US08400329B2
According to one embodiment, an imaging unit inputs a camera image of surroundings of a vehicle. The surroundings include at least one of a front side and a back side of the vehicle. A first image generation unit generates a mask image to conceal a protection region of personal information included in a region of a first vehicle on the camera image. The first vehicle exists at the front side or the back side of the user's vehicle. A surroundings-monitoring unit decides whether a second vehicle exists at a front side or a back side of the first vehicle by monitoring the camera image. A second image generation unit generates an identification image of the second vehicle when the second vehicle exists. A processing unit generates a composite image by combining the mask image and the identification image with the camera image, and displays the composite image to present to a user of the vehicle.
US08400319B2
A coaxial cable connector structure is provided, the connector structure comprising: a connector; a physical parameter sensing circuit mechanically attached to the connector; and a status output component mechanically attached to the connector. The physical parameter sensing circuit configured to sense a condition of the connector. The status output component configured to report an ascertained physical parameter status to a location outside of the connector. A corresponding method of ascertaining a physical parameter status of a connector connection is disclosed.
US08400318B2
A signal level detection method is provided, the method includes providing a feed line system that includes coaxial cable connectors connecting coaxial cable sections. Each coaxial cable connector includes a connector body, a coupling circuit positioned within the connector body, an electrical signal power level detection circuit electrically connected to the coupling circuit and comprised by the connector body, and an output component comprised by the connector body. At least one coupling circuit senses an electrical signal flowing through at least one associated coaxial cable connector. At least one electrical signal power level detection circuit detects a plurality of associated power levels of the electrical signal flowing through at least one associated coaxial cable connector.
US08400313B2
There is provided an arousal state classification model generating device for generating a blink waveform pattern model and an arousal state pattern model based on data on a blink waveform, which are preferably used for accurately estimating an arousal level with respect to unspecified object persons, an arousal state classifying device for classifying the arousal state of an object person, and a warning device. In the arousal state classification model generating device, a first pattern model is generated by learning a statistical model by using as learning data first feature data extracted from the blink data of at least one of the eyes of each object person at the time of blinking and blink waveform identification information. A second pattern model is generated by learning a statistical model by using as learning data second feature data including data on the occurrence ratio of each specific type of blink waveform in the sequence of analysis intervals and arousal state information data in which arousal state information indicating the arousal state of each object person is provided to each sequence of analysis intervals.
US08400312B2
An operation assisting system. When an operator manipulates an operation instrument to perform an operation for a joint surgery including a hip replacement, the operation assisting system provides the operator with information on the orientation of a bone such as a pelvis and an appropriate direction of the operation instrument relative to the bone to assist the operator so as to complete the operation in an easy and accurate manner, which ensures a high degree of operation accuracy and reduces the cost of the system.
US08400309B2
A system and method of monitoring compliance with a hygiene protocol is disclosed. The movement of person within or otherwise associated with a facility may be tracked and hygiene requirements may be imposed based on the movement. In monitoring hygiene compliance, a number of hygiene levels may be defined that are associated with difference hygiene requirements. A hygiene level may be associated with an individual and that level may be raised or lowered based on hygiene related activity associated with the individual. An individual's hygiene level and/or his compliance with multi-level hygiene requirements may be tracked through the use of monitored hygiene stations and/or location tracking stations.
US08400306B2
Devices and methods for the identification of test tubes in a test tube rack having a RFID chip, and including an antenna structure elements for wireless coupling with the RFID chip, such that the location of the RFID chip determines the orientation of the test tube rack and the position of the test tube, and coupling of the RFID chips attached to the test tube racks is independent of the direction of insertion of the test tube rack.
US08400294B2
Techniques are described that may be implemented in a portable electronic device to provide automatic detection of transit stops made by mass transit system vehicle in which a user of the device is a passenger. In an implementation, the portable electronic device includes an inertial sensor assembly to sense motion of the vehicle and generate a signal indicative of the vehicle motion. The inertial sensor assembly signal is used to detect the occurrence of a transit stop made by the vehicle. The portable electronic device can then display a prompt in response to detection of the transit stop. In embodiments, other measured data (e.g., elapsed time from a prior event, location information, direction, sound, and so on) may be used to verify the occurrence of the transit stop.
US08400292B2
The sensor network may include a location capture processing unit; and a plurality of sensors in communication with the location capture processing unit. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors includes a controller and a RF receiver configured to receive RF signals. The RF receiver is in communication with the controller. A localization engine is configured to receive beacon signals transmitted by other sensors in the sensor network. The localization engine is in communication with the controller. The controller of each of the plurality of sensors is further configured to determine a position of its respective sensor using either RF receiver or localization engine or both. The plurality of sensors communicates their position to the location capture processing unit.
US08400290B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for reducing nuisance alarms associated with monitoring non-physiological parameters in a ventilatory system. Non-physiological parameters may include, but are not limited to, parameters that are internally monitored by the ventilator based on pre-configured ranges dictated by the manufacturer, by an applicable protocol, or by the clinician. Embodiments described herein seek to mitigate nuisance alarms by basing alarm conditions, at least in part, on an integral threshold such that an alarm is not generated when a monitored parameter briefly falls outside an acceptable range by a slight degree, but such that an alarm is generated when a monitored parameter falls outside an acceptable range by a more significant magnitude and/or duration.
US08400280B2
A display tag is provided. A display tag includes a sensing unit which captures an image displayed on a screen of an external tag writer, if a sensing unit is disposed opposite the screen; and a display unit which displays a captured image. Therefore, a user can visually recognize content related to tag information, and thus user convenience is enhanced.
US08400279B2
A wireless communication tag according to the present invention includes a first antenna 8 previously set with predetermined identification information, and for wirelessly communicating various types of data with a reader/writer 6; a controller (IC chip 14) for controlling the data communicated through the first antenna; a second antenna 10 for receiving an electromotive radio wave 4e for causing electric power by a radio wave; and a charging unit (rectifying circuit 16 and a capacitor 18) for causing electric power by the electromotive radio wave received from the second antenna as well as for storing the caused electric power. With use of the electric power stored in the charging unit, the first antenna supplies data relating to the identification information to the reader/writer. The second antenna also can provide the reader/writer with the identification information.
US08400274B2
A timing circuit that can function as an accurate persistent node in an RFID tag includes a power capture circuit for capturing power from a power source, and a counter circuit that provides a count representing a progression of time. The count can then be compared to a reference value representing a time constant of the circuit.
US08400265B2
The present invention is a dead front actuating assembly, including a first layer having at least one selectively illuminated area, and a second layer having a plurality of sensors used for activating the at least one selectively illuminated area such that the at least one selectively illuminated area becomes illuminated, and the first layer is adjacent to the second layer.
US08400260B2
The subject application is directed to securing authorized access to a document processing device. Address information data associated with each mobile data device is first stored in a data storage. An incoming data message is received from a first mobile data device having identifier data assigned to the mobile device. The identifier data is then compared to stored address data and operation of a document processing device is selectively enabled via a user interface associated with the processing device according to an indication that identifier data corresponding to the received data is present in the storage. Electronic document data corresponding to an electronic document is received into the document processing device. Instruction data associated with a document processing operation is then received via the interface. Confirmation data is sent to the mobile device confirming the desired document processing operation. The desired operation is then commenced on the electronic document data.
US08400255B2
A method for producing a surface mount device includes providing a plurality of layers including a B-staged top layer and bottom layer, and a C-staged middle layer with an opening. A core device is inserted into the openings, and then the top and bottom layers are placed over and under, respectively, the middle layer. The layers are cured until the layers become C-staged. The core device is substantially surrounded by an oxygen-barrier material with an oxygen permeability of less than approximately 0.4 cm3·mm/m2·atm·day.
US08400250B2
A composite (combined type of) transformer includes: a transformer core including a plurality of transformer magnetic leg portions, a transformer magnetic leg portion, and a pair of transformer bases; a plurality of inductor cores each including an inductor magnetic leg portions, inductor outer magnetic leg portions, and a pair of inductor bases; and a plurality of windings wound around the transformer magnetic leg portion and the inductor magnetic leg portions. The windings are wound to generate magnetic fluxes in such directions as to be cancelled out in a magnetic closed circuit in the transformer core.
US08400237B2
A circuit device includes a substrate 11, and a transmission line 10. The transmission line 10 includes a dielectric film 13 formed on the substrate 11, and a signal line formed on the dielectric film 13. The dielectric film 13 includes a nano-composite film in which particles of a first material are dispersed in a second material.
US08400236B2
An electronic component includes a laminated body including an insulating material layer made of a first dielectric material and a second insulating material layer made of a second dielectric material having a relative dielectric constant greater than that of the first dielectric material that are laminated to one another. An LC filter is defined by a coil included in the laminated body and a capacitor. The coil includes a coil conductor layer provided on the insulating material layer. The coil conductor layer is provided within a region including the insulating material layer.
US08400230B2
In an electronic system, a frequency modulator manages clock signals for electromagnetic interference (EMI) reduction. The illustrative frequency modulator comprises a core oscillator, and a clock divider coupled to the core oscillator that modulates frequency of the core oscillator and deterministically spreads clock spectral components of a digital clock signal whereby electromagnetic interference (EMI) is reduced. The frequency modulator further comprises a circuit coupled to the clock divider that receives the digital clock signal, combines the digital clock signal with a data bitstream for transmission across an isolation barrier, and resynchronizes to the digital clock signal.
US08400228B2
A redundancy system for a co-channel telecommunication system and related methods. Implementations of the redundancy system may include at least a first modulator and a second modulator having a symbol mapper coupled to a parallel bit signal. The symbol mapper may be configured to route each of a plurality of parallel bits received through the parallel bit signal to a plurality of significant bit signals. In a first implementation, a plurality of significant bit signal multiplexers may be used to switch the plurality of parallel bit signals to allow the first and second modulators to operate in either a redundant or operating mode. In a second implementation, a premapped symbol (PMSI) encoder and a PMSI decoder may be used to transmit the plurality of significant bit signals across an interface bus as a real dual-data rate (DDR) signal and an imaginary DDR signal.
US08400205B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to using one or more field effect transistors as a resistor. One such apparatus includes a field effect transistor with a first series circuit in parallel with the gate and the source of the field effect transistor and a second series circuit in parallel with the gate and the drain of the field effect transistor. Each series circuit can include a capacitor and a switch in series with the capacitor. The switch can be configured to be on when the field effect transistor is on, and to be off when the field effect transistor is off. This can improve the linearity of the field effect transistor as a resistor. In some implementations, the apparatus can further include an isolation resistor having a first end and a second end, the first end electrically coupled to the gate of the field effect transistor.
US08400202B2
A clock generator includes a counter receiving a reference clock signal to generate a timing signal based on the reference clock signal, and a plurality of intermittent clock generating units each coupled to a storage unit thereof storing a bit strings data, each of the intermittent clock generating units receiving the reference clock signal and the timing signal. Each of the intermittent clock generating units masks a clock pulse of the reference clock signal based on the bit string data stored in the storage unit thereof to output an intermittent clock signal in response to the timing signal.
US08400198B1
An on-chip phase-locked loop circuit has reduced power consumption in a semiconductor integrated circuit. The phase locked loop circuit is equipped with a phase frequency comparator, a loop attenuator, a charge pump, a loop filter, a voltage controlled oscillator and a divider. The attenuator includes a sampling circuit and a counter. A sampling pulse and first and second output signals both outputted from the phase frequency comparator are supplied to the sampling circuit. The sampling circuit outputs a sampling output signal. When the counter completes a countup of a predetermined number of sampling pulses outputted from the sampling circuit, the counter outputs a countup completion output signal. The charge pump outputs a charging current or a discharging current to the loop filter in response to the countup completion output signal.
US08400190B2
An integrated circuit device includes a pad adapted to receive a signal from an internal or external driver, and an input buffer circuit including an input terminal coupled to the pad. The input buffer circuit includes a pass transistor having a control terminal, a first conduction terminal connected to the pad, and a second conduction terminal connected to a first voltage. The input buffer circuit also includes a latch having a terminal electrically coupled to the control terminal of the pass transistor. The input buffer circuit further includes circuitry coupled to the latch, the circuitry including a feedback transistor having a control terminal electrically coupled to the pad, a first conduction terminal electrically coupled to a second voltage, and a second conduction terminal coupled to the latch.
US08400189B2
A voltage detection device and a semiconductor device including the same are provided. The voltage detection device includes: a first clock generator which generates a first clock signal having a period that changes according to an external voltage; a second clock generator which generates a second clock signal having a predetermined period corresponding to a reference voltage; and a detector which detects a change of the external voltage by comparing the first clock signal with the second clock signal.
US08400187B2
A logic circuit includes a thin film transistor having a channel formation region formed using an oxide semiconductor, and a capacitor having terminals one of which is brought into a floating state by turning off the thin film transistor. The oxide semiconductor has a hydrogen concentration of 5×1019 (atoms/cm3) or less and thus substantially serves as an insulator in a state where an electric field is not generated. Therefore, off-state current of a thin film transistor can be reduced, leading to suppressing the leakage of electric charge stored in a capacitor, through the thin film transistor. Accordingly, a malfunction of the logic circuit can be prevented. Further, the excessive amount of current which flows in the logic circuit can be reduced through the reduction of off-state current of the thin film transistor, resulting in low power consumption of the logic circuit.
US08400183B1
An embodiment of a method for powering a low-power device using a power supply designed for a high-power device is described. In such an embodiment, an input voltage is provided to a voltage converter at a first voltage level. The input voltage is periodically electrically coupled to and decoupled from the voltage converter during operation of the low-power device. An output voltage is output from the voltage converter at a second voltage level to power the low-power device. The output voltage is provided during both the input voltage being electrically coupled to and decoupled from the voltage converter, and the second voltage level is substantially less than the first voltage level.
US08400179B1
A method for operating a measurement system having an interconnect between the measurement system and a device under test (DUT), the interconnect exhibiting voltage drops during measurements of the DUT, includes applying a test signal to the DUT through the interconnect, the test signal having a system value at the measurement system; measuring a resulting DUT value at the DUT; adjusting the system value according to the resulting DUT value to produce successive desired DUT values at the DUT; and using the successive DUT values to measure an electrical characteristic of the DUT.
US08400177B2
A testing device is provided for testing a display panel including a first circuit board. The testing device includes a second circuit board and a pressing element. The second circuit board includes a main body, multiple test pads, multiple testing circuits and multiple conducting elements. The test pads are arranged on a first surface of the main body and corresponding to respective pins of the first circuit board. The testing circuits are formed on the second surface of the main body and corresponding to respective test pads. The first circuit board is stacked on the second circuit board. The testing circuits are electrically with respective pins through respective conducting elements and respective test pads. The pressing element presses a stacking region between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, thereby facilitating close contact between the first circuit board and the second circuit board.
US08400174B2
A method of correcting a position of a prober, the method including obtaining a first image of a pad, the pad having a predetermined reference contact position, contacting the prober to the pad after obtaining the first image of the pad, obtaining a second image of the pad after contacting the prober to the pad, determining an actual contact position of an actual contact mark on the pad, the actual contact mark being produced by the contacting of the prober to the pad, comparing the second image to the first image to obtain an offset data, the offset data relating the actual contact position to the reference contact position, and correcting the position of the prober by aligning the actual contact position with the reference contact position based on the offset data.
US08400167B2
A vectorial network analyzer including n test ports. With the connection of several different calibration standards to the test ports, several calibration measurements are implemented. For the calibration, different measurements are implemented. Initially, in n calibration measurements, a comb-generator signal is supplied via a direct connection successively to all n test ports. Using a measuring point at the output of the comb generator and the measuring point associated with the respective test port, phase measurements are implemented at all of the frequencies forming the comb-generator signal. A frequency-dependent phase offset is determined from the phase measurements. Moreover, in at least one measurement, all n test ports are terminated successively in each case using known, input impedances, identical within one measurement, of arbitrary transmission properties, wherein successively, all n test ports are excited using a transmission oscillator successively with all frequencies of the comb-generator signal.
US08400165B2
A calibration system for calibrating power sensors includes a signal generator, a first signal splitter, a second signal splitter, a third signal splitter, a first measuring point, a second measuring point, a test port and a first power sensor. In this context, the signal generator is connected to the input of the first signal splitter. A first output of the first signal splitter is connected to the second signal splitter. A first output of the second signal splitter is connected to the test port. A second output of the second signal splitter is connected to the first measuring point. A second output of the first signal splitter is connected to the third signal splitter. A first output of the third signal splitter is connected to the first power sensor. A second output of the third signal splitter is connected to the second measuring point.
US08400149B2
A method and system for automatically gating an imaging device is disclosed. Physiological process information of a patient may be derived from a plethysmographic signal, for example, by analyzing the plethysmographic signal transformed by a continuous wavelet transform. Other techniques for deriving physiological process information of a patient include, for example, analyzing a scalogram derived from the continuous wavelet transform. The physiological process information may be used to automatically gate imaging data acquired from an imaging device in order to synchronize the imaging data with the physiological process information.
US08400148B2
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus enabling highly precise spectrum measurement even when resonance frequency changes during MRS or MRSI measurement. When a pulse sequence for suppressing water signals, and an MRS or MRSI pulse sequence are sequentially executed to carry out measurement using repetitive measurement for signal integration or repetitive measurement for phase encoding, signal Sig0 from water is measured with the pulse sequence for suppressing water signals in every repetitive measurement. When the resonance frequency of water deviates from an excitation band region, nuclear magnetization included in water molecules is not excited, so that water signal strength deceases, and therefore change of static magnetic field intensity can be detected by monitoring change of signal Sig0.When water signal strength decreases below a predetermined value, it is determined that resonance frequency has shifted, preliminary measurement for detecting water resonance frequency is performed, and various frequencies are corrected during the repetitive measurement.
US08400146B2
Provided is a stray field collector (SFC) pad and a bio-molecule sensing module or a biochip using the same, and more particularly, a SFC pad, in which probe or detection molecules are attached to a plurality of magnetic labels (magnetic particles or beads) and they are bonded to complementary molecules to enhance a stray field sensor signal of the magnetic labels remaining in the vicinity of the sensor, and a bio-molecule sensing module and a biochip using the same.The provided is related to qualitative as well as quantitative detection of magnetic labels, and the SFC pad which can increase an effective surface area sensitive to the magnetic labels by probe-detection molecular bond in a magnetic biosensor and collect the resultant stray field can enhance sensitivity, accuracy and resolution of the magnetic biosensor.
US08400140B2
A sensor system for receiving an input signal and applying a digital control signal to adjust an output sensitivity of a triggering signal within the sensor system. The input signal includes a bias DC and a fluctuation bias voltage. The sensor system includes a first voltage contact, a normalized voltage contact, a normalized circuit and a comparison circuit. The first voltage contact provides a first comparison voltage based on the digital control signal, wherein the first comparison voltage defines a standby voltage region. The normalized voltage contact provides a reference voltage based on the digital control signal, wherein the reference voltage is located within the standby voltage region. When the fluctuation bias voltage is located outside of the standby voltage region, the sensor system outputs a triggering signal so as to adjust the digital control signal.
US08400139B2
Some embodiments herein relate to a sensor package. The sensor package includes a printed circuit board with a laminar current conductor arranged on a first main surface of the printed circuit board. The sensor package also includes a sensor chip adapted to measure a current flowing through the laminar current conductor, wherein the sensor chip comprises a magnetic field sensor. The sensor chip is electrically insulated from the current conductor by the printed circuit board, and is arranged on a second main surface of the printed circuit board opposite to the first main surface. The sensor chip is hermetically sealed between the mold material and the printed circuit board, or is arranged in the printed circuit board and hermetically sealed by the printed circuit board.
US08400131B2
A voltage converter circuit can include a boost converter having a switching transistor and configured to receive an input voltage, produce an output voltage and selectively operate in one of a boost mode, a skip mode and a linear mode. In the boost and skip modes, the boost converter can switch on and off the switching transistor at a switching frequency to produce an output voltage at magnitudes greater than input voltage magnitudes. In the linear mode, the boost converter can turn off the switching transistor at all times to pass the input voltage unboosted to produce an output voltage at magnitudes less than input voltage magnitudes. The boost converter can be configured to operate in the boost mode for input voltage magnitudes less than a first predetermined input voltage magnitude, in the skip mode for input voltage magnitudes between the first predetermined magnitude and a second predetermined input voltage magnitude greater than the first predetermined input voltage magnitude, and in the linear mode for input voltage magnitudes greater than the second predetermined input voltage magnitude.
US08400128B1
A voltage regulator is operated by, during a finite period of a voltage regular start mode having a plurality of current pulses, monotonically increasing the maximum current of the current pulses and a target voltage.
US08400124B2
A startup circuit for starting up a self-supplied voltage regulator which initiates startup by applying a voltage from a voltage supply to the startup circuit thus causing a voltage at an output node to rise. This rise will start the operation of the differential amplifier of the voltage regulator. When the voltage at the output node has reached the desired final output voltage, the startup circuit disconnects from the voltage regulator. The criterion for switching off the startup circuit is determined by a comparator which compares the output current capability of the voltage regulator with its output current plus the startup current. Inputs to the differential amplifier, such as the reference voltage, derive their power from the output node.
US08400122B2
This document discusses, among other things, a device for providing a DC output voltage, including a first output voltage and a second output voltage, from an input voltage. The device can include a first voltage regulator configured to provide the first output voltage when the input voltage is below a threshold voltage, and a charge pump configured to provide the second output voltage from the first output voltage in a two-state mode when the input voltage is below the threshold voltage, and to provide the first output voltage and the second output voltage in a three-state mode when the input voltage is above the threshold voltage.
US08400118B2
An excitation winding (104) and a field winding (102) are provided. A smoothing capacitor (113) smoothes a current of the excitation winding (104) and inputs it to the field winding (102). A transistor (110) is driven to control an output of the generator winding (103). A diode (112) prevents a field current from flowing in a reverse direction. A transistor (10) connected to the diode (112) is driven in a phase reverse to a phase of a drive signal of the transistor (110). A duty monitor 1 determines whether a duty ratio of the drive signal of the transistor (110) is larger than a reference duty ratio, and when the duty monitor 1 determines that the duty ratio of the drive signal is larger than the reference duty ratio, an unit (2) extends an output cycle of the drive signal by thinning out the drive signal.
US08400105B2
In a power transmission terminal, a charging control unit outputs an alternating current signal having a charging control voltage based on a charging control signal. A power transmission unit excites a near-electromagnetic field. A primary-side signal processing unit acquires a reception signal on the basis of a voltage at the power transmission unit at the time of load modulation communication and sets the charging control signal on the basis of reference information included in the reception signal. In a power receiving terminal, a power receiving unit is couplable to the near-electromagnetic field excited by power transmission unit. A charging voltage generating unit generates a charging voltage for a rechargeable battery. A load modulation unit changes the load impedance of the power receiving unit as viewed from the power transmission unit by performing load modulation at the time of load modulation communication. A secondary-side signal processing circuit controls the load modulation unit at the time of load modulation communication using the acquired reference information.
US08400103B2
A clock signal generator comprising an input pin for receiving an oscillating signal and an output pin for providing a clock signal. The clock signal generator also comprises a frequency divider connected between the input pin and the output pin. The frequency divider having a plurality of frequency division factors associated therewith, wherein, in use, the frequency divider is configured to apply one of the plurality of frequency division factors as an in-use frequency division factor to the oscillating signal in order to generate the clock signal. The clock signal generator further comprising a controller configured to periodically replace the in-use frequency division factor with another of the plurality of frequency division factors.
US08400087B2
A method and an arrangement for determining the rotation speed of a motor fed by an inverter, the arrangement comprising means for determining the rotation speed of the motor in at least two alternative manners, whereby the means for determining the rotation speed of the motor comprise one of the at least two alternative manners of performance: means for measuring the frequency of the voltage fed to the motor by the inverter; and means for estimating the rotation speed of the motor on the basis of the measured frequency.
US08400086B2
An apparatus and method for use with a PMSM detect the fall time or the rise time and the fall time of a motor current in the PMSM under different voltage vectors when the PMSM is in start-up to determine an initial rotor position for the PMSM at standstill.
US08400083B2
A current detecting device includes a current leveling unit, a first wire and a current detecting unit. The current leveling unit is configured to level a drive current that is passed through a motor drive unit to drive a motor. The first wire is configured and arranged to carry flow of a motor current that has been passed through the motor and the drive current that has been leveled by the current leveling unit. The current detecting unit is configured to detect a sum of the motor current flowing on the first wire and the drive current that has been leveled flowing on the first wire.
US08400081B2
Thermal management and control techniques for light emitting diode and other incandescent replacement light technologies using a current controller are disclosed.
US08400080B2
Methods and systems for providing stable and accurate low noise DC reference voltage are described. In the described embodiments, a feedback controlled DC reference voltage supply provides a stable and well controlled sense current. The sense current is in turn used to produce a stable and well controlled light output from a light emitting diode (LED).
US08400078B2
A driving controller for driving a load is disclosed. The driving circuit includes a driving power supply and the driving controller. The driving power supply provides a first power source to the load. The controller is coupled to a second power source to receive an electric power for operating. The controller controls the amount of the electric power to the load when operating in a first mode and stops the driving power supply from providing the electric power to the load when operating in a second mode. The controller operates exclusively in the first mode before the driving power supply provides the first power source to the load.
US08400075B2
An illumination circuit includes a series circuit including light sources connected in series between a high voltage node and a low voltage node, and break-protecting circuits. Each break-protecting circuit includes a control circuit and a bypass circuit. The bypass circuit is connected in parallel to at least one corresponding light source of the light sources. The control circuit is connected to the series circuit and the bypass circuit to detect a voltage change of the series circuit and control the bypass circuit to be in a conduct state or a blocked state according to the voltage change
US08400073B2
In a display apparatus having a backlight unit, a light unit includes plural light source strings commonly connected to an output terminal of a boosting circuit to generate light in response to a light source driving voltage. The light source strings are grouped into plural light generating groups. Plural driving circuits are respectively connected to the light generating groups, and each driving circuit sequentially outputs feedback voltages from the light source strings of a corresponding light generating group. A minimum voltage detecting circuit compares the feedback voltages with each other from the driving circuits to detect a minimum voltage and outputs a control signal according to the detected minimum voltage. A voltage control circuit controls a voltage level of the light source driving voltage in response to the control signal. Accordingly, although the number of the driving circuits increases, power consumption used in each driving circuit may be reduced.
US08400061B2
A transit vehicle lighting system has a plurality of LED-based lighting fixtures for providing interior illumination. A control network comprises a plurality of slave nodes for controlling the LED-based lighting fixtures, and a master node for controlling the slave nodes. The master node may be connected to the slave nodes by a combined power/communication bus in a daisy chain fashion. The slave node may include a power regulator and a controller for providing a target current command to the power regulator, and may adjust the target current based upon temperature measurements or a recorded age of the LEDs. An optical sensor may provide automatic dimming. A reduced number of LEDs may be used in an emergency mode. The lighting fixture may include a ceiling panel fixture and a riser panel attachable by way of a hinge mechanism.
US08400060B2
A short arc type discharge lamp wherein a cathode and an anode are arranged opposite to each other in an interior of a light emitting tube and said cathode consists of a main body part with tungsten as the main constituent and an emitter part comprised of thoriated tungsten, wherein an oxygen content of the main body part of said cathode is lower than that of the emitter part, and band-shaped tungsten carbide is formed at the tip end face of the emitter part of said cathode.
US08400059B2
Known mercury-vapor discharge lamps for planar irradiation are provided with a lamp bulb made of quartz glass, which encloses a closed discharge space having a non-linear gas-discharge channel. In order to provide a structurally simple lamp, which also guarantees a highest possible homogeneity of the UV irradiation, even for a small distance to the surface to be treated, the lamp bulb is formed as a quartz-glass chamber defined by straight walls and having bottom, top, and side walls and is divided into sub-chambers by several separating webs made of quartz glass and projecting from the bottom wall to the top wall. These sub-chambers include a front-most sub-chamber and a rear-most sub-chamber and form in series interconnection the non-linear gas-discharge channel. The separating webs extend alternately from one side wall up to close to the opposite side wall, while leaving open a gap connecting adjacent sub-chambers in a fluid-communicating manner. One electrode is allocated to the front-most sub-chamber and the other electrode is allocated to the rear-most sub-chamber.
US08400050B2
A piezoelectric vibrator includes a base substrate and a lid substrate which are bonded to each other with a cavity formed therebetween; a piezoelectric vibrating reed which has a pair of vibration arm portions extending in parallel and is mounted on the base substrate within the cavity; and a getter material of a metallic film that is formed on the base substrate or the lid substrate so as to be arranged within the cavity and improve a degree of vacuum within the cavity by being heated. A restriction portion, which is arranged in the cavity and restricts a scattering direction of the getter material evaporated by the heating to suppress a scattering amount scattering toward the vibration arm portion, is formed in the base substrate or the lid substrate.
US08400045B2
A piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric element; a stator comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein the piezoelectric element is disposed on the first surface and a plurality of projections are formed on the second surface; a rotor comprising an operating portion that contacts the plurality of projections and that rotates via waves of the stator generated by the piezoelectric element, wherein a part of each of the plurality of projections that contacts the operating portion comprises a curved contact portion.
US08400042B2
A ripple spring is provided having one or more layers laminated together, where the one or more layers form a symmetrical stack.
US08400037B2
A device for providing rotational torque includes a stator with a permanent magnet rotatably mounted contained within, a rotor arranged on one side of the stator, a pair of permanent magnets rotatably mounted on oppositely spacing sides of the rotor, which stator and rotors are arranged with gaps left therebetween in an axial direction of the driveshaft, the rotor being mounted to the driveshaft. For further acceleration of the rotor, there are mounted several permanent magnets in the stator housing, arranged in a circumferential arrangement relative to the rotor. These acceleration magnets are arranged such that the size increases with each acceleration magnet approaching the stator magnet.
US08400035B2
An electrical submersible pump according to one or more aspects of the present invention comprises a stator; a rotatably shaft; and a rotor bearing disposed between the shaft and the stator, the rotor bearing comprising carbide bearing sleeve receiving the shaft, wherein the carbide bearing sleeve does not form a keyway; and a device rotatively coupling the carbide bearing sleeve to the shaft.
US08400034B2
A protective wall system enclosing a danger zone around an alternator includes a front wall disposed at a front end of the wall system; a back wall disposed at a back end of the wall system; and a first side wall and a second side wall connecting the front wall and the back wall, wherein the front and the back wall extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the alternator, and wherein the front wall, the back wall and the first and second side walls are gas-tight. The wall system further includes a gas-tight bottom; a first casing enclosing a rotor and a stator of the alternator, wherein a service area surrounds the first casing; and at least one air guiding device configured to guide at least one of gas and heat from a bottom part of the alternator to an upper part of the alternator.
US08400033B2
An unlocking actuator for automatic unlocking of vehicle seat and manual unlocking of vehicle seat. Rotary torque generated by an electric motor in order to unlock a vehicle seat is transmitted to a rotary gear which is thereby rotated. A substantially sectorial insertion hole is formed in a pulley along the rotational direction and an abutting surface is formed on one end side of the insertion hole. A first inner cable has one end fixed to a first groove for winding formed in the outer circumferential part of the pulley and wound in the first groove for winding, and the other end connected with an unlocking mechanism. A second inner cable has one end fitted idly in a second groove for winding formed in the outer circumferential part of the pulley and wound in the second groove for winding, and the other end connected with an unlocking operation rod.
US08400023B2
Described herein are embodiments of a source resonant structure and a device resonant structure, the structures may be capable of performing wireless near-field energy transfer when separated a distance D from each other, where the absolute value of the difference of said angular frequencies w1 and w2 may be smaller than the magnitude of the coupling rate, k, and where at least one of the resonant structures comprises a high-Q capacitively-loaded conducting-wire loop.
US08400012B2
An electronically reconfigurable battery includes a number of battery modules selectively interconnected by a number of electronic switches, wherein a selectable number of battery modules may be connected either in a series configuration or in a parallel configuration, as a result of placing selected switches of said plurality of switches in open states or closed states. In a parallel configuration, the battery provides power to a primary load, such as a propulsion load for a vehicle. In a series configuration, the battery is configured to provide a high voltage and high power output to a short-term and/or pulsed load, such as an additional load provided on the vehicle.
US08400010B2
An electrical switchgear (1) for feeding at least two electrical consumers (3.1 to 3.n) with electrical energy from at least two energy sources (2.1 to 2.n), has at least one section (6.1 to 6.n) with two busbars (7.1 to 7.n) and a number of switches (8.1 to 8.n), wherein each busbar (7.1 to 7.n) is connectable to at least one of the energy sources (2.1 to 2.n) via one of the switches (8.1 to 8.n) for each energy source (2.1 to 2.n), respectively and wherein each busbar (7.1 to 7.n) is connectable to each one of the electrical consumers (3.1 to 3.n) via one of the switches (8.1 to 8.n) for each electrical consumer (3.1 to 3.n), respectively.
US08400005B2
A turbine wheel is rotatable in response to expansion of a working fluid flowing from near an inlet side towards an outlet side of the turbine wheel. The turbine wheel may receive the working fluid radially into the inlet side of the turbine wheel and output the working fluid axially from its outlet side. A generator has a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be coupled to the turbine wheel and may rotate at the same speed as the turbine wheel when the turbine wheel rotates. In certain instances, the generator is adjacent the inlet side of the turbine wheel.
US08400001B2
A generator set includes an internal combustion engine and a generator driven by the engine. The generator provides electricity to a plurality of loads, each of which is selectively connected to the generator by a switch. The generator set is controlled by a method that includes receiving a command to connect a given load to the generator. In response to that command, a throttle of the engine is changed to a transition throttle position and an transition excitation voltage is applied to the generator. Then the switch is operated to connect the given load to the generator. Thereafter, in response to a defined event occurring, the throttle is changed to a normal position and a normal excitation voltage is applied to the generator.
US08399992B2
Provided are a semiconductor package and a method for fabricating the same. The semiconductor package includes a lower package comprising a lower substrate, a lower semiconductor chip mounted on the lower substrate and comprising a redistribution, and a molding layer molding the lower semiconductor chip, an upper package comprising an upper substrate and an upper semiconductor chip mounted on the upper substrate, with the upper package being stacked on the lower package. The semiconductor package further includes an electrical interconnector extending from the upper substrate into the molding layer and connected to the redistribution to electrically connect the upper and lower packages to each other, and a dummy interconnector extending from the upper substrate into the molding layer to physically couple the upper and lower packages to each other.
US08399988B2
A multiple integrated circuit chip structure provides interchip communication between integrated circuit chips of the structure with no ESD protection circuits and no input/output circuitry. The interchip communication is between internal circuits of the integrated circuit chips. The multiple integrated circuit chip structure has an interchip interface circuit to selectively connect internal circuits of the integrated circuits to test interface circuits having ESD protection circuits and input/output circuitry designed to communicate with external test systems during test and burn-in procedures. The multiple interconnected integrated circuit chip structure has a first integrated circuit chip mounted to one or more second integrated circuit chips to physically and electrically connect the integrated circuit chips to one another. The first integrated circuit chips have interchip interface circuits connected each other to selectively communicate between internal circuits of the each other integrated circuit chips or test interface circuits, connected to the internal circuits of each integrated circuit chip to provide stimulus and response to said internal circuits during testing procedures. A mode selector receives a signal external to the chip to determine whether the communication is to be with one of the other connected integrated circuit chips or in single chip mode, such as with the test interface circuits. ESD protection is added to the mode selector circuitry.
US08399984B2
A semiconductor package comprises a semiconductor chip, through electrodes and cooling parts. The semiconductor chip has bonding pads on an upper surface thereof. The through-electrodes are formed in the semiconductor chip. The cooling parts are formed in the semiconductor chip and on the upper surface of the semiconductor chip in order to dissipate heat.
US08399972B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, an overmolded package includes a component situated on a substrate. The overmolded package further includes an overmold situated over the component and the substrate. The overmolded package further includes a wirebond cage situated over the substrate and in the overmold, where the wirebond cage surrounds the component, and where the wirebond cage includes a number of wirebonds. The wirebond cage forms an EMI shield around the component. According to this exemplary embodiment, the overmolded package further includes a conductive layer situated on a top surface of the overmold and connected to the wirebond cage, where the conductive layer forms an EMI shield over the component.
US08399967B2
A package structure including a circuit substrate, at least a chip, leads and an encapsulant is provided. The circuit substrate has a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and contacts disposed on the first surface. The chip is disposed on the second surface of the circuit substrate and electrically connected to the circuit substrate. The leads are disposed on the periphery of the second surface and surround the chip. Each lead has an inner lead portion and an outer lead portion and is electrically connected to the circuit substrate via the inner lead portion. The encapsulant encapsulates the circuit substrate, the chip and the inner lead portion and exposes the first surface of the circuit substrate and the outer lead portion, wherein the upper surface of the encapsulant and the first surface of the circuit substrate are coplanar with each other.
US08399960B2
A plurality of semiconductor chips are juxtaposed, each having an electromagnetic induction coil disposed thereon. A signal is transmitted by way of electromagnetic induction between the electromagnetic induction coils disposed on a pair of adjacent semiconductor chips.
US08399949B2
Some embodiments include photonic systems. The systems may include a silicon-containing waveguide configured to direct light along a path, and a detector proximate the silicon-containing waveguide. The detector may comprise a detector material which has a lower region and an upper region, with the lower region having a higher concentration of defects than the upper region. The detector material may comprise germanium in some embodiments. Some embodiments include methods of forming photonic systems.
US08399943B2
A non-volatile magnetic memory element includes a number of layers one of which is a free layer which is graded. The graded free layer may include various elements with each element having a different anisotropy or it may include nonmagnetic compounds and magnetic regions with the non-magnetic compounds forming graded contents forming a unique shape such as cone shaped, diamond shaped or other shapes and whose thickness is based on the reactivity of the magnetic compound.
US08399942B2
A non-volatile magnetic memory element includes a number of layers one of which is a free layer which is graded. The graded free layer may include various elements with each element having a different anisotropy or it may include nonmagnetic compounds and magnetic regions with the non-magnetic compounds forming graded contents forming a unique shape such as cone shaped, diamond shaped or other shapes and whose thickness is based on the reactivity of the magnetic compound.
US08399940B2
A package structure having MEMS elements includes: a wafer having MEMS elements, electrical contacts and second alignment keys; a plate disposed over the MEMS elements and packaged airtight; transparent bodies disposed over the second alignment keys via an adhesive; an encapsulant disposed on the wafer to encapsulate the plate, the electrical contacts and the transparent bodies; bonding wires embedded in the encapsulant and each having one end connecting a corresponding one of the electrical contacts and the other end exposed from a top surface of the encapsulant; and metal traces disposed on the encapsulant and electrically connected to the electrical contacts via the bonding wires. The present invention eliminates the need to form through holes in a silicon substrate as in the prior art so as to reduce fabrication costs. Further, the present invention accomplishes wiring processes by using a common alignment device to thereby reduce equipment costs.
US08399913B2
A field-effect semiconductor device such as a HEMT or MESFET is monolithically integrated with a Schottky diode for feedback, regeneration, or protection purposes. The field-effect semiconductor device includes a main semiconductor region having formed thereon a source, a drain, and a gate between the source and the drain. Also formed on the main semiconductor region, preferably between gate and drain, is a Schottky electrode electrically coupled to the source. The Schottky electrode provides a Schottky diode in combination with the main semiconductor region. A current flow is assured from Schottky electrode to drain without interruption by a depletion region expanding from the gate.
US08399906B2
The invention discloses an AlGaInP-based LED with double reflective layers and a fabrication method thereof. The method includes: providing a temporary substrate; forming an epitaxial layer on a front of the temporary substrate; forming a distributed Bragg reflector on the epitaxial layer; forming an some openings in the distributed Bragg reflector, such that the arrangement of the distributed Bragg reflector is grid-like and a portion of a top of the epitaxial layer is exposed; forming a reflective metal layer on the distributed Bragg reflector and on the exposed portion of the top of the epitaxial layer, to fill the openings; bonding a permanent substrate onto the reflective metal layer; removing the temporary substrate; forming a first electrode and a second electrode at a bottom of the epitaxial layer and a top of the permanent substrate, respectively; and dicing to obtain the AlGaInP-based LED chips. The AlGaInP-based LED with both the distributed Bragg reflector and the reflective metal layer according to the invention can fully utilize good reflectivity of the reflective layers to the extreme, and improve the light-emission efficiency of the AlGaInP-based LED effectively.
US08399905B2
Provided is a flat panel display apparatus including a sealant which has a small effective width and is able to effectively attach a substrate and an encapsulation substrate. The flat panel display apparatus includes the substrate, a display unit disposed on the substrate, the encapsulation substrate disposed facing the substrate so that the display unit is disposed on inner side of the encapsulation substrate, and the sealant attaching the substrate and the encapsulation substrate, wherein an end surface of the sealant facing the substrate contacts a silicon oxide layer disposed on the substrate.
US08399903B2
A high power LED lamp has a GaN chip placed over an AlGaInP chip. A reflector is placed between the two chips. Each of the chips has trenches diverting light for output. The chip pair can be arranged to produce white light having a spectral distribution in the red to blue region that is close to that of daylight. Also, the chip pair can be used to provide an RGB lamp or a red-amber-green traffic lamp. The active regions of both chips can be less than 50 microns away from a heat sink.
US08399902B2
A light emitting device includes a light emitting diode chip, and a first lead terminal in which a bottom portion including a mounting region for the light emitting diode chip is formed, and a side wall continuing to the bottom portion and having an inner surface serving as a reflecting surface for light emitted from the light emitting diode chip is continuously formed. Further, the light emitting device includes a second lead terminal provided to be spaced from the first lead terminal. Furthermore, the light emitting device includes a resin portion which supports the first lead terminal and the second lead terminal, and in which a cavity exposing a portion of the second lead terminal and the mounting region in the first lead terminal is formed.
US08399899B2
A light emitting device includes: a substrate; an LED chip provided on a main surface of the substrate; and a printed resistor element connected in parallel with the LED chip, the printed resistor element being provided in at least one of regions (i) on the main surface of the substrate, (ii) on a back surface of the substrate, and (iii) inside the substrate. According to the arrangement, it is possible to provide: a light emitting device which can emit light having preferable luminance without a reduction in optical output by suppressing light shielding and light absorption of light emitted from the LED toward the outside; and a method for manufacturing the light emitting device.
US08399882B2
Transistors and methods of manufacturing the same. A transistor may be an oxide thin film transistor (TFT) with a self-aligned top gate structure. The transistor may include a gate insulating layer between a channel region and a gate electrode that extends from two sides of the gate electrode. The gate insulating layer may cover at least a portion of source and drain regions.
US08399880B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to heteroarylamine compounds represented by Formula 1, and organic light-emitting devices including the heteroarylamine compounds. The organic light-emitting devices using the heteroarylamine compounds have high-efficiency, low driving voltages, high luminance and long lifespans.
US08399878B2
Highly uniform silica nanoparticles can be formed into stable dispersions with a desirable small secondary particle size. The silica particles can be surface modified to form the dispersions. The silica nanoparticles can be doped to change the particle properties and/or to provide dopant for subsequent transfer to other materials. The dispersions can be printed as an ink for appropriate applications. The dispersions can be used to selectively dope semiconductor materials such as for the formation of photovoltaic cells or for the formation of printed electronic circuits.
US08399876B2
A semiconductor die includes at least one first region and at least one second region. The at least one first region is configured to emit light having at least a first wavelength. The at least one second region is configured to emit light having at least a second wavelength, which is different from the first wavelength.
US08399874B2
Provided are a vertical nonvolatile memory device and a method for fabricating the vertical nonvolatile memory device. The vertical nonvolatile memory device can be integrated more highly as compared with a nonvolatile memory device of the related art. In addition, since the vertical nonvolatile memory device includes a selective diode, reading errors can be prevented.
US08399859B2
The invention provides a device for the detection and mapping of radiation, the device comprising a polymeric core located within an external shell material, wherein the polymeric core comprises at least one radiation sensitive component and the external sheath comprises a collimation sheath. Preferably, the polymeric core comprises a spherical core which is encased within the external shell. The external shell is preferably comprised of a metal, most preferably lead or tungsten. The invention also provides a method for the detection and mapping of radiation in a location, which comprises: (a) placing a device according to the invention in the location to be investigated; (b) allowing the device to remain in the location and be exposed to the radiation for a predetermined length of time; (c) removing the device from the location; (d) removing the polymeric core from the external shell; and (e) analysing said polymeric core by means of an optical analysis technique applying a software-based image reconstruction algorithm in order to determine the location, form and intensity of said radiation. The device and method of the invention facilitate the detection and mapping of radiation, and find particular use in mapping the location, intensity and identity of radio-logical hazards in 3 dimensions in sites such as active cells, gloveboxes, other active plants and confined spaces. Advantages over the prior art include the lack of requirement for an electrical supply, and the ability to deal with high radiation backgrounds and to be deployed in confined or restricted spaces.
US08399857B2
The invention is directed to a resolution-enhanced luminescence microscopy method in which a sample is excited to the emission of luminescence radiation through irradiation by excitation radiation, and an image of the luminescing sample is acquired. A first partial volume of the sample is irradiated by a first laser radiation field of the excitation radiation, and a second partial volume of the sample is irradiated by a second laser radiation field of the excitation radiation. The first partial volume of the sample and the second partial volume of the sample overlap one another partially but not completely. Only the first laser radiation field is modulated with a first frequency, and luminescence radiation is detected from the first partial volume of the sample with modulation filtering so that luminescence radiation from the second partial volume of the sample is suppressed.
US08399849B1
An activation detector for fast-neutrons has a yttrium target exposed to a neutron source. Fast-neutrons which have energy in excess of 1 MeV (above a threshold energy level) generate gamma rays from a nuclear reaction with the yttrium, the gamma rays having an energy level of 908.96 keV, and the resultant gamma rays are coupled to a scintillator which generates an optical response, the optical response of the scintillator is coupled to a photomultiplier tube which generates an electrical response. The number of counts from the photomultiplier tube provides an accurate indication of the fast-neutron flux, and the detector is exclusively sensitive to fast-neutrons with an energy level over 1 MeV, thereby providing a fast-neutron detector which does not require calibration or the setting of a threshold.
US08399839B2
A first, upper slotted disk (10) and a second, lower slotted disk (20) are arranged as a gas inlet (11) in a gas-measuring device (1). The first, upper slotted disk (10) and the second, lower slotted disk (20) are connected to one another and to a sensor housing (2) via a spacer element (29). The arrangement of the slotted disks (10, 20) in relation to one another is selected to be such that reduced propagation of light of an infrared radiation source (43) through both slotted disks (10, 20) into the measuring environment is achieved.
US08399821B2
A light source integrated photoelectric conversion apparatus is provided, which includes: a light-emitting element that includes a light-emitting layer, and emits light in a predetermined emission direction through one surface of the light-emitting layer; and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that includes a photoelectric conversion layer formed on a region which is not overlapped with the light-emitting layer, and converts light having passed through one surface of the photoelectric conversion layer into an electrical signal. In the light source integrated photoelectric conversion apparatus, the light-emitting element is formed on the same substrate as that of the plurality of photoelectric conversion element, one surface of the photoelectric conversion layer is disposed on the side opposite to the emission direction further away from the other surface of the light-emitting layer, and one surface of the light-emitting layer and the substrate face each other.
US08399801B2
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board is disclosed. The method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes providing an insulation layer having a first area and a second area formed thereon, forming a solder resist layer on the insulation layer, in which the solder resist layer has a first opening formed thereon and the first opening exposes the first area, forming a first surface treatment layer on the first area inside the first opening, forming a second opening on the solder resist layer, in which the second opening exposes the second area, and forming a second surface treatment layer on the second area inside the second opening.
US08399800B2
A manufacturing method for a metal mark plates is disclosed. In this manufacturing method, a welding flux layer is firstly disposed onto a metal base plate, and a plurality of metal mark parts are arranged on corresponding regions of the metal base plate on which the welding flux layer is disposed. Thereafter, a laser spot welding step is performed to assemble the metal mark parts with the metal base plate by heating the backside of the metal back plate at a location corresponding to the welding flux layer. This manufacturing method therefore provides a fast and stable welding way for manufacturing the metal mark plate. Besides, this manufacturing method can be applied for automatic production and precise mass production could thereby be accomplished.
US08399785B2
An electronic apparatus includes: an apparatus body which can house a battery; a lid member which is coupled to the apparatus body; an operating portion which is moved between an ON position where a power source supplied from the battery is turned ON, and an OFF position where the power source is turned OFF; and a unit which, when the operating portion is not at a position which is one of the ON position and the OFF position, moves the operating portion to the position and holds the operating portion at the position in accordance with removal or coupling of the lid member from or to the apparatus body.
US08399780B2
The present invention provides a configuration of a computer-chassis containment or other electromagnetic device method for manufacture in which a “one-hit” solution may be implemented to provide adequate electromagnetic interference shielding (EMC shielding) and is configured such that shielding gaskets, “spoons” or other excessive structures may be reduced or eliminated completely. Patterned sinusoidal “patterns” that are stamped, molded, cut, or extruded into one or more sides of a “box” provide sufficient EMI shielding, such that the need for gaskets is reduced or eliminated.
US08399776B2
A substrate having single patterned metal layer includes a patterned base having at least a plurality of apertures, the patterned metal layer disposed on the patterned base, and a first surface finish layer. Parts of the lower surface of the patterned metal layer are exposed by the apertures of the patterned base to form a plurality of first contact pads for downward electrical connection externally, and parts of the upper surface of the patterned metal layer function as a plurality of second contact pads for upward electrical connection externally. The first surface finish layer is disposed at least on one or more surfaces of the second contact pads, and the first surface finish layer is wider than the second contact pad beneath. A package applied with the substrate disclosed herein further comprises at least a die conductively connected to the second contact pads of the substrate.
US08399764B2
A water resistant case is provided for a mobile electronic device. The case includes a buoyancy feature, and is sized and configured so that the case is buoyant in water when containing the mobile electronic device. A closure portion of the case is movable between an extended position for receiving the mobile electronic device, to a folded position when the case contains the mobile electronic device. In the folded position the closure portion is provided adjacent to the rest of the case. The configuration of the case is such that the case can be relatively form fitting to the mobile electronic device.
US08399762B2
The present invention provides an electrical feed-through (200) for making a durable and reliable electrical connection through a wall (227) of a vacuum chamber (225). The electrical feed-through (200) comprises a tubular member having an open end (217) and a closed end (219). At least one conductor (201) extends through the closed end (217) and is fixed thereto by a vacuum sealing joint (214). The joint (214) is arranged so that it is not in line-of-sight from the open end (217). In this way impinging elements (220) and direct heat radiation (221) is prevented from directly reaching the joint (214), thereby extending the time it takes for contamination of the joint (214) to cause problems.
US08399761B2
An organic photovoltaic device and method of forming same. In one embodiment, the organic photovoltaic device has an anode, a cathode, an active layer disposed between the anode and the cathode; and an interfacial layer disposed between the anode and the active layer, the interfacial layer comprising 5,5′-bis[(p-trichlorosilylpropylphenyl)phenylamino]-2,2′-bithiophene (PABTSi2).
US08399760B2
A solar cell having an improved electrode structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a via hole, an emitter portion, a base, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The semiconductor substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other. The emitter portion is formed adjacent to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and extends to the second surface of the semiconductor substrate through a portion adjacent to the via hole. The first electrode includes a first electrode portion formed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode portion includes a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width larger than the first width, and the second portion corresponds to the via hole.
US08399746B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024350. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024350. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024350 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024350 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08399745B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023603. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023603. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023603 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023603 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08399744B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023486. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023486. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023486 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023486 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08399740B2
A hybrid cucumber designated ‘Corinto’ is disclosed having resistance to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), cucumber mosaic virus and cucumber vein yellowing virus. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid cucumber ‘Corinto,’ to the plants of hybrid cucumber ‘Corinto’ and to methods for producing a cucumber plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the hybrid ‘Corinto’ with itself or another cucumber plant. The invention further relates to methods for producing a cucumber plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other cucumber lines, cultivars or hybrids derived from the hybrid cucumber ‘Corinto.’
US08399736B2
Transgenic soybean seed having increased total fatty acid content of at least 10% and altered fatty acid profiles when compared to the total fatty acid content of non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed are described. DGAT genes from oleaginous organisms are used to achieve the increase in seed storage lipids.
US08399735B2
The present invention describes a novel plant hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene, (HSD) that is involved in a variety of physiological processes in higher plants. The novel gene product has a degree of similarity to mammalian β-11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase genes, known to control the conversion of steroids from active to inactive forms. In plants, the over expression of the HSD gene results in transgenic plants with significantly greater biomass and vigor, increased seed yield, increased tolerance to salt and a suppression of ABA mediated seed dormancy.
US08399733B1
A novel maize variety designated X8P449 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 X8P449 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8P449 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8P449, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8P449. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8P449.
US08399732B2
An adhesive patch configured to attach an ostomy appliance to a patient includes a peripheral rim disposed around a central hole that is attachable to a stoma of the patient; and a band of adhesive extending from the peripheral rim to an inner border of the adhesive patch and having a pattern of curvilinear indentations extending to the peripheral rim of the patch.
US08399730B2
A closing dressing bolster and assembly for use with a system for treating a linear wound on a patient includes a bolster body formed from a flexible closing bolster material having closing members that are operable to develop an inward closing force when the closing dressing bolster is placed under reduced pressure. In one aspect, when the closing dressing bolster is under reduced pressure, the system, dressing, or assembly develops an inward force realized at the linear wound and a compression force. A wicking-material holder and wicking material may be used as well. The member components may all be see-through to allow visual inspection of the wound without requiring removal of the dressing.
US08399728B2
A process for conversion of methanol to olefins (MTO), including: contacting methanol and air in a methanol-to-olefins reactor; recovering an effluent from the methanol-to-olefins reactor comprising methanol, ethylene, and nitrogen oxides; separating the effluent via one or more reactive distillation and/or distillation stages using a hydrocarbon absorbent to recover a first fraction comprising ethylene and a second fraction comprising methane; wherein the separating comprises operating the one or more extractive distillation and/or distillation stages at temperatures and pressures sufficient to prevent any substantial conversion of nitrogen oxides to N2O3.
US08399727B2
In a process for the production of para-xylene, an aromatic feedstock comprising toluene and/or benzene is reacted with methanol under alkylation conditions in a reactor in the presence of a fluidized bed of solid catalyst particles to produce a vapor phase effluent comprising para-xylene, water, unreacted toluene and/or benzene and solid catalyst fines. The vapor phase effluent is contacted with a liquid hydrocarbon quench stream under conditions to condense a minor portion of the vapor phase effluent and produce a condensate which contains at least some of the catalyst fines and which is substantially free of an aqueous phase. The condensate containing said catalyst fines is then separated from the remainder of the vapor phase effluent.
US08399720B2
A new method for preparing fluorinated phenylsulfur pentafluorides is disclosed. A fluorinated phenylsulfur halotetrafluoride is reacted with SbFnClm and SbF3 to form a fluorinated phenylsulfur pentafluoride.
US08399715B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the chemical conversion of syngas to alcohols. The invention includes catalyst compositions, methods of making the catalyst compositions, and methods of using the catalyst compositions. Certain embodiments teach compositions for catalyzing the conversion of syngas into products comprising at least one C1-C4 alcohol, such as ethanol. These compositions generally include cobalt, molybdenum, and sulfur. Preferred catalyst compositions for converting syngas into alcohols include cobalt associated with sulfide in certain preferred stoichiometries as described and taught herein.
US08399713B2
Disclosed are compositions comprising a compound having the formula CF3(CF2)xCF═CFCF(OR)(CF2)yCF3, wherein R is CH3 or C2H5 or mixtures thereof, and wherein x and y are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3, and wherein x+y=1, 2 or 3. Also disclosed are unsaturated fluoroethers selected from the group consisting of CF3(CF2)xCF═CFCF(OR)(CF2)yCF3, CF3(CF2)xC(OR)═CFCF2(CF2)yCF3, CF3CF═CFCF(OR)(CF2)x(CF2)yCF3, CF3(CF2)xCF═C(OR)CF2(CF2)yCF3, and mixtures thereof, wherein R can be either CH3, C2H5 or mixtures thereof, and wherein x and y are independently 0, 1, 2 or 3, and wherein x+y=0, 1, 2 or 3. Also disclosed herein are novel methods of using a composition comprising at least one of the compounds described above as novel solvents, carrier fluids, dewatering agents, degreasing solvents or defluxing solvents.
US08399710B2
An alkali metal fluoride dispersion of an alkali metal fluoride and an aprotic organic solvent is obtainable by (A) separating a liquid phase from an alkali metal fluoride dispersion comprising an alcohol solvent and an alkali metal fluoride, and mixing the separated liquid phase with an aprotic organic solvent having a boiling point of 85° C. or higher at normal pressure; (B) obtaining a mixture containing the alkali metal fluoride by (b1) concentrating the mixture containing the alkali metal fluoride to obtain a concentrated fraction and a concentrated residue; (b2) mixing a residue of the alkali metal fluoride dispersion with the concentrated fraction obtained in (b1); and (b3) separating a liquid phase from the mixture containing an alkali metal fluoride obtained in (b2) and mixing the separated liquid phase with the concentrated residue; and (C) removing the alcohol solvent from the mixture containing the alkali metal fluoride.
US08399709B2
The subject of the present invention is a method for the sulphonylation of a hydroxylated organic compound. The invention relates more particularly to a method for the trifluoromethanesulphonylation of a hydroxylated organic compound. The invention is especially intended for perfluorinated aliphatic hydroxylated compounds. The method of the invention for the sulphonylation of a hydroxylated organic compound is characterized in that it comprises reacting said compound with a sulphonylation agent in an organic medium and in the presence of a heterogeneous inorganic base.
US08399707B2
There are provided a 4-(trichloromethylthio)aniline represented by the general formula (II): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R2 each independently represents a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R3 represents a formyl group, an acetyl group, or a trifluoroacetyl group, and m represents an integer of 0 to 4, a method for producing the same, and a method for producing a 4-(trifluoromethylthio)aniline derivative using the 4-(trichloromethylthio)aniline. It becomes possible to produce a 4-(trifluoromethylthio)aniline with a high yield by using raw materials that can easily be obtained industrially and using general purpose production facilities.
US08399703B2
The invention provides a compound which is useful in production of a fluoropolymer and easy to be removed from the produced fluoropolymer, a method of producing the compound, and a method of producing a fluoropolymer using the compound. The invention provides a compound which is represented by Rf1—CH2O—CF2—CHF—Rf2—X, wherein Rf1 represents a fluoroalkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, Rf2 represents a fluoroalkylene group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, X represents —COOM or —SO3M, and M represents one of H, K, Na, and NH4.
US08399700B2
A process is disclosed for the production of vinyl acetate where a mixture of ethylene, acetic acid, and oxygen is reacted in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product mixture of vinyl acetate, ethylene, carbon dioxide, acetic acid, water, ethyl acetate, and ethylene glycol diacetate. The product mixture contains both a gaseous phase and a liquid phase, which are separated. The gas phase contains at least carbon dioxide, which is removed via gas stream. The crude vinyl acetate stream is removed via a liquid stream. The crude vinyl acetate is then further separated to isolate a stream containing at the majority of the ethylene glycol diacetate. The ethylene glycol diacetate stream is then methanolyzed in the presence of a methanolyzing catalyst, to recover methyl acetate, which can be optionally recycled as a feed stock to an acetic acid plant.
US08399696B2
This invention relates to the discovery of functionalized triclosan monomers and oligomers that, when incorporated into a substrate of, or applied as part of a coating to, medical devices and/or consumer products may extend the duration of antimicrobial properties to the medical devices and/or consumer products.
US08399685B2
To provide a novel process for producing a 2-aryl-3-hydroxy-4-substituted carbonyl thiophene compound or an intermediate thereof useful as an intermediate for production of medicines and agricultural chemicals.A 2-aryl acetate compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is an aryl group or the like, R4 is a C1-3 alkyl group or the like, and X is a leaving group, is reacted with a thioacetic acid compound to form a thioacetyl compound (3), the thioacetyl compound (3) is reacted with a vinyl ketone compound to form a γ-ketosulfide compound (5), which is cyclized under basic conditions to form a dihydrothiophene compound (6), and the dihydrothiophene compound (6) is oxidized by using an oxidizing agent to produce a 2-aryl-3-hydroxy-4-substituted carbonyl thiophene compound (7).
US08399674B2
The present invention relates to 2-aminoquinolines of formula I wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the specification, as 5-HT5A receptor antagonists, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use for the treatment of CNS disorders.
US08399672B2
A compound effective as a probe targeting amyloid for image diagnosis and a reagent comprising the compound for detecting amyloid deposited on a biological tissue are provided. Provided are a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3 independently represent a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, hydroxyl group, alkyl substituent with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxy substituent having alkyl chain with 1 to 4 carbon atoms and halogen substituent, excluding the case where two or more of the substituents R1, R2 and R3 are hydrogen, R4 is a group selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, hydroxyl group, alkoxy substituent having alkyl chain with 1 to 4 carbon atoms and halogen substituent, and m is an integer of 1 to 4, provided that at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 represents a radioactive halogen substituent, and a reagent comprising the same.
US08399668B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 5-(2-amino-pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-aryl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamides and to the useful intermediate compounds of such process. 5-(2-Amino-pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-aryl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxamides are described and claimed in WO2007110344, which also discloses processes for their preparation. These compounds can be advantageously prepared through a process which allows to obtain the desired products in high yields and purity and with a limited number of steps. The synthesis is starting from a cyano pyrrole derivative, and is characterized from the final hydrolysis of 5-(2-amino-pyrimidin-4-yl)-2-aryl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile. The compounds prepared according to the process of the present invention are endowed with protein kinase inhibiting activity and, more particularly, Cdc7 or Cdc7/Cdks inhibiting activity. The compounds are therefore useful in the treatment of a variety of cancers, cell proliferative disorders and diseases associated with protein kinases.
US08399663B2
Anytime obtained is uniform crystal of N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N′-phenyl-N″-(pyrimidin-2-ylmethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (compound A) and/or N,N′-bis (4-fluorophenyl)-N″-(pyrimidin-2-ylmethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (compound B) as a medicament or a starting material for the preparation of the medicament, and provided are a fumarate of the compound A and/or the compound B having excellent stability and a novel crystal thereof. A salt of the compound A and/or the compound B with fumaric acid enables uniform crystal to be anytime obtained, and thus, it is a compound that is very useful as a medicament or a starting material for the preparation of the medicament having excellent stability.
US08399642B2
Provided herein are isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments from the from the p15 region of chromosome 11 encoding human ribosomal protein L26 (RIBO26) and methods of use.
US08399640B2
Provided herein are isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments from the from the p15 region of chromosome 11 encoding human SMS3 (SMS3) and methods of use.
US08399633B2
During the production of recombinant proteins from gram negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPS, endotoxin) are released along with the protein of interest. In many instances, LPS will copurify with the target protein due to specific or non-specific protein-ILPS interactions. We have investigated the ability of alkanediols to effect the separation of LPS from protein-LPS complexes while the complexes are immobilized on anion or cation exchange chromatographic media. Alkanediols provide a safer alternative to the use of other organics such as alcohols or acetonitrile due to their lower toxicity and decreased flammability. In addition, they are less costly than many of the detergents that have been used for such purposes. LPS removal efficiency increased with increasing alkane chain length. 1,2-alkanediols were more effective than terminal alkanediols in the separation of LPS from protein LPS complexes.
US08399628B2
A method of modulating immune response in an animal is disclosed. Such a method interacting the immature dendritic cells from the animal with an antigen ex vivo so that the immature dendritic cells present the antigen on their surfaces, inducing maturation of the immature dendritic cells ex vivo, and contacting the mature dendritic cells ex vivo with a modulator comprising TRANCE, conservative variants thereof, fragments thereof, analogs or derivatives thereof, or a fusion protein comprising the amino acid sequence of TRANCE, conservative variants thereof, or fragments thereof. After contacting the modulator ex vivo, the mature dendritic cells are introduced into the animal. As a result, immune response in the animal towards the antigen is modulated relative to the immune response against the antigen in an animal in which dendritic cells did not interact with the antigen ex vivo, and did not contact a modulator ex vivo. Preferably, the method of the present invention results in increasing immune response towards the antigen in the animal.
US08399627B2
Provided herein are antibodies, antigen binding portions, and derivatives thereof that are capable of binding tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα); nucleic acids encoding the antibodies, antigen binding portions, and derivatives thereof, including complementary nucleic acids; vectors; and host cells containing the nucleic acids.
US08399618B2
An Fc variant of a parent Fc polypeptide, wherein said Fc variant exhibits altered binding to one or more FcγRs, wherein said Fc variant comprises at least one amino acid insertion in the Fc region of said parent Fc polypeptide.
US08399616B2
The fusion protein comprising (1) a first region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18 and (2) a second region comprising an amino acid sequence for a polypeptide containing at least one cysteine residue for binding to other useful compound via the thiol group can be modified by chemical modification, and thus has a high catalytic ability for a luminescence activity and is highly available for general purposes.
US08399611B2
The template-fixed β-hairpin peptidomimetics Cyclo(-Tyr-His-X-Cys-Ser-Ala-DPro-Dab-Arg-Tyr-Cys-Tyr-Gln-Lys-DPro-Pro), disulfide bond between Cys4 and Cys11, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, with X being Ala or Tyr, have CXCR4 antagonizing properties and can be used for preventing HIV infections in healthy individuals or for slowing and halting viral progression in infected patients; or where cancer is mediated or resulting from CXCR4 receptor activity; or where immunological diseases are mediated or resulting from CXCR4 receptor activity; or for treating immuno suppression; or for treating inflammation, or, in particular, for stem cell mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells and/or mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and/or other stem cells which retention depend on the CXCR4-receptor.
US08399606B2
A thermally processable graft copolymer formed from a water soluble polymer and a water insoluble polymer, wherein the graft copolymer forms a hydrogel upon exposure to water.
US08399601B2
A method for preparing dialkyl carbonates of dianhydrohexitol, includes the following steps: (a) preparing an initial reaction mixture containing at least one dianhydrohexitol, at least two mole equivalents of a dialkyl carbonate of formula and a transesterification catalyst; (b) heating the reaction mixture to a temperature greater than or equal to the boiling temperature of the formed alcohol, or of the azeotrope thereof, in a reaction chamber preferably provided with a rectification column including a sufficient number of theoretical distillation plates to separate the resulting alcohol from the reaction mixture. Certain dialkyl carbonates of dianhydrohexitols produced by the method and the use thereof for synthesizing synthetic polymers are also described.
US08399600B2
The present invention generally relates to the large-scale (e.g., greater than 1 kg scale) preparation of low molecular weight polylysine or polyornithine in high yield by preparing a polylysine or polyornithine having a weight average molecular weight from about 12,500 Daltons to about 22,000 Daltons and hydrolyzing it to produce a polylysine or polyornithine having a weight average molecular weight from about 5,500 Daltons to about 12,000 Daltons. In preferred embodiments, the polymer is a homopolymer of poly-L-lysine.
US08399598B2
The object of this invention is to provide a copolycarbonate that is excellent in heat resistance, thermal stability and moldability and that uses a renewable resource as a raw material. This invention is a copolycarbonate including 50 to 99 mol % of a carbonate constituent unit (1) of the following formula and 50 to 1 mol% of a carbonate constituent unit (2) derived from an aliphatic diol having a boiling point of 180° C. or higher under reduced pressure of 4×10−3 MPa.
US08399591B2
An organopolysiloxane containing both an amino functional organic group and a mercapto functional organic group is disclosed. A method of making such amino-mercapto functional organopolysiloxanes is by reacting (A) a silanol-functional polysiloxane, (B) an amino functional alkoxy silane, and (C) a mercapto functional alkoxy silane, via a condensation reaction. The amino-mercapto functional organopolysiloxanes products are useful in textile and fabric treatments.
US08399590B2
A superhydrophilic amphiphilic copolymer and process for making the superhydrophilic amphiphilic copolymer includes a low molecular weight polysaccharide modified with a hydrophobic reagent, such as substituted succinic anhydride. The superhydrophilic amphiphilic copolymer system generates stable foam for use in applications, such as healthcare formulations, with low irritation of the eyes and skin.
US08399582B2
The present invention relates to the field of single site catalyst systems based on pyridine-iminophenol, pyridine-iminoalcohol or pyridine-iminoamine complexes and suitable for oligomerising or homo- or co-polymerising ethylene and alpha-olefins.
US08399575B2
The invention relates to materials which are based on organosilicon compounds, are storable with exclusion of water and are crosslinkable to elastomers on ingress of water at room temperature, which comprise organic acids and basic nitrogen or basic phosphorus, to processes for preparation thereof and to moldings produced therefrom.
US08399567B2
The present invention relates to an optical film comprising: a blended resin including 1) an acrylic copolymer resin containing an alkyl methacrylate monomer and a (metha) acrylic monomer containing an alicyclic or an aromatic ring, 2) a copolymer resin containing an alkyl methacrylate monomer, an aromatic vinyl monomer, and an acid anhydride monomer, and 3) a resin containing an aromatic or an alicyclic ring in the main chain of a polymer. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the optical film, and a liquid crystal display device comprising the optical film. The optical film according to the present invention is excellent in heat resistance, optical transparency, mechanical strength, durability, and the like.
US08399565B2
The invention pertains to a thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition comprising: at least one thermoplastic partially fluorinated fluoropolymer having a melt flow index (MFI) of less than 10 g/10 min, as measured according to ASTM D-1238 under a piston load of 5 kg polymer A; from 0.05 to 5% by weight of A at least one (per)fluoropolyether, polymer B; and from 0 to 10% by weight of A of at least one per(halo)fluoropolymer polymer C. The addition of a (per)fluoropolyether B and, optionally, of a per(halo)fluoropolymer C advantageously enables improvement of rheological behavior of thermoplastic partially fluorinated fluoropolymer A, making possible processing in less severe conditions and yielding final parts with outstanding surface aspect and good homogeneity and coherency. Still objects of the inventions are the process for manufacturing said thermoplastic fluoropolymer composition and the articles thereof.
US08399558B2
The present disclosure provides an inorganic-organic hybrid film which is excellent in transparency, adhesion, heat resistance, weatherability, and anti-rust property, whose refractive index may be controlled easily, and which is also excellent in hardness. Also provided are an inorganic-organic hybrid composition as a starting material for the film, and a hard coating material, an optical material, an anti-rust coating material, and a conductive coating material, all utilizing the composition. The composition is characterized by containing organic component (A) composed of monomer component (a1) containing a particular diol (meth)acrylate compound (U) having a urethane bond, or polymer component (a2) containing polymer (P) obtained by polymerization of monomer component (a1), and inorganic component (B), wherein the ratio of the organic component (A) to the inorganic component (B) is 1:99 to 99:1 by mass.
US08399555B2
To provide an aqueous coating composition which has a high storage stability and which is capable of forming a coating film excellent in gloss, adhesion and water resistance; a process for its production; and a process for forming a coating film by using the aqueous coating composition.An aqueous coating composition comprising a fluoro-olefin copolymer, a pigment, a copolymer (1) (an A-B type block copolymer which is a copolymer having no fluorine atoms or ionic groups and which comprises hydrophilic blocks (A) having repeating units (a) having a polyoxyethylene chain in the side chain, and hydrophobic blocks (B) having repeating units (b) having a hydrocarbon chain in the side chain) and an aqueous medium.
US08399553B2
The present invention relates to a (process for preparation of a) carbon nanotubes reinforced polymer, wherein the matrix polymer has both a low molecular weight fraction as well as a high molecular weight fraction, as a result of which the level of conductivity of the resulting composite can be controlled.
US08399546B2
A flame retardant thermoplastic composition having excellent physical properties that includes 20 to 90 wt. % of a polycarbonate resin; from 1 to 35 wt. % of an impact modifier; from 0.5 to 30 wt. % of a polysiloxane-polycarbonate copolymer including from 8 to 30 wt. % polydimethylsiloxane units or the equivalent molar amount of other diorganosiloxane units; from 0.5 to 20 wt. % of a phosphorus-containing flame retardant, and from 3 to 30 wt. % of metal fiber, each based on the total combined weight of the thermoplastic composition, exclusive of any filler. In one embodiment, a molded sample of the thermoplastic composition having a thickness of 3.0 mm (±10%) has an EMI shielding of at least 20 dB. In addition, a molded sample of the thermoplastic composition is capable of achieving UL94 V0 or V1 rating at a thickness of 1.5 mm (±10%). The compositions are useful in forming flame retardant articles having EMI shielding characteristics.
US08399545B2
An aqueous ink for inkjet recording is provided. The aqueous ink ensures that the ejection accuracy in inkjet recording is excellent and helps suppress generation of density unevenness and streak unevenness, even after storage for a long period of time or exposure to high temperatures. The aqueous ink for inkjet recording contains vinyl polymer particles containing components A and B and a water-soluble solvent. Component A is an azo pigment having a specific structure, its tautomer, or a salt or hydrate thereof; and Component B is a vinyl polymer containing (a) a hydrophobic structural unit having an aromatic ring bonded to the polymer main chain through a linking group and (b) a hydrophilic structural unit.
US08399537B2
The present disclosure relates generally to compositions for natural and artificial nail coatings, and particularly, but not by way of limitation, to polymerizable compositions and adhesion-promoting basecoats polymerized therefrom. The disclosure further relates to methods of making a polymerized basecoat that are more easily removed than artificial nail enhancements and more durable and long lasting than nail polish coatings.
US08399535B2
Certain embodiments described herein are directed to polymer compositions including a protected antioxidant. In some examples, the compositions can also include a deprotected antioxidant, an unprotected antioxidant or both. Methods of producing compositions including a protected antioxidant and articles including a protected antioxidant are also described.
US08399511B2
Two crystalline forms of pinocembrin of formula (I): α and β, their preparation and their use for manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions. There exists difference between them in bioavailability. They are used for treating and preventing cerebral ischemic diseases by protective action of neurovascular unit, and enhancing blood drug level in vivo.
US08399508B2
Topical formulations of olopatadine for treatment of allergic or inflammatory disorders of the nose are disclosed. The aqueous formulations contain approximately 0.6% (w/v) of olopatadine.
US08399497B2
The present invention is related to thiazole derivatives of Formula (I) in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders and/or inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, bacterial or viral infections, kidney diseases, platelet aggregation, cancer, transplantation, graft rejection or lung injuries.
US08399481B2
A compound of formula (I) Or its salts or pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof wherein; A represents a chemical moiety with the general formula (II): X is selected from a group consisting of CH2, C(═O), CH(R5), C(R5)(R6) or C(R5)(R6)CH2; R1 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted arylalkyl, and optionally substituted heteroarylalkyl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl or NR7R8; R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 and R8 are as defined herein; and n=1 or 2 is provided. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds are also provided. The compounds are useful in treating various conditions including arrhythmia.
US08399471B2
Aryl-or heteroaryl-substituted pyrido[2,3-d] pyrimidines and pharmaceutical compositions of the same
The present application relates to novel aryl- or heteroaryl-substitued pyrido[2,3-d] pyrimidines of formula (I), pharmaceuitical compositions of the same, and a process for their preparation. Formula(I) is: wherein Ar is an aryl or heteroaryl substituent, and R1, R2, R3, Ar, D, and E are as defined in the specification. Compounds and compositions of the present invention can be used in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of various disorders in humans and animals, including aldosteronism, high blood pressure, chronic heart failure, the sequelae of a myocardial infarction, cirrhosis of the liver, renal failure, and stroke.
US08399468B2
Octahydro-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrrole derivatives are useful in treating conditions or disorders prevented by or ameliorated by histamine-3 receptor ligands. Octahydro-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrrole compounds, methods for using such compounds, compositions for making them, and processes for preparing such compounds are disclosed herein.
US08399457B2
Nonane and decane diazabicyclic derivatives having homopiperazine as main ring, having affinity for the opioidergic μ and/or δ and/or k receptors and/or for all their receptorial subclasses, with central and/or peripheral activity, having formula (I), the isomeric forms and their mixtures included, wherein one or more atoms are in the corresponding isotopic forms: wherein: n is an integer equal to 1 or 2; one of the substituents R and R1 of the nitrogen atoms of the diazabicyclic ring is a —C(O)—RB group, wherein RB is a C1-C10 alkyl group, linear or branched when possible, the other remained substituent of R and R1 has the meanings reported in the description.
US08399455B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as Chemokine Receptor antagonists. Compounds of general formula I are provided: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions for the inhibition of Chemokine Receptors and also for the treatment of various diseases, conditions, or disorders, including acute or chronic inflammatory disease, cancer, and osteolytic bone disorders.
US08399449B2
The present invention provides a compound having a superior Smo inhibitory activity and lower toxicity, which is sufficiently satisfactory as a pharmaceutical product. The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I) wherein ring A is 5- to 7-membered ring optionally having substituent(s), where substituents are optionally bonded to each other to form a ring; X is O, S or NR1 (R1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s)); R2 is carbamoyl optionally having substituent(s); and R3 is hydroxy optionally having substituent(s), or a salt thereof.
US08399448B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein X, W, Q, R, R1 and R2 have the meanings given in claim 1. The compounds are useful, for example, in the treatment of autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.
US08399446B2
In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing cardiovascular-related disease and, in particular, a method of blood lipid therapy comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.
US08399444B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and their use in the treatment of allergic disorders, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma.
US08399443B2
Sympathetic nerves run through the adventitia surrounding renal arteries and are critical in the modulation of systemic hypertension. Hyperactivity of these nerves can cause renal hypertension, a disease prevalent in 30-40% of the adult population. Hypertension can be treated with neuromodulating agents (such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II inhibitors, or aldosterone receptor blockers), but requires adherence to strict regimens and often does not reach target blood pressure threshold to reduce risk of major cardiovascular events. A minimally invasive solution is presented here to reduce the activity of the sympathetic nerves surrounding the renal artery by locally delivering neurotoxic or sympathetic nerve-blocking agents into the adventitia. Extended elution of these agents may also be accomplished in order to tailor the therapy to the patient.
US08399442B2
A method for the treatment of: A. a disease state or condition mediated by a kinase wh ich is BCR-abl, VEGFR, PDGFR, EGFR, FLT3, JAK, C-abl, PDK1, Chk, FGFR, Ret, Eph, or Src; or B. a cancer in which the cancer cells thereof contain a drug resistant kinase mutation which is: (a) a threonine gatekeeper mutation; or (b) a drug-resistant gatekeeper mutation; or (c) an imatinib resistant mutation; or (d) a nilotinib resistant mutation; or (e) a dasatinib resistant mutation; or (f) a T670l mutation in KIT; or (g) a T674l mutation in PDGFR; or (h) T790M mutation in EGFR; or (i) a T315l mutation in abl; or C. a cancer which expresses a mutated molecular target which is a mutated form of BCRabl, c-kit, PDGF, EGF receptor or ErbB2; which method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula (l or l′): or a salt, solvate, tautomer or N-oxide thereof.
US08399441B2
The sulfated oxysterol 5-cholesten-3β, 25-diol 3-sulphate, a nuclear cholesterol metabolite that decreases lipid biosynthesis and increases cholesterol secretion and degradation, is provided as an agent to lower intracellular and serum cholesterol and/or triglycerides, and to prevent or treat lipid accumulation-associated inflammation and conditions associated with such inflammation. Methods which involve the use of this sulfated oxysterol to treat conditions associated with high cholesterol and/or high triglycerides and/or inflammation (e.g. hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, atherosclerosis, etc.) are also provided.
US08399439B2
This invention discloses 2-methylene-19,26-dinor-(20S,22E,25R)-vitamin D analogs, and specifically 2-methylene-19,26-dinor-(20S,22E,25R)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and pharmaceutical uses therefor. This compound exhibits transcription activity as well as pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to the monocyte thus evidencing use as an anti-cancer agent and for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis as well as skin conditions such as wrinkles, slack skin, dry skin and insufficient sebum secretion. This compound also shows no activity in vivo on bone calcium mobilization and relatively low intestinal calcium transport activity compared to the native hormone 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and therefore may be used to treat autoimmune disorders or inflammatory diseases in humans as well as renal osteodystrophy. This compound may also be used for the treatment or prevention of obesity.
US08399437B2
Methods for using tetracycline compounds for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy are described.
US08399435B2
The invention relates to compounds of structural formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, clathrate, and prodrug thereof, wherein Ra, Rb, and R2 are defined herein. These compounds inhibit tubulin polymerization and/or target vasculature and are useful for treating proliferative disorders, such as cancer.
US08399418B2
The present invention provides a novel form of 3-(3-{4-[3-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-isopropyl-1H-pyrazol-4-ylmethyl]-3-methylphenoxy}propylamino)-2,2-dimethylpropionamide with improved storage stability. Since bis[3-(3-{4-[3-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-isopropyl-1H-pyrazol-4-ylmethyl]-3-methylphenoxy}propylamino)-2,2-dimethylpropionamide]monosebacate has extremely excellent storage stability, it is useful as a drug substance. Furthermore, it shows an extremely good crystalline property and can be purified by a convenient method, and therefore is suitable for the industrial preparation.
US08399413B2
A method of alleviating a symptom of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in a human patient suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis or a patient who has experienced a first clinical episode and is determined to be at high risk of developing clinically definite multiple sclerosis comprising administering to the human patient three subcutaneous injections of a therapeutically effective dose of glatiramer acetate over a period of seven days with at least one day between every subcutaneous injection so as to thereby alleviate the symptom of the patient.
US08399411B2
This invention is directed generally to compositions (including foods nutritional supplements, treats, and toys) for animal consumption, particularly compositions that comprise omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and particularly compositions that tend to aid in reducing mitogen-activated-protein (“MAP”) kinase activity in animals. This invention also is directed generally to methods for using such compositions, particularly to methods for using such compositions to reduce MAP kinase activity in animals, and particularly to methods for using such compositions to treat a cancer or tissue hyperplasia. This invention is further directed generally to processes for making such compositions.
US08399401B2
A single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a nociceptive sensory afferent; a Targeting Moiety that is capable of binding to a Binding Site on the nociceptive sensory afferent, which Binding Site is capable of undergoing endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent; a protease cleavage site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by a protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the Targeting Moiety; a translocation domain that is capable of translocating the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent. Nucleic acids encoding the fusion proteins, methods of preparing same and uses thereof are also described.
US08399391B2
A photoresist residue removal composition is provided. The photoresist residue removal composition essentially contains glycolic and water, to which a pH control agent and/or a cleanability improver is selectively added. The photoresist residue removal composition has a high capability to remove residues caused by plasma etching and ashing of a metal or silicon oxide layer under a photoresist pattern, does not cause corrosion, and is eco-friendly.
US08399387B2
Embodiments disclose method and compositions that comprise cement kiln dust and rice husk ash. An embodiment comprises a method of cementing comprising: placing a settable composition into a subterranean formation, the settable composition comprising cement kiln dust, rice husk ash, and water; and allowing the settable composition to set. Another embodiment discloses a settable composition comprising cement kiln dust, rice husk ash, and water.
US08399386B2
The present invention relates to a method for introducing a foaming composition including an imidazoline-based compound to a fluid. The foaming composition comprises at least one quaternized compound having an imidazoline moiety. An example of the quaternized compound is a quaternized imidazoline.
US08399383B2
The present invention relates to protein chips useful for the large-scale study of protein function where the chip contains densely packed reaction wells. The invention also relates to methods of using protein chips to assay simultaneously the presence, amount, and/or function of proteins present in a protein sample or on one protein chip, or to assay the presence, relative specificity, and binding affinity of each probe in a mixture of probes for each of the proteins on the chip. The invention also relates to methods of using the protein chips for high density and small volume chemical reactions. Also, the invention relates to polymers useful as protein chip substrates and methods of making protein chips. The invention further relates to compounds useful for the derivatization of protein chip substrates.
US08399382B2
Protoporphyrinogen oxidase enzyme-inhibiting compounds are useful in compositions and methods for regulating growth of cotton plants. Of particular interest is the use of carfentrazone ethyl and certain metabolites thereof for regulating growth of cotton plants.
US08399347B2
Integrated circuits and methods for forming conductive lines and conductive pads of integrated circuits are disclosed. One such integrated circuit includes circuitry, a first conductor coupled to the circuitry, a conductive pad coupled to the first conductor, and a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor and coupled to the conductive pad. The second conductor would be floating but for its coupling to the conductive pad.
US08399346B2
Scratch-resistant coatings for protecting front-side microelectromechanical and semiconductor device features during backside processing are provided, along with methods of using the same. The coatings are non-photosensitive, removable, and tolerate high processing temperatures. These coatings also eliminate the need for a separate etch stop layer in the device design. The coatings are formed from a composition comprising a component dissolved or dispersed in a solvent system. The component is selected from the group consisting of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers and aromatic sulfone polymers.
US08399343B2
A method for the selective doping of silicon of a silicon substrate (1) for producing a pn-junction in the silicon is characterized by the following steps: a) Providing the surface of the silicon substrate (1) with a doping agent (2) based on phosphorous, b) heating the silicon substrate (1) for creating a phosphorous silicate glass (2) on the surface of the silicon, wherein phosphorous diffuses into the silicon as a first doping (3), c) applying a mask (4) on the phosphorous silicate glass (2), covering the regions (5) that are later highly doped, d) removing the phosphorous silicate glass (2) in the non-masked regions, e) removing the mask (4) from the phosphorous silicate glass (2), f) again heating for the further diffusion of phosphorous from the phosphorous silicate glass (2) into the silicon as a second doping for creating the highly doped regions (5), g); complete removal of the phosphorous silicate glass (2) from the silicon.
US08399340B2
A method of manufacturing a super-junction semiconductor device facilitates increasing the epitaxial growth rate without increasing the manufacturing steps greatly. In substitution for the formation of alignment mark in the surfaces of the second and subsequent non-doped epitaxial layers, patterning for forming a new alignment mark is conducted simultaneously with the resist pattering for selective ion-implantation into the second and subsequent non-doped epitaxial layers in order to form the new alignment mark at a position different from the position, at which the initial alignment mark is formed, and to form the new alignment mark in every one or more repeated epitaxial layer growth cycles.
US08399332B2
Methods and devices for a dielectric are provided. One method embodiment includes forming a passivation layer on a substrate, wherein the passivation layer contains a composition of silicon, oxygen, and nitrogen. The method also includes forming a lanthanide dielectric film on the passivation layer, and forming an encapsulation layer on the lanthanide dielectric film.
US08399327B2
A method includes forming a plurality of dummy gate structures on a substrate, each dummy gate structure including a dummy gate electrode and a dummy gate mask, forming a first insulation layer on the substrate and the dummy gate structures to fill a first space between the dummy gate structures, planarizing upper portions of the first insulation layer and the dummy gate structures, removing the remaining first insulation layer to expose a portion of the substrate, forming an etch stop layer on the remaining dummy gate structures and the exposed portion of the substrate, forming a second insulation layer on the etch stop layer to fill a second space between the dummy gate structures, planarizing upper portions of the second insulation layer and the etch stop layer to expose the dummy gate electrodes, removing the exposed dummy gate electrodes to form trenches, and forming metal gate electrodes in the trenches.
US08399323B2
A method for fabricating a vertical channel type nonvolatile memory device includes: stacking a plurality of interlayer insulating layers and a plurality of gate electrode conductive layers alternately over a substrate; etching the interlayer insulating layers and the gate electrode conductive layers to form a channel trench exposing the substrate; forming an undoped first channel layer over the resulting structure including the channel trench; doping the first channel layer with impurities through a plasma doping process; and filling the channel trench with a second channel layer.
US08399317B2
In one aspect, an apparatus may include a metal gate of a transistor. An etch stop layer may be selectively formed over the metal gate. The etch stop layer may include a metal compound. An insulating layer may be over the etch stop layer. A conductive structure may be included through the insulating layer to the metal gate. Methods of making such transistors are also disclosed.
US08399316B2
A method for making a microelectronic device with one or plural double-gate transistors, including: a) forming one or plural structures on a substrate including at least one first block configured to form a first gate of a double-gate transistor, and at least a second block configured to form the second gate of the double-gate, the first block and the second block being located on opposite sides of at least one semiconducting zone and separated from the semiconducting zone by a first gate dielectric zone and a second gate dielectric zone respectively; and b) doping at least one or plural semiconducting zones in the second block of at least one given structure among the structures, using at least a first implantation selective relative to the first block, the implantation being done on a first side of the given structure, the part of the structure on the other side of the normal to the principal plane of the substrate passing through the semiconducting zone not being implanted.
US08399306B2
Integrated circuit packaging system with transparent encapsulation and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a substrate having a redistribution line thereon; mounting an integrated circuit to the substrate; and molding a transparent encapsulation over the substrate covering the integrated circuit and the redistribution line and the integrated circuit seen through the transparent encapsulation.
US08399304B2
Methods for fabricating a capacitor are provided. In the methods, a dielectric may be formed on a metal (e.g. nickel) substrate, and a copper electrode is formed thereon, followed by the thinning of the metal substrate from its non-coated face, and subsequently forming a copper electrode on the thinned, non-coated face of the substrate.
US08399298B2
A rule-based method of optimizing wire bonding jumps is disclosed which minimizes the amount of wire used for wire bonds and/or minimizes a number of power and ground pads on a substrate to support all wired connections.
US08399297B2
Methods of forming pre-encapsulated frames comprise flowing a dielectric encapsulation material around at least one conductive trace. A cavity configured to receive at least one semiconductor device at least partially in the cavity is formed in the encapsulation material. A first connection area of the at least one trace is exposed within the cavity. At least another connection area of the at least one trace is exposed laterally adjacent to the cavity. The dielectric encapsulation material is hardened to form a pre-encapsulated frame.
US08399293B2
The present invention relates to the field of electronic devices and their associated driver and/or controller integrated circuits and in particular to the mechanical packaging of electronic devices and to the packaging of electronic devices and their associated driver and/or controller integrated circuits.
US08399292B2
Fabricating a semiconductor chip with backside optical vias is provided. A silicon wafer is received for processing. The silicon wafer includes an optically transparent oxide layer on a frontside of the silicon wafer. A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor layer is formed on top of the optically transparent oxide layer. A backside of the silicon wafer is etched to form optical vias in a silicon substrate using the optically transparent oxide layer as an etch-stop.
US08399289B2
An apparatus includes a first solid electrode on a substrate, a polyelectrolyte layer over a part of the first solid electrode, a second solid electrode on a portion of the polyelectrolyte layer, and an anchoring layer on the part of the first solid electrode. The polyelectrolyte layer is either chemically bonded to the anchoring layer or has a thickness of less than about 20 nanometers.
US08399276B2
Provided are an electro-optic device and a method for manufacturing the same. The method includes forming a bottom electrode on a substrate, forming a first insulation film to cross over the bottom electrode forming an organic film on the substrate where the bottom electrode and the first insulation film are formed, forming a top electrode film on the organic film, and forming a top electrode to cross the bottom electrode by removing a portion of the top electrode film through a laser-scribing process. Herein, in the forming of the top electrode through the laser-scribing process, an edge region of a bottom surface of the top electrode may be positioned corresponding to an upper side of the first insulation film. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of processing apparatuses and steps required for separately forming the plurality of top electrodes, thereby simplifying manufacturing processes and saving manufacturing cost. Furthermore, since an insulation film is formed under an edge region of a top electrode, it is possible to prevent the generation of leakage current and the malfunction of a device caused by the deformation of the top electrode even though the edge region of the top electrode is damaged during a laser-scribing process. Thus, the reliability of electro-optic devices can be improved.
US08399275B2
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device is disclosed. The method can include forming a first interconnect layer, a second interconnect layer, a first metal pillar, a second metal pillar, a second insulating layer, a transparent material and a phosphor layer. The transparent material is formed on the first major surface of a semiconductor layer selected from the plurality of semiconductor layers on the basis of an emission spectrum of a light obtained from the first major surface side. The transparent material transmits the light. The phosphor layer is formed on the transparent material and the first major surface of the plurality of the semiconductor layers.
US08399270B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting device which includes a substrate; a encapsulation substrate, an organic light emitting unit interposed between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate. A water vapor absorption material-containing transparent sealant layer covers the organic light emitting unit. The sealant layer includes a transparent sealant having a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of about 20 g/m2·day or less and a water vapor absorption material having an average particle size of about 100 nm or less.
US08399267B2
A method for forming a light emitting device includes providing a light emitting diode (LED) configured to emit light of a first color and providing a plurality of semi-spherical lenses made of a silicone material that contains no phosphor material. Each of the lenses has a layer of phosphor material attached thereto. The method also includes testing the plurality of lenses to select a subset of lenses that converts light of the first color to light of a second color. The method further includes forming the light emitting device using the LED, one of the selected subset of lenses, and a heat conductive substrate. In an embodiment, after the testing of the plurality of lenses, one of the selected subset of lenses is disposed overlying the LED. In another embodiment, the testing of the plurality of lenses is conducted with a light source other than the LED.
US08399263B2
An expansion/contraction measuring apparatus includes a transport section which transports a flexible substrate along a surface of the substrate; a detecting section detecting first and second marks which are formed on the substrate while being separated from each other by a predetermined spacing distance in a transport direction of the substrate and which are moved, in accordance with the transport of the substrate, to first and second detection areas disposed on a transport route for the substrate respectively; a substrate length setting section which sets a length of the substrate along the transport route between the first and second detection areas to a reference length; and a deriving section which derives information about expansion/contraction of the substrate in relation to the transport direction based on a detection result of the first and second marks. Accordingly, the expansion/contraction state of an expandable/contractible substrate is measured highly accurately.
US08399261B2
A lateral flow test system together with methods for its use in the detection of one or more analytes, or components, of interest within a sample, such as a biological sample, is provided. The system comprises a liquid formulation of a gold conjugate and a lateral flow assay device that does not include a conjugate pad having conjugate dried thereon.
US08399258B2
This invention provides methods of using of the sizes and levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, the −641 allele of the promoter of the gene encoding apolipoprotein C-3 (APOC-3), the 405 allele of the gene encoding cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), and plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), adiponectin, CETP and APOC-3, for determining and increasing an individual's likelihood of longevity and of retaining cognitive function during aging, and for determining and decreasing an individual's likelihood of developing a cardiovascular-, metabolic- or age-related disease.
US08399257B2
The present invention is directed to the use of the maize Ac/Ds transposable elements in vertebrates.
US08399250B1
Isolated mpl ligand, isolated DNA encoding mpl ligand, and recombinant methods of preparing mpl ligand are disclosed. These mpl ligands are shown to influence the replication, differentiation or maturation of blood cells, especially megakaryocyte progenitor cells. Accordingly, these compounds are used for treatment of thrombocytopenia.
US08399240B2
A method for providing or enhancing a nonspecific adhesive property, an autoagglutinating property, or both properties in a microorganism is provided. The method comprises introducing a nucleic acid encoding autotransporter adhesin from a microorganism having a nonspecific adhesion property into a target microorganism.
US08399237B2
The present invention relates to microbiology technology field. More particularly, it relates to Pseudomonas alcaliphila MBR CGMCC 2318 which has the ability to reduce and adsorb metal and nonmetal ions. It also relates to methods of bioreduction and biosorption using the said strain by means of its property of reducing nitrate to ammonium and adsorbing metal ions to reduce the metal and nonmetal ions in the solution to elementary state under aerobic conditions. The present invention also relates to application of the said strain in bio-metallurgy, production of metal and nonmetal elementary substance, treatment of wastewater containing metal ions, and removal of harmful metal and nonmetal ions contained in soil and water. The strain of the present invention is easy to cultivate. The method of bioreduction and biosorption by it is very simple and can be widely used in metallurgy, treatment of wastewater and removal of harmful substances in soil and water.
US08399227B2
The present disclosure identifies methods and compositions for modifying photoautotrophic organisms, such that the organisms efficiently convert carbon dioxide and light into compounds such as esters and fatty acids. In certain embodiments, the compounds produced are secreted into the medium used to culture the organisms.
US08399222B2
Compositions and methods are provided for the detection of small RNA target nucleic acids, preferably miRNA target nucleic acids, wherein the compositions and methods provide for sensitive and specific detection of the target nucleic acids. The compositions and methods include using one or more of a first amplification oligomer that is preferably an extender primer, a target capture oligomer that is preferably at least partially double stranded, a promoter primer/provider, a reverse primer that is preferably a universal primer and a detection probe. The compositions and methods are useful for diagnostics, prognostics, monitoring the effectiveness of treatment and/or determining a treatment.
US08399197B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for amplifying nucleic acid polymer sequences in a high complexity nucleic acid sample. The unique compositions of the invention include a primer set composed of a mixture of two types of primers for DNA synthesis. For extension in one direction, the primers all contain modifications that destroy their ability to serve as templates that can be copied by DNA polymerases. For extension in the opposite direction the set includes at least one primer that can serve as a template and be replicated by DNA polymerases throughout its length. The method can be carried out by mixing the nucleic acid polymer sequence of interest with the set of DNA synthesis primers in an amplification reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is then subjected to temperature cycling analogous to the temperature cycling in PCR reactions. At least one primer in the primer set hybridizes to the nucleic acid polymer. It is preferred that the non-replicable primer hybridizes to the nucleic acid polymer and is extended to produce an extension product that contains sequence from the nucleic acid polymer to which the replicable primer then hybridizes. Of course, if the nucleic acid polymer is double stranded, both the replicable and nonreplicable primers will hybridize and be extended by DNA polymerase.
US08399177B2
An improved relief printing plate and method for producing said plate is disclosed. Substantially all sizes of relief features resolve a fixed pattern which improves print quality. The pattern is applied to image areas in halftone data used to produce an image mask that is subsequently used to convert a plate precursor into a relief plate. The accuracy, ink density and tonal response of printed images corresponding to relief features that include the pattern are comparable or better than relief features produced without the pattern.
US08399174B2
A method of patterning a substrate includes processing first regions of the substrate to form a first pattern, the first regions defining a second region between adjacent first regions, arranging a block copolymer on the first and second regions, the block copolymer including a first component and a second component, the first component of the block copolymer being aligned on the first regions, and selectively removing one of the first component and the second component of the block copolymer to form a second pattern having a pitch that is less than a pitch of a first region and an adjacent second region.
US08399171B2
A manufacturing apparatus provided with a rotary stirring section and a powder passage is used to manufacture the resin-layer coated carrier. At a fine resin particle adhering step, a magnetic base particle and a fine resin particle are inputted into the powder passage with the rotary stirring section rotating and the fine resin particle is adhered onto the surface of the magnetic base particle. At a spraying step, at least a liquid that plasticizes the fine resin particles is sprayed with spray gas from a spraying section on the magnetic base particle and the fine resin particle which are in a fluidized state in the powder passage. At a film-forming step, rotation by the rotary stirring section is continued to fluidize the magnetic base particles and the fine resin particles until the fine resin particles adhered to the magnetic base particles are softened to form a film.
US08399170B2
Production process for a liquid developer for use in electrophotograph or electrostatic recording by coacervation method. The process can produce a liquid developer in which a coloring agent (e.g., a pigment) is included completely within a resin particle by distillation of a solvent while retaining the state where the coloring agent is finely dispersed and the resulting colored resin particle is small in particle size with excellent dispersion stability, and excellent optical properties.
US08399167B2
The present invention relates to a toner composition for forming a masking pattern for use e.g. in connection with a method of building up a three-dimensional body from a large number of mutually connected layers of powder particles that are bonded to each other using radiant heat. The toner composition consists of powder particles that arc able to withstand a temperature of at least 200° C. without sticking together. It also relates to a developer that comprises the toner composition and carrier particles and a method in connection with the production of a volume body by using a toner composition or a developer according to the invention.
US08399157B2
Techniques are disclosed for using sub-resolution phased assist features (SPAF) in a lithography mask to improve through process pattern fidelity and/or mitigate inverted aerial image problems. The technique also may be used to improve image contrast in non-inverted weak image sites. The use of SPAF in accordance with some such embodiments requires no adjustment to existing design rules, although adjustments can be made to enable compliance with mask inspection constraints. The use of SPAF also does not require changing existing fab or manufacturing processes, especially if such processes already comprehend phased shift mask capabilities. The SPAFs can be used to enhance aerial image contrast, without the SPAFs themselves printing.
US08399151B2
An oxygen-containing gas flow field is formed on a surface of a cathode side metal separator of a fuel cell. The oxygen-containing gas flow field is connected between an oxygen-containing gas supply passage and an oxygen-containing gas discharge passage. A coolant flow field is formed on the other surface of the cathode side metal separator, on the back of the oxygen-containing gas flow field. The cathode side metal separator has linear guide ridges protruding from an intermediate height area toward the oxygen-containing gas flow field to form a continuous guide flow field, and bosses protruding from the intermediate height area toward the coolant flow field to form an embossed flow field.
US08399150B2
An integrated fuel cell assembly is described. The integrated fuel cell assembly includes a polymer membrane; an anode electrode and a cathode electrode on opposite sides of the polymer membrane; a pair of gas diffusion media on opposite sides of the polymer membrane, the gas diffusion media comprising a microporous layer and a gas diffusion layer, the anode electrode and the cathode electrode positioned between the polymer membrane and the pair of gas diffusion media; a subgasket positioned around a perimeter of one of the gas diffusion media, the subgasket defining an active area inside the perimeter, the subgasket having a layer of thermally activated adhesive thereon; and a bipolar plate sealed to the subgasket by the layer of thermally activated adhesive. Methods of making the integrated fuel cell assembly and assembling fuel cell stacks are also described.
US08399140B2
A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell; a normally-closed first shut-off valve provided upstream from the fuel cell and opening and closing pipes c1 and allowing air supplied from an air pump to pass therethrough; a normally-closed second shut-off valve opening and closing a pipe allowing cathode off-gas, discharged from the fuel cell, to pass therethrough; a valve-driving section for opening and closing discs of the shut-off valves; and valve lock units maintaining discs of the shut-off valves in open state when the cathode is released by opening the first shut-off valve and the second shut-off valve during electro-chemical reaction progressing in the fuel cell. This structure provides a simple and small-size fuel cell system capable of maintaining opening state of shut-off valves stably and reliably.
US08399139B2
A system and method for recovering and separating water vapor and electrolyte vapor from an exhaust stream (22) of a fuel cell uses a membrane tube (72) comprising membrane (74) having an outer wall (76) and an inner wall (78), wherein exhaust stream (22) is directed to contact outer wall (76), electrolyte vapor is condensed on outer wall (76), and water vapor is condensed inside the membrane (74), the condensed water drawn from the membrane (74) to inner wall (78), leaving behind condensed electrolyte (88) on outer wall (76).
US08399135B2
A battery grid is provided having a frame that includes a top element, a bottom element, a first side element, and a second side element. A current collection lug is coupled to the top element. The battery grid includes a plurality of wires provided within the frame and defining a plurality of open areas. The plurality of wires includes a plurality of linear vertical wire members which extend from the top element toward the bottom element, first side element, or second side element. At least one of the linear vertical wire members includes a discontinuity terminating the linear vertical wire member before reaching the bottom element, first side element, or second side element, the discontinuity being defined by parallel horizontal wire members defining an open space.
US08399128B2
A bus bar holder for connecting electrode terminals of a plurality of batteries arranged in a lengthwise direction, the bus bar holder including a bus bar holder plate having an opening in a lengthwise direction thereof and configured such that at least some electrode terminals of the plurality of batteries are extendable through the opening and slidable along the opening; and a bus bar for electrically connecting at least two electrode terminals of adjacent batteries, wherein the bus bar holder plate includes a settling groove in which the bus bar is settled, and the bus bar attached to the electrode terminals is slidable when the electrode terminal slides along the opening.
US08399121B2
This invention relates to a battery structure with improved safety. The battery structure includes: at least two batteries disposed axially parallel to each other, positive terminals thereof facing opposite directions, negative terminals thereof facing opposite directions; an insulating material covering each of the batteries; and a connecting member provided at an end of the at least two batteries for connecting the positive terminal of one of the batteries with the negative terminal of the other battery. The connecting member includes: a negative terminal connector attached to the other battery so as to come into contact with the negative terminal of the other battery; and a bus bar connected at one end portion thereof to the positive terminal of the one battery. The negative terminal connector has a socket into which the other end portion of the bus bar is to be inserted. The tip of the other end portion of the bus bar in the direction of insertion into the socket is chamfered so that it does not impair the insulating material.
US08399117B2
Apparatus and methods for placement of battery packs in portable information handling systems such as notebook and netbook computers. A first set of pivot features may be provided on opposing sidewalls of a battery well that interface with a corresponding set of mating pivot features provided on exterior end surfaces of a battery pack such that the battery pack may be pivoted into and out from the battery well to install or release it from the system, e.g., pivoted from the bottom of the portable information handling system in a manner that does not interfere with, or require modification to, the lid and display of the portable information handling system. A latch mechanism and battery release feature may be further provided that acts to transfer horizontal manipulation (e.g., horizontal sliding motion) of the battery release feature to a vertical latching action that acts to lift the battery pack out from the portable information handling system chassis when releasing the battery pack from the chassis.
US08399111B2
A battery pack includes a bare cell having a pair of first side portions, a pair of second side portions, and a pair of plane portions, each of which are opposite to each other. The second side portions and the plane portions are connected to ends of the first side portions. A protection circuit module is electrically connected to the bare cell. An inner frame exposes one side portion of the pair of first side portions and accommodates the bare cell. An outer frame exposes the pair of plane portions and accommodates the bare cell, the protection circuit module and the inner frame. In the battery pack, outer ribs extending away from the bare cell are further formed at the inner frame that comes in contact with the pair of second side portions of the bare cell so that the outer frame is surrounded by the outer ribs.
US08399100B2
The present invention provides a reflection film, a reflection film laminate which are less likely to undergo agglomeration or sulfidation of an Ag thin film due to heat, and a LED, an organic EL display, and an organic EL illuminating instrument, each including any of these. The reflection film in accordance with the present invention is a reflection film formed on a substrate, characterized by being an Ag alloy film including Ag as a main component, and Bi in an amount of 0.02 atomic percent or more, and further including one or more of V, Ge, and Zn in a total content of 0.02 atomic percent or more, and satisfying the following expression (1): 7×[A]+13×[Bi]≦8 (1) where [A] (atomic percent) denotes the content of one or more of the V, Ge, and Zn, and [Bi] (atomic percent) denotes the content of Bi. Whereas, a reflection film laminate in accordance with the present invention is a reflection film laminate formed on a substrate, characterized by including: a first film comprising an Ag alloy film including Ag as a main component, and Bi in an amount of 0.02 atomic percent or more, and further including one or more of V, Ge, and Zn in a total content of 0.02 atomic percent or more, and satisfying the expression (1); and a second film including a Si oxide formed on the first film.
US08399086B2
A mold-in fastening member which is composed of a strip of substrate, engaging elements formed on one surface of the substrate, and an elastomer layer completely surrounding the engaging elements, the substrate having slits or notches which extend from a widthwise central portion of the substrate to a widthwise end portion of the substrate. The mold-in fastening member bends in conformity with a two- or three-dimensionally complicated shape of a molded article. The mold-in fastening member prevents the surface having the engaging elements from being covered with a foamable liquid molding resin during a mold-in process, thereby preventing the engaging elements from losing the engaging function.
US08399069B2
A method of producing a magnesium fluoride coating includes a step of forming a coating by applying a solution containing a fluorine-containing organic magnesium compound represented by the following formula to a base and a step of heat-treating the coating while the coating is being irradiated with a beam of light with a wavelength of 246 nm or less: Mg(CF3—X—COO)2 (1) wherein X represents a single bond or one of —(CF2)n—, —(CH2)m—, and —CH2CF2— that may have a substituent, where n and m each represent an integer of 1 to 4. The temperature of the heat-treating step can be 250° C. or lower. The coating can be irradiated with a beam of light with a wavelength of 185 nm or less.
US08399066B2
A nanofiber manufacturing system in which nanofiber is formed from a raw material liquid by electrostatic explosions in a nanofiber forming space and the formed nanofiber is collected and deposited on a main surface of a base sheet. The system includes: a first dielectric belt having dielectric property; sheet conveying devices for conveying the base sheet in the nanofiber forming space; a sheet contacting device for putting a back surface of the base sheet and a first surface of the first dielectric belt into contact with each other; a dielectric belt driving device for running the first dielectric belt in a conveyance direction of the base sheet within the nanofiber forming space while the first surface is kept in contact with the back surface of the base sheet; and a voltage applying device for applying a voltage to the second surface of the first dielectric belt so that dielectric polarization occurs to the first dielectric belt.
US08399055B2
The invention provides, inter alia, capillary extraction devices, and methods of making and using the same.
US08399040B2
A composition of matter is used as an ingredient in making dairy-containing products, especially cheeses, cheese spreads, cheese sauces, ice cream, ice milk, yogurt, sherbet, milk shakes, and the like. The product can replace shortenings and fats and oils, and can be used in these dairy products. A highly refined cellulosic materials (e.g., cellulose, modified celluloses, derivatized celluloses, hemicellulose, lignin, etc.) product can be prepared by generally moderate treatment and still provide properties that are equivalent to or improved upon the properties of the best highly refined cellulose products produced from more intense and environmentally unfriendly processes. Fruit or vegetable cells with an exclusively parenchymal cell wall structure can be treated with a generally mild process to form highly absorbent microfibers.
US08399033B2
The present invention relates to a composition for treating a bacterial infection comprising an extract from a bark of Alnus pendula, or diarylheptanoid compound as an active ingredient. The extract from a bark of Alnus pendula, diarylheptanoid compound of the present composition has a remarkably excellent anti-bacterial activity against bacteria, specifically Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, the extract and compound of the present invention may be utilized as an active ingredient of drug, cosmetics, functional food and animal feed for treating bacterial infection, in particular an infection of S. aureus.
US08399031B1
This invention relates to compositions and methods that restore pulmonary function, preferably inhibiting or arresting the constriction of the bronchial tubes when administered to mammals, including humans. The pulmonary restorative composition for improving respiratory health comprises an effective amount of Gnaphalium obtusifolium L., more commonly known as rabbit tobacco, sweet everlasting and other historical names; Liquidambar, more commonly known as sweet gum; and Verbascum, more commonly known as mullein. Optionally, the composition may include at least of one additional herbal nutrient selected from the group Prunus avium, more commonly known as wild cherry; Althaea officinalis, more commonly known as marshmallow or mallow; Prunus amygdalus, more commonly known as peach; and Eucalyptus; and may include glucose. Also disclosed are methods for restoring or maintaining pulmonary function by the administration of the composition of the invention.
US08399029B2
A composition for influenza prevention and treatment includes bio-transformed soy and St. John's wort.
US08399027B2
A silver composition comprising silver sulfate and a method of coating the composition on a substrate is disclosed.
US08399013B2
This invention describes a partially absorbable, fiber-reinforced composite in the form of a ring, or a suture-like thread, with modified terminals for use as a controlled delivery system of at least one bioactive agent, wherein said composite comprising an absorbable fiber construct capable of providing time-dependent mechanical properties of a biostable elastomeric matrix containing an absorbable microparticulate ion-exchanger to modulate the release of the bioactive agent(s) for a desired period(s) of time at a specific biological site; this can be a vaginal canal, peritoneal cavity, scrotum, prostate gland, an ear loop or subcutaneous tissue. Such drug delivery systems can be used for the local administration of at least one bioactive agent, including those used as contraceptive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and/or antiviral agents as well as for cancer treatment.
US08399009B2
The invention provides a high performance porous bioceramic composite that has a high compression strength resulting from the ability to compression form a bioceramic precursor material and a pore forming agent under a high pressure load prior to sintering and/or removing the pore forming agent. Methods of making and using the same are also provided. Optionally, a biopolymer and/or therapeutic agent may be infused into the pores thereby forming the bioceramic composite.
US08399004B2
There is disclosed a method of controlling pests which comprises exposing a surface of the pest to a particulate composition containing particles of an initially unmagnetized material, which is capable of becoming magnetically polarized when subjected to an electric or magnetic field, the said particles being associated with at least one pesticide or behavior modifying chemical.
US08398998B2
A pharmaceutical preparation comprising one of the botulinum neurotoxins from Clostridium botulinum of types A, B, C, D, E, F or G or a mixture of two or more of these neurotoxins, wherein the neurotoxin or the mixture of neurotoxins is free of the complexing proteins which naturally form the botulinum neurotoxin complexes together with the neurotoxins.
US08398993B2
The present invention describes an immunogenic formulation to be used in mammals against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), consisting in the Calmette-Guérin bacillus (BCG) strain or other attenuated Mycobacterium strain that expresses heterologously at least one protein or immunogenic fragment of the RSV subtype A or RSV subtype B strains, originated from proteins NS1, NS2, N, P, M, SH, M2 (ORF1), M2 (ORF2), L, F or G. The genetic material that encodes for these proteins or immunogenic fragments is inserted into the BCG genome or extrachromosomally in one or several copies, which expression is regulated by endogenous or exogenous BCG promoters, either constitutive or inducible. The viral proteins or immunogenic fragments can be expressed by BCG as cytoplasmic-soluble, extracellularly-secreted or cell membrane-bound proteins. The preparation can further contain combinations of previously described formulations. The formulation can be stabilized by freeze-drying (conservation range from 4° C. and 25° C.) or through low temperatures (−80° C.) in a buffered saline solution to be conserved prior to its use.
US08398990B2
Anti-glucan antibodies have been found to be protective against systemic fungal infection with C. albicans, but the protective efficacy can be inhibited by blocking antibodies. The invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising a glucan and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, characterized in that, when administered to a mammalian recipient, the composition elicits protective anti-glucan antibodies but does not elicit antibodies which inhibit the protective efficacy of the anti-glucan antibodies. The glucan may be presented on the surface of a protease-treated microbial cell or may be presented as a protein-glucan conjugate. The glucan may be substituted by a glucan mimotope, a peptidomimetic of a glucan mimotope, or nucleic acid encoding a mimotope. Anti-glucan-antibodies show broad spectrum microbicidal activity. β-glucans are preferred, particularly those containing one or more β-1,6 linkages.
US08398985B2
A robust and industrial scale process to afford highly pure antigenic polysaccharides is claimed.
US08398982B2
The present invention is directed to compositions of matter useful for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor in mammals and to methods of using those compositions of matter for the same. TAT113 polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 are disclosed. Antibodies that bind TAT113 polypeptides, including monoclonal, chimeric, humanized, single chain, and other antibodies, and fragments thereof, are disclosed. Methods of identifying antibodies that bind epitopes bound by such antibodies, including the antibodies produced by hybridoma cell lines disclosed in the application, are provided, wherein the ability of one antibody to block the binding of another antibody to a TAT113 polypeptide indicates that one antibody binds to an epitope bound by the other antibody. Methods of diagnosing the presence of a tumor in a mammal using such antibodies are disclosed, wherein detection of the formation of a complex between an antibody and a protein in a test sample is indicative of the presence of a tumor in said mammal. Methods of inhibiting the growth of a cancer cell that expresses a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, are disclosed, where the binding of the antibody to the protein inhibits the growth of the cell. Methods of inhibiting the growth of a cancer cell include methods wherein the antibody binds to the epitope bound by an antibody produced by a disclosed hybridoma cell line.
US08398977B2
The present invention provides novel therapeutics and methods of treatment for diseases associated with activation of the advanced glycation endproducts receptor (RAGE).
US08398965B2
The present invention is directed toward a wax and scent impregnated soil for use in hunting and trapping. The soil is dried and mixed with wax and a scent such as the urine of a target species. The wax makes the soil water resistant and prevents it from freezing. In addition, the wax increases the ability of the soil to retain the impregnated scent over a period of time. The soil is used to attract various animals to traps or target hunting areas. Alternatively, the soil can be spread around to disguise the scent of a hunter or trapper such that they are not detected by the animals they are pursuing. A repellant version can be made by using a repellant scent.
US08398964B2
Provided are an organopolysiloxane that exhibits good dispersion stability within not only organic oil agents but also cosmetic materials that contain a powder, and is able to produce a cosmetic material that exhibits excellent skin affinity, an organopolysiloxane that does not impart a sticky feeling, and exhibits excellent skin affinity and skin adhesion, and a cosmetic material including such an organopolysiloxane. The organopolysiloxane is represented by formula (1) below: in which R1 represents a hydrocarbon group such as an alkyl group, R2 represents a group represented by formula (3) or formula (4) below: in which either R4 represents a specific hydrocarbon group and R5 represents a hydrogen atom or a specific hydrocarbon group, or alternatively, at least one of R4 and R5 represents a hydroxyalkyl group, and A represents a group containing an organosilyl group or organosiloxane residue.
US08398962B2
The invention provides a composition useful for forming odor suppressing seals in waterless urinals. Methods of using the composition to form liquid seals as well as waterless urinals employing such liquid seals are further provided.
US08398957B2
An aerosol composition comprising: 0.01 wt % to 1.00 wt % sodium borate; 0.01 wt % to 1.50 wt % polyglycerol ester surfactant; <30 wt % propellant; and 67.5 wt % to 85.0 wt % water. Methods of manufacture of an aerosol air freshener are also described wherein the aerosol composition further comprises a fragrance.
US08398950B2
The present disclosure describes carbon nanotube materials and condensation polymers having at least one bridge between carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotube materials comprise a plurality of functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes linked to at least one other single-wall carbon nanotube by at least one bridge. The at least one bridge comprises at least one amine functionality bonded to the functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes. The amine functionality may be alkyl or aryl. Carbon nanotube condensation polymers having at least one bridge between single-wall carbon nanotubes are also disclosed. The bridges in the condensation polymers comprise an amine functionality and a condensation agent.
US08398948B2
This invention relates to a method to induce growth of carbon nanotubes using a liquid phased-hydrocarbon based material under a critical range of equilibrating between liquid and gas phases, thereby easily manipulating a required carbon source. This invention also relates to a method to facilitate easy generation of a carbon backbone of the carbon nanotube because the reaction is performed in the presence of a metal nanoparticle or a metal compound capable of spontaneously generating a seed catalyst which stimulates the growth of carbon nanotubes as well as secures safety enough for the industrial application by using a mild reaction condition within the critical range. Accordingly, this invention can produce the carbon nanotube with high transition efficiency under a mild condition with a relatively lower temperature and pressure than those in conventional gas phased-methods without using a costly equipment, thereby cost-effectively producing the carbon nanotube in large quantities.
US08398942B2
The “MOBILE PLANT FOR SELF-SUSTAINABLE BIODIESEL PRODUCTION AND MOBILE PROCESS FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION” characterized by a compact equipment arrangement for the biodiesel production in a way intended to reduce waste generation and, additionally, allow reuse/application of some of them; it is organized and arranged over a chassis with axle and wheels that can be attached and taken to various locations, presents a self-sustainable format to use its own fuel to generate electricity to supply the entire plant, if necessary.
US08398940B2
A test module for excitation of electrochemiluminescent probes configured to detect target nucleic acid sequences, the test module having an outer casing having a receptacle for receiving a fluid containing the target nucleic acid sequences, electrochemiluminescent (ECL) probes having an ECL luminophore for emitting photons when in an excited state and a functional moiety for quenching photon emission from the ECL luminophore by resonant energy transfer, electrodes for receiving an electrical pulse to excite the ECL luminophores, a detection photosensor for exposure to the photons emitted by the ECL luminophores, control circuitry providing the electrical pulse to the electrodes, and, a universal serial bus (USB) connection such that the outer casing is configured as a USB drive for transmitting data regarding detection of the targets in the fluid to an external device, wherein during use, the ECL probes that have detected one of the target nucleic acid sequences reconfigure such that the functional moiety does not quench the photon emission from the ECL luminophore when excited by the electrodes.
US08398920B2
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems configured to determine an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid discharged from a drinking vessel or an amount of the alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the drinking vessel, drinking vessels configured to measure alcohol content or other property of an alcohol-containing liquid held therein, other related components such as mat devices that facilitate determining the amount, and related methods. The systems, drinking vessels, and methods disclosed herein facilitate determination of an amount of alcohol in an alcohol-containing liquid discharged from a drinking vessel or an amount of alcohol-containing liquid discharged from the drinking vessel, which may be indicative of an amount of alcohol consumed by a drinker.
US08398918B2
A system and method for decontamination of chemical and biological agents over terrain in an outdoor environment is provided that utilizes ultraviolet radiation to break up hydrogen peroxide into radical species that interact with chemical and biological agents to render them harmless. In a preferred embodiment, peroxide is dispersed in a contaminated area and the peroxide is then exposed to ultraviolet radiation that causes the peroxide to dissociate into radical species. The interaction of the radical species formed by the peroxide dissociation with the chemical and biological agents renders them useless.
US08398917B2
A method for reducing biological contamination of indoor air, which method includes providing a concentrated salt solution, which is either (i) a brine capable of responding to aeration thereof by a rapid increase of its Redox potential, wherein the rate of said increase is greater than the rate of increase observed for a 45% (w/w) calcium chloride solution subjected to identical aeration conditions; or (ii) a brine which is passed through an electrolytic cell in order to raise its Redox potential; circulating said concentrated salt solution through a treatment zone; causing a stream of biologically contaminated air to flow through said treatment zone, such that said contaminated air is contacted with said salt solution in said treatment zone; and withdrawing purified air from said treatment zone.
US08398911B2
A method of making a golf ball comprising the steps of providing an untreated golf ball core comprising a thermoset rubber composition, the untreated golf ball core comprising an untreated outer surface having a hardness; treating the untreated outer surface of the untreated golf ball core with a surface-softening material comprising at least one fatty acid or fatty acid salt composition to form a golf ball core comprising a treated outer surface having a hardness less than the hardness of the untreated outer surface; and forming at least one cover layer about the core to form the golf ball. Also, the untreated core may comprise a geometric center and an untreated outer surface, each having a hardness such that the hardness of the treated outer surface is less than both the hardness of the untreated geometric center and the hardness of the untreated outer surface.
US08398906B2
The invention pertains to a method for making a polymer-additive composite particle from a dope by jet spinning the dope to obtain a pulp, fibril or fibrid, wherein the solvent of the dope is selected from N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N′-dimethylformamide, N,N′-dimethylacetamide, tetramethylurea, and 4 to 75 wt % of a composition consisting of 2 to 95 wt % of a para-aramid polymer and 5-98 wt % of a solid additive material, to a total of 100 wt %, and wherein the aramid polymer is dissolved in the solvent; or coagulating the dope by means of a rotor-stator apparatus in which the polymer solution is applied through the stator on the rotor so that the precipitating polymer-additive composite particle is subjected to shear forces while they are in a plastic deformable stage.
US08398900B2
An improved multimode fiber optic cable is designed to compensate for the wavelength distribution and emission pattern of laser sources used in high-speed communication systems. The improved multimode fiber optic cable compensates for the wavelength dependent VCSEL polar emission pattern to reduce modal dispersion. Techniques for reducing the modal dispersion within the improved multimode fiber optic cable allow for improved Bit Error Rate (BER) system performance and/or to achieve greater reach in high bandwidth optical channel links are disclosed. Considerable efforts have been undertaken in the design and production of an improved multimode fiber optic cable to minimize modal dispersion, ignoring the effects of wavelength dependent polar emission patterns in lasers. Material dispersion effects have a significant impact on modal dispersion and by modifying a standard parabolic refractive index profile to compensate for material dispersion effects, overall modal dispersion can be reduced.
US08398895B2
The invention relates to conjugated polymers that comprise phenanthrene and/or indenofluorene units and are free of amine-containing units, to methods of their preparation, to the use of the polymers in organic electronic (OE) devices, and to OE devices comprising the polymers.
US08398893B2
A method of preparing a halophosphate phosphor represented by Formula 1, the method comprising: mixing a metallic precursor compound, which comprises strontium pyrophosphate, strontium chloride and strontium carbonate, and an activator precursor compound to form a mixture; sintering the mixture under an oxygen or air atmosphere to form a sintered mixture; milling the sintered mixture to form a milled product, and sintering the milled product under a reducing atmosphere: (Sr5-(x+y)AxM′y)(PO4)3Cl.(M2O3)z Formula 1 wherein A is barium or calcium, M′ is an activator and comprises at least one cation selected from the group consisting of Eu2+, Mn2+, Sb2+, Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Ho3+, Er3+, Yb3+ and Bi3+, M is aluminum, yttrium or lanthanum, 0≦x≦4.8, 0
US08398888B2
A security marker material comprising emissive particles selected from at least two groups with different size distributions and the size distributions satisfy the formula: [(x−z)2/(Sx2+Sz2)]1/2>1 wherein x and z are the volume-weighted mean equivalent-spherical diameters of the two particle distributions and Sx and Sz are the standard deviations of the same two distributions.
US08398880B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of modifying a surface of a powder, comprising mixing a powder with a compound denoted by general formula (I): wherein, in general formula (I), each of R10 and R13 independently denotes a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, or aryl group, each of R11 and R12 independently denotes an alkyl group or an aryl group, and L denotes a single bond or an oxygen atom.
US08398874B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. A pattern layer is formed on a substrate defined to include a main pattern region and a dummy pattern region. A preliminary main pattern and a preliminary dummy pattern may be formed by patterning the pattern layer so that an upper surface area of the preliminary dummy pattern facing away from a surface of the substrate is less than an entire area of the dummy pattern region that is be subjected to subsequent planarization. The preliminary main pattern and the preliminary dummy pattern are partially etched to form a main pattern and a dummy pattern.
US08398868B2
An opening in a substrate is formed, e.g., using optical lithography, with the opening having sidewalls whose cross section is given by segments that are contoured and convex. The cross section of the opening may be given by overlapping circular regions, for example. The sidewalls adjoin at various points, where they define protrusions. A layer of polymer including a block copolymer is applied over the opening and the substrate, and allowed to self-assemble. Discrete, segregated domains form in the opening, which are removed to form holes, which can be transferred into the underlying substrate. The positions of these domains and their corresponding holes are directed to predetermined positions by the sidewalls and their associated protrusions. The distances separating these holes may be greater or less than what they would be if the block copolymer (and any additives) were to self-assemble in the absence of any sidewalls.
US08398861B2
A separation method for extracting a target 1 from a separation subject (101) in which the target (1) to be extracted and a non-target (2) are mixed. The method includes the steps of distinguishing the target (1) from the non-target (2); obtaining positional information of the target (1) distinguished; attaching a liquid to the target (1) based on the positional information; and extracting the target (1) from the separation subject (101) by bringing a catch member (140) into contact with the separation subject (101) such that viscosity of the liquid causes the target (1) to adhere to the catch member.
US08398852B2
A drainless reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system provides relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, while recycling brine to a domestic hot water system. The drainless purification system includes a pre-filter catalyst cartridge for removing chlorine-based contaminants from a tap water supply upstream from an RO membrane. The catalyst is regularly refreshed by a high through-flow of water to a conventional cold water dispense faucet, thereby significantly prolonging the service life of the RO membrane. The RO membrane is incorporated into a multi-cartridge unit adapted for facilitated slide-out removal and replacement as needed. A control valve recycles brine from the RO membrane to the hot water system during pure water production, and recirculates tap water through the RO membrane when a pure water reservoir is substantially filled. The multi-cartridge unit may further include an air filtration system for providing a flow of filtered air.
US08398837B2
A sensor (1) including a plate-shaped sensor element (21) extending in a front-rear direction and having at least 3 electrode terminals (25) provided on at least one side surface (24) of the sensor element at intervals in a lateral direction; a plurality of metallic terminal members (51a, 51b) connected to the electrode terminals (25) of the sensor element (21); and a separator (71) surrounding and insulating the plurality of metallic terminal members (51a, 51b). The metallic terminal members (51a, 51b) each has a crimp portion (57a, 57b) formed at a rear end thereof and a lead wire (61) is crimp-connected to the crimp portion (57a, 57b). The crimp portions (57a) located at opposite sides with respect to the lateral direction face the side surface (24) of the sensor element (21), whereas the crimp portion (57b) faces away from the side surface (24) of the sensor element (21).
US08398836B2
A gas sensor having a sensor element that includes an inner space for introducing a measurement gas therein from an external space and a pump cell which has a first electrode formed on a surface of the inner space and a second electrode formed in a space different from the inner space and is provided to pump oxygen out of the inner space by applying a predetermined voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode. Assuming that the length of the inner space in a short-side direction of the sensor element as viewed from the front end portion side thereof is x1 and the length of the inner space in a longitudinal direction of the sensor element as viewed from the front end portion side thereof is x2, the following inequality is satisfied: 0.05≦x1/x2≦0.25.
US08398835B2
A unitary ionic probe is provided. The unitary ionic probe includes a substantially elongate body including a central axis (AA), a proximal end, and a distal end. The unitary ionic probe further includes an active ion sensitive region that is located on and bonded into an exterior of the elongate body in a region of the proximal end and an active electrode in ionic communication with the active ion sensitive region. The unitary ionic probe further includes a reference ion sensitive region that is located on and bonded into the exterior of the elongate body and is spaced-apart from the active ion sensitive region and a reference electrode in ionic communication with the reference ion sensitive region.
US08398833B2
Field-enhanced sputtering targets are disclosed that include: a core material; and a surface material, wherein at least one of the core material or the surface material has a field strength design profile and wherein the sputtering target comprises a substantially uniform erosion profile. Target assembly systems are also disclosed that include a field-enhanced sputtering target; and an anodic shield. Additionally, methods of producing a substantially uniform erosion on a sputtering target are described that include: providing an anodic shield; providing a cathodic field-enhanced target; and initiating a plasma ignition arc, whereby the arc is located at the point of least resistance between the anodic shield and the cathodic field-enhanced target.
US08398827B2
Two rotating members placed to face each other and nipping a web such that only an end of the web provided with conductivity is pressed are provided, at least one of the rotating members serves as a feeding electrode, and these rotating members are rotated about the same velocity to a transportation velocity of the web.
US08398807B2
A method of manufacturing a lightweight multilayer heat reflective concrete cure blanket having a moisture-impervious top outer layer, a moisture-impervious bottom outer layer, and the top and bottom layers sealingly connected to each other at the boundaries of the layers to form a moisture-impervious chamber between the first and second layers. The chamber includes at least one bubble type insulative layer therein, and the bottom surface of the blanket comprises a heat reflective material to reflect heat emanating from the concrete when the blanket is placed over the concrete. In a further embodiment, heat reflective material is applied to at least one inner bubble type layer to reflect additional heat which radiates from the concrete through the insulative layer and back towards the concrete.
US08398803B2
A method for providing an insulated electric high voltage DC cable or a high voltage DC termination or joint. A polymer based insulation system including a compounded polymer composition is provided. The polymer based insulation system is subsequently exposed to a heat treatment procedure while the outer surface of the polymer based insulation system is covered by a cover impermeable to a substance present in the polymer based insulation system in a non-homogenous distribution, thereby equalizing the concentration of the substance in the polymer based insulation system.
US08398796B2
A method of green joining ceramic components is disclosed, particularly for use in forming a discharge body for a ceramic metal halide lamp. The process includes providing a first green ceramic component having a male joining surface, and providing a second green ceramic component having a female joining surface dimensioned to matingly receive the first component. The first and second green ceramic components are assembled along the joining surfaces, the assembled components are uniformly heated to join the first and second components. The joined components are next cooled in a cooling bath that uniformly cools the joined components. Thereafter, the joined green part may be inserted in the furnace for debindering and sintering.
US08398794B2
A method for manufacturing a polishing pad, which may be laminated, with a small number of manufacturing steps, high productivity and no peeling between a polishing layer and a cushion layer includes preparing a cell-dispersed urethane composition by a mechanical foaming method; continuously discharging the cell-dispersed urethane composition onto a face material, while feeding the face material; laminating another face material on the cell-dispersed urethane composition; curing the cell-dispersed urethane composition, while controlling its thickness to be uniform, so that a polishing layer including a polyurethane foam is formed; cutting the polishing layer parallel to the face into two pieces so that two long polishing layers each including the polishing layer and the face material are simultaneously formed; and cutting the long polishing layers to produce the polishing pad.
US08398793B2
Apparatus and methods are provided to minimize waste and improve quality and production in web processing operations. The apparatus and methods provide defect detection both before and after application of component patches to a traveling web to create a product. Web defect detection may be provided by way of at least one visual inspection station located upstream from the patch applicator. Patch defect detection may be accomplished by way of a visual inspection station located proximate the patch applicator. If defects are detected in either the traveling web or the component patch prior to patch application, patch application may be prevented until both a satisfactory web and patch are provided. If defects are detected after patch application, the resulting product may be culled. Furthermore, the apparatus may be provided with diagnostic software to warn against extant or imminent machine complications.
US08398791B2
Cobalt based alloys exhibiting high-temperature mechanical strength in an oxidizing medium are provided. The alloys are free of W and Hf and include the following elements in percentage by weight of the alloy: 23 to 34% Cr; 6 to 12% Ni; 6.0 to 10% Ta; 0.3 to 1.2% C; less than 3% Fe; less than 1% Si; less than 0.5% Mn; less than 0.1% Zr; and a balance of cobalt and impurities. Ta/C molar ratios of the alloys are at least 0.3.
US08398775B2
The present invention comprises an electrode arrangement for a coating device with a stationary first electrode (3) and a second movable electrode (18), whose principle surfaces are opposing each other during coating, wherein the second electrode (18) may be moved along a plane parallel to the opposing principle surfaces, wherein at least one end face of an electrode running transversely to the principal surface an electrical shield (12, 19, 13) is provided, which extends at least partially parallel to the end face of one electrode, wherein at least one part (14) of the shield is formed so as to be movable.
US08398773B2
A thermal processing furnace, comprising: a generally bell jar-shaped outer reaction tube having a central axis; and an open-ended inner reaction tube for accommodating a wafer boat holding a plurality of substrates, which inner reaction tube is substantially coaxially disposed within the outer reaction tube, thereby defining a gas passage between an outer wall of the inner reaction tube and an inner wall of the outer reaction tube, wherein at least one of the outer wall of the inner reaction tube and the inner wall of the outer reaction tube is provided with a flow deflector that protrudes radially from the respective wall into the gas passage.
US08398764B2
Provided herein are mixtures, emulsions and other additives for use in manufacturing gypsum wallboard. The mixtures and emulsions may be wax-based emulsions or wax-free mixtures or emulsions, with wax-based emulsions including water, at least one wax, a dispersant which may include sulfur or a sulfur-containing group, and an additive comprising an organic titanium compound or organic zirconium compound. Mixtures may also be prepared including water, a dispersant; and an additive comprising an organic titanium compound or organic zirconium compound. Gypsum slurries may be prepared using such emulsions and mixtures and/or through addition of an organic titanium compound or organic zirconium compound.
US08398758B2
A CO2 recovery system includes an absorber 2 and a regenerator 3. The absorber 2 includes a CO2 absorbing section 21 and a water-washing section 22. The CO2 absorbing section 21 allows flue gas i01 to come into contact with a basic amine compound absorbent 103 so that the basic amine compound absorbent 103 absorbs CO2 in the flue gas 101. The water-washing section 22 allows the decarbonated flue gas 101A in which the amount of CO2 has been reduced in the CO2 absorbing section 21 to come into contact with circulating wash water 104 and to be washed with the wash water 104 so that the amounts of the basic amine compounds entrained in the decarbonated flue gas 101A are reduced. The regenerator 3 releases CO2 from the basic amine compound absorbent 103 the CO2 absorbed therein.
US08398754B2
A proton conducting membrane comprising, as a main component, a ceramic structure in which an oxygen atom of a metal oxide is bonded through the oxygen atom with at least one group derived an oxygen acid selected from —B(O)3—, —S(═O)2(O)2—, —P(═O)(O)3—, —C(═O)(O)2—, and —N(O)3—, wherein the metal oxide and said at least one group derived from the oxygen acid share the oxygen atom, the proton conducting membrane being made by a sol-gel reaction of the oxygen acid or its precursor and a precursor of the metal oxide in order to obtain a sol-gel reaction product, followed by heating of the sol-gel reaction product at a temperature in a range of 100° C. to 600° C., the oxygen acid or its precursor being selected from a boric acid, a sulfuric acid, a phosphoric acid, a carbonic acid, a nitric acid, and precursors thereof. Thus, a novel proton conducting membrane is provided.
US08398749B2
A process for the recovery of carbon dioxide, which includes: (a) an absorption step of bringing a carbon dioxide-containing gaseous feed stream into gas-liquid contact with an absorbing fluid, whereby at least a portion of the carbon dioxide present in the gaseous stream is absorbed into the absorbing fluid to produce (i) a refined gaseous stream having a reduced carbon dioxide content and (ii) an carbon dioxide-rich absorbing fluid; and (b) a regeneration step of treating the carbon dioxide-rich absorbing fluid at a pressure of greater than 3 bar (absolute pressure) so as to liberate carbon dioxide and regenerate a carbon dioxide-lean absorbing fluid which is recycled for use in the absorption step, in which the absorbing fluid is an aqueous amine solution containing a tertiary aliphatic alkanol amine and an effective amount of a carbon dioxide absorption promoter, the tertiary aliphatic alkanol amine showing little decomposition under specified conditions of temperature and pressure under co-existence with carbon dioxide.
US08398744B2
A method, apparatus and system for minimizing a quantity of particulate matter entrained within a gas stream is provided. A coarse filter removes at least a portion of particulate matter having a relatively-large particle size from the gas stream. An agglomerator agglomerates particulate matter having a relatively-small particle size remaining in the gas stream into particulate clusters after the portion of the particulate matter having the relatively-large particle size has been removed by the coarse filter. An injector introduces an agglomerating material into the gas stream before the gas stream enters the agglomerator. The agglomerating material promotes agglomeration of the particulate matter having the relatively-small particle size into the particulate clusters. And a second filter receives the gas stream and removes at least a portion of the particulate clusters entrained within the gas stream exiting the agglomerator.
US08398741B2
Fine composite metal particle comprising a metal core and a coating layer of carbon, and being obtained by reducing metal oxide powder with carbon powder.
US08398739B2
A composition comprising water atomised prealloyed iron-based steel powder is provided which steel powder comprises by weight-%: 0.2-1.5 Cr, 0.05-0.4 V, 0.09-0.6 Mn, less than 0.1 Mo, less than 0.1 Ni, less than 0.2 Cu, less than 0.1 C, less than 0.25 O, less than 0.5 of unavoidable impurities, the balance being iron. A method of forming a sintered component, and component additionally are provided.
US08398730B2
A method of producing substitute natural gas (SNG) includes providing a gasification reactor having a cavity defined at least partially by a first wall. The reactor also includes a first passage defined at least partially by at least a portion of the first wall and a second wall, wherein the first passage is in heat transfer communication with the first wall. The reactor further includes a second passage defined at least partially by at least a portion of the second wall and a third wall. The method also includes coupling the cavity in flow communication with the first and second passages. The method further includes producing a first synthetic gas (syngas) stream within the cavity. The method also includes channeling at least a portion of the first syngas stream to the first and second passages.
US08398728B2
The present invention further contemplates a process for making a dialkyl ether composition comprising two or more ethers of the formula R1—O—R2. The present invention further contemplates a process for making a dialkyl ether composition starting from a first reaction product comprising 1-butanol. The invention further contemplates a dialkyl ether composition comprising two or more ethers of the formula R1—O—R2, where each R1 and R2 can independently be any carbon chain length, saturated or unsaturated; branched or straight-chain, of between C2 and C10; specifically between C4 and C10; more specifically between C4 and C6; more specifically C6; more specifically 04. The present invention further contemplates a process where a first reaction product comprising 1-butanol is used to produce a dialkyl ether composition where each R1 and R2 can independently be any carbon chain length, saturated or unsaturated; branched or straight-chain, of between C2 and C10; specifically between C4 and C10; more specifically between C4 and C6; more specifically C6; more specifically C4.
US08398726B2
A method including the steps of assembling a battery pack core; holding the core in a mold that forms a molded resin region; closing a cavity of the mold; injecting synthetic resin into the closed cavity; and ejecting the battery pack from the cavity to configure the battery pack with the battery pack core insert-molded in the molded resin region. A projection that protrudes towards an inner surface of the mold cavity is provided on the surface of the insulating cover fixed on the battery. In the resin injection step, the projection on the insulating cover is pressed directly or indirectly by the mold in a direction to put the insulating cover tightly in contact with the surface of the battery; and synthetic resin is injected into the cavity of the mold in this pressed configuration.
US08398722B2
The invention relates to the dyeing of keratin materials using phenylpyrido[1,2-a]indolinium-derived thiol and disulfide fluorescent dyes. The invention relates to a dye composition comprising a phenylpyrido[1,2-a]indolinium-derived-chromophore thiol or disulfide dye and to a dyeing process with a lightening effect on keratin materials, in particular keratin fibers, especially human keratin fibers, such as the hair, using said composition. It similarly relates to novel phenylpyrido[1,2-a]indolinium-derived-chromophore thiol dyes and to the uses thereof in lightening keratin materials. This composition makes it possible to obtain a coloring with a lightening effect which is particularly resistant and visible on dark keratin fibers.
US08398720B2
A composite surgical implant that is made of a planar sheet of a thermoplastic resin that includes a top surface (400), a bottom surface (410), and a surgical grade metal mesh (405) contained therein. The implant may be bent by hand, wherein upon the displacement of the implant, the implant will generally maintain the shape to which it has been displaced.
US08398719B2
A femoral prosthesis. The femoral prosthesis includes an implant body having a proximal end and a distal end and a shoulder at the proximal end, the shoulder being structured and dimensioned for a tight press fit into the neck of a femur. The implant body includes a trunk at the distal end, the trunk having a wedge formed by a tapered portion extending in the direction of the distal end of the implant body. The implant body also includes a medial column extending from the shoulder toward the distal end and a lateral column extending from the shoulder toward the distal end. The wedge, the medial column, and the lateral column to provide multi-planar stability for the implant body and surface area for fixation of the implant body.
US08398718B2
A prosthetic hip implant system includes a prosthetic femoral component having a stem portion, a neck portion coupled to the stem portion and a part-spherical head coupled to the neck portion. An acetabular component is provided which has a housing, the housing having a part-spherical inner surface having an open end with a circumferential rim portion. The rim portion has a circumferential radially inwardly extending flange. A bearing element is mounted within the housing and has a part-spherical first outer surface region engaging the part-spherical inner surface of the housing. The part-spherical first outer surface region extends at a first radius from a center. The bearing element has a second part-spherical outer surface region extending a distance from the center less than the first radius to form a stop surface for contacting the rim.
US08398714B2
A dental bone implant that comprises a first fitted bone graft sized and shaped to fit tightly to a buccal surface of a periodontal alveolar bone around at least one tooth and to reconstruct at least a portion of one or more periodontal bone defect and a second fitted bone graft sized and shaped to fit tightly to a lingual/palatal surface of a periodontal alveolar bone around at least one tooth and to reconstruct at least an additional portion of at least one periodontal bone defect. The portion and the other portion complementary cover the one or more periodontal bone defects.
US08398702B2
An endoprosthesis can have a member that includes molybdenum and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, yttrium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, chromium, and combinations thereof. The member can have a microstructure characterized by: (a) a molybdenum-rich base region comprising at least 50 weight percent molybdenum, (b) a surface region comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, rhenium, yttrium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, chromium, and combinations thereof, and (c) an inter-diffusion region in which the concentration of molybdenum decreases in the thickness direction from the molybdenum-rich base region to the surface region of the member.
US08398700B2
A stent includes a cylindrical frame consisting of a series of helical winds containing a pattern of alternating zigzag bends. The frame may be made of resilient wire or from a piece of laser cut hypo tubing by placing the stent over a notched portion of a pusher catheter member, and retained on the pusher catheter member by a release wire threaded through the pusher catheter member and over the stent. The stent may also be deployed by placing the stent over a pusher catheter member having opposing notched portions, and retaining the stent and pusher catheter member in a delivery catheter, which can be withdrawn when stent reaches the site to be treated to release the stent.
US08398689B2
The disclosed screw assemblies include a screw that attaches onto the bone, a housing member that connects and inter-locks the bone screw to the rod, and one or more locking members that permit immobilization of various components of the assembly relative to one another while still permitting some relative movement. The bone screws and bone screw assemblies described herein permit flexible stabilization of the spine.
US08398684B2
A threaded rod or pedicle screw for insertion into the pedicle portion of a vertebra and having at its exposed end a second threaded rod rigidly connected in a generally parallel orientation to the longitudinal axis of the pedicle screw. The second rod being offset from the longitudinal axis of the pedicle screw and having a locking pin or arm and retaining nut for affixing a rod to the pedicle screw substantially over and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pedicle screw.
US08398681B2
The invention discloses an implantable facet arthroplasty device suitable for treating adjacent level disease. The device is designed for implantation between a first vertebra and a second vertebra. Components of the device include: a crossbar; a first component having a first attachment mechanism adapted to attach to a first location of a spinal fusion device attached to a first vertebra and a second attachment mechanism adapted to attach to the crossbar; and a second component having a second attachment mechanism adapted to attach to a second location of a spinal fusion device attached to the first vertebra and a second attachment mechanism adapted to attach to the crossbar. The first component articulates relative to the second component and the first vertebra articulates relative to the device itself.
US08398677B2
A closure device closes an opening in a body cavity. The closure device includes a plurality of fibrous tissue engaging members coupled to a proximally extending elongate member, a closure sheath sized to receive the elongate member and slidable over the elongate member to move the fibrous tissue engaging members from an expanded position to a collapsed position, a delivery sheath sized to receive the closure sheath and having a distal end sized to engage the fibrous tissue engaging members in the expanded position, and a closure member having an aperture sized to receive the closure sheath.
US08398675B2
A device having an inner seal and a retaining assembly seals a puncture in a blood vessel. The inner seal is placed inside the blood vessel and seals the puncture by contacting the inner surface wall of the blood vessel. The retaining assembly has at least two loops which engage the inner seal. Each loop may remain in substantial contact with the inner seal for substantially 360 degrees of the travel of each loop. The at least two loops may lie in a plane which is parallel to both the major axis of the inner seal and a folding axis. A locking member may be slid along the retaining assembly so as to contact the outer surface wall of the blood vessel.
US08398662B2
The present invention provides a valvuloplasty catheter which has a scoring element at its distal part to score stenotic, calcified heart valves in radial direction and to make the single valve flaps/leaflets work again. In addition to this, the device could comprise an attached balloon to post-dilate the valve after the scoring procedure. To reduce a future recalcification, the scoring element and/or the balloon have a pharmacologic coating on their outer surface.
US08398661B2
A suture guide may include a base, a first tissue guard extending from the base, and two flanking posts affixed to the base on opposite sides of the tissue guard. The posts may extend from the base, and each of the posts may define a plurality of channels passing through its width. The channels may be so oriented that, for each post (a) the channels define suture needle guide paths in one or more planes, and (b) at least one channel passes through the first flanking post in a direction that is not parallel to a width axis W passing through the width of the first flanking post, so that it defines an oblique suture needle guide path. The first tissue guard may be connected to the base by a connector so adjustable as to control spacing between the posts and the first tissue guard.
US08398659B2
A method of intracorporeally suturing a patient includes engaging tissue with a suturing head retaining a needle, forming an opening in the tissue with the needle, and pushing the needle into a through-bore formed in a capsule that is attached to a leading end of a suture and pulling the capsule and the leading end of a suture through the opening. The method additionally includes securing a clasp attached to a trailing end of the suture to an implantable support, and pulling on the suture and implanting the support inside the patient.
US08398657B2
A surgical suturing instrument has a needle which traverses at tissue receiving gap and picks up suture distal to the gap. This invention provides an automated mechanism enabling the suture to be removed from the needle after the needle is retracted proximal to the tissue gap. This mechanism provides enhanced device reloading and other potential uses.
US08398641B2
Described herein are devices and methods for cutting tissue in a patient. In some embodiments, a bimanually controlled device may include a tissue modification region; at least two flexible elongate lengths of cable that extend substantially adjacent to each other proximally to distally; a plurality of rungs extending between the lengths of cable; and a pair of flexible elongate cutting members extending along the length of the tissue modification region of the device. Each elongate cutting member has a thickness cuts a discrete trough into tissue to a depth that is greater than the thickness of the cutting member. The device may further include a substrate sized and configured to releasably hold the cutting members a distance from one another and a pair of couplers positioned toward an outer edge region of the substrate and configured to releasably secure a cutting member to the outer edge region of the substrate.
US08398635B2
The instant invention is a novel method for construct for temporary or definitive pelvic stabilization. The method uses the already established principles of anterior external fixation combined with internal hardware placed in a minimally invasive fashion. Fixation means are affixed to the ilia in the supra-acetabular position and a rigid, subcutaneous anteriorly bowed elongated plate is connected between the fixation means.
US08398624B2
An apparatus comprises a catheter, a conductive element and a balloon. The catheter has a lumen. The conductive element is disposed along the catheter. The balloon has an interior in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter. The balloon is formed of a conductive material conductively coupled to the conductive element. The balloon has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
US08398609B2
During diastolic coronary perfusion, blood perfuses through the heart via the coronary arteries. Delivery of a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to the heart during diastolic coronary perfusion allows the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to efficiently perfuse through the heart. A medical device according to the invention detects closure of the aortic valve of a heart, and initiates delivery of a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent upon detection of aortic valve closure. The medical device detects aortic valve closure by processing a signal. Exemplary signals used by the medical device to detect aortic valve closure include left or right ventricular accelerometer signals, left or right ventricular flow signals, left or right ventricular pressure signals, aortic pressure signals, pulse pressure signals, systemic arterial pressure signals, electrogram signals, and phonocardiogram signals.
US08398601B2
A safety syringe may define a variable fluid chamber and detached needle assembly. The variable fluid chamber may be hermetically sealed off from the environment or ambient air until the needle assembly is attached to a syringe body of the safety syringe. A proximal end of the variable fluid chamber is sealed off from the environment via a seal between a piston and syringe body. The distal end of the variable fluid chamber may be sealed off from the environment via a barrier covering the distal end of the syringe body. The barrier may be punctured to allow fluid to through therethrough at or about the same time when the needle assembly is attached to the distal end portion of the syringe body.
US08398600B2
Provided is a prefilled syringe comprising, as a resin constituting at least a barrel and a joint, a polyester resin that contains a diol unit having a cyclic acetal skeleton in an amount of from 1 to 30% by mol based on diol units and a dicarboxylic acid unit having a naphthalene skeleton in an amount of 70% by mol or more based on dicarboxylic acid units, and satisfies the following parameters: (i) a glass transition temperature of 110° C. or more measured with a differential scanning calorimeter, (ii) a moisture permeation coefficient of 1 g·mm/m2/day or less, and (iii) an oxygen permeation coefficient of 10 cc·mm/m2/day/atm or less.
US08398599B2
An anchoring system secures a catheter to the body of a patient and arrests axial movement of the catheter without meaningfully impairing fluid flow through the catheter. The anchoring system includes an anchor pad that adheres to the patient's skin and supports a retainer. The retainer includes interacting structure with a cooperating keeper and latch that releasably moves the retainer between an open and a closed position. When in the open position, the retainer can receive a portion of the catheter and be subsequently moved to the closed position. The retainer further includes one or more retention mechanisms that inhibit axial movement of the catheter relative to the retainer when the catheter is secured therein. In one mode, the retainer includes interacting structure with a keeper and latch. The keeper selectively cooperates with the latch to secure the retainer in a closed position where the cover is generally over to the base. In another mode, the anchoring system includes a mount that allows the retainer to rotate 360° relative to the anchor pad.
US08398598B2
Featured is a medical infusion device for vascular access with enhanced flashback visualization that includes a hub assembly having a flashback chamber. The hub assembly includes a proximal portion, a distal portion and a substantially transparent window section intermediate the proximal portion and distal portion. A needle is coupled to the flashback chamber so that fluid flows through the lumen of the needle into the flashback chamber after the needle is inserted into a blood vessel. A contrasting member is disposed on at least a portion of the hub assembly, so that when blood enters the flashback chamber, the contrasting member provides a high-contrast background when viewed through the window section.
US08398595B2
An apparatus for delivering fluid at a substantially constant flow rate includes a pair of substantially rigid surface elements for defining a volume that is variable according to constrained separation of the pair of surface elements. The apparatus further includes a support member disposed within the volume defined by the pair of surface elements; and a holding reservoir disposed within the volume defined by the pair of surface elements. The holding reservoir is attachably fastened at a first end to the support member and attachably coupled at a second end to the pair of surface elements.
US08398594B2
An injection device, in some embodiments an autoinjector, which includes a thrust spring that advances an injection needle from an initial position to an insertion position from the distal end of the injection device and that causes a product to be emptied from the product reservoir by an emptying movement, and a return spring that retracts the injection needle from the insertion position into the distal end of the injection device counter to the force of the thrust spring, wherein the return spring is decoupled from the thrust spring during the emptying movement.
US08398583B2
The present invention relate to a method and corresponding apparatus for extraction of a sample from a sample source. A fluid is injected into the sample source and the sample source is vibrated. A sample is withdrawn from the vibrated sample source and the sample source is evaluated by measuring one or more identifying parameters in the withdrawn sample.
US08398579B2
A catheter including a catheter body having a catheter lumen is disclosed. A manifold assembly is coupled with a proximal catheter portion. A manifold lumen extends through the manifold assembly and includes an assembly cavity extending around the proximal catheter portion. A fluid jet loop including fluid jet orfices along a tapered loop guide surface is coupled with a distal catheter portion. The catheter further includes a composite guide having a proximal guide insert and a distal guide. The proximal guide insert is positioned within the assembly cavity and includes a guide insert surface flush with a catheter body interior wall. The distal guide includes a tapered loop guide surface, and an intermediate guide surface of the catheter lumen is flushly engaged with a leading edge of the tapered loop guide surface, the distal guide continuously tapering inwardly and distally along the tapered loop guide surface.
US08398576B2
The invention provides a system and a method for removal of contrast from blood. In one aspect, the invention provides a catheter for removal of contrast from the veins that drain the cerebral circulation. In a second aspect, the invention provides a method for removing contrast from blood by contacting the blood with a sorbent.
US08398575B1
An early warning and shutdown system that connects to a fluid loss detection device for dressings at pre-existing port sites, catheter sites, operative sites, ostomy sites, drain sites, line sites such as those utilized in hemodialysis, wound sites, or other areas for which monitoring of fluid or blood loss is medically indicated. The early warning and shutdown system sounds an alarm when the fluid loss detection device senses a loss of fluid, and then compresses a return tube carrying such fluid to stop further fluid loss if the fluid loss continues.
US08398567B2
An apparatus and method for analyzing an analyte in a body fluid sample using a lancing device (10) having a hollow lancet are disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the acts of lancing the skin of a test subject with the hollow lancet (18) having an interior of the hollow lancet (18) that forms a capillary channel, collecting a body fluid sample from the lanced skin in the capillary channel of the hollow lancet (18), and analyzing the body fluid sample for determining the analyte concentration in the body fluid sample while the collected body fluid sample remains in the lancet (18).
US08398566B2
A biopsy needle for collecting a tissue specimen includes a handle including a handle body that defines a hollow interior that includes a hollow inner housing member and a cannula assembly including an inner cannula, an outer cannula and a snarecoil coil at a distal end that is attached to the outer cannula. The biopsy needle also includes a first biasing element that is coupled to the cannula assembly and is configured to apply a force thereto when stored energy of the first biasing element is released to cause forward projection of the cannula assembly. A first mechanism of the needle has a first component associated with a proximal end of the inner cannula that is received within the inner housing member and a second component associated with the inner housing to cause controlled rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula after the cannula assembly is projected a predetermined distance.
US08398565B2
One embodiment having features of the invention is directed to a guide block for an MRI device which has a block body with a proximal face, a distal face, and four parallel passageways extending between the two faces. The first passageway is centrally disposed, the second passageway is disposed vertical or horizontal to the first, the third passageway is located diagonal to the first and has a longitudinal opening in fluid communication with the first passageway, and the fourth passageway is diagonal to the first and in an opposite side of the body from the third passageway. In an alternative embodiment the guide block has at least one passageway that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis.
US08398561B2
A method is disclosed for motivating a user of a spirometry system having a display screen, an air-tube, a flow measurement sensor operatively associated with the air-tube, a display screen, and an associated processor. A motivational animation is displayed on the display screen having a first aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined peak flow rate to a goal value therefor and having a second aspect that reflects a relative evaluation of a determined total flow volume to a goal value therefor. The processor repeatedly updates the motivational animation during the period of use of the spirometer to reflect the degree of achievement of both of the goal values by the user.
US08398560B2
An accelerometer senses equine respiratory structural vibrations. The accelerometer includes a sensing surface configured to be attached to one of hair, skin, bone, ligament, cartilage, and other tissue of a horse. The accelerometer is responsive to respiratory structural vibrations of the horse and outputs a signal corresponding to the respiratory structural vibrations.
US08398554B2
Harmonic capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (“cMUT”) devices and fabrication methods are provided. In a preferred embodiment, a harmonic cMUT device generally comprises a membrane having a non-uniform mass distribution. A mass load positioned along the membrane can be utilized to alter the mass distribution of the membrane. The mass load can be a part of the membrane and formed of the same material or a different material as the membrane. The mass load can be positioned to correspond with a vibration mode of the membrane, and also to adjust or shift a vibration mode of the membrane. The mass load can also be positioned at predetermined locations along the membrane to control the harmonic vibrations of the membrane. A cMUT can also comprise a cavity defined by the membrane, a first electrode proximate the membrane, and a second electrode proximate a substrate. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.
US08398553B2
A non-invasive method and apparatus for monitoring the bladder volume in humans or animals. The monitoring measurements are based on the analysis of ultrasound signals from at least two individual ultrasound transducer arrays. Each one individual ultrasound transducer array has a contact face, which is arranged in order to transmit an ultrasonic signal through an abdominal surface of an individual being monitored. The method and apparatus includes the arranging of each individual transducer array on the abdominal surface around an axis which extends from a point on the abdominal surface through a point on or within the urinary bladder. The method and apparatus further comprises that each individual transducer array is arranged to scan the bladder using a two-dimensional scan plane which extends radially from the transducer array through the bladder.
US08398542B2
A living body observation system of the invention includes a living body information acquiring apparatus including: a living body information acquiring section; a wireless transmission section; a power source section for supplying driving power for driving the living body information acquiring section and the wireless transmission section; a magnetic field detecting section for outputting a detection result of a magnetic field from outside as an electric signal; and a power supply control section for controlling a supplying state of the driving power based on the electric signal, a magnetic field generating coil, a driving circuit for outputting a drive signal to the magnetic field generating coil, a switch for switching a generation state of a magnetic field, and a timer for outputting a signal for stopping output of the drive signal when a predetermined period has passed following switching from off to on of the switch.
US08398538B2
A sleep management method and system for use by a carer to improve the sleep behavior of a child in their care by monitoring one or more objective parameters relevant to sleep quality and providing one or more recommendations for behavioral programs and/or actions to the carer via a portable user interaction device such as a mobile phone. Such a system can also be adapted for use in looking after adults and animals such as domestic pets.
US08398532B2
Developer roll having a conductive or semi-conductive soft rubber core and a coating deposited in the soft rubber core wherein the coating has a conductive agent. The outer surface of the soft rubber core is modified before the coating is deposited onto the outer surface of the soft rubber core. Methods for making the same.
US08398530B1
An exercise device has a bar with attached two arms which press by their free ends with sharp elements against and dig into the ground on the left and right sides of person's body when person is laying on his back and together with rope block and rope with stirrups create support and leverage to lift person's legs and in some cases almost whole body above the ground in the air. Positioning the free ends of the arms in different places along a person's body gives possibility to redistribute tension between person's arms, legs and stomach muscles and creates different intensity of exercises. The numerous stretching and straining exercises can be accomplished by interaction between exercise device and person's legs and hands using body weight. The exercise device has freedom of movement and its arms' ends are not permanently connected to the ground or to anything else. The mobility of the device gives possibility to exercise while laying in bed for partially paralyzed persons to rehabilitate their condition without assistance. A few versions of this device can have capabilities of quick adjustment and to fold the device to a compact size.
US08398527B2
A method of controlling a dual-clutch transmission in a motor vehicle, including two partial drivetrains, each having a plurality of gears, which each can be connected to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine by a friction clutch, the method having the following steps: the first friction clutch transmits a torque to the first partial drivetrain assigned to it; the second friction clutch transmits at most a negligible torque to the second partial drivetrain; and the two partial drivetrains have a common differential, where when there are changes in torque and the amount of torque to be transmitted is low, and there is downshifting into a gear with a high transmission ratio in the first partial drivetrain, downshifting occurs into a gear with a low transmission ratio in the second partial drivetrain, and preliminary torque is applied to the differential by this gear.
US08398518B2
Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a main axle (112) is adapted to receive a carrier assembly (101, 400, 600, 800) to facilitate the support of components in a CVT (100). In another embodiment, a carrier includes a stator support member (206, 304, 402, 502, 602, 802) and a stator interfacial member (208, 504). In some embodiments, the stator interfacial member is configured to interact with planet subassemblies of a CVT. Various inventive planet subassemblies (108, 406, 806) and idler assemblies (109, 700) can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. In some embodiments, the planet subassemblies include legs (244, 2444, 424, 810) configured to have a sliding interface with a carrier assembly. Embodiments of a hub shell (102), a hub cover (104) are adapted to house components of a CVT and, in some embodiments, to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. Among other things, shift control interfaces and braking features for a CVT are disclosed.
US08398506B2
Golf club heads including first section and a second section that are separate and distinct from one another and are engaged to form at least a portion of the golf club head. The first section may include a first ledge member and the second section may include a second ledge member and the first ledge member may be engaged with the second ledge member to form a junction area. The first ledge member may include a first vertical side and a second vertical side and a horizontal side therebetween and the second ledge member may include a first vertical side and a second vertical side and a horizontal side therebetween. The first and second ledge members may be complementary. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making a golf club and golf club heads also are provided.
US08398503B2
A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
US08398501B2
The invention is directed to a muscle trainer and methods for exercising a weaker of two sets of opposing muscles of a person moving an implement, such as a golf club, wherein, if the two sets of opposing muscles were of appropriate strength, the two sets of opposing muscles would desirably apply forces in opposite directions to the implement to assist in maintaining an ideal movement of the implement. In various embodiments, the invention provides methods for training the opposing sets of muscles to consistently move the implement in an ideal way to accomplish a useful or recreational function. The methods include: (a) moving the muscle trainer through an actual motion; (b) determining a difference between the actual motion and an ideal motion, where the difference indicates a dominating force direction in which the muscle trainer is being urged by the stronger or dominating set of muscles; (c) applying an external force to the muscle trainer to urge the muscle trainer in the dominating force direction; and (d) using the weaker or non-dominating set of muscles to urge the muscle trainer against the external force to thereby exercise the non-dominating set of muscles.
US08398498B2
A suspension swing device includes a supporting beam (3) of a supporting bracket (1), a suspended joint (4) fixed on the supporting beam (3) via bearings, a suspended swing stems (41), a gear motor (5), a torque output plate (55), a swing pushing member (54), a swing direction monitor (6) and a microcomputer controller (7). The suspended swing stem (41) is mechanically connected with the suspended joint (4). The gear motor (5) is mechanically connected with the supporting beam (3). The torque output plate (55) and the swing pushing member (54) are connected to the output shaft of the gear motor (5). The microcomputer controller (7) is connected with the swing direction monitor (6) and the gear motor (5). The on-off operation of the gear motor (5) is controlled by the microcomputer controller (7).
US08398497B2
A ride system for rotating vehicles through a vertical plane or ride space about a common horizontal axis. The ride system includes an elongated support member with a longitudinal axis. The system includes a housing with a base and a frame supporting the elongated support member with the longitudinal axis spaced apart a distance from the base and such that the longitudinal axis is substantially horizontal. The system also includes a plurality of vehicle support assemblies hanging from the elongated support member. Each of the vehicle support assemblies includes an extension arm supporting a passenger vehicle at one end and attached to the elongated support member at a second end via a support coupling assembly. The support coupling assembly is configured to rotate the extension arm about the longitudinal axis, whereby the passenger vehicle is moved through a vertical plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.
US08398496B2
The invention relates to a device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft sliding in the direction of a common axis thereof, with balls provided between the two shafts. The balls are arranged in axial grooves of the inner shaft and in axial grooves of the outer shaft. Each row of balls is maintained by a double elastic member that bears in the groove of the inner shaft and urges the balls along two rolling tracks so that they come into contact with the groove of the outer shaft, wherein each of the two rolling tracks is hinged through a pivot surface and a bearing surface of the corresponding shaft, and the difference between the radii defines two bearing areas defining a hinge axis parallel to the common axis.
US08398483B1
An electronic sports book wagering system provides a bettor with an opportunity to purchase a sports book ticket sell back option when placing a bet on the outcome of an event. An option may be purchased by a bettor to be exercised at will by the bettor during a break in play or during an indicated period of the event for the bettor to potentially receive compensation to cancel the wager (e.g., at half time during a football game on which the wager was placed). The amount of compensation or refund provided to the bettor upon exercise of the option may be determined based on a current probability at the break in play or indicated period of whether the bettor will win the bet for which the wager was made. The bettor may be guaranteed a minimum refund amount of the original wager upon exercising the option.
US08398482B2
A gaming system has a gaming machine. The gaming machine transmits a signal to a remote device indicating a winning round.
US08398478B2
The gaming machine: counts the number of base games having been run; causes shifting to a second state which is more advantageous for a player than the base game, when a first predetermined number of base games is counted without shifting to the first state which is more advantageous for the player than the base game; runs a skill-requiring game after the second state, which game outputs a result according to an operation from outside, and increases or decreases a second predetermined number according to a result of the skill-requiring game; runs the base game after the skill-requiring game; and causes shifting to a third state which is more advantageous for the player than the base game, when the increased or decreased second predetermined number of base games having run are counted after the skill-requiring game.
US08398471B2
Embodiments and methods for conducting a game are herein provided. The method comprises providing a representation of a plurality of game indicia having spatial relationship with each other, one of the game indicia being designated as a reference game indicium. It further comprises receiving a player input corresponding to a guess regarding the spatial relationship of an other location with respect to the reference location, the other location being from the plurality of locations. The method further comprises revealing the other location to the player, evaluating the player input as either correct or incorrect, and evaluating fulfillment of a game-ending criterion. Based on evaluation, the game either continues or an outcome is evaluated to finally provide an award to the player. Physical embodiments comprise gaming machines and gaming program adapted for either conducting the game or causing the game to be conducted.
US08398463B2
A polishing pad conditioning apparatus includes a laser beam generating unit for providing a laser beam, a fluid delivery system for providing a fluid stream and a vacuum line for removing debris. The laser beam may directly impinge on a surface of a polishing pad thereby creating cutting action, while an atomized fluid stream provides cooling and pad debris along with fluid are removed thru the vacuum line. Alternatively, the laser beam may be combined with the atomized fluid stream in a region above the pad surface to substantially impart part of its energy to the fluid stream, generating high energy droplets which provide “cool” cutting action on the pad surface.
US08398458B2
The present invention generally relates to a polishing system. Particularly, the present invention relates a polishing apparatus having one or more modular polishing stations, and a plurality of polishing heads movably connected to a transferring system.
US08398457B2
A tool for moving an abrasive media can include a tool body and a drive system housed in the tool body. The drive system can include an output member. A retaining member can be disposed on the tool body. A first platen having a first attachment hub can be selectively coupled with the retaining member in an installed position. The first platen can have a first rotatable member that selectively attaches to the output member in a first mode of operation. A second platen having a second attachment hub can selectively couple with the retaining member in an installed position. The second platen can have a second rotatable member that selectively attaches to the output member in a second mode of operation.
US08398456B2
A method of polishing a substrate includes rotating a polishing table having a polishing surface, holding the substrate by a top ring, bringing the substrate into contact with the polishing surface while swinging and rotating the top ring to polish the substrate, and monitoring a surface condition of the substrate by a monitoring sensor. A rotational speed of the polishing table and conditions of swing motion of the top ring are determined such that a position of the monitoring sensor, a position of a center of rotation of the top ring, and a direction of the swing motion of the top ring at a point of time when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after polishing of the substrate is started approximately coincide with their previous values at a point of time before the predetermined period of time has elapsed.
US08398453B2
A seamless knitted brassiere includes a body encircling portion and at least one shoulder strap knit therein. The shoulder strap has a length and a first welt along the length. The shoulder strap also has a second welt along the length and adjacent the first double welt. The shoulder strap also has a novel run guard adjacent either of the two welts.
US08398449B2
A light-weight toy is attached to a player via a near-invisible fixed-length tether, typically using a low-tack adhesive at the ends of the tether. In especially preferred embodiments, the toy has a mechanism that creates an appearance of plausible possibility of flight without actually providing sufficient lift and/or propulsion for flight. Imaginary flight is achieved by manual lifting and moving the toy via the tether. Thus, the tether forms an integral part of the imaginary play for the player and is not used as an implement of a ‘magic trick’ for an audience.
US08398440B2
In accordance with one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a housing that supports a plurality of electrical contacts. Each electrical contact defines a mating end and an opposing mounting end, and a plurality of mounting terminals disposed at the mounting end. The mounting terminals of each contact are arranged in at least one column extending along a longitudinal direction, such that each column is spaced along a lateral direction, and the mounting terminals of adjacent contacts are longitudinally offset.
US08398439B1
An electrical connector includes an insulating body having a base portion and a tongue portion extending forward from a front side of the base portion. A top surface of the tongue portion defines a plurality of terminal fillisters each extending along a front-to-rear direction to penetrate through the tongue portion and the base portion. Two inner sides of a front end of each terminal fillister protrude face-to-face to form two holding portions with an interval therebetween gradually narrowing from rear to front. A plurality of terminals each has a contact arm disposed in the terminal fillister. A shielding shell encloses the insulating body to define an inserting space between the shielding shell and the tongue portion. The contact arm has a front end thereof held between the holding portions to avoid curling under the action of inserting a mating connector into the inserting space.
US08398430B1
An electrical adapter assembly includes a housing defining a cutout, the housing including first electrical contacts and second electrical contacts disposed within the cutout. The electrical adapter assembly includes (i) a plug including a body having a first portion extending from an edge of a second portion, the first portion extending generally orthogonal to the second portion, (ii) electrical prongs extending from the first portion, and (iii) electrical contacts coupled to the electrical prongs. The body of the plug is receivable in the cutout in at least two orientations, and in each of the at least two orientations, one or more of the electrical contacts of the plug engage at least one of the first electrical contacts or at least one of the second electrical contacts.
US08398427B2
A cable assembly (100), comprises: a plurality of first contacts (2), an insulative housing (1) molding outside the first contacts (2), a plurality of second contacts (3) received in the housing (1), a flat cable (4) connecting with the first contacts (2) and the second contacts (3), and the cable (4) comprising a plurality of inner conductors (40) arranged on upper and lower row, the upper row of the inner conductors (40) soldered to the second contacts (3) and the lower row of the inner conductors (40) soldered to the first contacts (2), a metallic shell (5) shielding outside the insulative housing (1).
US08398426B2
A multi-way connector connects a plurality of lighting apparatuses together, wherein connector comprises a plurality of lighting connectors, each lighting connector comprising an upper housing having plural connector pins, and one or more interlocking grooves; and a lower housing which has a plurality of connector pin guide holes, and one or more interlocking tongue portions, the lower housing being connectable with the upper housing to form each lighting connector by coupling at least one of the interlocking grooves with at least one of the interlocking tongue portions, and by coupling at least one of the plural connector pins with at least one of the connector pin guide holes; a multi-way connecting portion configured to permit power and/or signals to pass between and among the plurality of lighting connectors; and plural flexible connectors electrically connecting each lower housing with the multi-way connecting portion.
US08398411B2
A socket assembly, comprising a socket, a package received in the socket, a pressing member arranged upon the package and downwardly pressing the package and two heat pipes attached to the pressing member. The pressing member is formed with four arch grooves along a peripheral thereof, and the arch grooves allow linking members to pass therethrough and rotatablely retain the pressing member on a printed circuit board. Therefore, the pressing member can rotate in a certain range, by sliding the arch groove with respect to the linking member, to provide a flexible arrangement for heat pipes.
US08398405B2
A method for training an operator to control a powered system is disclosed including operating the powered system with an autonomous controller, and informing an operator of a change in operation of the powered system as the change in operation occurs. A system and a computer software code are also disclosed for training the operator to control the powered system.
US08398382B2
An impeller 22 includes a rotating shaft 7 supported rotatably by an upper bearing 9 and a lower bearing 20 at upper and lower ends, a plurality of vanes 6, an arm 18 coupling an inner circumferential side of the vanes to the rotating shaft, an annular coupling portion 8 coupled to an outer circumferential side of each vane, and a driven magnet portion 12 placed in a lower portion of the annular coupling portion. A drive magnet portion 16 provided at a rotor 13 and a driven magnet portion 12 are opposed to each other with a bottom wall of the housing interposed therebetween, and rotation of the rotor is transmitted to the impeller through magnetic coupling. A blockade member 23 is placed below the vanes and blocks a space in a region spreading between the rotating shaft and the annular coupling portion while leaving an opening 14 at least around the rotating shaft. In a configuration in which the rotating shaft of the impeller is supported by the upper and lower bearings and a lower portion of each outer circumferential edge of the vanes is coupled to the annular coupling portion, the formation of a blood clot in the vicinity of the lower bearing can be suppressed.
US08398379B2
A chemical liquid supplying apparatus which can discharge chemical liquid with high accuracy is provided. The apparatus is used to discharge the chemical liquid in a chemical liquid tank from an application nozzle. The apparatus has a combined member formed integrally with a pump case and a cylinder, and a flexible tube serving as a pump member is provided in the pump case, wherein its inside is a pump chamber and its outside is a pump-side driving chamber. A piston is assembled to the cylinder and when the piston is reciprocated by a motor, the pump chamber is expanded and contracted. A gap between the piston and the cylinder is covered with a diaphragm, and an interior of the diaphragm is a seal space. Therefore, an incompressible medium having leaked from the gap between the piston and the cylinder enters into the seal space and does not leak to the outside.
US08398370B1
A turbine rotor blade with a cooling circuit that provides for multiple metering and impingement cooling for the entire airfoil. A cooling supply channel delivers cooling air into a leading edge impingement cavity, a row of suction side wall impingement cavities, and a row of pressure side impingement cavities through metering holes to produce impingement cooling for each cavity. Another series of impingement cavities is formed in the trailing edge region and connects with the last impingement cavity in the mid-chord region to cool the trailing edge.
US08398367B2
An extraction unit for a steam turbine includes an end plate mounted downstream of a selected stage of a steam turbine, the end plate sealing the selected stage from the atmosphere, and an extraction pipe passing through the end plate for extracting steam from the selected stage.
US08398358B2
A luggage compartment storage device for moving a heavy item from a low easy access point to a high storage surface. A base frame is rigidly mounted to the high storage surface. A slide is connected to the base frame. A sliding frame is connected to the slide. Rear swing arms and front swing arms are pivotally connected to the sliding frame. A damper is connected between the rear swing arms and the sliding frame. A platform support frame is pivotally connected to the front swing arms and the rear swing arms. A platform is supported by the platform support frame. A pull down handle is pivotally connected to the front swing arms. The position of the pull down handle is lockable. A locking device is used for locking the platform support frame in place when the platform is at the high storage surface. The user manipulates the pull down handle to move the heavy item between the high storage surface and the low easy access point. In a preferred embodiment, the heavy item is a cooler and the base frame is rigidly mounted to shelving installed in the luggage compartment of an SUV. In another preferred embodiment, a cutting board is sliding attached to the bottom of the platform support frame. In other preferred embodiments the storage device is utilized for storage assistance in work vehicles, workshops, garages, basements, stock rooms, motor homes, closets and for assisting in disabled access.
US08398357B2
A method of and system for delivering parcels or packages utilizing a parcel delivery truck. The method allows both lighter and heavier packages to be delivered by a single driver or operator. The method includes positioning a specially designed lift or hoist unit within a rear compartment of a parcel delivery truck. The left and right portions of the lift unit are mounted to left and right side walls of the rear compartment to provide maximum lifting efficiency and maximum space for heavier parcels carried in the rear compartment.
US08398349B2
The present invention is a system and method for fastening a second object to a first object that resists unfastening, for example due to vibration or disturbance, until unlocked. The locking system essentially comprises: a girder having one end anchored to the first object, and another end having an externally threaded terminus also defining an internally counter-threaded axial bore; a cap having an essentially planar outer face, an internally threaded transplanar bore for rotational engagement with the terminus of the girder, and a pair of domed arches on opposite sides of the transplanar bore extending from the circumference of the transplanar bore toward the periphery of the cap; and a counter-threaded bolt having a diameter smaller than the transplanar bore, a length sufficient to rotationally engage the axial bore of the girder while inserted through the transplanar bore, and a head having a pin-aperture; a pin inserted through the pin-aperture cooperating with the domed arches to prevent substantial rotation of the cap engaged with the girder terminus and the bolt engaged with the girder axial bore. The system also includes a tightening tool for tightening the cap.
US08398347B2
An inexpensive and reliable floating fastener is provided by manufacturing an integrated nutplate into the backside of the interior structural member. A retention clip engages the nutplate to capture the nut while allowing the nut to float. The integrated nutplate roughly aligns the floating nut to the axial through-hole in the structural member and provides the torque resistance required to drive the screw into the nut. The retention clip holds the nut in place and provides the axial resistance required for the lead chamfer of the screw to engage the nut and resist the axial loading on the screw during installation. The nutplate is designed to facilitate cost-effective manufacturing. The per hole cost of the integrated floating-fastener is approximately 30% of the cost of the industry standard riveted floating fastener.
US08398343B1
The present invention is a cargo restraint system for protecting a barrel-contained cargo in a cargo vehicle space during transportation. In one example, the cargo vehicle may contain two sets of stacked barrels with each set having three vertical levels of barrels. In a first embodiment of the invention, the cargo restraint system includes at least one crush cushion placed at either a front end or a back end of the barrel-contained cargo. The crush cushion provides at least five contact points against each barrel and the contact points are arranged along three levels of crush zones. An end-wall system is placed adjacent to the crush cushion. At least one angle member with a plurality of strap separation slots is coupled to the end-wall system. Each strap is threaded through the strap separation slots and is anchored to the cargo vehicle to securely hold the barrel-contained cargo to the crush cushion and the end wall system.
US08398342B2
Techniques and apparatuses to provide vibration reduction of a workpiece when performing machining operations are disclosed. In various embodiments, a machine tool includes a shank having at least one end configured for engagement with a machine operable to rotate the shank. A cutting portion has a diameter defined by features used to remove material from a workpiece. The cutting portion is coupled to the shank. A vibration reduction dampener may be located between the shank and the workpiece.
US08398339B2
A self-tensioning tendon for pulling a tension leg platform (TLP) down to a desired draft position. The self-tensioning tendon can be utilized with either a co-installation process or a pre-installation process and connects to an assembled tendon joint. The self-tensioning tendon comprises a hydraulically controlled Length Adjustment Joint (LAJ) that further comprises an integral cylinder with external threads and a piston rod. The self-tensioning apparatus has features that advantageously reduce the time required to ballast the hull of the TLP. A hydraulic source actuates the integral cylinder to pull the TLP down to the target draft position, significantly reducing the time needed to ballast the hull of the TLP with millions of gallons of water. A Top Tendon Connector (TTC) ratchets down along the cylinder to lock the TLP at the final draft position.
US08398329B2
A safety device used in combination with a child seat assembly is provided to solve the problems about complicated structure and risk for the children. The safety device includes a bracket, a first wing and a second wing pivotally connected to the head portion of the bracket, a flexible piece cooperating the first and second wings, a locking piece releasably engaged with the first and second wings. When one of the wings is pivotally rotated, both of the wings will be synchronously rotated to a vertical or horizontal state.
US08398324B2
Dispenser for dispensing a substance onto a substrate, such as a tooth treatment compound onto teeth, includes a vial including a pair of thin members forming a cavity therebetween in which the substance is arranged and a conduit defining an internal dispensing channel communicating with the cavity, an applicator tip arranged in connection with the conduit and including projections adapted to contact the substrate, and a cap including a cavity. The cap removably attaches to the vial and when attached, covers the applicator tip and seals the internal channel. When the cap is detached from the vial and the thin members are squeezed toward one another, the substance in the cavity is urged out of the cavity into and through the internal channel in the conduit and onto the projections to enable it to be brought into contact with the substrate.
US08398318B2
An opening/closing assembly for a light path and a photographing apparatus including the same, comprises: a barrier base having an opening for providing the light path; a rotatable barrier installed on the barrier base for opening/closing the light path, and including an insertion portion; a first driving member disposed on the barrier base and including a first engagement groove in which the insertion portion is inserted and a functional portion on which an external force is exerted; a second driving member disposed on the barrier base and including a second engagement groove in which the insertion portion is inserted; and an elastic member for elastically connecting the first driving member and the second driving member, wherein, when the barrier is rotated, a distance between a portion of the first engagement groove contacting the insertion portion and a portion of the second engagement groove contacting the insertion portion is varied.
US08398315B2
An assembly for selectively lockable attachment between photographic accessories.
US08398305B2
The disclosure relates to a thermometer having an exchangeable measurement insert for measuring process temperatures of liquid or gaseous media in vessels of process installations, and to a method for replacing the measurement insert. On the basis of a thermometer in which the measurement insert is accommodated, such that it can be changed, in a protective tube which is closed at one end and has a process flange, the closed end of the protective tube being immersed, as far as the process flange, in a container in which the medium whose temperature is to be determined is situated, and the open end of the protective tube being guided at least indirectly to a connection housing in which at least connection terminals for connecting the measurement insert to a remote measured value processing system are arranged, provision is made for the transition from the open end of the protective tube to the connection housing to have a clearance fit with a cylindrical fitting surface between the measurement insert and a fitting sleeve which at least partially surrounds the latter.
US08398292B2
The present invention relates to an optical unit and light guide plate and ink thereof. The ink includes a base resin and a plurality of fine particles. The base resin has a first refractive index. The fine particles have a second refractive index and are dispersed in the base resin. The fine particles are made of organic polymer. The difference between the first refractive index and second refractive index is less than 0.15. The use of the ink will lower the color difference and the variation of color temperature of the light guide plate or the optical unit.
US08398290B2
A light guide module of a scanning apparatus includes plural side-emitting light emitting diodes and a light-guiding post, which are disposed on a circuit board. The light-guiding post has plural reflective structures corresponding to respective side-emitting light emitting diodes for receiving light beams from respective side-emitting light emitting diodes. A spacing interval between two of the side-emitting light emitting diodes at a middle portion of the circuit board is greater than a spacing interval between two of the side-emitting light emitting diodes at a side of the circuit board.
US08398289B2
A structure for eliminating bright lines of a tiled backlight module is provided. The structure includes a light guide plate, and a plurality of light sources. The light guide plate includes a plurality of rows of optical elements. The rows of optical elements extend in parallel. The light sources are provided at least one side of the light guide plate for projecting a light into the light guide plate and generating a regular but non-uniform light outputting performance of the light guide plate. Therefore, a brightness of areas where the optical elements are located is higher than the rest areas, so that the light guide plate achieves a regular but non-uniform light emitting performance. Accordingly, the bright lines occurred at joints between two light guide plates are enshrouded by the high brightness areas, and become hard to identify or even undistinguishable, thus “eliminated”.
US08398285B2
The present invention describes a lighting device. The lighting device includes a first light guiding pillar, at least one first point-form light source, a second light guiding pillar and at least one second point-form light source. The first point-form light source is disposed near at least one end of the first light guiding pillar. The first and the second light guiding pillars are parallel with each other and integrally formed in one piece. The second point-form light source is disposed near at least one end of the second light guiding pillar. The first and the second light guiding pillars are integrated into a connection body having two opposite surfaces respectively forming two straight grooves on an intersection of the first and the second light guiding pillars, wherein two bottoms of the straight grooves are spaced by a predetermined distance.
US08398280B2
A lighting system includes a first lighting apparatus, an annular second lighting apparatus, and an annular stay. The first lighting apparatus includes a light source covered with a housing. The annular second lighting apparatus is disposed around the housing and includes a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed annularly so as to be radially spaced apart from an outer periphery of the first lighting apparatus. The annular stay is supported by the housing to support the second lighting apparatus.
US08398277B2
An illumination controller comprise at least one sensor configured to sense position and motion of an operator of a banking vehicle, an illumination adjustment actuator, and a controller configured to determine angular velocity and/or linear acceleration, and banking angle of the vehicle from the sensed position and motion signals. The controller controls the illumination adjustment actuator to direct the illumination in anticipation of and during a turn.
US08398271B2
A LED lamp with adjustable beam direction includes a housing, a lamp base attached to one end of the housing for insertion into a lamp socket, a heatsink shaft mounted within the housing, a LED attached to one end of the heatsink shaft, a parabolic or elliptical or multi-facet reflector having a light output front opening and an asymmetric elliptical shaped rear opening, a first actuator for rotating the reflector about the LED, and a second actuator for tilting the reflector about the LED.
US08398265B2
A high-power LED lamp set is provided in the present invention. The high-power LED lamp set comprises: a power converting module; a power supply casing (2) for housing the power converting module; a light source casing (4), connected with the power supply casing; electrode rods (1), arranged at a rear end of the power supply casing (2) and connected with the power converting module; and LED lamps (7), mounted on a bottom surface of the light source casing (4); the light source casing (4) is provided with a lens board (5) at its opening end, wherein the lens board (5) is perforated with through holes at the positions corresponding to the LED lamps, and a high transmittance lens (8) is embedded in each of the through holes.
US08398259B2
A lighting device comprises a housing; a coupling member coupled to the housing; a reflector coupled between the housing and the coupling member; and a light source unit coupled to the coupling member to emit light toward the reflector, wherein the light source unit includes a first body, a second body and a spring provided between the first body and the second body, and wherein the spring provides an elastic force between the first body and the second body.
US08398254B2
A chassis assembly comprises a chassis 14 and lamp clips 18. The chassis 14 has mounting holes 33 to 35. Each lamp clip 18 includes a main body 27 to be mounted to the chassis 14, a lamp gripping portions 28 provided on the main body 27 so as to grip cold cathode tubes 17, and mounting portions 30 to 32 protruding from the main body 27 toward the chassis 14 side. The mounting portions 30 to 32 are to be inserted in the respective mounting holes 33 to 25. Rims of the mounting holes 33 to 35 are sandwiched between the main body 27 and the respective mounting portions 30 to 32. Three mounting portions 30 to 32 and three mounting holes 33 to 35 are provided in relative positions so as to restrict mounting of the lamp clip 18 to the chassis 14 in an orientation other than a predefined orientation.
US08398251B2
A method involves forming a first surface on a substrate, applying to the first surface a layer of a material having a thickness less than approximately 10 microns, and precision polishing the layer of material to form a precision optical second surface on a side of the layer opposite from the substrate. A different aspect involves an apparatus that includes a substrate having a first surface, and a layer provided on the surface and having a thickness less than approximately 10 microns, the layer having on a side thereof opposite from the substrate a polished second surface with an RMS surface roughness less than approximately 10 Angstroms.
US08398248B2
A projector includes: an illuminating device including a light source device, a first lens array that comprises first regions located at four corners in the first lens array when viewed along a system optical axis and second regions located between the two first regions, and a second lens array; a light modulating device; a projection optical system; a light control device; and a mode selection device. The light control device blocks part of the plural partial light beams by causing first and second light shields to integrally operate, when the brightness priority mode is selected. The light control device always blocks part of the partial light beams with the first light shields and blocks part of the partial light beams by causing the second light shields to operate independently from the first light shields.
US08398244B2
A projector includes: a light source that emits light; a first lens array that divides the light emitted from the light source into a plurality of partial light beams; a second lens array that focuses the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the first lens array; condenser lenses that superimpose the plurality of partial light beams emitted from the second lens array on target illumination regions; and liquid crystal panels that modulate the light beams passing through the condenser lenses according to image information, wherein each of the condenser lenses is a single lens that achieves telecentric illumination when superimposing the partial light beams, and only the condenser lenses are arranged as lenses between the second lens array and the liquid crystal panels.
US08398238B1
An imaging-guided docking system can separate the tilt and location of an imaged ophthalmic target and present them in an intuitive manner for an ophthalmic surgeon. The docking system can include an ophthalmic imaging system to image a portion of an eye of a patient, an image processor to determine a location and an orientation of the imaged portion of the eye, and a guidance system, coupled to the ophthalmic imaging system, to guide an ophthalmic docking based on the determined location and orientation. In some implementations, the imaging system images an internal eye-structure to determine its orientation and a video-imaging system video-images a frontal eye-structure to determine a location of the frontal eye-structure. The determined orientation and location can be displayed for the surgeon. The alignment of ophthalmic procedures can also be assisted with this imaging capability, e.g. the placement and centration of IOLs into the lens capsule.
US08398223B2
A process for printing an image includes printing a substrate with an aqueous inkjet ink and drying the printed image with a near-infrared drying system, wherein the inkjet ink is a yellow or magenta inkjet ink and comprises a yellow or magenta colorant and a distinct near-infrared absorbing compound. Inkjet ink sets for use with an inkjet printing system employing a near-infrared drying system in the process include at least a black ink and a yellow ink, wherein the yellow ink comprises a yellow colorant and dispersed nanoparticulate colloidal silica at a concentration of from 0.1 to about 10 wt %, and the black ink comprises a black colorant and dispersed nanoparticulate colloidal silica at a concentration of from 0 wt. % to at most ½ of the wt. % of the dispersed nanoparticulate colloidal silica in the yellow ink. Various embodiments provide a process for inkjet printing and drying inks with improved absorption in the near-IR region of the spectrum for improved drying performance of aqueous, hypsochromic inks, and an inkjet ink set with improved balanced near-IR drying of black and yellow inkjet inks.
US08398221B2
A method of printing provides liquid drops travelling along a first path using a jetting module. A catcher including a stationary porous surface is also provided. A liquid film is caused to flow over the stationary porous surface of the catcher using a liquid source. Selected liquid drops are caused to deviate from the first path and begin travelling along a second path using a deflection mechanism. The liquid drops travelling along one of the first path and the second path contact the liquid film.
US08398217B2
Drop-on-demand inkjet printing device (10) comprising a through-flow print head (20) having nozzles (22) and a fluid circulation system comprising a main reservoir (30), a supply buffer tank (38), a return manifold (64), wherein the main reservoir (30) is connected to the supply buffer tank (38) wherein the supply buffer tank (38) is in fluid communication with the nozzles (22) print head (20) the nozzles (22) being in fluid communication with the return manifold (38) wherein the return manifold (64) is connected to the main reservoir (30) and both are arranged in height with respect to the nozzles (22), wherein the supply buffer tank (38) is provided with a lockable conduit (56) connecting the supply buffer tank (38) to the main reservoir (30).
US08398213B2
A liquid ejecting head unit includes a flow path unit including a flow path communicating with a plurality of nozzles, a head case in which a common liquid flow path for supplying liquid to the flow path of the flow path unit is formed and to which the flow path unit is bonded, a flow path member which is bonded to the head case at the side opposite to the side to which the flow path unit is bonded and includes an upstream-side flow path for supplying liquid to the common liquid flow path, a heater which is mounted on a side face of the head case and is capable of generating heat, and a metal plate a portion of which is bonded to the heater and other portions of which are opposed to a portion of the flow path member.
US08398212B2
An ink jet head includes a Si substrate with a surface having a {100} orientation; a passage holding ink on the Si substrate; an ink discharge port which is communicatively connected to the passage and through which ink is ejected; and a supply port which extends through the Si substrate, which is communicatively connected to the passage, and which supplies ink to the passage. The supply port has walls having two {111} planes facing each other.
US08398204B2
A liquid jetting apparatus includes a first liquid jetting head which has a plurality of first nozzles, a head holder to which a first liquid jetting head is fixed, a liquid cartridge which is detachably mounted on the head holder, and which supplies the first liquid jetting head with a liquid which is to be jetted from the first nozzles, and a head cartridge which has a second liquid jetting head having a plurality of second nozzles, and a liquid tank which supplies the second liquid jetting head with a liquid which is to be jetted from the second nozzles. The second liquid jetting head and the liquid tank are integrated to form the head cartridge, and the head cartridge is detachably mounted on the head holder.
US08398203B2
A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a fluid ejecting head in which nozzles are formed on a nozzle forming surface and corresponding maintenance devices. A supporting member supports each of the maintenance devices in a disposition state that corresponds to the fluid ejecting head. A simultaneous transfer mechanism moves the supporting member between a maintenance position, which is a position state where each of the maintenance devices approaches the corresponding fluid ejecting head, and a retracted position, which is a position state where each of the maintenance devices is separated from the corresponding fluid ejecting head. An individual transfer mechanism individually moves each of the maintenance devices on the supporting member, for each of a plurality of maintenance device groups including at least one maintenance device, along approaching and separating directions with respect to the fluid ejecting head that corresponds to the maintenance device included in the maintenance device group.
US08398201B2
A humidification unit has a structure in which a first humidification chamber and a second humidification chamber are connected in series. Humidified gas produced in the humidification unit and having a high humidity is supplied to a space where nozzles of a recording head are exposed and produces a flow current.
US08398200B2
A recording apparatus includes a supporting member on which a plurality of suction holes for sucking a recording medium are formed on a supporting face for supporting the recording medium, a transportation device which transports the recording medium along the supporting face, a recording head which ejects fluid on the recording medium supported by the supporting face so as to perform printing, and a control device which makes the recording head execute the printing when a front end of the recording medium in the transportation direction reaches to a position at which the front end of the recording medium covers the suction holes formed at downstream-most positions in the transportation direction on the supporting face.
US08398194B2
A power amplifier includes: a modulator pulse-modulating a drive waveform signal serving as a reference of a drive signal applied to an actuator and outputting a plurality of modulated signals; a digital power amplifier having a plurality of digital power amplifier stages each including a pair of push-pull switching elements, amplifying the power of the plurality of modulated signals, and outputting multi-value amplified digital signals; and a low pass filter smoothing the amplified digital signals and outputting the drive signal, wherein the modulator includes a control section switching one of a state where the same modulated signal is connected to two or more of the digital power amplifier stages and a state where different modulated signals are connected to different digital power amplifier stages to the other.
US08398191B2
A continuous ink jet printer aqueous ink composition including pigment particles dispersed with a dispersant or self dispersing pigment particles without the need for a dispersant, and a polymer additive distinct from any dispersant used to disperse the pigment particles, wherein the polymer additive comprises a styrene-acrylic copolymer that does not substantially displace any dispersant used to disperse the pigment, present in an amount effective to stabilize the ink composition against shear induced agglomeration caused by pumping the ink composition through a continuous ink jet printing fluid system. A method of continuous ink jet printing includes A) providing a main fluid supply of a continuous inkjet printer with an aqueous ink composition of the invention; B) pumping the ink composition from the main fluid supply to a print head and ejecting a continuous stream of the ink composition from the print head which continuous stream is broken into spaced droplets; and C) in response to electrical signals received from a control mechanism, controlling the spaced droplets to select between printing droplets for marking a substrate and nonprinting droplets that are collected and returned to the main fluid supply.
US08398190B2
A fluid storage device for storing a fluid, and a fluid ejection head for ejecting the fluid fed from the fluid storage device are provided. The fluid storage device is provided with a storage tank, and a spherical body formed of a magnetic material and provided inside the storage tank. Also provided are three or more attraction devices for attracting the spherical body; and a switching device for switching between attraction and non-attraction by the attraction devices according to a movement path selected from a plurality of movement paths based on a predetermined selection condition, and moving the spherical body inside the storage tank in the selected movement path.
US08398187B2
The invention relates to a refrigerator. A refrigerator includes a heat-insulated housing having an interior space in which a pair of chilled-goods containers are disposed adjacent to one another at a spacing from the floor. Each chilled-goods container is mounted on extending elements that guide chilled-goods container into and out of the interior space. A longitudinal beam extends between the chilled-goods containers and each of the extractable elements is supported on sidewalls of the housing via at least one crossbeam.
US08398185B2
A side-by-side refrigerator having a door opening device which includes a cabinet and a door to open and close a front surface of the cabinet, the door opening device comprising: a handle which is mounted on a front surface of the door to perform a seesaw motion; and a push kit which is mounted on a side surface of the door to interwork with the handle, wherein a portion on which the handle and the push kit are mounted is formed to be recessed in the door.
US08398183B2
A hanging hook for attaching a generally vertical object to a vertical side wall of a piece of storage furniture, comprises: a central portion extending laterally for at least the distance of the width of said object; a first attachment portion at one end of said central portion, the first attachment portion including a leg section extending downward for securing said leg portion through an aperture in a top surface of said piece of storage furniture; and a second attachment portions at the opposite end of said central portion, the second attachment portion including a leg section extending downward and an arm section extending inward from a distal end of the first section toward the center of said hanging hook for securing said arm section through an aperture in an outer side surface of said object.
US08398182B2
A segmented wear ring 40 for a tracked vehicle 10 road wheel 22 that cooperates with a track guide 32. The segmented wear ring 40 has at least two wear ring segments 42, and each of the wear ring segments 42 have a wear surface 50. The wear ring segments 42 are attached to a tracked vehicle wheel 22 such that the wear surfaces of each of the wear ring segments 42 form a substantially uninterrupted wear surface 50 designed to cooperate with a track guide 32.
US08398179B2
An extendible axle member (146, 148) is provided for an agricultural harvester (100), the axle (142, 144) having an elongate telescopic portion (400) with bearing surfaces (254, 256, 334, 336) for being slidably received in an outer axle member (142, 144).
US08398178B2
The technology provides vehicle wheel disks where a spoke portion can have a spoke bottom wall and a spoke side portion. The spoke side portion can include a spoke side wall rising from the spoke bottom wall in an axial direction of the wheel and a spoke reinforcing wall connected from an axially end portion of the spoke side wall and curved from the axial direction of the wheel toward a circumferential direction of the wheel and extending in the circumferential direction of the wheel. A pair of spoke side portions can be located on opposite sides of the vent window in the circumferential direction of the wheel have radially inner end portions which are connected to each other via a connecting wall. The connecting wall can be flat or substantially flat in the circumferential direction of the wheel.
US08398172B2
A locking chair adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of a chair component. The mechanism comprises a central shaft, a spiral jaw clutch comprising two interconnecting spiral jaw interfaces and a slotted element wherein the slot is sized to slideably receive the central shaft for displacement of the slotted element when the mechanism is in an unlocked position. A locking pad locks the mechanism against the slotted element. A rotatable adjustment handle allows the mechanism to toggle from a locked position, to an unlocked position, by displacement of the spring mechanism caused by the rotation of the spiral jaw interface fixedly mounted on the adjustment handle, therefore releasing pressure on the locking pad. A spring mechanism is activated when the claimed mechanism goes from a locked position to an unlocked position, pulling the claimed mechanism back to a locked position. The claimed mechanism provides a low cost solution offering better locking capabilities than traditional braking mechanisms.
US08398163B2
A roof apparatus includes a guide rail extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle, a drive shoe, a functional bracket, a front link member relatively rotatably connected at a front portion of the functional bracket and including a connecting portion, an engagement portion and a supporting portion, and a lifting mechanism connected at a rear portion of the functional bracket, wherein the guide rail includes a first guide portion guiding the supporting portion in response to an opening and closing operation of a movable panel and being closely located upwardly and downwardly of the supporting portion while the movable panel is in a fully-closed state, and the drive shoe includes a second guide portion guiding the engagement portion in response to the opening and closing operation of the movable panel and being closely located upwardly and downwardly of the engagement portion during the fully-closed state of the movable panel.
US08398159B1
In one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle frame comprises a plurality of frame members including at least two side plate members interlocked with a bottom plate member and a vertically loaded plate member. The bottom plate member and the vertically loaded plate member are non-parallel. The side plate members support the bottom plate member and the vertically loaded plate member through a plurality of tab and slot connections.
US08398157B2
A vehicle body construction, namely a front or A-pillar, extends between a windshield and a door opening. The construction includes an inner body panel with first and second flanges along opposite edges of a central portion, an outer body panel with first and second flanges along opposite edges of a central portion, and a stiffener received between the inner and outer body panels. The stiffener has first and second flanges disposed along opposite edges of a central portion. Each of the inner body panel, outer body panel, and stiffener second-edges are joined together while the first edges of the inner body panel and stiffener are joined together adjacent the windshield and the first edge of the outer body panel is joined to the central portion of the stiffener. This structural arrangement improves visibility from the interior, provides greater visible body color from the exterior, improves both the aerodynamic and styling flexibility, and improves the sectional inertia or overall stiffness of the A-pillar with lighter weight materials.
US08398143B1
The invention is an apparatus and method of using same for controlling the positioning of one or more of the seats for a vehicle, such as a double stroller, with an actuating mechanism beneath the seat that controls the seating arrangement from a tandem arrangement to a lateral arrangement and vice versa, in addition to the seat's pivoting, sliding and revolving. The apparatus comprises a frame anchored to the stroller, the frame having a plurality of stop members and supporting a ring carriage; a ring revolvably captured within the ring carriage; and an actuating mechanism beneath the seat, the mechanism comprising: a handle and a support housing for supporting the mechanism over the ring, for housing a sliding means for sliding the seat, and for supporting a revolving means for revolving the seat, along with the ring, around the frame and a pivoting means for pivoting the seat.
US08398142B2
Provided is a vehicle seat which is positionable between a use and not-it-use position convenient for increased storage space and access to rearward areas of the vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a seat part and a backrest. The seat part is pivotably coupled to the vehicle floor at one end so that that the seat part may be moved frontward with respect to the vehicle. A transmission link is provided, coupled to the backrest and the seat part so that the backrest pivots into the not-in-use position as the seat part is moved into its not-in-use position.
US08398122B2
A push fitting joint packaging arrangement allows the re-use and repair of push-to-connect fittings and valves without damage to the fitting or valve elements or the pipe, and without coining, gluing or threaded engagement of parts. In one embodiment of the present invention, the arrangement comprises a split fastening ring and a split O-ring support member.
US08398119B2
An electrofusion fitting includes a tubular length of thermoplastic material, of an outer diameter commensurate with the inner diameter of the ends of a compatible thermoplastic material lining of adjacent lengths of metal pipe, there being at each end of the fitting at least two heater coils on or in close proximity to the outer surface of the fitting, electrical leads from the heater coils extending through the fitting to emerge at the inner surface of the tubular length, for connection to a source of electrical power.
US08398114B2
A vehicle seat configured to retain an air bag. The vehicle seat uses selective use of adhesive tape in place of stitching to provide easier manufacturing, lower cost, improved durability and easier repairs, as well as having the adhesive tape be configured to rupture as needed in response to activation of the air bag.
US08398112B2
A side air bag restraint sub-assembly is disposed in a cavity in a vehicle seat. A reinforcement panel is secured to either the inflator bolts or the seat fame on one edge. The opposite edge of the reinforcement panel is sewn to a hem on one side of a tear seam.
US08398083B2
A card game is disclosed in which participants arrange six poker cards into three hands, including a one-card hand, a two-card hand, and a three-card hand. Wagers are placed on each of the participant's hands. The participants compete their hands against at least one other participant's hands to determine who has the highest ranked hands. For each hand, the participant having the highest ranked hand is determined to be the winner. Payoffs are made to the winners.
US08398075B2
An auto document feeder includes a lead path, a first reverse path, a second reverse path, and a both surfaces eject path. The lead path guides a document from a left side to a right side of a read position. The first reverse path and the second reverse path are connected to the lead path, and reverse the document to guide the document from the right side to the left side of the read position. A both surfaces eject path is connected to the first reverse path and the second reverse path and guides the document whose image information of a second surface has been read so as to eject further to the right side than the read position. Further, the lead path includes a lead curve path which protrudes to the left side and is arranged more to the left side than the read position. A shared curve path shared by the lead path and the both surfaces eject path includes a portion between the read position and a portion in which the lead curve path protrudes the most.
US08398070B2
A valve unit which circulates and blocks air has a first block connected to upstream suction tubes, a second block facing this first block and connected to downstream suction tubes, a shield plate disposed in a space S between the first block and the second block, and a motor which rotates this shield plate. The shield plate is provided with a connection hole which connects the upstream suction tube to the downstream suction tube, and a connection hole which connects the upstream suction tube to the downstream suction tube.
US08398064B2
A device and a method for inserting flat objects into a folded printed product, wherein the products are held by grippers of a gripper conveyor which opens only briefly for inserting the flat object. In order to also stabilize the product in the open state of the gripper, a support element is provided, which moves between the two product parts before the gripper opens and rests on one of the product parts. If the orientations of the support elements and the grippers are selected in a suitable fashion, this will suffice in order to position the product and keep it open such that the flat object can be inserted and the gripper can then be closed again, while clamping the product with the flat object into position. Optionally, further support elements are present, which additionally support the product from the outside, such as the folded edge.
US08398058B2
A universal handrail support bracket is disclosed in which a bracket is configured to be mounted to a handrail or banister and the bracket has an annular ring attached thereto. The annular ring has a concave interior surface and a convex exterior surface. A curved nut and a cap have surfaces which mate with respectively the inner and outer surfaces of the annular ring. The curved nut and the cap are positioned respectively inside and upon the annular ring such that they may both freely rotate and pivot. A fastener such as a screw passes through both the curved nut and the cap and into a fixed substantially vertical surface such that the bracket may be attached to the fixed substantially vertical surface at any desired pitch angle, yaw angle, and roll angle for attaching a rail to a vertical surface.
US08398056B1
A motorcycle lift and support apparatus is disclosed for lifting and supporting a motorcycle for various purposes such as repair, maintenance, and storage. The apparatus of the present invention includes a retractable wheel system to facilitate apparatus mobility.
US08398047B2
A line post anchoring device for a roadway cable barrier system includes a lower helical anchor to which a detachable line post socket member is secured. The helical anchor and line post socket of each line post anchoring device have mating coupling sections that are preassembled and hydraulically screwed into the ground in a single operation. Each socket includes interior guide plates for properly guiding and positioning a line post therein, such that the cabling system can be effectively strung under tension at the same time the anchoring devices are installed in the ground. Damaged sockets are easily replaced with minimal disruption to the surrounding soil by backing the helical anchor out of the ground only so far as necessary to detach and replace the damaged socket, and then reinserting the helical anchor in the same location. There is no delay or multiple operations required for installation or repair, thus enhancing roadway safety by minimizing traffic disruptions and possible accidents incident thereto.
US08398043B2
A seat sliding device for preventing accidental operation of the operation member. The lock member 50 fixes (locks) the upper rail 20 fixed to a vehicle seat and the lower rail 30 fixed to the vehicle floor via the front and rear feet so as not to make a relative movement. The lock member 50, with the lock nails 55 of the pivoting member 50b, pivots around the pivot center L extending in the rail sliding direction, in response to the operation of the operation lever, and the pivot center L is positioned distant from the lock nails 55.
US08398041B2
Generally, a mounting bracket for mounting a mountable object is disclosed. The mounting bracket includes a baseplate has a substantially flat mounting surface and an opposite outward-facing surface. A ledge extends a first distance from the outward-facing surface to support the mountable object. A mounting bracket locking component adapted to frictionally engage a mountable object locks the mountable object in place. Additionally, a stabilizing member extending a second distance from the outward-facing surface contacts the mountable object to help limit movement of the object during use. The mounting bracket may be used with a material dispenser in a wall mountable material dispensing system. The wall mountable material dispensing system may be packaged as a kit wherein the mounting bracket is packaged within the material dispenser.
US08398039B2
A mounting plate having at least two L-shaped mounting flanges alternatively offset from a centerline defined to bisect the mounting flanges. A mounting system including a plurality of mounting plates with interlocking mounting flanges positioned horizontally on a mounting frame of one standard rack unit (1.75 inches) height. A mounting system including a plurality of mounting footprints with overlapping fastener flanges positioned horizontally on a mounting frame of one standard rack unit width. A method of mounting plates configured and dimensioned to receive a fiber optic coupler or adapter including a mounting a plurality of plates having at least two L-shaped mounting flanges into a mounting frame such that the mounting flanges of adjacent plates are configured to interlock or overlap.
US08398031B2
A rail system for an electric pallet track has, in known manner, a main line which can be optionally connected to at least two branch lines by way of points. The points have as many movable rail portions for each rail of the main line as there are branch lines. These movable rail portions can each be pivoted about a stationary pivot axis which is located outside the longitudinal extent of the corresponding movable rail portion.
US08398024B2
A wing cover panel assembly, wing cover and method of forming thereof are disclosed in which an attachment surface of the wing cover panel is provided with a locating channel into which a wing structural element such as a stringer or spar is captured so as to fix the wing structural element to the wing cover panel.
US08398023B2
Control station which comprises: a seat (10) for the operator of the said control station, the seat (10) comprising at least one arm rest (30), and a control and command assembly, said assembly comprising a control stick (1) with controls, mechanical components for transmitting and generating forces and movement to and from the control stick (1), components (17) for measuring the position of the control stick (1), and electronic components which are connected to the control stick (1) and via which the control and command assembly is operated, the control stick (1) of the said control station being incorporated in the seat (10), the control stick (1) being situated moreover on the armrest (30).
US08398015B2
An aircraft that has a set of wings which spin about respective axes that are laterally spaced apart in a horizontal plane of the aircraft, parallel to each other, and positioned adjacent respective frame portions, each of said frame portions defining a continuous surface, having a semi-circular cross-section means being provided to drive the sets of wings so that, as they spin, each wing of said sets of wings moves sequentially upwards inside its respective frame portion, and downwards outside its respective frame portion so as to provide lift to the aircraft.
US08398000B2
The invention relates to a connection element for running rails of a suspended track for receiving the running rails (2, 2′) and a securing device for securing the running rails (2, 2′) against being pulled out of the cavity (H, H′) and a running rail system having multiple running rails (2, 2′), which can be connected by connection elements (1; 11). The invention solves the problem of allowing simple and rapid tool-free mounting with a simultaneous secure connection of running rails of the running rail system in that the securing device of the connection element has at least one spring-elastic first connection claw (8; 12; 15), which projects diagonally in an insertion direction (E) of a first running rail (2) into the cavity (H) in the relaxed state, and/or by a running rail system having connection elements (1; 11) implemented in this way.
US08397998B1
A data storage device for use as a portable card, magnetically encodeable card, magnetic credit card or the like is shown. The data storage device includes a substrate having at least one surface. A high density, magnetically coercive material layer is disposed on or is deposited on the substrate for storing magnetic signals. The magnetically coercive material may have an axis of magnetization that is oriented in a predetermined direction relative to the at least one surface of the substrate. A layer of non-magnetically material is disposed on the substrate for defining an exchange break layer. A relatively hard, abradeable protective coating is formed on said magnetic material layer and is selected to have a thickness between a maximum thickness which would materially attenuate magnetic signals passing between the magnetic material layer and a transducer and a minimum thickness enabling said protective coating to be abraded by usage in an ambient natural atmosphere operating environment for removing therefrom a known quantity of the protective coating. The protective coating may comprise one, two or more layers of materials.
US08397996B2
A portable data carrier with a card body (5) in which there are incorporated a chip module (7) and an antenna (7) for near-field communication, and a method for producing the data carrier. The data carrier has an improved mechanical stability.
US08397993B2
A printing control method for line light source detection, for controlling at least one printing parameter of a printing apparatus. The printing control method includes: utilizing a line light source to scan a barcode to derive a barcode profile corresponding to the barcode; deriving a grading information corresponding to the barcode according to the barcode profile and a threshold, and deriving a modified barcode profile according to the grading information and the barcode profile; and adjusting the at least one printing parameter of the printing apparatus according to the modified barcode profile.
US08397986B1
According to one aspect of the present invention, the medical data card automatically runs when inserted into a communication port of a computer. One type of communication port can be a USB port. The card prompts the service provider to enter a password that is verified by the server. The patient ID can then be entered and the patient's records can be retrieved. The server can be remotely accessed by the healthcare provider via the internet. A log is generated and stored on the server containing information such as who, when, what records were accessed. A family card can be provided permitting a minor's records to be obtained via the parent's or guardian's card. The card and the server automatically synchronize each time the card is used.
US08397975B1
A removable two-ring clamp has a first segmented ring assembly and a second segmented ring assembly that pivot relative to one another and can be individually loosened and tightened. The first ring assembly is received on and secured around an end portion of a first tubular section and the second ring assembly is received on and secured around an end portion of a second tubular section. The ring assemblies, when loosened, allow relative pivotal movement therebetween and allow the tubular sections to be rotated about their axes relative to one another to accommodate positioning the axes of the sections in any combination of planes, and when tightened, firmly hold the two tubular sections concentrically end-to-end in the proper position while a small tack weld or bonding agent is placed at their joined ends.
US08397974B2
The present invention relates to tools and methods for welding, coating, repairing, or otherwise modifying the surface of a metal substrate. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide self-reacting friction stir welding tools which have an internal channel that allows filler materials to be added to the weld joint or otherwise friction stir processed area. Embodiments also provide friction stir tooling having upper and lower shoulders disposed at a fixed distance from one another and connected by a fixed split-pin. The tooling can be configured for automatically dispensing varying amounts of filler material into the tooling in response to variations in thickness of a substrate being processed.
US08397972B2
A loading unit having a shipping safety device is provided for use with a surgical instrument. The loading unit includes a body portion, a movable operative device disposed in the body portion and an actuator associated with the body portion and operable to move the movable operative device. A locking member movably mounted in the body portion and movable in response to movement of the actuator. The locking member is movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position. The removable safety device generally includes a base, a blocking member projecting from the base and engageable with the movable operative device and a lockout member projecting from the base and engageable with the locking member. Flexible arms extend from the base and engage the body portion of the loading unit. The removable safety device is locked to the body portion when the locking member is in the first locked position and is unlocked for removal from the body portion when the locking member it is in the second unlocked position.
US08397970B2
The present application relates to a driving machine. The driving machine has a driver blade for striking a fastener and a nose portion having formed therein an injection passage which slidably guides the driver blade, and into which the fastener is fed to be injected therefrom. An injection hole from which the fastener is injected is specified at a leading end in an injecting direction of the injection passage. The injection hole is defined by a first guide portion and a second guide portion which is movable relative to the first guide portion so as to change a cross section, perpendicular to the injecting direction, of the injection hole. A positioning apparatus is provided to dispose the second guide portion at a plurality of positions relative to the first guide portion.
US08397967B2
An apparatus and method for determining usage data includes driving a drive piston, damping the drive piston, and determining usage data indicating if the drive piston is being over-powered or under-powered.
US08397965B2
A backpack and a method of forming a backpack with an integral gun scabbard has been devised whereby the user has a convenient place for the storage and carriage of a rifle, shotgun, or other long gun type of firearm, and simultaneously can store and carry a variety of other sundry cargo while moving about. The backpack is devised in such a way as to permit easy and rapid access to and retrieval of said firearm from the storage. It is equipped with dual padded shoulder straps. In an ideal embodiment, a waist belt is included to facilitate the stabilization of the scabbard when the firearm is being withdrawn, as well as to contribute to the load bearing functions of the backpack.
US08397952B2
A refrigerator includes a body having a cooling chamber and a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the cooling chamber. The refrigerator also includes a water source positioned at the cooling chamber or the door and configured to accommodate water. The refrigerator further includes a hot water supply unit positioned at the body or the door and configured to receive water from the water source, heat the water, and supply the heated water to outside of the body in response to a start signal. In addition, the refrigerator includes a hot water transferring unit that is connected to the hot water supply unit and configured to transfer the water remaining in the hot water supply unit after supplying the heated water to outside of the body is completed.
US08397950B2
A device comprises a first portion including a first polymer, and a second portion that is relatively flexible in comparison to the first portion and includes a second polymer that is substantially not bondable to the first polymer. A chamber of the device is hermetically sealable with respect to ambient atmosphere and is defined by (i) an interior of the second portion, and/or (ii) a space formed between the first and second portions. A third portion of the device includes a third polymer that is bondable to the first and second polymers and fixedly secures the first and second portions to each other.
US08397941B1
A rigid support base has flat parallel top and bottom surfaces. The top and bottom surfaces are separated by a thickness. The support base has a plurality of holes. A plurality of rigid rods is provided. Each rod has a lower end. The lower end is received and retained within an associated hole. Each rod has a notch. Each notch includes an upper ledge. The upper ledge is provided parallel with the top surface of the support base. Each notch includes an angled lower ledge. The lower ledge depends from an associated upper ledge.
US08397938B2
A pressure vessel for storing a fluid, the pressure vessel including an annular inner boss having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a passage adapted to receive a utility device therein, wherein the inner boss includes a liner channel formed intermediate the inner surface and the outer surface, a vessel liner having a portion thereof disposed in the liner channel of the inner boss, and an outer boss secured to the outer surface of the inner boss.
US08397934B2
A padlock container assembly for packing and maintaining small articles is assembled primarily from a box container and a closure for closing the open top of the container. Buckle holes are disposed in the upper sidewall of the container that cooperate with elastic closure pieces disposed on a skirt of the closure to lock the closure the container. The closure has a sliding cover capable of being moved according to a predetermined path disposed on an external cover of the closure. A series of holes in the closure allows for various connection arrangements between closure parts. A hangtag extends upwardly from the external cover to allow the container assembly to be hanging and exhibiting.
US08397933B2
A lid covering an interior of a medical waste receptacle base. The lid includes an intermediate waste repository connected to the cover. The repository is moveable between a holding position adapted for holding waste segregated from the receptacle base interior, and a dumping position adapted for biasing waste by gravity into the receptacle base interior.
US08397931B2
A cosmetic, medical/pharmaceutical, toy container consisting of a sealable element that may be connected to other package elements to form an assembly of cosmetic, medical, pharmaceutical, toy packages.The container permits the combination and substitution of package elements within the assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the package elements may be oriented in either direction within the assembly, irrespective of the location or orientation of adjacent elements.
US08397929B2
The present invention relates to a flat rack container, and more particularly, to an integral buffering apparatus disposed between end walls and a base and for automatically controlling a flow rate of oil that flows in a cylinder housing through channels formed in a slider when the end walls are folded, to control a falling speed of the end walls, thereby absorbing an impact of the end walls, preventing damage of the end walls and the base, and ensuring safety of workers. The integral buffering apparatus includes a cylinder housing including a space for accommodating oil; a slider disposed in the space to be movable in a length direction of the cylinder housing and to divide the space into a first space and a second space; first oil channels and a second oil channel for connecting the first space and the second space to each other.
US08397928B2
A barrel made of wood, in particular oak wood, for containing a liquid, such as wine, the barrel comprising a hollow body closed by two barrel heads, each barrel head comprising an assembly of substantially rectangular wooden battens assembled parallel to one another via facing lateral faces, the barrel being characterized in that the adjacent lateral faces (101, 201) of two assembled-together battens (100, 200) are in intimate leaktight contact, with fibers of the wood of each of said battens being tangled together and held in a matrix of fused intercellular materials.
US08397922B2
A theft deterrent dispensing unit particularly for use with cans includes a conveyor section that leads to a dispensing head. A shroud extends over the forward edge of the conveying section. The dispensing head pivots downwardly allowing the leading can to be grasped without interference of the shroud. The rear edge of the dispensing head pivots upwardly, preventing the next adjacent can from moving immediately into the dispensing head until the dispensing head rotates back to a closed position. Likewise, when the dispensing head is rotated to an open position, a barrier is pulled down from the top of the shroud, again preventing an individual from reaching in and grabbing the next adjacent can. A locking mechanism is positioned on the side of the dispensing units to prevent two adjacent dispensing units from being opened at the same time. Finally, the speed at which the dispensing heads move from an open to a closed position is regulated to prevent rapid removal of cans from a single dispensing unit.
US08397921B2
A spraying means is arranged on the scum-flowing wall surface side of wall surfaces forming a scum inlet of a scum discharging mechanism. The spraying means sprays pressured water upward along the wall surface on the scum-flowing side from when a part of the scum inlet is submerged in water until the scum begins to flow into the scum inlet. As a result, even large lumps of scum exceeding 10 cm in thickness (diameter) may be lead smoothly into a pipe by the pressured water, and the amount of discharged water accompanying scum discharge may be reduced to 1/20 to 1/30 than by a conventional scum removing apparatus.
US08397919B2
An improved system and method for separating combustible organic particles from noncombustible inorganic particles in coal, in preparation for combustion. The coal is size-reduced and size-graded to small pieces which are then supplied to input ends of water-immersed descending slides having ultrasonic transducers for vibratory separation of inorganic and organic particles. The slides have different longitudinal lengths with angles of declination configured to achieve time-differential exposure to the ultrasonic vibratory energy, with smaller coal pieces being subjected to shorter time ultrasonic vibratory exposure. In one preferred form, longitudinally spaced turbidity sensors along the slide provide signals used to control selected ultrasonic transducers upon substantially complete cleaning of the coal pieces.
US08397906B2
An idler comprises an idler tube (1), an idler shaft (7), a bearing seat (2) and a labyrinth seal structure at each end of the idler tube (1). The labyrinth seal structure comprises a seal ring (5) and a seal cover (3). A positioning flange (12) is provided on the top edge of the bearing seat (2). A convex ring (4) and a clearer (9) are provided in the seal ring (5). A seal rim (3-1) of the seal cover (3) is fitted between the convex ring (4) and the clean device (9).
US08397904B2
An environmentally controlled conveyor system including a sensor-instrumented conveyor belt conveying products continuously through a thermal-treatment process and a method for determining the instantaneous position of the sensors. Temperature or other sensors are embedded in the conveyor belt across its width and along its length to advance with the product through the thermal-treatment process, such as through a pasteurizer tunnel. The sensor measurements are transmitted wirelessly from the belt to a remote system controller for monitoring or controlling the system. Data from sensors measuring environmental or belt conditions are used to determine the instantaneous positions of the sensors to coordinate the sensor data with sensor position.
US08397902B1
A belt conveyor system is provided. Belt conveyor system comprises a belt conveyor comprising a first end and a second end. Belt conveyor system also comprises a first hopper located at the first end for loading bulk material onto the belt conveyor. Belt conveyor system also comprises a dispersion assembly on the second end, the dispersion assembly projects and radially disperses the bulk material onto a pile. Also provided is a belt conveyor apparatus for projecting bulk material onto a pile having a smooth profile. The belt conveyor apparatus comprises a dispersion assembly located at an unload end of a conveyor, the dispersion assembly comprises a dispersion roller and a structure for positioning the dispersion roller relative to the conveyor.
US08397887B2
An actuating system for at least first and second coaxially arranged shifting elements of a transmission, in particular, a dual-clutch transmission (1) with at least two coaxially arranged control devices for actuating the associated shifting elements. The control devices comprise at least one rotary drive (4, 5) and at least one control element (6, 7) which are coupled to one another by corresponding gearteeth such that rotational movement, of each rotary drive (4, 5), can be converted into an axial control movement of the associated control element (6, 7). The axial position of the teeth of the geartooth array, of each control element (6, 7), varies in the circumferential direction, at least over a certain range.
US08397883B2
A controllable brake includes a housing and a rotor supported on a shaft. The rotor is housed within a chamber containing a field controllable material which is acted upon by a magnetic field generator to impede movement of the rotor. The shaft is supported by bearings. The controllable brake housing defines a second housing chamber adapted to enclose means for monitoring and/or controlling the brake and in this way, an integrated, compact controllable brake is provided.
US08397877B2
A wheel braking mechanism 10 comprising a brake shaft 14, a brake drum 16, an engagement pedal 18 and a disengagement pedal 20. The brake shaft 14 has a plurality of first splines 22 provided around the brake shaft 14. A first alignment member 24 is provided at the end of each first spline 22 and has first and second oppositely directed chamfered alignment surface 24a, 24b. The brake drum 16 defines a brake socket around which are provided a plurality of second splines 28, which define a plurality of spline recesses 30. A second alignment member 31 is provided at the opposing end of each second spline 28. Movement of the brake shaft 14 towards the brake drum 16 causes the first alignment members 24 to travel down the respective alignment surfaces of the second alignment members 31, thereby aligning the first splines with the respective adjacent spline recess 30.
US08397874B2
An intelligent destination elevator control system streamlines the efficiency and control of destination elevators. The system monitors a building's population and predicts elevator traffic conditions. The system may monitor attributes of the destination elevators. Based on the monitored data, the system may generate a data structure that renders time-tables and target elevator service quality parameters that may control the destination elevators.
US08397873B2
An elevator system includes at least two independently operable elevator cars in an elevator shaft. The elevator system controls loading of one of the car at ground floor level by moving the other car to a level below the ground floor level.
US08397867B2
A tree stand adapted to create a spiral step around a tree includes a trunk connector bracket with a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side. The trunk connector bracket is adapted to be mounted to a tree by its top being in tension and its bottom being in compression. A first platform is mounted approximate to the bottom of said trunk connector bracket approximate to the first side. A second platform is mounted approximate to the top of the trunk connector bracket approximate to the second side. The first and second platforms create a spiral step.
US08397865B2
Systems and methods for noise suppression are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an acoustic structure has a core that includes a plurality of cells. Each of the plurality of cells includes one or more engaging structures for positioning a septum relative to the cell. The acoustic structure further includes a plurality of septums positioned relative to the plurality of cells.
US08397863B2
A muffler having an inlet and an outlet, through which exhaust gas flows; a tubular main body; a heat exchanger inside the main body; a noise-deadening first conduit, which extends at least partly inside the main body, from a fork region located directly downstream from the inlet, to a converging region directly upstream from the outlet; a second conduit, which extends through the heat exchanger and at least partly inside the main body, from the fork region to the converging region and parallel to the first conduit; and a regulating valve located outside the main body, to selectively direct exhaust gas flow along the first conduit or the second conduit.
US08397851B2
A swiveling work machine includes: a swivel deck; an engine disposed rearward of the swivel deck; a suction type radiator disposed rearward of the swivel deck; a bonnet covering the engine and the radiator and forming an engine room; a cabin disposed frontward of the engine room; a partition wall standing on the swivel deck between the cabin and the engine room and forming a front portion of the bonnet; an air conditioner main body disposed frontward of the partition wall and in a lower portion of the cabin; an ambient air inlet for supplying ambient air to the air conditioner main body, the ambient air inlet being formed in a portion of the partition wall facing a radiator suction space; and a filter provided in the ambient air inlet.
US08397848B2
A hydraulic energy storage system (comprising a hydraulic pump/motor, a high pressure hydraulic accumulator, a low pressure hydraulic accumulator/reservoir, and interconnecting hydraulic lines) is incorporated into a EV, HEV, or PHEV to provide hydraulic regenerative braking and propulsive assistance for the vehicle. Implementation of the low cost and long-lasting hydraulic energy storage system in the vehicle, together with the electric energy storage system (comprising a motor/generator and battery pack) of the vehicle, allows significantly reduced demands and higher operating efficiencies for the battery pack, thereby facilitating a more cost-effective, efficient and/or durable overall energy storage system for the vehicle.
US08397841B1
Drill bits and cutting elements having a functionally-engineered surface comprise a cermet material selected from the group consisting of refractory metal carbides, nitrides, borides, carbonitrides and mixtures thereof. A functionally-engineered material is disposed over a surface portion one of the cutting elements to form a wear resistant surface thereon having a hardness that is different than that of the underlying cutting element. The wear resistant surface is provided by forming a conformable material mixture by combining one or more powders selected from the group consisting of cermets, carbides, borides, nitrides, carbonitrides, refractory metals, diamond particles, cubic boron nitride particles, Co, Fe, Ni, and combinations thereof, with an applying agent. The applied material mixture is pressurized under conditions of elevated temperature to consolidate and sinter the material mixture, thereby forming the wear resistant surface having desired properties of hardness and/or fracture toughness.
US08397828B2
A spoolable downhole control system includes a length of one or more lines suitable for the downhole environment. The spoolable downhole control system also includes one or more components disposed in signal bearing communication with the one or more lines and along a length of the one or more lines, prior to the system being connected with a string. The components are capable of actuating an operation. A method for creating a downhole system includes spooling out the spoolable downhole control system and joining the one or more components with one or more subs of the tubing string.
US08397817B2
There is provided a method of sampling a subterranean formation. The method includes the steps of creating a side bore into the wall of a well traversing the formation, sealing the wall around the side bore to provide a pressure seal between the side bore and the well, pressurizing the side bore beyond a pressure inducing formation fracture while maintaining the seal, pumping a fracturing fluid adapted to prevent a complete closure of the fracture through the side bore into the fracture, and reversing the pumping to sample formation fluid through the fracture and the side bore.
US08397810B2
A fluid can be tracked in a wellbore utilizing at least one WID tag, such as an LW tag or an RFID tag, entrained in the fluid. A WID tag reader can be disposed and/or displaced in the wellbore, for example, on a drill string or a casing string. A reader can be utilized to locate the at least one WID tag in the wellbore. A reader can be housed in a drill string sub. A fluid entrained with at least one WID tag can be utilized as a tracer fluid. A WID tag can be entrained in cement or a drilling or fracture fluid.
US08397807B2
Systems and methods that include providing, e.g., obtaining or preparing, a material that includes a hydrocarbon carried by an inorganic substrate, and exposing the material to a plurality of energetic particles, such as accelerated charged particles, such as electrons or ions.
US08397804B2
An expandable device comprising a plurality of expandable cells. The cells may be bistable cells or other types of cells that are expanded from a contracted position towards an expanded position. Additionally, the cells may be combined with locking mechanisms to hold the structure in an expanded position.
US08397799B2
A system for simultaneously heating and cooling a first portion and a second portion of a space utilizes a plurality of boilers, chillers, heat exchangers, condenser pumps and closed loop pumps by using a plurality of sensors indicating the temperatures inside and outside the space and a controlling module controlling the operation of the system. The present disclosure can be easily achieved by making minor configurational modifications to existing systems, thereby increasing system versatility.
US08397773B2
A pneumatic tire (10) provided with a rib-like land portion (110) having first resonators formed therein, and also with a rib-like land portion (210) located, when the tire is mounted on a vehicle, on the side of the tire closer to the vehicle than the rib-like land portion (110) and having second resonators formed therein. Each of the first and second resonators includes an air chamber recessed inward in the radial direction of the tire, and also includes a narrow groove communicating with the air chamber and a circumferential groove. The volume of the air chamber of the first resonator is greater than the volume of the air chamber of the second resonator.
US08397766B2
A pipeline has a first pipe and a second pipe welded together by a weld seam, wherein the first and second pipes each have an inner side with a lining section of plastic material for protecting an inner side of the pipeline. The lining sections end at a spacing from the weld seam. The lining section of the first pipe abuts the lining section of the second pipe such that by an undercut provided on at least one of the lining sections a fill space is formed in a circumferential direction of the pipeline.
US08397759B2
The electromagnetic spool valve of the present invention includes a movable linear solenoid section, first and second spools that are coaxially provided in inner space of a valve body so as to switch a state of communication and discommunication among plural ports of the electromagnetic spool valve, a first spring member provided between the first and second spools, and a second spring member provided between a cap member and the second spool. The spring load of the second spring member is set to be greater than the spring load of the first spring member.
US08397751B1
A vortex reducing apparatus and method for drainage of a process tank are described. The vortex reducer including a keel having a longitudinal axis, a top flow foil coupled to the keel and a bottom flow foil coupled to the keel. The top flow foil and the bottom flow foil are each coupled to the keel at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.
US08397747B2
A balanced water-intake control valve includes an adjusting mechanism for the water-level between two linkage rods. The adjusting mechanism includes a first pivot guide, a second pivot guide, a lead screw and an adjusting nut. The first pivot guide is pivoted on the first linkage rod for driving a valve rod. The second pivot guide is pivoted on the second linkage rod connecting to a float body. The first and second pivot guides are connected by the lead screw at opposite ends. An adjusting nut is placed at the middle of the lead screw. By rotating the lead screw, the length between the first and second pivot guides changes. Therefore, the upper limit of the water level can be adjusted by the user after installation of the control valve.
US08397745B2
Embodiments of a fluid flow regulating device and methods of using the same are described. Certain embodiments manages fluid flow between one or more input ports and output ports at least partly in response to fluid pressure changes and/or by a mechanism driven by fluid flow, optionally without using electrical power.
US08397741B2
A flow control valve including, a tubular housing having a valve port, a piston disposed in the tubular housing having an orifice, the piston being slidable in the tubular housing to align the orifice with the valve port, a combustion portion at least partially defined by the tubular housing and the piston, and a propellant disposed in the combustion portion and method.
US08397740B2
The present invention relates to an ink tank for an ink jet printer. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the ink tank, as well as well as a method of refilling the ink tank. The ink tank includes an ink tank body and an ink tank lid bonded to the ink tank body at a bond joint. The ink tank lid comprises an opening that leads to a holding area that is adapted to contain a capillary media therein. The holding area comprises a wall that forms a boundary between the capillary media and an enclosure defined by the ink tank body and the ink tank lid. The opening is sized to permit an insertion and removal of the capillary media to and from the holding area when the ink tank lid is bonded to the ink tank body at the bond joint.
US08397733B2
A degradable cigarette filter includes a filter element of a bloomed cellulose acetate tow and a plug wrap surrounding the filter element, and a pill dispersed in the tow. The pill includes a material adapted to catalyze hydrolysis of the cellulose acetate tow that is encapsulated with an inner layer of a water soluble or water permeable material and an outer layer of a cellulose acetate having a D.S. in the range of 2.0-2.6.
US08397730B2
The present disclosure describes systems and methods that utilize a tracheal tube adaptor system. The tracheal tube adaptor system includes a tracheal tube adaptor and/or a flaring jig. A proximal end of a tracheal tube may be flared and the tracheal tube adaptor may be coupled to the proximal end of the tracheal tube. The tracheal tube adaptor may be configured to easily attach and detach an end connector. The end connector may be used to couple a variety of medical devices such as a ventilator, a manual respirator, a nebulizer, a vaporizer, suctioning equipment, and so forth, to the tracheal tube. The use of the tracheal tube adaptor system and methods enables the rapid detachment and attachment of various end connectors, thus allowing the coupling of the tracheal tube to a variety of medical devices.
US08397722B2
Methods and apparatus for detecting the occurrence of a potential or actual overpressure during assisted ventilation are described. A blower (10) supplies pressurized gas to a conduit (12), and in turn to a patient mask (11) for connection with the entrance of a patient's airways. A pressure sensor (17, 18) detects the delivered pressure in the mask (11), which is provided to a controller (16). The controller (16) has operation over the blower (10) by way of a servo (19) and motor (20). The controller (16) determines a relatively longterm average of the pressure signal, and compares it against a threshold value (40). If the threshold value is approached or exceeded, the controller (16) controls the blower (10) and thus the supplied pressure to the patient. The effect of the control can be to limit or reduce the supplied gas pressure. The relatively longterm average can be of the order of minutes, or taken over ten or more breaths.
US08397719B2
A pressure support system (10) comprises a humidifier (20) adapted to increase the amount of water vapor entrained in a supply of breathing gas, and a positive air pressure device (30) fluidly coupled downstream of the humidifier. The positive air pressure device is structured to generate a positive pressure flow of breathing gas from the supply of breathing gas received from the outlet of the humidifier.
US08397715B2
A chemical and biological protection mask that combines a filter cartridge with a miniaturized high-intensity shortwave UV disinfecting system in a compact easy-to-wear and fully portable form factor. The gas mask comprises a mask portion for covering at least the nose and mouth of a user, a one way exhalation valve mounted on the mask portion, a coupling to an inhalation opening into the mask portion, a filter canister, and a novel UV-illumination tube attachable between the inhalation valve coupling and filter canister. The UV-illumination tube further comprises an aluminum tube, a plastic insert positioned inside the aluminum tube, and a plurality of circuit boards seated within the insert. The circuit boards each have a plurality of UV LED lights axially mounted thereon to irradiate and disinfect air passing through the UV-illumination tube. The UV LED lights preferably emit light within a range of from 240 nm˜280 nm wavelength, and are powered by a battery connected to a voltage regulator. A current chopping circuit is connected between said voltage regulator and said UV LED lights for providing pulsed current thereto. An optional solar cell is disclosed for powering the UV LED lights directly or for recharging the battery, and the solar cell may be mounted atop a visor attached to said mask.
US08397714B2
An inhaler is provided with a restricting member to prevent unintentional actuation of the inhaler. Also provided is an inhaler with an extensible strap joining a dust cap to the housing of an inhaler, the strap being particularly suited for use with inhalers that comprise a restricting member. The inhaler is useful, for example, in the treatment of asthma.
US08397710B2
A boiler for a solar receiver includes a plurality of boiler panels arranged side by side with each other so that the panels form a boiler wall section. Piping fluidly connects the plurality of boiler panels together to route a working fluid through the boiler wall section from an inlet of the boiler wall section to an outlet of the boiler wall section. The piping and boiler panels are configured and adapted to route the working fluid through each of the boiler panels in a common direction.
US08397708B2
A method of assembling an appliance using a curable silicone composition optionally containing spacer beads of an appropriate size to permit adhesively joining the appliance parts in a desirably spaced-apart arrangement.
US08397707B2
A portable and compact grill apparatus can be implemented in the form of free standing portable propane fueled cooking device, which utilizes one or more legs (e.g., four legs) to support the cooking surface. The device permits a standard propane tank to fit between the legs and directly under the cooking surface. The design permits one of the legs to be removed (by rotating it away from the center) to accommodate the exchange of the propane unit (required for refill of fuel). This design creates a very compact unit due to the fact that the fuel tank, burner and cooking surface all fit in a vertical column thus requiring minimal space.
US08397697B2
In a method and a device for operating an injection valve, a relevant time (t_ACT) is determined during a catch phase (PH_CATCH) when the electromagnetic actuator reaches a predetermined fraction value of the electric current, which value is smaller than a maximum current value, and a fraction of interval (T_FRAC) since the start of the respective catch phase (PH_CATCH) is determined depending thereon and the injection valve is diagnosed depending on the fraction of interval (T_FRAC) and the predetermined minimum and maximum threshold interval values (THD_T_MIN, THD_T_MAX).
US08397694B2
A method of torque-based control for an internal combustion engine may include determining a desired airflow rate into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine during an engine start condition, determining a torque limit for a torque-based engine control module based on the desired airflow rate, and regulating engine torque based on the determined torque limit.
US08397692B2
In a method relating to an engine with n cylinders, fuel is injected in a predetermined order into the cylinders in a manner which is synchronized with the position of the pistons of the engine. The method includes the following steps after start-up: injection into m cylinders in a predetermined order of injection; measurement of engine speed and/or acceleration; continuation of injection in a predetermined order of injection if engine speed and/or acceleration exceed(s) a predetermined threshold; continuation of injection with a delay in the event of the contrary. The method can be used with respect to the start-up of a direct injection engine.
US08397691B2
A work apparatus having an internal combustion engine includes a body case (100) that houses the engine and other components of the apparatus and a hood (102) that removably covers a top opening of body case (100). The hood (102) has an inclined pin (104) extending aslant downward toward one end of the hood (102) from a portion near the one end. The body case has an inclined bore (106) for receiving the inclined pin (104). A rear end portion of the hood (102) is locked to the body case (100) by a known lock means. The inclined pin (104) wears an elastic tube (112) on its outer circumference.
US08397681B2
An expansion tank (10) for a vehicle cooling system (18) of an engine using a liquid coolant (16) includes a tank body (12) defining a first volume (V1) containing coolant (16), wherein the coolant defines a variable coolant elevation level (CEL) within the tank body. The tank body (12) also defines an upper volume (20) containing air. A bladder (14) is disposed in the tank body (12) and defines a second volume (V2) containing air. The bladder (14) includes a flexible membrane (36) actuated by an actuator (46). When the engine is stopped or is below a predetermined temperature, the flexible membrane (36) is moveable to a first position (FP) which lowers the coolant elevation level (CEL), and when the engine is started or reaches a predetermined temperature, the flexible membrane (36) is moveable to a second position (SP) which raises the coolant elevation level. A communicating line (38) is in fluid communication between the upper volume (20) and the second volume (V2) to fluidly communicate air therebetween.
US08397679B2
A water level control system for enhancing the controllability of the level of water retained in a steam drum. A water level control section of the system determines the volume of retained water in a steam-water separator from a detected steam flow rate signal by using a function operator and a first order lag circuit, determines a signal representing the mass flow rate balance of water in the steam-water separator by differentiating the volume of retained water with respect to time with a differentiator, generates a compensated signal by adding the signal to the difference between a detected feed water flow rate signal and the detected steam flow rate signal, and properly compensates a valve area demand for a feed water flow control valve.
US08397678B2
A small animal habitat includes a base, a wall extension, and a roof that define an interior space. In the interior space, an animal entertainment device is positioned distal from the base and a platform is spaced from the base providing access to the entertainment device. A climbing structure permits access to the platform. A first animal traversable path from the base to the animal entertainment device includes a first substantially vertical climb and a first substantially horizontal traverse on the platform. A second animal traversable path from the base to the port includes the first substantially vertical climb, a second substantially horizontal traverse on the platform, and a second substantially vertical climb to a port in the roof.
US08397671B2
The invention relates to a milking device for milking animals, the required vacuum being, for example, generated by generating compressed air using a compressor and passing said compressed air through the system, the compressed air creating a vacuum at all required locations by means of the Venturi system. Because this vacuum differs at the various locations, the reduced pressure can be regulated precisely and adapted as required.
US08397670B2
An unmanned vehicle for supplying feed to an animal, which is provided with a frame, with propulsion mechanism disposed thereon, feed supplier for supplying feed and navigator connected to the propulsion mechanism with a sensor for forming an image of an observation area, wherein the sensor comprises: a source of radiation for emitting modulated electromagnetic radiation, a receiver device for radiation reflected by an object, comprising a matrix with rows and columns of receivers, an optical device and sensor image processor configured to determine for the receivers a phase difference between the emitted electromagnetic radiation and the reflected electromagnetic radiation in order to calculate a distance from the receiver to the object. Through use of the unmanned vehicle device an excellent and reliable navigation is possible, so that, for example, milk can be conveyed efficiently from a milking implement to a calf.
US08397668B2
The object of the invention is to provide a plasma processing apparatus having enhanced plasma processing uniformity. The plasma processing apparatus comprises a processing chamber 1, means 13 and 14 for supplying processing gas into the processing chamber, evacuation means 25 and 26 for decompressing the processing chamber 1, an electrode 4 on which an object 2 to be processed such as a wafer is placed, and an electromagnetic radiation power supply 5A, wherein at least two kinds of processing gases having different composition ratios of O2 or N2 are introduced into the processing chamber through different gas inlets so as to control the in-plane uniformity of the critical dimension while maintaining the in-plane uniformity of the process depth.
US08397666B2
Mandrel coating assemblies are provided, as well as methods for coating endoluminal medical devices with a therapeutic agent using the mandrel coating assembly. The endoluminal medical device may be a stent, valve or other medical device, and may include a plurality of interconnected members defining a lumen and plurality of openings positioned along the abluminal surface in communication with the lumen. The mandrel coating assembly may be configured to minimize the coating penetration on the luminal surface of the medical device and/or incidence of webbing or agglomerations of the coating within the openings between the struts.
US08397659B1
A boat lift canopy entrance for easily entering and exiting a boat upon a boat lift with a canopy without having to stoop and trip while getting into out of the boat. The boat lift canopy entrance includes an entrance closure assembly being fastenable over an entranceway of a canopy and having a piece of material capable of being removably disposed over and closing the entranceway.
US08397658B1
A buoyancy control system comprises a housing, first and second pistons, and a source of pressurized air. The pistons are coaxially aligned and are supported by the housing such that movement of the pistons changes a volume of a control chamber. In a shallow mode, fluid flows from the source of pressurized fluid to the first piston such that the pressurized fluid displaces the first piston to alter the volume of the control chamber and thus a buoyancy of the buoyancy control system. In a deep mode, fluid flows from the source of pressurized fluid to the first and second pistons such that the pressurized fluid displaces both of the first and second pistons to alter the volume of the control chamber and thus the buoyancy of the buoyancy control system.
