are disposed to be exposed to the exhaust gas, such that a flow of the exhaust gas passes around the tubes transfers heat from the exhaust gas to the tubes and thereby the water flowing through the tubes sufficient for the water to evaporate into steam. The tubes each having an outer surface with a plurality of deformations formed therein sufficient to introduce turbulence in the flow of the exhaust gas for enhancing heat transfer from the exhaust gas to the tubes.
US08281559B2
The present invention relates to a packaging machine having an ultrasonic device (1), the ultrasonic device (1) comprising: an ultrasonic generator (2) which generates electric vibrations; an ultrasonic converter (3) which converts the generated electric vibrations into mechanical vibrations of the same frequency; a transformation intermediate piece (4) which transfers the mechanical vibrations to a sonotrode (5); the sonotrode (5) comprising a sound-radiating end surface (6) at which it reflects the mechanical vibrations, so that a standing wave to be passed into a packaging foil (18, 19) is formed, and the sound-radiating end surface (6) being disposed in a vacuum and/or in a modified atmosphere.
US08281552B2
Slotted header tracks for exterior wall applications. In exterior wall framing, the exterior wall sheathing is required to have a horizontal gap at or near the floor line for anticipated vertical movement between the floors. To accommodate orthogonal movement of the studs relative to the track, a plurality of slots are located along the flanges of the header track. An area for exterior sheathing attachment is created by leaving the upper portion of the flange solid for sheathing attachment and providing slots on the lower portion of the flange. Embodiments may include elongate reinforcing grooves on the slotted track's flanges and/or web, tabs for supporting and positioning exterior sheathing elements, connector elements for connecting the track to another surface, and second slots along the length of the web of the track to allow for limited drift movement of the track.
US08281551B2
A prefabricated shearwall including a central diaphragm having a height generally defined by top and bottom edges, and a width generally defined by a pair of end sections. The diaphragm further includes at least one corrugation extending in the height direction at least partially between the top and bottom edges. The corrugation increases the ductility and ability of the shearwall to withstand lateral forces such as those generated in earthquakes, high winds, floods and snow loads.
US08281549B2
A floor panel comprises a protrusion end face having a protrusion and a recess end face having a recess. The profiles of the protrusion and the recess are allowed to be installed in the following manner: placing the protrusion nearby the recess of an already installed floor panel, and then applying a pressure to introduce the protrusion in the recess. A flooring system allows use of said method to install more than one floor panel. According to the solution of the present invention, the installation and pave of the floor panels is very simple and the installed floor panels do not easily separate.
US08281540B2
A unitary steel joist includes a generally vertical web, a generally horizontal bottom flange, a generally horizontal top flange, a bottom wing, a bottom web portion, a top wing and a top web portion. The generally horizontal bottom flange extends outwardly on each side of the web. The bottom flange is made of two pieces of steel. The generally horizontal top flange extends outwardly on each side of the web. The top flange is made of two pieces of steel. The bottom wing extends outwardly from the web. The bottom web portion extends between the bottom flange and bottom wing. The top wing extends outwardly from the web. The top web portion extends between the top flange and the top wing. The unitary steel joist is made from a unitary piece of steel.
US08281530B2
A starter element for stackable inter-engaging bricks, blocks and stones for building mortarless walls is disclosed. The starter element comprises an horizontally extending strip having a first portion customized to be adjustably attached to a structure, a second portion having an upper part with an interlock element projecting upwardly therefrom to be in engagement with the mortise interlock element of the brick and a third portion sloping downwardly from the interlock element to be in at least partial contact with an inside surface of the brick. The starter element can also comprise means adapted to allow the drainage of water and the passage of air behind the wall.
US08281529B2
A building structure having a plurality of frame assemblies joined together to form an internal frame structure for a building. Each of the frame assemblies includes a truss, a pair of vertical wall members and a floor joist. The truss is attached to respective top ends the vertical wall members at each end of the truss with interlocking joints in which the truss and vertical wall members are in substantially the same plane. Each vertical wall member is attached to the floor joist with interlocking joints. Each interlocking joint has a puzzle-piece configuration. Cross-members interconnect the frame assemblies in a spaced-apart manner. A floor panel is attached to the floor joists and exterior wall panels are attached to an exterior of the internal frame structure.
US08281525B2
A modular spiral staircase assembly that involves a handrail formed of one or more sections and a series of slide members each configured to form a link between both a baluster and the handrail of the staircase. The use of such slide members enables initial ease with respect to positioning of the balusters along the extent of the handrail and subsequent secure locking of such balusters in position with respect to the handrail for alignment purposes with corresponding treads of the staircase. Additionally, using such slide members along the extent of the handrail provides the installer ready-made tools for progressively shaping the extent of the handrail so as to align it with the curvature of the staircase.
US08281515B2
Methods for increasing the growth and biomass of algae and algae lipids by growing the algae in the presence of a polycationic substance such as soluble or insoluble chitosan and/or chitin are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of harvesting algae from an aqueous environment by growing the algae in aggregated clumps and/or mats (formed by the inclusion of soluble or insoluble chitosan and/or chitin or other polycationic or cationic substances) that can be easily removed from the aqueous environment either by filtration, surface skimming, and/or growing in a porous containment device, such as a natural or synthetic fabric, and removing the fabric from the aqueous environment containing the aggregated algae. The methods disclosed have direct applications in biofuel and energy production, agricultural feedstock production, nutrient production, greenhouse gas reduction, removal of microconstituents from water, and water reclamation.
US08281514B2
Disclosed embodiments provide a method and apparatus for an organic insect extermination lamp, which continuously kills mosquitoes and other biting insects without the use of hazardous chemicals, pesticides or electrocution. The organic insect extermination lamp includes a housing; a fixture including a power source and an LED light source for attracting mosquitoes and other biting insects without emitting substantial heat; at least one covered reservoir having a closable cap for holding a natural exterminating substance; and a natural exterminating substance, wherein the natural exterminating substance decomposes to produce natural exterminating fumes for killing mosquitoes and other biting insects.
US08281510B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a decorative illumination signboard capable of effectively downwardly emitting light while suppressing an upward emission of light with a simple configuration and a plastic sheet used in the decorative illumination signboard.The object can be accomplished by a plastic sheet having optical transparency which includes an exit surface and an incident surface on which a plurality of prism lines having a flat and smooth surface are arranged to be aligned. A shape of the prism in a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the prism line is formed by a side A on a lower side at an angle of α degrees to a normal line of the exit surface and a side B on an upper side at an angle of β degrees to the normal line of the exit surface and α<β, and 40 degrees≦β≦80 degrees. An integral value of a downwardly emitted light flux is 55% or more of the total integral value of an upwardly emitted light flux and the downwardly emitting light flux when predetermined diffusion light enters one surface of the plastic sheet in a direction perpendicular to the plastic sheet.
US08281508B1
A reversible license plate holder attachable to a prepared rear panel of a vehicle. A rectangular perimeter frame has an obverse and a reverse side and an open central area, the frame having an L-shaped cross-section defining a flange sized to be aligned with and receive a license plate positionable thereagainst. The frame also has spaced mounting holes which are alignable with mounting holes in the license plate and with threaded holes in the rear panel for attaching the holder against the rear panel. When the holder is attached to the rear panel so that the reverse side faces outwardly in a temporary use mode by a car dealer, an upper retaining tab forming a first U-shaped channel with the frame trappingly receives an upper edge of the license plate and a lower retaining tab forming a second U-shaped channel trappingly receives a lower edge of the license plate when a lower edge of the flange is resiliently flexed downwardly, then released. In this mode of use, only the flange and the upper and lower retaining tabs hold the license plate in place. In the permanent use mode, the obverse side is outwardly facing and the holder and license plate are attached to the rear panel or bumper together conventionally.
US08281495B2
A two-dimension layout system identifies points and their coordinates, and transfers identified points on a solid surface to other surfaces in a vertical direction. Two leveling laser light transmitters are used with a remote unit to control certain functions. The laser transmitters rotate about the azimuth, and emit vertical (plumb) laser planes. After being set up using benchmark points, the projected lines of the laser planes will intersect on the floor of a jobsite at any point of interest in a virtual floor plan, under control of a user with the remote unit. The laser light planes also project lines that will intersect along the ceiling at a point that is truly plumb above the crossing point on the floor. The laser planes also provide an “implied” plumb line that is projected in space, which is visible along a solid vertical surface to between the intersecting floor and ceiling points.
US08281490B2
Provided are a spherical bearing in which a ball portion (10) of an inside member (1) can be sealed inside an outside member (2) without employment of casting, and the outside member (2) and the inside member (1) are coupled to each other with high strength, and which can be downsized, and a manufacturing method for the same. The spherical bearing includes: an inside member (1) having a metal ball portion (10); a resin liner (3) covering the ball portion (10) of the inside member (1) and held in sliding contact with the ball portion (10); and an outside member (2) molded outside the resin liner (3) by a forging process and held in close contact with an entire of an outer peripheral surface of the resin liner (3) without being brought into contact with the inside member (1), for undetachably enclosing and holding the resin liner (3).
US08281489B2
A number of flat tubes, flat tube heat exchangers, and methods of manufacturing both are described and illustrated. The flat tubes can be constructed of one, two, or more pieces of sheet material. A profiled insert integral with the flat tube or constructed from another sheet of material can be used to define multiple flow channels through the flat tube. The flat tubes can be constructed of relatively thin material, and can be reinforced with folds of the flat tube material and/or of an insert in areas subject to higher pressure and thermal stresses. Also, the relatively thin flat tube material can have a corrosion layer enabling the material to resist failure due to corrosion. Heat exchangers having such flat tubes connected to collection tubes are also disclosed, as are manners in which such tubes can be provided with fins.
US08281488B2
A method for producing a honeycomb body having a honeycomb structure disposed in a housing, includes at least forming a honeycomb structure, inserting the honeycomb structure into a housing, carrying out a heat treatment operation on the honeycomb structure having the housing, contacting outer regions with a molding, at least during the inserting step or the heat treatment step, and reproducing a desired outer contour of the housing with contact faces of the molding. A molding and an exhaust gas treatment unit produced with a thin housing in a dimensionally accurate manner, are also provided.
US08281482B2
A method of fabricating a thermal bend actuator comprises the steps of: (a) depositing a first layer comprised of silicon nitride onto a sacrificial scaffold; (b) depositing a second layer comprised of silicon dioxide onto the first layer; (c) depositing an active beam layer onto the second layer; (d) etching the active beam layer, the first layer and the second layer to define the thermal bend actuator; and (e) releasing the thermal bend actuator by removing the sacrificial scaffold.
US08281477B2
A semi-automatic loader for needle boards (2) includes a filling device (51)that presents felting needles (17) arranged at a ratio that is consistent with the ratio of holes of a needle board. A machine operator can then grasp the felting 5 needles (17) by use of a multiple collet chuck (45) and set them in groups in the rows of holes of the needle board (2). This provides a loading method featuring extremely high productivity.
US08281475B2
The invention provides a sheet metal joint and a method for forming a sheet metal joint. The sheet metal joint includes first and second metal sheets disposed in parallel relation to one another. Each of the first and second metal sheets has a plurality of perforations with a tang extending from each perforation. The tangs of the second sheet and the tangs of the second metal sheet are curled together in opposite rotational directions. The tangs of the first metal sheet space the first and second metal sheets from one another and the tangs of the second metal sheet substantially fixedly engage the first and second metal sheets with respect to one another.
US08281472B2
A method for manufacturing a continuous sucker rod coil, wherein the method includes the step of selecting a plurality of input coils, each input coil having the same uniform hardness, and each input coil having two free ends. The method further includes the step of fusing adjacent free ends of adjacent input coils together to form one continuous length of rod, the fusing creating fused areas and a heat-affected zone at each fused area. The method also includes the step of treating each of the heat-affected zones to alleviate irregularities induced during fusing. Additionally, the method includes the step of winding the continuous length of rod into a finished coil.
US08281469B2
Apparatus for removing a sealing plug from a bore, the sealing plug has an outer sleeve and an inner stem retained within the outer sleeve, the removal taking place after a suitable hole has been drilled part-way into the stem, the removal apparatus has a tapered punch for forcible insertion into the hole in the stem to create an interference fit between the punch and the stem and thereafter driving the stem out of the sleeve while also retaining the stem on the punch by virtue of the interference fit, and sleeve-engaging portion engagable with the sleeve after the punch has removed the stem from the sleeve, the sleeve-engaging portion and the punch being thereafter removable from the bore to remove both the sleeve and the stem from the bore while the sleeve and the stem are both retained on the appropriate parts of the apparatus.
US08281461B2
A button head tie has a button head and a tie strap. The button head is a generally flat member having an aperture for receiving the tie strap. The aperture includes lead-in ramps to facilitate tie strap insertion and is configured to prevent angled tie strap insertion. The tie strap is a flat elongate member having a wedge that is captured within the aperture. The remainder of the strap passes through the aperture. The wedge and strap have teeth and serrations on both sides, respectively, the teeth and serrations being engageable. In use, the strap is looped around a bundle and inserted into the aperture to either side of the wedge. Strap insertion force is reduced by standoff tabs which elevate the wedge out of aperture, temporarily, during installation. When loop tension is applied to the bundle, the wedge is pulled into the aperture, compressively locking the strap.
US08281458B2
A hinge for doors, windows, or the like, comprising, a first hinge element and a second hinge element, which have, respectively, a first cylindrical articulation portion and a second cylindrical articulation portion, wherein the first articulation portion has an external diameter smaller than the external diameter of the second articulation portion; a hingepin, which defines a hinge axis; an adjustment device, which is associated to one of said articulation portions and can be actuated for displacing said hinge elements with respect to one another in a direction substantially transverse to said hinge axis; and a covering sleeve, provided externally to the first articulation portion and having an external diameter equal to the external diameter of said second articulation portion, wherein the covering sleeve is mounted so that it can turn with respect to the first articulation portion about an axis that is eccentric with respect to said hinge axis and can be displaced with respect to the first articulation portion in a direction substantially transverse to the hinge axis, the covering sleeve and the first hinge element being provided with toothings kept elastically in a condition of mutual engagement.
US08281436B2
An improved inflatable body support with novel dog-bone-shaped hand wells that do not create material stress points when they are stretched while in use in place of the prior art oval-shaped hand wells that do create material stress points when they are stretched while in use.
US08281433B2
Embodiments disclosed herein related to person support apparatuses and systems, and in particular, to such apparatuses and systems that incorporate or are used with vital signs monitoring devices.
US08281431B2
A changing table is mounted on the vertical frame members of a play yard by mounting members located along the transverse centerline of the changing table. The frame of the changing table is formed in an oval shape to eliminate any portion thereof that would be oriented generally parallel to the upper frame members of the play yard. The vertical frame member is formed with a linear upper portion and a curved lower portion. The linear upper portions enable the mounting members to be telescopically received for height adjustment of the changing table. The curved lower portions positions the foot members at the lower ends of the vertical frame members outboard of the upper ends on which the changing table is mounted to enhance stability.
US08281430B1
An extraction and transfer sling facilitating lifting of an injured, incapacitated, or person of interest for any reason that may be warranted by emergency services or assistance. The sling has several embodiments each capable of supporting a thigh, buttocks, and back region of a person being lifted. Additionally the sling can include shoulder, head, and leg including foot support for transporting a lifted person from one location to another location.
US08281422B2
A hidden sensing device and its urinal are disclosed. The hidden sensing device, which is attached on some sanitary installations, comprises a conductivity sensor for detecting urine and a Micro-programmed Control Unit (MCU) for processing signals, wherein said conductivity sensor has electrodes extending into urine. The device further includes a microwave sensor controlled by the MCU to detect human's movements. When the conductivity sensor has detected urine, the MCU will turn on the microwave sensor to detect the human's presence or departure.
US08281418B2
A one-piece protective device includes a shirt member and a pants member. The shirt member includes a proximal end comprising a neck area and a distal end comprising a waist area. The pants member includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the pants member is integrally joined with the distal end of the shirt member to form the waist area. The one-piece device is compressed around the body of the user to conform about the contour and shape of the user.The one-piece protective device also includes a plurality of pockets formed within the shirt member and pants member, wherein a plurality of pads disposed within the plurality of pockets. The device also includes a plurality of fasteners, such as zippers and fasteners, for securing the pads within the pockets. An elastic band is disposed at the waist to hold the device around the waist area of the user. The one-piece protective device is fabricated from stretchy material to provide increased elasticity.
US08281412B2
A multi-piece article of clothing, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a plurality of pieces of clothing. Each of the plurality of pieces of clothing includes a top strap and a bottom leg portion being substantially opposite one another for engaging with an opposite shoulder and leg of a person, respectively. Each of the plurality of pieces of clothing includes a body portion, and each of the body portions includes a crotch portion. Each of the body portions include one leg opening and one hip opening defined by the crotch portions and respective side sections. The body portion of each of the plurality of pieces of clothing is in overlapping relation with each other to at least partially cover the person.
US08286244B2
A method of controlling protection of a computing device or computer network. The method comprises directing incoming data packets to the computing device or computer network via a rate limiting system that is adapted to parse the data packets, providing the computing device or computer network with at least one threshold parameter for identifying a data flood condition, the threshold parameter being a function of one or more available computing resources of the computing device or computer network; the computing device or computer network responding to incoming data packets received via the rate limiting system that cause the at least one threshold parameter to be breached by generating event data; generating feedback data based on the event data; transmitting the feedback data to the rate limiting system; and the rate limiting system modifying its behavour according to the feedback data.
US08286241B1
Known legitimate applications are analyzed to establish a list of trusted user-agent strings used by the applications to download content from a network. Traffic interception modules connected to the network examine traffic exchanged between clients and servers on the network, recognize traffic associated with downloads of content from the network, and create content download descriptions describing the downloads. The content download descriptions are analyzed to identify content downloads using the trusted user-agent strings. Identifiers of the content downloaded using the trusted user-agent strings are added to a white list of legitimate content. Access to the white list is provided to clients and the clients use the white list to identify legitimate content.
US08286240B2
The invention discloses a method and system for content categorization, which aims at reducing the processing burthen of the content categorization as well as the network transmission traffic. The method comprises: transmitting, by a content categorization requester, a content digest of a content to be categorized to a content categorization provider; and performing, by the content categorization provider, content categorization according to the content digest. The device for requesting content categorization comprises: a digest operation determination component, adapted to determine whether it is necessary to obtain a content digest of a content to be categorized; a digest obtaining component, adapted to obtain the content digest of the content to be categorized when the digest operation determination component determines it necessary to obtain the content digest of the content to be categorized; and a first transmit component, adapted to transmit the content digest obtained by the digest obtaining component.
US08286236B2
Methods and systems for a manufacturing control system include but are not limited to identifying at least one object data file configured to produce an object by a manufacturing machine; confirming that an authorization code is associated with the object data file, the authorization code configured to be received by the manufacturing machine, the manufacturing machine adapted to receive the authorization code; and enabling the manufacturing machine to interface with the object data file only if the authorization code meets one or more predetermined conditions.
US08286232B2
System and method for transparent cloud access are described. In one embodiment, the system comprises an enterprise computing environment maintained by an enterprise and a cloud computing environment maintained by a cloud provider; and a secure bridge mechanism for interconnecting the enterprise computing environment and the cloud computing environment. The secure bridge mechanism comprises a first secure bridge portion associated with the enterprise and a second secure bridge portion associated with the cloud computing environment. The first and second secure bridge portions interoperate to provide transparent and secure access by resources of one of the computing environments to those of the other computing environment.
US08286229B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for token-based content subscription. Embodiments include receiving a request for content subscription; receiving from a user a subscription token; and delivering content to a device associated with the subscription token.
US08286226B2
A password registering method used in an electronic device includes displaying one visual dial on a touch screen of the electronic device; recording rotation parameters of the visual dial rotated by a user, and generating input information according to the rotation parameters; and registering the password according to the generated input information the user's confirming the rotation operation.
US08286219B2
A system and method is provided that makes sure the instruction sets executing on a computer are certified and secure. The system and method further facilitates a generic way to intercept the instruction loading process to inspect a loaded code segment first, before the computer gets a chance to execute the code segment. Further, a profiling component can monitor all executing processes running in a system and profile the behavior of the program. If the behavior is suspicious, established by a set of predefined rules, the profiler can take necessary actions to notify a system administrator and suspend or terminate execution of the program.
US08286217B2
A method and system for fast channel change (FCC) between multicast digital video feeds wherein each digital video feed is converted to a set of slotted multicasts, each having the same content but delayed in time relative to each other, metadata associated with the digital video feed and the slotted multicasts is published using an on-the-wire format to downstream client devices (e.g. set-top boxes), when a user selects the digital video feed (i.e. a new channel) the client device uses the metadata to select a slotted multicast that minimizes the total time to reach the next random access point (RAP) while allowing a maximum leave-join delay. Both a FCC server that generates the slotted multicasts and a FCC middleware on the client devices are connected to a common time reference, and the method and system provide for adjusting to clock drift on the FCC server relative to the common time reference.
US08286208B2
A set top box determines DVR requests that the set top box is not able to record based on a number of scheduled DVR requests. The set top box provides the DVR request to a DVR management server. The DVR management server selects another set top box to record the television content associated with the DVR request based on a number DVR requests the other set top box is scheduled to record. The DVR management server issues a command to the other set top box to record the television content associated with the DVR request. The other set top box provides the recorded television content, associated with the DVR request, to the set top box.
US08286206B1
Automatic rating optimization is described. In an embodiment, ratings of a program can be received from one or more rating sources. Based on these ratings, a representation of a content selection mechanism can be sent to potential consumers of the content. Access events for the content can be counted over a duration of time so a determination can be made regarding how the ratings provided by each of the rating sources affect popularity of the content. A weight accorded to ratings received from each of the rating sources can be adjusted based on the determination. Profiles can be established for consumers and/or rating sources.
US08286205B2
A terminal displays a broadcast program from a first provider, and displays one or more identifiers from additional broadcast providers. Upon selection of one of the identifiers of the additional providers, additional information of broadcasts from the additional provider is also displayed thereby enabling a user to decide whether to continue to display the broadcast program from the first provider or to display a broadcast program from the additional provider.
US08286204B2
A control system includes a control apparatus and a controlled apparatus, wherein the control apparatus is remotely controlled by a remote controller. The controlled apparatus transmits a control panel to the control apparatus. The control panel includes icons used to control the controlled apparatus. The controlled apparatus includes (a) a communication unit which receives, from the control apparatus, remote control information including information about operation keys included in the remote controller, the remote control information being received before the controlled apparatus transmits the control panel to the control apparatus, and (b) a modifying unit which modifies a position of the icons included in the control panel according to the remote control information. The communication unit transmits the control panel to the control apparatus after the modifying unit modifies the position of the icons included in the control panel according to the remote control information.
US08286199B1
An add-on application, running on a computer, allows a user to store, in a repository, information such as (for example) document images, and to associate particular information with specified states of a host application such as the QUICKBOOKS® accounting software. When the add-on application determines, for example, that a bill is being displayed (or is about to be displayed) on the screen by the host application, the add-on application automatically obtains, and displays on the screen, information associated with the bill, such as a list or count of one or more electronic documents that are associated with the bill. In our particular embodiment, the auxiliary window is a toolbar or sidebar window located within the host application window itself. The foregoing is achieved utilizing standard host-application SDK and operating-platform API functionality, thus reducing the risk of degrading the host application's performance.
US08286193B2
A computer system comprising hardware including a data interface for interfacing between the computer system and a data source; a memory; a first operating system capable of communicating with the hardware; and a second operating system capable of supporting a user-level application and being configured to communicate with the hardware via the first operating system, the second operating system being capable of allocating a region of the memory for use as a buffer by such a user-level application. The data interface is configurable to associate a predetermined data format with a region of the memory that has been allocated for use as a buffer by a user-level application supported by the second operating system and to, on receiving from the data source a data message of that format, automatically store data of that message in that region of the memory without it passing via the first or second operating systems.
US08286191B2
Techniques for dynamically modifying inter-connections between components in an application are provided. The techniques include receiving a data producer profile for each output port within a software application to be executed on one or more processors, receiving a data subscription profile for each input port of each component of the application, establishing connections between the output ports and the input ports of the components in the application based on a comparison of each data producer profile and each data subscription profile, executing the application on one or more processors to process streams of data, receiving either or both of a new data producer profile or a new data subscription profile during the execution of the application, and establishing at least one new connection between an output port and an input port based upon a revised comparison of the received data profiles that include the new data profile.
US08286189B2
Computer-executable code is automatically generated for a message flow in a message queuing infrastructure by determining a type of the message flow, inputting message flow parameters, and generating the computer-executable code based on the type of the message flow and the message flow parameters. The generation of code can also implement a design pattern, which is input based on the determined type of message flow. The computer-executable code can be, for example, Extended Structured Query Language (ESQL) code. The type of the message flow can identify, for example, a transformation requirement of the message flow. The transformation requirement can be, for example, one of (i) transformation from a first Extensible Markup Language (XML) message to a second XML message, (ii) transformation from an XML message to a Message Repository Manager (MRM) message, and (iii) transformation from a first MRM message to a second MRM message.
US08286186B2
A system and associated method for interfacing between caller applications and a shared service module. Upon receiving a request for a transaction, the shared service module creates a separate data structure per request from a caller application and configures a caller identifier to uniquely identify the caller application. The separate data structure per request can be extended by the shared service module with additional attributes that may be used, without impacting the service application data model, in the request to support servicing the request. The shared service module generates a generic service document to return the result after servicing the request to the caller application.
US08286183B2
Techniques for scheduling a task include receiving task data and quorum data. Task data describes tasks to be performed by one or more participants. Quorum data indicates a participant set of one or more participants to perform each task. Current user data may also be received. Current user data describes a current task set of one or more tasks currently being performed by a particular participant. Either or both of the task data and the current user data describe interruptibility through a particular medium of a plurality of communications media. A particular time interval to schedule a particular task is determined based at least in part on the interruptibility of the task or the particular participant. These techniques allow either or both unscheduled tasks and previously scheduled tasks to be moved to time intervals that overlap other scheduled tasks, including tasks currently being performed by a participant.
US08286181B2
A computer-implemented method for supporting administration of a multi-application landscape includes initiating, in a multi-application computer system, a business process that involves executing multiple applications and uses run control statements associated with process steps of the business process where a business process state is subject to change. The run control statements are executed as part of performing the business process. For each run control statement being executed, at least one of multiple state indicators associated with the run control statement is selected, the state indicator representing run-state information of the business process. A representation of the business process state is generated and stored in a repository, the representation comprising (i) each state indicator selected in executing the run control statements, and (ii) an identifier for the process step where the business process state changed.
US08286179B2
A system and method for management of jobs in the clustered environment is provided. Each node in the cluster executes a job manager that interfaces with a replicated database to enable cluster wide management of jobs within the cluster. Jobs are queued in the replicated database and retrieved by a job manager for execution. Each job manager ensures that jobs are processed through completion or, failing that, are re-queued on another storage system for execution.
US08286165B2
A server management apparatus for lowering migration costs during scale-in/scale-out and workload consolidation of a cluster system(s) to thereby reduce power consumption is disclosed. The apparatus manages a physical server group which renders operative a virtual server group thereon and, when putting into practice a cluster system including a plurality of virtual servers placed in the physical server group, manages the layout state of virtual servers pursuant to the load state of the virtual server group. When executing scale-in, a virtual server operating on a physical server with the minimum number of operative virtual servers is specified as a shutdown target. When executing scale-out, a workload variation is predicted to control a scale-out destination of cluster system so that load variation-resembled cluster systems gather on the same physical server. The scale-in execution timing is delayed if the predicted load variation tends to rise and accelerated if it falls.
US08286161B2
An information processing apparatus includes a control operating system executing a process for allocating a plurality of logical processors to a physical processor in a time division manner, and a guest operating system for which a logical partition as an application entity of the logical processor is set. The control operating system sets and updates, as address conversion tables for determining an allocation relationship between the logical processor and the physical processor, two address conversion tables of a first conversion table that sets an allocation relationship between a logical partition address space and a physical address space and a second conversion table that sets an allocation relationship between a virtual address space in the guest operating system and the physical address space.
US08286147B2
An information processing system includes a preparation machine with an installed image; an execution machine on which the installed image is virtually installed; and a virtualizer for virtualizing the installed image on the execution machine to produce a virtually installed image by using a hierarchy of selective virtualizers, wherein the virtualizing is selective such that not all operations of the executing software of the installed image at any particular level are virtualized.
US08286145B2
A program re-writing method which re-writes an inputted program into a program for a processor for controlling whether or not a process is executed based on a yes or no execution flag, said program re-writing method including: inserting a comparison process into the inputted program, the comparison process comparing first address information, which is memory address information accessed by a first memory access process included in the inputted program, and second address information, which is address information of a memory accessed by a second memory access process included in the inputted program, and writing a comparison result into the yes or no execution flag; and inserting a yes or no execution flag-attached logic preservation process into the inputted program, the yes or no execution flag-attached logic preservation process being a process executed based on a value of the yes or no execution flag and preserving the same result as a result of the inputted program when executed.
US08286136B2
An efficient testing method is provided for internationalized software executed in a plurality of language environments. The method includes mock-translating an externalized resource file written in a first language of the internationalized software by converting characters of the first language to characters of a second language based on a conversion table; and displaying output information from the internationalized software that performs processing by referring to the mock-translated test resource file using one of a plurality of fonts prepared for respective test categories.
US08286132B2
A method of performing a three-way merge includes receiving first, second, and third versions of a structured document containing first, second, and third pluralities of elements respectively; deserializing the first, second, and third versions to generate first, second, and third tree-structured data models respectively representing the first, second, and third versions; generating an identifier for each node of each data model that is unique within the data model by applying identifier determination rules to a context describing the element corresponding to the node; comparing each identifier in the first data model with each identifier in the second data model to identify each node in the first data model not having matching identifiers with any node in the second data model and to link each pair of nodes having matching identifiers; and applying comparison rules to the contexts of each linked pair of nodes to identify differences therebetween.
US08286128B2
A method for identifying a structure of a type to generate a model of the type includes the step of providing at least one replacement type for a basic type provided by a programming language. An identification of initialization, by a constructor, of an instance of the at least one replacement type is received. A type model comprising a description of a data layout of the instance of the type is generated responsive to the received identification.
US08286125B2
A processing device programming system automatically provides a user interface comprising a selectable list of one or more processing devices based on a system level solution, automatically generates an embedded programmable system solution from the system level solution and a processing device selected from the selectable list of one or more processing devices, and automatically programs the processing device according to the embedded programmable system solution.
US08286123B1
A method is provided to evaluate whether one or more test patterns is power safe for use during manufacturing testing of an integrated circuit that includes a nonuniform power grid and that includes a scan chain, the method comprising: assigning respective toggle count thresholds for respective power grid regions of the non-uniform power grid; and determining whether respective numbers of toggles by scan elements of the scan chain within one or more respective power grid regions meet respective toggle count thresholds for the one or more respective regions during at least one scan-shift cycle in the course of scan-in of a test pattern to the scan chain.
US08286120B2
Techniques are generally described for non-invasive, post-silicon characterization of—leakage power for devices of an integrated circuit (IC). A system of sparse leakage power equations may be developed for the devices (e.g. gates) within the IC to be solved using compressive sensing (CS) techniques. Input Vectors (IV) may be applied at input terminal of the IC, and power of the IC may be measured. The measurements may be used in conjunction with the set of sparse equations to determine leakage power values for individual devices, not directly accessible. Pre-processing and post-processing techniques may be employed to make the system of equations more sparse and further improve the efficiency of applying CS techniques to solve the equation. Example processing may include variable splitting, device grouping, IV and equation selection, measurement under elevated IC temperature, and bootstrapping. Other aspects may be disclosed and claimed.
US08286117B2
A macro layout verification apparatus for verifying a layout of a macro to be placed as a functional block on a semiconductor device. The apparatus includes: a unit, which assumes as a virtual wiring line, a wiring line that uses an unused intra-macro channel located adjacent to an intra-macro wiring line; a unit which calculates a parallel wiring length along which the virtual wiring line and the intra-macro wiring line run; and a unit which outputs information concerning the virtual wiring line when the parallel wiring length exceeds a reference value defined as a design rule.
US08286114B2
A method for defining a layout of 3-D devices, such as a finFET, is provided. The method includes determining an area required by a desired 3-D device and designing a circuit using planar devices having an equivalent area. The planar device corresponding to the desired 3-D device is used to layout a circuit design, thereby allowing circuit and layout designers to work at a higher level without the need to specify each individual fin or 3-D structure. Thereafter, the planar design may be converted to a 3-D design by replacing planar active areas with 3-D devices occupying an equivalent area.
US08286109B1
A method for designing a system on a target device includes identifying components and routing connections impacted by incremental design changes made to a system design. New information is computed to annotate delays for the components and routing connections identified. Delays previously computed for components and routing connections are utilized to annotate delays for components and routing connections that have not been impacted by the changes made to the system design.
US08286087B1
Various embodiments include at least one of systems, methods, software, and data structures for active route validation in workflow process authoring in workflow processing applications. Some embodiments include evaluating a route as a user attempts to add or modify the route in a modeled workflow process. The evaluation is performed in some such embodiments through evaluation of a route restriction rule based on a first workflow element the route is from and a second workflow element the route is to. When the route restriction is violated, the user is prevented from adding or modifying the route.
US08286081B2
Some embodiment provide media editing applications that include libraries that (i) provide presets (i.e., predefined operations and/or predefined attribute values) for modifying key indices and interpolation between the key indices, and/or (ii) provide storage for storing presets defined by a user of the media editing application. Some embodiments display the presets as thumbnails, thumbnails with text descriptions, and/or text-defined operations. In addition, some embodiments provide user-interface tools that allow the user of the media editing application to augment the preset libraries by storing a selected part of one key-indexed geometry or parts of multiple different geometries as a user-defined preset.
US08286070B2
Techniques are provided for converting live presentations into electronic media and managing captured media assets for distribution. An exemplary system includes capture devices that capture media assets of live presentations comprising a session, including image data of sequentially presented visual aids accompanying the live presentations and audio data. Each capture device has an interface for real-time image data marking of the image data for identification of individual images and session marking of the image data for demarcation of individual presentations of the session. A centralized device processes the captured media assets and automatically divides the captured media assets into discrete files associated with the individual presentations based on the session markings. An administrative tool manages the processed media assets to produce modified presentations and enables modification of the visual aid images identified by the image data markings. A production device formats the modified presentations for distribution on distribution media.
US08286060B2
A method to generate an erasure locator polynomial in an error-and-erasure decode. The method generally includes the steps of (A) storing current values in multiple registers at a current moment, (B) generating first values by multiplying each current value by a respective one of multiple constants, (C) generating second values by gating at least all but one of the first values with a current one of multiple erasure values of an erasure position vector, (D) generating next values by combining each one of the second values with a corresponding one of the first values, (E) loading the next values into the registers in place of the current values at a next moment and (F) generating an output signal carrying the current values at a last moment such that the current values form the coefficients of the erasure locator polynomial.
US08286049B1
A configurable transmitter for a wireless communication system may include a flexible block coder, an IFFT block, an analog and RF block, and an antenna coupled in series. The flexible block coder may advantageously perform forward error correction and mapping of a data stream to generate a processed data vector. To perform these functions, the flexible block coder may include a data formatter and a multiplier. The data formatter may format the data stream into an output vector, whereas the multiplier may multiply the output vector by a configurable channel coding matrix to generate the processed data vector. The size of the output vector may be a reflection legacy compatibility and data rate. The size of the processed data vector is equal to a product of the output vector and an inverse of a coding rate. The channel coding matrix may be compressed.
US08286048B1
A method for decoding an LDPC (low-density parity check) code word. The method includes receiving a plurality of LLR (log likelihood ratio) terms from a demodulation unit of a receiver and generating a scaling factor in accordance with at least one parameter descriptive of communication channel conditions for the receiver. The scaling factor is applied to each of the plurality of LLR terms to compute a corresponding plurality of scaled LLR terms. An iterative layered belief propagation algorithm is then executed by using the plurality of scaled LLR terms to generate decoded information.
US08286041B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a scan chain which includes: first flip-flops contained in a first circuit and second flip-flops contained in a second circuit, wherein the first flip-flops and the second flip-flops are connected in a series connection in a scan path test mode to operate as a shift register, and a first selecting circuit configured to selectively output a test data in the scan path test mode and internal state data indicating an internal state of the first flip-flops and read from a memory circuit in a restoring operation in a normal mode to the series connection. The semiconductor integrated circuit further includes a backup control circuit configured to control the scan chain in a saving operation in the normal mode such that the internal state data is stored in the memory circuit without passing through the second flip-flops, in the restoring operation in the normal mode such that the internal state data from the first selecting circuit is set in the first flip-flops without passing through the second flip-flops, and in the scan path test mode such that the test data is shifted in the series connection.
US08286035B2
An operations management apparatus which acquires performance information for each of a plurality of performance items from a plurality of controlled units and manages operation of the controlled units includes a correlation model generation unit which derives a correlation function between a first series of performance information that indicates time series variation about a first element and a second series of performance information that indicates time series variation about a second element, generates a correlation model between the first element and the second element based on the correlation function, and obtains the correlation model for each element pair of the performance information, and a correlation change analysis unit which analyzes a change in the correlation model based on the performance information acquired newly which has not been used for generation of the correlation model.
US08286034B2
A method for accurately tracking fault status in a computer system. The method includes storing a prior state for a sensor associated with a component of the computer system and receiving a sensor reading. When the prior state indicates the sensor was unavailable or unreadable such as when the component was removed, the method includes resending or re-emitting a faulty event to the fault diagnosing module, e.g., after reinsertion of the component in the computer system while it is still faulty. The method may include, prior to the triggering of the resending of the faulty event, determining that the sensor is in a non-nominal state. The method may also include storing in the data storage a definition of a nominal state for the sensor such that the determining the sensor is in the non-nominal state includes comparing one or more sensor readings with the nominal state definition.
US08286029B2
In some embodiments, storage devices, such as a storage drive or a storage node, in an array of storage devices may be reintroduced into the array of storage devices after a period of temporary unavailability without fully rebuilding the entire previously unavailable storage device.
US08286027B2
An I/O device includes a host interface that may receive and process transaction packets sent by a number of processing units, with each processing unit corresponding to a respective root complex. The host interface includes an error handling unit having error logic implemented in hardware that may determine, as each packet is received, whether each transaction packet has an error and to store information corresponding to any detected errors. The error handling unit may include an error processor that may be configured to execute error processing instructions to determine any error processing operations based upon the information. The error processor may also generate and send one or more instruction operations, each corresponding to a particular error processing operation. The error handling unit may also include an error processing unit that may execute the one or more instruction operations to perform the particular error processing operations.
US08286021B2
A flash memory device includes a memory cell array, a clock signal input, an input for receiving a signal designating a writing operating mode, a plurality of data input/output pads, and a data input/output buffer circuit that is electrically connected to the clock signal input and to the plurality of data input/output pads. The data input/output buffer circuit is configured to receive data that is to be written to the memory cell array through the data input/output pads in synchronization with a clock signal that is applied to the clock signal input in response to activation of the signal designating the writing operating mode.
US08286014B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for sending a first link handshake signal between a first subsystem and a power management unit (PMU) of a system on a chip (SoC) to request entry into a power saving state for the first subsystem, sending a second link handshake signal between the first subsystem and the PMU to acknowledge the request, and placing the first subsystem into the power saving state without further signaling between the PMU and the first subsystem. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08286013B2
A system and method for providing multi-tiered power save operation in a portable communication device. A portable communication device may be operated in a first power-save mode. A power-save module of the portable communication device may, for example, provide for operation in such a first power-save mode. It may be determined to operate the portable communication device in a second power-save mode that is different than the first power-save mode. A power-save management module may, for example, make such a determination. The portable communication device may then be operated in the second power-save mode. The power-save module may, for example, provide for operation in such a second power-save mode.
US08286011B2
A method and apparatus for storing and classifying packets transmitted over a network to a processor in a low power mode. The processor receives and classifies the packets as interesting or not interesting. Uninteresting packets are discarded while interesting packets are stored in memory. For the first interesting packet received, a receive timer is activated and for every interesting packet received a counter is incremented. A transmit timer is activated when the processor enters the low power mode. When either the receive timer expires, the transmit timer expires or the counter reaches a threshold value then a wake-up interrupt is asserted.
US08286005B2
A tamper resistant apparatus 101 is mounted inside of a PC 900 and stores confidential information A through C. The tamper resistant apparatus 101 receives data from an application 118 which operates on the PC 900, processes the data using the confidential information A through C, and returns processed data to the application 118. To the tamper resistant apparatus 101, plural external sensors 110 provided to the PC 900 are connected. The plural external sensors 110 detect opening/closing of a case of the PC 900 or movement of the body of the PC 900 and send a detection signal to the tamper resistant apparatus 101. On inputting the detection signal from the plural external sensors 110, the tamper resistant apparatus 101 selects and erases confidential information to be erased from the confidential information A through C according to the tamper resistant policy stored previously.
