US08415814B2
These inventions related to systems and methods for producing, shipping, distributing, storing and consuming hydrogen. In one embodiment, a hydrogen production and storage system includes a plurality of wind turbines for generating electrical power; a power distribution control system for distributing, and converting the electrical power from the wind turbines, and an electrolyzer unit that receive electrical power from the power distribution system and purified water from the desalination units and thereby converts the water into hydrogen and oxygen. After its production, hydrogen is used produce electrical power as and when required. The power can come from a new and/or retrofitted power plant that uses a gas turbine to consume the hydrogen. Secondary electrical generation, co-generation is accomplished when the gas turbine exhaust is used to generate steam to turn a steam turbine and electrical generator.
US08415813B2
A semiconductor wafer includes multiple dies and a die identification region adjacent to or on each die. The die identification region can include a wafer indicator and a pattern of die locations representing die locations on the wafer. A die identification marker is provided in each pattern of die locations in the die identification region specifying a location of a respective die on the wafer.
US08415808B2
A semiconductor die package is disclosed. An example of the semiconductor package includes a first group of semiconductor die interspersed with a second group of semiconductor die. The die from the first and second groups are offset from each other along a first axis and staggered with respect to each other along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. A second example of the semiconductor package includes an irregular shaped edge and a wire bond to the substrate from a semiconductor die above the lowermost semiconductor die in the package.
US08415805B2
Etched wafers and methods of forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of etching a wafer is provided. The method includes forming a metal hard mask on the wafer using electroless plating, patterning the metal hard mask, and etching a plurality of features on the wafer using an etcher. The plurality of featured are defined by the metal hard mask.
US08415804B2
A semiconductor chip, a method of fabricating the same, and a stack module and a memory card including the semiconductor chip include a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface is provided. At least one via hole including a first portion extending in a direction from the first surface of the substrate to the second surface of the substrate and a second portion that is connected to the first portion and has a tapered shape. At least one via electrode filling the at least one via hole is provided.
US08415802B2
A semiconductor chip device including a surface on which at least one electrical contact surface is provided. A foil from an electrically insulating material is applied, especially by vacuum, to the surface and rests closely to the surface and adheres to the surface. The foil, in the area of the contact surface, is provided with a window in which the contact surface is devoid of the foil and is contacted across a large area to at least one layer from an electroconductive material. In at least one embodiment, the layer from the electroconductive material is part of a flexible contact for electrically connecting the contact surface to at least one external connecting conductor.
US08415797B2
A gold wire for semiconductor element connection having high strength and bondability. The connection has a limited amount of at least one element selected from calcium and rare earth elements, and a limited amount of at least one element selected from a group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, hafnium, niobium, tungsten, and zirconium. The incorporation of a suitable amount of palladium or beryllium is preferred. The incorporation of calcium and rare earth element can improve the strength and young's modulus of a gold wire, and the incorporation of titanium and the like can reduce a deterioration in the roundness of press-bonded shape of press-bonded balls in the first bonding caused by the incorporation of calcium and rare earth elements. The bonding wire can simultaneously realize mechanical properties and bondability capable of meeting a demand for a size reduction in semiconductor and a reduction in electrode pad pitch.
US08415795B2
A semiconductor device and an assembling method thereof are provided. The semiconductor device includes a chip, a carrier, a plurality of first conductive elements and a plurality of second conductive elements. The chip has a plurality of first pads. The carrier has a plurality of second pads. The second pads correspond to the first pads. Each first conductive element is disposed between one of the first pads and one of the second pads. Each second conductive element is disposed between one of the first pads and one of the second pads. A volume ratio of intermetallic compound of the second conductive elements is greater than a volume ratio of intermetallic compound of the first conductive elements.
US08415793B2
A wafer for electronic component packages is used for manufacturing a plurality of electronic component packages, each of the plurality of electronic component packages including: a base incorporating a plurality of external connecting terminals; and at least one electronic component chip bonded to the base and electrically connected to the plurality of external connecting terminals. The wafer has a plurality of sets of external connecting terminals corresponding to the plurality of electronic component packages, a retainer for retaining the plurality of sets of external connecting terminals, and a coupling portion for coupling the plurality of sets of external connecting terminals to one another. The wafer includes a plurality of pre-base portions that will each be subjected to bonding of the at least one electronic component chip thereto and will be subjected to separation from one another later so that each of them will thereby become the base.
US08415787B2
The present invention relates to a heat dissipator that includes a conductive substrate and a plurality of nanostructures supported by the conductive substrate. The nanostructures are at least partly embedded in an insulator. Each of the nanostructures includes a plurality of intermediate layers on the conductive substrate. At least two of the plurality of intermediate layers are interdiffused, and material of the at least two of the plurality of intermediate layers that are interdiffused is present in the nanostructure.
US08415786B2
A semiconductor package system is provided including: a semiconductor chip; a substrate having a substrate opening and a vertical build-up wing, the substrate having the semiconductor chip mounted thereon with the vertical build-up wing circumscribed by vertical planes of a perimeter of, and spaced apart from, the semiconductor chip; a first heat slug attached above the substrate at a first horizontal plane and to a first surface of the semiconductor chip, the semiconductor chip at least partially encapsulated by the first heat slug; and a second heat slug attached to the substrate at a second horizontal plane above the first horizontal plane and to a second surface of the semiconductor chip through the substrate opening.
US08415778B2
A non-leaded integrated circuit package system includes: a die paddle of a lead frame; a dual row of terminals including an outer terminal and an inner terminal; and an inner terminal and an adjacent inner terminal to form a fused lead.
US08415775B2
A system comprises a plurality of stacked integrated circuit dice, each integrated circuit die comprising at least one circuit, a package enclosing the plurality of dice, and at least two magnetic shields configured to magnetically shield the at least one circuit of each of the plurality of integrate circuit dice. At least one of the magnetic shields is within the package, and at least two of the plurality of stacked integrated circuit dice are positioned between the at least two magnetic shields.
US08415770B2
Apparatus and methods for uniform metal plating onto a semiconductor wafer, such as GaAs wafer, are disclosed. One such apparatus can include an anode and a showerhead body. The anode can include an anode post and a showerhead anode plate. The showerhead anode plate can include holes sized to dispense a particular plating solution, such as plating solution that includes gold, onto a wafer. The showerhead body can be coupled to the anode post and the showerhead anode plate. The showerhead body can be configured to create a seal sufficient to substantially prevent a reduction of pressure in the plating solution flowing from the anode post to holes of the showerhead anode plate.
US08415755B2
A magnetoresistive Wheatstone-bridge structure includes a magnetoresistive ring structure. The magnetoresistive ring structure includes a first magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic material. A second magnetic layer also includes a ferromagnetic material. A non-magnetic spacer is positioned between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. A vacant open region is positioned in the center region of the magnetoresistive ring structure. A plurality of magnetic states can exist in either the first magnetic layer or second magnetic layer. Furthermore, the magnetoresistive Wheatstone-bridge structure includes a plurality of voltage and current contacts arranged symmetrically upon the magnetoresistive ring structure. The magnetic state of the ring is detected by measuring its resistance.
US08415751B2
A method to reduce contact resistance of n-channel transistors by using a III-V semiconductor interlayer in source and drain is generally presented. In this regard, a device is introduced comprising an n-type transistor with a source region and a drain region a first interlayer dielectric layer adjacent the transistor, a trench through the first interlayer dielectric layer to the source region, and a conductive source contact in the trench, the source contact being separated from the source region by a III-V semiconductor interlayer. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US08415747B2
A semiconductor device includes a cathode and an anode. The anode includes a first p-type semiconductor anode region and a second p-type semiconductor anode region. The first p-type semiconductor anode region is electrically connected to an anode contact area. The second p-type semiconductor anode region is electrically coupled to the anode contact area via a switch configured to provide an electrical connection or an electrical disconnection between the second p-type anode region and the anode contact area.
US08415746B2
In a lateral bipolar transistor including an emitter, a base and a collector which are formed in a semiconductor thin film formed on an insulating substrate, the semiconductor thin film is a semiconductor thin film which is crystallized in a predetermined direction. In addition, in a MOS-bipolar hybrid transistor formed in a semiconductor thin film formed on an insulating substrate, the semiconductor thin film is a semiconductor thin film which is crystallized in a predetermined direction.
US08415737B2
A semiconductor device, a method of forming the same, and a power converter including the semiconductor device. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a heavily doped substrate, a source/drain contact below the heavily doped substrate, and a channel layer above the heavily doped substrate. The semiconductor device also includes a heavily doped source/drain layer above the channel layer and another source/drain contact above the heavily doped source/drain layer. The semiconductor device further includes pillar regions through the another source/drain contact, the heavily doped source/drain layer, and portions of the channel layer to form a vertical cell therebetween. Non-conductive regions of the semiconductor device are located in the portions of the channel layer. The semiconductor device still further includes a gate above the non-conductive regions in the pillar regions. The semiconductor device may also include a Schottky diode including the channel layer and a Schottky contact.
US08415732B2
A method for fabricating a trench capacitor is disclosed. A substrate having a first pad layer is provided. STI structure is embedded into the first pad layer and the substrate. A second pad layer is deposited over the first pad layer and the STI structure. Two adjacent trenches are etched into the first, second pad layers, and the semiconductor substrate. The second pad layer and a portion of the STI structure between the two trenches are etched to form a ridge. A liner is formed on interior surface of the trenches. A first polysilicon layer is formed on the liner. A capacitor dielectric layer is formed on the first polysilicon layer. The two adjacent trenches are filled with a second polysilicon layer. The second polysilicon layer is then etched until the capacitor dielectric layer is exposed. The fabrication process is easy to integrate to SoC chip.
US08415729B2
A power device with trenched gate structure, includes: a substrate having a first face and a second face opposing to the first face, a body region of a first conductivity type disposed in the substrate, a base region of a second conductivity type disposed in the body region, a cathode region of the first conductivity type disposed in the base region, an anode region of the second conductivity type disposed in the substrate at the second face a trench disposed in the substrate and extending from the first face into the body region, and the cathode region encompassing the trench, wherein the trench has a wavelike sidewall, a gate structure disposed in the trench and an accumulation region disposed in the body region and along the wavelike sidewall. The wavelike sidewall can increase the base current of the bipolar transistor and increase the performance of the IGBT.
US08415728B2
A memory device includes a mesa structure and a word line. The mesa structure, having two opposite side surfaces, includes at least one pair of source/drain regions and at least one channel base region corresponding to the pair of source/drain regions formed therein. The word line includes two linear sections and at least one interconnecting portion. Each linear section extends on the respective side surface of the mesa structure, adjacent to the channel base region. The at least one interconnecting portion penetrates through the mesa structure, connecting the two linear sections.
US08415721B2
Field Side Sub-bitline NOR-type (FSNOR) flash array and the methods of fabrication are disclosed. The field side sub-bitlines of the invention formed with the same impurity type as the memory cells' source/drain electrodes along the two sides of field trench oxide link all the source electrodes together and all the drain electrodes together, respectively, for a string of semiconductor Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) cells in a NOR-type flash array of the invention. Each field side sub-bitline is connected to a main metal bitline through a contact at its twisted point in the middle. Because there are no contacts in between the linked NVM cells' electrodes in the NOR-type flash array of the invention, the wordline pitch and the bitline pitch can be applied to the minimum geometrical feature of a specific technology node. The NOR-type flash array of the invention provides at least as high as those in the conventional NAND flash array in cell area density.
US08415718B2
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a trench in the substrate, where a bottom surface of the trench has a first crystal plane orientation and a side surface of the trench has a second crystal plane orientation, and epitaxially (epi) growing a semiconductor material in the trench. The epi process utilizes an etch component. A first growth rate on the first crystal plane orientation is different from a second growth rate on the second crystal plane orientation.
US08415714B2
Programmable nanotube interconnect is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a interconnect layer using a plurality of nanotube structures, and automatically altering a route of an integrated circuit based on an electrical current applied to at least one of the plurality of nanotube structures in the interconnect layer. Neighboring interconnect layers separated by planar vias may include communication lines that are perpendicularly oriented with respect to each of the neighboring interconnect layers. The nanotube structure may be chosen from a group comprising a polymer, carbon, and a composite material. A carbon nanotube film may be patterned in a metal layer to form the plurality of nanotube structures. A sputtered planar process may be performed across a trench of electrodes to create the carbon nanotube structures.
US08415704B2
A close-packed array of light emitting diodes includes a nonconductive substrate having a plurality of elongate channels extending therethrough from a first side to a second side, where each of the elongate channels in at least a portion of the substrate includes a conductive rod therein. The conductive rods have a density over the substrate of at least about 1,000 rods per square centimeter and include first conductive rods and second conductive rods. The close-packed array further includes a plurality of light emitting diodes on the first side of the substrate, where each light emitting diode is in physical contact with at least one first conductive rod and in electrical contact with at least one second conductive rod.
US08415702B2
A reflector for a GaN-based light-emitting device, method for manufacturing the reflector and GaN-based light-emitting device including the reflector are provided. The reflector is formed on a p-type GaN-based epitaxial layer and includes: a whisker crystal of un-doped GaN, formed on a surface of the p-type GaN-based epitaxial layer with a predefined density distribution and at a position that corresponds to a dislocation defect of an epitaxial layer; and a metal reflective layer, formed on both the p-type GaN-based epitaxial layer and the whisker crystal. The whisker of un-doped GaN is positioned on the dislocation defect of the p-type GaN-based epitaxial layer, so that the Ag reflective layer can be separated from the dislocation defect of the p-type GaN-based epitaxial layer, thereby effectively preventing Ag from moving inside the dislocation defect via electromigration, and largely decreasing the possibility of current leakage of the light-emitting device including the Ag reflector.
US08415698B2
Provided are a light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device (LED) comprises an LED chip, a barrier over the LED chip, and an encapsulating material containing a phosphor, wherein the encapsulating material is disposed inside the barrier over the LED chip.
US08415695B2
An LED light source, which includes at least one LED, a panel between the LED and the light emission surface of the light source, and a filler material inside the panel containing a material to diffuse the light from the at least one LED by Mie scattering.
US08415692B2
An LED package comprises at least one LED that emits LED light in an LED emission profile. The LED package includes regions of scattering particles with the different regions scattering light primarily at a target wavelength or primarily within a target wavelength range. The location of the regions and scattering properties are based at least partially on the LED emission profile. The regions scatter their target wavelength of LED light to improve the uniformity of the LED emission profile so that the LED package emits a more uniform profile compared to the LED emission profile. By targeting particular wavelengths for scattering, the emission efficiency losses are reduced.
US08415691B2
A system and method for manufacturing an LED is provided. A preferred embodiment includes a substrate with a distributed Bragg reflector formed over the substrate. A photonic crystal layer is formed over the distributed Bragg reflector to collimate the light that impinges upon the distributed Bragg reflector, thereby increasing the efficiency of the distributed Bragg reflector. A first contact layer, an active layer, and a second contact layer are preferably either formed over the photonic crystal layer or alternatively attached to the photonic crystal layer.
US08415690B2
Provided is an epitaxial substrate using a silicon substrate as a base substrate. An epitaxial substrate, in which a group of group-III nitride layers are formed on a (111) single crystal Si substrate such that a (0001) crystal plane of the group of group-III nitride layers is substantially in parallel with a surface of the substrate, includes: a first group-III nitride layer made of AlN with many defects configured of at least one kind from a columnar or granular crystal or domain; a second group-III nitride layer whose interface with the first group-III nitride layer is shaped into a three-dimensional concave-convex surface; and a third group-III nitride layer epitaxially formed on the second group-III nitride layer as a graded composition layer in which the proportion of existence of Al is smaller in a portion closer to a fourth group-III nitride.
US08415689B2
The embodiment discloses a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer, a first electrode formed under the first conductive semiconductor layer and comprising a patterns of a predetermined shape, and a nitride semiconductor layer between the patterns of the first electrode.
US08415687B2
An organic light emitting device with improved light emitting efficiency, the organic light emitting device includes a substrate, a first electrode arranged on the substrate, a second electrode arranged to face the first electrode, an organic light-emitting layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electron transport layer arranged between the organic light-emitting layer and the second electrode, wherein the electron transport layer includes a multi-layer structure that includes at least one first layer and at least two second layers, wherein ones of said at least one first layer and ones of said at least two second layers are alternately stacked, wherein ones of the at least two second layers are arranged at both opposite ends of the electron transport layer, each of the at least two second layers having a lower electron mobility than that of each of the at least one first layer.
US08415682B2
A semiconductor light emitting device and a fabrication method for the semiconductor light emitting device whose outward luminous efficiency improved are provided and the semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate; a protective film placed on the substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer which is placed on the substrate pinched by a protective film and on the protective film, and is doped with an n-type impurity; an active layer placed on the n-type semiconductor layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer placed on the active layer and is doped with a p-type impurity.
US08415663B2
System and method for test structure on a wafer. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a test structure for testing a chip. For example, the test structure and the chip are manufactured on a same substrate material and the testing being conducted is in a temperature-controlled environment. The test structure includes a top structure positioned above the chip. For example, the top structure can be characterized by a first surface area. The top structure includes a first metal material occupying less than 60% of the surface area. The test structure also includes a bottom structure positioned below the chip. For example, the bottom structure can be characterized by a second surface area. The second surface area is substantially equal to the first surface area. The bottom structure includes a first silicon material. The first silicon material occupies substantially all of the second surface area.
US08415661B2
Self-aligning fabrication methods for forming memory access devices comprising a doped chalcogenide material. The methods may be used for forming three-dimensionally stacked cross point memory arrays. The method includes forming an insulating material over a first conductive electrode, patterning the insulating material to form vias that expose portions of the first conductive electrode, forming a memory access device within the vias of the insulating material and forming a memory element over the memory access device, wherein data stored in the memory element is accessible via the memory access device. The memory access device is formed of a doped chalcogenide material and formed using a self-aligned fabrication method.
US08415642B2
A multilayer structure for sustained conversion of a primary electromagnetic radiation into another electromagnetic radiation characterized by a spectrum of a higher average wavelength is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of creating and using the inventive multilayer structure.
US08415625B2
A total reflection terahertz wave measuring apparatus 1 includes a light source 11, a branching part 12, a chopper 13, an optical path length difference adjusting part 14, a polarizer 15, a beam splitter 17, a terahertz wave generating element 20, a filter 25, an internal total reflection prism 31, a terahertz wave detecting element 40, a ¼ wavelength plate 51, a polarization split element 52, a photodetector 53a, a photodetector 53b, a differential amplifier 54, and a lock-in amplifier 55. The internal total reflection prism 31 is a so-called aplanatic prism, and has an entrance surface 31a, an exit surface 31b, and a reflection surface 31c. The terahertz wave generating element 20 and the filter 25 are provided to be integrated with the entrance surface 31a of the internal total reflection prism 31, and the terahertz wave detecting element 40 is provided to be integrated with the exit surface 31b of the internal total reflection prism 31. The filter 25 allows a terahertz wave to be transmitted therethrough and blocks pump light. Accordingly, a total reflection terahertz wave measuring apparatus, which can be downsized, can be realized.
US08415624B2
A method and system for detection and identification of concealed materials, is provided, wherein a dark image and two or more NIR sample images are taken at two or more key wavelengths or bands of wavelengths corresponding to peaks and/or valleys in the NIR spectra of known materials, and differential wavelength imaging processes are used to produce a differential wavelength image based on therein. The differential wavelength image is then analyzed/processed so as to detect any materials concealed on the target of interest, such as a human or piece of baggage, by calculation of pixel intensity values in the image and identification of distinctive pixel values. Then, via various methods, the distinctive pixel values of the detected materials are compared to a data set of known wavelengths related to known materials, such as explosives and other contraband. Correspondence thereof results in an accurate identification of the concealed material(s).
US08415620B2
Systems and methods for determining doping type and level in semiconducting nanostructures include generating light from a laser source, directing the light on the device via an extended microscope, collecting electrons emitted from the device in an electron analyzer and calculating the doping type and level of the device.
US08415619B2
The present invention relates generally to mass spectrometry. The present invention relates more particularly to methods and systems for use in mass spectrometric identification of a variety of analytes, including high molecular weight species such as proteins. One embodiment of the invention is a method for analyzing an analyte. The method includes nebulizing a suspension of the analyte in a solvent with a surface acoustic wave transducer; and performing mass spectrometry on the nebulized suspension. The surface acoustic wave transducer can be used, for example, to transfer non-volatile peptides and proteins (as well as other analyztes, such as oligonucleotides and polymers) to the gas phase at atmospheric pressure. Nebulization using surface acoustic waves can be conducted in a discontinuous or pulsed mode, similar to that used in MALDI, or in a continuous mode, as in ESI.
US08415613B2
The present invention relates to a method for investigating a sample using scanning probe photon microscopy or optical force microscopy, and to an apparatus which is designed accordingly. The method or the apparatus provides for two optical traps which can be moved in a local region of the sample, wherein in at least one of the two traps a probe is held. The sample is scanned using the two traps and the measured data from the two traps are captured separately and evaluated by correlation. In particular interference signals resulting from an interaction between sample and light trap can be eliminated by the method.
US08415611B2
A sensor chip includes: a substrate that has a planar portion; and a diffraction grating on the planar portion and having a metal surface, the diffraction grating having a target substance thereon and including: a plurality of first protrusions periodically arranged in a period equal to or greater than 100 nm and equal to or less than 1000 nm in a first direction parallel to the planar portion, a plurality of base portions located between two adjacent first protrusions and configures a base of the substrate, a plurality of second protrusions formed on upper faces of the plurality of first protrusions, and a plurality of third protrusions formed on the plurality of base portions.
US08415607B2
A detector assembly is configured for characterizing electromagnetic energy that propagates along a light path. At least a component of the electromagnetic energy carries electromagnetic energy information along the light path. The detector assembly includes a first detector array arranged along the light path and having photosensitive elements aligned to receive at least some of the electromagnetic energy, including the component. The photosensitive elements selectively absorb a first portion of the component and produce a first set of electrical image data, based at least in part on the electomagnetic energy information, in response to the component. At least some of the photosensitive elements are at least partially transparent so that they selectively pass a second portion of the component to continue along the light path.
US08415599B2
The present invention relates to a device for measuring defects of an imaging instrument with a sensor that is accurate, simple to produce and implement and inexpensive. According to the invention, this device comprising at least one second sensor, similar to the first, inclined relative thereto and imaging the same region as the first sensor, and a device for calculating the defocusing of each element of this other sensor.
US08415596B2
A method for determining a location of a flying target included identifying and measuring the target by at least two seeker systems disposed at a distance from one another. The position of the target relative to at least one of the two seeker systems is determined from measurement data derived therefrom. The position of the target is measured inconspicuously and without active radiation, in that the seeker systems are data-networked, passive target tracking systems for missiles, which autonomously track the target and align the missile with the target. The measurement data determined by the data-networked seeker systems are combined, and the location of the target is determined from the combined data.
US08415591B2
An oven having one or more low-temperature self-cleaning modes has an interior cavity and at least two heating elements in the interior cavity. A sump is formed in the bottom wall of the cavity. The oven has an electronic control unit, which activates and deactivates the heating elements during operation of the low-temperature self-cleaning mode. The electronic control unit may disable an oven door lock during a low-temperature self-cleaning mode.
US08415588B2
A hybrid welding device including a fuel cell and an energy storage device that cooperate to power a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation are provided. In some embodiments, the hybrid welding device may also include an engine coupled to a generator that is configured to supplement the power provided by the fuel cell and/or the energy storage device. The hybrid welding device may be adapted to provide power for a welding operation and/or an auxiliary operation when operated as a standalone unit and/or when connected to a primary source of utility power.
US08415587B2
A method and apparatus for processing substrate edges is disclosed that overcomes the limitations of conventional edge processing methods and systems used in semiconductor manufacturing. The edge processing method and apparatus of this invention includes a laser and fiber-optic system to direct laser radiation onto a rotating substrate supported by a chuck. A laser beam is transmitted into a bundle of optical fibers, and the fibers accurately and precisely direct the beam to remove or transform organic or inorganic films, film stacks, residues, or particles, in atmosphere, from the top edge, top bevel, apex, bottom bevel, and bottom edge of the substrate in a single process step. Reaction by-products are removed by means of an exhaust tube enveloping the reaction site. This invention permits precise control of an edge exclusion width, resulting in an increase in the number of usable die on a wafer. Wafer edge processing with this invention replaces existing methods that use large volumes of purified water and hazardous chemicals including solvents, acids, alkalis, and proprietary strippers.
US08415584B2
A description is given of a modular laser processing system (10) for processing a workpiece (20) by means of a processing laser beam (14), which system has a multiplicity of functional modules (100) with a beam passage region (102) which can be connected to one another in series along a processing laser beam path, comprising a functional module (100) embodied as a fiber connection module (104) and serving for accommodating a fiber end from which the processing laser beam (14) emerges, and a functional module (100) embodied as a collimator module (106) and having a collimator lens (16a, 16b, 16c), which collimates the processing laser beam (14), wherein the collimator lens (16a, 16b, 16c) is selected from a group of collimator lenses having different focal lengths which correspond to a raster dimension (L1) or to an integer multiple thereof, characterized in that the length (A) of the beam passage region (102) of a functional module (100) along the processing laser beam path corresponds to the raster dimension (L1) or to an integer multiple thereof.
US08415583B2
The invention relates to a clamping device for clamping at least two components (6, 7) in a radiation-protected machine tool, particularly in a laser welding device (1), comprising—a receptacle (18) for supporting the first component (6), —a clamping head (16) for applying a force to the second component (7) in order to generate clamping pressure at the joint surface (8, 9) between the two components (6, 7), —an inner clamping jaw (11) located within the peripheral beam path (10) of the machine tool, the jaw having a clamping surface (12) for internally clamping the components (6, 7), and—narrow connecting struts (15) for connecting the inner clamping jaw (11) to the external clamping head (16), said connecting struts (15) bridging the passage gap (7) in the clamping head (16) allowing access for the beam path (10) of the machine tool to the components (6, 7).
US08415580B2
A carrier link insulator electrically insulates a carrier drive link from an arc chamber in a circuit breaker.
US08415579B2
Insulated vacuum switchgear and active switchgear elements therefor are provided with a rigid support structure mechanically isolating a vacuum insulator from axial loads in use without reinforcing or insulating encapsulations. At least one of the elastomeric insulating housing and the support structure directly contacts an outer surface of the insulator. Systems and methods for assembling the switchgear are also provided.
US08415578B2
An electrical circuit breaker has a first contact piece which can be moved in a first movement range along a switching axis and has an arcing contact, a second contact piece which can move along the switching axis and which has a further arcing contact, a drive for moving the first contact piece and a gear for transferring the movement of the first contact piece to the second contact piece. The gear has a first dead point which is passed through on the output drive side by the gear during the movement of the first contact piece in the first movement range.
US08415576B2
An operating mechanism for a centrifugal switch contains at least: a terminal box, a cover, a movable contact, a static contact, a swing arm, a reset elastic part, and a shifting fork. The movable contact and the static contact are disposed in the terminal box. The shifting fork operates to drive the swing arm to horizontally swing, whereby pushing the movable contact and implementing connection and disconnection between the movable contact and the static contact. The reset elastic part operates to automatically reset the shifting fork and the swing arm. The invention features reduced requirements for dimensional precision and installation precision of components, and low production cost, and is reliable and durable. In addition, the sliding force is uniformly stressed, which ensures accuracy of operation, easy installation, and high operating reliability.
US08415567B1
The present invention relates to a multi-layer laminate or substrate manufacturing process for forming soldering surfaces on a substrate of a module without requiring a solder mask. In one embodiment, a substrate is provided having a substrate body, soldering pads, and a metal segment. A patterned mask is formed over the substrate such that soldering surfaces of the soldering pads remain exposed. The soldering surfaces of the soldering pads are plated to create plated soldering surfaces over the soldering pads. The plated soldering surfaces are the regions for solder placement. The patterned mask is then removed from the substrate. Next, an anti-wetting treatment is applied to the substrate such that any unplated metal surfaces react to the anti-wetting treatment to form treated surfaces. As such, the plated soldering surfaces will wet solder while the treated surface will not wet solder. In a preferred embodiment, the anti-wetting treatment is an oxidation process.
US08415555B2
Methods of fabricating dimensional silica-based substrates or structures comprising a porous silicon layers are contemplated. According to one embodiment, oxygen is extracted from the atomic elemental composition of a silica glass substrate by reacting a metallic gas with the substrate in a heated inert atmosphere to form a metal-oxygen complex along a surface of the substrate. The metal-oxygen complex is removed from the surface of the silica glass substrate to yield a crystalline porous silicon surface portion and one or more additional layers are formed over the crystalline porous silicon surface portion of the silica glass substrate to yield a dimensional silica-based substrate or structure comprising the porous silicon layer. Embodiments are also contemplated where the substrate is glass-based, but is not necessarily a silica-based glass substrate. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08415554B2
An optical device including a metamaterial layer having a negative index of refraction for at least one wavelength in the visible range of 400-700 nm, a photovoltaic cell, and an optical waveguide arranged between the metamaterial layer and the photovoltaic cell. The optical waveguide has a first face and second face arranged opposite the first face, the first face having a larger area than the second face, the metamaterial layer positioned at the first face of the optical waveguide and the photovoltaic cell positioned at the second face of the optical waveguide. The optical device can be a solar collector. The optical waveguide can have a trapezoidal cross section, with the side faces of the waveguide having an angle of tilt sufficient to ensure total internal reflection for all incidence angles within the metamaterial's acceptance cone.
US08415553B2
A Photoelectrochemical Photovoltaic Panel (PPP) comprising a number of individual substrates (1) and shared substrates (2), wherein: the substrates are electrical conductors or at least partially coated by an electrical conductor (3); at least one substrate is optically transparent; between the shared substrate (2) and the individual substrates (1) there are Photoelectrochemical Photovoltaic Cells, each comprising a photosensitive electrode, a counter electrode and an electrolyte.
US08415551B1
A magnetic pickup for a stringed musical instrument has one or more composite ferromagnetic pole pieces. The composite pole pieces have two or more components with different ferromagnetic materials properties in fixed and contiguous positions. The tonal properties of the pickup are partially determined by the materials and arrangement of the components and are variable over a wide parameter space. Pickups with composite pole pieces and methods for reconfiguring pickup with monolithic pole pieces are described.
US08415549B2
A computer implemented method allows a user to adjust tracks in a musical arrangement. The method involves a user selecting a musical position of an audio track, which the user desires to adjust in time, either by compressing it or expanding it, by indicating with a pointing device, such as a mouse, the position in the time line of the audio track that the user wishes to alter. A first marker is then displayed at the selected musical position in the audio track. Boundary markers defining transients in the audio signal surrounding the selected musical position are then automatically generated by analysis of the audio signal, and are displayed on the audio track. The two boundary markers define an audio segment that is to be adjusted in tempo by the user moving the first marker along the time line.
US08415545B1
A novel maize variety designated PHEMW and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHEMW with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHEMW through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHEMW or a locus conversion of PHEMW with another maize variety.
US08415543B1
A novel maize variety designated X03A194 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 X03A194 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X03A194 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X03A194, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X03A194. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X03A194.
US08415539B2
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid PS 16351609 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid PS 16351609 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08415531B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024629. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024629. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024629 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024629 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08415528B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated EX 08570956. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line EX 08570956, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line EX 08570956 with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line EX 08570956, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.
US08415524B2
A three-dimensional film for use as an acquisition distribution layer in an absorbent article comprising a first surface with drains extending downward from the first surface, the drains being capable of transmitting fluid by gravity; and protrusions extending upward from the first surface to an upper surface with at least one capillary extending downward from the upper surface, the capillaries being capable of transmitting fluid in contact with the upper surface by capillary action. The drains rapidly transmit fluid through the film, particularly fluid that is dynamically-deposited. The capillaries transmit statically-retained fluid that is in contact with the upper surface of the protrusions.
US08415520B2
The invention is a method for processing a mixture containing water, 3-methyl-1-butane and at least one other methylbutene. The method comprises primary distillation of the mixture, giving a gaseous primary overhead product containing methylbutene and water and a water-free primary bottom product containing 3-methyl-1-butene; condensation of the gaseous primary overhead product so as to give a condensate comprising a liquid aqueous phase and a liquid organic phase; separation of the condensate into a liquid aqueous phase and a liquid organic phase; discharge of the liquid aqueous phase; recirculation of the organic phase to the primary distillation; and finally secondary distillation of the water-free primary bottom product from the primary distillation so as to give a secondary overhead product comprising 3-methyl-1-butene and a secondary bottom product. The secondary overhead product obtained has a purity which enables it to be used directly as monomer or comonomer for preparing polymers or copolymers.
US08415517B2
A method comprising: providing a first halogen stream; providing a first alkane stream; reacting at least a portion of the first halogen stream with at least a portion of the first alkane stream in a first reaction vessel to form a first halogenated stream; providing a second alkane stream comprising C2 and higher hydrocarbons; providing a second halogen stream; and reacting at least a portion of the second halogen stream with at least a portion of the second alkane stream in a second reaction vessel to form a second halogenated stream.
US08415516B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing 1,2,3,4 -tetrachlorohexafluorobutane industrially inexpensively and efficiently by utilizing expensive fluorine gas efficiently and to provide a process which is capable of stably producing 1,2,3,4 -tetrachlorohexafluorobutane and in which, by carrying out fluorination reaction at a low temperature, side reactions such as formation of a low-boiling substance due to cleavage of C—C bonds and formation of an excess fluoride are difficult to occur. The process for producing 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorohexafluorobutane of the present invention is characterized in that it includes feeding fluorine gas to 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobutane using plural reactors in the presence of a solvent and in the absence of a catalyst to allow the 1,2,3,4-tetrachlorobutane and the fluorine gas to react with each other, wherein a part or all of unreacted fluorine gas discharged from one reactor is introduced into a reactor different from said one reactor.
US08415515B2
A process for the production of dichlorotrifluoroethane is described. The process comprises reacting perchloroethylene with hydrogen fluoride (HF) at elevated temperature in the vapour phase in at least one reactor in the presence of a fluorination catalyst. The process is operated so that 30 weight % or more of the perchloroethylene reactant that is fed to the at least one reactor remains unreacted having passed through the or each reactor. The dichlorotrifluoroethane may be purified and then used as it is or used to prepare pentafluoroethane.
US08415510B2
The present invention provides novel synthesis's for obtaining a protecting group aminoxy PEG-6 linker from cost effective, and readily available starting materials and chemicals or modified polyethylene glycols. More specifically, a novel synthesis of obtaining a modified Boc-protected aminoxy PEG-6 linker was achieved so that said linker may be attached to a vector such as a peptide based fragment.
US08415509B2
A process for producing dichloropropanol by subjecting glycerol to a reaction with a chlorinating agent in the presence of a carboxylic acid catalyst to produce dichloropropanol, where the carboxylic acid is selected from mono carboxylic acids containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, dicarboxylic acids selected from glutaric acid and adipic acid, and poly carboxylic acids selected from tri- and tetra-carboxylic acids.
US08415507B2
Cocrystals of pterostilbene are disclosed, including: pterostilbene:caffeine cocrystal, pterostilbene:carbamazepine cocrystal, pterostilbene:glutaric acid cocrystal, and pterostilbene:piperazine cocrystal. The pterostilbene:caffeine cocrystal is polymorphic. Forms I and II of the pterostilbene:caffeine cocrystal are disclosed. The therapeutic uses of the pterostilbene cocrystals and of pharmaceutical/nutraceutical compositions containing them are also disclosed. The disclosure sets out various methods of making and characterizing the pterostilbene cocrystals.
US08415505B2
The invention relates to 2-methylene-5-substituted-methylenecyclopentanone derivatives of formula I, and the use thereof. The derivatives of formula I as active components are useful for preparing a medicine for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer diseases such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, uterus cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovary cancer. The active compounds of the invention may be used as an anticancer drug alone or used in combination with one or more other antitumor drugs. A combined therapy can be carried out by administrating each therapeutic component concurrently, subsequently or separately.
US08415504B2
The disclosure provides a catalyst carrier, including a nano carbon material; and a polymer grafted on the nano carbon material, wherein the polymer has a repetitive unit comprising a phosphorous atom. The disclosure further provides a catalyst deposited on the catalyst carrier of the disclosure. The catalyst of the disclosure has high reactivity, and is easy to be recovered in C—C coupling reactions such as a Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction.
US08415492B2
Certain metallocene compounds are provided that, when used as a component in a supported polymerization catalyst under industrially relevant polymerization conditions, afford high molar mass homo polymers or copolymers like polypropylene or propylene/ethylene copolymers without the need for any α-branched substituent in either of the two available 2-positions of the indenyl ligands. The substituent in the 2-position of one indenyl ligand can be any radical comprising hydrogen, methyl, or any other C2-C40 hydrocarbon which is not branched in the α-position, and substituent in the 2-position of the other indenyl ligand can be any C5-C40 hydrocarbon radical with the proviso that this hydrocarbon radical is branched in the β-position and that the β-carbon atom is a quarternary carbon atom and part of a non-cyclic hydrocarbon system. This metallocene topology affords high melting point, very high molar mass homo polypropylene and very high molar mass propylene-based copolymers. Furthermore, the activity/productivity levels of catalysts comprising the metallocenes of the present invention are exceptionally high.
US08415487B2
The present invention is a process for preparing (3R)-2′-(4-bromo-2-fluorobenzyl)spiro-[pyrrolidine-3,4′(1′H)-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine]-1′,2,3′,5(2H′)-tetraone, comprising, for example, the following steps: (1) reacting a compound of the formula (III) wherein R is a C1-6 alkyl group, with 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran to provide a compound of the formula (IV) wherein R is a C1-6 alkyl group; (2) reacting the compound of the formula (IV) wherein R is a C1-6 alkyl group, with trichloroacetyl chloride to provide a compound of the formula wherein R is a C1-6 group; and (3) reacting the compound provided in step (2) with 4-bromo-2-fluorobenzylamine to provide (3R)-2′-(4-bromo-2-fluorobenzyl)spiro-[pyrrolidine-3,4′(1′H)-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine]-1′,2,3′,5(2H′)-tetraone.
US08415482B2
Compounds useful for treating hepatitis C virus infection. The compounds are of formula (I): wherein A, B, C, D, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, m, n, p, q, r, t, u, and v are defined herein. Also disclosed is a method for treating hepatitis C virus infection with these compounds.
US08415479B2
The present invention relates to a novel compound having plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) inhibitory activity, and a PAI-1 inhibitor comprising the compound as an active ingredient. The present invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition that has an inhibitory action on PAI-1 activity and is useful in the prevention and treatment of various diseases whose onset is associated with PAI-1 activity. The novel compound is represented by the following general formula. Each symbol is defined as those in the specification.
US08415471B2
This invention relates to flexible cycloaliphatic diisocyanate trimers and a process for the preparation of these. These flexible products are allophanate-modified, partially trimerized cycloaliphatic diisocyanates and are characterized by a low Tg. More specifically, the Tg of the resultant product ranges from about −30° C. to about 40° C., after the excess monomer has been removed from the product.
US08415468B2
Process for the synthesis of ivabradine of formula (I): and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid.
US08415463B2
Nucleic acid comprising or encoding an RNA replica comprising, in this order, the following segments (i) to (iii): i) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a potexvirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase or a function-conservative variant thereof; ii) a nucleic acid sequence comprising: a) a potexvirus triple gene block or a function-conservative variant thereof and b) a sequence encoding a potexviral coat protein or a function-conservative variant thereof; or a sequence encoding a tobago viral movement protein; and iii) a heterologous nucleic acid sequence expressible from said replica in a plant or in plant tissue.
US08415462B2
The present invention provides novel peptides of specified sequence and their use as a signal peptide or a membrane-anchoring peptide. It also relates to chimeric polypeptide comprising one or more such peptides and a polypeptide of interest as well as nucleic acid molecules, vectors, infections vital particles and host cells encoding such peptides and chimeric polypeptides. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising such elements and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. The present invention also provides a method for recumbently producing a polypeptide using such peptides, especially for directing expression of a polypeptide of interest extracellularly or anchored at the surface of the plasma membrane.
US08415441B1
The invention is a novel family of polyolefins characterized by chain-walking defects of the type that add extra backbone carbons per monomer. These polyolefins display a large decrease in crystallinity relative to polyolefins known in the art. Specifically, the reduction in crystallinity is much greater than for earlier polypropylenes with a matched content of stereo or 1-alkene type defects. The claimed polyolefins can be made by a diimine-based catalyst. The defects in the polyolefin backbone are generated by a chain walking mechanism in which three or more carbons per monomer are added to the polymer backbone instead of two, as in conventional polymerization or copolymerization methods of alpha olefins. The novel polyolefins can be used in applications such as plastic wrapping, thin films, co-extrusion layers or molded parts in the absence of polymer blending or copolymerization. The cost of materials production can be reduced.
US08415438B2
Disclosed is a new method and compositions from the method consisting of block copolycarbonate/phosphonates that exhibit an excellent combination of flame resistance, hydrolytic stability, high Tg, low melt viscosity, low color and high toughness. Also disclosed are polymer mixtures or blends comprised of these block copolycarbonate/phosphonate compositions and commodity and engineering plastics and articles produced therefrom. Further disclosed are articles of manufacture produced from these materials, such as fibers, films, coated substrates, moldings, foams, adhesives and fiber-reinforced articles, or any combination thereof.
US08415434B2
A polymerization process and the resulting polymer composition, said process comprising polymerizing one or more addition polymerizable monomers and a polymerizable shuttling agent in the presence of at least one addition polymerization catalyst comprising a metal compound or complex and a cocatalyst under conditions characterized by the formation of a branched polymer, preferably comprising pseudo-block molecular architecture.
US08415430B2
Thermoplastic elastomer, which comprises a fumed, hydrophilic or hydrophobic silica, which has been structurally modified and also a process for the improvement of the mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomers. The thermoplastic elastomers are produced by preparing a masterbatch from the components (e.g. thermoplastic resin component and fumed silica) and compounding this with further thermoplastic elastomers.
US08415429B2
We disclose a monovinylarene-conjugated diene block copolymer containing a plurality of monovinylarene-conjugated diene mixed blocks, wherein each mixed block contains conjugated diene units and monovinylarene units in a weight ratio of about 0.05 to about 0.33. We also disclose a composition containing (a) from about 50 parts by weight to about 95 parts by weight of the monovinylarene-conjugated diene block copolymer and (b) from about 5 parts by weight to about 50 parts by weight of polystyrene; wherein the monovinylarene-conjugated diene block copolymer and the polystyrene total 100 parts by weight. We further disclose a method of shrink-wrapping an object or a group of objects by wrapping the object or the group of objects with a film containing the composition, to yield a wrapped object or group of objects, and heating the wrapped object or group of objects to a temperature and for a duration sufficient to shrink the film in at least a first direction, to yield a shrink-wrapped object or group of objects.
US08415426B1
Tire with rubber component containing combination of carbon black, silica and functionalized mineral
A tire is provided having a component comprised of a rubber composition containing at least one conjugated diene-based elastomer and a combination of rubber reinforcing fillers composed of rubber reinforcing carbon black, precipitated silica and granular functionalized mineral comprised of at least one of aluminum hydrate (ALOOH) and titanium dioxide. The granular mineral is functionalized by pretreatment with a coupling agent. The granular mineral fillers are pretreated with a coupling agent to promote a combination of rubber reinforcing effect for the mineral fillers and to promote a hydrophobation of the mineral fillers to promote their dispersability in the rubber composition.
US08415424B2
An aromatic ring-containing polymer for an underlayer of a resist, including a unit structure represented by Chemical Formula 1:
US08415405B2
The present invention relates to a silicone (meth)acrylamide monomer, and this silicone (meth)acrylamide monomer is particularly suitable for use in contact lenses, intraocular lenses, artificial cornea, and the like.
US08415404B2
An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. In one embodiment, an ophthalmic lens is a copolymerization product of at least one oxyperm, at least one ionoperm, and a crosslinker. In one embodiment, a lens has a tensile modulus of less than about 3.0 MPa, yet in another embodiment, the tensile modulus is between about 0.5 to about 1.5 MPa.
US08415403B2
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing porous materials, which comprises the following steps: preparation of a solution of at least one structuring agent, having at least two structuring parts linked by at least one type of reversible non-covalent interaction; formation of the structured or porous material; separation of the at least two parts of the structuring agent at low temperature; and recovery of at least 50% by weight of the two non-degraded structuring parts and the porous material.
US08415400B2
The present invention provides polymer micelles with cross-linked ionic cores as delivery vehicles for therapeutics, diagnostics, nucleic acids, proteins, small molecules and the like. The present invention provides additionally methods of synthesis and uses for such micelles.
US08415395B1
Stable ultrapure colchicine compositions comprising ultrapure colchicine and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient are described. The compositions can be tablets. Methods for preparing such compositions and methods of use are also disclosed. Methods of treating gout flares with colchicine compositions are also disclosed.
US08415391B2
The present invention pertains to a method of counteracting a malodor by introducing a malodor counteracting effective amount of a novel 3.2.1-bicyclo-octene or -octane compound represented by formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, acetate, carbonate monomethyl ester, and allyloxy; and wherein the broken line represents a single or double bond.
US08415387B2
Compounds of the present invention and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention.
US08415376B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; methods of treating diseases or conditions, such as cancer, using the compounds; and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, wherein Q, X1, X2, R1 and Z are as defined herein.
US08415370B2
This invention is directed to spiro-oxindole compounds, as stereoisomers, enantiomers, tautomers thereof or mixtures thereof; or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or prodrugs thereof, for the treatment and/or prevention of sodium channel-mediated diseases or conditions, such as pain.
US08415363B2
Crystalline forms of 4-methyl-N-[3-(4-methyl-imidazol-1-yl)-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl]-3-(4-pyridin-3-yl-pyrimidin-2-ylamino)-benzamide free base and salts thereof are prepared by various processes.
US08415359B2
The present invention relates to a compound or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof having superior glucokinase activating activity, and is a compound represented by general formula (I), or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof: [wherein, A represents, for example, an oxygen atom or sulfur atom, R1 represents, for example, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C1-C6 alkoxy group or a C1-C6 halogenated alkyl group, A and R1 together with the carbon atom bonded thereto form a heterocyclic group that may be substituted with 1 to 3 group(s) independently selected from Substituent Group α, R2 represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with 1 to 5 group(s) independently selected from Substituent Group α or a heterocyclic group that may be substituted with 1 to 3 group(s) independently selected from Substituent Group α, R3 represents a hydroxy group or a C1-C6 alkoxy group, and Substituent Group α consists of, for example, a halogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C1-C6 alkyl group substituted with 1 or 2 hydroxy group(s), a C1-C6 alkylsulfonyl group, and a group represented by the formula —V—NR5R6 (wherein, V represents a carbonyl group or a sulfonyl group, and R5 and R6 may be the same or different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-C6 alkyl group, or R5 and R6 together with the nitrogen atom bonded thereto form a 4- to 6-membered saturated heterocycle that may be substituted with 1 or 2 group(s) independently selected from a C1-C6 alkyl group and a hydroxy group, and the 4- to 6-membered saturated heterocycle may further contain one oxygen atom or nitrogen atom)].
US08415357B2
Novel substituted azole diones are provided that kill cells, suppress cell proliferation, suppress cell growth, abrogate the cell cycle G2 checkpoint and/or cause adaptation to G2 cell cycle arrest. Methods of making and using the invention compounds are provided. The invention provides substituted azole diones to treat cell proliferation disorders. The invention includes the use of substituted azole diones to selectively kill or suppress cancer cells without additional anti-cancer treatment. The invention includes the use of cell cycle G2-checkpoint-abrogating substituted azole diones to selectively sensitize cancer cells to DNA damaging reagents, treatments and/or other types of anti-cancer reagents.
US08415348B2
The present invention concerns nitrogenated derivatives of narciclasine and pancratistatin of the following general formula (I) as well their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The present invention also concerns the use of these compounds in cancer therapy as well as a method for their preparation.
US08415345B2
The present invention provides thiazole sulfonamide and oxazole sulfonamide compounds, compositions containing the same, as well as processes for the preparation and methods for their use as pharmaceutical agents.
US08415335B2
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.
US08415331B2
The present invention is a solid dosage form of a doxycycline metal complex. The present invention also includes a process for making a doxycycline metal complex in a solid dosage form. The process comprises the steps of (i) providing an aqueous solution of doxycycline or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof; (ii) admixing a metal salt with the aqueous solution; (iii) admixing a base to increase the pH of the aqueous solution, thereby forming a suspension of doxycycline metal; and (iv) drying the suspension, thereby forming a dry granulation of doxycycline metal complex.
US08415329B1
Compositions of submicron- to micron-sized particles of water-insoluble biologically active substances that are stabilized by thermoprotecting agents, can be terminally steam sterilized without any significant increase of mean particle size. These compositions display markedly reduced heat-induced coagulation, flocculation, or particle size growth during the terminal steam sterilization process.
US08415328B2
The present invention relates to novel inhibitors of Factors VIIa, IXa, Xa, XIa, in particular Factor VIIa, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these inhibitors, and methods for using these inhibitors for treating or preventing thromboembolic disorders, cancer or rheumatoid arthritis. Processes for preparing these inhibitors are also disclosed.
US08415327B2
Methods and compositions involving a class of boron-protected phenylphosphine agents having increased cell permeability and having improved chemical stability for treating or for preventing cell death-related diseases or conditions in a human or a non-human animal.
US08415323B2
The present invention relates to reducing accumulation of viral genomes in a target cell. In particular the present invention provides compositions and methods for combating viral infection through RNA interference. Specifically the present invention provides cellular microRNA mimics for treating virus-infected subjects.
US08415321B2
A method and composition for treating a host infected with a Caliciviridae virus, such as a Norovirus, comprising administering an effective treatment amount of a described modified nucleoside or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is provided.
US08415320B2
The invention is to methods of gene silencing in arthropods using dsRNA. The method is include contacting the arthropod with, and/or directly feeding the arthropod, the dsRNA to the arthropods to deliver the dsRNA to arthropod tissues. It is envisaged that the methods of the invention will have use in determining the biological function of genes in arthropods. Methods of pest control of arthropods, and of protecting arthropods against parasites and predators are provided. Transgenic arthropods expressing dsRNA molecules are also provided by the present invention.
US08415315B2
A method of decreasing the expression of LIM kinase 1 in a cancer cell comprising; providing an oligonucleotide consisting of the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; providing a cancer cell comprising an mRNA encoding LIM kinase 1; and introducing the oligonucleotide into the cancer cell, wherein the oligonucleotide decreases the expression of LIM kinase 1 in the cancer cell. The method also provides compositions of an antisense RNA LIM kinase 1 that can be administered to an individual for the purpose of inhibiting a protein kinase pathway and which further comprises methods for treating and monitoring the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. A kit may be used in the detection and treatment of cancer.
US08415309B2
The present disclosure relates to the use and methods of manufacture of bicyclic nucleosides and nucleotides for the treatment and prevention of infectious and proliferative diseases, including microbial infections and cancer.
US08415299B2
A method is disclosed which is useful for elevating blood thyroid hormone levels in avian species (especially poultry species such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, quail, etc.) by implantation, injection, or supplementation of feed or water with thyroid hormones or thyroid-active substances (e.g., L-thyroxine, triiodothyronine, defatted and dessicated thyroid) to induce molting in order to extend egg production.
US08415298B2
The present invention provides methods for diagnosing mental disorders. The invention also provides methods of identifying modulators of mental disorders as well as methods of using these modulators to treat patients suffering from mental disorders.
US08415297B2
The present invention is directed to novel substituted aminotetrahydropyrans of structural formula I which are inhibitors of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved, such as diabetes and particularly Type 2 diabetes. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved.
US08415294B2
The present invention is directed to cyclodepsipeptide compounds having antineoplastic and/or antimicrobial activity, preferably Kitastatin 1. The present invention is further directed to methods of inhibiting cancer cell growth and/or microbial growth in a host inflicted therewith by administering cyclodepsipeptide compounds to the inflicted host.
US08415292B2
The present invention features compositions and methods for increasing the cell surface expression of degradation-prone CFTR proteins and preventing or treating cystic fibrosis. The invention provides peptides and peptidomimetics that selectively inhibit the interaction between CAL and mutant CFTR proteins, thereby stabilizing the CFTR and facilitating transport of the same to the cell surface.
US08415286B1
The present invention is directed toward an oil dispersant composition useful in treating oil spills, and for cleanup of the shoreline, animals, plants, and equipment. The oil dispersant product is a non-toxic, solvent-free composition which efficiently breaks down grease, grime and crude oil at the molecular level, by breaking down the hydrocarbon chains and preventing the oil molecules from ever reforming again.
US08415285B2
The present invention provides compositions, in particular blocks, tablets and gels, for the prevention or removal of insoluble salt deposits comprising: a) an organic acid with two carboxylic acid functional groups obtainable by fermentation, selected from the list of itaconic acid, itaconic acid anhydride, succinic acid, succinic anhydride and combinations thereof, and b) at least one compound determining the release of said acid from said composition, said compound is selected from a list comprising: i) a hygroscopic compound, ii) a carbonate source, iii) an acid solubility retarding compound, iv) a compound with melting point situated between 60° C.-95° C., and combinations thereof. The invention further provides uses of the compositions for the prevention or removal of insoluble salt deposits. The invention also provides a method of manufacturing such compositions and a method for the prevention or removal of insoluble salt deposits with a product of the invention.
US08415281B2
A sliding resin composition is provided which rapidly forms a transfer adhesion film of PTFE on the surface of a counter member at the initial stage of sliding. That is, in the case of using resin composition 1 which is in such a state that particles of PTFE 3 having PTFE film forming agent 4 embedded are dispersed in synthetic resin 2, when the surface of particles of PTFE 3 on the sliding surface of resin composition 1 contacts with the surface of an associated shaft, the PTFE film forming agent 4 is also present at the contact portion, whereby transfer adhesion of PTFE 3 to the surface of the associated shaft is accelerated and thus the time required for decrease of coefficient of friction can be shortened.
US08415274B2
Novel active compound combinations comprising a carboxamide of the general formula (I) (group 1) in which A, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the description, and the active compound groups (2) to (23) listed in the description have very good fungicidal properties.
US08415267B2
Core-shell nanoparticles having a core material and a mesoporous silica shell, and a method for manufacturing the core-shell nanoparticles are provided.
US08415259B2
A method of forming a film on a semiconductor substrate by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD), includes: introducing a nitrogen- and hydrogen-containing reactive gas and a rare gas into a reaction space inside which the semiconductor substrate is placed; introducing a precursor in pulses of less than 1.0-second duration into the reaction space wherein the reactive gas and the rare gas are introduced; exiting a plasma in pulses of less than 1.0-second duration immediately after the precursor is shut off; and maintaining the reactive gas and the rare gas as a purge of less than 2.0-second duration.
US08415258B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes: loading a substrate into a process vessel; performing a process to form an film on the substrate by alternately repeating: (a) forming a layer containing an element on the substrate by supplying at least two types of source gases into the process vessel, each of the at least two types of source gases containing the element, and (b) changing the layer containing the element by supplying reaction gas into the process vessel, the reaction gas being different from the at least two types of source gases; and unloading the processed substrate from the process vessel.
US08415251B2
A method for producing an electrical component (1) is proposed, in which a ceramic base body (5) that contains a through-hole contact (10) and at least one metallization surface (20C) electroconductively connected to the through-hole contact is provided in a method step A). On the surface of the base body, an electrically insulating first material is arranged in layer form at least above the through-hole contact in method step B), and thereafter an electrically conductive second material is applied above through-hole contact (10) in method step C). Then a solder contact (30B) that electroconductively connects through-hole contact (10) through passivation layer (25B), which is formed from the first material by sintering, is formed by hardening in method step D).
US08415246B2
A method of forming a high density structure may include the steps of providing a substrate wherein the high density structure is to be formed with a release liner, the release liner being self-removable; forming at least one cavity in the substrate through the release liner, the at least one cavity forming at least a part of the high density structure; at least partially filling the at least one cavity with a filler material; sintering the thus formed structure; and removing the release liner from the substrate.
US08415240B1
Composite films comprising two-dimensional hole arrays, and related methods of preparing hole arrays.
US08415236B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises selectively forming a first layer over a first and second exposed portions of a substrate. The first and second exposed portions are of different sizes and are located adjacent to a first and second active devices. During the first layer formation, a gas mixture comprising first and second source gases that function as growth components for forming the first layer and a reactant gas that functions as an etching component for controlling selectivity of the first layer growth is provided. The reactant gas is different from the first and second source gases and one of first and second source gases forms the first layer at a faster rate over the first exposed portion as compared to the second exposed portion and the other source gas exhibits an opposite behavior.
US08415235B2
In a conventional adhesive sheet laminated with a die attachment film, the die attachment film sometimes drops off from the die chip at the time of pick-up after die chip formation by dicing a wafer. The present invention provides an adhesive including a (meth)acrylate ester polymer, a urethane acrylate oligomer having 4 or more vinyl groups, and silicone microparticles. Another aspect of the invention, provides a process for producing electronic components, the process including: a wafer-pasting step of pasting a wafer on a surface of a die attachment film of an adhesive sheet; a dicing step of dicing the wafer into die chips; and a pick-up step of peeling the die attachment film from the adhesive layer after the dicing step, and picking up the die chip together with the die attachment film.
US08415228B2
To provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device in which, even when the semiconductor device is formed over an SOI substrate which uses a glass substrate, an insulating film and a semiconductor film over the glass substrate are not peeled by stress applied by a conductive film in formation of the conductive film for forming a gate electrode. A semiconductor device is manufactured by the steps of forming a first insulating film over a bond substrate, forming an embrittlement layer by adding ions from a surface of the bond substrate, bonding the bond substrate to a glass substrate with the first insulating film interposed therebetween, separating the bond substrate along the embrittlement layer to form a semiconductor film over the glass substrate with the first insulating film interposed therebetween, removing a peripheral region of the first insulating film and the semiconductor film to expose part of the glass substrate, forming a gate insulating film over and in contact with the semiconductor film and the glass substrate, and forming a stacked conductive film over and in contact with the gate insulating film, in which the stacked conductive film includes a conductive film having a tensile stress and a conductive film having a compressive stress.
US08415227B2
A method for fabricating a DRAM capacitor stack is described wherein the dielectric material is a multi-layer stack formed from a highly-doped material combined with a lightly or non-doped material. The highly-doped material remains amorphous with a crystalline content of less than 30% after an annealing step. The lightly or non-doped material becomes crystalline with a crystalline content of equal to or greater than 30% after an annealing step. The dielectric multi-layer stack maintains a high k-value while minimizing the leakage current and the EOT value.
US08415220B2
Techniques for preventing bending/buckling of suspended micro/nanostructures during oxidation are provided. In one aspect, a method for oxidizing a structure is provided. The method includes providing the structure having at least one suspended element selected from the group consisting of: a microstructure, a nanostructure and a combination thereof; surrounding the at least one suspended element in a cladding material; and oxidizing the at least one suspended element through the cladding material, wherein the cladding material physically constrains and thereby prevents distortion of the at least one suspended element during the oxidation.
US08415219B2
To attain a comparatively high breakdown voltage at a high avalanche strength and with the physical size simultaneously being as small as possible, the invention proposes constructing a transistor device in a semiconductor material region in which a first source/drain region is used as a source region and in which the source region has a comparatively reduced surface charge or surface charge density.
US08415218B2
A method of growing an epitaxial silicon layer is provided. The method comprising providing a substrate including an oxygen-terminated silicon surface and forming a first hydrogen-terminated silicon surface on the oxygen-terminated silicon surface. Additionally, the method includes forming a second hydrogen-terminated silicon surface on the first hydrogen-terminated silicon surface through atomic-layer deposition (ALD) epitaxy from SiH4 thermal cracking radical assisted by Ar flow and flash lamp annealing continuously. The second hydrogen-terminated silicon surface is capable of being added one or more layer of silicon through ALD epitaxy from SiH4 thermal cracking radical assisted by Ar flow and flash lamp annealing continuously. In one embodiment, the method is applied for making devices with thin-film transistor (TFT) floating gate memory cell structures which is capable for three-dimensional integration.
US08415215B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming first to third gate electrodes in first to third regions, respectively; forming a first mask pattern covering the second region while exposing the first and third regions; forming p-type source drain extensions and p-type pocket regions by ion implantation using the first mask pattern as a mask; forming n-type source drain extensions by ion implantation using the first mask pattern as a mask; forming a second mask pattern covering the first and third regions while exposing the second region; and forming p-type pocket regions by implanting ions of indium into the silicon substrate with the second mask pattern being used as a mask.
US08415205B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a lead having an upper portion and a bottom portion with a first overhang portion from a top surface of the upper portion and the lead also having serrations along upper vertical sides intersecting the top surface; forming an upper contact plate on the top surface; forming a bottom contact plate on a bottom surface of the bottom portion; attaching an integrated circuit die over the upper portion; and encapsulating the upper portion and the integrated circuit die with an encapsulation leaving the bottom portion exposed.
US08415199B2
Provided is a semiconductor device having a pad on a semiconductor chip, a first passivation film formed over the semiconductor chip and having an opening portion on the pad of a probe region and a coupling region, a second passivation film formed over the pad and the first passivation film and having an opening portion on the pad of the coupling region, and a rewiring layer formed over the coupling region and the second passivation film and electrically coupled to the pad. The pad of the probe region placed on the periphery side of the semiconductor chip relative to the coupling region has a probe mark and the rewiring layer extends from the coupling region to the center side of the semiconductor chip. The present invention provides a technology capable of achieving size reduction, particularly pitch narrowing, of a semiconductor device.
US08415188B2
A method for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor laser element has: (a) forming a nitride semiconductor layer on a substrate; (b) forming a ridge on a surface of the nitride semiconductor; (c) forming a first protective film on the nitride semiconductor layer including the ridge; (d) removing the first protective film from at least a top face of the ridge; (e) forming a conductive layer composed of a two or more of multilayer film with different compositions on the first protective film and the nitride semiconductor layer including the ridge, and introducing a gap at locations of at least at the uppermost conductive layer corresponding to the base portion from the ridge shoulders; and (f) removing part of the conductive layer through a gap to form a void defined by the first protective film and the conductive layer at least on the ridge base portions.
US08415181B2
Provided is a light emitting element, a light emitting device including the same, and fabrication methods of the light emitting element and light emitting device. The light emitting device comprises a substrate, a light emitting structure including a first conductive layer of a first conductivity type, a light emitting layer, and a second conductive layer of a second conductivity type which are sequentially stacked, a first electrode which is electrically connected with the first conductive layer; and a second electrode which is electrically connected with the second conductive layer and separated apart from the first electrode, wherein at least a part of the second electrode is connected from a top of the light emitting structure, through a sidewall of the light emitting structure, and to a sidewall of the substrate.
US08415179B2
A light emitting diode and a light emitting diode (LED) manufacturing method are disclosed. The LED comprises a substrate; a first n-type GaN layer; a second n-type GaN layer; an active layer; and a p-type GaN layer formed on the substrate in sequence; the second n-type GaN layers has a bottom surface interfacing with the first n-type GaN layer, a rim of the bottom surface has a roughened exposed portion, and Ga—N bonds on the bottom surface has an N-face polarity.
US08415178B2
A process includes preparing a base material having a first surface provided with an element generating energy that is used for discharging a liquid and an electrode layer that is connected to the element; forming a hollow on a second surface, which is the surface on the opposite side of the first surface, of the base material, wherein part of the electrode layer serves as the bottom face of the hollow; covering the surface of the base material and the bottom face forming the inner face of the hollow with an insulating film; and partially exposing the electrode layer by removing part of the insulating film covering the bottom face using laser light.
US08415175B2
A semiconductor wafer includes multiple dies and a die identification region adjacent to or on each die. The die identification region can include a wafer indicator and a pattern of die locations representing die locations on the wafer. A die identification marker is provided in each pattern of die locations in the die identification region specifying a location of a respective die on the wafer.
US08415170B2
The invention provides a method for continuously detecting glucose concentration in a sample, including: (a) providing a biosensor comprising a transducer and a polysaccharide covered on the surface of the transducer; (b) providing a carbohydrate binding protein solution, wherein the carbohydrate binding protein has at least one receptor, and the receptor is capable of binding to the polysaccharide and glucose; (c) mixing a sample and the carbohydrate binding protein solution to form a mixture; (d) contacting the mixture with the biosensor; (e) detecting the amount of carbohydrate binding proteins bound to the polysaccharide by the biosensor, wherein glucose concentration of the sample is inversely proportional to the amount of carbohydrate binding proteins bound to the polysaccharide; and (f) refreshing the surface of the biosensor with a high concentration glucose solution.
US08415167B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide: an oxygen indicator aqueous solution for an oxygen detector that has high heat resistance, can be stored at room temperature, and can maintain an excellent ability to detect oxygen, regardless of the atmospheric temperature; an oxygen detector; and a method for manufacturing an oxygen detector.In order to achieve this object, there is provided an oxygen indicator aqueous solution for an oxygen detector that is an aqueous solution comprising reducing saccharides, a basic substance, and a redox dye reduced by the reducing saccharides, the aqueous solution comprising, as the reducing saccharides, a monosaccharide as a first component and a reducing trisaccharide as a second component. In addition, there is provided a manufacturing method preferred for the manufacturing of the oxygen detector.
US08415163B2
Disclosed is a method of diagnosing renal dysfunction in a cat by removing cauxin from cat urine and detecting a protein in the cat urine sample from which cauxin has been removed. Cauxin is removed from cat urine by bringing the cat urine into contact with a lectin or with an anti-cauxin antibody that specifically binds to cauxin. Cauxin may be removed using a column filled with a carrier that is bound to the lectin or to the anti-cauxin antibody. The lectin may be Lens culinaris lectin. Detection of the cat urinary protein from which cauxin has been removed is performed with a urine test strip.
US08415162B2
Described herein are methods for determining an amount of an analyte in a test sample. The methods involve preparing a calibration curve using standard samples containing an isotopically-labeled standard in a biological matrix.
US08415156B2
The present disclosure related to isolated laminin-521, methods for making recombinant laminin-521, host cells that express recombinant laminin-521, and compositions containing laminin-521. Laminin-521 can maintain stem cells in vitro pluripotency, enable self-renewal, and enable single cell survival of human embryonic stem cells. When pluripotent human embryonic stem cells are cultured on plates coated with a matrix of recombinant laminin-521 (laminin 11), in the absence of differentiation inhibitors or feeder cells, the embryonic stem cells proliferate and maintain their pluripotency. It has also been discovered that human recombinant laminin-521 (laminin-11) provides single cell survival of stem cells after complete dissociation into a single cell suspension. Useful cell culture mediums containing at most 3.9 ng/ml of beta fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are also described herein.
US08415155B2
Methods and composition for the production of cardiomyocytes from differentiation of pluripotent stem cells are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods including differentiating pluripotent stem cells in a large volume of suspension culture in the presence of ROCK inhibitors are described. In further aspects, methods for differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes that overcome variability between different stem cell clones and different batch of culture medium are provided.
US08415151B2
This invention provides a crystalline recombinant interferon (rSIFN-co (SEQ ID NO: 1)) having (i) the same amino acid sequence as that of human consensus interferon, and (ii) altered three-dimensional structure as compared to IFN-α2b. The interferon of the present invention exhibits enhanced biological activities. The present invention also provides a structure model of said interferon useful for drug screening and/or drug design and the mimetic of said interferon.
US08415134B1
The present invention relates to compositions and pharmaceutical compositions comprising poxviruses and more particularly extracellular enveloped viruses. The present invention also relates to a process for producing poxviruses and poxviruses obtained thereof. Moreover, the present invention also relates to the use of said poxvirus and said composition for the preparation of a medicament.
US08415133B2
The present invention relates to compositions and pharmaceutical compositions comprising poxviruses and more particularly extracellular enveloped viruses. The present invention also relates to a process for producing poxviruses and poxviruses obtained thereof. Moreover, the present invention also relates to the use of said poxvirus and said composition for the preparation of a medicament.
US08415126B2
The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme including the capability of reducing 5-((4S)-2-oxo-4-phenyl(1,3-oxazolidin-3-yl))-1-(4-fluorophenyl)pentane-1,5-dione to (4S)-3-[(5S)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxypentanoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize the intermediate (4S)-3-[(5S)-5-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-hydroxypentanoyl]-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one in a process for making Ezetimibe.
US08415113B1
A procedure for the identification of a functional disorder of the pancreas by the use of parts of all iso-enzymes of the pancreas elastase and of synthetic amino-acid sequences as antigens for obtaining specific antibodies, as well as their use in immuno-chemical test procedures.
US08415109B2
The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing neuroendocrine cancers via detecting the presence of N-methyl D-asparate-associated (NMDA) glutamate receptors type 1 and/or type 2. Methods for preventing and treating neuroendocrine cancers are also disclosed.
US08415103B2
The technology described herein generally relates to microfluidic cartridges configured to amplify and detect polynucleotides extracted from multiple biological samples in parallel. The technology includes a microfluidic substrate, comprising: a plurality of sample lanes, wherein each of the plurality of sample lanes comprises a microfluidic network having, in fluid communication with one another: an inlet; a first valve and a second valve; a first channel leading from the inlet, via the first valve, to a reaction chamber; and a second channel leading from the reaction chamber, via the second valve, to a vent.
US08415088B2
A method for forming a material layer with an anti-reflective layer as the top surface. The method comprises steps of providing a material layer and performing an ion implantation process to change a plurality of physical properties of a portion of the material layer near a top surface of the material layer so as to covert the portion of the material layer into an anti-reflective layer.
US08415085B2
A resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) including a compound represented by (b1-1), a compound represented by (b1-1′) and/or a compound represented by (b1-1″) (R1″-R3″ represents an aryl group or an alkyl group, provided that at least one of R1″-R3″ represents a substituted aryl group being substituted with a group represented by (b1-1-0), and two of R1″-R3″ may be mutually bonded to form a ring with the sulfur atom; X represents a C3-C30 hydrocarbon group; Q1 represents a carbonyl group-containing divalent linking group; X10 represents a C1-C30 hydrocarbon group; Q3 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; Y10 represents —C(═O)— or —SO2—; Y11 represents a C1-C10 alkyl group or a fluorinated alkyl group: Q2 represents a single bond or an alkylene group; and W represents a C2-C10 alkylene group).
US08415083B2
This invention provides methods of creating via or trench structures on a developer-soluble hardmask layer using a multiple exposure-development process. The hardmask layer is patterned while the imaging layer is developed. After the imaging layer is stripped using organic solvents, the same hardmask can be further patterned using subsequent exposure-development processes. Eventually, the pattern can be transferred to the substrate using an etching process.
US08415079B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor, comprising an electroconductive substrate, an undercoat layer comprising a binder resin and metal oxide particles having a refractive index of at least 2.0 formed on the electroconductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer formed on the undercoat layer, wherein a ratio of a specular reflection of the undercoat layer calculated as a thickness of 2 μm to a light having a wavelength of 480 nm, to the specular reflection of the electroconductive substrate to a light having a wavelength of 480 nm, is at least 50%.
US08415078B2
The charge generation layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member is made to contain a specific amine compound in order to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member that can output images that are practically free from an image flaw or have less image flaws attributable to a ghost phenomenon under low temperature and low humidity environment and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
US08415068B2
A coolant supply passage, a coolant discharge passage, and an air-releasing passage extend through first and second metal plates of a metal separator in a stacking direction of the first and second metal plates. The coolant supply passage and the coolant discharge passage are provided at vertically middle positions of opposite horizontal ends of the separator. A coolant flow field is connected between the coolant supply passage and the coolant discharge passage. The air-releasing passage for releasing air from the coolant flow field is formed above the coolant discharge passage. At least part of the air-releasing passage is positioned above the top of the coolant flow field.
US08415067B2
A three-way diverter assembly with a contoured valve is provided. The three-way diverter assembly includes a housing having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The first inlet and the second inlet are adapted to receive a fluid. The contoured valve is disposed in the housing adjacent the first inlet. The contoured valve is rotatable about an axis from a first positional limit to a second positional limit, and to a plurality of positions therebetween. Fuel cell systems having the three-way diverter assembly for regulating temperature and humidity of a fuel cell stack are also provided.
US08415065B2
A fuel cell system is equipped with a fuel cell, a DC/DC converter that is electrically connected to the fuel cell, and a control unit that controls the supply of a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas to the fuel cell and issues a voltage command to and drives the DC/DC converter to perform high potential avoidance control of restraining an output voltage of the fuel cell from exceeding a high potential avoidance voltage lower than an open circuit voltage. The control unit continues to drive the DC/DC converter so as to perform the high potential avoidance control for a predetermined time after stopping supplying the fuel cell with hydrogen and air in response to the inputting of a system operation stop command.
US08415064B2
A fuel cell system of the present invention includes: a fuel cell (11) configured to generate electric power using a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas; an anode off gas channel (34) through which an anode off gas discharged from an anode (2a) of the fuel cell (11) flows; a gas-liquid separator (10) disposed on the anode off gas channel (34) to separate moisture from the anode off gas, and including a water reservoir (18) configured to store the separated moisture as water; a temperature detector (28) configured to detect a temperature of the water reservoir (18); and an operation allowing device (52) configured not to allow an operation of the fuel cell system in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature detector (28) is equal to or higher than a first threshold that is higher than a standard ambient temperature.
US08415063B2
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, anode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of an anode gas supplied to the fuel cell, and cathode gas pressure adjusting means that adjusts the pressure of a cathode gas supplied to the fuel cell. The system further includes pressure control means that sets the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied when starting the fuel cell higher than the pressure of the anode gas that is supplied during power generation in the fuel cell, and controls the anode gas pressure adjusting means and the cathode gas pressure adjusting means so that a cathode gas pressure increase is started in accordance with the start of an anode gas pressure increase when the pressure of the anode gas is increased to the set pressure.
US08415056B2
There is provided a non-aqueous electrolytic solution assuring good solubility of an electrolyte salt and having enough cell characteristics (charge and discharge cycle characteristic, discharge capacity, and the like), and the non-aqueous electrolytic solution comprises a solvent for dissolving an electrolyte salt comprising (A) at least one fluorine-containing solvent selected from the group consisting of fluorine-containing ethers and fluorine-containing carbonates, (B) a non-fluorine-containing cyclic carbonate and (C) a chain ester represented by the formula (C): R1COOR2, wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms; R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a fluorine-containing alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and (II) an electrolyte salt.
US08415042B2
A metal halogen electrochemical energy cell system that generates an electrical potential. One embodiment of the system includes at least one cell including at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode, at least one electrolyte, a mixing venturi that mixes the electrolyte with a halogen reactant, and a circulation pump that conveys the electrolyte mixed with the halogen reactant through the positive electrode and across the metal electrode. Preferably, the positive electrode comprises porous carbonaceous material, the negative electrode comprises zinc, the metal comprises zinc, the halogen comprises chlorine, the electrolyte comprises an aqueous zinc-chloride electrolyte, and the halogen reactant comprises a chlorine reactant. Also, variations of the system and a method of operation for the systems.
US08415039B2
An apparatus including at least one electrochemical flow cell in which the electrochemical flow cell includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a reaction zone between the anode and the cathode. The electrochemical flow cell also includes an electrolyte storage reservoir configured to hold a molten salt electrolyte and a gas generated during charging of the at least one electrochemical flow cell and at least one conduit configured to supply the molten salt electrolyte and the gas from the storage reservoir to the at least one electrochemical flow cell. The electrochemical flow cell also includes at least one pump configured to pump the molten salt electrolyte from the storage reservoir to the reaction zone.
US08415037B2
A microbial fuel cell includes an anode compartment with an anode and an anode biocatalyst and a cathode compartment with a cathode and a cathode biocatalyst, with a membrane positioned between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment, and an electrical pathway between the anode and the cathode. The anode biocatalyst is capable of catalyzing oxidation of an organic substance, and the cathode biocatalyst is capable of catalyzing reduction of an inorganic substance. The reduced organic substance can form a precipitate, thereby removing the inorganic substance from solution. In some cases, the anode biocatalyst is capable of catalyzing oxidation of an inorganic substance, and the cathode biocatalyst is capable of catalyzing reduction of an organic or inorganic substance.
US08415034B2
A composite wear-resistant member and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes setting an appropriate sintering temperature from 900° C. to 1080° C. by adjusting a ratio of phosphor in a material, wherein the material contains hard particles including diamond particles and WC particles, a binder of an iron group metal containing phosphor (P), and copper, which is distributed and is present alone; and performing hot press sintering or electric discharge sintering on the material. The composite wear-resistant member includes a material including hard particles including diamond particles and WC particles, a binder of an iron group metal containing phosphor, and copper. The phosphor content is from 0.01 to 1.0 wt % with respect to the sum total of the WC particles and the binder.
US08415019B2
A new composition and medical implant made there from comprises a thick diffusion hardened zone, and layered ceramic surface. Orthopedic implants comprising the new composition, methods of making the new composition, and methods of making orthopedic implants comprising the new composition are disclosed.
US08415016B2
Hydrophobic treatment composition comprising one or more compounds, as a mixture, corresponding to the formula in which at least one R is a CaF2a+1 group, a being an integer, it being possible for another R to be an SiX3-bRC1b group, b being 0, 1 or 2 X being a hydrolysable group, such as alkoxy, hydroxyl or halo R1 being a hydrocarbon group, such as lower alkyl S is a hydrogen atom, an OH group, an alkyl group, in particular a lower alkyl group, such as CH3, or an OSiR2R3R4 group, R2, R3 and R4 being identical or different and consisting in particular of one of the abovementioned groups carried by an Si atom, such as (CH2)2—R, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or OSIR2R3R4, n is an integer≧1, the total number of Si atoms not exceeding 20. Process for treatment by this composition. Hydrophobic glass substrate thus obtained and its application, in particular as glazing.
US08415014B2
Presently is described a free-radically polymerizable composition comprising a mixture of reaction products of i) at least one polyisocyanate; ii) at least one isocyanate reactive perfluoropolyether compound; iii) at least one isocyanate reactive compound comprising greater than 6 repeat units of ethylene oxide; and iv) at least one isocyanate reactive non-fluorinated crosslinker comprising at least two free-radically polymerizable groups.
US08415002B2
A method of manufacturing a circuit board which may include the steps of forming a circuit board with horizontal and vertical fiberglass fibers, rotating the circuit board, and cutting the circuit board so that the horizontal and vertical fiberglass fibers form a non-right angle with a cut line of the circuit board. The circuit board may have a plurality of conductive traces located thereon which pass by areas of higher fiberglass-to-resin material and lower fiberglass-to-resin material to assist in reducing differential to common mode conversion between signals in the plurality of conducive traces.
US08414998B2
A heat insulator that generates no smoke when incinerated, has a low calorific value, and achieves a desired dimension and heat insulation performance is provided. A heat insulator 1 is formed by heat-mixing, in an extruder 11, a paper pellet 7 that is a mixture of a fine paper powder having a particle diameter of 30 to 200 μm and starch, a container recycle pellet 8 that is a mixture of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene, foamable polypropylene 9, and water 10 to obtain a plate-like foamed product 2, and orthogonally overlaying a plurality of plate-like foamed products 2. A weight distribution is set so that the paper pellet 7 is 50 to 65% by weight, the container recycle pellet 8 is 13 to 25% by weight, the foamable polypropylene 9 is 10 to 30% by weight, and the water 10 is 10 to 20% by weight to these resins and other materials.
US08414996B2
A simulated commodity tropical hardwood-based panel includes an engineered veneer face including a first wood from one or more sustainable sources of wood. The face has a dyed coloring, a simulated grain, or a dyed coloring and a simulated grain that is substantially similar to the coloring, grain, or coloring and grain of a tropical hardwood veneer. The panel further includes a back and a core disposed between the face and back. The face, the core and back are stacked and adhered together to form a laminated panel. The face of the simulated commodity tropical hardwood-based panel has an appearance that is substantially similar to the appearance of the face veneer of a commodity tropical hardwood-based panel that includes the tropical hardwood veneer. The panel comprises no tropical hardwood from a non-sustainable source of wood.
US08414993B2
A roll of a continuous web of an optical film laminate with predefined slit lines for use in a continuous manufacturing system by laminating optically functional film sheets to liquid-crystal panels. The optical film laminate with predefined slit lines comprises an optically functional film having an adhesive layer which is subjected to a preliminary inspection, and a carrier film releasably laminated to the adhesive layer. Defect-free normal sheets and defective or defect-containing sheets having predefined length corresponding to the dimension of the liquid-crystal panel are formed on the carrier film by sequentially forming slit lines along the transverse direction with respect to the lengthwise direction of the optical film laminate.
US08414991B2
A conductive endless belt is composed of elastomer polyester with a crystalline melting point at 210° C. or more, or mainly composed of the elastomer polyester, and a thermoplastic polyester-based resin at 49 wt % or less, added a polymer ion conductive agent and a carbon black. The conductive endless belt. satisfies elastic modulus, creep resistance, bending durability, etc. and has decreased volume resistance variation and environment dependency while having superior durability, glossiness and setting performance that satisfying desired performance, without causing problems such as offset image.
US08414988B2
Injection stretch blow molded (ISBM) articles and methods of forming the same are described herein. The ISBM articles generally include a propylene-based impact copolymer.
US08414987B2
A method for improving an adhesion of an adhesive to a cured silicon-containing surface is provided. The method comprises applying a primer composition to the surface before applying the adhesive; and subjecting the surface to a plasma treatment before or after the composition is applied thereto; wherein the primer composition comprises a polar organic solvent, an acrylic monomer, and an amino-containing silane.
US08414986B2
A method of forming a cutting element that includes placing at least one cutting element in an inner surface of at least one hollow tubular member such that at least a portion of the at least one cutting element is exposed; generating plasma within the hollow portion of the tubular; and depositing at least one refractory metal or sp3 carbon-containing coating on an exposed surface of the at least one cutting element is disclosed.
US08414985B2
A plasma deposition apparatus and a method of manufacturing a thin film using the same are disclosed. The method of manufacturing a thin film includes introducing a process gas in a reaction chamber of a plasma deposition device, the reaction chamber including a first electrode and a second electrode. The method further includes applying, by a first power supply unit, a first pulsed RF signal to one of the first and second electrodes, and applying, by a second power supply unit, a second pulsed RF signal to one of the first and second electrodes. The first pulsed RF signal and the second pulsed RF signal are applied based on a predetermined deposition variable.
US08414983B2
The invention relates to a method of aligning reactive mesogens (RM) on a substrate subjected to particle beam treatment, to RM's oriented by said method, especially in form of thin layers, to oriented polymers and polymer films obtained from such oriented RM's and RM layers, and to the use of the RM's, layers, polymers and films in optical, electronic and electrooptical applications.
US08414982B2
The invention relates to a process for the production of strongly adherent coatings on an inorganic or organic substrate, wherein in a first step a) a low-temperature plasma, a corona discharge or a flame is caused to act on the inorganic or organic substrate, in a second step b) one or more defined photoinitiators or mixtures of defined photoinitiators with monomers, containing at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, or solutions, suspensions or emulsions of the afore-mentioned substances, are applied, preferably at normal pressure, to the inorganic or organic substrate, in a third step c) using suitable methods those afore-mentioned substances are dried and/or irradiated with electromagnetic waves and, optionally, in a fourth step d) on the substrate so pretreated is applied a further coating.
US08414973B2
A method for synthesizing carbon nanotubes (CNT) comprises the steps of providing a growth chamber, the growth chamber being heated to a first temperature sufficiently high to facilitate a growth of carbon nanotubes; and passing a substrate through the growth chamber; and introducing a feed gas into the growth chamber pre-heated to a second temperature sufficient to dissociate at least some of the feed gas into at least free carbon radicals to thereby initiate formation of carbon nanotubes onto the substrate.
US08414968B2
An in-line film forming apparatus capable of conveying a carrier at a high speed, increasing the exhaust capability within a film forming chamber, and easily realizing a high vacuum degree in a short time is provided. A conveyor mechanism has a linear motor drive mechanism which drives the carrier in a noncontact state, a horizontal guide mechanism which is provided so as to be able to contact a side portion of the carrier, and guides the carrier driven by the linear motor drive mechanism in a horizontal direction, and a vertical guide mechanism which is provided so as to be able to contact a lower end of the carrier, and guides the carrier driven by the linear motor drive mechanism in the vertical direction.
US08414958B2
What is described is an implant that comprises a coating, at least in areas, in the implanted state in the surface areas that are at least directly in contact with skin and/or soft tissue. The implant is preferably characterized in that the coating comprises both a statin, such as simvastatin, in the hydrolyzed or unhydrolyzed form, or pharmaceutically compatible salts thereof, as well as at least one other component selected from the group consisting of branched or linear, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or partially unsaturated C10-C30 alkyl, alkenyl, alkylaryl, aryl, cycloalkyl, alkylcycloalkyl, alkylcycloaryl amines or mixtures thereof and/or at least one water-soluble ionic polymer component. A method for production such an implant is also described as well as a composition that can be used in such a method.
US08414954B2
The present invention provides intermediate moisture low sugar food doughs fortified with sufficient levels of medium chain length polysaccharides to provide needed dough elasticity for use as intermediate dough products in the commercial preparation of finished packaged consumer food products. The food doughs contain less than 5% (dry weight basis) sugar(s) (mono- and di-saccharides). The food doughs contain about 1%-10% medium chain length polysaccharides having a degree of polymerization ranging from about 200-600. The doughs can range in moisture content from about 15-40%. The doughs maintain sufficient pliability to be sheeted into sheeted doughs having thicknesses ranging from about 0.1 to 0.5 mm in thickness. The sheeted doughs can be used to prepare finished breakfast cereal and snack food products.
US08414951B2
The invention provides methods of purifying Rebaudioside D from the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant extract along with Rebaudioside A. The methods are useful for producing high purity Rebaudioside D and Rehaudioside A. The invention further provides a low-calorie soy sauce containing the purified Rebaudioside D and a process for making the low-calorie soy sauce containing the purified Rebaudioside D.
US08414947B2
The present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical preparation for oral application for treatment of fish, in particular for vaccination of fish of the salmon family and other fish having a comparable digestive system against bacterial and/or viral infections, in particular against VHS and IHN. The invention is also directed to a method for producing the preparation.
US08414937B2
A composition for treating tumors caused by pancreatic, stomach, breast, or liver cancer, leukemia, lung or liver metastasis, and/or arterial aneurysm. The composition comprises in various parts: turtle shell, radix ranunculi ternati, rhizoma dioscoreae bulbiferae, concha arcae, fructus ligustri lucidi, cordyceps sinensis, dwarf lilyturf tuber, Whim brownii, radix astragali, angelica sinensis, radix pseudostellariae, spina date seed, fruit-spike of common selfheal, pericarpium citri reticulatae, costustoot, cape jasmine fruit, radix scrophulariae, radix rehmanniae, rhizoma corydalis, safflower, turmeric root-tuber, cortex moutan, concha ostreae, poria cocoa, herba lysimachiae, the root of red-rooted salvia, isatis indigotica fort, honeysuckle, fructus forsythiae, cortex eucommiae, radix gentianae macrophyllae, radix paeoniae alba, subprostrate sophora, seman platycladi, snakegourd fruit, membrane of chicken gizzard, platycodon grandiflorum, and radix liquiritiae.
US08414929B2
The dried amniotic membrane is produced by drying a fresh amniotic membrane, which envelopes an embryo of an animal including human, and can be used as a substitute membrane for a membrane tissue in a living body; the dried amniotic membrane is dehydrated and dried so that the dried amniotic membrane can be stored in a dry air in a sterile state; when hydrated again by immersing in water or a buffer solution, the amniotic membrane still has an epithelial cell, a basement membrane and a connective tissue which constitute the fresh amniotic membrane. The dried amniotic membrane is useful as a medical substitute membrane for a membrane tissue in a living body such as a dura mater, a meninx, a pericardium, a pleura and a peritoneum.
US08414927B2
Biodegradable cross-linked particles, as well as related compositions and methods, are disclosed.
US08414921B2
Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising fixed-dose combinations of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor and metformin, methods of preparing such pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treating Type 2 diabetes with such pharmaceutical compositions.
US08414919B2
The invention relates to a sustained release formulation for delivering one or more pharmaceutically active agents. The formulation comprises cross-linked high amylose starch and at least one pharmaceutically active agent, and optionally can be subdivided into smaller dosage forms where the smaller dosage forms have substantially the same sustained release properties as the formulation from which they were derived. The formulations can provide sustained release for up to at least 24 hours, and because of their divisability permits a recipient of the active agent or the person administering the active agent to titrate the dosage of the agent.
US08414906B2
The present invention relates to oligoesters and their use for the creation of additives. Oligoester containing additives and/or oligoesters themselves may be used for formulating pharmaceutical preparations, cosmetics or personal care products such as shampoos and conditioners. These oligoesters are particularly useful for the creation of multi-purpose additives that can impart conditioning, long substantivity and/or UV protection. Individual oligoesters and oligoester mixtures are described.
US08414904B2
The present invention refers to an oil-in-water emulsion for ophthalmic application comprising at least one prostaglandin as active agent and a surfactant component comprising a combination of at least two non-ionic surfactants. The emulsion is suitable for medical applications, particularly for the treatment of glaucoma, and has an increased chemical stability of the prostaglandin active agent so to allow long-term storage also at room temperature.
US08414898B2
Described is a novel family of cell surface serpentine transmembrane antigens. Two of the proteins in this family are exclusively or predominantly expressed in the prostate, as well as in prostate cancer, and thus members of this family have been termed “STEAP” (Six Transmembrane Epithelial Antigens of the Prostate). Four particular human STEAPs are described and characterized herein. The prototype member of the STEAP family, STEAP-1, appears to be a type IIIa membrane protein expressed predominantly in prostate cells in normal human tissues. Structurally, STEAP-1 is a 339 amino acid protein characterized by a molecular topology of six transmembrane domains and intracellular N- and C-termini, suggesting that it folds in a “serpentine” manner into three extracellular and two intracellular loops. STEAP-1 protein expression is maintained at high levels across various stages of prostate cancer. Moreover, STEAP-1 is highly over-expressed in certain other human cancers.
US08414895B2
The present invention provides the TWEAK receptor and methods for identifying and using agonists and antagonists of the TWEAK receptor. In particular, the invention provides methods of screening for agonists and antagonists and for treating diseases or conditions mediated by angiogenesis, such as solid tumors and vascular deficiencies of cardiac or peripheral tissue.
US08414893B2
Compositions for treating neurodegenerative or amyloidogenic disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are provided. More particularly, anti-amyloid-beta antibodies, compositions containing such antibodies, corresponding nucleic acids, vectors and host cells, and methods of making such antibodies are provided.
US08414890B2
Isolated human antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, which specifically bind to human RANKL and block hRANKL binding to a RANK receptor, are provided. The antibodies are useful in preventing or treating disorders and/or diseases, which are associated with RANKL/RANK interactions, including bone disorders or cancer.
US08414889B2
Anti-β-1,3-glucan antibodies have been found to be protective against systemic fungal infection with Candida albicans. The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies that bind to β-1,3-glucan, hybridoma cell lines producing the antibodies, compositions comprising the antibodies and methods of using such antibodies for treatment of microbial infections, particularly against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatis infections. The antibodies of the present invention are not specific for β-1,6-glucan.
US08414887B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for use in the treatment of conditions such as septicaemia and septic shock. The invention further provides compositions and methods for the suppression Toll-like Receptor 4 mediated activation of the immune system. The invention further provides screening assays to identify compounds which have utility in the foregoing compositions and methods.
US08414880B2
Photosensitizer mixtures and method of treating cellulites by light illumination are presented. Photosensitizer is combined with cellular products, e.g. adipose cells, collagen, previously removed by liposuction. Concentrations used depend on treatment area, cellulite stage and whether cellulites are in depressed or elevated skin areas. The cosmetic treatment reduces/removes localized lipodystrophies, flaccidity, cellulite using localized laser, LED, etc emissions. Applied light energy destroys “fat” cells by a combination of chemical reactions primarily, and temperature, wherein cell walls break releasing cell fluid. Transmission devices guide radiation to the treatment site. One or more light sources like laser diodes or LEDs may be coupled into one or more optical fibers to increase the covered area and increase the amount of radiation in that area. Optical fibers can be introduced percutaneously or interstitially. Cell fluid in the treatment area is removed by a combination of techniques.
US08414876B2
Methods of treating, inhibiting, or ameliorating an autoinflammatory disorder, disease, or condition in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to a subject in need a therapeutic amount of an interleukin 1 (IL-1) antagonist, wherein the autoinflammatory disorder, disease, or condition is treated, inhibited, or ameliorated. The IL-1 antagonist is a molecule capable of binding and inhibiting IL-1. The therapeutic methods are useful for treating a human adult or child suffering from Neonatal Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disorder (NOMID/CINCA), Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS), Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS), familial mediterranean fever (FMF), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic fever syndrome (TRAPS), or systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (Still's Disease).
US08414874B2
This invention deals with a carboxyl-bearing, amphiphilic, solid copolyester stent coating composition for multifaceted prevention of vascular restenosis through a plurality of physicopharmacological modes. The composition includes one or more bioactive compounds and a copolymerization product of polyalkylene glycol, end-grafted with one or more cyclic monomer and treated further to introduce carboxyl-bearing end- or side-groups. The invention also deals with bioactive agents in an ionically conjugated form. The present coating may be applied to a metallic or an absorbable polymeric stent for use in preventing vascular restenosis.
US08414868B2
In situ foamable dental bleaching compositions include a dental bleaching agent, thickening agent, polyol, and in situ foaming agent. The foamable dental bleaching compositions are initially dispensed as a dental bleaching gel. Upon placement of the dental bleaching gel onto a person's tooth surfaces, the in situ foaming agent causes the bleaching gel to foam. Dental bleaching systems include an in situ foamable dental bleaching composition within a pressurized container (e.g., bag-on valve container) having a nozzle that, when actuated, expels the in situ dental bleaching composition as a gel. Dental bleaching methods include dispensing the in situ foamable dental bleaching composition as a gel, contacting a person's tooth surfaces with the dental bleaching gel, and allowing the gel to expand and foam in order to dynamically distribute and replenish the dental bleaching agent to the tooth surfaces and into the interproximal spaces between teeth.
US08414861B2
Disclosed herein is a carbonized cellulose material having a graphite nanosized surface layer directly carbonized from a cellulose fiber, and a method of synthesizing a carbonized cellulose material having a graphite nanolayer on a surface thereof, including: i) heating a cellulose fiber in a reactor; ii) forming a primary carbonized cellulose while maintaining temperature of the reactor; iii) cooling the formed primary carbonized cellulose; iv) heating the cooled primary carbonized cellulose; v) forming a secondary carbonized cellulose while maintaining temperature of the reactor; vi) cooling the formed secondary carbonized cellulose.
US08414857B2
The invention concerns calcium phosphates in granular form having an x-ray diffraction pattern characteristic of hydroxyapatite and good compressibility and flow properties in direct compression applications. The invention also concerns the method for preparing said granules characterized in that it comprises processing a suspension of brushite dicalcium phosphate having a certain particle-size distribution using a basic solution, and maintaining the pH at not less than 7.0 for a sufficient time interval to enable the transformation of the brushite calcium phosphate into hydroxyapatite calcium phosphate.
US08414850B2
A rectification column and system for the working-up of a vitamin E (VE)- and/or vitamin E acetate (VEA)-containing product stream includes purification of a vitamin E-containing product stream, acetylation of at least a part of the purified vitamin E and purification of at least a part of the acetylated vitamin E, the purification of vitamin E and vitamin E acetate preferably being effected by distillation, for example rectification.
US08414844B2
A portable, lightweight, rugged, easy-to-operate biosensor useful for rapidly detecting cells, viruses, antibodies, and other proteins. A capillary tube has a capture antibody immobilized on its interior surface. The specific capture antibody is selected based upon a desired target analyte to be detected. A sample potentially containing the target antigen is introduced into the capillary tube. Thereafter, a second antibody labeled with a fluorescent dye is introduced. Upon excitation by electromagnetic energy, typically supplied by a laser, the fluorescence of the sample is captured and analyzed. The apparatus is extremely compact and rugged making it ideal for field use. In addition, accurate results may be obtained by relatively unskilled operators directly from a self-contained readout. Optionally, an external device (e.g., a computer) may be connected to the apparatus via an optional interface. The analysis time provided by the biosensor system of the invention is shorter than has heretofore been possible.
US08414837B2
A first porous catalytic layer is provided in an exhaust passage, and a second porous catalytic layer is stacked on the exhaust-gas downstream-side surface of the first layer. The first layer includes an iron-zeolite catalyst to decrease 60% or more of NOx in the exhaust gas within an exhaust gas temperature range of 150-400° C. The second layer includes one or more of a single catalyst, a mixed catalyst, and a complex oxide catalyst selected from iron-alumina, iron-zirconia, iron-ceria, and iron-titania, to decrease 60% or more of NOx in the exhaust gas within an exhaust gas temperature range of 400-700° C. The first and second layers cooperatively exhibit catalytic activity to decrease 70% or more of NOx in the exhaust gas within an exhaust gas temperature range of 150 to 700° C.
US08414834B2
A scent dispersing device for use with an artificial tree having a hollow trunk, the device comprising a disk comprising a container for housing a replaceable fragrance cartridge and an energizable heater in communication with the cartridge. When the heater is energized, the cartridge emits a fragrance through openings in the disk. The invention comprises a motorized fan, such that when the fan operates, air is forced into the hollow trunk and through at least one disk located at the bottom or between sections of the assembled trunk and fragrance is forced through openings in the disk or holes in the trunk. The invention includes a tree stand that houses a fan, lighting, and audio each wired to a control panel and timer connected to an energy source.
US08414832B1
The invention is a chromatography apparatus which comprises at least one capillary column, which has a coil assembly of column material and a small diameter wire coated with an electrically insulating high temperature material encased within a high temperature sheath. The small diameter wire is at least one electrically conductive element co-linear with the column material. Also provided is means for directly resistively heating the at least one capillary column, and means for controlling the temperature of the capillary column. Additionally, the apparatus includes an oxygen gas containing inlet, a hydrogen inlet, an analyte port and a flame region, oxygen delivery means for delivering oxygen through the oxygen inlet to the flame region, a hydrogen and analyte delivery system for delivering hydrogen and analyte to the flame region, and a detector arranged to detect flame emission.
US08414830B2
Disclosed herein is a holder for biological sample containers such as well plates. The holder comprises a flat vacuum bed surrounded by a seal. A container is placed within the seal and a vacuum is applied, pressing and flattening the lower surface of the sample container against the flat vacuum bed. Samples in all portions of the container may then be imaged without the need to refocus on each portion of the container. For imaging, a sample in a well can be illuminated by a beam of light arranged so that a part or all of the sample is illuminated by direct rays that have not passed through the well plate. The beam is redirected to other parts of the well if a single illumination does not cover the whole well, so that the sample is imaged using a series of partial images.
US08414829B2
The invention concerns a diagnostic tape cassette comprising an analytical test tape, a supply spool for winding off unused test tape and a take-up spool for winding used test tape, a housing and a rotational lock for the take-up spool at least against inadvertent unwinding of test tape, wherein the rotational lock comprises one of a locking teeth arrangement, friction elements, and a catch spring and spring latch arrangement.
US08414823B2
The present invention concerns a process for producing a container having at least one layer and a top layer, wherein the layer contains polycarbonate and the top layer contains polyarylethersulfone or polyarylsulfone, characterised in that a) polycarbonate is melted on an extruder at 230-320° C., b) polyarylethersulfone or polyarylsulfone is melted on a further extruder, c) the melts obtained from steps a) and b) are shaped by coextrusion into a tube, which is then enclosed in a mould, d) the extrudate is inflated inside the mould and pressed against the wall of the mould, forming the shape of the container, and e) the container obtained from d) is trimmed and cooled, such containers and the use of the containers as bottles or medical devices.
US08414819B2
During the production of teat rubbers, in particular of teat rubbers containing a high percentage of silicone, pressure is applied when the teat rubber preforms are removed, the radial expansion of teat rubber areas being appropriately limited to a maximum value. Hence, the removal can be executed automatically and at a comparatively high temperature without irreversible damage being caused to the material. The removal process can be supported by an appropriate contact surface whose contour corresponds, at least partially, to the outer contour of the preform. Furthermore, an appropriate removal device is provided.
US08414817B2
The invention relates to a hairbrush (40), bristles (10) for use in a hairbrush, and method for the production of a hairbrush and such bristles. Particularly, the invention discloses a method for producing a brush in which moldable material is placed in a multi-part, separatable mold tool and a bristle is produced having a bristle foot (16) and a bristle shaft (14), wherein a bristle shaft blank (12) is molded using a first molding jaw (30), wherein moldable material is placed in a mold hollow space (36) of the first molding jaw and removed from the mold hollow space of the first molding jaw, wherein the mold hollow space of the first molding jaw is maintained and the bristle foot is molded in a second molding jaw (32) and a third molding jaw (34), wherein the second and third molding jaws together form a second mold hollow space (38), the shape of which substantially corresponds to the shape of the bristle foot to be formed, and the second mold hollow space is filled with the moldable material and the first and second molding jaws are separated.
US08414816B2
A culm block and a method of manufacture are disclosed. The culm block comprises a plurality of straw stalks forming a first rigid wall and a second rigid wall as a result of an application of heat and pressure to the same and the inherent bonding agent found in the straw stalks. Preferably, the culm block further comprises a plurality of through-holes for receiving structural reinforcements or otherwise and a restraining device wrapped about the block for added structural support.
US08414815B2
Described herein is a method forming a belt suitable for use with an image forming system. The method includes coating a composition of a polyimide, a phosphate ester and a solvent onto an outer surface of a rotating metal belt, and subsequently curing and releasing the composition from the metal belt.
US08414807B2
The invention relates to a method for producing continuous chopped, coarse, staple inorganic fibers from such natural minerals and rocks as sand, quartz, reduced quartz sand stone and quartzite. The inventive method consists in melting silicon-based stone, which is used in the form of a raw material, at a temperature of 1750-1850° C., the melt being homogenated and stabilized at said temperature, in forming a decompression zone on the path of the melt flow to the discharge orifice die, in which the melt flow is shaped in the form of a strip with a thickness of 3-20 mm, and in passing said strip through the decompression zone at a speed V=(7 . . . 9)10−4 m/s. The air pressure in the decompression zone above the melt flow is maintained within a range of 0.10-0.30 Pa. The inventive device comprises a furnace for producing melt, a feeder, at the output of which a transfer chamber is mounted, a discharge orifice, a stream feeder assembly and a fiber producing mechanism. A homogenizer in the form of two cylinders, which are vertically and coaxially arranged with a gap one inside the other, is situated between the furnace and the feeder. A vertical baffle for producing a melt flow in the form of a strip is placed in the external cylinder. A clarifying chamber is provided with a unit for forming vacuum in the cavity thereof. Said invention makes it possible to increase the strength and chemical resistance of produced fibers by providing conditions for reducing the number of foreign, in particular, gaseous inclusions.
US08414802B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a polarizing eyeglass lens comprising forming an orientation layer on a substrate, sliding a rubbing member across the orientation layer in a state of contact with the orientation layer to form curved rubbing traces on a surface of the orientation layer, forming a polarizing layer by depositing and orienting a dichroic dye on the orientation layer, and subjecting the polarizing layer to a treatment of immobilizing the dichroic dye in the polarizing layer.
US08414799B2
A method for manufacturing graphene is disclosed, which comprises the following steps: putting graphite material and an organic solvent, a surfactant, or a combination thereof in a reaction tank and introducing a supercritical fluid in the reaction tank to allow the organic solvent, the surfactant, or the combination thereof to dissolve in the supercritical fluid and to permeate into the graphite material; and removing the supercritical fluid by depressurization to form graphene. The method of the present invention has simple steps and reduced consumption of manufacturing time, and also can promote the quality of the resultant graphene in large-scale manufacturing.
US08414798B2
Embodiments of a process for producing syngas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a gas stream comprising methane are provided. The process comprises the step of contacting the gas stream with a two-component catalyst system comprising an apatite component and a perovskite component at reaction conditions effective to convert the methane to the syngas.
US08414795B2
The embodiment provides a red light-emitting fluorescent substance represented by the following formula (1): (M1-xECx)aM1bAlOcNd (1). In the formula (1), M is an element selected from the group consisting of IA group elements, IIA group elements, IIIA group elements, IIIB group elements, rare earth elements and IVA group elements; EC is an element selected from the group consisting of Eu, Ce, Mn, Tb, Yb, Dy, Sm, Tm, Pr, Nd, Pm, Ho, Er, Cr, Sn, Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, Sb, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi and Fe; M1 is different from M and is selected from the group consisting of tetravalent elements; and x, a, b, c and d are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0
US08414760B2
The present invention is based on the discovery of NAD+ and NADP+ mediator compounds that do not bind irreversibly to thiol groups in the active sites of intracellular dehydrogenase enzymes. Such mediator compounds avoid a common mode of enzyme inhibition. The mediators can therefore increase the stability and reliability of the electrical response in amperometric electrodes constructed from NAD- or NADP-dependent enzymes.
US08414756B2
A vertical electrostatic coalescer comprises a first and second electrode surface and a horizontally disposed foraminous surface. The first electrode surface and horizontally disposed foraminous surface are at ground potential. The first and second electrode surfaces share the same planar orientation relative to the central longitudinal axis of the vessel. The unique arrangement of the vessel and opposing pairs of first and second electrode surfaces provides for a substantially uniform voltage field around a perimeter of the vessel and an effective voltage field for coalescence within a center of the vessel. A circular-shaped distributor pipe or a distributor housing serves to absorb momentum of the incoming emulsion stream and distribute the stream into an interior of the vessel.
US08414749B2
A small diameter flexible electrode designed for subcutaneous in vivo amperometric monitoring of glucose is described. The electrode is designed to allow “one-point” in vivo calibration, i.e., to have zero output current at zero glucose concentration, even in the presence of other electroreactive species of serum or blood. The electrode is preferably layered, with the layers serially deposited within a recess upon the tip of a polyamide insulated gold wire. A first glucose concentration-to-current transducing layer can be overcoated with an electrically insulating and glucose flux limiting layer (second layer) on which, optionally, an immobilized interference-eliminating horseradish peroxidase based film is deposited. An outer layer is preferably biocompatible.
US08414743B2
A method and a device for the thermal decomposition of an initial material, in particular, for the decomposition of meat and bone meal, oil sludges, for example, from cleaning tankers, autofluff (also called autofluffy), basic glycerin, for example, from biodiesel production, paint sludges from paint shops, contaminated soils, coated wood, and plastics such as plexiglass. According to the present method, organic initial materials are thermally decomposed very completely in nearly all cases. The very complete decomposition is achieved by adding foreign particles such as metal spheres to the initial material which is being thermally decomposed.
US08414742B2
The invention relates to a clothing especially a press felt for a paper, cardboard or tissue machine with a nonwoven structure comprising staple fibers and which provides the paper and running side of the clothing and with a base structure which is embedded into the nonwoven structure, whereby the base structure comprises a warp knit structure which has sewing threads and reinforcing threads extending lengthways parallel to each other and which have a greater flexural strength than the sewing threads, whereby the sewing threads form loops into which the reinforcing threads are tied thereby forming the warp knit structure. The invention is characterized in that an intermediate layer is arranged at the warp knit structure which is connected with the reinforcing threads by way of the sewing threads.
US08414733B2
The present invention has an object to provide a photosensitive resin composition for optical waveguide formation, which has low transmission loss and can form a waveguide pattern with high shape accuracy at low cost; an optical waveguide; and a method for producing an optical waveguide. The present invention provides a photosensitive resin composition for optical waveguide formation comprising at least: a polymer containing at least a (meth)acrylate structure unit having an epoxy structure, and a (meth)acrylate structure unit having a lactone structure and/or a vinyl monomer structure unit having an aromatic structure; and a photoacid generator, of which one or both of a core layer and a cladding layer are formed of a cured product.
US08414725B2
Disclosed is a method of fabricating and apparatus of a flat plate display that is able to separate a substrate and an imprinting mold from each other with a relatively small force. The fabricating apparatus of a flat plate display includes an imprinting mold which is boned with a substrate to form a thin film pattern on the substrate, the imprinting mold comprising projections and grooves; and a movable separation part configured to rotatably move from a one side toward the other side of the imprinting mold to vacuum-absorb the imprinting mold.
US08414723B2
The invention relates to a method for protecting the untrimmed edge of paperboard or paper (1), in which method the untrimmed edge (4) of two adjacent paperboards or papers are protected and attached abuttingly together by sealing a separate profile (3) on both sides of the abutment of the edges (4) by means of ultrasound.
US08414722B2
An apparatus for welding a synthetic strip to a roofing membrane that is attached to a roofing construct, the synthetic strip having a central raised portion that extends along the longitudinal length of the synthetic strip, the synthetic strip having flanges extending widthwise from the central raised portion, and the synthetic strip having a substantially planar underside portion, the apparatus having a self-propelled housing having a drive wheel for movably supporting the housing on the membrane; a first guide-wheel element mounted to the housing and positioned in or underneath the housing and the first guide-wheel element having a peripheral channel adapted to engage and receive the underside flat-planar portion of the synthetic strip and guide the synthetic strip, wherein the guide-wheel receiving channel has a channel width adapted to receive the total width of the synthetic strip.
US08414710B2
A method for a surface treatment of a metal material, which comprises subjecting a metal material such as an Fe alloy, a Ni alloy and an Al alloy to a heat treatment in the presence of an amino-based resin such as a melamine-formaldehyde resin. The amino-based resin can be caused to be present with the metal material by a method wherein the resin is applied on the surface of the metal material, directly or via a solvent such as water, or wherein the amino-based resin is placed in a container, and the container and the metal material are placed in a heat treatment furnace. The above heat treatment allows a passivated film to disappear from the metal material. Further, a subsequent elevation of temperature and the supply a nitriding gas allows the performance of a nitriding treatment being several times more effective than a conventional treatment, and a subsequent supply of a carburizing agent allows the performance of a carburizing treatment.
US08414709B2
The present invention is aimed at providing a method for producing an NdFeB sintered magnet having a higher coercivity and higher squareness of the magnetization curve than ever before. A method for producing an NdFeB sintered magnet according to the present invention includes the steps of forming a layer containing Dy and/or Tb on the surface of an NdFeB sintered magnet base material and then performing a grain boundary diffusion process for diffusing Dy and/or Tb from the aforementioned layer through the crystal grain boundaries of the magnet base material into the magnet base material by heating the magnet base material to a temperature equal to or lower than the sintering temperature thereof, and this method is characterized in that a) the content of a rare earth in a metallic state in the magnet base material is equal to or higher than 12.7 at %; b) the aforementioned layer is a powder layer formed by depositing a powder; and c) the powder layer contains Dy and/or Tb in a metallic state by an amount equal to or higher than 50 mass %.
US08414703B2
An integrated processing tool is described comprising a full-wafer processing module and a combinatorial processing module. Chemicals for use in the combinatorial processing module are fed from a delivery system including a set of first manifolds. An output of each first manifold is coupled to at least one mixing vessel. An output of each mixing vessel feeds more than one of a set of second manifolds. An output of each set of second manifolds feeds one of multiple site-isolated reactors of the combinatorial processing module.
US08414698B2
The present invention relates to a pigment/auxiliary combination having an improved chroma and/or relative color strength, to its production and to its use.
US08414688B1
A purging apparatus for a storage chamber is disclosed. The purging apparatus is configured for establishing a purge gas flow through the storage chamber. The purging apparatus may include a gas purifier and a particle filter. The gas purifier may provide a purge gas to the storage chamber. The purge gas may flow through the storage chamber, and a mixture of the purge gas and potential contaminants may subsequently exit the storage chamber as exhaust gas. The particle filter may receive and filter the exhaust gas. The filtered gas may be provided to the gas purifier for purification and recirculation. The gas purifier may purify the filtered gas by substantially removing at least one of: an acid, a base, an organic compound, water or oxygen from the filtered gas. The purified filtered gas may then be recirculated and provided to the storage chamber as the purge gas.
US08414685B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for removing dissolved gas from makeup water in a water-cooled nuclear reactor. The present invention includes a storage tank for containing the makeup water that includes the dissolved gas, a membrane system positioned downstream of the storage tank to at least partially remove the dissolved gas from the makeup water; and a transport mechanism to transfer the makeup water from an outlet of the membrane system for use in the water-cooled nuclear reactor. The dissolved gas can include at least one of dissolved oxygen, dissolved nitrogen, dissolved argon and mixtures thereof.
US08414683B2
The present invention provides a membrane/amine column system and process for removing acid gases from natural gas on a floating liquefied natural gas vessel. Several process configurations are provided to deal with a reduction in the effectiveness of the amine column by increasing the amount of acid gases being removed by the membrane system prior to the natural gas being sent to the amine column.
US08414682B2
An inline water trap including a filter component and a panel connector configured to interface with a patient gas monitor. In one embodiment the inline water trap indicates to the patient gas monitor that it is in place and that the patient gas monitor may begin intaking and analyzing the filtered patient sample. The inline water trap receives a patient sample and filters water and contaminants from the sample before allowing the remaining gas portion of the sample to pass through to the patient gas monitor, thereby protecting the patient gas monitor from damage. One embodiment of the inline water trap additionally contains an RFID tag to indicate to the patient gas monitor that the correct type of inline water trap is engaged.
US08414681B2
A system includes an air separation unit configured to separate air into an oxygen rich stream and a nitrogen rich stream and a purity control system configured to receive input indicative of a target diluent level. The purity control system is configured to control the air separation unit to adjust an oxygen percentage and a nitrogen percentage of the oxygen rich stream based on the target diluent level.
US08414668B2
In a coal gasification furnace adapted to feed pulverized coal thereinto by the use of inert carrier gas and gasify the same, any startup burner can be unnecessitated thereby eliminating any startup combustion chamber. Further, even in the use of a startup burner, it is smaller and lighter in weight than conventional startup burners, allowing the startup combustion chamber to be compact and limiting the height of the entirety of the gasification furnace. As a characteristic feature, a pulverized coal fuel supply passageway (23) to a combustor burner (9) is provided at its midstream portion with a startup gas supply passageway (29) for supply of a startup combustible gas (NG1). After reaching of the temperature of the furnace interior to a first temperature (T1) allowing ignition of pulverized coal with reference to a detected value from furnace interior temperature detecting means (41), transition to combustion by the pulverized coal and carrier gas is effected by increasing the input rate of pulverized coal and carrier gas while decreasing the supply rate of combustible gas (NG1) from the startup gas supply passageway (29).
US08414664B2
Algae-derived synthetic coal and filtrates. The invention described herein provides an algae-derived synthetic coal product and filtrates and process for preparing the same using an improved hydrothermal carbonization process. The synthetic coal product is similar to natural bituminous coal in terms of percent carbon content and energy equivalency while at the same time containing relatively low levels of sulfur and contaminant heavy metals. Unlike natural coal and other fossil fuels, because the carbon of the biomass is formed through photosynthesis, carbon dioxide formed during combustion is a “carbon neutral” event with little or no “new” carbon dioxide being added to the earth's atmosphere. The algae-derived filtrates contain useful constituents.
US08414661B2
The present invention relates to new compositions comprising compounds, which are molecular combinations of a phthalocyanine and a mono-azo dyestuff linked via specific linking groups. Further aspects are an improved shading process for textile materials and also use of these shading compositions for shading textiles.
US08414659B2
An antibacterial composition including silver nano particles, a protective agent and water is provided. The molar ratio of the silver nano particles to the protective agent is 1:0.995-1 and the protective agent is selected from a group consisting of MCl, MBr, MI, MS2O3 and NH4OH, in which M represents an element of group IA or IIA. Furthermore, two methods of fabricating an antibacterial textile are also provided.
US08414658B2
An upper extremity prosthetic device is provided that comprises three main components, namely, an arm cuff, a forearm section and a distal connector. The arm cuff is adjustable to accommodate lower arms of different sizes. The forearm section may be constructed in certain limited sizes to accommodate different sized forearm residual limbs. The distal connector is designed to connect to any of the forearm section configurations, and the distal connector enables any terminal device to be attached to the connector. The components may be mixed and matched in various combinations to fit the physical dimensions of virtually any amputee. The interchangeable parts will accommodate a wide range of residual limb geometries, overall sizes and lengths. Embodiments of the present invention minimize the need for time and resource-intensive customized fitting and create an affordable, relatively low-cost prosthetic interface.
US08414650B2
A composite interbody device includes superior and inferior endplates with a plastic core molded therebetween. The core includes one or more features for permitting bone growth through the core. Each endplate includes a bone interface side coated with hydroxyapatite, for promoting bone on-growth. Pores in the bone interface sides permit bone in-growth. Core interface sides of the endplates include relatively larger pores for accepting molten material from the core, for example during injection molding, to enhance bonding of the endplates with the core. Each endplate has a central barrier layer for preventing the molten core material from extruding through the core interface pores into the bone interface pores, reserving the bone interface pores for bone in-growth. A method of manufacturing the composite interbody device is also disclosed.
US08414649B1
An artificial spinal implant for placement between adjacent vertebrae to replace disk material and to stabilize the involved vertebrae is described. The artificial disk may be disassembled for installation and/or removal for repair, replacement or adjustment, and may be assembled from the front of the spine as individual component parts, thereby permitting alignment of the spine during the assembly process, and the stabilization of the involved vertebrae once assembly has been completed. Further, the components may be chosen from a set of similar components having different sizes, thereby enabling the implant to be tailor fit to the requirements of the patient.
US08414647B2
A soft tissue fixation system, most typically applicable to orthopedic joint repairs, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee repair procedures, comprises an implant which is placeable in a tunnel disposed in a portion of bone, wherein the tunnel is defined by walls comprised of bone. A first member is deployable outwardly to engage the tunnel walls for anchoring the implant in place in the tunnel, and a second member is deployable outwardly to engage tissue material to be fixed within the tunnel. The second member also functions to move the tissue material outwardly into contact with the tunnel walls to promote tendon-bone fixation. Extra graft length is eliminated by compression of the tendon against the bone at the aperture of the femoral tunnel, which more closely replicates the native ACL and increases graft stiffness. The inventive device provides high fixation of tendon to bone and active tendon-bone compression. Graft strength has been found to be greater than 1,000 N (Newtons), which is desirable for ACL reconstruction systems.
US08414645B2
Delivery devices and methods for percutaneously delivering a prosthetic valve to the heart of a patient. These prosthetic valves may be configured to provide complimentary features that promote optimal placement of the prosthetic valve in a native heart valve, such as the aortic valve, mitral valve, pulmonic valve, and/or tricuspid valve. The delivery device includes a release sheath assembly housed within an outer delivery sheath. A release sheath component of the assembly captures a portion of the prosthetic valve to the delivery device, and effectuates complete release of the prosthetic valve with retraction of the outer sheath.
US08414640B2
A stent or stent-graft delivery system includes a stent ejection component. The stent ejection component includes a body and an ejection collar. The ejection collar extends from the body in the proximal direction. The ejection collar assists in automatically ejecting a proximal end of a stent when the tapered tip is moved in the distal direction to deploy the stent. A stent or stent-graft delivery system may also include a retain-sleeve landing component. The retaining-sleeve landing component includes a body and a landing collar. The landing collar extends from the body in a distal direction. The landing collar automatically captures a tapered tip of the delivery system when the tapered tip is moved in a distal direction to deploy a stent contained in the delivery system. Upon capture of the tapered tip, the stent ejection component with the tapered tip attached has an atraumatic profile.
US08414638B2
Polymer stents with break-away links and methods of forming the links for improved stent retention on an expandable member during delivery are disclosed.
US08414634B2
An elongate medical body for implanting an embolic coil at a desired position, or retrieving an embolic coil from an aneurysm, includes a flexible wire main body, and an electromagnet provided at a distal end portion of the wire main body. The electromagnet can generate a magnetic field at the distal end portion. An energization state of the electromagnet is switched to attach and detach a spiral embolic coil having a magnetically attractable proximal end portion to and from the distal end portion.
US08414628B2
A bone screw and method of inserting a bone screw into a bone is disclosed. In one example, the bone screw includes a tip segment for creating a starter hole in the bone. A pilot segment is located proximally of the tip segment for creating a pilot hole in the bone after creation of the starter hole. A threaded segment is located proximally of the pilot segment for fixedly securing the bone screw in the bone. A head is located proximally of the threaded segment for allowing a surgical rod to be fixedly secured to the bone screw.
US08414623B2
A connector for connecting together elongated members in a side-by-side arrangement. The connector includes a first receptacle for connecting to the first elongated member, and a second receptacle for connecting to the second elongated member. The angular position of the second receptacle may be adjustable relative to the first receptacle to accommodate the elongated members. Further, the connector may be configured to extend between the elongated members and the patient when the connector is implanted in a patient.
US08414620B2
Systems and methods are provided for spinal stabilization with flexible elements and other elements engaged to the vertebrae. Also provided are instruments and methods for insertion of the flexible stabilization elements and other elements and for reduction of displacement between adjacent vertebrae in a minimally invasive surgical approach.
US08414613B2
The invention pertains to medical devices for anchoring a suture engaged with soft tissue to a bone, the devices including tissue fastening medical devices, bone anchor medical devices, bone anchor driving tools and impactor tools, and procedures for using the same.
US08414607B1
The present invention relates generally to the field of micro-scale or millimeter scale devices and to the use of multi-layer multi-material electrochemical fabrication methods for producing such devices with particular embodiments relate to shredding devices and more particularly to shredding devices for use in medical applications. In some embodiments, tissue removal devices include tissue anchoring projections, improved blade configurations, and/or shields or shrouds around the cutting blades to inhibit outflow of tissue that has been brought into the device.
US08414606B2
Instrument and method for removing material from an intervertebral disc. The instrument includes outer and inner tubular members. The outer tubular member defines a passage and a cutting window. The inner tubular member is coaxially disposed within the passage, and defines a central lumen and a cutting tip. The cutting tip forms an open mouth having a plurality of teeth. Upon assembly, the cutting tip is exposed within the cutting window combining to define a shaving head. A manual decorticating implement is coupled to the outer tubular member and defining a scraping surface. A powered handpiece is coupled to the inner tubular member, and the shaving head is inserted into an intervertebral disc and positioned such that the cutting tip contacts targeted material (e.g., nucleus, annulus and/or end plate). The handpiece is activated to rotate the cutting tip relative to the cutting window. Contacted material is sheared between an edge of the cutting window and the teeth of the cutting tip. The manual decorticating implement is used to remove intervertebral disc material from an end plate.
US08414601B2
A flat implant, particularly a hernia mesh, has the form of a textile net having an opening and made from non-resorbable monofilament yarns. The net includes yarns of different thicknesses which run parallel to each other.
US08414600B2
The present invention involves new interventional methods for reducing gastric volume, and thereby treating obesity. The procedures are generally performed laparoscopically and may generally be described as laparoscopic plication gastroplasty (LPG) in which, after obtaining abdominal access, spaced apart sites on a gastric wall are engaged, approximated and fastened to create one or more tissue folds forming one or more plications projecting into the gastrointestinal space. The serosal tissue may optionally be treated during the procedure to promote the formation of a strong serosa-to-serosa bond that ensures the long-term stability of the tissue plication. These procedures are preferably carried out entirely extragastrically (i.e. without penetrating through the gastrointestinal wall), thereby minimizing the risks of serious complications.
US08414598B2
A robotic medical system comprises a catheter having an elongated shaft with a plurality of flexible segments spaced apart along the catheter, and a drive unit coupled to the catheter. The catheter may have a plurality of cables respectively terminating at the flexible segments, in which case, the drive unit will be coupled to the plurality of cables. The robotic medical system further comprises a user interface remote from the drive unit and configured for generating at least one command, and an electric controller configured, in response to the command(s), for directing the drive unit to independently bend the flexible segments (e.g., three flexible segments).
US08414596B2
A tissue retrieval device includes an introducer tube and a tissue retrieval bag. The introducer tube is insertable into a patient through a trocar. The bag may be selectively exposed at the distal end of the introducer tube, receive a tissue specimen, and be withdrawn from the patient. The bag includes a plurality of folds allowing the bag to transition from a folded configuration to an unfolded configuration. The folds may extend along a length of the bag transverse to the introducer tube; or along a length of the bag parallel to the introducer tube. The folds may extend about a perimeter of the bag, such as a circumference of the bag, and may be spaced apart along a length of the bag transverse to the introducer tube. The folds may be formed by petals that provide the bag with a generally spherical configuration when the bag is unfolded.
US08414591B2
Surgical guiding tools for surgery on a bone head which include a cutting component, a guiding component and a collar having a patient-specific component are disclosed. The surgical guiding tools are interconnected which ensures secure and accurate placement of the guiding tool and thus guarantees accurate implementation of the pre-operative planning of the surgical intervention.
US08414586B2
An instrument for removing tissue from a bone to create a cavity which is approximately circular in outline in which tissue within a predetermined region within the circular outline is left relatively undisturbed. The instrument includes a rotational drive unit which oscillates through an angle α. A cutting head can be connected to the drive unit to cause the head to rotate.
US08414585B2
A flexible trephine includes a flexible section that is formed of a spring member. The trephine is tubular and includes a central passage so that the trephine can coaxially fit over a longitudinal implant while force is applied to the trephine. The trephine has an annular cutting head for removing bone that surrounds the implant, so that the implant can be removed. The trephine is urged in the longitudinal direction of the implant while fitted coaxially on the implant so that the implant can be separated from the bone. The flexible section of the trephine allows the trephine to conform to and follow a bowed implant. The cutting head can include multiple teeth or a single osteotome.
US08414584B2
An intramedullary fixation device having a distal section; a proximal section; a connecting member for adjustably securing the distal and proximal sections end to end along a longitudinal axis; means for securing the proximal section to a first bone; and means for securing the distal section to a least one different bone. The connecting member is rotated to provide compression across a bone arthrodesis site to be stabilized and fused. Also described is a method of utilizing the intramedullary fixation device with an outrigger assembly.
US08414583B2
The invention relates to an intramedullary implant for use between two bones or two bone fragments. The implant includes a single-piece body having a generally elongate shape and having, at each end, areas for anchoring to the bone portions in question, characterized in that one of said areas has a generally cylindrical shape while the other area has a flat cross-section.
US08414581B2
An apparatus and method for fixing a patient's jaw by using arcuate arch bars which are fastened to both the upper and lower teeth using a plurality of zip ties. The arch bars are provided with bores and zip ties are passed through these bores and fastened to the patient's teeth. Each arch bar is provided with interarch receptacles which receive and engage a zip tie. The receptacles are rotatable and are generally aligned between the upper and lower arch bars. Additional zip ties with opposed teeth are passed through the upper and lower pairs of arch bar receptacles and tightened to fix the lower jar to the upper jaw.
US08414557B2
A modular external infusion device that controls the rate a fluid is infused into an individual's body, which includes a first module and a second module. More particularly, the first module may be a pumping module that delivers a fluid, such as a medication, to a patient while the second module may be a programming module that allows a user to select pump flow commands. The second module is removably attachable to the first module.
US08414556B2
A medicament transport system includes a syringe adapter assembly; and a vial adapter assembly including a base defining an opening having a seal member disposed therewithin, a stem extending from the base and defining a lumen therethrough and an opening through a wall thereof, a needle shuttle valve slidably disposed within the lumen of the stem and supporting a transfer needle and a vacuum needle; and a vacuum cup slidably supported on the stem, wherein a vacuum chamber is defined in the space between the base, the stem and the vacuum cup. The medicament transport system includes a condition where the transfer needle and the vacuum needles penetrate the seal member of the vial adapter assembly, and the vacuum cup is moved to draw a vacuum through the vacuum needle. An automation system is provided that utilizes a medicament transport system for forming a medicament solution from a liquid/non-liquid solution.
US08414552B2
A pressure bandage includes a banding porting, at least one infiltration and at least one fixing member. The banding portion includes at least one recession formed in one side of the banding portion, at least one tube having first and second ends, and at least one check valve mounted in the second end of the tube. The first end of the tube is connected to the recession. The infiltration is coupled on the inner surface of the recession of the banding portion. The fixing member fixes the banding portion to a treatment part.
US08414550B2
One aspect of the invention is a method to vent gas from a body cavity during an endoscopic procedure. A body cavity is in fluid communication with an exhaust gas inlet of a vacuum break device. The vacuum break device has a chamber in fluid communication with both the inlet and an outlet. The chamber may comprise one or more openings in fluid communication with the atmosphere. A conduit in fluid communication with the exhaust gas outlet may be connected directly or indirectly to a suction source. The suction source may be activated.
US08414544B2
A bronchotracheal access valve for a bronchoaspiration apparatus. The valve is characterized in that the rotation of a second member in a given direction with respect to a first member moves the valve from a configuration in which a conduit communicates hydraulically with a sleeve, to a configuration in which the conduit communicates hydraulically with a flush conduit via a duct and a channel to flush an end portion of a catheter.
US08414539B1
A needle tip protective device for use with percutaneous entry needles. In one embodiment, the needle tip protective device includes a needle guard slidably mounted on a hypodermic needle, the latter having a needle tip located at the distal end thereof, and a change of profile formed medially there along. The needle guard is movable along the hypodermic needle and engageable with the change in profile formed thereon. The engagement with the change in profile is configured to correspond with the ability of the needle trap to entrap the needle tip once the needle trap has advanced the sufficient distance distally along the hypodermic needle. In further refinements, the needle trap may be biased toward the distal needle tip of the needle.
US08414525B2
The invention relates to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a tissue. The medical device has a layer overlying the exterior surface of the medical device. The layer contains a therapeutic agent and an additive. In certain embodiments, the additive has a hydrophilic part and a drug affinity part, wherein the drug affinity part is at least one of a hydrophobic part, a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by hydrogen bonding, and a part that has an affinity to the therapeutic agent by van der Waals interactions. In embodiments, the additive is water-soluble. In further embodiments, the additive is at least one of a surfactant and a chemical compound, and the chemical compound has a molecular weight of from 80 to 750 or has more than four hydroxyl groups.
US08414521B2
Irrigation and/or aspiration devices and methods may be configured to aspirate and irrigate alone, sequentially, or concurrently. The devices and methods may provide a base with a removable head, and adapted for partial or complete separation of the irrigation and aspiration functions. The devices and methods can be configured to aspirate and/or irrigate the nasal and sinus cavities. The devices and methods may be manually and/or automatically controlled. The devices and methods may include removable, and/or replaceable, and/or refillable, and easily cleanable reservoirs for aspirant and irrigant. The device head and/or aspirant reservoir may comprise a diagnostic device, i.e., test device and/or container after use of the devices and methods.
US08414520B2
A device comprising: a gas insufflation device (1), a first duct (2) for supplying gas to a member insertable (3) in a cavity of an individual, wherein the first duct (2) comprises a by-pass (21) for evacuating excess gas towards the exterior. The insertable member (3) has three passages and comprises a first mouth (31) at its rear end for coupling the first duct (2) to a passage (32) having an exit mouth (33), a second mouth (34) for coupling an effluent evacuation duct (5) to a passage (35) having an entrance mouth (36), and a third mouth (37) for connecting inflating means (6) of an expandable ring-shaped element (30) with a passage (38) having an exit mouth (39) to the expandable ring-shaped element (30) disposed before the mouths (33, 36).
US08414506B2
Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip designs including coiled safety/shaping structures are also disclosed.
US08414505B1
An apparatus for performing medical procedures on an anatomical body includes an extension with an element near its distal end to be extended into the body, and a driver that moves the extension axially into the body, and that causes flexure of the distal end of the extension. The movement and flexure of the extension is driven by the driver from the proximal end of the extension, and an electronic controller directs the operation of the driver.
US08414493B2
Gain is adjusted automatically in ultrasound imaging. The average of signals regardless of type of reflector (e.g., tissue or fluid) is determined, such as from all data in a frame of data representing a scanned region. The gain is set based on the difference between the average and the target. The gain offset is used with or without other gain limitations for analog, digital, or both analog and digital amplifiers. Given less computational expense, a same processor performing image processing functions may be used to also determine gain. A handheld ultrasound scanner with less computation bandwidth may implement the automatic gain adjustment. Given limited space for input devices, a depth gain may be provided without sliders or other depth based gain input.
US08414487B2
A wound retractor for retracting a surgical incision includes an inner ring, an outer ring and a distensible sleeve coupled to the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes at least a pair of circular tubes coupled to each other. At least one of the circular tubes includes a lumen and a split that forms open ends. A noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein is positioned in the lumen. The tubular hoop is oriented with its open ends positioned away from the split of the circular tubes. A core is positioned in the lumen of the tubular hoop. The core has a first end and a second end and is oriented with the ends positioned away from the split in the tubular hoop. The circular tubes may be parallel or may form a helical pattern similar to a Mobius strip.
US08414485B2
A surgical access apparatus includes an access member defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passageway for reception and passage of a surgical object and an access housing mountable to the access member. The access housing includes a diaphragm mounted thereto. The diaphragm is adapted for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis relative to the access housing. The diaphragm defines at least one internal pocket and has a seal assembly disposed within the internal pocket. The seal assembly has an interface seal member adapted for establishing a fluid tight seal about the surgical object. The seal assembly is adapted for selective movement within the pocket about multiple axes in response to manipulation of the surgical object.
US08414483B2
Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgical access device to be securely positioned within an opening in tissue to provide access to a body cavity underlying the tissue. An actuator can be rotatably disposed on or in a housing of a surgical access device such that rotation of the actuator relative to the housing is effective to move a cannula of the surgical access device between an insertion configuration in which the cannula has a reduced profile enabling it to easily be inserted into a tissue opening, and an expanded profile enabling it to form an anchor against and/or within the tissue opening.
US08414481B2
A laryngoscope includes an arm and a handle. The arm is configurable between at least a first and a second position. A first blade sheath secures over the arm in the first position and a second blade sheath secures over the arm in the second position. A method of configuring a laryngoscope includes configuring a laryngoscope arm into a first position or a second position and securing a selected blade sheath to the arm.
US08414477B2
A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway comprising providing a system comprising a plurality of concentric telescoping shafts; visualization apparatus disposed within the telescoping shafts; and a helical thread disposed on the exterior of the telescoping shafts, the helical threads having a sufficient structural integrity and surface profile such that when the telescoping shafts are disposed in the passageway, rotation of the telescoping shafts induces a relative movement between the telescoping shafts and the passageway; wherein the telescoping shafts are configured to be selectively coupled together and de-coupled from one another; inserting the system into the passageway; rotating the telescoping shafts so as to draw the passageway onto the telescoping shafts in a pleating fashion; de-coupling the telescoping shafts; rotating the innermost telescoping shaft so as to draw the passageway onto the innermost telescoping shaft in a pleating fashion; and visualizing the interior of the passageway.
US08414474B2
An endoscope apparatus is disclosed, which includes a tube body, a cover, a first image capture module, a second image capture module and a connecting tube. The first image capture module captures an image with a first view, and the second image capture module captures an image with a second view. A first flexible printed circuit board (PCB) is disposed inside the tube body, and a second flexible PCB is disposed inside the connecting tube. The connecting tube is connected with the tube body via the connecting between the first flexible PCB and the second flexible PCB, so as to transmit the images captured by the first image capture module or the second image capture module.
US08414470B2
An endoscope device comprises a replaceable endoscope probe, a carriage for holding the endoscope probe, a zoom unit, a tilting unit, and a rotation unit. Preferably, the tilting unit comprises a telescopic arm which is extendable and retractable along an arcuate path, the telescopic arm includes two rigid arcuate members which are telescopically slidable relative to each other, wherein the tilting device is rotatable about an axis of rotation which passes through the fixed point, so that the telescopic arm is movable in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
US08414469B2
A medical robotic system includes an entry guide with articulatable instruments extending out of its distal end, an entry guide manipulator providing controllable four degrees-of-freedom movement of the entry guide, and a controller configured to limit joint velocities in the entry guide manipulator so as to prevent movement of tips of the articulatable instruments from exceeding a maximum allowable linear velocity when the entry guide manipulator is being used to move the entry guide.
US08414463B2
An anvil device (1) for a fitment applicator is described, where the anvil device (1) includes one or more arms (2), where each arm is equipped with a carrier (5) for the positioning of a closure (22) against a contact surface (6) for co-operation with a welding head (21) during fixation of a closure to a cartoon, where the carrier (5) and the contact surface (6) are aligned on a contact device (4) which is adjustably fastened to the anvil device (1).
US08414457B2
When it is determined to perform nth to (n+1)th coast downshift during nth to (n+1)th power-off upshift, an ECU starts increasing control to increase the hydraulic pressure of an engage-side element A in a predetermined mode and maintains the hydraulic pressure of a release-side element B at a value at which the increasing control is started until a predetermined period of time elapses from when the start of the increasing control. When a turbine rotational speed does not increase even after the predetermined period of time has elapsed, as the turbine rotational speed decreases below a value lower by a predetermined value than a synchronous rotational speed in the (n+1)th gear, the ECU executes feedback control over the hydraulic pressure of the element B so that the turbine rotational speed becomes the value lower by the predetermined value than the synchronous rotational speed in the (n+1)th gear.
US08414456B2
A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one embodiment, the method adjusts a transmission actuator in response to engine combustion during an engine start. The method may improve vehicle launch for stop/start vehicles.
US08414449B2
A method to control a powertrain including a transmission, an engine, and an electric machine includes monitoring a desired transmission shift including an oncoming clutch, monitoring operational parameters of the powertrain, monitoring a maximum electric machine torque capacity, determining a desired output torque profile through the desired transmission shift, determining a maximum electric machine torque capability profile through the desired transmission shift based upon the maximum electric machine torque capacity and the operational parameters, comparing the desired output torque profile to the maximum electric machine torque capability profile, determining a preferred oncoming clutch torque profile through the desired transmission shift based upon the comparing, and executing a clutch assisted shift based upon the preferred oncoming clutch torque profile.
US08414448B2
A gear system, such as for use in a wind turbine, is disclosed. The gear system includes a carrier, a gear defining a central axis, and a pin extending along the central axis and coupling the gear to the carrier. The gear system further includes a roller bearing surrounding the pin, the roller bearing comprising a plurality of roller elements, and a journal bearing surrounding the pin.
US08414447B2
A transmission device for distributing drive torque between two output shafts. The device comprises three planetary gearsets (2, 3, 11). An input shaft is connected to a first element of gearsets (2, 3). The output shafts each couple a second element of gearsets (2, 3). A third element of gearset (2) couples a first element of gearset (11) and is connectable, via brake (14), to the housing. A third element of gearset (3) is connectable, via brake (17), to the housing and, via a claw shifting element (24), to a second element of gearset (11). A third element of gearset (11) couples the housing. Claw shifting elements (24, 18) couple the brakes (14, 17) such that, to engage brakes (14, 17), the claw shifting elements are first coupled to the first element of gearset (11) or the third element of gearset (3), and then the brakes are engaged.
US08414441B2
To provide a control system for carrying out a speed change operation of a geared transmission mechanism continuously by controlling a continuously variable transmission mechanism.A continuously variable transmission mechanism configured to increase and decrease speeds of a first and a second output discs simultaneously, and a geared transmission mechanism configured to change a speed change ratio stepwise are connected in series. The output discs are connected individually with intermediate shafts. The control system is adapted to synchronize a rotational speed of a switching mechanism and a rotational speed of a member to be engaged with the switching mechanism, by tilting a rolling member when carrying out a speed change in the geared transmission mechanism thereby increasing a rotational speed of one of the intermediate shaft while decreasing a rotational speed of the other intermediate shaft (at steps S3, S4 and S5).
US08414440B2
A hybrid powertrain has an engine, an input member, an output member, and a stationary member, and includes a single planetary gear set having a first, a second, and a third member. The input member is connected for common rotation with the engine. The output member is connected for common rotation with the second member. A first and a second motor/generator are provided, as well as five torque-transmitting mechanisms, including only one brake. The torque-transmitting mechanisms are engagable in different combinations to establish at least two electric-only operating mode, at least two engine-only operating mode, and at least three electrically-variable operating modes. In one embodiment, an electric torque converter operating mode is provided, and may be the default mode in case of motor/generator failure.
US08414439B2
A transmission device (1) for a vehicle having a variator (3) that has an axially longer length that the variator (3) is wider and deeper. The variator (3) comprises a planetary gear set (4), a manual gearbox unit (9) and a hydraulic system having an oil sump. Following installation in the vehicle, a longitudinal extension of the variator (3) is oriented at least approximately horizontally.
US08414431B2
Certain embodiments comprise a table tennis table having a table tennis surface defined by two table halves and separated by a net. Each table half has an upper playing surface, a width defined between opposing side edges and a player end arranged along the width. In one embodiment, the table tennis table includes a ball storage rack having a length mounted along the width of at least one table half adjacent the player end, wherein the ball storage rack is configured to support a plurality of table tennis balls. The ball storage rack defines a gap along its length, wherein the gap faces outward from the player end and has a size sufficient to allow table tennis balls to be selectively removed through the gap.
US08414430B2
An apparatus aids an athlete, such as, for example, a basketball player, in developing skills, such as dribbling, passing and shooting. Specifically, an interconnected glove portion and sleeve portion comprise a plurality of components designed to aid a basketball player in developing muscles to enhance the player's basketball skills including, for example, dribbling, passing and/or shooting. These components include, generally, a palm interfering portion to force a basketball player to utilize the fingertips on the ball during dribbling, passing and/or shooting, tension bands to strengthen muscles associated with the fingers and wrist to enhance proper handling, passing and/or shooting techniques, and one or more weights disposed in various locations on the apparatus to provide resistance training to aid in developing muscles involved with handling, passing and/or shooting a basketball.
US08414426B2
A golf ball including a unitary core having a volume, an outer surface, a geometric center, and an outermost transition volume adjacent to the outer surface, the core being formed from a substantially homogenous composition; and a cover layer including ionomer, metallocene-catalyzed polymer, polyester, polyamide, non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer, copolyether-ester, copolyether-amide, polycarbonate, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or polystyrene block copolymer. The outermost transition volume is disposed between the core outer surface and the geometric center, the transition volume has an outer portion congruent with the core outer surface, and comprises the outermost 45% of the core volume or less. Both a hardness of the core outer surface and a hardness within the outermost transition volume are less than the hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient.
US08414415B1
The current disclosure describes a golf club stand used for elevating a golf club handle above the ground. The golf club stand may include, but is not limited to, a leg housing, a coupling apparatus configured to attach the leg housing to a golf club, and a leg, wherein the leg housing is configured for substantially enclosing the leg within the leg housing, the coupling apparatus is coupled to the leg housing, and the leg is connected at a first end to the leg housing in a manner that allows the leg to rotate with respect to the leg housing.
US08414403B2
A secured gaming table vouchering system to enable the use of game vouchers and promotional coupons and cashless gaming at gaming tables such as a poker table and a gaming table device for use therein. The secured gaming table vouchering system and gaming table device allows casinos and other types of gambling establishments to link gaming tables and point of sale terminals in or associated with a casino to connect and use systems in use, such as the TITO (Ticket In Ticket Out) host system, for credit transfer from cash, RFID chips, non-RFID chips, gaming vouchers, and promotional coupons to gaming vouchers and promotional coupons thereby expanding the use of credit transfer within a gaming establishment and or associated gaming establishments and their slot machines, change machines, and cashier cages.
US08414392B2
A method for preventing repeating identification of card symbols. The method includes obtaining an environmental image of an identification zone as a reference sample before the game starts; a dealer dealing a poker card into the identification zone with the card image identified and continuously obtaining the current image of the identification zone; after the poker card is moved to a card display zone, comparing the current image with the reference sample. If the difference between the current image and the reference sample is smaller than an error allowance value, judging the poker card is fully removed from the identification zone, and proceeding dealing and identification process of next round. If the difference between the current image and the reference sample is greater than an error allowance value, judging the poker card is not fully removed from the identification zone, then the dealer can perform manual process as required.
US08414385B1
A gaming system including a secondary game which incorporates different types of player decisions which affect different aspects of the play of the secondary game. Specifically, one or more gaming system determinations associated with a play of the primary game coupled with one or more player wagering or purchasing decisions made prior to the play of the secondary game, determine one or more features, attributes or parameters of the secondary game. Additionally, one or more player selections associated with the play of the secondary game, coupled with one or more player strategy decisions pertaining to the continued play of the secondary game, determine the secondary game award provided to the player.
US08414381B2
A system and method for remapping a game wheel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for remapping a wheel comprises providing a wagering game having a wheel divided into a plurality of wheel segments. A map is selected from a library before producing a game outcome. Each map defines particular weights for the wheel segments on the wheel. Once the map is selected, particular weights are assigned to the wheel segments as defined by the selected map, wherein the particular weights are assigned to the wheel segments before a game outcome is produced.
US08414374B2
A wagering game machine network including wagering game machines and other devices includes an ad server operable to receive and store ads having ad components. The ads may be sent to any device on the wagering game machine network. Ad components for ads and the ads themselves may be selected based on the capabilities of the device receiving the ad. Ads and ad components may be received from remote ad servers connected to the ad server via a network such as the Internet. Ads may be directed to devices at particular locations, such as a location where a particular wagering game player is located, or where a group of wagering game players having similar demographic characteristics or preferences is located. Ads may be selected based on statistics related to time, ad popularity, payment etc.
US08414370B2
A gaming system, comprising a game controller arranged to control play of a game, and a display arranged to display a representation of play of the game, the game controller being arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for play of the game, to control the display to display a plurality of the selected symbols in rows and columns, to determine a game outcome based on patterns of symbols in the rows and columns, and also being arranged to generate a feature game in response to a trigger condition, and determine an outcome of the feature game depending on the occurrence of a non-linear pattern of symbols.
US08414367B1
A window mounted air conditioning unit safety net that protects a window mounted air conditioning unit from falling from a window opening during installation, operation and removal thereof.
US08414362B2
Superabrasive tools and their methods of manufacture are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of improving retention of superabrasive particles held in a solidified organic material layer of an abrading tool, a portion of each of said superabrasive particles protruding out of the solidified organic material layer is provided. The method may include securing a plurality of superabrasive particles in the solidified organic material layer in an arrangement that minimizes mechanical stress impinging on the protruding portion of any individual superabrasive particle when used to abrade a work piece. As an example, the arrangement of the plurality of superabrasive particles may be configured to uniformly distribute frictional forces across substantially each superabrasive particle.
US08414357B2
A chemical mechanical polisher comprises a polishing platen capable of supporting a polishing pad, and first and second substrate carriers that are each capable of holding a substrate against the polishing pad. First and second slurry dispensers, each comprise (i) an arm comprising a pivoting end and a distal end, (ii) at least one slurry dispensing nozzle on the distal end, and (iii) a dispenser drive capable of rotating the arm about the pivoting end to swing the slurry dispensing nozzle at the distal end to dispense slurry across the polishing platen.
US08414354B2
A glass manufacturing device includes a working container, a loading device, a sand blower, a shielding device, and a supporting device. The loading device is received in the working container and configured for loading a glass substrate in place. The sand blower is arranged opposite to the loading device and configured for sandblasting the glass substrate. The supporting device is used for supporting the shielding device and pressing the shielding device onto the glass substrate during the process of sandblasting. The shielding device includes a shielding cover having a number of shielding units. The shielding units are configured to shield portions of the glass substrate and prevent the portions of the glass substrate from being cut during sandblasting.
US08414353B1
A bra configured to assist a user in providing support for at least a portion of the components of a breast pump during the milk extraction process. The bra further includes a stretchable strap that circumferentially surrounds the user's torso. Integrally formed with the strap are a pair of bra cups. The bra cups have an aperture centrally located that is in general alignment with the user's nipple and areola portion of the breast disposed within the bra cups. The bra cups are releasably secured proximate their top portion and are configured to fold in a downward direction so as to allow a user to place the conical shaped portion of a breast pump adjacent to the breast. A bottle support member is secured to the stretchable strap and can be deployed so as to provide substantial support for the milk receptacle of a conventional breast pump so as to minimize the requirement for the user to hold the breast pump components during milk extraction.
US08414352B2
A surgical garment includes an undergarment and an outer garment configured to be worn over the undergarment. The undergarment includes a brassiere including a front panel, a back panel, a shoulder strap extending from a top portion of a first side of the front panel to a top portion of a first side of the back panel, a width of elastic material extending along a bottom of the front and back panels, and a releasable fastening system releasably coupling a side portion of the first side of the front panel with a side portion of the first side of the back panel. The outer garment includes a torso portion and removable shoulder portions extending from the torso portion.
US08414346B2
An infant simulator capable of emulating the care requirements of an infant and recording the quality ot care and responsiveness of a person caring for the infant simulator and/or signaling the person caring for the infant simulator when care is required. The infant simulator is capable of sensing the unacceptable environmental conditions of exposure to direct sunlight and exposure to temperature extremes and to which the infant simulator is subjected. The infant simulator is also programmed with the ancillary features of multiple behavior modes based upon the historic level of care experienced by the infant, and/or the health of the infant, and perceptibly different demand and distress signals for each type of environmental event.
US08414344B2
A pivotal surfboard fin assembly for use on a surfboard, the assembly comprising: an insert bracket having a board face mountable to the bottom surface of the surfboard and a bracket face with a lock pin aperture and a flex plug cavity; an elastomeric flex plug having a flex plug hole, a first flex plug surface, and a second flex plug surface, the flex plug disposed in the flex plug cavity; a surfboard fin having a fin blade, a mounting edge, a flex pin channel, a fixed lock pin mountable to the surfboard fin and disposable into the lock pin aperture, a biased flex pin slidably disposable into the flex pin channel and the flex plug hole; and a first compression pin and a second compression pin engaged with the insert bracket and operative to laterally compress the flex plug.
US08414338B2
The invention relates to an electric connector terminal for guiding a circuit through a wall (1), having a first terminal (2) to be mounted at a side of the wall and a second terminal (3) to be mounted at the other side of the wall (1), with the first terminal (2) comprising a connector element (4) to connect to the second terminal (3), the connector element (4) can be inserted into the second terminal (3), the second terminal (3) comprising a power line (6) for the electric connection to the first terminal (2), the power line (6) can be inserted into the connector element (4), and the surface of the connector element (4) facing away from the power line (6) comprising a creepage power extension (10). The creepage power extension (10) according to the invention increases the creepage distance, so that the electric connector terminal according to the invention can be impinged with higher voltages.
US08414329B2
A connector for a coaxial cable which enables an end of a shield wire to be held inside a shield terminal as a housing, without generating a backlash, and can be made compact as a whole. Each of crimping barrel parts of a shield terminal is provided with a butting face which is opposed to each of flanges when the crimping barrel parts are folded at its one end, and an inclined face, at the other end at an opposite side to the butting face. The inclined face is brought into sliding contact with the inclined face of the other crimping barrel part when the crimping barrel parts are folded, and the inclined face is inclined to extend in a direction perpendicular to a direction where a pair of the crimping barrel parts are folded.
US08414312B2
A connector structure includes a first connector installed on a host device. The first connector includes a first base, a first terminal set installed on the first base, and a first grounding component installed on the first base. The connector structure further includes a second connector installed on a docking station for connecting with the first connector. The second connector includes a second base, a second terminal set installed on the second base for contacting with the first terminal set so as to transmit signals between the host device and the docking station with the first terminal set when the host device is docked in the docking station, and a second grounding component installed on the second base for contacting with the first grounding component so as to ground with the first grounding component when the host device is docked in the docking station.
US08414303B2
A wiring unit is provided for robots having a rotary joint. This unit includes a wiring case, a slide aid contained in the wiring case, and a flexible printed wiring board for electric wiring. The wiring case includes a cylindrical housing and a reel with a cylindrical core member. The reel is relatively rotatable to the housing. The reel and housing are linked with robot's two members requiring the rotary joint. In the slide aid, an annular rotary plate surrounds the core member and is rotatable about the core member. Plural rollers are provided on the rotary plate and self-rotatable. The wiring board has electrical wires and is connected to the core member and housing and is wound and unwound in radially inside and outside spaces of the rollers via the vacant space by moving on and along the rollers.
US08414298B2
A method and system for a projectile training system that automatically predicts a ballistics solution based upon automatically-gathered meteorological and distance information is disclosed. The projectile training system also confirms that manual efforts performed by an operator to adjust the sight turrets would or would not result in a hit and/or kill of the target. Both adjustment of the turrets and aim of weapon is automatically gathered in a determination of whether there was a hit, kill, miss, or near miss. A light or other signal is sent from the weapon toward the target to indicate a shot was sent by the weapon.
US08414297B2
The present invention is directed to root canal obturation in a tooth. In one embodiment, a plug is positioned in a root canal and bonded to the root canal by applying a light-curing adhesive to the canal and exposing the plug to a light source to bond the plug to the root canal. In another embodiment, a carrier is disclosed having an optically transmissive plug portion for insertion into the canal. In still another embodiment, the plug portion of the carrier includes an optical fiber to transmit light from a light source into the plug portion. In still yet another embodiment, a filler material is heated and injected into the root canal in a semi-liquid state and exposed to light to cure the adhesive.
US08414279B2
An imprint apparatus molds resin dispensed on a shot region of a substrate with a mold and forms a pattern of resin on the shot region. The apparatus includes a mold stage configured to hold the mold, a substrate stage configured to hold the substrate, a drive mechanism configured to change a relative positional relationship between the mold stage and the substrate stage in an X-Y plane that defines a coordinate of the shot region and a Z-axis direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the drive mechanism so that the mold and the shot region perform relative vibration, in the X-Y plane, with respect to a relative position where the mold and the shot region align, and a distance between the mold and the shot region decreases in the Z-axis direction in parallel with the vibration, and the resin is molded by the mold.
US08414266B2
An improved transverse axis fluid turbine and system thereof are disclosed. The turbine has a base structure, rotor rotatably attached to the base structure, and at least three blades rotatably attached to the rotor. The blade has an elongated member, having first and second ends, and a blade member, the first end being rotatably attached to the rotor and the blade member is attached to the second end. The first end has a helical gear. An actuating device is disposed in the rotor and engages with the helical gear with a corresponding gear to control and actuate rotation of the blade. The rotation is controlled to maximize the effective exposed area of the blade when the blade moves in the direction of the flowing fluid and minimize the area when the blade moves thereagainst. The actuating device can be controlled by a direction vane to accommodate changes in direction of fluid flow.
US08414264B2
There is described a method with which, on the basis of a three-dimensional recording of a component to be reworked, its surface configuration can be determined and stored temporarily so that, after it has been coated, it can be produced in its original surface form, or in its surface form then required, in certain regions, i.e. locally in the area of film-cooling openings. An especially precise and quick three-dimensional recording can be achieved by the use of the triangulation method. In this case, a reference pattern depicted on the component by a projector is recorded by two camera arranged at an angle. From the images from the cameras, the coordinates describing the surface three-dimensionally can then be determined by a control system using the triangulation method.
US08414260B2
A control system and method of controlling a propeller aircraft engine during takeoff limits the amount of engine power developed at the very beginning of the takeoff in order to maximize thrust and minimize rollout distances. The control system limits the amount of power developed by the engine, even in the face of a nominal demand by the pilot for maximum engine power. Instead, the control system provides something significantly less than full power at the beginning of takeoff and gradually increases the power developed by the engine to full power as the airspeed increases. This gradual increase from partial engine power toward full power helps prevent stalling of the propeller, thereby maximizing the effectiveness of the propeller and engine in assisting the aircraft to takeoff quickly. The control system is particularly helpful for taking off from high-altitude runways.
US08414258B2
A support bar for a turbine diaphragm that facilitates reduced maintenance cycle time and cost is provided. In one aspect, the support bar is secured to the turbine diaphragm vertically rather than horizontally, allowing access to remove a lower diaphragm half without having to remove the rotor for maintenance.
US08414248B2
The present invention includes a pivotable vane having an airfoil with a vane spindle or stem extending toward a distal end thereof. The vane stem has a head with a pair of tapered flats having an outwardly extending angle as defined from the distal end of the head towards the airfoil. A vane arm having a substantially C-shaped connector with a pair of contact ends is constructed to maintain a gap with the tapered flats at an initial assembly step and positively engage the tapered flats at a final assembly step.
US08414244B2
The invention relates to a feeder device (1) for insertion machines for printed circuit boards, comprising a housing, a drive motor (3, 3′), a gear unit (5) and a pin wheel (6) engaging with a transport tape. The drive motor and the gear unit are arranged on a common side wall (2) of the housing such that the axles thereof are perpendicular to the side wall. It is the object of the invention to provide a narrow structural design of the feeder device, which also allows easy mounting. To this end, the rotor (14, 14′) of the drive motor (3) is rotatably mounted on only one axle (4, 4′) which is fixedly connected to the side wall (2) of the housing.
US08414232B2
In an operating head, a tool assembly is provided with an inlet shaft engaged on an electrospindle and pivotally engaged through a corresponding containing casing, which is oriented about a longitudinal axis of the electrospindle by means of an electric motor coaxially mounted to the axis and provided with a rotor coupled in an angularly fixed manner to the casing itself.
US08414223B2
Dams are a useful source of energy. An embodiment of a dam according to the present invention includes precast segments configured to be coupled together to form a dam optionally used to generate energy. An embodiment includes a spillway extender to prevent upstream or downstream erosion of a riverbed at the dam. An underpinning system may be employed to assist in maintaining position of the dam or segmental components. Solar panel energy generation systems and battery storage may be associated with the segmental dam to store energy and, optionally, produce auxiliary power for subsystems associated with the dam, such as for supporting automated spillway control gate level control or automated gearing system control to control a gear ratio associated with rotating or other moving parts used to convert kinetic energy of water into electrical energy.
US08414220B1
An apparatus for flattening a half-dry concrete floor includes a plurality of pressure rollers arranged such that axes of them are parallel with one another in an imaginary plane, a holder rotatably supporting the pressure rollers at opposite ends of the pressure rollers, an oscillation-transmitter formed integral with the holder for transmitting oscillation to the pressure rollers, and an oscillator for oscillating the oscillation-transmitter.
US08414219B2
A self-propelled concrete finishing trowel has an integrated transport system that allows the towel to be moved from location to location. The transport system includes a pair of spaced wheel assemblies, each including a pair of wheels that are connected to a frame of the trowel. The wheels of each respective wheel assembly are connected to one another via a powered actuator such as a double acting hydraulic cylinder. The powered actuator is actuatable to raise and lower the first and second wheels from a stowed position in which the wheels are located above the ground and the blades are supported on the ground to a deployed position in which the wheel are supported on the ground and the blades are raised from the ground.
US08414213B2
A cover (10) is disclosed for holding objects such as papers and reports. The cover (10) is formed of a member (12) having a front cover (14), a spine (16) and a back cover (18), a ring binder (22) and a paper surround (24). The paper surround (24) encapsulates the ring binder (22) and secures it to the member (12). The cover can be either a top bound or side bound cover.
US08414209B2
A new lip balm, cosmetic, or personal care product dispenser using a non-lethal shotgun shell hull that will accept an industry standard 0.15 ounce twist-base balm dispenser, providing increased turning friction and a tighter fitting cap. A new type of lip balm dispenser that solves the problems associated with old standard tubular balm dispensers. Standard 0.15 ounce lip balm tubes have a knurled twist base that inadvertently rotates in your jacket or pants pocket while people are engaged in outdoor activities such as walking, working, biking, hiking, hunting or fishing. As the tube base twists inside your pocket, the balm itself is wormed outward and mashed into the cap, creating a gooey mess. Also, standard lip balm tube caps come off easily in your pocket which is another big messy problem. The newly invented dispenser prevents a gooey mess in your pocket, purse, jacket or luggage.
US08414204B2
A lens adaptor includes a first mount formed at one side of the lens adaptor and coupled to a body mount of a lens changeable photographing apparatus, a second mount formed at the other side of the lens adaptor, to which a lens mount of a lens is coupled, an aperture lever arranged to contact an aperture pin of the lens when the lens mount of the lens is coupled to the second mount, and an aperture ring capable of moving the aperture pin of the lens via the aperture lever, due to rotation, when the lens mount of the lens is coupled to the second mount.
US08414201B2
Disclosed herein is an enhanced magnetic directional mount for mounting, positioning, and orienting an electronic device such as a camera. In this enhanced mount, the base mounting surface is configured to maximize the extent of adjustment and ease of adjustability of the electronic device, and the base mounting surface and housing mounting surface are designed to provide smooth and secure movement in the electronic device position. Additionally, the enhanced magnetic mount includes attachments designed to affix the magnetic mount to a horizontal or vertical flat surface such as a desk or a wall, and an attachment designed to effectively mount and use the electronic device from a window.
US08414199B2
An optical connector and lens block connecting structure includes a substrate, an optical element, a lens frame including two side ribs, and a fore rib, a lens block for bending the optical path of the optical element to convert into an optical path parallel to the substrate, an optical connector provided at a fore end of an optical fiber cable, an optical connector frame including two side ribs and a rear rib, and an elastic member interposed between the rear rib of the optical connector frame and the optical connector. The optical connector frame is fixed to the substrate such that the optical connector is mounted to the lens block while the rear rib of the optical connector frame allows the elastic member to press the optical connector toward the lens block.
US08414198B2
A device other than a projectile including: a casing, at least a portion of which contains a potting material acting as the optical waveguide material; a transmitter for transmitting a pulse based signal at least partially through the potting material; and a receiver for receiving the pulse based signal after one or more reflections of the pulse based signal from interior surfaces of the casing; the pulse based signal having a pulse rate configured such that a subsequent pulse doesn't interfere with reflections from an immediately previous pulse.
US08414197B2
An optical fiber connector includes a plug having a ferrule, a housing sleeved on the plug, a frame slidably positioned on the housing, and a shutter rotatably mounted on the frame. The shutter includes a covering portion for covering the ferrule and a rotating portion formed on the covering portion. The housing forms a urging portion adjacent to the ferrule implementing the rotating portion and rotating the covering portion to cover the ferrule when the frame slides on the housing to a predetermined position.
US08414196B2
A fiber optic connector is disclosed for use with both a hardened fiber optic adapter and a non-hardened fiber optic adapter. The connector includes a connector housing having an end defining a plug portion. The plug portion includes first and second sets of retaining features for retaining the connector. The first and second retaining feature sets retain the connector within the hardened and unhardened adapters respectively. A threaded member can be included on the connector to threadingly engage and connect the connector to the hardened adapter. A sliding lock can be included on the connector to lock the connector to the non-hardened adapter when slid into a locking position. The sliding lock can be mounted to the threaded member. The sliding lock can include protrusions that engage and lock the non-hardened adapter when in the locking position thereby locking the non-hardened adapter to the connector.
US08414194B2
A cylindrical roller bearing assembly capable of increasing the load bearing capability with respect to the thrust load and of easily controlling the shape of the cylindrical roller is provided. The cylindrical roller bearing assembly includes an inner ring, an outer ring and a plurality of cylindrical rollers. One or both of the inner and outer rings has/have a collar. A surface portion encompassed within the region of radial dimensions of 0.12 Da to 0.20 Da as measured from an outer diametric edge of an end face of each of the cylindrical rollers to a roller axis, wherein Da represents an outer diameter of each of the cylindrical rollers is rendered to be a crowned portion of a tapered shape inclined at an angle θr of 0.25 to 1° relative to a plane perpendicular to the roller axis.
US08414188B2
A stand-up pour bag has front and back panels made of a thermoplastic film and having joined longitudinal edges and upper and lower transverse edges bridging the transverse edges. An inwardly folded lower end panel made of thermoplastic film extends between and is joined to the lower edges of the front and back panels, and an inwardly folded upper end panel made of thermoplastic film extends between and is secured at joints to the upper edges of the front and back panels. A closable pourer is bonded to the upper end panel and the upper edge of the front panel at the joint between the upper end panel and the upper edge of the front panel. A carry handle made of a thermoplastic film is bonded to the back panel generally centrally and inward of the edges thereof.
US08414178B2
A removable LED light module for use in a lighting assembly includes an LED lighting element and one or more resilient members to maintain a compression force between the LED light module and a socket and/or heat dissipating member or thermally conductive housing to provide effective heat transfer from the LED to the heat dissipating member or thermally conductive housing. One or more electrical contact members of the LED light module is configured to releasably contact one or more electrical contact elements of a socket of the lighting assembly when the LED light module is coupled to the socket to establish an electrical connection between the LED light module and the socket, said electrical contact elements positioned behind openings in a surface of the socket to partially obstruct access to said electrical contact elements.
US08414177B2
A planar light emitting device (PLED) includes: a light guide plate (LGP) having upper/lower surfaces; a light source substrate (LSS) mounted with a point light source parallel with a side end of the LGP; a first chassis covering a back of the LSS and a lower surface of the LGP in parallel; and a second chassis having an emission opening; a light source member in a side surface of the PLED; and a fixing member on the side of the PLED with an inclined portion. The inclined portion of the fixing member is formed so pressing the fixing member moves the LGP toward the LSS, which is fixed between the side end of the LGP and the first chassis. Removing the fixing member forms a gap between the LSS and the side end surface of the LGP or the first chassis, and the LSS can exit the LSS take-out portion.
US08414169B2
An assembly for creating the appearance of flames emerging from a vehicle exhaust, including a partially transparent tube connected to the vehicle, a light emitting array positioned within the tube, a plurality of reflective generally flame-shaped streamers extending at least partially into the partially transparent tube, an air pressure source operationally connected to the tube, a power source electrically connected to the light emitting array and an electronic controller operationally connected to the light emitting array. Actuation of the air pressure source waves the streamers within the tube and the streamers are visible through the tube when waving. The light emitting array is positioned to shine light onto the waving streamers and the electronic controller is operable to sequence the actuation of the light emitting array.
US08414168B2
A roof rack assembly for a vehicle having a roof is presented here. The roof rack assembly includes a first stanchion for structural attachment to the roof, a second stanchion for structural attachment to the roof, and a bar coupled between, and held above the roof by, the first stanchion and the second stanchion. The bar has a securing feature integrally formed therein, which holds an electric powered light-emitting component. Accordingly, the roof rack assembly employs a roof rack bar having a light-emitting element integrated therein.
US08414162B2
A light guide (11; 101; 111) comprising first and second oppositely arranged faces, an in-coupling portion (13a-f) for in-coupling of light from a light-source (12a-f; 95a-f; 102; 106a-c; 112a-f), and an out-coupling portion (15a-f; 103; 113a-f) located adjacent to the in-coupling portion (13a-f). The out-coupling portion (15a-f; 103; 113a-f) is configured to out-couple a primary light beam having a direction of propagation directed from a position in the in-coupling portion (13a-f) with a lower out-coupling efficiency than a secondary light beam having a direction of propagation directed from a position in the light guide (11; 101; 111) outside the in-coupling portion (13a-f). In this manner, a good mixing of light in the light guide can be achieved without imposing any particular requirements on the collimation of the in-coupled light.
US08414159B2
A light combination device includes a reflective element and a first color separating element. The reflective element guides first color light beams emitted from at least a first light source and a second light source to propagate in a first direction. The first light source and the second light source are differently positioned in a space. The first color separating element transmits the first color light beams and reflects second color light beams emitted from at least a third light source and a fourth light source. The third light source and the fourth light source are differently positioned in the space. The first color separating element has a coating curved surface, and a curvature of the coating curved surface is varied according to positions of the third light source and the fourth light source to guide the second color light beams to propagate in the first direction.
US08414157B2
A portable lighting system including a housing having an elongated slot formed in a surface of the housing. The slot being sized to receive a rod therein via an opening in the slot. The system further including a retention member movable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the closed position provides at least a portion of the retention member blocking at least a portion of the upper opening of the slot and the opened position includes the retention member not blocking the upper opening of the slot. The system also having a light source including a plurality of lights oriented in different directions.
US08414155B2
A luminaire having a plurality of LED boards mounted within a housing is provided. Each LED board has at least one light emitting diode mounted thereon and an axis extending from a first end of the board to a second end of the board. Each LED board is adjusted about its respective axis to an orientation that is unique from at least two other LED boards.
US08414151B2
A light emitting apparatus comprises: an LED-based light source; a spherical, spheroidal, ovoid, egg-shaped, or toroidal diffuser generating a Lambertian light intensity distribution output at any point on the diffuser surface responsive to illumination inside the diffuser; and a base including a base connector. The LED based light source, the diffuser, and the base are secured together as a unitary LED lamp installable in a lighting socket by connecting the base connector with the lighting socket. The base is operatively connected with the LED based light source in the unitary LED lamp to electrically power the LED based light source using electrical power received at the base connector.
US08414150B1
An illumination system for creating a field of light with which the density, photometric angular distribution, of the projected light can be changed, including a series of light modules including at least one LED, a structural frame of structural rails having electrically insulating elements, within which electrical conductors pass. The structural rails are at least partially composed of a heat conductive material. There is a circuit board which has a heat conductive substrate having slots disposed about the circuit board, and including at least two electrical contact surfaces located along the slots on the circuit board. The LED is mounted to the circuit board which includes at least two electrical contact surfaces located along the slots. There are electrically conductive screws for electrically connecting the LED on the circuit board to the electrical conductors and constructed and arranged to simultaneously provide a thermal transfer from the heat conductive substrate to the structural rails. The screws have a threaded portion of such diameter that they fit within the slots of the circuit board and the heads of the screws have a larger diameter than the slots and make contact with the contact surfaces when the screws are tightened.
US08414147B2
A solid state lighting device includes a thermally conductive plate having a subassembly mounted to at least one side of the plate. Each subassembly includes a mounting frame with a back side and an open center, and a PCB supporting a plurality of LEDs with electrical leads extending therefrom. The PCB is supported by the frame so that the back of the PCB is flush with the back side of the frame. A cup-like light diffuser having a rim is secured to the front of the frame so that it surrounds the frame and covers the LEDs. Fastening devices fasten the subassembly against the one side of the plate so that the back of the PCB is in intimate thermal contact with the plate and the diffuser rim abuts the plate so that when the LEDs are energized via their leads, a maximum amount of light from the LEDs is directed through the diffuser and waste heat from the LEDs is efficiently conducted away by the plate which may also constitute a reflector.
US08414143B2
A device for creating and enhancing a mood is disclosed. The device includes a cylindrical gobo with a light source and a motor to rotate the gobo. The device may also include color-changing LEDs. Through variations in color, light source intensity and gobo design, a user may create or enhance a desired mood in a room.
US08414142B2
A portable light is disclosed including a housing having an upper end, a lower end and a cavity for receiving a power source therein. The housing further includes at the upper end a channel having channel walls and a plurality of LED lights in the channel. The channel walls have a height greater than the height of the LED lights.
US08414132B2
A multiple-lights-combining illumination device includes multiple light sources, multiple sub-rod integrators that respectively guide light from the multiple light sources, and a main rod integrator that guides light from the multiple sub-rod integrators. Each of the sub-rod integrators has reflection surfaces that are parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, and has an entrance surface and an exit surface that are parallel or perpendicular to each other at ends thereof, the main rod integrator has reflection surfaces that are parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, and has an entrance surface and an exit surface that are perpendicular to the reflection surfaces at ends thereof, and each reference optical axis that passes through an optical centroid portion of a light-emitting part of the light sources along a light emission direction is arranged so as to pass through substantially a center of the entrance surface of the respective sub-rod integrator. It is possible to use efficiently light while obtaining high intensity by combining light from multiple light sources, and furthermore possible to obtain a small and inexpensive device.
US08414125B2
An eye distance measurement apparatus according to one aspect of the invention includes an interfering optical system that projects at least one piece of split light toward an examinee's eye, combines the split light, guides the combined light to a light receiving device and moves an optical member in order to adjust an optical path difference between the two pieces of split light, a mode switching unit that issues a mode switching signal for switching between a first measurement mode for moving the optical member at a first scanning rate and a second measurement mode for moving the optical member at a second scanning rate slower than the first scanning rate, and a calculation and control unit that measures an eye distance, based on an output signal of the light receiving device, obtained in the measurement mode corresponding to the mode switching signal.
US08414114B2
Disclosed is a system for priming a fluid jetting device. The system includes a fluid trench configured within a fluid jetting chip of the fluid jetting device and at least one first channel fluidly coupled to the fluid trench. The at least one first channel extends vertically between the fluid jetting chip and a mounting unit adapted to support the fluid jetting chip, and is adapted to supply a priming fluid to the fluid trench. The system further includes at least one second channel fluidly coupled to the fluid trench. The at least one second channel extends vertically between the fluid jetting chip and the mounting unit, and is adapted to drain-out the priming fluid from the fluid trench. Further disclosed are systems for priming a fluid jetting device, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.
US08414113B2
A discharging device includes a liquid container configured to contain a liquid, a discharge channel configured to discharge a fluid from the liquid container, a float member which is lower in specific gravity than the liquid, is movably arranged in the discharge channel, and move up together with the liquid to come into contact with a float sealing member arranged in the discharge channel, thereby shutting the discharge channel, separating means configured to separate the float member from the float sealing member, suction means configured to discharge the fluid from the liquid container via the discharge channel, and control means configured to operate the separating means when operating the suction means.
US08414095B2
A shelf assembly (1020) in a refrigerator (1002) includes a refrigerator shelf (1022). Also included is a cantilever frame (1028) to slidably support the shelf (1022). The shelf assembly (1020) includes a left side hanger set (1042) extending rearwardly from the cantilever frame (1028). A right side rear bracket extension (1044) extends directly to the right from the right end and the rear portion of the cantilever frame (1028). The rear bracket extension (1044) provides for an offset of the refrigerator shelf (1022) from one side of the refrigerator (1002). The offset provides that when the shelf (1022) is extended forwardly, the front end of the shelf (1022) will not be interfered with by any portion of the refrigerator door when the door is in an open position.
US08414093B2
A robust, motorized moveable shelf assembly having a shelf carriage, a stationary support structure, and a motorized drive assembly that can be retrofitted into an existing cabinet structure or be combined with a cabinet structure in which the shelf carriage can rotationally-move outside and either downward or upward of the stationary support structure and back again so that the shelf carriage is more readily accessible to a person of limited mobility. A linkage arm powered by a motor moves through an arcuate path to drive the shelf carriage from a first at rest position to a second extended position. In one embodiment, the shelf carriage has a bottom edge with a chamfered rear edge to provide clearance during movement. In another embodiment, the shelf carriage includes a moveable bottom flap, a rail, and a wheel attached to a lower portion of the shelf carriage where the wheel tracks the rail to eliminate the need for the chamfered rear edge. Other embodiments include barriers applied to the front of each horizontal shelf of the shelf carriage and cabinet doors attached to the front of the shelf carriage.
US08414092B2
A storage shell includes sidewalls and rails. The sidewalls each extend between two others of the sidewalls to collectively define a chamber therebetween. The sidewalls create a plurality of intersection lines each being defined along a boundary between two of the plurality of sidewalls. The plurality of are rails each coupled to and radially extends away from a different corresponding one of the plurality of intersection lines relative to a center of the storage shell. Each of the plurality of rails is formed with a Y-shaped cross-section. Related storage and organization systems, and methods are also disclosed and provide additional advantages.
US08414091B2
A crawler has a track tensioning system. The crawler includes a crawler frame having a bottom; at least one drive tumbler supported on the frame; a track made of a plurality of connected track shoes and is wrapped around the drive tumbler so that a plurality of the shoes are in contact with the drive tumbler. The track tensioning system, mounted to the frame, includes a roller engaging the inside surface of the track; and a roller positioning structure attached to the frame that can raise the roller relative to the bottom of the frame to thereby increase the tension of the track.
US08414088B2
A brake cylinder for pneumatic vehicle brakes, especially for commercial vehicles, includes in addition to a pneumatic locking mechanism, a manual release mechanism for manually releasing the spring brake section, and a device designed to visually recognize the manual release condition of the spring brake section outside of the housing.
US08414085B2
In one aspect of the invention, a tool comprises a head and a shank assembly. The shank assembly has a tensioned element axially disposed within a bore of a structural element and a distal end of the tensioned element is secured within or below the bore. The head has a cavity formed in its base end and is adapted to receive a proximal end of the tensioned element. The tensioned element has a radially extending catch adapted to interlock within the cavity of the head. The head is harder than the tensioned element.
US08414080B2
A flexible bamboo chair includes outer and inner bamboo strips of two different sizes in an inverted U-shape respectively arranged in parallel at outer and inner sides, a buffer space defined between the outer bamboo strips and the inner bamboo strips, and first and second reinforcing bars bilaterally fixedly mounted in between the outer and inner bamboo strips in the buffer space at different elevations.
US08414079B1
A support stool is provided. The support stool includes a pivotable top plate and a first support beam pivotably affixed to a bottom surface of the top plate. A first support block and a second support block are affixed to the bottom surface of the top plate. First and second footplates are coupled to corresponding ends of the first support beam and a second support beam, wherein the first and second support blocks are spaced apart from opposing side surfaces of the first and second support beams. The support stool includes a first holding member extending through the first footplate and the first holding member extends partially into a surface of the first support block.
US08414077B2
The mechanism for adjusting the tilt of an automobile vehicle seat comprising a first flange entirely obtained from a shaped metallic element, a second flange comprising a central part and a peripheral part is disclosed. The internal face of the first flange is opposite the external face of the second flange to guide a rotational movement of the flanges. The retaining face of the first flange is opposite the rear face of the second flange, to retain the second flange in the first flange along the pivot axis.
US08414074B2
A chair with articulable support sections and an integrated lift system may have support sections mechanically linked such that a single actuation control device may articulate multiple sections. The chair includes configurable accessories directed to the comfort of an occupant of the chair. The support sections may include air cells to adjust firmness of support section surfaces.
US08414070B2
A saddle adjusting device is slidably disposed on a seat tube and comprises a seat body. The seat body is provided on a top end thereof with a saddle and includes a through portion for insertion of the seat tube. The seat body is provided with at least one seat tube clamp for clamping the seat body on the seat tube and further provided in a middle portion of the through portion with a hollow portion laterally penetrating the seat body and plural engaging grooves. The seat tube is fixedly provided with a bolt for cooperating with the engaging assembly. The engaging assembly can move along the bolt in a direction vertical to the axial direction of the seat tube to make protruding portions of the engaging assembly engage into or disengage from the engaging grooves for adjusting the position of the seat body relative to the seat tube.
US08414067B2
A mobile vehicle comprising body shell composite panels and a method of joining body shell composite panels of a mobile vehicle.
US08414062B2
A check link mechanism for a closure pivotally connected to a vehicle. The check link mechanism includes a check link rotatable about a central axis, and is operably connected to the vehicle. The check link has a cam surface and a free surface, which is rotated about the central axis relative to the cam surface. A detent assembly is configured to apply a substantially-constant detent force to the check link. An actuator is configured to selectively rotate the check link between at least a holding position and a free position. The holding position aligns the cam surface to be substantially perpendicular to the substantially-constant detent force, and the free position aligns the free surface to be substantially perpendicular to the substantially-constant detent force.
US08414060B2
A fastening element features a female cap member and a unitary stud body defining a flexible base portion and a projecting portion integral therewith. A peripheral rim of the projecting portion stands upwardly from the base portion and is engageable into the female cap member as a snap fastener, and a bottom surface of the flexible base is deformable relative to the projecting portion. A layer of adhesive is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the flexible base portion and a removable covering layer for adhering to a surface on which stud is to be mounted. The one piece stud body can be produced efficiently while its flexible base is adaptable to mount on any of a variety of differently shaped surfaces, such as non-planar surfaces of a vehicle body to allow selective securing of a fabric cover on the vehicle via a corresponding female cap secured on the cover.
US08414057B2
A structure for the front section of the vehicle body of a vehicle in which the windshield glass is curved to a large extent and the position of the front end of the hood is located below the position of the rear end thereof, the structure enabling a dust seal to be more easily applied to the areas about dashboard lower and upper sections and a windshield support. A structure for the front section of a vehicle body is provided with a joint section (62) at which a rear end flange (51) of a dashboard upper section (22) and a rear end flange (61) of a windshield support (31) are welded together by spot welding. Protrusion sections (63) which protrude rearward relative to a dashboard lower section (21) are provided to the left and right of the joint section (62). An air introduction space (64) is formed so as to open forward from the joined section (62) and so as to continuously continue in the widthwise direction of the vehicle. A brake pedal bracket (44) for supporting the brake pedal (45) is affixed to the lower surface (63a) of a protrusion section (63).
US08414051B2
An electrical component housing device is provided with a housing box 21 formed with a maintenance opening 21a, a partition board 24 disposed in the housing box 21 and for separating the inside of the housing box 21, and an electrical component 25 attached to an electrical component attachment surface 24c as one of both surfaces of the partition board 24. The partition board 24 is pivotally supported by the housing box 21 around a pivot shaft 27 between a separation position where the inside of the housing box 21 is separated into an electrical component housing space S3 and a machine tool housing space S4 to face the electrical component attachment surface 24c to the electrical component housing space S3, and a maintenance position to face the electrical component attachment surface 24c to the maintenance opening 21a.
US08414049B2
A tonneau cover assembly provided in a vehicle including a panel hingedly attached to a vehicle seat, and a release assembly with an actuating mechanism provided on the panel. The actuating mechanism is connected to a panel lock assembly and a seat lock assembly which are provided to selectively lock the panel and the vehicle seat in place. Actuation of the actuating mechanism causes the lock assemblies to release, thereby allowing rotation of the panel about the hinged attachment and folding of the vehicle seat from a seating position to a folded-forward position.
US08414048B1
A vehicle interior assembly includes a main body, a side trim panel and a fastener part. The main body has a side surface through which a slot is defined and a top surface through which a fastener receiving aperture is defined. The fastener receiving aperture extends through the top surface to an inner cavity of the main body that is accessible through the slot. The side trim panel at least partially covers the side surface of the main body. The side trim panel has a projection that extends away from an inner surface of the side trim panel into the slot defined by the side surface. The fastener part extends through the fastener receiving aperture defined by the top surface and engages the projection to fixedly couple the side trim panel to the main body.
US08414046B2
A reinforced vehicle structure includes a vehicle wall, a reinforcement member, an accessory attachment member and a plurality of mounting structures. The vehicle wall includes an outer wall surface facing an outboard direction of the vehicle and an inner wall surface facing an inboard direction of the vehicle. The reinforcement member is mounted to the outer wall surface. The accessory attachment member is mounted to the inner wall surface. In addition, the plurality of mounting structures is spaced along the reinforcement member and extends through the vehicle wall to couple the accessory attachment member to the reinforcement member.
US08414039B2
An automatic sash lock is disclosed having a housing with a top surface and a bottom surface and one or more side surfaces extending from said top surface. The housing has a front face at least a portion of which is open to the interior of the housing. The housing has a tongue movably secured thereto. The tongue has a retracted position and an extended position wherein the tongue extends from the open area of the front face of the housing. The tongue moves from a retracted position to an extended position when a portion of said housing contacts a keeper.
US08414032B2
An automatic discharge connection device of a submersible pump is provided, which includes a coupling member coupled to a discharge port of the submersible pump and a feed pipe that feeds water discharged from the submersible pump. A sealing member is installed in an annular concave portion formed on an inner circumference of the coupling member in such a way as to move left and right. When the submersible pump is actuated, the sealing member moves toward the feed pipe and an end portion of the sealing member enters the feed pipe. Accordingly, a space between the coupling member and the feed pipe is sealed to thereby prevent water leakage between the coupling member and the feed pipe.
US08414031B2
An information concealing label includes a label base and an adhesive layer on the back side thereof. The information concealing label is affixed by means of the adhesive layer onto an information writing section in which information to be concealed is written. The adhesive layer includes a strong adhesive portion positioned at the periphery of the label base and a weak adhesive portion positioned in the area inside the strong adhesive portion. The label base has a group of corrugated slits formed along the boundary between the weak adhesive portion and the strong adhesive portion. The weak adhesive portion of the label base can be peeled off the information writing section into an unsealed state with the strong adhesive portion adhering to the information writing section by cutting through the corrugated slits.
US08414028B2
A seatbelt device comprises a seatbelt including a shoulder belt to restrain a passenger's upper body and a lap belt to restrain a passenger's waist portion, a tongue fixed to the seatbelt and parting the seatbelt into the shoulder belt and the lap belt, a first retractor fixed to a pillar and coupled to a tip of the shoulder belt, a second D ring attached to a position of an inner panel of a side sill below the pillar and supporting the lap belt so as to let the lap belt slide therein, and a second retractor fixed to another position of the inner panel of the side sill located in front of the second D ring and below a seat slide rail, the second retractor being coupled to a tip of the lap belt.
US08414023B2
An airbag includes a tuck that is formed by tucking a part of the outer circumferential wall toward an interior of the airbag. The tuck includes two opposing walls, a turn-round region that forms a bottom of the tuck and outermost ends of the opposing walls adjacent to and continuing to an outer surface of the airbag. The airbag further includes a temporary joint that joins the opposing walls of the tuck together in such a manner as to disjoint when an inner pressure of the airbag at inflation is increased. The temporary joint is formed into such a line that extends toward the turn-round region and has a first end proximate the outermost ends and a second end in the vicinity of the turn-round region.
US08414016B2
An internal paneling part conceals a passage area of an airbag. The internal paneling part includes a planar carrier and a textile fabric covering at least part of the passage area. The textile fabric includes at least one initial weakening for tearing along a defined tear line to release the airbag. The defined tear line runs along an X direction, with the textile fabric having a further tearing force in the X direction that is less than in any other direction.
US08414010B2
A system and method to selectably control a position of a first end of a drawbar between a locked position and a suspended position with respect to a drawbar support. The drawbar is securable to a work vehicle distal from the first end, the method includes locking a position of the first end in response to a first predetermined condition and placing the first end in a suspended position in response to a second predetermined condition. Position control of the first end is continuously maintainable.
US08414009B2
An underbed hitch mounting system is described. The mounting system may be utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system may selectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. The mounting system may include at least one rail capable of being connected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least one socket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein the receiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A mid rail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socket that is capable of engagement with a hitch.
US08414008B2
A wheelchair system and an accessory system for a wheelchair are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the accessory system may include an accessory frame having one or more interface elements to mount to a wheelchair frame. The accessory system may include a wheel assembly rotatably coupled to the accessory frame by a first fastener. The accessory system may include an engagement system further coupling the accessory frame to the wheel assembly. The engagement system may include a channel guide member defining a channel having a notched region. The channel guide member may be rotatably coupled to one of the accessory frame or wheel assembly by a second fastener. The engagement system may further include a translating member retained within the channel of the channel guide member. The translating member may be fixed to another one of the accessory frame or wheel assembly.
US08414005B2
Aspects for a multi-cycle apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus is provided, which includes a seat, a steering column below the seat, and a handle bar coupled to the steering column in which the handle bar extends behind the seat. In another aspect, an apparatus includes a rear bicycle frame, a steering column coupled to the rear bicycle frame, and a handle bar extending from the steering column. For this embodiment, the steering column is positioned under a seat attached to the rear bicycle frame, and the handle bar wraps around the rear of the seat. Another apparatus is provided, which includes a rear bicycle frame, a steering column coupled to the rear bicycle frame, and a handle bar coupled to the steering column. Here, the steering column is below a seat attached to the rear bicycle frame, and the handle bar extends behind the seat.
US08414001B2
A suspension of a vehicle axle is provided having a twist-beam axle that includes, but is not limited to two trailing arms, each of which have a wheel suspension and are interconnected via a cross brace with a torsion profile, which is designed stiff to bending and torsionally soft. The twist-beam axle connects to a Watt linkage of arrowed design, which articulates on the trailing arms laterally offset to an axis through a wheel center of the wheel suspension.
US08413992B2
A shaft seal that is constituted by annularly arranging a plurality of seal segments in the circumferential direction of a rotating shaft, in which each seal segment has a plurality of thin plates that are provided in a predetermined arrangement in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, side plates that sandwich the plurality of thin plates from both sides thereof in the axial direction, and retention rings that retain the base ends of the plurality of thin plates and the base ends of the side plates; the distal ends of the thin plates protrude farther toward the rotating shaft than the distal ends of the side plates, and the protrusion length of the distal ends of the thin plates in the vicinity of the end portions in the circumferential direction where adjacent seal segments are connected is set to be less than the protrusion length of the distal ends of the thin plates that are located at the middle of the seal segment in the circumferential direction.
US08413990B2
A game system comprises a base game-playing structure and at least two target surfaces each defining at least one target zone and depicting different projectile-passing games. The target surfaces are engageable with the base game-playing structure in one or more substantially vertical orientations and configured to receive passed projectiles. The system also includes at least one sensor engaged with the base game-playing structure. The target zone is positioned at a location on the target surface which is aligned with the sensor. The sensor is configured to detect the presence of a projectile at the target zone. The system may also include an electronic display configured to display the status of the game being played with the game system, and an electronic controller configured to receive signals from the sensor and coupled to the electronic display to reflect the status of the game.
US08413987B2
A gaming method includes repetitive plays simulating rolls of virtual dice by a player and at least one of a bonus feature and a progressive feature. A gaming method includes scoring dice.
US08413982B2
A conveyer includes a first rotating body; a second rotating body pair; and an intermediate rotating body arranged between the first rotating body and the second rotating body pair. A curl of the recording medium is corrected by winding and bending the recording medium around and with the intermediate rotating body at a bent angle formed by a tangent line shared by the intermediate rotating body and the first rotating body, and a line on which such a tangent line of the intermediate rotating body is connected to a nip point of the second rotating body pair. The intermediate rotating body includes an escape mechanism that is capable of causing the intermediate rotating body to escape in a direction to increase the bent angle depending on the width of the recording medium.
US08413965B2
A fencing/railing assembly adapted to be positioned between a pair of posts and mounted thereto. The assembly includes a plurality of pickets, a plurality of rails extending transverse to the pickets, and one or more pivoting, sliding connectors for connecting a picket to a rail, with the sliding, pivotal connection concealed by the rail. The connector is slidably mounted to the rail and is pivotally connected to the picket. The sliding, pivotal connection allows the pickets to be oriented at greater angles relative to the rails (i.e. it allows the assembly to rack to a greater degree, thereby allowing the fencing/raining to following more-steeply changing terrain or contours). In one embodiment, an elongated connector strip is concealed by the rail and spans multiple pickets. In another embodiment, the assembly includes a plurality of shorter connectors, one for each picket/rail connection.
US08413957B2
Valve controllers and methods of their use are described. Valve controllers of the type described herein can be used to operate valves that are out of manual reach by the operator. One embodiment of a valve controller includes proximal and distal controller heads connected to each other via a hollow elongate shaft. Each of the proximal and distal controller heads includes a rotatable pulley wheel that is connected to a valve control engagement member for engaging a handle of a valve operable to shift the valve from a first position to a second position. The rotation of the proximal and distal pulley wheels, and thereby the proximal and distal engagement members, is coupled via a cord that runs through the hollow elongate shaft and around a circumferential portion of each pulley wheel. In one general aspect, a user can operate a valve by positioning the distal valve control engagement member of the distal controller head over the valve handle, and rotating the proximal engagement member, causing the distal engagement member, and thereby the valve handle, to shift.
US08413954B1
There is disclosed a control valve suitable for particulate flow and/or for a liquid stream, comprising a spherical surface with cut-off top and bottom areas, a cylindrical extension depending from the cut-off top area of said spherical surface, a collar further extending from the cylindrical extension, a common internal diameter passage through said spherical surface, cylindrical extension and collar, and said valve further comprising opposing arcuate lids, having an interior spherical concave surface, hinged to the spherical surface to provide a close tolerance relationship with the spherical surface, and an overlapping band on one of the lids to create an arcuate, spherical, concave, recessed area for reception of the leading surface of the other lid, which lids open and close at fast rates by outside means to provide an intermittent seal to the flow of the particulate or of the liquid during the operation of the control valve.
US08413949B2
A climbing shoe (10) comprises a sliding shoe section (16) and wall shoe section (18). The sliding shoe section (16) is designed so that it can guide and hold a climbing rail. The wall shoe section (18) is connected to the sliding shoe section (16) in an articulated manner.
US08413946B2
Described herein is a mounting system and slider clips that support simplified installation of photovoltaic structures. The mounting system comprises a support structure which can be mounted to support columns via an optional tilt table. The support structure comprises a plurality of parallel spaced beams and a plurality of parallel spaced rails that are mounted approximately perpendicular to the beams. Disclosed embodiments describe a collapsible support structure in which the rails are pivotally mounted to the beams. Rails are preassembled with prefabricated slider clips for holding edge portions of the photovoltaic structures. Rails can also be integrally formed with slider clips. Described herein are also methods of installing one or more photovoltaic structures using the mounting system and methods for manufacturing slider clips and a photovoltaic structure mounting system.
US08413944B2
Mounting systems for mounting solar panels to a surface are disclosed and can include panel clamp assemblies and rail clamp assemblies. Panel clamp assemblies can comprise a panel clamp having a base and arms extending from edges of the base, the base having an aperture, a rail clamp having a central portion with an aperture and two flexible tabs extending from the central portion on opposing sides of the aperture and a fastener threaded through the apertures such that that flexible tabs contact a head of the fastener and the arms extend in an opposite direction from the flexible tabs. Rail clamp assemblies can comprise a base member having a bottom and two side walls, the bottom having at least one aperture and each side wall having an elongated aperture, two clamping members and a fastener, wherein the side walls of the base member are positioned such that the opening is of sufficient size to receive the rail.
US08413934B2
A bracket (20) that is fixed to a band (10) mounted on an outer peripheral surface (2a) of a cylinder tube (2) supports a pipe (4). The band (10) includes a first tab (11a) projecting outward in a radial direction and a second tab (11b) projecting outward in the radial direction. The bracket (20) supporting the pipe (4) is formed with an inverted U-shaped cross-section constituted by a pair of leg plate portions (20a) and a top plate portion (20b) formed integrally with the leg plate portions (20a) to join the leg plate portions (20a). The pair of leg plate portions (20a) are fixed to the first tab (11a) and the second tab (11b) by a bolt, and a small and lightweight pipe fixing structure is thus realized.
US08413931B2
An exoatmospheric device comprises an inertial measurement unit comprising a spin axis gyroscope adapted to obtain data regarding angular rotation of the exoatmospheric device about a spin axis, and at least one off-spin axis gyroscope adapted to obtain data regarding angular oscillation of the spin axis. The exoatmospheric device further comprises a processing unit coupled to the inertial measurement unit and adapted to detect attitude error by analyzing correlations between the measured rotation about the spin axis and the measured angular oscillation of the spin axis.
US08413925B2
An aircraft engine attachment pylon including a rigid structure forming a caisson, and a rear engine attachment including an attachment body and at least one lateral fitting arranged on either side of the caisson. Each fitting includes a first portion pierced by first assembly holes enabling it to be fixed to the caisson, and a second portion defining a fixing surface of the body. The second portion includes a housing orifice receiving a self-locking nut cooperating with a screw supported against the body and, in transversal section, an axis of the screw passes through the first holes.
US08413922B2
An acoustic treatment structure related to a leading edge onto which an aerodynamic stream flows, in particular at an air intake of an aircraft nacelle, includes—from the outside to the inside—at least one acoustically resistive substructure (30), at least one alveolar substructure including strips (32) of cells, arranged in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the direction of flow of the aerodynamic stream, and at least one reflective layer (34). Each strip (32) includes a first part that insulates the strips from one another, called a support, with a U-shaped cross-section in the longitudinal direction, whose open surface that is opposite to the bottom of the U shape is flattened against the acoustically resistive substructure (30), and at least a second part, called partitioning, making it possible to partition the space that is delimited by the support and the acoustically resistive substructure (30) into cells.
US08413916B2
A shredder includes a cutting assembly capable of shredding paper mounted in a shredder housing and a detector mechanism capable of shutting off the cutting assembly in response to detecting a force applied to the cutting assembly.
US08413913B2
A unit fuel injector (30) has a boundary edge filter. A first endless annular internal space (100) is open to a holes (92) forming a fuel inlet port, a second endless annular internal space (102) that is spaced axially of the first endless annular internal space and through which fuel is supplied to an injection mechanism, and a series of circumferentially spaced apart, axially extending channels (104) through which fuel can pass from the first endless annular internal space to the second endless annular internal space.
US08413908B2
The invention relates to an optical security mark that can be applied to an object, said mark comprising a structure made of a metamaterial that generates a magnetic response to incident radiation having a wavelength (λ) corresponding to a specific code of formula μr(λ) where μr is the relative magnetic permeability of the metamaterial and λ is a wavelength of the incident radiation having a value of between 15 nm and 1100 nm, or a specific code of formula λ(μr) or combinations of said codes. Said mark has a first tranverse dimension bx in a first transverse extension of the metamaterial and a second transverse dimension by in a second transverse extension of the metamaterial, different from the first transversal dimension, the first transverse dimension and the second transverse dimension each being at least equal to the wavelength (λ) of the incident radiation.
US08413905B2
A portable prescription sample transaction payment device has a substrate with a surface rendering corresponding to a prescription medical supply sample. Memory, in contact with the substrate, stores an identifier for the prescription medical supply sample, a quantity for the prescription medical supply sample, a dosage for the prescription medical supply sample, and an identifier for a patient. The memory also stores a pharmaceutical company account for a dispensing pharmacist to charge the cost of the prescription medical supply sample for payment to a dispensing pharmacist account to reimburse the dispensing pharmacist for the prescription medical supply sample. An image corresponding to the prescription medical supply sample is stored in the memory, as is an identifier for a prescribing medical practitioner prescribing the prescription medical supply sample to the patient.
US08413896B2
A system and method for execution of financial and data transactions includes a point-of-sale device configured to execute a transaction in which at least one good or service is sold to an individual having a card with a storage medium encoding a card number. The transaction is completed after said point-of-sale device receives a data transmission authorizing said transaction. The point-of-sale device is configured to communicate via the Internet with a first computing system. The first computing system stores a set of instructions that cause the first computing system to evaluate the transaction to determine whether the transaction is to be authorized, and to send a transmission authorizing the transaction via the open network to said point-of-sale device.
US08413895B2
A communication device includes an analog unit that processes an analog signal received from an antenna unit which performs a contactless communication with an external device. The communication device also includes a wired interface that connects to an information processing terminal through a wire. In addition, the communication device includes a digital control unit that manages a communication mode set between the external device and the information processing terminal and controls a communication path between the external device and the information processing terminal according to a present communication mode.
US08413891B2
A computer-implemented system and method is used for facilitating a single instance banking transaction. The method includes the steps of receiving a banking transaction request from a banking account holder at a first banking computer system, the request including at least an account identification and transaction information, generating a single instance banking transaction indicia correlated to the banking transaction request, providing the single instance banking transaction indicia to the banking account holder, receiving the single instance banking transaction indicia at a second banking computer system, and performing the banking transaction request at the second banking computer system.
US08413882B1
An application executing on a mobile computing device retrieves encoded information from a physical package by invoking a scanning function of the mobile computing device. The encoded information associates the physical package with a transaction. The mobile computing device transmits, using the encoded information, an item of recipient reaction information to a server at a network location. The mobile computing device receives from the server an item of transaction information associated with the transaction. The item of transaction information is usable by the application to perform a user interaction function related to the transaction. The mobile computing device performs the user interaction function.
US08413878B2
A system and method for manufacturing welded structures comprises components to be welded, a welding additive material which, before the welding, has a shaped profile and the shaped profile is disposed between components to be welded and conforms with at least one of the components to be welded. At least one heat source is used in the method to weld the components, producing a weld seam on at least one side of one of the components.
US08413875B2
A multi-shouldered friction stir welding tool comprises an exterior threaded solid pin having a diameter and a length; a shoulder having a threadless inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the exterior threaded solid pin and at least one substantially radial threaded set screw hole; an monolithic shoulder-shank having a threadless inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the exterior threaded solid pin and at least one substantially radial threaded set screw hole; a pair of locking nuts having a threadless outer diameter and a threaded inner diameter operably compatable with the exterior threaded solid pin, wherein the shoulder and the monolithic shoulder-shank are capable of slidable engagement with the exterior threaded solid pin along the length of the exterior threaded solid pin to set a space slightly larger than a thickness of a work piece to be welded.
US08413874B2
A synchronous ultrasonic metal welding device with double-heads has two sets of ultrasonic welding mechanisms which are installed side by side on a middle frame (18). The middle frame (18) is composed of assembling flanges (19) and two sliding stop rods (11) which are in parallel each other. The ultrasonic welding mechanisms are located on the assembling flanges (19) which are connected with driving devices (3) respectively. The driving devices (3) drive the ultrasonic welding mechanisms moving toward each other and welding synchronously. By using the welding device of the invention, multi-layer metal pieces of the power battery can be double-sided welded simultaneously by way of spot welding or roll welding, so the work efficiency can be improved, and the welding layer can be strong in one time.
US08413870B2
A surgical stapling instrument (1) comprises a staple fastening assembly (4) in the distal region of said instrument, the staple fastening assembly (4) including a cartridge device (8) which comprises at least one closed row (17, 18) of staples and defines a wavy distal end surface (14), and an anvil (9) which defines a wavy proximal staple forming surface (20) substantially matching the distal end surface (14) and which is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge device (8) for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge device (8), wherein the distal end surface (14) and the staple forming surface (20) have a globally wavy shape including two opposite peaks (21) and two opposite valleys (22) angularly spaced at about 90° from the adjacent peaks (21) and in that said two-peaks-two-valleys wavy shape is formed by a stepped configuration of said surfaces (14, 20).
US08413864B2
A combustion-operated setting tool for driving in fastening elements includes a propellant container receptacle (16) for receiving a propellant container (20), a connection element (14) provided in the propellant container receptacle (16) for connection with the propellant container (20), a propellant conduit (15) for connecting the connection element (14) with the tool combustion chamber (12), a metering device (13) for controlling flow of propellant from the connection element (14) to the combustion chamber, and a damping arrangement (30) for damping the metering device (13).
US08413862B2
A hanger device stores clothes on the inside of the deck lid that closes the vehicle trunk. A peg projects from an inner surface of the deck lid for engagement by the hook portion of a clothes hanger when the deck lid is open, so that the clothes hanging on the clothes hanger hang downwardly. An elastic strap has first and second ends, one end attached to the deck lid on one side of the hanging clothes and the other end attached to the deck lid on the other side of the hanging clothes so that the elastic strap holds the clothes against the deck lid during movement of the deck lid between open and closed positions.
US08413856B2
A refillable material transfer system is disclosed having a portable constant-pressure compressed gas system for storing, transferring and dispensing viscous material, such as fluids and liquids, includes a material containment vessel with an upper region incorporating a motive force and a bottom region with a material ingress and egress opening. The portable constant-pressure compressed gas subsystem can be used with a fluid vessel, hand-held systems, a backpack system or other configurations.
US08413851B2
A security device protects the vulnerable portions or accessories of a bulk storage tank or container against unauthorized access. The device includes a housing that covers the vulnerable portions of the tank, the housing having two or more lockable doors that selectively permit access to the tank or container via two or more respective apertures. A first door is openable after unlocking a readily-accessible lock, while the second movable door is openable after an elongate lock member that is positioned internally within the housing is moved to an unlocking position. The elongate lock member can be moved to its unlocking position after the first door is opened. Certain tank operations, such as dispensing fuel, may be carried out after unlocking and opening a single door, while other operations, such as refilling the tank, may be accomplished after opening a second door once the first door has been opened.
US08413845B1
A dual-compartment dispensing container for retaining and dispensing two separate products or product phases such that each product or product phase is concurrently dispensed from each compartment in substantially equal volumetric amounts. The first compartment comprises a deformable semi-circular inner tube having a top end and a bottom end. The inner tube is disposed within a second compartment comprising a deformable fully circular outer tube having a top end and a bottom end.
US08413834B2
A container (1) is provided with a tear-off lid (2) having a take out opening covered by a tear-off foil (25). The cut edge (3) of the take out opening is bent back into the chuck wall (34) area. By this the bare cut edge is protected by the connection of lid and container body. This connection can be provided by a seaming connection.
US08413828B2
The hoist attachment for skid steer includes a base frame with a mounting bracket and ball joint brackets to securely mount the hoist attachment to the skid steer. A telescoping boom is pivotally mounted to the top of the base frame. A pipe rack may be disposed adjacent the top of the base frame to store pipes or additional equipment. Pairs of hydraulic and manual support legs are attached to the base frame to stabilize the hoist attachment during working conditions. The power source for the hoist attachment is directly supplied by the hydraulic system in the skid steers. The hoist attachment includes controls operating the primary winch, boom, and hydraulic support legs. The base frame also includes a plug to which a remote may be attached for remote operation, the plug being connected to an electrical power source.
US08413823B2
A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall mounted to the base at an angle. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base. The system may further include an opening defined by the first side wall and the front retaining wall through which product may be removed.
US08413820B2
A rack (10) intended in use to be supported from an upstanding support, the rack comprising a base (12) adapted to be fixed to the support, a support member (14) connected to the base to be pivotable about a first axis which is generally level, to be moveable between a first position, at which it is adjacent to the support and a second position at which it extends laterally from the support, the support member being adapted to receive and support an item when in its second position.
US08413807B2
A ball display case has base and a cover that is securable to the base. When the cover is secured to the base, the cover and base at least partially enclose a space for holding a ball. The case has a pedestal for supporting a ball in the enclosed space. The elevation of the pedestal relative to the base is optionally adjustable. An irreversible lock is adapted for selective application to at least one of the base and the cover such that the lock assumes a locking position that prevents non-destructive removal of the cover from the base. One suitable lock includes a plate having a plurality of recessed areas spaced radially about the plate and a plurality of posts extending away from the plate. Each post is in general radial alignment with one of the recessed areas of the plate and spaced radially inward from the recessed area.
US08413799B2
The invention relates to a container clamp (2) or container clip provided on conveying elements in container filling installations for receiving the neck of a container, particularly a bottle, each clamp (2) or clip comprising a bearing block (3). The aim of the invention is to protect such installations by special clamping designs so that improper strain would result in the failure of only a single clamp and any further damage to the installations could be avoided. Said aim is achieved in that the bearing block (3) comprises holding elements (8, 9) which detach at least partially from the bearing and holding device (10, 11) when a lateral pivoting range or a lateral force is exceeded, wherein the bearing block (3) or the container clamp (2) or container clip is released to fall on the ground.
US08413798B2
A device for conveying products 2, particularly food products, has a horizontal conveying path supported by a base and having a drive 1 substantially extending in the horizontal direction, wherein the drive 1 is reversibly driven, and is associated with at least one auxiliary conveyor device 3, 4 also supported by the base. The device has a conveying belt 5 for the product 2 driven by a drive, and having rails and carriers 3, 4 to laterally support and carry the product 2 a distance from the drive 1.
US08413796B2
A sputter tray moving system includes a sputter tray, a guide disposed under the sputter tray and including a groove, a pulley engaged with the groove of the guide and a buffer member disposed between the sputter tray and the guide. The sputter tray is moved when the pulley engaged with the groove of the guide is rotated in a rotation direction.
US08413794B2
This invention provides a vacuum belt media transport system wherein the media is held on the belt via vacuum pressure. The vacuum force is higher at the media acquisition location and is lower at the subsequent media transport and delivery stage. The vacuum pressure is provided by vacuum plenums located in the system causing vacuum pressure through holes in the belt throughout its length.
US08413793B2
A container conveying system for transporting baggage items in containers has at least one unloading station and/or a loading station for loading or unloading the container. The baggage item lies on an endless supporting belt which is guided transversely to the transporting direction of the container so as to be drivable about a deflection roller arranged on both sides of the container, wherein, for driving in the region of the loading and/or unloading station, a stationary drive is provided which is in operative connection during the loading and/or unloading operation with a drive element for the supporting belt that is provided on the container. In order to provide a drive design which is low-wear and guarantees a high degree of availability of the system, which minimizes the maintenance intervals and which represents a cost-effective alternative to prior solutions, it is proposed that in each case at least one planar field winding for generating an electric traveling field is installed as a stationary drive for the supporting belt in defined path segments. The field contactlessly drives an endlessly circulating runner element which is arranged on the container and which in turn is coupled in terms of gearing to the supporting belt.
US08413791B2
Provided is a positioning fence for use in lumber sawmills and method of using the positioning fence that facilitates automated positioning of lumber for cutting and a method of positioning lumber for cutting. Also provided is a retrofit position fence table and a method of using the retrofit position fence table. A continuous moving track loop has a plurality of paddles laterally positionable across the width of the track. A track moving device is used to adjust the final locked position of the paddles if the paddles are not locked in the desired position.
US08413790B2
The invention relates to a method for synchronizing, and a transfer device for synchronizing, a movement pattern between two units in a packaging line, wherein one unit is intermittently operated and the second unit is continuously operated. The invention is particularly intended for a transfer device between an intermittently operated filler unit and a continuously operated cartoning machine. The transfer device is provided with a frame (13) arranged to support tube pickers-/placers (28) and is arranged to perform a simultaneous pivoting movement about a first and a second shaft (16, 31), and for rotation about a third shaft (48) at right angles to the second shaft (31). The frame is further provided with means for adjusting the spacing between the tubes and means for compensating for differences in vertical position during the rotating movement in the case where the containers picked from the part circular conveyor of the filling unit.
US08413784B2
An operating device for a vehicle with an automated transmission and an electrically actuated parking brake system. The device includes a mechanical actuating element for inputting operating commands from the user and a control unit for converting the operating commands into control signals for the transmission and the parking brake system. The actuating element has at least first and second successive stable positions, a neutral position and a return position. In the first stable position, an operating command is generated for the parking brake system to actuate the parking brake device and, in the second stable position, an operating command is generated for the transmission to actuate the parking lock device. The actuating element combines two different actuating elements into an operating device which enables the driver to choose whether, besides activation of the parking brake system, he wishes to additionally engage the parking lock system associated with the transmission.
US08413782B2
A clutch can comprise driving clutch plates spline-fitted on an input member, driven clutch plates arranged alternately with the driving clutch plates and spline-fitted on an output member, a clutch piston having one surface facing an oil pressure chamber and another surface facing the clutch plates and adapted to be displaced toward the plates by supplying oil to the oil pressure chamber and to be returned by discharging the oil from the chamber. A valve can pass through the clutch piston and be adapted to be closed for preventing oil from exiting the chamber to the other side of the clutch piston when the clutch is clutched-on and to be opened and allow airflow to the oil pressure chamber when the clutch is clutched-off. One or more weight reduction recesses can be formed on one surface of the clutch piston near the outer circumference further radially outward than the valve.
US08413777B2
Pairs of variable feed solenoid valves provide fluid to a pair of input clutch actuators and a pair of inlet ports of a first logic valve. The position of the first logic valve spool is controlled by a solenoid valve. A first pair of outlet ports of the first logic valve provide hydraulic to a first piston which selects two speed ratio. A second pair of outlet ports of the first logic valve provide fluid to a pair of inlet ports of a second logic valve. The position of the second logic valve spool is controlled by fluid from the input clutch circuits. A first pair of outlet ports of the second logic valve provide fluid to a second piston which selects two other speed ratios and a second pair of outlet ports of the second logic valve provide fluid to a third piston which selects two additional speed ratios.
US08413770B1
Systems and methods for retarding the speed of a railcar are provided. A supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid is provided to a piston cylinder to actuate the cylinder and thereby move a brake into a closed position in which the brake will apply a predetermined braking pressure to a wheel of the railcar. An accumulator accumulates fluid from the circuit when the wheel forces the brake out of the closed position and supplies accumulated fluid back to the circuit as the brake moves back into the closed position to thereby maintain a substantially constant braking pressure on the wheel as it moves through the retarder.
US08413768B2
An anti-lock brake structure includes a brake base having a curved guiding portion formed thereon and a slidable holder. The slidable holder has a curved guiding groove defined therein for receiving the brake base. Two anti-lock inclined surfaces are positioned between the curved guiding portion and the curved guiding groove. Each anti-lock surface has a shallow section and a deeper section. Two wheel sets are disposed between the curved guiding portion and the curved guiding groove. A seat member connected to the slidable holder and receives an elastomer. A brake shoe is connected to the slidable holder. Each wheel set rolls and reciprocates between the shallow section and the deeper section of the corresponding anti-lock inclined surface, such that the brake shoe is tightly or loosely rubbed against a wheel rim of the vehicle to provide an anti-lock brake effect.
US08413762B1
Embodiments of thermal-acoustic sections for an aircraft for reducing noise along an acoustic path produced from an acoustic source are provided herein. The thermal-acoustic section comprises a first porous layer having a first characteristic acoustic impedance. A second porous layer is disposed adjacent to the first porous layer and has a second characteristic acoustic impedance that is greater than the first characteristic acoustic impedance. The thermal-acoustic section is configured to be positioned along the acoustic path such that at least a portion of the noise from the acoustic source is directed through the first porous layer to the second porous layer to promote absorption of the noise.
US08413756B2
A movable and steerable device that has a platform with four wheel assemblies, any of which are both drivable and steerable. Different driving and steering options can make the device move in different directions and orientations. The driving can be done by a drive motor, forming a drive loop of material, such as chain, and a steering motor, also forming a steering loop. The different loops are attached to different sprockets on the device, which have different sizes, and therefore the different loops do not interfere with one another.
US08413748B2
A motor-driven vehicle capable of increasing the degree of freedom of wiring for a motor. A drive wheel having a motor with a stator and a rotor serving as a drive source disposed in a wheel hub is rotatably supported on a wheel shaft between right and left forks. The stator is provided in a body-side retainer member fixed to a vehicle body, the rotor is rotatably supported on the wheel shaft, and wiring for the motor is passed through the body-side retainer member. The brake mechanism is provided on the drive wheel. As seen from a front of a vehicle body, the wheel hub is rotatably supported on the wheel shaft on one lateral side alone from a body center and the brake mechanism is disposed on one lateral side from a body center and the motor is disposed on the other lateral side from the body center.
US08413743B2
A plurality of components of a power tool are coupled to each other to form a component assembly. Positioning members are disposed within a housing body and resiliently support the component assembly from opposite sides in an axial direction.
US08413735B2
Fire-extinguishing agent supplying equipment pressurizes a water-based fire-extinguishing agent and supplies the agent via a pipe; and the water-based fire-extinguishing agent is pressurized and supplied via the pipe to an electrification spray head installed in a protection area A, and the jetted particles of the fire-extinguishing agent are electrified and sprayed from the electrification spray head. A pulsed or alternating electrification voltage is applied to the electrification spray head from a voltage application unit 15, and an external electric field generated by applying the voltage between a water-side electrode unit and an induction electrode unit is applied to the fire-extinguishing agent in a jetting process to electrify the jetted particles.
US08413719B2
A fluid containing a viscous hyposaline aqueous solution of first and second cationic polymers that include quatemized ammonium groups, wherein the first cationic polymer includes a hydrophilic base polymer structure and the second cationic polymer includes a lipophilic base polymer Also disclosed is a method of introducing the viscous fluid into an initial first interval of a subterranean formation, and diverting with the viscous fluid a treating fluid from the initial first interval to an initial second interval.
US08413718B2
A method for enhancing oil recovery from reservoirs is described. The method includes partially recharging zones of pore space in a reservoir that has been previously waterflooded to extract oil, in order to obtain increased ultimate oil recovery by re-waterflooding the recharged zones. The recharging may be achieved by either reinjection of oil or by change in injection scheme, such as changing an oil producing well to a water injection well. This procedure of recharging with oil followed by waterflooding may be repeated. Application of the present method to increase recovery from reservoirs producing dry (water-free) oil to mature reservoirs which produce at high water-to-oil ratios is anticipated.
US08413717B2
A technique improves the formation of dependable seals along wellbores. A packer is constructed with a plurality of elastomeric layers and an internal mechanical layer that extend between mechanical extremities. One or more of a variety of features can be added to, or used in conjunction with, the packer to reduce wear and the potential for detrimental damage during use of the packer.
US08413716B2
Methods and devices for using position data of a piston connected to a ram block in a blowout preventer to determine a backlash of the ram block, and/or to record a position of the ram block, and/or to calculate an instant when a supplemental closing pressure is desired to be applied, and/or to determine when maintenance of a ram locking mechanism is due, and/or to determine when sealing elements are worn.
US08413714B2
A heat dissipation device includes a heat sink forming an engaging portion along an outer periphery thereof, a fan holder attached to the heat sink and a fan secured to the heat sink via the fan holder. The fan holder includes an elastic main body, a first clip pivotally connected to a free end of the elastic main body and a second clip connected with the first clip and engaging with an opposite free end of the elastic main body. The elastic main body includes a pair of fixing portions formed at upper and lower sides thereof. The lower fixing portion of the fan holder is tightly engaged with the engaging portion of the heat sink and the upper fixing portion presses the fan towards the heat sink when the second clip is tightly locked to the opposite free end of the elastic main body.
US08413712B2
A cooling device has a large number of closely spaced impinging jets, adjacent an impingement gap, with parallel return paths for supplying coolant flow for the impinging jets with the least possible pressure drop using an interdigitated, branched hierarchical manifold. Surface enhancement features spanning the impingement gap form U-shaped microchannels between single impinging jets and single outlets.
US08413708B2
A surface treatment method includes covering a surface of a casting mold with a carbon film containing at least one type of nanocarbon selected from the group including carbon nanocoils, carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofilaments, and further applying fullerenes to that surface. With this surface treatment method being performed on a surface (a cavity surface, etc. of a casting mold) making contact with a molten casting material such as aluminum, etc., sticking of the molten casting material to the mold is inhibited, release resistance of the product is reduced, and release effectiveness is improved. The release effectiveness lasts longer than in the case of a conventional carbon film.
US08413705B2
An adjustable flap, designed for the production of a covering device, includes a section (12) that is made of translucent material with length L1 and longitudinal axis A1 around which the flap (10) is articulated to rotate, and at least one slat (14) that is made of opaque material with length L2, L2 that is at most equal to L1, and longitudinal axis A2, A2 that is parallel to A1, around which the slat (14) is articulated to rotate relative to the flap.
US08413704B2
A stamping device for stamping a nanotube network onto a target substrate is disclosed. The device comprises a template structure having a support structure formed on or attached to a substrate, and a plurality of nanotubes being supported by the support structure and engaging a plane which is spatially separated from the substrate.
US08413686B2
A faucet includes a faucet body, a bent tube mounted on the faucet body, a water outlet pipe retractably mounted in the bent tube and having a connector, an elastic sleeve mounted in the distal end of the bent tube, a first magnetic member mounted in the elastic sleeve, a locking sleeve mounted on the connector of the water outlet pipe and inserted into the elastic sleeve, a second magnetic member mounted in the locking sleeve and movable to approach the first magnetic member, and a spout locked onto the locking sleeve. Thus, when the locking sleeve is inserted into the elastic sleeve, the second magnetic member is attracted magnetically by the first magnetic member so as to position the locking sleeve in the elastic sleeve and to position the spout onto the distal end of the bent tube.
US08413675B2
A Yard Hydrant Made Easy has a riser with a slip connection, called a pitless adapter, attached directly to the side of the riser, below freeze level. The water supply is connected to the outside section of the pitless adapter and a yard hydrant is attached to the inside removable section of the pitless adapter. This hollow riser and slip connection allows for easy removal and replacement of a yard hydrant, without the need of any future excavation, busting of concrete, or tearing up of landscaped areas. A seepage section may be incorporated at the base of the riser to allow a yard hydrant to drain out without ever coming in contact with soil. This prevents any chance of the drain hole, at the base of the yard hydrant, becoming stopped up and causing the hydrant to freeze. A dual check valve backflow preventer may be installed at the base of the hydrant. An underground shut-off valve may be connected to the outside section of the pitless adapter to allow the individual hydrant to be isolated without interrupting water supply to an entire property.
US08413666B2
A method to gently and permanently relax or straighten hair utilizes a protease enzyme, and preferably the enzyme kerA. The hair is optionally treated with a swelling agent, after which it is treated with the enzyme in an aqueous solution. The hair is then physically manipulated, such as by ironing, to remove unwanted curl, wave, and or kink. The enzyme has the ability to cleave inter-peptide bonds, allowing the hair fiber to be relaxed or straightened with less damage to the fiber than would have occurred using traditional or existing straightening methods.
US08413659B2
There is disclosed an endotracheal tube which has a minimal cross-sectional profile for easy viewing of anatomical features during intubation. After the tube is placed into the trachea, the tube is adapted to increase the diameter. In this manner the tube diameter may be expanded to allow for decreased Work of Breathing (WOB) for patient, while not having so large a diameter as to cause tracheal discomfort.
US08413653B2
A safety system and method of an air distribution system of a tunnel structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, the air distribution includes a supply unit installed on a particular wall of the first set of walls to facilitate delivery of breathable air from a source of compressed air to an emergency support system of the tunnel structure, a fill site interior to the tunnel structure to provide the breathable air to a breathable air apparatus at multiple locations of the tunnel structure, a secure chamber of the fill site as a safety shield that confines a possible rupture of an over-pressurized breathable air apparatus within the secure chamber, a distribution structure that is compatible with use with compressed air that facilitates dissemination of the breathable air of the source of compressed air to multiple locations of the tunnel structure.
US08413647B2
Provided is a cooker. A carbon heater used as a convection heater is supported by a heater bracket and heater supporters, and light and heat generated from the carbon heater are transferred to the inside of a cooking chamber through convection, conduction, and radiation.
US08413640B2
The invention relates to an emission cleaning system which is disposed on the intake tract of an internal combustion engine and has at least one device for taking in air and also at least one filter unit and a control/regulating device.
US08413637B2
The invention relates to a fuel injector comprising a nozzle retainer or an injector body, a valve body and a nozzle body, in which a preferably needle-shaped injection valve member is arranged to be vertically movable, said member releasing or closing at least one injection port leading to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine depending on the pressure relief of or the pressure load on a control chamber. The invention is characterized in that a valve comprising a preferably ball-shaped valve element is arranged in the nozzle retainer or in the injector body for the pressure relief of the control chamber.
US08413634B2
The present disclosure is directed to a fuel injector assembly including a valve and a cable assembly for actuating the valve. The cable can include a plurality of strands, and each strand can be an optical fiber, an electrical conductor, or a tensile member capable of withstanding a tensile stress caused when the valve actuator actuates the valve, or any combination thereof. The cable can also include a brush bearing with bristles extending from the cable to maintain the cable at least generally centered within a channel as the cable moves in the channel. The bristles can be electrically conductive and can convey a voltage to an electrode pair near the valve to ionize at least a portion of the fuel to urge the fuel from the injector through the valve.
US08413629B2
The invention relates to a balancing shaft for a multi-cylinder engine having at least one unbalanced weight portion (21, 22; 23, 24) and at least one bearing (16, 17), the at least one unbalanced weight portion (21, 22; 23, 24) being associated with a bearing (16, 17), the bearing (16, 17) having a radial running face (18) which extends only partially over a periphery of the bearing (16, 17) and a centrifugal force which results during rotation of the balancing shaft (11) is situated within a region of the bearing (16, 17) that is formed by the running face (18) which extends partially over the periphery of the bearing (16, 17).
US08413625B2
An internal combustion engine includes a driving shaft, a pair of camshafts for driving engine valves, a transmission connecting the driving shaft to a first of said camshafts and a transmission connecting the first camshaft to the second camshaft. The transmission connecting the two camshafts to each other includes a pair of articulated parallelogram mechanisms each having two crank members rotatable with end portions of the camshafts and connected to each by means of a connecting rod. The crank members are made up of circular discs eccentrically mounted on the camshafts and rotatably received in circular openings formed at the ends of the respective connecting rod. The two crank members rotatable with the same camshaft are spaced from each other by a determined angle.
US08413607B2
Water troughs and structures for retrofitting a watering trough to provide safe water access for birds and other wildlife.
US08413606B2
A feed carrier receptacle for use in a rotary feed dispensing mechanism, which includes a box, a feed loading opening, and separation partitions. The feed loading opening is formed in the box. The separation partitions are arranged inside the box and every adjacent separation partitions and an inside surface of the box form a feed compartment, which communicates the feed loading opening and is provided with a feed discharge opening and a brush adjacent to the feed discharge opening When put into rotation, the feed loaded in the receptacle is generally rotated in unison therewith to move toward the feed discharge openings and is subject to a frictional force as contacting the brush so that the feed, when passing through the brush, is caused to rotate by itself and thus may fly over a long distance. This increases the distribution range of feed.
US08413598B2
A sailing ship includes a sailing unit, which comprises a hard sail assembly comprising a plurality of hard sail sections of wing-shaped hollow cross section vertically stacked so each, except the lowermost, fits on the one immediately below; a mast assembly comprising a plurality of mast sections of hollow cross section vertically stacked so each, except the lowermost, fits in the one immediately below; connecting members for connecting upper ends of the hard sail sections to upper ends of the mast sections located at the same level; first means for moving each mast section, except the lowermost, toward and away from the one immediately below; and second means for rotating the mast assembly around its longitudinal axis. Overlapping lengths between vertically adjacent mast sections are variably controlled so as to variably control overlapping lengths between vertically adjacent hard sail sections. Thus, the hard sail assembly vertically expands and contracts.
US08413592B2
A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The mounting interface between the ends of the axles and the sideframe pedestals allows lateral rocking motion of the sideframes in the manner of a swing motion truck. The lateral swinging motion is combined with a longitudinal self steering capability. The self steering capability may be obtained by use of a longitudinally oriented rocker that may tend to permit resistance to self steering that is proportional to the weight carried across the interface. The trucks may have auxiliary centering elements mounted in the pedestal seats, and those auxiliary centering elements may be made of resilient elastomeric material. The truck may also have friction dampers that have a disinclination to stick-slip behavior. The friction dampers may be provided with brake linings, or similar features, on the face engaging the sideframe columns, on the slope face, or both.
US08413584B2
The invention provides a method of preparing a blast hole which method comprises the sequential steps of: drilling a blast hole; placing explosives in the blast hole; filling the blast hole with a stemming material comprising a cement composition and water wherein the weight ratio of water to solids content of the stemming material is at least about 1:1.
US08413580B2
The present invention provides a compressible printing sleeve carrier for use in offset lithography which is formed from a composite fiber-reinforced compressible polymer. The printing sleeve carrier is formed by coating reinforcing filaments with a compressible polymer and winding the filaments around a mandrel to form a hollow cylindrical base, where the first portion of the base adjacent the inner surface contains the wound reinforcing filaments coated with the compressible polymer and the second portion of the base adjacent the outer surface contains the compressible polymer.
US08413577B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for depositing viscous material on an electronic substrate. The apparatus comprises a frame, an assembly material applicator coupled to the frame and configured to apply assembly material to the electronic substrate, a substrate support assembly, coupled to the frame, configured to support and secure the electronic substrate in a print position, and a transport system, coupled to the frame, to shuttle electronic substrates to and from the substrate support assembly, the transport system including a first track and a second track, the first track being mounted on a first displacement mechanism and the second track being mounted on a second displacement mechanism configured to laterally move the second track relative to the first track, the second displacement mechanism configured to raise the first track relative to the second track.
US08413570B2
An ejection and recovery system for a disrupter barrel has a parachute. A housing having a channel formed there through is provided wherein the disrupter barrel is positioned in the channel. A tube is coupled to the housing for storing the parachute. A lanyard is coupled to the parachute and to the disrupter barrel.
US08413565B2
A drive, having a quick stop mechanism, for a breech is axially adjustable relative to a weapon barrel, and includes a motor, two counter-rotating chains and sprocket wheels that guide the chains. Engaging cams and control cams are integrated into the chains. A slide mounted at the bottom of the breech is displaceable transversely to the direction of fire and has a groove that the engaging cams engage to entrain the breech in a forward or reverse motion relative to the direction of fire. The engaging cam transporting the breech forwards is displaced from the groove while the control cam displaces the slide simultaneously to its center position via its ascent ramp, thereby allowing breech rest periods in the forward limit position. Firing causes the slide to move from the center position to the left hand side whereas it remains in the center position when no shot is fired.
US08413562B2
A slide circular saw comprises a base, a saw blade rotatably driven by a motor, and a main body including the saw blade. The slide circular saw is configured to be capable of automatically changing a cutting depth between in a vertical cut and a bevel cut operations. A chamfered part where a lower limit position setting bolt abuts in a vertical cut operation and a peripheral surface part where the lower limit position abuts in a bevel cut operation are provided at a rod of the slide circular saw. The peripheral surface part has a lower limit position of the saw blade being higher than that of the chamfered part. Position of the rod can be switched between a first position where the chamfered part abuts the lower limit position setting bolt when the main body is in a vertical cut position and a second position where the peripheral surface part abuts the lower limit position setting bolt when the main body is in a bevel cut position.
US08413555B2
A pliers fencing tool includes a wedge having a through slot for engagement with the rotatably mounted ratcheted sprocket teeth of a fence wire strainer suspended between the fence wire looped ends. Through slot engaged cause the teeth to rotate from a first to a second ratcheted position and thereby strain the fence wire. A grip having a thumb receiving recess and thumb guard is provided between the wedge and the means for pivotably connecting the handles, and the handles are gripped at the grip portion with the wedge distally disposed.
US08413553B2
A pivot head wrench includes a handle, a switch, a pusher, a position-retaining device including a resilient member, a pawl, and a driving head. The pivot head wrench is switchable between lock and unlock modes. In the lock mode, the switch is rotated to a first position, and the pusher is abutted against the pawl, and the driving head is adapted to be pivoted at various positions, and the pawl is temporarily disengaged from the driving head when the driving head is pivoted from one position to another and engagement therebetween is resumed by the resilient member thereafter. In the unlock mode, the switch is rotated to a second position, and the switch is abutted against the pawl such that the pawl is restrained from movement and from disengagement from the driving head, and the driving head is restrained and securely held in place at a selected position.
US08413550B2
A ratchet wrench (10) includes a head (12) having a compartment (121) rotatably receiving a drive member (12). An annular groove (126) is formed in an inner periphery of the compartment (121) and in communication with a recess (13) formed in a side (F2) of the head (12). A flange (2121) is formed on an outer periphery of the drive member (21) and intermediate a toothed portion (213) of the drive member (21) and an annular groove (214) formed in the outer periphery of the drive member (21). A flange (2121) is formed on the outer periphery of the drive member (21) and includes an inner end face (2122) facing a bottom face (133) of the recess (13). A C-clip (24) is received in the annular grooves (126, 214) and has two clamping portions (241) received in the recess (13). A dustproof cap (30) engaged in the recess (13) and located intermediate a bottom face (133) and the recess (13) and the inner end face (2122) of the flange (2121). The dustproof cap (30) covers the clamping portions (241) of the C-clip (24) and covers and seals the recess (13).
US08413546B2
A power transmitting apparatus, such as an automotive transmission, can be configured to reduce the size of a torque converter as well as improve the flexibility of the torque converter's layout. A power transmitting apparatus configured to transmit power from a driving source of a vehicle to its wheels and can be configured selectively transmit or cutting-off the driving force to the wheels can comprise a torque converter having a torque amplifying function. A clutch mechanism can include a first clutch device to transmit the driving force to the wheels through a power transmitting system of the torque converter and a second clutch to transmit the driving force without the power transmitting system of the torque converter. A selecting device can control the first clutch device or the second clutch device in accordance with conditions of the vehicle including start of a vehicle from a stop. A damping mechanism for damping torque variation can be configured to transmit power between the driving source and the torque converter.
US08413545B1
A transmission housing, or transmission including a transmission housing, having a plurality of dipstick access ports positioned on the housing for receiving in each access port a dipstick that is used to monitor a level of transmission fluid in an oil pan mounted to a bottom of the transmission housing. The housing may also include internal lugs positioned along an internal surface of the housing that interlock or interconnect with a transmission component to minimize rotational movement of the component relative to the housing. The lugs are aligned and spaced equidistance apart circumferentially on the internal surface of the housing, thereby eliminating larger gaps between consecutive lugs, which may concentrate mechanical stresses on the lugs at such a gap, as in prior art transmission. In addition, the housing may include an inlet fluid port positioned adjacent the lugs for receiving cooled transmission fluid to lubricate and cool centrally and rearwardly positioned transmission components.
US08413544B2
A multi-spindle gearbox system includes a gearbox, a gear assembly, an output sleeve spindle, and a cable receiving barrel. The gearbox includes a base and a sealing cover covering the base. The sealing cover forms a hollow box space together with the base receiving the gear assembly therein. The base defines an assembly hole therethrough. The sealing cover defines a guiding hole corresponding to the assembly hole of the base. The output sleeve spindle is hollow and cylindrical with one end thereof assembled to the assembly hole of the base corresponding to the gear assembly. The cable receiving barrel is assembled within the gearbox. One end of the cable receiving barrel connects with the assembly hole and the other end of the cable receiving barrel passes through the guiding hole and is exposed to an outer side of the sealing cover.
US08413533B2
An operating device for a gear-changing transmission operated by shift-by-wire is disclosed. The operating device includes an operating element, rotatably or pivotally supported in a bearing position having a position sensor device, and a device for producing force-feedback. The force-feedback device includes an adjustable counterforce element acting on the operating element, wherein the counterforce element comprises a fluid having controllably variable viscosity. The operating device including the counterforce element is produced by a bearing gap of the bearing position of the operating element, with the bearing gap being filled with the fluid. A space-saving integration of the counterforce element of a force-feedback device is enabled into the joint of an operating lever. Thus, the cost, structural complexity, and installation space required for an operating device having force-feedback is significantly reduced. The haptics of a mechanical operating lever can be realistically emulated.
US08413527B2
Disclosed is a fluid sampling device comprising a housing arranged to be freely rotatable under the influence of a fluid and comprising an opening for channeling the fluid through the housing such that the fluid contacts a particular portion of a sampling medium corresponding to a relative angular position of the housing.
US08413520B2
A method for steadying an aircraft using jack props, in which: a number and location of the props to be used is determined as a function of an area of operation, on the basis of a prop map; strain gauges arranged on the structure of the aircraft are used; predetermined props that are to be used are fitted; the strains measured by at least one strain gauge situated in the operating zone are checked; and the load applied by at least one prop positioned in the operating zone is regulated according to the strains measured by the gauge and so as to minimize the strains. A steadying device can implement the method.
US08413512B2
It is an object of the invention to provide an agitation method for sufficiently agitating a mixture of a solution such as a buffer solution and a material to be detected, with no need of any dedicated unit for agitation, for measurements using a quartz crystal oscillator. The method for agitating a liquefied material using a quartz crystal oscillator in vibrating the quartz crystal oscillator at a given frequency and measuring the variation of the frequency due to a substance in contact with the quartz crystal oscillator, is that the quartz crystal oscillator is vibrated at other frequency different from the given frequency and equal to or higher than the fundamental vibration frequency to agitate a liquid containing the substance.
US08413508B2
The invention provides a method of measuring an acceleration by means of a vibrating accelerometer including a piezoelectric vibrating cell, the method having the steps: of exciting the vibration cell by means of an excitation signal at a resonant frequency of the vibrating cell; of calculating an acceleration value from a detection signal that results from the excitation signal; of exciting the vibrating cell with a correction excitation signal at a correction frequency that is different from the resonant frequency; of extracting a correction signal from the detection signal, the correction being representative of an electrical characteristic that is to be corrected; and of combining the correction signal with the detection signal so as to reduce the electrical characteristic that is to be corrected.
US08413507B2
A semiconductor dynamic quantity sensor has a substrate including a semiconductor substrate, an insulation layer on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a semiconductor layer on the insulation layer. The main surface has a projection that is trapezoidal or triangular in cross section. The semiconductor layer is divided by a through hole into a movable portion. A tip of the projection is located directly below the movable portion and spaced from the movable portion by a predetermined distance in a thickness direction of the substrate. A width of the tip of the projection is less than a width of the movable portion in a planar direction of the substrate. The distance between the tip of the projection and the movable portion is equal to a thickness of the insulation layer.
US08413506B2
An integrated microelectromechanical structure is provided with: a die, having a substrate and a frame, defining inside it a detection region and having a first side extending along a first axis; a driving mass, anchored to the substrate, set in the detection region, and designed to be rotated in a plane with a movement of actuation about a vertical axis; and a first pair and a second pair of first sensing masses, suspended inside the driving mass via elastic supporting elements so as to be fixed with respect thereto in the movement of actuation and so as to perform a detection movement of rotation out of the plane in response to a first angular velocity; wherein the first sensing masses of the first pair and the first sensing masses of the second pair are aligned in respective directions, having non-zero inclinations of opposite sign with respect to the first axis.
US08413497B2
When a wastegate valve, which opens and closes an exhaust bypass passage bypassing an exhaust turbine, is open, exhaust gases of respective cylinders bypass the exhaust turbine and pass a sensing point of an air-fuel ratio sensor downstream of the exhaust turbine. Accordingly, the exhaust gases of the respective cylinders can be avoided from being mixed by the exhaust turbine, so an influence of an inter-cylinder variation in an air-fuel ratio due to an inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality becomes apt to appear in an output waveform of the air-fuel ratio sensor. Therefore, existence or nonexistence of the inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality is determined based on the output of the air-fuel ratio sensor when the wastegate valve is open. Eventually, the existence or nonexistence of the inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality can be determined accurately, thereby improving detection accuracy of the inter-cylinder imbalance abnormality.
US08413495B2
An output correction apparatus that corrects offset drift of a cylinder internal pressure sensor, and a cylinder internal pressure detection apparatus that accurately detects cylinder internal pressure of an internal combustion engine through use of the output correction apparatus. The cylinder internal pressure detection apparatus includes a detection circuit section which detects a change in the resistance of a piezoresistor element as an electrical signal; an amplification circuit section which amplifies and outputs the electrical signal (output value); and a correction circuit section which corrects the output value. The correction circuit section includes a reset control section which resets the output value of the amplification circuit section to a reference value, and a reset timing detection section which determines a timing of the resetting.
US08413493B1
A method for identifying a defect such as a crack on a turbine rotor blade while the blade is in operation within a gas turbine engine, the method includes scanning the blade using an IR camera, identifying a leading edge or other line on the blade for a reference point, identifying a potential defect candidate on the blade by comparing the potential defect to a surrounding neighborhood in order to determine if the potential defect is an anomaly, and if the potential defect is an anomaly determine the structure of the anomaly in order to determine if the defect is a crack or a hole or a TBC spallation. The method computes a probability density for sub-regions in an image of the blade, conditioned upon the areas surrounding the sub-regions.
US08413489B2
The present invention relates to a column tip processing device and a column tip processing method, and its objective is to enhance the contact between a packing and a fluid as a subject to be processed whereby accomplishing a highly efficient reaction as well as an accurate processing, which has a nozzle head having a single or multiple-channeled nozzle, a suction and discharge mechanism, one or more types of column tips in which a packing is enclosed, a stage provided with a fluid housing part group including a plurality of fluid housing parts in which various solutions are or can be housed, and moving means for moving the nozzle head relatively to the fluid housing part group, and also has a controlling part which controls the suction and discharge mechanism and the moving means with regard to quantities, pressure, flow rate, the number of cycles, time or position of the suction or discharge by the nozzle based on a structural requirement relating to the structure of the one or more types of column tips to be fitted to the nozzle and a processing requirement relating to the processing contents involving one or more types of subject fluids subjected to the suction or discharge of the column tips.
US08413483B2
A gas sensor comprises a gas sensing element, a housing for the gas sensing element, and an element cover secured to an axial end of the housing and composed of an inner cover covering part of the gas sensing element and an outer cover disposed outside the inner cover. The outer cover comprise an approximately cylindrical side wall body, a bottom body integral with the side wall body, and a guide having first and second ends, the first end being secured to the side wall body and the second end being separated from the side wall body and located to provide a side opening between the second end and the side wall body. The side opening introduces a gas thereinto. A discharge opening is formed through the bottom body. The second end is recessed inward in the outer cover and is closer to the bottom body than the first end.
US08413481B2
The invention relates to a method for differentiating foods with respect to mouthfeel, a method for identifying a composition having the ability to improve the mouthfeel of a food, and a method for predicting mouthfeel attributes of a food using a novel tribology device.
US08413476B2
A rolling mill stand for production of rolled strip or sheet metal has working rolls which are supported on supporting rolls or on intermediate rolls and supporting rolls. The working rolls and/or intermediate rolls are arranged in the rolling mill stand so as to be displaceable axially with respect to one another. Each working and/or intermediate roll has a curved barrel contour which runs over the entire effective barrel length and can be described by a trigonometric function. The two barrel contours of adjacent rolls complete one another in a complementary way, in the unloaded state, solely in one specific relative axial position of the rolls of the pair of rolls, so that inhomogeneities in the load distribution along the contact line of two adjacent rolls are to be minimized. For this purpose, the supporting rolls have a complementary barrel contour, and a partial or full completion of the barrel contours of the supporting rolls and of the directly adjacent working rolls or intermediate rolls occurs in the unloaded state.
