US08445991B2
A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a lower electrode formed on a substrate, a dielectric layer including an etched dielectric region and an as-grown dielectric region formed on the lower electrode, an upper electrode formed on the as-grown dielectric region, a hardmask formed on the upper electrode, a spacer formed at a side surface of the hardmask and the upper electrode and over a surface of the etched dielectric region, and a buffer insulation layer formed on the hardmask and the spacer.
US08445988B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for plasma processing, which facilitates to constantly control a RF voltage supplied to a substrate supporting member by precisely detecting an inductive RF voltage induced to the substrate supporting member for a plasma, the apparatus comprising: a substrate supporting member for supporting a substrate, installed in a reaction room of a processing chamber; a RF generator for supplying a RF voltage to the substrate supporting member so as to form plasma in the reaction room; and a matching device for matching impedance of the RF voltage to be supplied to the substrate supporting member from the RF generator, wherein the matching device comprises: a matching unit for matching the impedance of RF voltage; and an inductive RF detecting unit which an inductive RF detecting voltage by removing noise frequency elements except a waveform of the RF voltage from a waveform of an inductive RF voltage induced to the substrate supporting member, and supplies the detected inductive RF detecting voltage to the RF generator so as to control the RF voltage.
US08445981B2
Magnetic memory devices, electronic systems and memory cards including the same, methods of manufacturing the same, and methods of forming perpendicular magnetic films are provided. The magnetic memory device may include a seed pattern on a substrate having a first crystal structure, a perpendicular magnetic pattern on the seed pattern having a second crystal structure, and an interlayer pattern between the seed pattern and the perpendicular magnetic pattern. The interlayer pattern may reduce a stress caused by a difference between horizontal lattice constants of the first and the second crystal structures.
US08445973B2
There is provided a fin transistor structure and a method of fabricating the same. The fin transistor structure comprises a fin formed on a semiconductor substrate, wherein an insulation material is formed between a portion of the fin serving as the channel region of the transistor structure and the substrate, and a bulk semiconductor material is formed between remaining portions of the fin and the substrate. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the current leakage while maintaining the advantages such as low cost and high heat transfer.
US08445968B2
A semiconductor device with improved transistor operating and flicker noise characteristics includes a substrate, an analog NMOS transistor and a compressively-strained-channel analog PMOS transistor disposed on the substrate. The device also includes a first etch stop liner (ESL) and a second ESL which respectively cover the NMOS transistor and the PMOS transistor. The relative measurement of flicker noise power of the NMOS and PMOS transistors to flicker noise power of reference unstrained-channel analog NMOS and PMOS transistors at a frequency of 500 Hz is less than 1.
US08445967B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor island having at least one electrical dopant atom and encapsulated by dielectric materials including at least one dielectric material layer. At least two portions of the at least one dielectric material layer have a thickness less than 2 nm to enable quantum tunneling effects. A source-side conductive material portion and a drain-side conductive material portion abuts the two portions of the at least one dielectric material layer. A gate conductor is located on the at least one dielectric material layer between the source-side conductive material portion and the drain-side conductive material portion. The potential of the semiconductor island responds to the voltage at the gate conductor to enable or disable tunneling current through the two portions of the at least one dielectric material layer. Design structures for the semiconductor device are also provided.
US08445966B2
A semiconductor device (400) for improved charge dissipation protection includes a substrate (426), a layer of semiconductive or conductive material (406), one or more thin film devices (408) and a charge passage device (414). The thin film devices (408) are connected to the semiconductive or conductive layer (406) and the charge passage device (414) is coupled to the thin film devices (408) and to the substrate (426) and provides a connection from the thin film devices (408) to the substrate (426) to dissipate charge from the semiconductive/conductive layer (406) to the substrate (426).
US08445965B2
A structure and method of fabricating the structure. The structure includes a first region of a semiconductor substrate separated from a second region of the semiconductor substrate by trench isolation formed in the substrate; a first stressed layer over the first region; a second stressed layer over second region; the first stressed layer and second stressed layer separated by a gap; and a passivation layer on the first and second stressed layers, the passivation layer extending over and sealing the gap.
US08445961B2
In one embodiment, a body region of a body-contacted silicon-on-insulator (SOI) metal-oxide-semiconductor-field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) is connected to a gate of another MOSFET in a sensing circuit to form a floating body node. The voltage at the floating body node is accurately obtained at the output of the sensing circuit and used to provide an estimate of required floating body voltage over a full device operating range.
US08445956B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device and semiconductor device. One embodiment provides a semiconductor substrate with an active region and a margin region bordering on the active region. The spacer layer in the margin region is broken through at a selected location and at least part of the spacer layer is removed in the active region using a common process. The location is selected such that at least part of the semiconductor mesa structure is exposed and the spacer layer in the margin region is broken through to the conductive layer and not to the semiconductor substrate.
US08445948B2
Methodologies and gate etching processes are presented to enable the fabrication of gate conductors of semiconductor devices, such as NFETs and/or PFETs, which are equipped with nano-channels. In one embodiment, a sacrificial spacer of equivalent thickness to the diameter of the gate nano-channel is employed and is deposited after patterning the gate conductor down to the gate dielectric. The residue gate material that is beneath the nano-channel is removed utilizing a medium to high density, bias-free, fluorine-containing or fluorine-and chlorine-containing isotropic etch process without compromising the integrity of the gate. In another embodiment, an encapsulation/passivation layer is utilized. In yet further embodiment, no sacrificial spacer or encapsulation/passivation layer is used and gate etching is performed in an oxygen and nitrogen-free ambient.
US08445943B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes: a plurality of data holding circuits; and a plurality of wells. The plurality of data holding circuits is provided in a substrate of a first conductive type. Each of the plurality of data holding circuits includes a first well of the first conductive type and a second well of a second conductive type different from the first conductive type. The plurality of wells is arranged in two directions for the each of the plurality of data holding circuits.
US08445940B2
An integrated circuit device is disclosed. The disclosed device provides improved control over a surface proximity and tip depth of integrated circuit devices. An exemplary integrated circuit device disclosed herein has a surface proximity of about 1 nm to about 3 nm and a tip depth of about 5 nm to about 10 nm. The integrated circuit device having such surface proximity and tip depth includes an epi source feature and an epi drain feature defined by a first facet and a second facet of a substrate in a first direction, such as a {111} crystallographic plane of the substrate, and a third facet of the substrate in a second direction, such as a {100} crystallographic plane of the substrate.
US08445936B1
An integrally formed high-efficient multi-layer light-emitting device is provided, which includes a heat dissipation seat, a plurality of light-emitting dies, and a lead frame. The heat dissipation seat includes a chamber having an accommodating space, and a groove having two inclined inner sidewalls is formed around the periphery of a bottom of the chamber, The groove is very fine so that only very small amounts of the phosphor and silicone are used for filling the groove and covering the light-emitting dies, and thereby the material cost and the manufacturing cost are greatly reduced. The light can be reflected out of the chamber so that the brightness and the evenness of the light output will be improved.
US08445933B2
Disclosed is a light emitting diode (LED) package having an array of light emitting cells coupled in series. The LED package comprises a package body and an LED chip mounted on the package body. The LED chip has an array of light emitting cells coupled in series. Since the LED chip having the array of light emitting cells coupled in series is mounted on the LED package, it can be driven directly using an AC power source.
US08445931B2
A polycrystalline sintered ceramic including (A) a garnet phase and (B) a perovskite, monoclinic or silicate phase wherein fine grains of phase (B) are included and dispersed in phase (A) is used as a wavelength converting member. Since the light transmitting through the wavelength converting member is scattered at the interface between the garnet phase and the perovskite, monoclinic or silicate phase, a light emitting device including the wavelength converting member produces light of more uniform color with a minimized loss thereof.
US08445926B2
Disclosed are a LED package, a method of fabricating the same, and a backlight unit having the same. The light emitting diode package comprises a light emitting diode, a printed circuit board provided with a circuit pattern used for driving the light emitting diode and a through hole formed in an area where the light emitting diode is mounted, and a heat sink provided in the through hole and contacted with a bottom surface of the light emitting diode.
US08445924B2
A light emitting device is disclosed. The light emitting device includes a support member, a light emitting structure disposed over the support member and includes first and second light emitting structures, the first and second light emitting structures including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer, a passivation layer disposed on one side surface of the first light emitting structure, a first electrode disposed between the support member and the first semiconductor layer in the first light emitting structure, a second electrode disposed on a side surface of the passivation layer and on the second semiconductor layer in the first light emitting structure, a third electrode disposed between the support member and the first semiconductor layer in the second light emitting structure, an insulation layer disposed with a through hole, and a fourth electrode disposed in the through hole.
US08445902B2
Provided are a coplanar structure thin film transistor that allows a threshold voltage to change only a little under electric stress, and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor includes on a substrate at least: a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer; an oxide semiconductor layer including a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a channel region; a channel protection layer; and an interlayer insulating layer. The channel protection layer includes one or more layers, the layer in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer among the one or more layers being made of an insulating material containing oxygen, ends of the channel protection layer are thinner than a central part of the channel protection layer, the interlayer insulating layer contains hydrogen, and regions of the oxide semiconductor layer that are in direct contact with the interlayer insulating layer form the source electrode and the drain electrode.
US08445894B2
A thin film transistor comprising at least three terminals consisting of a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode; an insulator layer and an organic semiconductor layer on a substrate, which controls its electric current flowing between the source and the drain by applying a electric voltage across the gate electrode, wherein the organic semiconductor layer comprises a styryl derivative having a styryl structure expressed by C6H5—CH═CH—C6H5, or a distyryl structure expressed by C6H5—CH═CH—C6H5—CH═CH—C6H5 each without molecular weight distribution. The transistor has a fast response speed (driving speed), and further, achieves a large On/Off ratio getting an enhanced performance as a transistor.
US08445893B2
An apparatus or method can include forming a graphene layer including a working surface, forming a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) layer upon the working surface of the graphene layer, and forming a dielectric layer upon the PVA layer. In an example, the PVA layer can be activated and the dielectric layer can be deposited on an activated portion of the PVA layer. In an example, an electronic device can include such apparatus, such as included as a portion of graphene field-effect transistor (GFET), or one or more other devices.
US08445885B2
A nonvolatile memory element includes first and second electrodes, and a resistance variable layer disposed therebetween. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a platinum-containing layer. The resistance variable layer includes a first oxygen-deficient transition metal oxide layer which is not physically in contact with the platinum-containing layer and a second oxygen-deficient transition metal oxide layer which is disposed between the first oxygen-deficient transition metal oxide layer and the platinum-containing layer and is physically in contact with the platinum-containing layer. When oxygen-deficient transition metal oxides included in the first and second oxygen-deficient transition metal oxide layers are expressed as MOx, and MOy, respectively, x
US08445880B2
A phase change memory device capable of fully discharging bit lines, even while occupying a relatively small area, and a fabricating method thereof are presented. The phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a word line area, a discharge line area, a switching PN diode, a dummy PN diode, a phase change structure, and a bit line. The word line area is formed in a memory cell area of the semiconductor substrate. The discharge line area is formed in the bit-line discharge area of the semiconductor substrate. The switching PN diode is formed on the word line area. The dummy PN diode is formed on the discharge line area. The phase change structure is formed on the switching PN diode and is electrically connected to the switching diode. The bit line is electrically connected to the phase change structure and the dummy PN diode.
US08445877B2
A nozzle protection device capable of protecting a target nozzle from heat of plasma without disturbing formation of a stable flow of a target material in an LPP type EUV light source apparatus. This nozzle protection device includes a cooling unit which is formed with an opening for passing the target material therethrough, and which is formed with a flow path for circulating a cooling medium inside, and an actuator which changes a position or a shape of the cooling unit between a first state of evacuating the cooling unit from a trajectory of the target material and a second state of blocking heat radiation from the plasma to the nozzle by the cooling unit while securing a path of the target material in the cooling unit.
US08445865B2
A scanning microscope device includes a light source that emits laser light; an X-Y galvanometer mirror that scans the laser light on a sample; an objective lens that irradiates the sample with the scanned laser light and collects fluorescence generated at an irradiated position; a non-descan-detection excitation DM that is disposed between the X-Y galvanometer mirror and the objective lens and separates the laser light and the fluorescence from each other; a fiber that receives the separated fluorescence through an entrance end thereof and emits the fluorescence from an exit end thereof that is formed in a substantially linear shape; a diffraction grating that disperses the fluorescence emitted from the exit end of the fiber in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the exit end; and a multi-anode PMT having plural cells arrayed in the dispersing direction of the dispersed fluorescence.
US08445863B2
An air cleaner includes a negative ion generation portion generating negative ions, a positive ion generation portion generating positive ions, a drive portion adjusting a distance between the ion generation portions, a wind velocity sensor detecting wind velocity at positions where the ion generation portions are installed, and a microcomputer controlling the drive portion based on a detection result of the wind velocity sensor and setting distance D between the ion generation portions to an optimal value. Therefore, since the distance between the ion generation portions is set to the optimal value, a large amount of ion generation can be obtained.
US08445862B2
An apparatus basically uses a simple and compact multi-axis magnetic lens to focus each of a plurality of charged particle beams on sample surface at the same time. In each sub-lens module of the multi-axis magnetic lens, two magnetic rings are respectively inserted into upper and lower holes with non-magnetic radial gap. Each gap size is small enough to keep a sufficient magnetic coupling and large enough to get a sufficient axial symmetry of magnetic scale potential distribution in the space near to its optical axis. This method eliminates the non-axisymmetric transverse field in each sub-lens and the round lens field difference among all sub-lenses at the same time; both exist inherently in a conventional multi-axis magnetic lens. In the apparatus, some additional magnetic shielding measures such as magnetic shielding tubes, plates and house are used to eliminate the non-axisymmetric transverse field on the charged particle path from each charged particle source to the entrance of each sub-lens and from the exit of each sub-lens to the sample surface.
US08445854B2
At least one embodiment of the invention relates to an X-ray radiation detector, in particular for use in a CT system. In at least one embodiment, the X-ray radiation detector includes a semiconductor material used for detection, at least two ohmic contacts between the semiconductor material and a contact material, the semiconductor material and contact material each having a specific excitation energy of the charge carriers, with the excitation energy of the contact material corresponding to the excitation energy of the semiconductor material. At least one embodiment of the invention furthermore relates to a CT system in which an X-ray radiation detector is used, the X-ray radiation detector advantageously having at least two ideal ohmic contacts according to at least one embodiment of the invention.
US08445852B2
An electric signal produced by a photo-electric conversion element (104) is input to a comparator (120). The comparator (120) judges whether the electric signal output from the amplifier (110) exceeds a reference voltage or not, and outputs a HIGH signal if “exceeds”. A reference voltage modifier unit (130) elevates the reference voltage, after a predetermined time period elapses since the comparator (120) judged that the electric signal reached or exceeded the reference voltage. The signal processor calculates an incidence time which represents a time when the signal light starts to enter the photo-electric converter unit (100), by correcting a rise-up time of the electric signal when it reaches or exceeds the reference voltage, based on a pulse width which represents a time period from when the electric signal exceeds the reference voltage, up to when the electric signal falls below the reference voltage.
US08445842B2
A mechanical holder that provides for a confined sampling region for extraction and removal of chemical substances contained in a dried blood spot or other spot of sample is described herein.
US08445833B2
An optoelectronic sensor, comprising a first strip having transmitter elements and/or receiver elements, a second strip having transmitter elements and/or receiver elements, wherein the transmitter elements of one strip form transmitter/receiver pairs with receiver elements of the other strip for the formation of a protective field, and an evaluation unit for the evaluation of the received light of the receiver elements, wherein a light beam between the transmitter elements and receiver elements counts as interrupted when received light falls below a first lower switching threshold and as not interrupted when a first lower switching threshold is exceeded and wherein an object detection signal can be transmitted when at least one light beam is interrupted, characterized in that for the evaluation of the received light of at least one receiver element a second upper switching threshold is provided in the evaluation unit the value of which lies above the value of the first lower switching threshold, with a signal to indicate bypass light being given when the value of the received light lies above the second upper threshold.
US08445832B2
An optical communication device which can be operated at high speed is provided. For example, the optical communication device includes: a pre-amplifier circuit PREAMP1 amplifying a current signal Iin from a photodiode PD, and converting an amplified signal into a voltage signal; and an operating-point controller circuit VTCTL1 controlling an operation of the PREAMP1. The PREAMP1 includes a negative feedback path formed by a feedback resistance Rf1, and includes: a level-shift circuit LS1 level-shifting in accordance with an operating-point control signal Vcon; and an amplifier circuit AMP1 connected to a subsequent stage of the LS1 and performing an amplifying operation with a high gain. The VTCTL1 includes a replica circuit configured by the same circuit and circuit parameter as those of the AMP1 and electrically connected between the input and the output, and generates the Vcon so that an output DC level of this replica circuit is matched with an input DC level of the AMP1.
US08445830B2
A correction information calculating device includes: a position information acquiring unit that acquires position information representing a position corresponding to a first diagram located inside a first photographed image; a second diagram position detecting unit that detects a position of a second diagram, that is different from the first diagram in at least one of a shape and a size, inside a second photographed image; and a correction information calculating unit that calculates correction information representing a correspondence relationship between a position of a pixel on the projection surface and a position of a pixel of an image forming element of a projector by comparing the position of the second diagram inside the second photographed image that is detected by the second diagram position detecting unit and the position of the second diagram on an original data of the second measurement image.
US08445827B2
A solid state imaging device is described that includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of photodiodes thereon. The solid state imaging device further includes a first wiring portion, a second wiring portion and a third wiring portion. The device further includes a first wiring layer over the semiconductor substrate and which includes a plurality of metal films and extends across all the wiring portions. Additionally, a second wiring layer is disposed over the first wiring layer and which extends across the first wiring portion and the second wiring portion.
US08445822B2
A one-piece extended dome having a spanning angle greater than 180 degrees. The dome is integrally formed of a Nano/Nano class Nanocomposite Optical Ceramic (NNOC) material. The extended dome comprises seamless first and second non-complementary geometric shapes, such as a first spherical geometry and a second conical or ogive geometry. The Nano/Nano class NNOC material comprises two or more different chemical phases (nanograins) dispersed in one another, each type having a sub-micron grain dimension in at least the direction of light transmission. The material is a true NNOC material in that all of the constituent elements have sub-micron grain dimensions, there is no host matrix.
US08445818B2
Disclosed is a device and method for intelligently heating a component of a printed circuit board (PCB) to bring it within a specified operating temperature range quickly. A temperature sensor positioned in proximity to the component and is coupled with a logic circuit that receives a reading from the temperature sensor and compares it to a threshold temperature value. A heating element positioned in proximity to the component is coupled with a power source and a switch. The switch is triggered by the logic circuit to activate the heating element when the temperature sensor reading is cooler than the threshold temperature value thereby causing the component to warm up. The switch is triggered again by the logic circuit to de-activate the heating element when the temperature sensor reaches the threshold temperature value or a predetermined timeout period expires.
US08445814B2
A substrate cutting apparatus includes a stage configured to support a substrate to be cut along a virtual cutting line, a laser generator configured to emit an ultraviolet (UV)-based laser beam for cutting the substrate by removing part of the substrate along the cutting line, and a beam oscillator disposed on a beam path of the laser beam and configured to perform a beam swing on the laser beam in a direction parallel to the length direction of the cutting line by oscillating a tilt angle of the laser beam toward the cutting line.
US08445810B2
According to one embodiment, a laser welding apparatus has a laser irradiation head that is arranged in an outer frame and is divided inside into a light source side and an irradiation side by a partitioning member. The apparatus also has a gas jet nozzle that is formed so as to irradiate a portion to be welded with the laser light and jet the inert gas to the portion to be welded; and a welding wire feed pipe that sequentially feeds a welding wire. The apparatus also has a welding wire contact mechanism that includes a measuring means for measuring a distance between the extremity of the irradiation side and the extremity of the welding wire, and is formed so that the extremity of the welding wire is brought into contact with and pressed against the portion to be welded by an elastic member.
US08445807B2
A wire material having a copper-zinc alloy layer, which is formed by action of thermal diffusion, and a zinc layer on its circumference surface is subjected to processes, including from a step of drawing the wire material to a step of reducing the diameter of the product, to reliably crash the copper-zinc alloy layer into particles. The particles are embedded in the circumference surface of a core to integrate the diffusion alloy layer and zinc layer with the core and prevent the diffusion alloy layer and zinc layer from falling off from the core. In addition, in order to cover cracks formed in the copper-zinc alloy layer during wire drawing with a zinc thin film, wire drawing is performed at temperatures appropriate for maintaining good malleability and ductility of zinc.
US08445804B2
A cartridge having at least three shields including a mid-potential shield between two contacts and at least one partial shield between a mid-potential shield and one of the contacts, the distance between the mid-potential shield and the contacts being such that the electric field present at the edge of the contact extends from the contact to the partial shield surrounding it, or vice-versa from the partial shield to the contact, depending on the polarity of the voltage.
US08445782B2
A connector is provided for coupling a first conduit to a second conduit. The connector includes a first hub configured to connect to the first conduit and a second hub configured to connect to the second conduit. A flexible body is configured to sealingly connect to the first hub and the second hub. At least one clamp is provided for securing the flexible body to the first hub or the second hub. The flexible body includes an end having an annular groove therein to form an inner portion of the end and an outer portion of the end, wherein the annular groove is configured to eliminate radial deflection of the inner portion of the end when flexible body undergoes pressure from the at least one clamp.
US08445773B2
A thermoelectric generator has a hot side heat exchanger having a silicon carbide (SiC) honeycomb support with a plurality of passages. The passage walls are coated with a pyrophoric solid fuel such as red oxide (Fe2O3) in combination with a silicon (Si) binder. A quantum well thermoelectric device is positioned between the hot side heat exchanger and heat sink. The performance of the thermoelectric generator is comparable to fuel cells. The thermoelectric generator is small and portable.
US08445770B2
The disclosed invention is a programmable switch for configuring circuit topologies. The switch can be any type of mechanical or electronic switch. Every setting of the switch can be programmed by a user, selecting topologies such as circuit elements in series, in parallel, in phase or out of phase. In a dual switch embodiment, the first switch selects the circuit elements to be used, and the second switch configures those selected elements in a wide variety of topologies. This division in switch circuit design between element selection and then topology provides an extremely wide range of circuit topologies available, unlike prior art designs.
US08445759B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP38007 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP38007, cells from soybean variety XBP38007, plants of soybean XBP38007, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP38007. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP38007 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP38007, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP38007, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP38007. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP38007 are further provided.
US08445756B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP46003 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP46003, cells from soybean variety XBP46003, plants of soybean XBP46003, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP46003. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP46003 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP46003, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP46003, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP46003. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP46003 are further provided.
US08445746B2
This invention relates generally to useful compositions and methods related to plant site-directed recombination. In particular, the invention relates to novel nucleic acid sequences unique to a portion of the sorghum NBS-LRR region, as well as vectors, seeds, plant parts and plants comprising these sequences. Methods to investigate recombination co-factors, and methods to investigate potential herbicides are within the scope. This invention also relates to fungal pathogens of sorghum, particularly Periconia circinata.
US08445744B2
An absorbent article of the present invention may comprise a topsheet, an outer cover, and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. The outer cover may comprise an extrusion bonded laminate. The EBL may comprise a multi-layer coextruded elastomeric film and a nonwoven. The film may comprise a core layer, a first outer layer, and a second outer layer, wherein the core layer is between the first and second outer layers. The nonwoven may comprise fibers and/or filaments. The first outer layer may be non-adhesively joined to the nonwoven via extrusion coating. Further, the outer cover may be elastic to at least about 50% engineering strain. The nonwoven may have high chemical affinity for the first outer layer. The first outer layer may have a low chemical affinity for the core layer. And, the first outer layer may comprise an amount of draw down polymer greater than about 45 wt %.
US08445743B2
An absorbent article for wearing about the torso and including a member that supports the movement of urine in an x-y plane to enhance the wearer's awareness that urination has occurred by increasing the wetted area contacting the wearer's skin. The member has a permeable body-facing layer and an impermeable layer disposed in a face-to-face arrangement with the permeable layer and preferably is held in close contact with the wearer's skin during use.
US08445742B2
A process for producing a wound dressing was provided having steps of: spinning an aqueous stock containing natural polymeric materials into a spin formation solution to form a wet polymeric spin; immersing the wet polymeric fiber into a softening reagent to obtain a softened wet polymeric spin; immersing the softened wet polymeric spin into a volatile reagent to expelling moisture in the softened wet polymeric fiber to form a polymeric fiber; forming a non-woven fabric of the polymeric fiber; and treating the non-woven fabric of the polymeric fiber with a coating solution to form a porous coating on the polymeric fiber to obtain a wound dressing. A process for manufacturing a polymeric fiber is also provided. A wound dressing produced by the process is also provided.
US08445738B2
A process is described for producing cumene comprising contacting a feed stream comprising benzene and a further feed stream comprising isopropanol or a mixture of isopropanol and propylene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst comprising at least a molecular sieve of the MCM-22, family in an alkylation zone under alkylation conditions of at least partial liquid phase and with a water concentration in the liquid phase of at least 50 ppm to react at least part of said isopropanol and benzene to produce an effluent stream containing cumene.
US08445736B2
A one reactor, gas phase catalyzed process for the fluorination of 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene (1230xa) to produce 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf) is disclosed. The process of the present invention is a catalytic, gas phase fluorination using a high pressure activated catalyst which is supported or unsupported. Fluorination products of the formula CF3R, where R is selected from —CCl═CH2, —CF═CH2, —CF2—CH3, —CFCl—CH3 and mixtures thereof are produced. Co-produced materials are separated from the desired product and recycled to the same reactor.
US08445735B2
Described is a method for producing fluoropropenes of formula CF3CX═CX2 wherein each X is F or H, at least one X is H, and at least one X is F, comprising pyrolyzing a hydrofluorochloropropane of formula CF3CXYCX2Y, wherein each X is F or H, at least one X is H, and at least one X is F, and one Y is Cl and the other Y is H, in the gas-phase in a reaction vessel, maintained at a temperature high enough to effect the pyrolysis of said hydrofluorochloropropane to said fluoropropene, wherein the selectivity for the production of the fluoropropene is at least 80%, in he absence of a catalyst.
US08445734B2
The present invention discloses novel and improved nucleosidic and nucleotidic compounds that are useful in the light-directed synthesis of oligonucleotides, as well as, methods and reagents for their preparation. These compounds are characterized by novel photolabile protective groups that are attached to either the 5′- or the 3′-hydroxyl group of a nucleoside moiety. The photolabile protective group is comprised of a 2-(2-nitrophenyl)-ethyoxycarbonyl skeleton with at least one substituent on the aromatic ring that is either an aryl, an aroyl, a heteroaryl or an alkoxycarbonyl group. The present invention includes the use of the aforementioned compounds in light-directed oligonucleotide synthesis, the respective assembly of nucleic acid microarrays and their application.
US08445714B2
The present invention provides novel cycloalkylmethylamine analogs, and methods of preparing cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The present invention also provides methods of using cycloalkylmethylamine analogs and compositions of cycloalkylmethylamine analogs. The pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the present invention can be advantageously used for treating and/or preventing obesity and obesity related co-morbid indications.
US08445710B2
The present invention provides phosphaplatins, stable isolated monomeric phosphato complexes of platinum (II) and (IV), and methods of use thereof for treating cancers, including cisplatin- and carboplatin-resistant cancers. Unlike cisplatin, these complexes do not readily undergo hydrolysis and are quite soluble and stable in aqueous solutions. Moreover, these complexes—unlike cisplatin, carboplatin, and related platinum-based anti-cancer agents—do not bind DNA. Rather, data suggests that phosphaplatins trigger overexpression of fas and fas-related transcription factors and some proapoptotic genes such as Bak and Bax. Nevertheless, the complexes exhibit tremendous cytotoxicity towards cancer cells. Thus, the present invention provides novel platinum anticancer agents that have a different molecular target than those in the art.
US08445708B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing chiral octenoic acid derivatives, which constitute important intermediates in the preparation of medicament active ingredients, and also to novel intermediates which are used in the process for preparing the octenoic acid derivatives mentioned.
US08445704B2
A process is disclosed for converting polysaccharides to platform chemicals. The process comprises dissolving the polysaccharides in a inorganic molten salt hydrate, converting the polysaccharides to monosaccharides, and converting the monosaccharides to platform chemicals that are easily separable from the inorganic molten salt hydrate.Preferably the polysaccharides are provided in the form of a biomass, more preferably a ligno-cellulosic biomass.
US08445698B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of cis-intermediate of Formula II, which is useful synthetic intermediates in the preparation of tadalafil.
US08445697B2
The present invention relates to squarylium dyes including an anchoring group, to a method of synthesis of such dye, to an electronic device comprising such dye, and to uses of such dye.
US08445695B2
A method of making a phosphono-substituted dipyrromethane comprises reacting an aldehyde or acetal having at least one phosphono group substituted thereon with pyrrole to produce a phosphono-substituted dipyrromethane; and wherein the phosphono is selected from the group consisting of dialkyl phosphono, diaryl phosphono, and dialkylaryl phosphono. Additional methods, intermediates and products are also described.
US08445686B2
The present invention relates to novel 4-(4-pyridyl)-benzamides of the formula (I). The compounds I possess valuable therapeutic properties and are suitable, in particular, for treating diseases that respond to modulation of Rho kinases (ROCKs). R1 and R2 are, independently of each other, hydrogen, hydroxy, cyano, C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-haloalkyl, C1-C8-alkoxy or C1-C8-haloalkoxy; R3, R4, R5 and R6 are, independently of each other, hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, cyano, C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-haloalkyl, C1-C8-alkoxy, C1-C8-haloalkoxy, amino, C1-C8-alkylamino or di-(C1-C8-alkyl)-amino; R7 is hydrogen, C1-C8-alkyl, C1-C8-haloalkyl, aryl or aryl-C1-C8-alkyl; R8 is a group of the formula —X—W, where X is a single bond, C1-C4-alkylene or C1-C4-alkylene-O—, where the alkylene group in the three last-mentioned radicals may be linear or branched and may be partly or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted by a hydroxyl group and/or may be interrupted by an oxygen atom; and W is a cyclic radical selected from phenyl and a 5- or 6-membered saturated, partly unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring which contains as ring members 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from O, S and N and optionally 1 or 2 carbonyl groups; R9 is a group of the formula —Y—Z, where Z is hydrogen, halogen, OR11, NR12R13, S(O)m—R14, phenyl which may carry 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents R15 or a 5- or 6-membered saturated, partly unsaturated or aromatic heterocyclic ring; and Y is linear or branched C1C4-alkylene which may be partly or fully halogenated and/or may be substituted by a hydroxyl group and/or a phenyl ring; or, in case Z is phenyl or the 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring as defined above, Y can also be a single bond.
US08445684B2
The invention relates to pyridinyl nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands, compositions comprising an effective amount of a pyridinyl nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligand and methods to treat or prevent a condition, such as depression and nicotine dependence, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a pyridinyl nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligand.
US08445683B2
Various porphyrin compounds comprising one or more pyridone moieties, intermediates thereof, compositions thereof, and, methods of making and using thereof.
US08445681B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US08445675B2
Disclosed are storage stable aqueous infusible or injectable solutions containing an active substance of general formula (I) wherein the groups L, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 have the meanings given in the claims and in the specification, and an amount of a physiologically acceptable acid or mixture of acids sufficient to dissolve the active substance and act as a stabilizer, optionally together with other formulating excipients suitable for parenteral administration, and a process for preparing the infusible or injectable solutions according to the invention.
US08445674B2
The invention is concerned with novel bicyclic compounds of formula (I), wherein n, m, p, A, L, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds are antagonists of CCR2 receptor, CCR5 receptor and/or CCR3 receptor may be used, for example, in the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory diseases, particularly peripheral arterial occlusive diseases or atherothrombosis.
US08445669B2
The present invention provides a process for producing 2′,3′-didehydro-3′-deoxy-4′-ethynylthymidine, which is useful as a medicine, in an efficient and industrially advantageous manner, and more specifically, provides a process for producing 2′,3′-didehydro-3′-deoxy-4′-ethynylthymidine as shown below. (wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a protective group for a hydroxy group, or R1 and R2 together form a protective group for two hydroxy groups, R3 and R4 independently represent a protective group for a hydroxy group, R5 represents a protective group for a hydroxy group, R6 represents a protective group for a hydroxy group, X represents a leaving group, and Y represents a halogen atom.)
US08445667B2
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for CDKN1B.
US08445666B2
Ribonucleic acid interference molecules are provided. In one aspect of the invention, a method for regulating gene expression comprises the following step. At least one nucleic acid molecule comprising at least one of one or more precursor sequences having SEQ ID NO: 1 through SEQ ID NO: 103,948, each one of the precursor sequences containing one or more mature sequences having SEQ ID NO: 103,949 through SEQ ID NO: 230,447, is used to regulate the expression of one or more genes.
US08445652B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a 3,6-O-bridged pyranose-inverted compound useful for being easy to produce β-O-pyranosides selectively.The 3,6-O-bridged pyranose-inverted compound according to the present invention is represented by General Formula (1): wherein RA and RB each represent hydrogen or are bonded to each other to form a benzene ring; one of RC and RD represents hydrogen and the other represents —OR2; R1 represents hydroxy or halogen; and R2 and R3 each represent a hydroxy-protecting group.
US08445648B2
The invention relates to methods and compositions for regulation of GSK3β activity. The invention provides phosphorylated GSK3β polypeptides and antibodies that recognize such polypeptides. The invention further includes methods for treating disorders that are associated with elevated or reduced GSK3β activity.
US08445647B2
Novel modified exendins and exendin agonists having an exendin or exendin agonist linked to one or more polyethylene glycol polymers, for example, and related formulations and dosages and methods of administration thereof are provided. These modified exendins and exendin agonists, compositions and methods are useful in treating diabetes and conditions that would be benefited by lowering plasma glucose or delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying or inhibiting food intake.
US08445646B2
The present invention is directed to antagonists of CS1 that bind to and neutralize at least one biological activity of CS1. The invention also includes a pharmaceutical composition comprising such antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof. The present invention also provides for a method of preventing or treating disease states, including autoimmune disorders and cancer, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering into said subject an effective amount of such antagonists.
US08445641B2
Nanocomposites of repeat sequence protein polymers and phyllosilicates demonstrated improved material properties, for example, improved elasticity, and are useful as suture, tissue scaffolding, and biodegradable composite materials.
US08445633B2
Developed is an adiponectin-recognition material which is inexpensive and excellent in: productivity; stability of quality and a structure; and convenience. The present invention provides a peptide consisting of not more than 50 amino acids and having bindability with adiponectin.
US08445630B2
The present invention relates to polymers comprising a repeating unit of the formula (I), and their use in electronic devices. The polymers according to the invention have excellent 5 solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high charge carrier mobilities and high temperature stability of the emission color are observed, if the polymers according to the invention are used in polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs).
US08445609B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an olefin polymer, with which an olefin polymer having good particle properties can be produced in high activity, fouling inside the polymerization vessel, such as a vessel wall or an impeller, can be effectively prevented, and a long-term stable operation is achieved.A method for producing an olefin polymer according to the present invention is characterized by including (co)polymerizing at least one olefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene and α-olefins having 3 to 20 carbon atoms in a polymerization vessel in the presence of (A) a solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization, (B) an aliphatic amide, and (C) an organoaluminum compound.
US08445608B2
The present invention discloses a method for preparing long-chain-branched isotactic polypropylene by first oligomerizing propylene with a suitable oligomerization catalyst system and then copolymerizing propylene and the oligomer obtained in situ with a mono-aryl-substituted methylene bridged catalyst system.
US08445606B2
The invention relates to high pressure tubular reactor olefin polymerization plants having improved specific energy consumption. The plants may be newly constructed or made by de-bottlenecking an existing plant. The tube of the tubular reactor may have improved arrangements for cooling to increase conversion and optimized polymer-recycle gas separation arrangements using a jet pump for recycling unreacted monomer while permitting haze to be maintained. The improved cooling arrangements include a reduced pressure cooling zone forming the tail end of the tube and/or a shortened heating zone for the front feed and allowing more monomer to be fed as a side feed.
US08445603B2
The present invention is directed to linear, biodegradable polyesteramide (PEA) polymers synthesized with repeating units derived from aminophenol esters and diacids. These PEAs have a monomer repeat represented by as well as a variety of uses to coat, form or comprise medical devices, combination medical devices and pharmaceutical compositions, including sustained release formulations.
US08445599B2
The present inventions relates to a process for producing polyethylene compositions comprising polymerizing polyethylene resins in a cascaded multi-stage reaction in which the reaction steps are performed in at least two slurry phase reactors (A) and (B) and at least one gas phase reactor (C) which are arranged in series in any order wherein in reactor (A) a low molecular weight ethylene homo- or copolymer fraction having a MFR2 of 100 to 2000 g/10 min, in reactor (B) a low molecular weight ethylene homo- or copolymer fraction having an MFR2 of 100 to 2000 g/10 min, and in reactor (C) a high molecular weight ethylene copolymer fraction are polymerized, and further comprising a compounding step after polymerization, wherein the final polyethylene composition has a MFR21 of 3 to 50 g/10 min, the melt flow rates being determined according to ISO 1133.
US08445591B2
New protective coating layers for use in wet etch processes during the production of semiconductor and MEMS devices are provided. The layers include a primer layer, a first protective layer, and an optional second protective layer. The primer layer preferably comprises an organo silane compound in a solvent system. The first protective layer includes thermoplastic copolymers prepared from styrene, acrylonitrile, and compatible compounds such as monomers, oligomers, and polymers comprising epoxy groups; poly(styrene-co-allyl alcohol); and mixtures thereof. The second protective layer comprises a highly halogenated polymer such as a chlorinated polymer to which may or may not be crosslinked upon heating.
US08445588B2
A water soluble copolymer includes first and second hydrophilic block segments or graft chains. The first hydrophilic block segment or graft chain contains cyclodextrin groups in at least a majority of its repeating units, and the second hydrophilic block segment or graft chain contains repeating units other than cyclodextrin groups. The first and second block segments or graft chains are covalently linked.
US08445587B2
Improved mechanical properties of either clay or carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced polymer matrix nanocomposites are obtained by pre-treating nanoparticles and polymer pellets prior to a melt compounding process. The clay or CNTs are coated onto the surfaces of the polymer pellets by a milling process. The introduction of moisture into the mixture of the nanoparticles and the polymer pellets results in the nanoparticles more easily, firmly, and thoroughly coating onto the surfaces of the polymer pellets.
US08445568B2
A thermoplastic composition can comprise: polycarbonate, aromatic sulphone sulphonate, aromatic sulphonate, and brominated polycarbonate. In an embodiment, when the composition is formed into a 3 mm thick extruded sheet, the sheet can have a smoke density of less than 200 at an exposure period of 240 seconds in accordance with the smoke density test as set forth in ASTM E662-06, and a burn length of less than 150 mm, a drip flame time of less than 3 seconds, and an overall flame time of less than 15 seconds in accordance with the flammability test as set forth in 14 C.F.R. 25.853, Appendix F, Part I(a)(1)(ii).
US08445566B2
The invention relates to a continuous process for producing a reactive polymer based on compounds according to the structures (A1) and/or (A2) and phenolic resin in an extruder and to the reactive polymer produced according to said process and the use thereof for producing composite materials.
US08445562B2
One aspect of the invention relates to lignin derivatives having an aliphatic hydroxyl content of 2.35 mmol/g lignin or less, and the preparation method thereof. The lignin derivatives have a desired antioxidant activity characterized by the normalized radical scavenging index (RSI). Another aspect of the invention relates to compositions comprising the lignin derivative. Another aspect of the invention relates to a use of the lignin derivatives comprising incorporating the lignin derivatives into polymer compositions.
US08445559B2
A polymeric particle including a core, a first shell, and a second shell is provided: the core including, when dry, at least one void; the first shell polymer having a calculated glass transition temperature (“Tg”) greater than 50° C. and including, as polymerized units, from 15% to 60%, by weight based on the weight of the first shell, monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, and mixtures thereof; and from 0.3% to 10%, by weight based on the weight of the first shell polymer, multiethylenically unsaturated monomer; and the second shell polymer having a Tg of from −60° C. to 50° C.; wherein the weight ratio of the second shell polymer to the total of all other structures of the polymeric particle is from 0.5:1 to 3:1. The particle provides binding functionality and, when dry, opacity and energy savings. A method for providing a polymeric particle and a method for providing opacity to a dry coating are also provided.
US08445557B2
A coating composition curable with actinic radiation, or thermally and with actinic radiation, comprising (A) at least one unsaturated urethane (meth)acrylate and (B) at least one unsaturated melamine (meth)acrylate, wherein the ratio of the weight fractions of components (A) and (B) is between (A):(B)=1:1 and (A):(B)=1:5.
US08445547B2
Liquefied petroleum coke (LPC) comprises diesel engine fuel grade petroleum coke that is produced by subjecting crude oil refinery feedstock to de-salting, coking, micronization, de-ashing, and slurrification processes to reduce impurities such as metallic components and make the LPC suitable for use in internal combustion engines, such as diesel engine systems.
US08445546B2
Provided are electrokinetically-altered fluids (e.g., gas-enriched (e.g., oxygen-enriched) electrokinetic fluids) comprising an ionic aqueous solution of charge-stabilized gas-containing nanostructures in an amount sufficient to provide, upon contact with a cell, modulation of at least one of cellular membrane potential and cellular membrane conductivity. Further provided are the methods of making the electrokinetically-altered ionic aqueous fluid compositions. Particular aspects provide for regulating or modulating intracellular signal transduction associated by modulation of at least one of cellular membranes, membrane potential, membrane proteins such as membrane receptors, including but not limited to G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCR), and intercellular junctions (e.g., tight junctions, gap junctions, zona adherins and desmasomes). Other embodiments include particular methods of producing the electrokinetically-altered fluids. The electrokinetically-altered fluid compositions and methods of producing the fluid include electrokinetically-altered ionic aqueous fluids optionally in the form of solvated electrons stabilized, at least in part, with molecular gas (e.g., oxygen).
US08445537B2
Methods for treating cancer using compounds that inhibit human DNA ligases. Methods for using compounds that inhibit human DNA ligases to provide insights into the reaction mechanisms of human DNA ligases, for example to identify the human DNA ligase involved in different DNA repair pathways. Screening methods for compounds that inhibit human DNA ligases.
US08445533B2
The present invention provides a methods and compositions for treating a host afflicted with a viral infection, particularly a Flaviviridae infection, including hepatitis C infection, comprising administering an effective antiviral amount of a derivative of andrographolide alone or in combination or alternation with another antiviral compound.
US08445531B2
A rodenticidal compound of formula (I): as well as the isomers thereof, in particular enantiomers, diastereoisomers, tautomers or mixtures of isomers in all proportions, where: R1 is: H or (II) or (III) with X═H, OH, Cl, Br, F or N02; R2 is: (IV) or (V) or (VI) with X═H, OH, Cl, Br, F or NO2; R3 is: O or S or (VII) with X═H, OH, Cl, Br, F or N02. Compositions containing such compounds as well as a method of use thereof in controlling harmful rodents are also described.
US08445530B2
Acylamino-substituted fused cyclopentanecarboxylic acid derivatives and their use as pharmaceuticals
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I, wherein A, Y, Z, R3 to R6, R20 to R22 and R50 have the meanings indicated in the claims, which are valuable pharmaceutical active compounds. Specifically, they are inhibitors of the endothelial differentiation gene receptor 2 (Edg-2, EDG2), which is activated by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and is also termed as LPA1 receptor, and are useful for the treatment of diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and heart failure, for example. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds of the formula I, their use and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US08445521B2
A synergistic antimicrobial composition. The composition contains at least two components. The first component is ortho-phenylphenol or its alkali metal or ammonium salts. The second component is 4,4-dimethyloxazolidine (DMOZ).
US08445520B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: or salt thereof, which are modulators of the glucocorticoid receptor. The compounds and salts of the invention are useful in the treatment of conditions mediated by glucocorticoid receptor activity.
US08445515B2
Compounds are provided that are modulators of the C5a receptor. The compounds are substituted piperidines and are useful in pharmaceutical compositions, methods for the treatment of diseases and disorders involving the pathologic activation of C5a receptors.
US08445505B2
The invention provides novel pyrimidine derivatives of formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods for using such compounds. For example, the pyrimidine derivatives of the invention may be used to treat, ameliorate or prevent a condition which responds to inhibition of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-IR) or analplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK).
US08445504B2
A pyrazolopyrimidine compound represented by formula (1) that inhibits the function of HSP90 as a chaperone protein and that has antitumor activity, a medicament comprising a compound represented by formula (1), a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound represented by formula (1), and a method for treating cancer using a compound represented by formula (1).
US08445503B2
The present invention provides compounds having a structure according to Formula (I): or a salt or solvate thereof, wherein ring A, X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are defined herein. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds of the invention and methods of making and using the compounds and compositions of the invention, e.g., in the treatment and prevention of various disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.
US08445501B2
The compounds of Formula (I), in which R1, R21, R22, R23, R24, Y and R3 have the meanings as given in the description, the salts thereof, the N-oxides of the compounds and the salts thereof and the stereoisomers of the compounds, the salts, the N-oxides of the compounds and the N-oxides of the salts thereof are effective inhibitors of the type 5 phosphodiesterase.
US08445481B2
The present disclosure provides novel compounds of the formula (I): wherein R0, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are as defined in the detailed description. Two preferred compounds of formulae (IX) and (X) are disclosed. Also disclosed are uses of the disclosed compounds, for example, in regulating glucose transport and in inhibiting acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase.
US08445467B2
This invention relates to methods for reducing chronic subacute inflammatory states associated with obesity and improve glycemia, thereby preventing or delaying the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in obese subjects, or subjects with the metabolic syndrome, using non-acetylated forms of salicylate, e.g., salsalate or trilisate.
US08445457B2
A pharmaceutical solution suitable for oral administration comprising β-L-thymidine/2′-deoxy-L-thymidine (telbivudine), a pharmaceutically suitable solvent system, one or more taste-enhancing/masking agents, a preservative system, and a buffer system suitable to allow both drug stability and preservation.
US08445456B2
A use of a nucleic acid molecule mediating RNA interference for treating or reducing pain is disclosed. The nucleic acid molecule has a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4, and is used for effectively inhibiting expression of bradykinin B2 receptor, treating or reducing pain and preparing a pharmaceutical composition for reducing neuropathic pain.
US08445451B2
Macrolides of Formula (I) or (I-A): and wherein the residues R1, R2, R3, R4, R12, R13 and R14 have certain meanings defined in this application are useful for treating or preventing inflammatory or allergic diseases or, cancer in animals and humans.
US08445449B2
Method and peptide for regulating cellular activity includes a panel of synthesized peptides that have biological effects on inhibiting or enhancing cellular activity. Selected peptides can be used as therapy to reduce and/or inhibit, or initiate and/or enhance, an inflammatory response in a subject.
US08445436B2
The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition containing oxytocin and melatonin in amounts therapeutically effective for inducing labor in a pregnant human patient. Preferably, the oxytocin content is reduced to mitigate unwanted side effects and the melatonin content synergistically enhances the oxytocin's labor-inducing effectiveness. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of a pregnant human patient experiencing pre-term labor characterized by early expression of melatonin receptors in myometrial cells, the composition containing one or more agents which interfere with melatonin binding to said receptors. Additionally, the invention includes a method of treatment effective in inducing labor in a pregnant human patient, the method comprising coadministering melatonin and oxytocin to the patient and a method of treating pre-term labor in a pregnant human patient manifesting early expression of melatonin receptors in her myometrial tissues, the method comprising administering to the patient an agent effective in blocking melatonin binding to the receptors.
US08445425B2
A search of the public human genome database identified a human EST, GenBank accession number AW293249, which has high homology to known pufferfish urocortin sequences. The full length sequence was amplified from human genomic DNA and sequenced. Sequence homology comparisons of the novel sequence with human urocortin I and urocortin II revealed that the sequence encoded a novel human urocortin, which was designated urocortin III (UcnIII). While urocortin III does not have high affinity for either CRF-R1 or CRF-R2, the affinity for CRF-R2 is greater than the affinity for CRF-R1. Urocortin III is capable stimulating cyclic AMP production in cells expressing CRF-R2α or β. Thus, the affinity is high enough that urocortin III could act as a native agonist of CRF-R2. However, it is also likely that urocortin III is a stronger agonist of a yet to be identified receptor.
US08445423B2
Wipes treated with organometallic compounds used in combination with organic acids in kit form, particularly organophosphorus acid, are disclosed. The kits can be used to treat various surfaces to alter the physical properties of the surfaces.
US08445422B2
The present invention relates to a liquid, cleaning composition comprising abrasive cleaning particles.
US08445416B2
A solid stick composition for use on steel surfaces that are in sliding or rolling-sliding contact. The solid stick composition comprises a vinyl ester resin, for example, from about 20 to about 80 weight percent vinyl ester resin, a solid lubricant, for example from about 0 to about 80 weight percent lubricant, and optionally a friction modifier, for example from about 0 to about 40% weight percent friction modifier, or a combination of a solid lubricant and a friction modifier. The solid stick comprises at least one of the lubricant or the friction modifier. A method of controlling friction between a metal surface and a second metal surface by applying the solid stick composition to one or more than one of the metal surfaces is also disclosed as well as a method of reducing lateral force in a rail system comprising applying the solid stick composition onto a wheel or rail surface.
US08445415B2
There is provided a grease composition, including: a base oil; a metal soap thickener formed of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of lithium, calcium, magnesium and aluminum and a fatty acid containing at least one selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group and a carboxylic acid metal salt group in each molecular structure; and nanoparticles formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of oxides, carbides and diamond materials.
US08445409B2
A method of selectively controlling annual bluegrass and/or goosegrass in turf grass, the method includes applying 5-benzyloxymethyl-1,2-isoxazoline derivative compounds, pre-emergence or post-emergence, to goosegrass and/or annual bluegrass in turf grass.
US08445405B2
An herbicidal composition containing (a) aminopyralid and 2,4-D and (b) atrazine provides synergistic control of selected weeds in corn, sorghum, sugar cane and range and pasture.
US08445404B2
A method of forming a zirconium-loaded fibrous adsorbent material having phosphoryl groups, the method including: grafting a reactive monomer having phosphoryl groups onto a polymeric substrate; and loading zirconium such that the zirconium-loaded fibrous adsorbent material has a zirconium content in an amount of 4.0 or 4.2 mmol/g.
US08445398B2
This disclosure relates to a process for preparing a catalyst composition comprising (a) contacting a molecular sieve composition with a solution of a solvent and a solute under ion-exchange conditions to form an exchanged molecular sieve composition, wherein the solute comprises at least one of an amide compound, an imide compound, a strong proton donor, or any combination thereof, the solute has a solubility in the solvent of at least 0.05 g per 100 grams of the solvent, preferably at least 1 gram per 100 grams of the solvent; and (b) separating the exchanged molecular sieve from the mixture of the step (a).
US08445384B2
Dual orientation of finFET transistors in a static random access memory (SRAM) cell allows aggressive scaling to a minimum feature size of 15 nm and smaller using currently known masking techniques that provide good manufacturing yield. A preferred layout and embodiment features inverters formed from adjacent, parallel finFETs with a shared gate and different conductivity types developed through a double sidewall image transfer process while the preferred dimensions of the inverter finFETs and the pass transistors allow critical dimensions of all transistors to be sufficiently uniform despite the dual transistor orientation of the SRAM cell layout.
US08445380B2
The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a via structure and method of manufacturing same. In an example, a method for forming a via structure includes forming a via in a semiconductor substrate, wherein via sidewalls of the via are defined by the semiconductor substrate; forming a dielectric layer on the via sidewalls; removing the dielectric layer from a portion of the via sidewalls; and forming a conductive layer to fill the via, wherein the conductive layer is disposed over the dielectric layer and the portion of the via sidewalls. In an example, the dielectric layer is an oxide layer.
US08445377B2
A mechanically robust semiconductor structure with improved adhesion strength between a low-k dielectric layer and a dielectric-containing substrate is provided. In particular, the present invention provides a structure that includes a dielectric-containing substrate having an upper region including a treated surface layer which is chemically and physically different from the substrate; and a low-k dielectric material located on a the treated surface layer of the substrate. The treated surface layer and the low-k dielectric material form an interface that has an adhesion strength that is greater than 60% of the cohesive strength of the weaker material on either side of the interface. The treated surface is formed by treating the surface of the substrate with at least one of actinic radiation, a plasma and e-beam radiation prior to forming of the substrate the low-k dielectric material.
US08445366B2
Electron beam annealing apparatuses for annealing a thin layer on a substrate and annealing methods using the apparatuses are provided. The electron beam annealing apparatuses may include an electron beam scanning unit that may scan a pulsed electron beam onto a substrate.
US08445357B2
Provided are a method of fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a semiconductor integrated circuit device fabricated using the method. The method includes: forming a mask film, which exposes a portion of a substrate, on the substrate; forming a first buried impurity layer, which contains impurities of a first conductivity type and of a first concentration, in a surface of the exposed portion of the substrate by using the mask film; removing the mask film; forming a second buried impurity layer, which contains impurities of a second conductivity type and of a second concentration, using blank implantation; and forming an epitaxial layer on the substrate having the first and second buried impurity layers, wherein the first concentration is higher than the second concentration.
US08445351B2
The present invention provides a floating-gate non-volatile semiconductor memory device and a method of making the same. The floating-gate non-volatile semiconductor memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a source, a drain, a first insulator layer, a first polysilicon layer, a second insulator layer, a second polysilicon layer, a protective layer and sidewalls. The source and drain are disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The first insulator layer is disposed over a region of the semiconductor substrate other than regions corresponding to the source and drain. The first polysilicon layer is disposed over the first insulator layer, forming a floating gate. The second insulator layer is disposed over the first polysilicon layer. The second polysilicon layer is disposed over the second insulator layer, forming a control gate and a wordline. The sidewalls are disposed on two sides of the wordline, and the protective layer is disposed over the second polysilicon layer. A semiconductor junction at a drain region is a P-N junction, while a semiconductor junction at a source region is a metal-semiconductor junction.
US08445350B2
According to an embodiment of a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, buried gates are formed in a semiconductor substrate including a cell region and a peripheral region, with the cell region and the peripheral region formed to have a step therebetween. Next, a spacer is formed in a region between the cell region and the peripheral region to block an oxidation path between a gate oxide layer and another insulating layer. Embodiments may reduce damage to active regions and prevent IDD failure because a gate pattern is formed on a guard region provided at a periphery of the cell region.
US08445344B2
Sophisticated gate electrode structures for N-channel transistors and P-channel transistors are patterned on the basis of substantially the same configuration while, nevertheless, the work function adjustment may be accomplished in an early manufacturing stage. For this purpose, diffusion layer and cap layer materials are removed after incorporating the desired work function metal species into the high-k dielectric material and subsequently a common gate layer stack is deposited and subsequently patterned.
US08445342B2
A short channel semiconductor device is formed with halo regions that are separated from the bottom of the gate electrode and from each other. Embodiments include implanting halo regions after forming source/drain regions and source/drain extension regions. An embodiment includes forming source/drain extension regions in a substrate, forming source/drain regions in the substrate, forming halo regions under the source/drain extension regions, after forming the source drain regions, and forming a gate electrode on the substrate between the source/drain regions. By forming the halo regions after the high temperature processing involved informing the source/drain and source/drain extension regions, halo diffusion is minimized, thereby maintaining sufficient distance between halo regions and reducing short channel NMOS Vt roll-off.
US08445340B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the method includes providing a substrate; forming a fin structure over the substrate; forming a gate structure, wherein the gate structure overlies a portion of the fin structure; forming a sacrificial-offset-protection layer over another portion of the fin structure; and thereafter performing an implantation process.
US08445331B2
A multi-chip electronic package and methods of manufacture are provided. The multi-chip package includes a plurality of chips mounted on a chip carrier. The multi-chip package further includes a lid mounted on the chip carrier using a bonding material or compression seal, and at least one single piston extending from the lid. Each piston covers an entirety of multiple chips of the plurality of chips.
US08445328B2
The invention relates to a method for producing chip elements provided with a groove, comprising the following steps: on an interconnect substrate, providing a conductive track arranged to connect a contact area of an active surface of a chip to an area corresponding to a first wall of the groove; growing a contact bump by electrodeposition on the conductive track at the level of the area corresponding to the first wall of the groove; assembling the chip on the substrate via its active surface so that a side wall of the chip forms the bottom of the groove; machining the chip via its rear surface in parallel to the substrate while measuring the distance between the rear surface of the chip and the contact bump; stopping machining when the measured distance reaches a required value; and assembling by bonding a plate to the rear surface of the chip so as to form a second wall of the groove.
US08445327B2
A wafer-level packaging process of a light-emitting diode is provided. First, a semiconductor stacked layer is formed on a growth substrate. A plurality of barrier patterns and a plurality of reflective layers are then formed on the semiconductor stacked layer, wherein each reflective layer is surrounded by one of the barrier patterns. A first bonding layer is then formed on the semiconductor stacked layer to cover the barrier patterns and the reflective layers. Thereafter, a carrying substrate having a plurality of second bonding layers and a plurality of conductive plugs electrically insulated from each other is provided, and the first bonding layer is bonded with the second bonding layer. The semiconductor stacked layer is then separated from the growth substrate. Next, the semiconductor stacked layer is patterned to form a plurality of semiconductor stacked patterns. Next, each semiconductor stacked pattern is electrically connected to the conductive plug.
US08445326B2
A method of fabricating a composite semiconductor structure includes providing a substrate including a plurality of devices and providing a compound semiconductor substrate including a plurality of photonic devices. The method also includes dicing the compound semiconductor substrate to provide a plurality of photonic dies. Each die includes one or more of the plurality of photonics devices. The method further includes providing an assembly substrate, mounting the plurality of photonic dies on predetermined portions of the assembly substrate, aligning the substrate and the assembly substrate, joining the substrate and the assembly substrate to form a composite substrate structure, and removing at least a portion of the assembly substrate from the composite substrate structure.
US08445321B2
In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a cured film of an insulation resin on a surface of a first semiconductor chip and flip-chip bonding a second semiconductor via a bump on the first semiconductor chip on which the cured film of the insulation resin is formed. The insulation resin can be cured at temperature range from (A−50)° C. to (A+50)° C., wherein “A” is a solidification point of the bump.
US08445320B2
Graphene-channel based devices and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor device includes a first wafer having at least one graphene channel formed on a first substrate, a first oxide layer surrounding the graphene channel and source and drain contacts to the graphene channel that extend through the first oxide layer; and a second wafer having a CMOS device layer formed in a second substrate, a second oxide layer surrounding the CMOS device layer and a plurality of contacts to the CMOS device layer that extend through the second oxide layer, the wafers being bonded together by way of an oxide-to-oxide bond between the oxide layers. One or more of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are in contact with the source and drain contacts. One or more other of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are gate contacts for the graphene channel.
US08445318B2
A phase change memory device including a phase change layer includes a storage node and a switching device. The switching device is connected to the storage node. The storage node includes a phase change layer selectively grown directly on a lower electrode. In a method of manufacturing a phase change memory device, an insulating interlayer is formed on a semiconductor substrate to cover a switching device. A lower electrode connected to the switching device is formed, and a phase change layer is selectively grown directly on the lower electrode.
US08445308B2
In accordance with certain embodiments, arrays of phosphor dots are formed and associated with arrays of light-emitting elements to form lighting systems.
US08445306B2
Structures having a hybrid MEMS RF switch and method of fabricating such structures using existing wiring layers of a device is provided. The method of manufacturing a MEMS switch includes forming a forcing electrode from a lower wiring layer of a device and forming a lower electrode from an upper wiring layer of the device. The method further includes forming a flexible cantilever arm over the forcing electrode and the lower electrode such that upon application of a voltage to the forcing electrode, the flexible cantilever arm will contact the lower electrode to close the MEMS switch.
US08445298B2
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.
US08445296B2
Methods and apparatus for performing end point determination. A method includes receiving a wafer into an etch tool chamber for performing an RIE etch; beginning the RIE etch to form vias in the wafer; receiving in-situ measurements of one or more physical parameters of the etch tool chamber that are correlated to the RIE etch process; providing a virtual metrology model for the RIE etch in the chamber; inputting the received in-situ measurements to the virtual metrology model for the RIE etch in the chamber; executing the virtual metrology model to estimate the current via depth; comparing the estimated current via depth to a target depth; and when the comparing indicates the current via depth is within a predetermined threshold of the target depth; outputting a stop signal. An apparatus for use with the method embodiment is disclosed.
US08445295B2
An electrical characteristics test for a semiconductor integrated circuit using a Kelvin contact method can be conducted in a pre-process without obstructing the reduction in size of a semiconductor chip or without complicating the circuit design. A probe card in a testing apparatus includes probes for Kelvin contact, the probes for Kelvin contact including a coil probe and a POGO pin probe disposed inside the coil probe, and a probe for two-terminal measurement. Electrode pads formed in each chip area over a wafer are in a relation of A=B<2A, given that the area of one of the electrode pads with which the probe for Kelvin contact comes into contact is B and the area of the other electrode pad with which the probe for two-terminal measurement comes into contact is A.
US08445293B2
The present invention includes methods and devices for preventing interfering substances from affecting the accuracy of a lateral flow immunoassay. In preferred embodiments, a test strip includes a capturing zone that includes at least one mobile capturing reagent that separates at least one interfering substance from the analyte. The capturing zone is preferably located upstream of the sample application zone. In some embodiments, the reagent/conjugate zone is also located upstream of the sample application zone. The capturing zone may be located upstream, downstream, or overlapping with the reagent/conjugate zone in these embodiments. In other preferred embodiments, one or more mobile capturing reagents are included in the elution medium/running buffer. In yet other embodiments, the capturing reagent is incorporated into a sample collection device of a sample collection system, preferably separate from the chromatographic test strip. A lysis zone is also included in some preferred embodiments.
US08445289B2
A method and apparatus is provided for determining concentration of components in a liquid hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and water flowing through an alkylation process. A fluid flow path conveys the liquid continuously from the alkylation process through a first instrument configured for measuring a property of the liquid mixture, and having responsivities to concentration of the components, which are independent of the concentration of the water. A temperature detector generates temperature data for the liquid, and a second instrument measures another property of the liquid mixture. The instruments have mutually distinct responsivities to concentrations of the components. A processor captures data from the temperature detector and instruments, using the data with a model of responsivities of various concentrations of the components at various temperatures, to determine a temperature compensated concentration of the components while the liquid mixture flows continuously through the fluid flow path.
US08445271B2
This invention relates to multi-drug resistance (MDR) in cells, and the use of certain xanthene compounds for determining drug resistance in cells and the effect of test compounds on cell membrane transport by the membrane transporters MDR1, MRP and BCRP. Processes and kits for making these determinations and measuring these effects are described and provided.
US08445264B2
Tube and float systems and methods for isolating, enumerating, and harvesting target materials of a suspension are described. In one aspect, a tube and float system includes a filter embedded in a tube cap. The filter enables the passage of fluids but prevents the passage of the target materials. The tube and float system can be used to isolate and enumerate the target materials by centrifuging the tube and float system with the suspension to trap the target materials between the float and inner wall of the tube. Fluids above and below the float are poured off and a second fluid can be introduced to the tube to re-suspend the trapped target material. The second fluid can be poured through the filter in the cap to trap the target material against the filter. The target material can be enumerated and analyzed.
US08445253B2
Compositions of bacteria which are effective for the nitrification of wastewater, particularly at low temperatures, are described. The compositions are comprised of 35 strains or populations of at least partially characterized isolated bacteria. These compositions may be used to treat wastewater contaminated with animal fecal waste and/or ammonia. In use, wastewater is contacted with the bacterial composition of the invention under aerobic conditions and for a period of time effective to oxidize ammonia therein.
US08445245B2
MT-SP1 mutein proteases with altered specificity for the target molecules they cleave can be used to treat human diseases, such as cancer. Cleaving VEGF or VEGFR at certain substrate sequences with wild-type and mutein MT-SP1 proteases can be used to treat pathologies associated with angiogenesis.
US08445243B2
Genetic recombinant yeast expressing xylose reductase (XR), (wild-type or mutant) xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH), and xylulokinase (XK) and a method for highly efficiently producing ethanol from xylose using the yeast are provided. Pichia stipitis-derived XR and (wild-type or modified-type) XDH genes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae-derived XK gene were introduced via chromosomal integration. Thus, a genetic recombinant yeast having a high xylose fermentation rate, being capable of producing ethanol from xylose in high yields, and having high xylose fermentability in the presence of glucose, as well as a method using the recombinant yeast for highly efficiently producing ethanol from xylose or a saccharified solution from lignocellulose-based biomass are provided. Furthermore, a method for improving the xylose fermentability of the genetic recombinant yeast of the present invention via acclimatization treatment is also provided herein.
US08445241B2
This application discloses methods for the preparation of L-amino acids, which comprises fermentation of a desired L-amino acid-producing bacteria in which at least the tal gene is amplified. In some embodiments, genes of the biosynthesis pathway of the desired L-amino acid are additionally amplified.
US08445236B2
A method is provided for producing an improved pretreated biomass product for use in saccharification followed by fermentation to produce a target chemical that includes removal of saccharification and or fermentation inhibitors from the pretreated biomass product. Specifically, the pretreated biomass product derived from using the present method has fewer inhibitors of saccharification and/or fermentation without a loss in sugar content.
US08445228B2
Provided herein are kits and methods suitable for enhancing in vitro translation of a nuclei acid sequence of interest.
US08445224B2
The present invention provides a method for assaying oxygenase activity, the method comprising monitoring oxygenase activity of FTO.
US08445223B2
Anionic acid-labile surfactants may generally comprise compounds represented by the formula: wherein R1 is independently selected from —(CH2)0-9CH3, R2 is selected from the group consisting of —H and —(CH2)0-5CH3, Y is an anion, X is a cation, and n is an integer from 1 to 8. Methods of making and using the anionic acid-labile surfactants are also described. The anionic acid-labile surfactants may be used to facilitate the solubilization of proteins and other molecules in an aqueous environment.
US08445203B2
The present invention relates to an in vitro method for diagnosing and/or predicting hereditary cerebellar ataxia in a dog, and/or identifying a dog which is healthy carrier of hereditary cerebellar ataxia, comprising determining the presence or absence of an homozygous or heterozygous genetic variation in the arylsulfatase G gene sequence in a biological sample from said dog, as compared with the arylsulfatase G gene sequence of a healthy non-carrier dog, wherein the presence of said homozygous genetic variation indicates that said dog is or will be affected by hereditary cerebellar ataxia, and the presence of said heterozygous genetic variation indicates that said dog is healthy carrier of hereditary cerebellar ataxia, said dog being of a breed selected in the group consisting of American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier and Pit Bull type.
US08445197B2
Random arrays of single molecules are provided for carrying out large scale analyses, particularly of biomolecules, such as genomic DNA, cDNAs, proteins, and the like. In one aspect, arrays of the invention comprise concatemers of DNA fragments that are randomly disposed on a regular array of discrete spaced apart regions, such that substantially all such regions contain no more than a single concatemer. Preferably, such regions have areas substantially less than 1 μm2 and have nearest neighbor distances that permit optical resolution of on the order of 109 single molecules per cm2. Many analytical chemistries can be applied to random arrays of the invention, including sequencing by hybridization chemistries, sequencing by synthesis chemistries, SNP detection chemistries, and the like, to greatly expand the scale and potential applications of such techniques.
US08445185B2
There are provided a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric vibrating reed capable of improving the reliability of a product by sorting out a defective product correctly, a piezoelectric vibrating reed, a piezoelectric vibrator having a piezoelectric vibrating reed, an oscillator, an electronic apparatus, and a radio-controlled timepiece. In a resist pattern forming step, a resist pattern is formed by performing contact exposure on a photoresist film in a state where a photomask is in close contact with the photoresist film. Before the resist pattern forming step, a photomask treatment step is included in which when a defect is found in an outer shape equivalent region equivalent to the outer pattern in the photomask, a part of a light shielding film pattern is removed to change the shape of the outer shape equivalent region where damage is present.
US08445184B2
A first resist film is irradiated with first exposure light and performing first development, thereby forming a first pattern in a first region including an interconnect trench pattern and forming a dummy pattern in a second region connected to the first region and having a pattern density lower than that of the interconnect trench pattern. Then, the first resist film is hardened, and a second resist film is formed on the hardened first resist film. After that, the second resist film is irradiated with second exposure light and performing second development, thereby forming a second pattern in the first region. When forming the second pattern, an opening made of the first pattern and the second pattern and including the interconnect trench pattern is formed in the first region, whereas in the second region, an opening in the first dummy pattern is filled with the second resist film.
US08445183B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: a first resist film formation process of forming a first resist film on a processing target surface using a positive-type photoresist material; a first resist pattern formation process of forming a first resist pattern by performing development after exposure in which light is irradiated onto the first resist film; a second resist film formation process of forming a second resist film on the processing target surface, where the first resist pattern is formed, using a photoresist material; and a second resist pattern formation process of forming a second resist pattern by performing exposure in which light is irradiated onto the second resist film and then performing development. The method further includes an insolubilization process for insolubilizing the first resist pattern against a developer and a solvent of a photoresist material used in the second resist pattern formation process.
US08445180B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a water-developable photopolymer plate for letterpress printing comprising an exposure step, a development step and a post-exposure step wherein the photopolymer plate is brought into contact with a liquid containing a modified silicone compound and/or a fluorine compound during or after the exposure step.
US08445166B2
There is provided a method of fabricating a lithography mask, the method including: forming a transparent polymer layer on a surface of a first substrate where a convex-concave pattern is formed; separating the transparent polymer layer from the first substrate, the transparent polymer layer having a convex-concave surface formed by the convex-concave pattern of the first substrate transferred thereonto; depositing a metal thin film on the convex-concave surface; forming a viscous film on a second substrate; disposing the transparent polymer layer on the second substrate such that the viscous film and metal thin film are partially bonded together; and separating the transparent polymer layer from the second substrate such that a portion of the metal thin film bonded to the viscous film is removed, wherein a metal thin film pattern having the portion of the metal thin film removed therefrom is formed on the convex-concave surface.
US08445165B2
A pellicle for lithography is provided that includes a pellicle frame provided with one or more atmospheric pressure adjustment holes having an inner peripheral face with a shape that opens out in going toward the inside of the pellicle frame. There is also provided a process for producing the pellicle for lithography, the process comprising a step of forming the pellicle for lithography and a step of spray-coating a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition from inside the pellicle frame.
US08445161B2
Collector plates made of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys, the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys providing ruggedness, lightweight structure, excellent resistance to chemical and environmental effects, and low-cost manufacturing, and methods of making such collector plates from such bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys are provided.
US08445156B2
A multi-stream heat exchanger includes at least one air preheater section, at least one cathode recuperator section, and at least one anode recuperator section, wherein each section is a plate type heat exchanger having two major surfaces and a plurality of edge surfaces, a plurality of risers through at least some of the plates, and a plurality of flow paths located between plates. The cathode recuperator section is located adjacent to a first edge surface of the anode recuperator, and the air preheater section is located adjacent to a second edge surface of the anode recuperator section.
US08445150B2
A method for operating a fuel cell system connected to a power grid includes determining a frequency of the power grid, and adjusting the operation of the fuel cell system based on the determined frequency.
US08445128B2
A latching module includes a main body and two elastic members. The main body includes two opposite sidewalls and a first surface connecting with the sidewalls, the first surface configured for resisting the battery. The two elastic members are respectively mounted to the sidewalls of the main body. Each elastic member has at least one latching portion and at least one stopping portion.
US08445119B2
There is provided a charge transport compound having Formula I: wherein: R1 through R5 are the same or different at each occurrence and can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, halogen, hydroxyl, aryloxy, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, amino, alkylthio, phosphino, silyl, —COR, —COOR, —PO3R2, —OPO3R2, or CN; R6 can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, and arylalkyl; R is the same or different at each occurrence and can be hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, and alkynyl; and n is an integer from 0-3.
US08445118B2
A coating liquid including one or more of metal complexes selected from a metal complex A represented by Chemical Formula 1, a metal complex B represented by Chemical Formula 2, and a metal complex C represented by Chemical Formula 3. M in Formula 1, 2 and 3 represents a metal ion. Each of X1-X4 in Formula 1, 2 and 3 is one of O, NH, CO2 and S. Each of Y1-Y8 in Formula 1 and Y1-Y4 in Formula 3 is either CH or N. Each of Z1-Z3 in Formula 2 and 3 and Z4-Z6 in Formula 2 is one selected from a group of O, NH and S, and two selected from a group of CH and N. L represents an axial ligand. k represents a valence of each of the metal complexes and is equal to a sum of electric charges of M, X1-X4 and L.
US08445101B2
A building material configured to enhance sound attenuation and reduction in dB across a walled partition, the building material comprising a facing membrane, a core matrix disposed about the facing membrane, the core matrix comprising a plurality of microparticles and a binder solution configured to support the microparticles, the building material comprising at least a substantially exposed face, wherein a side of the core matrix is at least partially exposed to increase sound attenuation by reducing reflections from sound waves impinging on the building material as compared to a control building material lacking an exposed face. Two building materials may be used in conjunction with one another about a building structure, such as a stud wall, to create and define a sound trap that functions to reduce sound transmission across the partition formed by the stud wall and building materials.
US08445100B2
Hydroxyl polymer-containing compositions, especially hydroxyl polymer-containing compositions that can be processed into polymeric structures, especially polymeric structures in the form of fibers are provided.
US08445095B2
A hot-press sheet (20) comprises a sheet-shaped base material (1) and a release coating film (2) applied to a surface of the base material (1), in which the coating film (2) completely covers an entire surface of the base material (1) to provide air-tightness for the hot-press sheet (20). The coating film (2) comprises a resin composition as a host material, and 5% or more by weight of organic powder and 5% or more by weight of inorganic powder are mixed in 100% by weight of the resin composition which forms the coating film (2), so that the mixture of 5 to 55% by weight of the organic powder and 5 to 55% by weight of the inorganic powder becomes 30 to 60% by weight in total.
US08445093B2
A sterile screen cover made of radioprotective material has an L-shaped horizontal section, including a front wall associated with a side wall. The front wall has two orifices through which the arms of the operator can pass, a first orifice being located close to the angle of the screen, the second being located on the free edge of the front wall. The sterile cover is a single part that includes at least one internal “panel” and one “external panel” joined together by a joining region, the panels intended to cover, respectively, at least the internal and external faces of the front wall and at least part of the height of its free edge. The joining region has an indentation shaped to match the border of the second passage orifice; these inner and outer panels are each provided with an opening intended to be placed in front of the first passage orifice.
US08445078B2
A method of forming a silicon oxide layer is described. The method first deposits a silicon-nitrogen-and-hydrogen-containing (polysilazane) film by radical-component chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The polysilazane film is converted to silicon oxide by exposing the polysilazane film to humidity at low substrate temperature. The polysilazane film may also be dipped in a liquid having both oxygen and hydrogen, such as water, hydrogen peroxide and or ammonium hydroxide. These conversion techniques may be used separately or in a sequential combination. Conversion techniques described herein hasten conversion, produce manufacturing-worthy films and remove the requirement of a high temperature oxidation treatment. An ozone treatment may precede the conversion technique(s).
US08445073B2
An article comprising a roll of tape having a coating composition disposed on a first edge face is disclosed herein. A coating composition may be disposed on a second edge face that opposes the first edge face. The coating compositions may be cured. A method for edge coating the roll of tape is also disclosed herein, as well as a method for coating a plurality of articles having different dimensions.
US08445071B2
A process by which an electrophotographic belt having a protective layer more containing a filler on its surface side can be produced at a lower cost. The process is a process for producing an electrophotographic belt having a base layer and a surface layer, and has the steps of (1) forming on the base layer a wet coating of a surface layer forming coating liquid in which a filler has been dispersed and a binder resin stands dissolved; (2) making water adhere to the surface of the wet coating; and (3) drying the wet coating to form the surface layer. The filler is a filler the affinity of which for the water is higher than the affinity the filler has for a dispersion medium of the filler in the coating-liquid.
US08445063B2
The present invention generally relates to a process for making a metal oxide composition. The present invention also relates to a process for making a coated metal oxide substrate.
US08445059B2
Adverse hydrogen aging limitations in multiply-doped optical fibers are overcome by passivating these optical fibers using a deuterium passivation process. This treatment essentially pre-reacts the glass with deuterium so that the most active glass sites are no longer available to react with hydrogen in service. Optical fibers of main interest are doped with mixtures of germanium and phosphorus. Optimum passivating process conditions are described.
US08445047B2
A method for preparing a beverage through a capsule inserted in a beverage machine; the capsule comprising an enclosure containing one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewing fluid is introduced in the enclosure to brew the said one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewed liquid is filtered by a filtering wall and delivered from the capsule, wherein the filtering wall extends from substantially the bottom of the enclosure and said filtering wall is associated to an overflow wall that forces the brewed liquid to traverse at least one overflow aperture. The method is particularly suitable for brewing a tea containing capsule.
US08445036B2
Disclosed is a method of treating telangiectasias on a person's skin comprising topically applying to skin in need of treatment a composition comprising magnolia bark extract.
US08445034B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for fabricating a medicine by preparing a cannabis plant material and classifying the cannabis plant material into an acid, neutral, or analog form; extracting cannabinoids from the cannabis plant material by either a reflux process through evaporating and condensing the cannabis plant material or an ultrasonic extraction process of the cannabis plant material with ultrasonic waves; and infusing the cannabinoids with an alternative emulsion.
US08445026B2
Novel methods for biological effective, stable amorphous and monoclinic selenium nanoparticles are disclosed. They are prepared by reacting selenium source with a reducing agent or an oxidative agent in an aqueous media at a temperature between 0-100° C. in the presence of selenium binding polymer molecules such as poly/oligopeptide acids or peptone or nucleic acids or poly/oligosaccharide or their mixtures.
US08445018B2
A pharmaceutical composition may include a coated particulate which may include at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient, particularly one susceptible to abuse by an individual. The coated particles may include a fat/wax and have improved controlled release and/or crush resistance. Method of making these coated particulate and dosage forms therewith are also described.
US08445016B2
The invention features grafted polymer systems for use in medical devices and/or for the delivery of active agents. The grafted polymers include at least one transport moiety, a linear backbone segment, and a pendant segment.
US08445009B2
Disclosed are processes for preparing solid dressings for treated wounded tissue in mammalian patients, such as a human, comprising a haemostatic layer consisting essentially of a fibrinogen component and a fibrinogen activator. Also disclosed are methods for treating wounded tissue using these dressings and frozen and liquid compositions useful for preparing the haemostatic layer(s) of these dressings or for treating wounded tissue in a mammal.
US08445008B2
Anti-infective articles capable of preventing infection associated with implantation of medical devices include low levels of anti-infective agents, may cover only a fraction of the portion of the medical device and be effective, or may rapidly elute anti-infective agent, without sustained elution, and still be effective.
US08445007B2
The present invention provides biodegradable, biocompatible bis-(α-amino acyl)-diol-diester-containing poly(ester amide) (PEA) and poly(ester urethane) (PEUR) co-polymer compositions with mechanical properties that can be readily tailored by selection of various combinations and proportions of the building blocks of the co-polymers. The compositions are suitable for use in production of drug-releasing biodegradable particles and implantable surgical devices, such as stents and internal fixation devices. The co-polymer compositions, particles and surgical devices biodegrade in vivo by enzymatic action to release bioactive agents in a controlled manner over time as well as biocompatible breakdown products, including one to multiple different amino acids.
US08445000B2
The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions, comprising polypeptides isolated from Staphylococcus epidermidis. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding Staphylococcus epidermidis polypeptides and their use in immunogenic compostions. In addition, the invention relates to methods of inducing an immune response in mammals against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus using immunogenic compostions of the Staphylococcus epidermidis polypeptides and polynucleotides. The invention also relates to methods for detecting Staphylococcus epidermidis in a biological sample.
US08444989B1
The present invention provides a one phase, aqueous vaccine composition for immunizing an animal against infection by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, comprising: an immunizing amount of a Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin, an acrylic acid polymer in the concentration range between 0.8 and 1.2 mg/ml, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and substantially no oil. It is especially useful for immunizing a pig against infection by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae for at least 20 weeks after a single administration, which effective immunity is reached within 4 weeks after vaccination.
US08444987B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of immune disorders, especially T helper lymphocyte-related disorders. In particular, the invention describes a gene known in the art, alternatively, as ST2, T1 and Fit-1, and referred to herein as the 103 gene. The 103 gene is disclosed herein to be differentially expressed in TH2 cells and not in TH1 cells. Further, the 103 gene product is demonstrated herein to be an important modulator of TH2 and TH2-like immune response both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the 103 gene, its gene products and antibodies that specifically bind thereto can be used diagnostically or as targets for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of a variety of immune disorders.In this regard, the invention provides methods for the identification and therapeutic use of compounds for treatments of immune disorders, especially TH cell subpopulation-related disorders and including TH2 and TH2-like disorders (i.e., disorders associated with a TH2 or TH2-like mediated immune response) such as atopic conditions (e.g., allergy and asthma). Additionally, methods are provided for the diagnostic evaluation and prognosis of TH cell subpopulation related disorders, for the identification of subjects exhibiting a predisposition to such conditions, for monitoring patients undergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of such disorders and for monitoring the efficacy of compounds used in clinical trials.
US08444984B2
The invention provides monoclonal antibodies that neutralize TNFα activity. The monoclonal antibodies may be rabbit monoclonal antibodies or monoclonal antibodies having CDR regions derived from those rabbit monoclonal antibodies. In certain embodiments, the monoclonal antibodies may be humanized. Methods of using the subject antibodies to inhibit TNFα activity, methods of treatment using those antibodies and kits containing the same are also provided. The invention finds use in a variety of research and medical applications.
US08444967B2
A method is described to treat diarrhea, vaginal yeast infections, constipation, heartburn, bloating, indigestion, flatulence or poor nutrient absorption, by administering a formulation of naturally occurring lecithins and/or oleic acid that stimulate the growth and lactic acid producing activity of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species of probiotic bacteria, and replace polysorbate 80 for those products, and a formulation of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species of probiotic bacteria. The formulations are in can a stable powdered form.
US08444966B2
An isolated microorganism comprising a Propionibacteria strain is described. When the microorganism is fed to a ruminant, protein and fat levels in milk produced by the ruminant are increased, while body condition and milk production levels are maintained. When fed to the ruminant, the microorganism also has positive effects on various metabolic hormones and metabolites, e.g, an increase in energy balance, plasma non-esterified fatty acids levels, and plasma leptin level. Supplementation with propionibacteria reduced dry matter intake but did not affect milk production in the cows. Therefore, the propionibacteria of the invention made the cows more energy efficient as cows produced the same amount of milk, yet consumed less dry matter.
US08444960B2
A topical administration carrier composition including water, glycerin and polysorbate, suitable for use in formulations with active ingredient compositions containing active ingredients such as minoxidil that are susceptible to systemic penetration, and solvents that are susceptible to evaporative loss, when the active ingredient composition is topically applied to the body. The carrier formulation retards the evaporative losses of the solvent component(s) and systemic migration losses of the active ingredient composition, to provide sustained topical action, in relation to formulations lacking the carrier composition of the invention.
US08444949B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a graphite film, and a graphite composite film both having an excellent thermal diffusivity which can sufficiently manage heat dissipation of electronic instruments, precision instruments and the like, along with an excellent flex resistance which can withstand application to bent portions. Means for Resolution of the present invention is a graphite film exhibiting the number of reciprocal foldings being 10,000 times or more as measured using a rectangular strip test piece having a width of 15 mm until the test piece breaks in a MIT folding endurance test under conditions of: a curvature radius R of the bending clamp being 2 mm; a left-and-right bending angle being 135°; a bending rate being 90 times/min; and a load being 0.98 N.
US08444946B2
The invention relates to a method for preparing a composition, that is a talcose composition, comprising synthetic mineral particles which contain silicon, germanium and metal, have a crystalline and lamellar structure, and are of formula (SixGe1−x)4M3O10(OH)2, wherein M is at least one divalent metal and is of formula Mgy(1)COy(2)Zny(3)Cuy(4)Mny(5)Fey(6)Niy(7)Cry(8), and x is a real number of the interval [0; 1]. According to said method, a gel containing silicon, germanium and metal, of formula —(SixGe1−x)4M3O11, n′H2O—, in the liquid state, is subjected to a hydrothermal treatment over a defined period of time and at a temperature of between 300° C. and 600° C., said time and temperature being selected according to the desired particle size and structural stability for the mineral particles containing silicon, germanium and metal, to be prepared.
US08444939B2
A reactor module for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis having a generally rectangular reactor block with a stack of plates defining flow channels for coolant and flow channels for the synthesis reaction arranged alternately in the block. The synthesis flow channels extend in a generally vertical direction between upper and lower faces of the reactor block and are defined by plates in combination with either bars or sheets such that each channel is of width no more than 200 mm. The coolant flow channels are oriented in the same direction, and communicate through distributor chambers with inlet and outlet ports at side faces of the reactor block. A plant may contain a multiplicity of such reactor modules operating in parallel, the modules being interchangeable and replaceable. The temperature control is enhanced by allowing the coolant flow to be parallel to the synthesis gas flow.
US08444929B2
An adjustable device for delivering chemical solutions into a liquid flow, where a saturated chemical solution is created by dissolving solid chemical contained within a chemical dispensing chamber, the device retained within a housing connected into a fluid flow line such that liquid for treatment flows therethrough. The device allows for adjustment or control of the amount of liquid flow into the dispensing chamber, the amount of saturated chemical solution drawn from the dispensing chamber by the main liquid flow, and the amount of main liquid flow through the device.
US08444923B2
A continuous process wherein a mechanized and automated feeding system provides precision delivery of thermally and atmospherically conditioned components to a pelletization process including extrusion, pelletization, thermal processing, drying, and post-processing of the polymeric pellets formed. The components can be combined to form solutions, dispersions, emulsions, formulations, and the like. These components can further be reacted and thermally modified to form oligomers, pre-polymers, polymers, copolymers, and many combinations thereof.
US08444918B2
The disclosed water purifier comprises an outer wall, a RAW water inflow section that allows inflow of RAW water from outside said outer wall, a purifying section, an ultraviolet ray sterilizing section that has an ultraviolet ray source, a purified water outflow section that allows purified water that has been purified in said purifying section and sterilized in said ultraviolet ray sterilizing section to flow to the outside of said outer wall, a condition-detecting unit, and a control unit that controls generation of ultraviolet rays from said ultraviolet ray source according to the detection by said condition-detecting unit.
US08444912B2
A heat treatment furnace that allows the atmosphere in the heat treatment furnace to be controlled with favorable accuracy includes a second heating zone identified as a reaction chamber, having a floor belt to hold a workpiece, and an atmosphere collect pipe having an opening in the second heating zone to collect an atmosphere in the second heating zone through the opening. The atmosphere collect pipe is installed to allow the distance between the opening and the floor belt to be modified.
US08444906B2
A substrate cutting method includes the steps of aligning a panel including two or more substrates, along a cutting line, forming groove lines in the respective substrates of the panel along the cutting line, by oscillating respective ultraviolet UV laser beams along the cutting line, and cutting the panel along the groove lines, by applying force to the panel.
US08444901B2
The present application discloses a progressive cavity motor or pump component, either stator or rotor, which provides a high glass transition temperature polymeric surface on the component which becomes resilient at or below the expected operating temperature of the motor or pump, but which remains solid at ambient temperatures, along with a method of fabricating either a stator or a rotor with such surface characteristics. Since the surface becomes resilient, the progressive cavity pump operates efficiently at temperatures above the glass transition temperature of the selected polymeric surface.
US08444900B2
A method and system for fabricating a geometrically versatile composite lattice support structure having a seamless three-dimensional configuration. The lattice support structure is created by forming two or more cross supports, such as helical, longitudinal, circumferential and/or lateral cross supports, which intersect to form a plurality of multi-layered nodes. The lattice support structure may be designed without any protrusions extending outward from the overall geometry, thus enabling efficient tooling, and thus enabling ease of mass production. The lattice support structure may comprise a completely circumferentially closed geometry, such as a cylinder, ellipse, airfoil, etc. The method for fabricating the lattice support structure comprises laying up a fiber material, in the presence of resin, within rigid channels of a rigid mold, thus creating a green, uncured three-dimensional geometry of unconsolidated cross supports and multi-layered nodes where these intersect. Subjecting these to a curing system functions to consolidate the cross supports and multi-layered nodes to produce the composite lattice support structure.
US08444897B2
The present invention relates to methods for reclaiming plastics and cellulose materials for use in a variety of applications, including as alternative fuel sources. According to one embodiment of the invention, waste is received which includes cellulose materials and plastics. Such materials are sorted from other materials and the cellulose and plastic materials are shredded or ground and then blended together. The blended materials can then be fed to an energy converter, such as a combustion unit or a gasifier, where they are burned as fuel source or used to create synthetic gas. In other embodiments, the blended materials are heated or have a binding element added thereto. Such mixture is then compressed to form a desired shape or sized object, and that object can then be packaged, distributed or used. The blended object can be used as a fuel source, or as a building, sound attenuation, or insulation material.
US08444896B2
Disclosed are water-dispersible fibers derived from sulfopolyesters having a Tg of at least 25° C. The fibers may contain a single sulfopolyester or a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water-dispersible or water-nondispersible polymer. Also disclosed are multicomponent fibers comprising a water dispersible sulfopolyester having a Tg of at least 57° C. and a water non-dispersible polymer. The multicomponent fibers may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the water-dispersible fibers, multicomponent fibers, and microdenier fibers. The fibrous articles include water-dispersible and microdenier nonwoven webs, fabrics, and multilayered articles such as wipes, gauze, tissue, diapers, panty liners, sanitary napkins, bandages, and surgical dressings. Also disclosed is a process for water-dispersible fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs. The fibers and fibrous articles have further applications in flushable personal care and cleaning products, disposable protective outerwear, and laminating binders.
US08444894B2
Procedure for the manufacture of a tube made of a flexible material and comprising a skirt and a head, in which a unit formed by the skirt and an appendage is disposed or manufactured in an injection procedure, the appendage totally or partially closing one end of the skirt and including the injection point(s), in which the appendage is cut totally or partially, and the cut part is removed, and in which the head over-molded on any area of the part of the unit formed by the skirt and appendage that remains once the cut part has been removed. The appendage offers several advantages, such as improving the finish of the over-molded head or, in the event of the unit being manufactured, easing the removal of the unit from the mound.
US08444893B2
In one example, a method includes defibrillating at least one carbon fiber to form a plurality of carbon fiber filaments, melting pitch to form molten pitch, and mixing the plurality of carbon fiber filaments and the molten pitch to form a substantially homogeneous mixture of carbon fiber filaments. In another example, a method includes mixing a plurality of carbon fiber filaments having a length between about 6.35 millimeters and about 50.8 millimeters in molten pitch to form a substantially homogeneous mixture of carbon fiber filaments within the molten pitch, wherein mixing the plurality of carbon fiber filaments does not substantially change an average length of the plurality of carbon fiber filaments.
US08444892B2
In order to manufacture articles in the form of sheets or blocks of conglomerate stone or stone-like material, single mixes are prepared in mixers (18a,b,c,) arranged in a line and at intervals along a conveyor belt (12), each mixer depositing on said conveyor belt a layer of single mix which is arranged on top of the mix deposited by the mixer immediately upstream, forming a multiple mix which is then fed in an axially offset position to a rotating support (24) provided with homogenizing means and then passes to the vacuum vibrocompression section, after a deaeration step. A crushing device (32) is inserted between each mixer and the underlying belt so as to control the size of the agglomerations in each mix. Means (34) are envisaged for cleaning the upper surface (12a) of the conveyor belt (12) and the crushing devices (32) between the cycles for preparation of the multiple mix.
US08444882B2
An anisotropic conductive film is provided that does not have a light-reflecting layer on a light emitting diode element which causes costs to increase when a light emitting device that uses an LED element is flip-chip mounted, and that does not cause emission efficiency to deteriorate. Further, a light emitting device that uses such an anisotropic conductive film is provided. This anisotropic conductive film has a structure in which a light-reflecting insulating adhesive layer and an anisotropic conductive adhesive layer are laminated, wherein the light-reflecting insulating adhesive layer has a structure in which light-reflecting particles are dispersed in an insulating adhesive. The light emitting device has a structure in which a light emitting diode element is flip-chip-mounted on a substrate, with this anisotropic conductive film provided between a connection terminal on the substrate and a bump for connection of the light emitting diode element.
US08444876B2
A doped hydrogen storage material according to the general formula: MgxByMzHn wherein: (i) the ratio of x/y is in the range of from 0.15 to 1.5; (ii) z is in the range of from 0.005 to 0.35; (iii) x+y+z equals 1; (iv) M=is one or more metals selected from the group of selected Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; (v) n is no more than 4y; and wherein x/y does not equal 0.5 and at least part of the doped hydrogen storage material is amorphous. The doped hydrogen storage materials are used for storing hydrogen, and also disclosed is a method for reversibly desorbing and/or absorbing hydrogen.
US08444875B2
The burned composite metal oxide of the present invention is a burned composite metal oxide which is porous and particulate and which is obtained by subjecting a slurry comprising at least one metal oxide (a), at least one metal compound (b) and a solvent to spray granulation to obtain granules, and burning the granules, the metal oxide (a) selected from the group consisting of a transition metal oxide and an oxide of a metal belonging to 3B, 4B and 5B of a periodic table, the metal compound (b) selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal compound and an alkali earth metal compound, wherein the metal oxide (a) and the metal compound (b) are sparingly soluble in the solvent; the burning is conducted after a heat-maintaining step of heating the granules obtained by the spray granulation at a temperature in a range of ±200° C. based on the decomposition temperature of the metal compound (b); and the metal compound (b) contains at least a nonmetallic element component desorbed in the heat-maintaining step.
US08444869B1
A method and apparatus for cleaning a wafer. The wafer is heated and moved to a processing station within the apparatus that has a platen either permanently in a platen down position or is transferable from a platen up position to the platen down position. The wafer is positioned over the platen so as not to contact the platen and provide a gap between the platen and wafer. The gap may be generated by positioning the platen in a platen down position. A plasma flows into the gap to enable the simultaneous removal of material from the wafer front side, backside and edges. The apparatus may include a single processing station having the gap residing therein, or the apparatus may include a plurality of processing stations, each capable of forming the gap therein for simultaneously removing additional material from the wafer front side, backside and edges.
US08444867B2
A method for forming patterns on a wafer includes forming a fence having a sloped face in an edge portion of the wafer. The sloped face is direct to an inside of the wafer. A first photoresist layer is formed which extends to cover the fence on the wafer. First photoresist patterns are formed by performing a first exposure and development on the first photoresist layer. An etch process is performed using the first photoresist patterns and the fence as an etch mask. The fence is formed by selectively exposing a negative resist using a light shielding blade, and at this time, the first photoresist layer is formed including a positive resist.
US08444866B1
A method for fabricating a magnetic transducer having a nonmagnetic intermediate layer is described. A trench is provided in the intermediate layer. The trench has a profile and location corresponding to a pole. A first nonmagnetic gap layer is provided. At least part of the first nonmagnetic gap layer resides in the trench. A pole including magnetic material(s) is provided. At least part of the pole resides in the trench and on the part of the nonmagnetic layer in the trench. At least part of the intermediate layer adjacent to the pole is removed and a second nonmagnetic gap layer provided. The second nonmagnetic gap layer is thicker than the first nonmagnetic gap layer. Part of the second nonmagnetic layer and part of the first nonmagnetic layer adjacent to the pole form a side gap. A side shield, a gap, and a top shield are also provided.
US08444865B2
A method for encapsulating a magnetic recording head including coating at least a portion of a magnetic recording head containing a recording gap with a first layer of at least one coating material, including silicon nitride, the first layer of at least one coating material having a first removal rate, coating at least a portion of the magnetic recording head containing a recording gap and coated with the first layer of at least one coating material with a second layer of at least one coating material, including aluminum oxide, the second layer of at least one coating material having a second removal rate higher than the first removal rate, and removing at least a portion of the second layer of at least one coating material via a removal process, including chemical-mechanical polishing, lapping, or vacuum processing to at least partially planarize the surface of the recording gap.
US08444850B2
The present invention relates to a catalytic process for removing organonitrogen species from hydrocarbon mixtures such as refinery process feedstreams. More particularly, this invention relates to a new operating and catalyst loading strategies based on organonitrogen concentration, composition, and structure.
US08444849B2
This invention relates to devices and processes for removing asphaltenes and/or metals from crude oil to increase refinery processing of heavy materials. The desalters of this invention reduce and/or remove at least a portion of asphaltenes and/or metals form the crude oil. The separation occurs by mixing water with the crude oil to result in an aqueous phase having water and water soluble salts, an interface phase having asphaltenes and/or metals along with water, and a hydrocarbon phase haying desalted, deasphalted and/or reduced metal crude oil.
US08444843B2
An electrocatalytic process to remove organic sulfur compounds from a mixture of water containing a miscible electrolyte and a hydrocarbon feedstock involving the application of a current of electricity to cause the dissociation of the water which produces hydrogen at a catalytic cathode which reduces the organic sulfur compounds in the hydrocarbon with the evolution of H2S which is separated and collected, and the separation and collection of the treated hydrocarbon.
US08444840B2
Electrochemical cells including a casing or cup for direct electrical contact with a negative electrode or counter electrode and serving as the current collector for the electrode. The casing includes a substrate having a plated coating of an alloy including copper, tin and zinc, the coating having a composition gradient between the substrate and the external surface of the coating wherein the copper content is greater adjacent the substrate than at the external surface of the coating and the tin content is greater at the external surface of the coating than adjacent the substrate. Methods for forming a coated casing and an electrochemical cell including a coated casing are disclosed, preferably including providing an electrode casing with a coating utilizing variable current density plating that reduces discoloration of a surface exposed to the ambient atmosphere.
US08444839B2
Electroblotting for the transfer of electrophoretically separated species from a gel to a transfer membrane is performed in a semi-dry format with sheets of absorbent polyester or polyester/cellulose blend wetted with buffer solution in place of the traditional buffer-wetted filter paper. The result is effective electroblotting at a lower electric current level than that obtained with filter paper and thereby less resistance heating of the gel, the transfer membrane, and the species being transferred.
US08444836B2
A device for forming at least one circulating flow, or vortex, at the surface of a drop of liquid, including at least two first electrodes forming a plane and having edges facing each other, such that the contact line of a drop, deposited on the device and fixed relatively to the device, has a tangent forming, when projected onto the plane of the electrodes, an angle between 0° and 90° with the edges facing each other of the electrodes.
US08444831B2
A method of generating ozone by applying a silent discharge to oxygen as a first raw material gas, and an oxide compound gas, as a second raw material gas, in which excited light, excited and generated by a discharge in the oxygen and the oxide compound gas, dissociates the oxide compound gas, or excites the oxide compound gas, accelerating dissociation of the oxygen and generation of ozone. In this way, ozone generation efficiency is raised.
US08444820B2
An aqueous composition which is anionic in nature, includes at least one soluble gelatinized anionic starch and at least one insoluble anionic starch. A method of using the composition, in particular for the manufacture of a paper or of a flat board, and the paper or the flat board obtained therefrom, along with various industrial uses such as water treatment or the production of cosmetic products, are also described.
US08444815B2
The present invention relates to fibrous pulp comprising a combination of polypyridobisimidazole fibrous structures and fibrous structures derived from another polymer. The invention further relates to processes for making such pulp and articles comprising the pulp.
US08444813B2
A method for preparing aramid insulating paper, includes the operations of: providing aramid pulp slurry and aramid short fiber slurry at respective desired concentrations; blending, beating and fluffing the aramid pulp slurry and the aramid short fiber slurry in a given ratio to afford a paper pulp at a desired concentration; transiting the paper pulp to a papermaking machine fitted with a head box to form and make wet paper sheets; pressing to dewater the wet paper sheets and drying the dewatered paper sheets; and calendering the dried paper sheets at a high temperature to obtain the aramid insulating paper, wherein in operation iii), at least one ultrasonic generator is mounted on the head box to apply directional ultrasonic waves to the paper pulp flowing through the heat box. The aramid insulating paper prepared according to the method of the invention has enhanced strength, smoothness and uniformity.
US08444799B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes adhering an adhesive layer of a surface protective tape including a base material film, an intermediate layer disposed on the base material film, and the adhesive layer disposed on the intermediate layer to one surface of a semiconductor substrate; curing the intermediate layer while a flat plate is pressed against the base material film of the surface protective tape; grinding the other surface of the semiconductor substrate; curing the adhesive layer; and separating the surface protective tape from the semiconductor substrate.
US08444791B2
A method for manufacturing a ceramic capacitor embedded in a wiring substrate, the ceramic capacitor including a capacitor body which has a pair of capacitor main surfaces and a plurality of capacitor side surfaces also has a structure in which a plurality of internal electrodes are alternately layered through a ceramic dielectric layer, the method has (a) laminating ceramic-made green sheets and combining the green sheets into one, to form a multi-device-forming multilayer unit in which a plurality of product areas, each of which becomes the ceramic capacitor, are arranged in longitudinal and lateral directions along a plane direction, (b) forming a groove portion to form a chamfer portion at a boundary portion between at least one of the capacitor main surfaces and the plurality of capacitor side surfaces, (c) sintering the multi-device-forming multilayer unit, and (d) dividing the product areas into each product area along the groove portion.
US08444787B2
Provided are methods and systems for introducing a wet gypsum accelerator or other high viscosity production additive to an aqueous dispersion of calcined gypsum in a discharge apparatus downstream of a stucco mixer in which the dispersion was prepared. These methods and systems are useful in the production of various gypsum products such as board including wallboard and ceiling tiles.
US08444784B2
Insensitive munition-type explosive material and methods for forming insensitive munition-type explosive material are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an insensitive munition-type explosive material comprises a particle of BNCP and a surfactant-comprising shell that encapsulates the particle of BNCP.
US08444774B2
The invention relates to a composition of matter comprising a soldering flux, wherein the flux consists essentially of a combination of a fluxing agent and a solvent, and wherein the fluxing agent comprises a keto acid such as levulinic acid or acetylbutyric acid. The flux may also comprises an ester acid, or comprises a mixture of the keto acid with the ester acid. The solvent comprises a mixture of a tacky solvent with a non-tacky solvent. The invention also relates to a process comprising soldering at least two surfaces together, each of which comprises a metal area to which solder can adhere by employing the following steps in any order: applying solder to at least one of the metal areas, aligning the metal areas so that they are superimposed over one another, heating at least one of the areas to a temperature that comprises at least the melting temperature of the solder. The last step comprises joining the superimposed areas to one another. The process employs the flux composition operatively associated with the solder, and in one embodiment the invention comprises a mixture of the flux composition with powdered solder. In another embodiment, the process comprises IMS, C4 and C4NP processes and the solder comprises a lead free solder. The invention also comprises a product produced by the foregoing process or processes.
US08444766B2
A system for recycling includes a processing chamber, a reclamation reservoir and a mixing reservoir. The processing chamber is configured to receive a deposition gas deposited onto a semiconductor layer. The processing chamber has an exhaust to discharge an unused portion of the deposition gas as an effluent gas. The reclamation reservoir is in fluid communication with the processing chamber. The reclamation reservoir is configured to receive and store the effluent gas from the processing chamber. The mixing reservoir is in fluid communication with the reclamation reservoir and the processing chamber. The mixing reservoir is configured to mix the effluent gas with a virgin gas to form a recycled deposition gas. The mixing reservoir supplies the recycled deposition gas to the processing chamber to deposit an additional portion of the semiconductor layer.
US08444765B2
A method for large-scale manufacturing of gallium nitride includes a process for reducing and/or minimizing contamination in the crystals, for solvent addition to an autoclave, for improving or optimizing the solvent atmosphere composition, for removal of the solvent from the autoclave, and for recycling of the solvent. The method is scalable up to large volumes and is cost effective.
US08444762B2
A varnish composition for producing an electrically insulative thermoset coating is disclosed. The varnish composition includes a functionalized poly(phenylene ether) having at least one aliphatic unsaturated group and exhibiting an intrinsic viscosity in the range of about 0.06 to about 0.25 deciliter per gram, measured in chloroform at 25° C. The varnish composition further includes an unsaturated polyester resin or vinyl ester resin, a reactive liquid monomer, and a compatibilizing agent. When cured, the polymers and reactive liquid monomer form an electrically insulative thermoset.
US08444761B2
Disclosed herein are an asphalt concrete mixture, an asphalt binder composition, and methods of preparing the related compositions. The asphalt binder compositions include heavy oil fly ash that contains more than about 90 wt. % carbon. The compositions are capable of being performance graded. The binder can be used to modify the asphalt and also as a filler in asphaltic concrete compositions.
US08444760B2
This disclosure relates to bituminous compositions and methods of producing the same. More particularly, the disclosure relates to the production of bituminous compositions formulated with performance-graded bitumen-containing solvent-free bitumen emulsions which exhibit controllable, temperature-dependent interfacial rheology. When employed in paving applications, these bituminous compositions develop adhesive strength and load-bearing strength properties at rates comparable to traditional hot mix paving compositions and at rates faster than traditional cold mix paving compositions.
US08444751B2
An example deaerator assembly includes a housing having a housing inlet and a housing outlet. A conduit configured to communicate a deaerated coolant is located within the housing. A mixture of coolant and air is deaerated as the mixture is communicated from the housing inlet to the housing outlet within the housing and outside the conduit.
US08444747B2
Methods and devices are provided whereby a controlled personal breathing zone is maintained using temperature controlled laminar air flow (TLA) of filtered air. A substantially laminar, descending flow of filtered air is maintained with a velocity determined by the air-temperature difference between the supplied air and the ambient air t at the level of the personal breathing zone. The air-temperature of the filtered supply air can be carefully adjusted to maintain the velocity-determining difference in air-temperature within the optimum range of 0.3 to 1° C. Thus being able to at the same time displace body convection and achieve comfort.
US08444746B2
The invention relates to a method for the agglomeration of iron-oxide-containing residual materials, in particular scale and mill scale, wherein the residual materials and paper sludge are dried and ground and agglomerates are produced, by hot briquetting, from a mixture of the residual materials and paper sludge so processed. In this manner, it is possible to produce mill scale briquettes of high strength and density. These briquettes can then be charged into an electric arc steelmaking furnace for the purpose of recycling the iron contained in the residual materials.
US08444742B2
A concentrated aqueous fertilizer which is readily water-soluble and a method of applying the solubilized dilute fertilizer to crops to enhance crop production are described. The dry fertilizer contains a contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compounds, as well as a mixture of plant growth stimulators including at least one of each of growth promoters, vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates/polysaccharides, and adjuvants.
US08444731B2
A handheld cleaning appliance includes a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet and separating apparatus for separating dirt and dust from an airflow in an airflow path leading from the air inlet to the air outlet. The separating apparatus includes a cyclonic separator having at least one first cyclone and a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel with one another and located downstream of the first cyclone. By providing a cyclonic separator having a plurality of second cyclones in parallel, the handheld cleaning appliance is capable of separating fine dirt and dust particles without using barriers such as filters or bags which need maintenance to ensure that performance remains high over a period of time.
US08444723B2
Provided is a fluidized bed gasification method wherein an amount of solid particles to be circulated in a fluidized bed combustion furnace is controlled to enhance gasification efficiency in the furnace.It is the fluidized bed gasification method with fluidized bed combustion and gasification furnaces 30 and 43, char and solid particles produced upon gasification of raw material 51 in the gasification furnace 43 being circulated to the combustion furnace 30. A circulated amount of the solid particles in the combustion furnace is controlled by varying the same in a range of 6 to 30 with respect to an air flow rate, thereby facilitating heat transmission to the raw material 51.
US08444718B2
A process to prepare an aviation fuel and an automotive gas oil from a source of mineral derived gas oil is provided. From the mineral derived gas oil a low boiling fraction is isolated for use as an aviation fuel or as an aviation fuel component and the remaining part of the mineral derived gas oil is blended with a Fischer-Tropsch derived kerosene fraction and/or a Fischer-Tropsch derived gas oil fraction to obtain a blend suited for use as at least part of an automotive gas oil.
US08444714B2
An oxidative dyeing composition comprising (A) a 1-hexyl/heptyl-4,5-diaminopyrazole compound of the general formula (I), its physiologically compatible water-soluble salt, or mixtures thereof; (B) a benzene-1,3-diol compound of the general formula (II), its physiologically compatible water-soluble salt, or mixtures thereof, and (C) an oxidizing agent. wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are as defined herein and a=1 or 2.
US08444707B2
A preformed epilatory strip comprises a matrix material that includes a mixture of a major amount—at least 60 wt %—of a sugar-based material and a minor amount—1 to 30 wt %—of a rosinous material. Optionally a particulate material, for example fumed silica, is present.
US08444706B2
The present invention relates to an oxidizing composition for treatment of keratin fibers comprising a combination of; (a) at least one anionic associative copolymer, (b) at least one anionic non associative copolymer; (c) at least one peroxide agent; (d) at least one persulfate agent; (e) at least on alkalizing agent; and (f) a carrier medium suitable for hair treatment. The oxidizing composition described is suitable for composition used in conventional hair treatments such as dyeing, bleaching, and permanent waving or relaxing/straightening of the keratinous fibers, particularly human hair, requiring an oxidizing composition.
US08444698B2
A joint prosthesis includes a bone engaging portion, such as a stem, and articulating component, such as a humeral head, and an insert component that supports the articulating component and is removable from the stem. A mating component mates with the humeral head and is configured to engage the insert component at adjustable angles according to the anatomy of the patient's joint. In a revision surgery, the stem remains within the patient's bone while the insert component is removed with the mating component and humeral head fixed to the insert component. A new insert component may be prepared with the mating component and humeral head oriented to replicate the angular orientation of the previous prosthesis. The new insert component is then mounted within an insert cavity in the implanted stem and rigidly fastened to complete the revision.
US08444696B2
The present application is directed to an interbody spinal implant having a structural configuration that provides for maintaining the normal anatomic relationship of two adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The spinal implant is sized to fit within the disc space created by the removal of disc material between two adjacent vertebrae and conform wholly, or in part, to the disc space created. The spinal implant of the present invention has first and second sides with upper and lower bearing surfaces that form a support structure for bearing against the end plates of the adjacent vertebrae. The upper and lower bearing surfaces of the first and second sides are shaped to create an anatomic fit with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae.
US08444692B2
An implant holder for inserting an interbody spinal implant.
US08444690B2
Systems and devices for minimally invasively treating an air leak in a lung comprise the steps of detecting an air leak in a lung; locating an airway in fluid communication with the air leak, introducing a bronchoscope into a patient's airway to a position adjacent the target section and occluding an airway upstream of the air leak for a period of time. The airway occlusion device is preferably removed after the air leak has substantially permanently healed. The occluding device may be a one-way valve. The occluding device may also comprise strut members and anchors that penetrate an airway wall.
US08444688B2
The present invention is directed at a removable stent for providing reinforcement to a selected region of a selected body lumen including a resilient cylindrical layer, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen. The present invention also includes a temporary implantable endoprosthesis which includes a tubular, radially compressible and axially flexible structure, including at least one bioresorbable extrusion exterior from the resilient cylindrical layer for resisting migration of the removable stent when the removable stent is positioned in the selected region of the selected body lumen.
US08444685B2
A rapid exchange stent delivery catheter includes an inner tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a stent holding portion located adjacent the distal portion of the inner member, and a guide wire lumen extending from a proximal guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal portion of the inner member to a distal guide wire opening disposed at a distal end of the inner member. The proximal guide wire opening has a first length. An outer tubular member is slidably disposed about the inner member. The outer member has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal portion of the outer member. The guide wire opening of the outer member has a second length that is shorter than the first length and a guide wire ramp extends into, and is movable along the first length.
US08444683B2
The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a method for stimulating neural tissue of a living subject. In one embodiment, the method has the steps of generating at least one beam of radiation; introducing at least one of one or more chromophores and one or more optical agents to a target neural tissue; and delivering the at least one beam of radiation to the target neural tissue, wherein the at least one beam of radiation is delivered with a radiant exposure that causes a thermal gradient in the target neural tissue, thereby stimulating the target neural tissue.
US08444677B2
A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper capture structure, a head and a closed retainer ring. The external capture structure surface and retainer ring internal bore surface are both threaded for rotatable attachment within a cavity of the head. The head has a U-shaped cradle defining a channel for receiving a spinal fixation rod. The head channel communicates with the cavity and further with a restrictive opening that allows for loading the capture structure into the head but prevents passage of the closed retainer ring out of the head. The retainer ring has an external substantially spherical surface that mates with an internal surface of the head, providing a ball joint, enabling the head to be disposed at an angle relative to the shank body. The threaded capture structure or the closed retainer structure includes a tool engagement formation and gripping surfaces for non-slip engagement by a tool for driving the shank body into bone.
US08444668B2
A vascular occlusion device that includes an inner embolic member at least partially covered by an expandable generally tubular mesh. The expandable tubular mesh typically comprises a unitary wall with apertures through the wall to assist in the expansion of the generally tubular mesh.
US08444657B2
Apparatus and methods for rapid deployment of tissue anchors are described herein. A tissue manipulation assembly is pivotably coupled to the distal end of a tubular member and has a lower jaw member and an upper jaw member pivotably coupled to the lower jaw member. A reconfigurable launch tube is pivotably coupled to the upper jaw member and is used to urge the jaw members from a low-profile configuration to an open configuration. A needle assembly can be advanced through the launch tube across tissue received between the jaw members of the tissue manipulation assembly. Tissue anchors can be advanced through the needle assembly for securing received tissue. The tissue anchors can be positioned within a reloadable chamber of a control handle disposed outside the patient, then advanced through the needle assembly.
US08444654B2
A method for detecting biometric parameters includes the steps of performing a bone graft procedure on a joint, providing a biometric sensor at the joint, and measuring a biometric parameter at the joint with the sensor. The sensor is capable of measuring parameters in an adjacent surrounding including pressure, tension, shear, relative position, and vascular flow. Data relating to the biometric parameter is transmitted to an external source and the data are analyzed to evaluate a biometric condition of the joint. A set of the sensors can be placed on the joint.
US08444648B2
A surgical file instrument including a surgical file assembly having an elongated tubular member with a guide/shield supporting the blade of the surgical file and being formed on the distal end thereof, the guide/shield portion being generally planar shaped and having an elongated longitudinally extending dimple defining a rail for guiding said blade and keeping it central and preventing wobbling. The side edges of said guide/shield extend upwardly and bear against the underside of the blade for supporting the same.
US08444646B2
A prosthesis (20) for use in performing joint arthroplasty is provided. The prosthesis (20) is to be fitted to a long bone (3). The prosthesis includes a first body (22) having a first body articulating surface (24) defining a generally circular outer periphery (26) of the first body articulating surface (24). The first body (22) has a support surface (28) opposed to the articulating surface (24). The support surface (28) is adapted to receive the head of the long bone (3). The prosthesis (20) also includes a second body (30) operably associated with the first body (22). The second body (30) has a second body articulating surface (32) extending from a portion of the circular outer periphery (26) of the first body articulating surface (24). A tool kit for preparing a humerus to receive a prosthesis is also disclosed.
US08444645B2
A method for computer assisted localization of the distal locking holes (11; 14) of an implanted intramedullary nail (2) having a nail axis (19) and a first and second distal locking hole (11; 14) by A) acquiring one single image IM of the distal end section (25) of said intramedullary nail by means of an X-ray device (9) whose optical axis (30) is oriented essentially perpendicular to the nail axis (19) but irrespective to the orientation of the distal locking holes (11; 14); and B) calculating the position of the first and second hole axis (23; 20) of the first and second distal locking hole (11; 14) with respect to a three-dimensional coordinate system A-COS (7) of the implanted intramedullary nail (2).
US08444630B2
Apparatus is provided, including a housing (22), configured for insertion into a body of a patient; a photosynthetic oxygen supply (24) configured to supply oxygen; and functional cells (30), coupled to the housing (22). The functional cells (30) are adapted to receive the oxygen and to secrete at least one factor that induces vascularization in a vicinity of the housing (22) when the housing (22) is in the body of the patient. Other embodiments are also described.
US08444629B2
A medical instrument includes a handpiece, an electromechanical transducer disposed in the handpiece, and an electrical circuit disposed at least partially in the handpiece for supplying alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency to the transducer. A probe is operatively connected to the transducer for transmitting vibrations generated by the transducer to an operative site in a patient. A switching device is mounted to the handpiece and is operatively connected to the circuit and the transducer for enabling the supply of power to the transducer during a motion of the probe in a preselected direction relative to the handpiece and for disabling the supply of power to the transducer upon a termination of motion of the probe in the preselected direction.
US08444616B1
A generally cylindrical housing having interior and exterior surfaces has open front and open back ends separated by an axial length. An open cell polyurethane foam sleeve has a flat face positionable adjacent to the interior surface of the housing and an undulating face adjacent to the central axis of the housing.
US08444611B2
A wound treatment dressing for applying negative pressure wound therapy to a wound on an extremity, such as on the heel of a foot. The dressing includes a fluid manifold positioned within a fenestrated drape to form a contoured occlusive wrapping. A contoured porous pad is placed adjacent or within the wound, and is covered by the occlusive wrapping. Flexible tubing is attached to or through a port to allow fluid communication of negative pressure to the contoured pad from a source of negative pressure. The negative pressure is communicated from the source, through the tube, through the fluid manifold, and through the fenestrations of the occlusive wrapping, to the wound. The fluid manifold conducts the negative pressure from a position away from the wound site to the contoured pad at the wound site.
US08444604B2
A system and method for a patch-like, self-contained substance infusion device (700) which can be attached to a skin surface via an adhesive contact surface. A push button (780) activation assembly can then be used to remove an interlock (730), allowing a disk or Belleville spring (735) assembly to apply an essentially even and constant pressure to the contents of a fluid reservoir assembly (710). This allows the release of one or more spring-loaded patient needles (760) into the skin surface, and establishes a fluid communication path between the patient needles (760) and the pressurized fluid reservoir contents thereby delivering an infusion into the skin. The push button (780) activation assembly further allows the release of one or more improved safety mechanisms (794) after use.
US08444601B2
A suction flow regulator including an adapter and a grommet fixed inside the adapter for permitting air to access a vacuum flow path according to a vacuum level. The grommet is fixed inside an adapter by a securing mechanism (for example, a compression plate). The grommet may be used with an additional elastomeric element (for example, a smaller grommet) that provides flexibility during vacuum exposure and deflects to expose holes in the grommet under vacuum. Alternatively, the grommet may be a single unit grommet with a cantilever configuration.
US08444598B2
Intravascular devices and a method of delivering at least one therapeutic agent. The device includes an elongate element with proximal and distal portions and at least first and second lumens provided therein. The first lumen is adapted for delivering at least one therapeutic agent. The second lumen is adapted for allowing fluid therethrough. An expandable member is disposed adjacent to the distal portion of the elongate element. At least one tip cut is provided in a distal tip portion of the elongate element. The at least one tip cut is adapted for providing flexibility to the elongate element. The method includes providing an elongate element. Spacing of at least one tip cut is varied during positioning of the elongate element within a vessel. The vessel is occluded with the elongate element. The at least one therapeutic agent is delivered to tissue adjacent the occluded vessel.
US08444595B2
A disease management system, methods, and devices are shown and described. In one embodiment, the system includes an infusion pump and a remote controller with the ability to be paired to each other. A method to verify a wireless connection between an infusion pump and a remote controller is shown and described herein. In a further embodiment, a method to verify a wireless connection between an infusion pump and a remote controller is provided. In addition, a method of operating a diabetes management system is provided in which the system includes an infusion pump and at least a remote controller.
US08444589B2
Disclosed are devices, methods and systems for treatment of eye disease such as glaucoma. Implants are described herein that enhance aqueous flow through the normal outflow system of the eye with minimal to no complications. The implant can include reversibly deformable portions that have a plurality of openings layered, covered or otherwise spanned by an elastomeric film or membrane having micropores. The micropores allow for fluid flow out of the implant while inhibit cellular infiltration and blockage of the openings.
US08444588B2
A surgical technique and device wherein an indwelling tube is placed in the eye of a patient having glaucoma. The tube diverts aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the suprachoroidal space from which it is removed by blood flowing in the choroidal and uveal tissues. This decreases the intraocular pressure.
US08444586B2
A device for degassing gas bubbles out of a liquid comprises a housing having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet and a gas bubble outlet. The housing includes a spiral wall defining a spiral flow path for the liquid and a hydrophobic membrane above the spiral wall and between the spiral wall and the gas bubble outlet. The spiral wall forces inward liquid entering the housing through the inlet into a spiral flow along the spiral flow path, and causes an upward flow of the gas bubbles toward the hydrophobic membrane. A method for degassing gas bubbles out of a liquid, e.g., blood, e.g., during hemodialysis, hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration, and use of such a degassing device in an extracorporeal circuit for degassing gas bubbles out of liquid, e.g., blood, e.g., during hemodialysis, hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration, are disclosed.
US08444576B2
A blood test apparatus has a housing, a blood sensor, and a plurality of connectors. The blood sensor has a plurality of connection terminals that are electrically connected with each electrode of the electrode system; and a reference terminal that serves as a reference. The plurality of connectors are configured to connect to the plurality of connection terminals and the reference terminal of the blood sensor attached at a predetermined position in the blood test apparatus, respectively. And also, relations between the reference terminal and each of the plurality of connection terminals are measured to identify the reference terminal automatically.
US08444575B2
A meter for determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample comprises a memory device, electrical circuitry and a detection device for distinguishing between an alternative site test and a standard site test. The memory device is adapted to store information. The electrical circuitry is adapted to determine the analyte concentration of the fluid sample located on a test sensor. The electrical circuitry is in electronic communication with the memory device. The electrical circuitry communicates the determined analyte concentration to the memory device for storage.
US08444571B2
A system and method is disclosed for measuring muscle reflexes (e.g., a bulbocavernosus reflex) as a tool for identifying/diagnosing dysfunctions (e.g., spinal cord abnormalities, bladder voiding dysfunction, and sexual organ dysfunction) non-invasively by using mechanical stimulation. The system and method includes a probe having a predetermined patient contacting portion, wherein when the contacting portion is moved into contact with a particular area of the patient (e.g., the patient's genitals), the contact induces a muscle reflex. The probe detects the pressure resulting from the contacting portion being abruptly and forcibly brought into contact with the particular area. Such detection is used to electronically initiate capture of electrical responses from a plurality of electrodes placed on the patient's skin in proximity to the particular area. Such electrical responses are processed to determine characteristics of the patient's reflexes of one or more muscles adjacent to the electrodes.
US08444562B2
A method and system for treating subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy is disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Certain procedures can include a brow lift, a blepharoplasty, and treatment of cartilage tissue.
US08444561B2
An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus includes: a transducer array 1 composed of arrayed transducer elements T1 to T6 for transmitting ultrasound; driving circuits D1A to D6A each provided for transmission channels for driving each of the transducer elements; a transmission trigger generator 2 for generating a trigger pulse for controlling each of the driving circuits; a parallel reception beam former 3 for processing reception signals from the transducer elements; a signal processor 4 for processing an output signal of the parallel reception beam former; and a control unit 5 for controlling the transmission trigger generator, the parallel reception beam former and the signal processor. The transmission trigger generator controls the width of the trigger pulse independently for each of the transmission channels to cause the driving circuit to output a driving pulse approximating a predetermined weighting value assigned to an output amplitude of each of the transmission channels in a transmission aperture of the transducer array. A circuit for forming a trapezoidal transmission beam for increasing a data acquisition rate by using parallel reception beams can be configured at low cost by using pulse amplifiers.
US08444559B2
The present invention relates to a system for measuring the input impedance of a skin/electrode interface and selectively modifying the input impedance of the monitoring circuit to match the measured input impedance. More particularly, a simplified method for correcting for input impedance mismatch between electronic monitoring circuitry and the skin/electrode interface. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an input impedance measuring circuit will interface with a microprocessor and a reconfigurable switch network to select the input impedance of the electronic monitoring circuitry, thus eliminating the impedance sensitivity of EMG or EKG instruments.
US08444551B2
A controllable sheath for optimizing the control of surgical instruments at the operation site includes a flexible sheath surrounding an endoscope and including a lumen extending along the walls of the sheath and adjacent to the endoscope. The lumen permits the passage of surgical instruments from the proximal end of the endoscopic device to the operation site. The lumen extends beyond the distal end of the endoscope and deflects at the distal end as desired by the operator's manipulation of a controller device. This distal end deflection may occur through various different techniques where the ability to deflect the lumen gives the operator increased control and maneuverability over the surgical implements located in the lumen. Depending upon the particular requirements of the surgical procedure, the controllable sheath may include any number of lumens capable of distal end deflection.
US08444549B2
An endoscopic device including mechanisms to facilitate insertion of the device is disclosed. The device includes a sensing assembly configured for determining the position of the distal end of the device relative to a lumen. The device may further including a steering mechanism configured to direct the distal end of the device. A controller may be operably connected to the sensing assembly and the steering mechanism. The controller may be incorporated into the endoscopic device. Alternately, the controller may be positioned remote of the endoscopic device.
US08444546B2
A device for treating fecal incontinence in a subject is provided. The device includes a plug configured for positioning mostly within an anal canal of the subject.
US08444543B2
An apparatus for determining a distribution of a selected therapy in a target volume is provided. A three-dimensional ultrasound transducer captures volume data from the target volume. A computing device is in communication with the three-dimensional ultrasound transducer for receiving the volume data and determining the distribution of the selected therapy in the target volume along a set of planned needle trajectories using the volume data. At least one of the needle trajectories is oblique to at least one other of the planned needle trajectories.
US08444541B2
A solid-bowl screw centrifuge includes a rotatable drum having a horizontal axis of rotation, which drum surrounds a centrifuging space. Further included is a screw which is arranged within the drum, the screw being rotatable at a different speed relative to the drum. Further included is at least one liquid discharge sealed from its surroundings and at least one solid discharge in a tapering region of the drum. Also included is an immersion disk on the screw which disk lies between a liquid feed and the solid discharge and divides the centrifuging space into a discharge space between the immersion disk and the solid discharge, and a separation space between the immersion disk and the liquid discharge. The centrifuge includes a device for charging the separation space with a gas. A process for operating for the solid-bowl centrifuge is also disclosed.
US08444535B2
An exercise training apparatus of the present invention includes two bases and an inflatable body. The bases respectively include a filling hole, a lid, a storage space and a water absorber. The filling hole communicates with the storage space. The lid detachably covers the filling hole, and the water absorber is located in the storage space. The inflatable body has a first and a second target portion connecting to each other. The first and the second target portion respectively connect to one of the bases. Thereby, inflatable body is formed as the crotch of a human body for users to kick or attack upwards. The bases can be filled with liquid so as to increase weight to the inflatable body, and the water absorber can hold the liquid to keep the gravity at the bottom of the bases. Consequently, the invention has a well balanced structure.
US08444534B2
A rotatable handgrip for a cardiovascular exercise machine allowing a user to rotate the handgrip relative exercise arms of the machine about an axis which intersects the handle and is generally in line with their forearm.
US08444511B2
A table tennis table with a safety latch includes: a table tennis table having a left panel and a right panel; a left leg swivel attached to the left panel; a right leg swivel attached to the right panel; a middle frame having vertical support members; and a safety latch installed on a vertical support member. The safety latch includes: a lock arm; a hook mounted to the lock arm; a spring biasing the lock arm and the hook to a closed position; and a shaft passing through the vertical support member. The lock arm is pivotally mounted to the shaft.
US08444504B2
A golf club head with a club head body having an external surface with a heel portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, and a front opening is described. A face insert support structure is located at the front opening. The support structure includes a peripheral member and a rear support member. The rear support member has a front surface and a rear surface. A face insert is attached at the front opening and closes the front opening of the body. An undercut fill structure is attached to a portion of the rear surface of the rear support member.
US08444497B1
An opposed jumping platform apparatus includes a fulcrum base; and an opposed platforms member having an opposed platforms member center pivotally mounted on the fulcrum base and dividing the opposed platforms member into a first jumping platform and an opposing second jumping platform, the first jumping platform having a first user support spaced from the opposed platforms member center extending at least one and one half feet above said first jumping platform, and the second jumping platform having a second user support spaced from the opposed platforms member center extending at least one and one half feet above said second jumping platform.
US08444493B2
A network browser and wagering game toolbar (“toolbar”) are described herein. The network browser has a main display area that can display content. The toolbar can be in, or a part of, the network browser. The network browser and the toolbar can receive and display content. Specifically, the toolbar can receive and display wagering game content from a wagering game network as the main display area can receive and display content originating outside the wagering game network. In some embodiments, the toolbar can present content originating from one or more wagering game player accounts that provide audience participation in, or related to, wagering game activity presented on the toolbar.
US08444491B2
A method of implementing clan wars is disclosed. An incentive reward is generated that is to be provided to at least one member of a group of users of a game networking system based on the group exercising a level of influence over a location during a time period that is greater than a level of influence of an additional group of users over the location during the time period. It is determined that the group exercised the level of influence over the location during the time period. The incentive reward is provided to the at least one member of the group based on the determining that the level of influence exercised by the group is greater than the level of influence of the additional group over the location during the time period.
US08444488B2
The present invention relates to a device and method for controlling the movement of a games character, which enable character movement of a type in which a character in the game jumps down and falls freely from an elevated height following an action by the games player, or progresses forwards in the direction of movement if another action is performed. The present invention has the advantageous effect that the appeal of a game is maximized as the movement time and the movement distance differ depending on the terrain and updrafts in the game even though the degree of freedom for actions is small.
US08444480B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines and a plurality of bonus awards. The central server monitors wagers on the gaming machines. Based at least in part on the wagers the central server determines when bonus events will occur and which gaming machine(s) will provide the bonus awards. In one embodiment, the central server determines which gaming machine will provide a primary bonus award and any secondary bonus awards. In one embodiment, the number of secondary bonus awards is determined based on the number of active gaming machines. The selected gaming machine then determines a component of or the amount of the bonus award to be provided to the gaming machine selected by the central server.
US08444473B2
A gaming device displays a symbol matrix including a plurality of symbol positions and at least two symbol staging areas, each symbol staging area including at least one supplemental symbol potentially shiftable into the symbol matrix. The gaming device displays a symbol staging area indicator. For a play of a game, the gaming device generates a symbol in each symbol position of the symbol matrix. Upon an occurrence of a triggering condition, the gaming device indicates one of the symbol staging areas using the symbol staging area indicator and removes at least one symbol from at least one symbol position of the symbol matrix. The gaming device re-populates the empty symbol positions by shifting any appropriate symbols of the symbol matrix any appropriate empty symbol positions, and thereafter shifting at least one supplemental symbol from the indicated symbol staging area into at least one remaining empty symbol position.
US08444459B2
The invention relates to a device for scalding poultry, comprising: a processing space provided with transport means for carrying the poultry for processing through the processing space, a conditioning space connecting to the processing space for composing a conditioning medium, and displacing means for displacing the conditioning medium from the conditioning space to the processing space. The invention also relates to a method for scalding poultry.
US08444447B2
An outboard motor includes an engine, an exhaust guide, and a catalyst. The engine includes a cylinder and crankshaft. The crankshaft is disposed along a vertical direction. The exhaust guide is arranged to support the engine from below. The catalyst is disposed in an interior of the engine. The engine includes a cylinder body. The cylinder body includes a housing portion arranged to house the catalyst. The cylinder body includes a first exhaust passage that includes an interior of the housing portion. The catalyst is inserted into the housing portion from below and is sandwiched from above and below by the housing portion and the exhaust guide.
US08444427B2
An electrical connector including a housing having first and second portions opposite to each other and provided on the second portion with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted in the housing along a direction extending toward the first portion and a mounting member fixed to the housing, wherein the mounting member comprises a base portion, a board connecting portion provided on the base portion to be connected with a solid circuit board which the first portion of the housing faces closely, an arm portion extending from the base portion into the housing, a locking portion provided on the arm portion for engaging with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing through the opening provided thereon to hold the same, and a manipulatable portion provided on the arm portion for protruding from the second portion of the housing to the outside of the housing, and the locking portion is operative to disengage from engagement with the flat circuit device when the manipulatable portion is manipulated under a condition wherein the locking portion is put in the engagement with the flat circuit device.
US08444422B2
A coaxial connector includes a lower insulating seat, having a housing cavity recessed from an upper surface thereof, and a receiving slot is located on one side of the housing cavity; a movable terminal, having a retained portion retained in the receiving slot, a pressed portion extended from the retained portion, a first soldering portion bent downwards and extended from the retained portion, and a first strip-connecting portion extended outwards from the retained portion and coplanar with the retained portion; and a fixed terminal, having a fixed portion embedded in the lower insulating seat and coplanar with the retained portion, a pressing portion extended from the fixed portion and urging against the pressed portion, a second soldering portion extended from the fixed portion, and coplanar with the first soldering portion, a second strip-connecting portion extends from the second soldering portion, and in different planes with the first strip-connecting portion.
US08444406B2
The invention relates to a gear pump in which the amplitudes of the pressure impulses in a pressure chamber can be significantly reduced by a suitable embodiment of a first groove and/or a second groove. The circumferential walls of a pump chamber containing the pressure chamber, in an angular range extending toward the pressure chamber, each have a respective groove communicating with the pressure chamber, by which grooves a radial spacing between the outer circumference of two gear wheels disposed in the pump chamber and the circumferential walls is increased.
US08444402B2
To reduce the clearance volume for a crank-side concentric suction and pressure valve, it is proposed to arrange a sealing 20 axially abutting on the suction and pressure valve 2,3, wherein the sealing 20 consists of a number of pressure packings 21a, 21 which are arranged axially one behind the other.
US08444398B2
A pump has a pump fluid end and a manifold that is detachable from the fluid end. A device is attachable to the pump, and has a manifold support beam portion adapted to affix to the pump fluid end at a location adjacent a manifold mating surface of the pump fluid end and extend outward from the pump fluid end. A support is provided on the manifold support beam portion that, when the manifold support beam portion is affixed to the fluid end of the pump, engages the manifold detached from the fluid end and supports the weight of the manifold.
US08444396B2
Disclosed herein is a micro fluid transferring system that comprises a micropump having a chamber, a first fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber, and a second fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber. This system is characterized in that at least one of the first and second fluid transferring portions comprises a pressure absorbing section for absorbing or alleviating a liquid vibrational pressure therein.
US08444393B2
A rod pump control system includes a parameter estimator that determines from motor data parameters relating to operation of the rod pump and/or downhole dynamometer card without the need for external instrumentation, such as down hole sensors, echo meters, flow sensors, etc. In one embodiment, instantaneous motor current and voltage together with pump parameters are used in determining rod position and load. The rod position and load are used to control the operation of the rod pump to optimize the operation of the pump. Also disclosed in a pump stroke amplifier that is capable of increasing pump stroke without changing the overall pumping speed, or in the alternative, maintaining the well output with decreased overall pumping speed.
US08444377B2
A method for attaching a connector to deposited material includes the steps of depositing material on a substrate using a thin- or thick-film deposition process and attaching at least one connector to the deposited material using a high energy beam welding process.
US08444375B2
A blade for a gas turbine includes an airfoil extending in radial direction of the turbine or longitudinal direction of the blade, respectively, between a platform and a blade tip. The airfoil is bordered across the airfoil by a leading edge and a trailing edge and has a suction side and a pressure side. At the trailing edge a first cooling passage runs parallel to the trailing edge from the platform to the blade tip in the interior of the airfoil. The cooling passage is supplied with a cooling air flow from the platform side, and from which cooling air is discharged through a plurality of cooling holes arranged all over the blade. For such a blade the cooling is optimized by providing a first cooling passage, the passage area of which is tapered in radial direction by between 35% and 59%.
US08444371B2
A seal system between a row of buckets supported on a machine rotor and a surrounding stationary casing or stator includes a tip shroud secured at radially outer tips of each of the buckets, the tip shroud formed with a radially-projecting rail. A cellular seal structure is supported in the stationary stator in radial opposition to the tip shroud and the rail. The seal structure has an annular array of individual cells formed to provide continuous, substantially horizontal flow passages devoid of any radial obstruction along substantially an entire axial length dimension of the cellular seal structure to prevent flow about the tip shroud from turning radially inwardly.
US08444367B2
A mounting frame for attaching a backhoe or other implement to a lift arm of a vehicle, such as a compact loader, includes an upright arm on the mounting frame that is positioned ahead of and adjacent to a forward portion of a lift arm of the loader. The upright arm carries a pivoting locking handle at a first pivot and a locking link is pivotally supported on the locking handle on a first pivot pin. The locking link has a second pivot pin that can be moved to be supported in an existing pin sleeve or bushing on the lift arm. The pivot pins on the locking link are positioned so that when the locking handle is moved to a locked position, the line between the axes of the pivot pins on the locking link goes over center with respect to the pivot axis of the first pivot locking handle, and a hook end of the link latches onto a locking projection on the upright arm. The mounting frame is held in a fixed position relative to the lift arm.
US08444364B2
An apparatus and method for concurrent processing of several substrates. The system employs a novel architecture which, while being linear, may autonomously sequence processing and move substrates in different directions as necessary. The system moves several substrates concurrently; however, unlike the prior art it does not utilize trays.
US08444363B2
Provided is a substrate processing apparatus configured to attain conflicting purposes of high throughput and footprint reduction. The substrate processing apparatus comprises a carrying chamber, and a loadlock chamber and at least two process chambers that are arranged around the carrying chamber. The carrying chamber comprises a substrate carrying unit configured to carry a substrate between the loadlock chamber and the process chambers. The substrate carrying unit comprises a first arm provided with a first finger and a second finger, and leading ends of the first and second fingers extend horizontally in the same direction. Each of the process chambers comprises a first process unit and a second process unit, and the second process unit is disposed at a side of the process chamber distant from the carrying chamber with the first process unit being disposed therebetween.
US08444351B2
The coating-powder-supply apparatus according to the invention comprises a powder-storage container, a powder conveyor, in order to convey powder out of the powder-storage container, and a set of scales, in order to weigh the powder located in the powder-storage container.
US08444349B2
The grouted pile splice for pipe piles includes a lower pile section, and an upper pile section including an integral driving portion adapted to apply a driving force to the lower pile section. The upper pile section includes a stabbing portion sized to extend through a proximal end opening and into an inner bore of the lower pile section to form an annulus space between the upper pile section and the lower pile section to receive grout. The driving portion may include a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the stabbing portion, and an annular land positioned to contact a proximal end of the lower pile section. A grout distributor assembly may be mounted in the upper pile section to receive grout. A grout line assembly is inserted into the upper pile section and mated with the distributor assembly to supply pumped grout to the annulus space.
US08444347B2
The disclosure provides an offshore platform and related method, having: a floating structure, a truss assembly coupled to the floating structure, and a heave plate coupled to the truss assembly. The floating structure includes a pontoon adapted to be disposed at least partially below a surface of water in which the offshore platform is disposed; and at least three vertically extending columns coupled to the pontoon, the columns having a larger lateral dimension than the pontoon coupled to the column, creating a pontoon offset portion. The truss assembly includes at least three separated walls of trusses slidably coupled to the columns, each truss wall having at least two vertically disposed truss legs, each truss leg being slidably coupled to a column at the pontoon offset portion independently from a truss leg of an adjacent wall; and cross-bracing between the truss legs of each of the truss walls.
US08444346B2
An installation tool for installation of earth loops includes a cylindrical body with slots in its outer surface, for receiving of tubes of the earth loops, and a central passage extending therethrough from a grout fitting to a central opening at a leading end face of the cylindrical body. An anchor fits over the end face and includes a face plate with tube apertures extending therethrough, a retainer ring which serves to hold the earth loops in place within the slots during insertion of the tool into the borehole, and a pair of flexible plates extending from opposing positions on the retainer ring, approximately in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body. In use, a plurality of straight (linear) boreholes are drilled at an angle relative to the horizontal of 5° to less than 90°, preferably 5° to 45°, at least two coupled tube pairs are inserted into each borehole and then grout is injected to force the anchor away from the cylindrical body, to fill the boreholes surrounding the earth loops and to form a seal for heat exchange between the earth loops the surrounding earth.
US08444342B2
A connector system (12,72) with a connector (11,61,71) of a fastening screw (17,18) and an anchor screw (19), wherein the connector (11, 61, 71) is designed for immobilization in a groove (7) of a first profile (1) which is provided with an undercut (5) formed by a profile bridge (3) and has a connector body (13, 65, 75) which has a first opening (21, 63, 31′) for an anchor screw (19) and at least one second opening (23, 23′, 59A, 59B) which is provided with an internal thread (41) and intended for a fastening screw (17, 18). The connector body (13, 65, 75) extends substantially flat along a connector body plane (15), and the fastening screw (17, 18) at one end has a shaft (27) carrying an external thread (25) and an integrally molded flange (28, 29) which extends radially to the outside from a screw head (31), wherein the anchor screw (19) is provided for placement in the first opening (21, 21′, 63) of the connector (11, 61, 71), and at least one fastening screw (17, 18) is provided for placement in the at least one second opening (23, 59A, 59B).
US08444339B2
An apparatus comprises a body that extends longitudinally between a top end and a bottom end, an elongate slot disposed in an outer surface of the body and having first and second spaced-apart detents, and a cap disposed coaxially around the body and having a cut therein that defines an elongate arm. The elongate arm has an inwardly-oriented protrusion configured to engage the detents of the slot. The cap is slidable along the body such that the inwardly-oriented protrusion slides along the slot until it detachably engages a detent, thereby retaining the cap in either a closed position that covers the bottom end or an open position in which the bottom end is exposed.
US08444338B2
An applicator device includes an applicator unit for applying a first cosmetic article to a user and a housing, which includes a cavity for holding a second cosmetic article for use by the user. An activator unit may be used to bring the second cosmetic article in reach of the user.
US08444335B2
A multi-color pen includes a multi-segmented pen body including a longitudinally extending cylindrical hollow tube having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of cylindrical sub-assemblies each of which includes a supply of writing material and a writing point connected to one of the supplies of writing materials. An eraser is disposed at an end of a hollow tube and is shown with a removable cover. The cover may include a compass or a digital thermometer in place of the digital clock. In addition, a rotatable pocket clip extends from the top of the cover and includes a ruler having a straight edge and graduations of length as well as a knife blade or letter opener that is rotatably separable with respect to the ruler.
US08444333B2
A developer efficiently removes photosensitive resin components dispersing in a developing solution. The developer includes a feeder that feeds a developing solution to a printing raw plate, a dispersed-material filter, wherein the developing solution in which a photosensitive resin composition separated from a photosensitive resin composition layer of the printing raw plate is dispersed, is passed through the dispersed-material filter to flocculate the photosensitive resin composition dispersing in the developing solution and a flocculated-material-filter removes the flocculated photosensitive resin composition from the developing solution passed through the dispersed-material filter.
US08444331B2
Certain embodiments provide a camera module comprising a sensor substrate, a lens holder, a lens, and an infrared light cut filter unit. The sensor substrate has a solid-state imaging device and a light receiving unit receiving infrared light. The lens holder is mounted on the sensor substrate so as to cover the solid-state imaging device and the light receiving unit. The lens is arranged in the lens holder. The infrared light cut filter unit is arranged in the lens holder.
US08444329B2
A camera mounting structure for mounting an on-vehicle camera on a vehicle, in which the on-vehicle camera includes an imaging module having a lens and an imaging element, and in an exterior panel component making up an exterior of the vehicle, a bracket part for attaching the imaging module is molded integrally with the exterior panel component as a portion of the exterior panel component.
US08444327B2
An optical connector adapter includes: a first connection member; a second connection member; a sleeve member coaxially disposed in the first and second connection members; an outer shell defining an internal cavity for receiving the first and second connection members, an engagement section being formed on an inner wall face of the internal cavity and inward protruding from the inner wall face for restricting and locating the first connection member, the outer shell being formed with at least one slot in communication with the cavity; and at least one U-shaped clamp member. The U-shaped clamp member can be inserted into the outer shell through the slot to restrict the second connection member so as to securely locate the first and second connection members in the outer shell.
US08444321B2
The present invention is an anti rotational creep bearing including a socket designed in the inner race of the bearing for partially receiving an anti creep ball therein, further including a shaft onto which the bearing is to be longitudinally mounted, including a channel defined along a longitudinal direction for receiving there along the anti creep ball projecting from its socket, wherein the depth of the socket plus the depth of the channel is at least equal to the diameter of the anti creep ball, such that when the bearing is installed on the shaft, the anti creep ball prevents creep in the rotational direction, however allows movement in the axial direction.
US08444310B2
A LED module with fast disassembly function is capable of being disassembled from a hole of a substrate by a tool and includes a lamp base, a LED and fasteners. The lamp base has tabs extending outwards. Each of the tabs is provided with a through-hole corresponding to the hole. The tab is formed with an inclined surface at the periphery of the through-hole. The LED is fixed on the lamp base. Each of the fasteners has a cap. The fastener is disposed through the hole and the through-hole to be fixed thereto. A notch is formed between the cap and the inclined surface. The tool is disposed in the notch to thereby disassemble the fastener from the hole and the through-hole. With this arrangement, the damaged LED can be detached from the substrate rapidly without replacing the whole LED module, thereby reducing the time and cost for maintenance.
US08444309B2
One embodiment of the invention relates to an electrical device having illumination comprising a housing and at least one light pipe extending along a longitudinal axis, inside the housing. There is at least one light disposed in the housing and being positioned adjacent to the light pipe. The light has a radiation pattern having a corresponding peak radiation pattern direction which extends along the longitudinal axis of the light pipe.
US08444307B2
A vehicular lamp includes a lamp unit disposed inside a lamp chamber and an aiming mechanism. The lamp chamber is formed from a lamp body opening forward and a front cover attached to the front opening portion of the lamp body. The aiming mechanism is interposed between the lamp unit and the lamp body. The aiming mechanism performs an optical axis adjustment by tiltably supporting the lamp unit with respect to the lamp body. The aiming mechanism includes a rotational operation portion supported by a lamp body side fixing portion provided on the lamp body; a screw portion threadedly engaged with a lamp unit side fixing portion provided on the lamp unit; and a connection portion that joins the rotational operation portion and the screw portion. At least part of the connection portion has radial flexibility and no axial elasticity. Torque from the rotational operation portion is transmitted to the screw portion to move the lamp unit side fixing portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
US08444301B2
A lens includes a light incident surface and a light exiting surface. The light exiting surface includes a first curved surface, a first convex surface, a second convex surface, a second curved surface, and a third curved surface. The first curved surface is located at the center of the light exiting surface. The first and second convex surfaces are arranged at two opposite sides of the first curved surface respectively for converging the light exiting therefrom, the first convex surface, the first curved surface, and the second convex surface connect in sequence along a first direction. The first and third curved surface are arranged at another two opposite sides of the first curved surface respectively; the second curved surface, the first curved surface, and the third curved surface connect in sequence along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
US08444300B2
An LED lamp includes a circuit board with a plurality of LEDs switch and a lamp base made of heat dispersing material. The lamp base includes a fastening pedestal. The fastening pedestal includes an accommodating member, a shell, and a plurality of heat diffusion walls. The accommodating member defines a cavity configured for receiving the circuit board. The shell encloses the accommodating member. The plurality of heat diffusion walls connect the accommodating member to the shell. Each of two adjacent heat diffusion walls define an outlet.
US08444298B2
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting device includes a light case, a plurality of heatsinks, a plurality of LED modules and a plurality of power supplies. Each of the heatsinks is connected with one of the LED modules and one of the power supplies correspondingly to form one LED light unit. The LED light units are assembled with the light case to form the LED lighting device.
US08444297B2
Disclosed is a lighting apparatus using light-emitting diodes. The lighting apparatus includes: a housing in which an inner side surface is partitioned into a plurality of mounting surfaces and a plurality of cooling fins is prominently formed on an outer side surface; a plurality of light source blocks provided with a plurality of LED modules on an outer surface of a plurality of angle adjusting blocks having multi-step inclined surfaces, and mounted at positions selectively determined on the plurality of mounting surfaces of the housing so that light emitted from the LED modules can implement a predetermined light distribution type; and a protection cover for covering a lower portion of the housing.
US08444294B1
An apparatus for providing illumination includes a lower underlying layer that is attached to an upper surface layer. The upper surface layer includes any desired material that can be stepped on and used as the upper surface of a doormat. The underlying layer includes circuitry and wiring for conveying electrical energy from a battery to at least one light attached to the apparatus upon the activation of a sensor sufficient to illuminate the light, a portion of the upper surface layer, and a portion of the area disposed above the upper surface layer. A plurality of light emitting diodes are the preferred type of the light. An optional timer and other optional components and features are discussed. Various types of construction are described depending on whether the underlying layer is opaque or transparent or if a prior art type of doormat is to be included as a component of the apparatus.
US08444288B1
A charger plate having illuminated members. The charger plate includes a base, a raised portion, a rim and a circuit. The base is positioned substantially at a center of the charger plate and includes a first plurality of light emitting sources (LES) that outputs light from the base. The raised portion is substantially opaque and circumferentially surrounds the base. The rim circumferentially surrounds the raised portion and includes a second plurality of LES that outputs light from the rim. The circuit may independently control color and brightness associated with the first plurality of LES and the second plurality of LES. The base may include a reflective portion operable to reflect light from the first plurality of LES. The base and the rim may include a light pipe each for distributing the light emitted from their respective LES. The circuit may be powered via power inductive magnets instead of a battery.
US08444275B2
A color projection display in which at least one color channel includes: a light source assembly including a multiplicity of pulse modulated light sources providing an aggregate light beam; a light modulation control subsystem; illumination optics to direct the aggregate light beam to an image modulation plane; and a spatial light modulator in the image modulation plane. The light modulation control subsystem senses an aggregate light intensity signal for the aggregate light beam and controls the pulse modulation parameters for the multiplicity of pulse-modulated light sources responsive to the sensed aggregate light intensity signal to reduce light intensity fluctuations in the aggregate light beam within the imaging time interval.
US08444274B1
A slide animation projector for the yard comprises a solenoid that forces a translating rod to reciprocate in a spiked motion. An elongated slot in the translating rod seats a slide cartridge having at least two stationary, adjacent images. The slide reciprocates in repeated succession, wherein the adjacent images give an impression of movement.
US08444272B2
An apparatus for forming a color image has at least a first, a second, and a third illumination source, each illumination source energizable to provide continuous illumination of a first, a second, or a third wavelength band, respectively, to an optical multiplexer. The optical multiplexer is actuable to cyclically switch received light from each one of the illumination sources, in turn, to each one of at least a first, a second, and a third projector channel in a repeated sequence. The first projector channel connects to a first projector apparatus, the second projector channel connects to a second projector apparatus, and the third projector channel connects to a third projector apparatus. Each projector apparatus has a light modulator that is energizable to form an image from the light of the first, second, or third wavelength band that is cyclically switched onto its projector channel from the optical multiplexer.
US08444264B1
An upconverting device for enhanced recognition of selected wavelengths is provided. The device comprises a transparent light transmitter in combination with a plurality of upconverting nanoparticles. The device may a lens in eyewear or alternatively a transparent panel such as a window in an instrument or machine. In use the upconverting device is positioned between a light source and the eye(s) of the user of the upconverting device.
US08444263B2
The liquid droplet discharging apparatus has an image formation area, a workpiece exchange area, a set table that has a slider and is configured to support a workpiece thereon, and a guide section configured to guide a movement of the set table between the image formation area and the workpiece exchange area by guiding the slider. The guide section is divided into two sections corresponding to the image formation area and the workpiece exchange area.
US08444261B2
An inkjet recording liquid contains water, an organic solvent, a pigment, and a pigment dispersing resin. An weight-average molecular weight of the pigment dispersing resin exceeds 30000 and is 150000 or less. A mass ratio of the pigment dispersing resin to the pigment in the recording liquid (resin content/pigment content) is 0.1 or more and 1.0 or less. An acid value of the pigment dispersing resin is 160 or more and 240 or less. The inkjet recording liquid is discharged from a recording head of the inkjet recording device. Even when nozzles of the recording head become clogged due to drying or thickening of the inkjet recording liquid, the nozzle clogging can be easily resolved with a purge operation and wiping operation of the recording head by a wipe unit. Thus, it is possible to reduce an overconsumption of the recording liquid due to the foregoing purge operation.
US08444255B2
A thermal inkjet printhead may include a substrate and a resistive layer. A thermal resistor may be formed in the resistive layer. A first metal layer may be between the substrate and a resistive layer having a thickness to form a power bus. A dielectric layer may be between the first metal layer and the resistive layer.
US08444254B2
An apparatus and method to protect an inkjet printer head including a head controller of a printer body and a head chip to drive a heater by using a serial interface, the apparatus including: a clock monitoring unit to monitor a serial clock signal that is used as a reference clock signal supplied to the head chip to control the head chip, and if the serial clock signal is abnormal, to output a signal indicating that the serial clock signal is abnormal; and a heater driving limiting unit to limit energy applied to the heater by using the signal, which is output by the clock monitoring unit, to indicate that the serial clock signal is abnormal.
US08444244B2
A print control apparatus includes: an operation state storing section that stores operation information relating to operation states of a plurality of printing elements arranged in a printing head; and a drawing controlling section that causes the plurality of printing elements to draw a test image for checking the operation states of the plurality of printing elements, wherein the test image includes a set of a predetermined number of lines that are drawn in parallel with one another in a predetermined direction, and the drawing controlling section causes a printing element placed in the vicinity of a printing element determined as a malfunction on the basis of the operation information, to draw a check line having a predetermined length and thickness in the test image.
US08444242B2
An ink refilling device including a supply portion to be connected to an ink cartridge and supply ink, an ink tank, a first connecting tube having one end connected to the ink tank, a three-way switching valve including an input end connected to the other end of the first connecting tube, a first output end and a second output end, and adapted to switch between a first flow path from the input end to the first output end and a second flow path from the input end to the second output end, a second connecting tube having one end connected to the first output end and the other end connected to the supply portion, a third connecting tube having one end connected to the second output end and the other end connected to the ink tank, and a feed pump provided along the first connecting tube to feed the ink.
US08444238B2
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a body, a door, a support bracket, a door bracket, a fixing part, and an adjustment part. The body defines a storage chamber. The door opens and closes the storage chamber. The door is rotatably coupled to the body by a hinge. The support bracket supports a load of the door. The door bracket is coupled to a lower side of the door. The fixing part is disposed between the support bracket and the door bracket. The adjustment part is coupled to the fixing part and supports the door bracket to adjust a vertical movement of the door.
US08444236B2
A drawer pull-out guide includes a body rail to be fastened to a furniture body and at least one pull-out rail slidably supported relative thereto. The rail is supported so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position. At least one carriage having at least four load-transmitting rolling elements is supported between the rails. The rolling elements run on a runway of a rail, and the runway has a first substantially horizontal, straight guide section in the rear end area and a second substantially horizontal, straight guide section in the front end area. The first and the second guide sections are interconnected by a third guide section that extends downward at an angle from the first to the second guide section.
US08444231B2
A disk brake apparatus in which a determination is made as to whether a centering operation should be performed, and operation conditions for the centering operation (the length of the interval and the number of the operations) are set, according to a change of deformation of a disk rotor by heat release over time. When the centering operation is performed, a solenoid is actuated to perform the centering operation according to the set operation conditions. The centering operation is an operation of moving a pair of brake pads (2) and (3) into contact with the disk rotor (1) and then separating the pads from the disk rotor during a cooling process while a vehicle is running.
US08444229B2
A method for preventing a valve orifice from switching to the small size when a high build gradient is required includes briefly bleeding off a small amount of fluid at the upstream side of the valve. This momentarily reduces the pressure difference when beginning the pressure build. After the valve is opened with the large orifice, the fluid flow through the valve prevents a high pressure difference. The resulting build with the large orifice has the maximum pressure gradient.
US08444214B2
Exemplary baffles for inhibiting noise transmission through a pillar structure, and exemplary methods of making the same, are disclosed. An exemplary baffle may include a body configured to be secured in a cavity, the body defining a passage for selectively receiving a line extending through the body. The baffle may further include an expandable material extending substantially about a perimeter of the passage. The expandable material may be configured to expand to seal the cavity about the body. The body may include a flap configured to open to allow the line to extend through the passage. The body may further include a biasing element urging the flap toward a closed position, substantially obstructing the passageway.
US08444212B2
The invention concerns a driver protection system for a vehicle comprising a restraining bow frame (7) which is pivotable about a pivot axis between a securing position in which the restraining bow frame (7) secures a driver from falling out of the vehicle and a release position in which the restraining bow frame (7) permits the driver to climb out of the vehicle, wherein the restraining bow frame (7) in the release position is displaced relative to the securing position in the direction of the pivot axis.
US08444197B2
A pair of parallel pins abutting against the inner peripheral surface of a hollow shaft are provided to a first arm part of a shank at a predetermined spacing in the longitudinal direction. This prevents the shank from tilting or rattling. Further, an insertion hole of the retaining cap and the cross section of the first arm part each have an elliptical shape, and thus the rotation of the shank with respect to the hollow shaft is restricted and the position of the shank is kept such that the interlocking part points upward.
US08444196B2
A console is provided, in particular a central console for a vehicle, having a rail pair for the essentially horizontally displaceable accommodation of inserts of the console between the rails of the rail pair in guides of the rails, as well as a storage space between the inserts and the floor of the vehicle. For such a console, it is provided that the rails are implemented as freestanding brackets, the brackets at least being mounted in the floor of the vehicle, an essentially horizontally situated section of the particular bracket, which is distal from the floor, having at least one guide. Such a console offers high flexibility in regard to the storage space usable in this area with structurally simple design and may be advantageously used both with and also without the inserts in this aspect.
US08444193B2
A lifting device has an elongate lifting arm provided with a suction mount enabling securing of the device to a body to be lifted. The suction mount has suction devices spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the lifting arm sufficiently for a user to grip the lifting arm in between the suction mount devices. The device extends away from the suction mount, in the longitudinal direction of the lifting arm, to a handle spaced from the suction mount, and which extends upwardly above the lifting arm on the opposite side of the lifting arm to the suction mount devices.
US08444188B2
A system includes an adapter configured to provide an interface between a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The adapter has an inner wall and an outer wall. The adapter has a first end configured to fit against a first inside wall of the first fluid conduit. The adapter also has a second end configured to fit against a second inside wall of the second fluid conduit. The inner wall of the adapter has a first curvilinear transition from a first inside diameter at a first opening of the first end to an intermediate diameter between the first and second ends. The inner wall of the adapter has a second curvilinear transition from a second inside diameter at a second opening of the second end to the intermediate diameter.
US08444187B2
A separation prevention device for a pipe joint has disengagement prevention members and a press member. The disengagement prevention members are disposed at a plurality of locations in a circumferential direction of the pipe, on an inner peripheral surface of an engaging tool or of a receiving opening itself and which are formed with claws. The press member presses the disengagement prevention member radially inward of the pipe and which engages the claw with the outer peripheral surface of an inserting opening. The claw of the disengagement prevention member and the claw of the disengagement prevention member which is adjacent to the former disengagement prevention member in the circumferential direction of the pipe are arranged so as to overlap on each other in the axial direction of the pipe in a state where the claws are engaged with the outer peripheral surface of the inserting opening.
US08444182B2
A water intake pipe of an ocean thermal energy conversion power plant is made by connecting a plurality of connecting sections, and each connecting section includes a plurality of steel ropes between two flange disks and covered with a soft tube material, and each connecting section is in a cage form and fixed by the flange disks, and the water intake pipe includes a support, and the closer the connecting section to the sea surface, the higher is the load-carrying capacity of each steel rope, and the steel rope closer to the sea surface has a greater tension.
US08444180B2
Methods and systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various devices, such as piezoelectric transducers, RFID tags and others devices and circuits.
US08444178B2
An airbag apparatus is provided with at least one detent assembly each including a micro switch, a telescopic cylinder slidably disposed in the micro switch, a bifurcation for fastening the cylinder by attaching to the micro switch, a first rope secured to the micro switch, and a second rope secured to the bifurcation wherein the micro switch is open in an inoperative position; an airbag; a cover spaced around the airbag; sensors disposed in an automobile; and an ECU for controlling the airbag and the sensors. The airbag is surrounded and fastened by the first and second ropes of the detent assemblies. The airbag expands to close the micro switch and break loose when an actual accident event is sensed by at least one of the sensors.
US08444172B2
A basket frame of a stroller comprises a connecting device connected between a front frame and a rear frame. The connecting device comprises a first connector having a first pivot part, a second connector having a second pivot part, and a torsion spring. The first pivot part is pivotally connected to the second pivot part. An application of a downward force on the rear frame deforms the torsion spring and causes the rear frame to pivot downward. A removal of the downward force causes a spring return to make the rear frame to return to a fixed position.
US08444154B2
One aspect of the invention relates to a cylinder head gasket provided with at least one opening corresponding to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The gasket has a function layer with a full bead and an annular support with a bead. The bead of the annular support is arranged on the side of the full bead which is oriented away from the combustion chamber. Another aspect of the invention relates to a cylinder head gasket having an upper functional layer, an annular support and a lower functional layer. The annular support is arranged between the upper and lower functional layers and is adjacent to the lower functional layer. The upper functional layer comprises one full bead, and the lower functional layer has a bead arranged on the side of the full bead which is oriented away from the combustion chamber.
US08444153B2
An arrangement (30, 80) for sealing a shaft (40, 60, 90, 110) in a casing (31, 81) by a hydraulic seal (50, 70, 100, 120) includes at least one essentially annular, radially inwardly open cavity (51, 71, 101, 121) and at least one essentially annular, radially outwardly directed sealing element (54, 74, 102, 122) which projects into the cavity (51, 71, 101, 121). To provide a hydraulic shaft seal, in which swirl and friction losses in the sealing medium are low and no leakage occurs, the hydraulic seal (50, 70, 100, 120) is arranged on the inner side (42, 62, 92) or on the outer side (111) of the shaft (40, 60, 90, 110) and the cavity (51, 71, 101, 121) or the sealing element (54, 74, 102, 122) of the hydraulic seal (50, 70, 100, 120) is connected to a wall (32, 82) of the casing (31, 81).
US08444146B2
An apparatus for randomly arranging and dealing a plurality of playing cards includes a device for moving cards and randomly ejecting playing cards from an initial set of playing cards located in a card input unit for an initial delivery of randomly arranged playing cards to a card delivery unit. The card delivery unit includes upper powered rollers and lower powered belts for receiving and transporting the playing cards through the card delivery unit and into a card collection unit. A playing card limiter is adjustable to allow a greater number or a lesser number of cards to pass from the card delivery unit to the card collection unit. Methods of randomly arranging and dealing a plurality of playing cards may include related apparatus.
US08444145B2
A gaming machine comprising a user interface and a wrist support and hand grip. The wrist support and hand grip are useable in a first position while griping the hand grip, and in a second position while gripping the wrist support, while facilitating manipulation of one or more input devices at either position.
US08444143B2
In a sheet transport apparatus, coiled springs 82 are fitted in and supported by recess portions 81b at a bottom face 81a of a support frame 81 and recess portions 73c at an upper face 73b of an inner guide 73. In other words, most of the portions of the coiled spring 82 are enclosed inside the recess portions 81b of the support frame 81 and the recess portions 73c of the inner guide 73, and covered and hidden by side walls 81f of the recess portions 81b and side walls 73d of the recess portions 73c.
US08444128B2
A work support comprises a plunger, a transmission member, a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, a clamping mechanism, a plug, and a body. The plunger may be slidably retained within the clamping mechanism, which in turn is firmly held within the transmission member. The transmission member may extend and retract from the body corresponding to a pressure in the first chamber and the second chamber. Extension of the transmission member also extends the plunger such that the plunger may contact and receive a load from a work piece. The third chamber may be located between the outer surface of the clamping mechanism and the inner surface of the transmission member. Increasing pressure in the first chamber while decreasing pressure in the second chamber extends the transmission member and opens the plug which blocks the entry to the third chamber. Pressure in the third chamber closes the gap between the clamping mechanism and the plunger and applies a clamping force to the plunger.
US08444122B2
In at least one embodiment, a gas spring includes a casing having an inner surface defining in part a gas chamber, a piston rod and a seal. The piston rod is received at least partially in the casing for reciprocation along an axis between extended and retracted positions. The piston rod has an internal cavity defining a hollow space, a stop and a rod guide disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the casing to guide the reciprocation of the piston rod at least in part. The seal generally is provided between the piston rod and the casing to prevent gas leakage from the gas chamber.
US08444119B2
A carburetor has a housing and an intake passage section disposed in the housing. A throttle element is arranged in the intake passage section and a choke element is arranged in the intake passage section upstream of the throttle element. At least one fuel opening opens downstream of the choke element into the intake passage section. A fuel valve controls a fuel quantity supplied to the at least one fuel opening. At least one auxiliary fuel port opens upstream of the choke element into the intake passage section.
US08444116B2
A lift system is provided. The lift system includes a lift mechanism with a jamming cleat and a guide bracket that urges a tensile member toward the jamming cleat.
US08444112B2
A locking Y-valve has branches that can be independently locked open or locked closed. Each branch has a ball valve connected to a rotating valve column. The valve column extends through a lock plate and attaches to a housing that contains a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a retractable lock pin that cooperates with two recesses in the lock plate to keep the housing, valve column, and ball valve locked in place. The locking mechanism is attached to a rotatable handle outside the housing. Rotating the handle retracts the lock pin from a recess so that the handle can be moved. Releasing the handle extends the lock pin into a recess, securing the handle in place. One or more of the lock plate and housing may be integral with the Y-valve. In the preferred embodiment, the lock plate is configured to be retrofit onto existing Y-valves, so that a non-lockable Y-valve may be converted into a lockable Y-valve.
US08444109B2
The disclosure provides a blowout preventer (BOP) system with an actuator for opening and closing a ram. The actuator includes a locking system having a clutch piston to operate a clutch having ratcheting teeth. The locking system disengages the clutch prior to the ram opening and closing. The clutch piston has a first portion with a larger area than a second portion. A clutch fluid pressure acts on the first portion, and a closing fluid pressure acts on the second portion. This area difference in the clutch piston portions allows the clutch to be disengaged during closing operations, even when the closing fluid pressure is the same as the clutch fluid pressure and the clutch is biased engaged by a bias assembly. Further, closing fluid pressure is applied to lessen the load on the clutch ratcheting teeth, while the clutch fluid pressure is applied to unlock the clutch.
US08444101B2
An apparatus for hanging a storage device comprising a mounting strap, a frontal strap, a lower strap and a connector. The frontal strap is oriented to support the storage device and at least partially wrap around the storage device. The lower strap is configured to at least partially wrap around a bottom portion of the storage device. The connector has multiple connection points and is configured to connect the mounting strap, frontal strap, and lower strap.
US08444097B2
Generally a collapsible structure adapted to support a container. Specifically, a collapsible tripod which operates between a folded condition for transport and a support condition adapted to support a container.
US08444093B1
An airplane leading edge de-icing apparatus having a heat diffuser for heating the leading edges of an airplane is provided. The heat diffuser has a first heat diffuser side having a concave shape and a second heat diffuser side having a convex shape. The heat diffuser is joined to the leading edge of an airplane. A counter current heat exchanger is provided and heats a heat transfer fluid with heat energy absorbed from hot gases. The heat transfer fluid is pumped in and out of a reservoir tank with a first pump. A second pump pumps the heat transfer fluid in and out of the heat diffuser. The heat energy in the heat transfer fluid housed in the heat diffuser is transferred to the convex surface of the second heat diffuser side and prevents and/or melts ice build-up.
US08444092B2
Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing same
Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.
US08444084B2
A mounting arrangement of a gas turbine engine comprising a core engine, surrounded by a nacelle having a bypass duct, the mounting arrangement comprising a front mount, a rear mount and characterized by the mounting arrangement further comprising a fail-safe mount axially spaced from the front and rear mounts. The fail-safe mount comprises a number of A-frames connecting the core engine and the bypass duct. In normal operation the fail-safe mount does not transmit loads between the engine and a pylon, except in the event of damage to either the front or rear mounts.
US08444078B1
The invention involves a novel configuration for a cable reel and two discs. The discs are disposed on opposite sides of the spool and the two discs are able to spin independently from the spool.
US08444073B2
A continuous kneading apparatus including: a stationary portion having an internal space where matter is conveyed; a rotary disc member and a screw member which are configured to convey the matter in the internal space; a drive shaft member to which the rotary disc member and the screw member are fixed; and a cooling medium passage through which a cooling medium passes, wherein the cooling medium passage is provided for the screw member which is placed upstream of the rotary disc member with respect to the conveyance direction of the matter, wherein the cooling medium passing in the cooling medium passage is lower in temperature than the matter passing in the internal space, and wherein the matter passes in the internal space while provided with shear force by rotation of the drive shaft member and thus continuously kneaded, and while cooled by the cooling medium.
US08444068B2
A pressure washer is provided. The pressure washer includes a fluid inlet and a pump disposed to receive fluid from the fluid inlet. A spray gun is provided that includes a first outlet and a separate second outlet. A first conduit fluidly connects the fluid inlet and the pump with the first outlet and a second conduit fluidly connects the fluid inlet with the second outlet.
US08444066B2
A chemical dispensing apparatus includes a housing that is connectable to a source of water, such as a standard garden house, and an internal space in which is disposed a rotatable container containing a quantity of chemical concentrate to be mixed with the source of water as it flows through the housing and is dispensed from the housing from a sprinkler head or misting nozzle. The flow of water through the housing powers a water turbine which is connected to the rotatable container, such that the container is rotated as water flows through the housing. In an alternative embodiment, the water turbine is replaced with an electric motor. Rotation of the container cause the chemical concentrate to dissolve which is then mixed with the water before it is dispensed through the sprinkler or mister.
US08444051B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for responding to a problem associated with a self-service machine. For example, some embodiments provide a method that includes: (a) determining that a problem associated with a self-service machine occurred during a transaction involving the self-service machine and a user of the self-service machine; (b) presenting, to the user via a user interface associated with the self-service machine, a code based at least partially on the determining that the problem occurred; (c) receiving the code from the user; and/or (d) initiating a claim for the user based at least partially on the receiving the code from the user, where the claim relates to the problem.
US08444050B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for determining, recommending, and/or placing holds on deposit items. For example, some embodiments provide a method that includes: (a) receiving, from a deposit location during a single deposit transaction, information associated with a first deposit item in the single deposit transaction; (b) receiving, from the deposit location during the single deposit transaction, information associated with a second deposit item in the single deposit transaction; (c) determining, using a processor, during the single deposit transaction, a first hold decision for the first deposit item based at least partially on the information associated with the first deposit item; (d) determining, using a processor, during the single deposit transaction, a second hold decision for the second deposit item based at least partially on the information associated with the second deposit item; (e) communicating, to the deposit location during the single deposit transaction, information associated with the first hold decision; and (f) communicating, to the deposit location during the single deposit transaction, information associated with the second hold decision.
US08444044B2
A wire bonding apparatus includes a processing block, a bond head assembly and an infrared radiation source for selectively heating the bond pad areas of one or more semiconductor dies and/or bonding sites on a substrate. Methods for forming wire bonds using selective heating of the bond pad areas of one or more semiconductor dies and/or bonding sites on the substrate are also disclosed.
US08444039B2
A welding assembly for forming a weld along a welding interface of a work piece(s) using vibrations includes a welding tool and a thermal barrier. The thermal barrier is at least a chemical and/or mechanical insulating layer positioned adjacent to the welding tool, which minimizes the rate of dissipation of heat generated by the vibrations at or along the welding interface. The welding assembly may also include a wear-resistant layer adjacent to the thermal barrier, which protects the thermal barrier from damage or wear. The welding tool is a portion an anvil assembly and/or a sonotrode assembly. A method of insulating a welding tool includes applying or connecting a thermal barrier to a surface of the welding tool, and minimizing the rate of dissipation of heat generated by the vibrations at or along the welding interface using the thermal barrier, which includes an insulating layer.
US08444035B2
An improved apparatus for nailing or stapling flooring pneumatically, wherein a pneumatic stapler or nailer is provided with a dual trigger single sequential actuation system by which an operator can reach either trigger with his index finger. In one embodiment, the triggers being interconnected. In a second embodiment, each trigger actuates a valve that communicates with a pneumatic piston which drives the staple.
US08444033B2
A device for attaching accessories to a vehicle roof bar, the device comprising, a threaded control rod, two threaded nuts threaded onto the control rod, two guide bodies, wherein each of the guide bodies has one of the threaded nuts positioned within the guide body, a C-shaped rail, wherein each of the guide bodies and each of the threaded nuts are positioned within the C-shaped rail; two jaws, each of the jaws being attached to one of the guide bodies and a first portion of each jaw being located outside the C-shaped rail, whereby rotation of the control rod in a first direction causes the guide bodies to move towards each other thereby allowing a second portion of the jaws to contact the vehicle roof bar, and where further rotation of the control rod in the first direction locks the guide body within the C-shaped rail.
US08444024B2
A head part module of a discharge pump for a discharge container, in which the head part of the pump mechanism can be readily varied. A head part module of a discharge pump includes a mounting cap having a link cylinder upwardly extending via an inward flange from an upper end of a mounting cylinder: a cover ring having a top plate with a through hole in the middle part thereof, an outer wall hanging from an outer circumference of the top plate, a first fitting strip and a second fitting strip circumferentially provided on the rear face of the top plate, a top part of the link cylinder, being loosely fitted into the second fitting strip; and a push down head having an outer cylinder hanging from an outer circumference of a top plate a first communication tube hanging from a rear face of the top plate above the through hole and a nozzle forwardly projecting from the outer cylinder, the outer cylinder being fitted onto an outer face of the outer wall.
US08444021B1
A portable, disposable water pack. The water pack is comprised of a light weight, water impervious bag having an opening with a water tube inserted there through. The invention pack has two plastic handle strips attached thereto. The invention pack also has a preformed, tear-down notch formed therein.
US08444012B2
A device stores and meters a powder and mixes the powder with a diluent to prepare a food product. The device is able to be connected to a tank containing the diluent and to a source of air. The device includes a multidose container to form a reserve of powder, a powder dosing system, a powder duct integrated in an air chamber that can carry air around the powder duct outlet. The powder duct outlet emerges in a mixing chamber that includes a diluent inlet and a food product outlet, the whole forming a single piece disposable device.
US08444011B2
A tapping apparatus (1), provided with a container (2) and a pressure control device (10) for controlling pressure in an inner space (3) of the container, wherein the pressure control device (10) includes a compartment (31) with a pressure medium therein and a dispensing opening (30) with a valve mechanism (12), wherein an operating element (15) is provided for operation of the valve mechanism by a user, for supplying an amount of pressure medium from the compartment (31) into an inner space (3) of the container.
US08444004B1
A drink cup baffle device and system are configured to control fluid from a drink cup to a drinker. The baffle device may include a first baffle insertable into the cup making first contact with fluid in the cup. The first baffle forms a seal against the inside wall of the cup and defines a first plurality of openings. The baffle device further includes a channel formed adjacent to the first baffle around the full perimeter of the first baffle to receive fluid from the openings of the first baffle. The baffle device also includes a second baffle configured adjacent to the channel forming a seal against the inside wall of the cup and defining a second plurality of openings having a total area greater than a total area of the first openings to control fluid flow by discharging fluid via a portion of the second openings and preventing spillage.
US08443997B2
In a transport case for transport of at least one high value, heavy transport goods, a floor is provided on which an object carrier is arranged on an inside of the case such that it can be displaced in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the case. At least one cover is connected with the floor with at least one hinge such that it can be folded over and the cover can be opened such that the transport good is freely accessible parallel to the longitudinal axis in an opened state of the transport case.
US08443986B2
A reverse osmosis membrane that can maintain high permeability for a longer time, a reverse osmosis membrane apparatus, and a hydrophilic treatment method for a reverse osmosis membrane. A reverse osmosis membrane to which poly(vinyl alcohol) is absorbed, wherein the poly(vinyl alcohol) is an ionic poly(vinyl alcohol). Preferably, adsorption of a cationic PVA to the reverse osmosis membrane is followed by adsorption of an anionic PVA. More preferably, an ionic polymer other than PVA is also absorbed to the reverse osmosis membrane. A reverse osmosis membrane apparatus including the reverse osmosis membrane. A hydrophilic treatment method for a reverse osmosis membrane, involving bringing the reverse osmosis membrane into contact with an ionic poly(vinyl alcohol).
US08443982B2
A process for classifying water-absorbing polymer beads, wherein the polymer beads are separated into n particle size fractions by means of at least n screens and n is an integer greater than 1.
US08443980B2
A method of sorting mined material to separate the mined material into at least two categories is disclosed. The method comprises exposing particles of the mined material to microwave energy and heating particles depending on the susceptibility of the material in the particles. The method also comprises allowing sufficient time for heat generated in the particles to be transferred through the particles so that the surface temperature of the particles is a measure of the mass average temperature through the particles. The method further comprises thermally analysing the particles to detect temperature differences between particles which indicate composition differences between the particles; and thereafter sorting the particles on the basis of the results of the thermal analysis.
US08443977B2
Disclosed are blister package apparatuses and methods for use with tablets such as soft or breakable tablets that cannot be forced through a push-through layer. Specifically, a package for soft tablets can include a pair of blister strips, each blister strip having a plastic sheet, a plurality of recesses formed in the plastic sheet, and a peel-away backing layer for covering the recesses. A plurality of support posts can secure the blister strips together, and a spacer element can extend from one of the blister strips towards the other blister strip, the spacer element extending between two or more of the recesses for maintaining the blister strips in a spaced-apart configuration. The plurality of recesses formed in each blister strip can be offset with respect to the recesses formed in the other blister strip such that the recesses of one blister strip can nest between the recesses of the other.
US08443970B2
A dispensing capsule has a diaphragm button, stake and frangible membrane for a system for selectively dispersing the contents of a cup into an attached bottle. A frangible membraned cup has a diaphragm button operably attached to a stake with the stake's sharp point at one end and the diaphragm button on the opposing end. A cavity is disposed in the cup for consumable product defined by side walls and a base plate. Preloaded ingredients contained within the hermetically sealed cup are discharged from the dispensing capsule into a bottle by simply depressing a button disposed on the diaphragm of the cup, thereby actuating the stake to thrust forward and apply concentrated pressure abaxially to the frangible membrane. This concentrated pressure pierces substantially the center of the frangible membrane, causing it to rupture and progressively opening it. The diaphragm button locks in this downward position, holding the stake into the opened frangible membrane to maintain the opening, permitting the contents to flow through the frangible membrane and exit the cavity of the cup.
US08443967B2
A gift card holder including a sliding panel for holding a gift card, the panel being mounted in a sleeve or box so that when the cover flap of the sleeve is opened the panel may be pulled upward and out of the sleeve to reveal a gift card secured upon the panel.
US08443966B2
A device for transporting freight, especially freight containers in the cargo compartments of aircraft, especially to a power drive unit (PDU) having a drive roller (5) received in a frame (1) and a lifting unit (6) wherein the lifting unit (6) comprises at least one drive unit (9) for listing the drive roller (5) on both sides.
US08443963B2
A multiplexing gathering device includes a first gatherer for forming first gathered printed products on a first line and a second gatherer for forming second gathered printed products on a second line. A collecting device collects the first and second gathered printed products. A first transporter transports the first gathered products from the first line to the collecting device and a second transporter for transports the second gathered products from the second line to the collecting device. At least one controller for controls the first gatherer and second gatherer so that second gathered products are selectively formed as a function of the formation of first gathered printed products. A method is also provided.
US08443961B2
The guide structure for stoppers takes the form of a tunnel with a C-shaped section for trapping and guiding the cylindrical part of the stoppers (1c, 1t), which tunnel has opposing edges spaced out at a distance such as to allow the passage of the bulge (3) of the nipple-type stoppers (1t). This structure consists of filamentary rails (5) and of plates (6) with a hole through their central part shaped according to the profile of the stoppers that are to be transferred.
US08443956B2
A dual clutch transmission having a hydraulic circuit for controlling and cooling the clutches of a dual clutch transmission having lube valves in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid and wherein the cooling flow is controlled by a solenoid which is adapted to move a valve member to produce a flow area through the valve that is an inverse function of the current delivered to the solenoid and so as to deliver a predetermined control solenoid pressure ultimately to each of the clutches of a dual clutch transmission.
US08443950B2
[PROBLEMS] An impact absorption body for a vehicle can have desired impact absorption performance, exhibits excellent impact absorption performance particularly immediately after an impact is applied to the body, and can maintain high impact absorption performance. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] The impact absorption body (1) for a vehicle is installed within a vehicle forming member and absorbs impact energy in a collision. The impact absorption body (1) has a first wall (4) placed on the side that receives an impact, a second wall (5) facing the first wall (4) with a hollow section (2) between them, and one or more impact absorption ribs (9) constructed from deep groove sections (15) and shallow groove sections (16). The deep groove sections (15) are formed by depressing the first wall (4) and second wall (5) into groove shapes and integrally joining the top surfaces, which function as fusion bonding surfaces, of the depressions. The shallow groove sections (16) are formed by causing the top surfaces of the depressions to face each other with gaps between them.
US08443949B2
The cartridge (22) comprises a body (24), a rotary control plate (28) driving a push plate (30) in a translational movement, elastic means (38) of compressing the push plate (30) towards the control plate (28), and a cage (40) for holding the elastic means (38). The body (24) comprises a projection (42) for attaching the cage (40), collaborating with an attachment orifice (46) formed in an axial tab (44) of the cage (40). The cage (40) is capable of a rotational movement between an attachment position in which the attachment orifice (46) collaborates with the projection (42), and a release position in which the cage (40) is not attached to the body (24). The body (24) comprises a first limit stop (50) that limits the rotation of the cage (40) with which the tab (44) collaborates in the release position. The body (24) comprises a ramp (60), adjacent to the first limit stop (50). In the release position (40), the tab (44) rests radially against the projection (42) and the ramp (60).
US08443946B2
A disc brake device in which uneven wear on the brake pads is prevented. Each brake pad has a set pin hole at one end in which a set pin is fitted, and a torque-receiving component for receiving braking torque in the other end. The pistons for pressing the brake pads are composed of first and second pistons. A center of the first piston near the set pin is located further inside from the middle of the sliding range of the brake pads, and the distance from the set pin is extended.
US08443945B2
Vehicle chocking systems include a first chock comprising a first bottom surface, a first front wheel restraining surface and a first rear wheel restraining surface opposite the first front wheel restraining surface, a second chock comprising a second bottom surface, a second front wheel restraining surface and a second rear wheel restraining surface, wherein the first bottom surface, the first front wheel restraining surface and the first rear wheel restraining surface of the first chock and the second bottom surface, the second front wheel restraining surface and the second rear wheel restraining surface of the second chock each comprises a proximity sensor, wherein the proximity sensors are communicatively coupled to a controller comprising a processor and a memory having a computer readable and executable instruction set to determine if the proximity sensors for each of the first bottom surface, the second bottom surface and opposing wheel restraining surfaces are engaged.
US08443936B1
A self-contained and ready-to-use work platform attachment for mobile cranes, which transforms them into a state-of-the-art aerial boom lift with powered platform leveling and powered rotation up to 180-degrees. It can be supplied by the crane manufacturer with a new crane, or as an after-market attachment add-on, and may be easily pinned to the swing-jib mounting system on the outermost boom tip sheave head present on most mobile cranes without adaptive components or crane modification. In contrast, current work platforms and baskets only have gravity-leveling in association with 180-degrees of unrestricted platform rotation range, and current aerial lift boom trucks, which can function as crane booms, are not designed for add-on or after-market self-contained pin-on work platforms, instead having an integrally-designed platform with rotation and leveling powered from a base unit via hose and cable reels or carries, which are not required with the self-contained and ready-to-use work platform attachment.
US08443935B2
A sound-absorbing body having sound-absorbing characteristics suitable for in-home and car audio systems, wherein the indoor echo of sound wave output from a speaker or echo in a speaker enclosure should be reduced. Namely, showing flat sound-absorbing properties while maintaining a high sound-absorbing ratio in the medium tone range, having a simple structure, is easily installed, water-resistant and is decorative. Specifically, a sound-absorbing body having a plurality of porous members provided with air holes therein and a structure composed by three or more layers formed by bonding the individual porous members via an adhesive layer having a preset thickness, wherein one side of said structure is located in the side of a sound source and the other side of said structure has a peak-and-valley pattern that is formed by alternately positioning said porous members and air layers to thereby flatten and improve the sound-absorbing ratio in the medium tone range.
US08443933B2
An exhaust system composed of a plurality of components for an internal combustion engine for connecting to a manifold, the exhaust system includes at least one first section, which is provided indirectly or directly after the manifold in the flow direction, and a second section, which is directly adjacent thereto in the flow direction, wherein the two sections are connected to each other by a mechanical decoupling element. The resonant oscillations in the range above 600 Hz are to be attenuated in the exhaust system by more than 15 dB and, at the same time, the exhaust system is to be sufficiently rigid and self-supporting and designed to be lastingly gas-tight. For this purpose, a single-walled arid self-supporting acoustic insulating element is integrated in the exhaust system in the flow direction upstream of, or in, the first section.
US08443923B2
A vibration isolator device securing a nonmetal panel to a metal frame of a work vehicle includes a metal member affixed to a surface of the nonmetal panel, the metal member facing the metal frame. An isolator mount plate is secured to the frame in a manner permitting a predetermined adjustment between the isolator mount plate and the frame in each of two directions. A vibration isolator is positioned between the metal member and the frame. A region of the isolator mount plate is configured to receive and maintain vibration isolation between the region of the isolator mount plate and the metal member, the region of the isolator mount plate providing a predetermined adjustment between the isolator mount plate and the metal member in a third direction.
US08443920B2
The present invention provides an inverted pendulum type vehicle which can perform a turning movement with ease without requiring any additional device even though the vehicle is configured to travel on a single drive wheel. A substantially vertical principal axis of inertia of the vehicle is tilted rearward with respect to a plumb vertical line. As result, when a rider shift his gravitational center in either lateral direction and tilts the vehicle in the corresponding direction, the main wheel is caused to turn around the principal axis of inertia so that the main wheel is steering in effect, and the vehicle can be turned in a desired direction.
US08443916B2
A rock drill system may include a support arrangement including a feed channel, a rock drill assembly movably associated with the feed channel, and a fluid conductor having a first end connected to the rock drill assembly and a second end associated with the support arrangement. The system may further include a tensioning arm pivotally coupled to the support arrangement, wherein the tensioning arm is engageable with the fluid conductor to tension the fluid conductor.
US08443915B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to methods and systems for logging through a drillstring. In one embodiment, a method of logging an exposed formation includes drilling a wellbore by rotating a cutting tool disposed on an end of a drillstring and injecting drilling fluid through the drillstring; deploying a BHA through the drillstring, the BHA including a logging tool; forming a bore through the cutting tool; inserting the logging tool through the bore; longitudinally connecting the BHA to the drillstring; and logging the exposed formation using the logging tool while tripping the drillstring into or from the wellbore.
US08443912B2
A hand-held power tool (2) has a base housing (4) in which there is provided an operational unit (12) movable in a reciprocating manner along a operational axis (A) defining a first spatial axis (z) and spaced from a center of gravity (SP) of the hand-held power tool (2) in direction of a second spatial axis (y) which is perpendicular to the first spatial axis, (z), and further has a cover housing (18) which is held on the base housing (4) by decoupling elements and is fixedly connected to a main handle (24) and to side-handle connection element (28), with the decoupling elements having, in a projection perpendicular to a plane (Eyz) defined by the first spatial axis (z) and the second spatial axis (y), a first support device (19) which is located adjacent to the center of gravity and which holds the cover housing (18) on the base housing (4) so as to be displaceable along and pivotal in direction of the first spatial axis (z).
US08443907B2
An apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a borehole in an earth formation includes: a carrier configured to be deployed in the borehole; and a sealing device including at least one deformable element disposed at the carrier, the deformable element configured to have a first position and a second position, the first position forming a void in the sealing device configured to retain a flowable sealing material therein, the second position causing the void to be in flowable communication with leak paths formed in at least one of the sealing device and the borehole.
US08443905B2
A tool for releaseably coupling a first tubing to a second tubing in a wellbore has a tubular mandrel configured to couple to and be carried into the wellbore by the first tubing. A collet ring is in an interior of the mandrel and has a plurality of collets to engage the second tubing. A releasing piston is carried in the interior of the mandrel to change between supporting the collet ring such that the collets can release from the profile and allowing the collet ring to lock such that the collets are locked in the profile.
US08443904B2
A continuous communications conduit for use in a well is disclosed. A first 101 and second 102 conduit section are threadably engaged and a weldment is formed 200. A heat shield conduit 220 can be disposed within a bore (111, 112) of a conduit section (101, 102) between a first conduit section shoulder 151 and a second conduit section shoulder 152. A first 301, second 302, and third 303 conduit section can be threadably engaged and a weldment 400 formed. An electrical conductor 300 can be disposed in a bore of the conduit sections (301, 302, 303). A heat shield conduit 320 can be disposed between a first conduit section shoulder 351 and a second conduit section shoulder 352. Optionally, an elastomeric stabilizer (410, 420) may be utilized.
US08443901B2
A completion assembly with a valve assembly for regulating fluid flow in a wellbore is disclosed. The completion assembly can include a base pipe with a sand screen. A flow control housing is disposed on one end of the sand screen. A first tubular port in the base pipe leads into the flow control housing, and a second tubular port is also formed in the base pipe. A flow path is formed within the flow control housing and communicates with both the base pipe and the inner annulus of the screen assembly. A valve assembly is located in the flow control housing and is in fluid communication with both the inner annulus and the base pipe. The valve assembly is positionable between multiple positions for controlling the flow through the flow control flowpath in response to fluid pressure applied to the second tubular port.
US08443900B2
A method of unloading liquid from a reservoir includes deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable. The pumping system includes a motor, an isolation device, and a pump. The method further includes setting the isolation device, thereby rotationally fixing the pumping system to a tubular string disposed in the wellbore and isolating an inlet of the pump from an outlet of the pump; supplying a power signal from the surface to the motor via the cable, thereby operating the pump and lowering a liquid level in the tubular string to a level proximate the reservoir; unsetting the isolation device; and removing the pump assembly from the wellbore using the cable.
US08443886B2
A perforating gun designed to orient a charge holding structure (e.g., tube, solid rod) within a barrel of the perforating gun to be at the same position relative to a wellbore casing regardless of a position of the barrel of the perforating gun. A charge assembly receivable within the barrel includes the charge holding structure and first and second end caps that are rotatably interconnected to the charge holding structure and non-rotatably interconnected to the barrel. As the charge holding structure is always or substantially always designed to maintain a common orientation in relation to the wellbore casing, explosive charges associated with the charge holding structure so as to fire towards particular location on the wellbore casing may always or substantially always perforate such particular locations upon or after the explosive charges have fired.
US08443880B1
The disclosure provides a blowout preventer (BOP) system with a ram having a shear blade with a shear blade profile to shear a tubular member disposed in the BOP. The shear blade profile can include a stress concentrator and centering shaped surface. The stress concentrator and the centering shaped surface can be laterally offset from a centerline of ram travel and on opposite sides of the centerline. An opposing second shear blade can have a mirror image of the shear blade profile with the stress concentrator and centering shaped surface reversed to the orientation of the first shear blade. Further, the ram can include a mandrel with a mandrel profile for the tubular member to deform around during the shearing process and to reduce an overall lateral width of the sheared tubular member in the BOP through-bore to allow retrieval of the deformed sheared tubular member from the BOP.
US08443873B2
In a heater core that constitutes part of a vehicular air conditioning apparatus, a plurality of first and second tubes are provided through which heated water flows through the interior thereof, and fins having louvers therein are disposed between the first and second tubes. Further, the heater core is equipped with a first heating section, which faces toward a first front passage through which air from a first blower unit flows, and a second heating section, which faces toward a first rear passage through which air from a second blower unit flows. Between the first heating section and the second heating section, a partitioning fin is disposed for blocking communication of air mutually between the first and second heating sections. Additionally, the first and second tubes are arranged in parallel to the direction in which the partitioning fin extends.
US08443861B2
A marking or labeling machine which includes at least one marking or labeling member and a feed mechanism for bringing workpieces for marking or labeling into register with the at least one marking or labeling member. The feed mechanism includes at least two arms mounted to turn about a common first axis, with each arm carrying at least one support member for supporting a workpiece for marking or labeling, and also includes secondly independent drives for driving each of the arms in rotation about the common first axis independently of the other arm.
US08443850B2
A filling device for beverages includes a store tank for receiving a beverage supply, and a filling valve for filling packages with the beverage from the store tank. To reduce idle times in this filling device, a heat exchanger is integrated into the store tank and/or into the filling valve.
US08443845B2
A fluid-containing conduit (10,30,40,50) including at least one luminescent marker (14) whereby the fluid-containing conduit is visible in a low light condition. The marker may be in the form of one or more elongate ribs (16) containing luminescent material along interior wall surface (18), or may be elongate luminescent bands (52,54) adjacent the exterior wall (20) of the conduit, or may be indicia containing luminescent material such as ink (42).
US08443844B2
A flange protector is provided comprising a flexible impact-resistant material having a cover portion, the cover portion having such dimension and configured to cover in protective relationship the surface of a flange member adapted to be connected to an opposing flange member, the flange protector having multiple lugs configured to be inserted into bolt holes located about the periphery of the flange. The lugs have an upper end attached to the flange protector and an insertable end spaced therefrom, the upper end being connected to the flange protector by hinge means, and the lower end being configured to permit rotation into and engagement with a bolt hole. A combination of the flange protector and a flange is also provided.
US08443842B2
Flow straightener for a flowmeter, in particular an ultrasonic metering device, which can be fitted into a flow pipe which is upstream of or in the flowmeter and through which the fluid to be measured flows with a main direction of flow (H), comprising a number of vanes (11, 12, 16, 17), which each have surfaces (13) that are parallel to one another and, in the fitted position, run parallel to the main direction of flow (H) of the fluid to be measured, the vanes (11, 12, 16, 17) being arranged in such a way that, in the fitted position, the flow cross section (Q) of the fluid-carrying flow pipe is subdivided into a number of partial cross sections (TQ1,2,3,4,5), at least some of the partial cross sections (TQ1,2,3,4,5) being of different sizes.
US08443840B2
Provided is a small, simple-structured, homogeneous and mass-producible excessive pressure release valve which works even at a relatively low excessive pressure to surely and safely release the pressure to the external world. The excessive pressure release valve has an elastic rubber plate and a reversibly openable slit that passes through the upper and the lower surfaces and release the pressure to the external world when the internal excessive pressure stressing on the lower side surface, pushes and opens the slit toward upper surface side. The elastic rubber plate is made of silicone rubber containing 1-20% by mass of silicone oil.
US08443835B2
A measurement channel for use in a microfluidic system, particularly a lab-on-chip system, having a first end at which a first gas permeable but liquid impermeable wall section is disposed which makes available a gas conduit, and a second end at which the measurement channel is connectable to at least one fluid conduit and at which an isolation or cutoff device is disposed, wherewith in the measurement channel a defined volume is included between the wall section and the isolation or cutoff device. A microfluidic structure is disclosed having a plurality of fluid conduits, and further having a valve for selectively connecting and/or blocking the fluid conduits, at least one of which fluid conduits is in the form of a measurement channel. A method of measuring and/or positioning a volume of a liquid in a microfluidic system, by a measurement channel is disclosed.
US08443832B2
This invention pertains to a sequencer for controlling the distribution of fluid input into a tank to at least two outlets using a plurality of cells connected to actuate a respective floating outlet. Each of the cells has a relatively uniform construction comprising an enclosure and a float. Each enclosure has an inlet arranged at one end to allow fluid therein and offset openings at an opposite end. The enclosure also is configured to accept the float in an inner cavity and arranged so as to allow the fluid therein to cause said float to move within said enclosure. Each cell is further arranged in pairs of a lift cell and a trigger cell adapted to actuate a floating outlet. Each float has an inclined upper surface configured to transfer a ball through the offset openings as the fluid causes the float to rise and fall from each cycle of actuate a respective floating outlet. The sequencer being particularly adapted to a system and method for dosing a septic system having two or more disposal fields.
US08443828B2
A device allows a liquid to flow between two open structures with different liquid surface elevations separated by a wall. The device has a conduit with an inlet on one side of the wall and an outlet on the other side of the wall separated by a high point above the expected liquid surface elevation. The conduit also has two valved openings, one connected to a source of suction that can evacuate air from the conduit and the other connected to a vent. In one example, the conduit is formed between a pair of spaced transverse walls attached to an arched cover. The transverse walls each have a slot allowing the device to be placed on top of a dividing wall between two tanks with surfaces of the dividing wall defining part of the conduit. In an example with multiple conduits, one or more interior walls are provided between a pair of end walls and a cover over the interior and end walls may be provided in segments. To initiate flow, a conduit is evacuated of sufficient air to allow a siphon to develop. To stop the flow, sufficient air is allowed to enter the conduit through the vent valve to break the siphon. To control the rate of flow in a device with multiple conduits, flow can be permitted in just some of the conduits. Flowrate through a conduit can also be varied by controlling the volume of air at the top of a conduit.
US08443822B2
A method for detecting a breach in an irrigation line (32) of an irrigation system (10) includes comparing a fluid condition at a first point along the irrigation line (32) with the fluid condition at a second point located at an irrigation unit (20) to determine whether a disparity of at least a predetermined percentage in the fluid conditions exists. The fluid condition can include a measurement of irrigation fluid pressure, quantity of irrigation fluid (19), rate of flow of the irrigation fluid (19), voltage and/or electrical current through the irrigation fluid (19). The method can include selectively monitoring the fluid condition at the irrigation unit (20) over time using a main control system (22). In another embodiment, the method includes comparing the fluid condition at the first point along the irrigation line (32) with the fluid condition at each of a plurality of second points. In still another embodiment, the method includes the main control system (22) selectively activating one or more of the irrigation units (20) so that irrigation fluid (19) flows to or through one or more of the irrigation units (20) to measure the fluid condition.
US08443819B2
An umbrella assembly and various embodiments of hub assemblies which provide an umbrellas assembly which is easy to install or remove, is extremely rigid, and is capable of withstanding high wind gusts and other high external forces. A first hub assembly includes a mounting bracket having extended regions for mounting to a hub. A second hub assembly includes securing rings for securely binding mounting brackets to a hub. A third hub assembly includes a mortise-tenon mounting bracket. A fourth hub assembly includes securing rings for securely binding mortise-tenon mounting brackets to a hub. A rib center joint connector having stops is presented. A rotatable fabric connector having a plurality of curved surfaces on the head of the fabric connector is present.
US08443813B2
A system (1) for portioning and packaging a tobamel smoking mixture (2) comprises a unit (3) internally of which the mixture (2) is prepared by blending tobacco en masse with agglutinants such as honey or molasses, and an extruder unit (17) by which the mixture (2) is shaped into a continuous rod (20).
US08443808B2
The invention describes methods and apparatus for creating permanent occlusion of body lumens such as the fallopian tubes. The methods and apparatus use non-surgical approaches to deliver permanent implants which create acute occlusion of desired body lumens which resolve to permanent occlusions of the lumens.
US08443807B2
Headgear for use with a respiratory mask is described. The headgear comprises a continuous and substantially curved elongate member extending in use below a user's nose and at least two headgear straps capable of attachment to the ends of the elongate member. A mask attachment on the elongate member is disposed to sit below or on one of said user's nose, mouth, upper lip and an inlet to the mask. The attachment is capable of receiving the mask.
US08443804B2
An adjustable volume control manual resuscitation bag assembly includes a resuscitation bag, a volume control knob, a traction assembly operating in response to adjustment of the control knob, and a follower assembly including a bag compression limiting member and a follower which are moved in response to operation of the traction assembly to adjust and limit the volume of gas delivered by compression of the bag.
US08443798B2
An inhaler is disclosed. It comprises a housing to receive a strip of blisters each having a puncturable lid and containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, a mouthpiece through which a dose of medicament is inhaled by a user and, an actuator operable to sequentially move each blister into alignment with a blister piercing member. The actuator is also operable to cause the blister piercing element to puncture the lid of a blister such that, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece, an airflow through the blister is generated to entrain the dose contained therein and carry it out of the blister and via the mouthpiece into the user's airway.
US08443795B2
Examples and variations of apparatus and Methods for concentrating solar radiation are disclosed.
US08443793B2
A heating apparatus includes an elongated flexible envelope (4) comprising two sheets (6), (8) that are attached to each other along permanent side seams (10), (12) and along a permanent bottom seam (14) and a moisture-activated chemical heater (16) disposed inside envelope (4), wherein envelope (4) is folded over on itself and secured by temporary side seams (18), (20) and a permanent top seam (22) to form a continuous moisture barrier surrounding the moisture activated chemical heater (16) and wherein heater (2) may be opened for use by removing top seam (22) and unfolding envelope (4) by unpeeling temporary seals (18), (20) to provide unfolded envelope (4), wherein sheets (6) and (8) remain sealed along permanent seams (10), (12) and (14), but wherein envelope (4) now has an open top end (30).
US08443785B2
A control system for a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicle, includes a composition determination module and a pump control module. The composition determination module determines a composition of LPG in an LPG tank of the LPG vehicle based on an LPG tank pressure and a temperature of the LPG in the LPG tank. The pump control module controls operation of an LPG pump based on the composition.
US08443777B2
An oil pan made of resin includes an oil reservoir. The oil reservoir includes a bottom wall and a peripheral wall rising from a periphery of the bottom wall and having an opening at a top of the oil reservoir. A rib is provided in the oil reservoir.
US08443771B2
A valve actuator for a combustion engine has a movable member for collaborating with a stem of a valve, and an electromagnetic device with a permanent magnet associated with a resilient device for moving the movable member between an extreme valve-closed position and an extreme valve-open position. A method of controlling the valve actuator has the steps of determining a clearance range between the movable member and the valve stem during the movement of the movable member between the extreme closed and open positions, determining, in the clearance range, intermediate positions reached by the movable member as a function of different values of an electrical control parameter of the electromagnetic device, and using positional feedback control to control the electromagnetic device, using one of the intermediate positions as a setpoint value, according to the desired performance of the actuator.
US08443769B1
This invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to internal combustion engines and methods of operating the engines with a new fuel saving cycle. An engine including at least two piston and cylinder assemblies preferably adjacent to one another, that when operating with the new fuel savings cycle, establish at the end of the simultaneous compression strokes a charge of compressed air in one cylinder of one assembly and a charge of compressed air fuel mixture in the other cylinder of the other assembly. When the air fuel mixture is ignited, the high pressure conditions in the other cylinder are immediately communicated through a passage to the one cylinder to accomplish a double expansion during the simultaneous power drive strokes thus using much of the pressure energy before exhaust occurs by the pistons themselves rather than to dump it as is usually done.
US08443767B2
An air venting arrangement for a liquid cooling system associated with an internal combustion engine has a shunt vessel, and a transfer conduit connecting a flange portion of the shunt vessel to the liquid cooling system, and configured to pass coolant between the shunt vessel and the liquid cooling system. A venting conduit is disposed in a bore of the flange portion, and positioned to vent entrained air in the transfer conduit, developed during a filling of the cooling system, to a portion of the shunt vessel, and reduce the time required in filling of the liquid cooling system. A compression limiter and fastener connected to the compression limiter maintains and positions a first and a second end of the venting conduit at predetermined locations to provide venting of the transfer conduit to the reservoir portion.
US08443760B2
A cat feeding enclosure comprises a plurality of exterior walls enclosing an interior space, an entry opening for a cat to enter the interior space, a feeding area in the interior space for accommodating a receptacle for holding cat food, and an interior wall within the enclosure defining a circuitous path for a cat to walk along from the entry opening to access the feeding area. The entry opening is preferably no larger than necessary to accommodate passage of a large size cat therethrough. The circuitous path has a plurality of sharp turns to prevent a dog from following the circuitous path from the entry opening to the feeding area.
US08443759B2
A mobile animal care station includes a wheeled chassis with an enclosure supported above the ground for movement to and from a treatment location. The enclosure defines a treatment space therein and presents an opening that permits ingress and egress relative to the treatment space. The enclosure presents an open bottom to permit animals within the enclosure to be supported directly on the ground. The mobile animal care station also includes a doorway restriction mounted along the opening to provide a doorway of the enclosure.
US08443756B2
Showerhead electrodes for a semiconductor material processing apparatus are disclosed. An embodiment of the showerhead electrodes includes top and bottom electrodes bonded to each other. The top electrode includes one or more plenums. The bottom electrode includes a plasma-exposed bottom surface and a plurality of gas holes in fluid communication with the plenum. Showerhead electrode assemblies including a showerhead electrode flexibly suspended from a top plate are also disclosed. The showerhead electrode assemblies can be in fluid communication with temperature-control elements spatially separated from the showerhead electrode to control the showerhead electrode temperature. Methods of processing substrates in plasma processing chambers including the showerhead electrode assemblies are also disclosed.
US08443751B2
A motor vehicle display with a first indicator and a first dial in which an average fuel consumption is indicated on the first dial by the first indicator. There is a second dial and the first indicator, in conjunction with the second dial, indicates a distance which can still be covered with the amount in the vehicle tank, wherein the second dial is followed automatically.
US08443748B2
This invention is for a docking aid to help dock a boat to a docking post, or to pull a boat closer to the shore. It comprises of a shaft and a tensile member. The tensile member may pass through the shaft and form one or more loops at the ends of the shaft. One loop may be used to dock to a docking pole, while a second loop may be used as a handle to pull, or to loop around another docking element. At least one loop may have a utility implement with an attached tool. This tool may be used to grab a docking post from a boat, to grab an inbound boat from a dock, to pull closer to a second boat, or to grab objects out of the water that may have fallen overboard. The docking aid may also be floatable.
US08443745B2
To provide a seam of attractive appearance in which tightening force is increased and raveling are prevented drastically. A seam (1) is formed by two needles (11, 12) juxtaposed in the direction at substantially right angles to the sewing direction (T), and consists of a chain seam (10) formed by a needle thread (12) passed through one needle (11), and a lock seam (20) formed by a needle thread (22) passed through the other needle (21). The loop (13) of a needle thread forming the chain seam (10) is passed through the loop (23) of a needle thread forming the lock seam (20) before tightening of stitch is performed, and a loop of the needle thread forming the chain seam located on a downstream side in the sewing direction is passed through the loop of the needle thread forming the upstream chain seam.
US08443738B2
A high-security enclosure includes a base, a cover and a lock system. The lock system includes a base portion and a cover portion. The lock system base portion includes one or more fixed lock bars. The lock system cover portion includes one or more movable lock bars. Each movable lock bar is generally perpendicular to, and arranged to engage, one of the fixed lock bars. The lock system cover portion further includes a lock bar retraction assembly coupled to the one or more movable lock bars for retracting the movable lock bar(s) substantially simultaneously out of engagement with the fixed lock bar(s). A security drive mechanism is coupled to the lock bar retraction assembly to drive the lock system.
US08443736B2
A platform assembly is suitable for insertion and retention between a lower furniture support, such a boxspring of a bed, and an upper furniture support, such as a mattress of a bed. The platform assembly has a housing and a platform provided with foldable legs. When withdrawn from the housing with the legs in the unfolded position and resting on the floor, the platform is able to support a load, such as blankets, pillows, suitcases and the like, and even a pet or small child.
US08443733B2
A method for positioning a replacement railroad tie plate along a railroad, comprising the steps of positioning a carrier vehicle on a railroad track, positioning a feed conveyor on the railroad track for movement with the carrier vehicle, moving a sensor assembly in a longitudinal direction of the feed conveyor and relative to a release point a first distance based upon a second distance between two adjacent ties, moving the carrier vehicle and the feed conveyor along the railroad track, detecting an in-service tie plate with the sensor assembly and, actuating a gate assembly upon the detection of the in-service tie plate.
US08443732B2
A high angle-of-attack projectile or bomb comprises separate compartments that, after launch allow for (a) mixing of the chemi-luminescent materials, (b) heating of the materials in the projectile vessel, (c) pressurization of the projectile vessel, and (d) efficient expulsion of a day marker and heated chemi-luminescent mix upon striking the target. The projectile/bomb allows for the marking of targets. The projectile/bomb does not create unexploded ordnance (UXO) and minimizes use of energetic materials such as reactive chemicals and/or pyrotechnics.
US08443726B2
A device for enabling safe/arm functionality in a gravity dropped weapon detachably connected to an airframe where the device includes: an elastic element disposed in a shell of the weapon; a releasable connection between the weapon and the airframe to release one or more of a stored and generated energy in the elastic element; and a piezoelectric member connected to one end of the elastic member for converting the one or more of the stored and generated energy to an electrical energy. The releasable connection can include: a link having a movable connection for movement of the link relative to the shell between a first position constraining the elastic element from movement and a second position releasing the elastic member to generate the electrical energy; and a lanyard for tethering the link to the airframe such that the link is moved to the second position upon the weapon being released from the airframe.
US08443723B2
A cross-strapping device includes a base, a lateral strapping mechanism, and a longitudinal strapping mechanism. This base has a working surface. The lateral strapping mechanism has a lateral chute, a first strap supplying assembly, and a first sealing/cutting assembly. A first strap is guided by the lateral chute and is strapped around the object to finish a lateral strapping procedure. The longitudinal strapping mechanism has a longitudinal guider, a second strap supplying assembly, and a second sealing/sealing assembly. A second strap is guided by the longitudinal guider and be strapped around the object to finish a longitudinal strapping procedure. So, this object is placed on a fixed working surface without rotation. The lateral strapping procedure and the longitudinal strapping procedure are completed on the same working surface. Hence, both the lateral strapping procedure and the longitudinal strapping procedure can be done in only one machine. In addition, the turn table is not required.
US08443721B2
A food product steamer includes rotatable platforms that can be covered and uncovered by one or more rotatable, concave hoods. In a first position for the platform(s), the platform(s) supports a food product over a steam-emitting opening above a steam generator. In a first position for the hood, the hood covers the food product such that steam from the steam generator is trapped within the hood to steam the food product. In a second, open position, the hood is rotated where it can receive the food product when the food product slides or falls off the platform as the platform is rotated from its first position to a second, elevated position. At least one embodiment enables food products to be removed from either side of the steam generating base by using a double-acting hinge.
US08443710B2
The technology herein relates to rotating a second structure, which can be a turret, relative to a first structure, which can be a vehicle. The system can include a motor unit having a motor with a motor gear to rotate a drive shaft and a drive gear. A manual input shaft can also be configured to transmit rotation to the drive shaft. The motor can have a central axis that forms an angle of less than 90 degrees with a plane substantially defined by an outer surface of a gear box coupled to the motor. A mounting bracket is configured to allow mechanical communication between the motor unit and an internal ring gear. The mounting bracket has a mounting frame defining at least a first slide channel. A first motor unit coupler has a slide flange that is slidably received by the mounting frame and receives a motor unit. The internal ring gear can be mounted to a vehicle and a turret can be pivotably disposed within the internal ring gear. A motor unit is mounted on the turret and a drive gear is rotatably mounted on the motor unit and in direct engagement with the internal ring gear.
US08443698B2
A rotary indexing table having a plate which has drivers engaging into a driving groove of a barrel cam is provided. The plate is drivable via a barrel cam to make a rotary movement about an axis of rotation which is in turn drivable by a motor to make a first rotary movement about its longitudinal axis. An additional drive element connected drive-wise to the barrel cam is provided which is coupled to the plate via at least one coupling element.
US08443693B2
A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.
US08443687B2
A hydraulic control system for a dual clutch transmission includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, first and second actuator control devices in downstream fluid communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, and first and second clutch control devices in downstream fluid communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid. A valve is in downstream fluid communication with the first and second actuator control devices. Selective activation of combinations of the control devices allows for a pressurized fluid to engage the dual clutch and an actuator in order to shift the transmission into a desired gear ratio.
US08443685B2
A safety mechanism for an electric linear actuator is disclosed. The linear actuator has a guide screw and a telescopic tube. The safety mechanism includes a nut, a nut sheath, a sleeve, and a torsion spring. The nut connects the guide screw. The nut sheath is fixed on one side of the nut to form an integer and is provided with a plurality of bumps. One end of the sleeve is put around the nut sheath and the other end thereof is connected to the telescopic tube. The sleeve is provided with a plurality of rabbets corresponding to the bumps. The torsion spring is disposed around the nut sheath and the sleeve. When the guide screw is rotated, the nut sheath is engaged with the sleeve by embedding the bumps into the rabbets. When the sleeve stops, the bumps and the rabbets depart from engagement to make the nut sheath and the nut freely rotate against the sleeve.
US08443681B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and a method to use such an apparatus for visualizing the contraction stress from curable materials. Particularly, a simple test device has been designed and fabricated and a method of using such a device, which allows a user to easily distinguish the curable materials that can generate contraction stress in different magnitudes. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a simple and effective way to make the complicated contraction stress due to polymerization (curing or setting) visualizable and audible.
US08443678B2
A bending test fixture for test coupons includes a test region for receiving a test coupon and first and second supports on opposed sides of the test region. One of the first or second supports includes a first pair of spaced-apart support points and the other of the first or second supports includes a second pair of spaced-apart support points that are narrowly spaced relative to the first pair of spaced-apart support points. There is a load shaft for applying a load to the second support and an articulated joint between the load shaft and the second support for uniformly distributing the load to the first support.
US08443677B2
In an embodiment, a hydraulic jack is provided having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion attached to a first section of a structure and the second portion attached to a second section of the structure. When a pressurized fluid is forced between the first portion and the second portion, a load is transferred to the first section and the second section by the pressure of the fluid on the first portion and the second portion. The first section and the second section are forced apart by the load, thus creating or enlarging at least one void in the structure. The pressurized fluid fills or partially fills one or more of the at least one void, thereby increasing the surface area effectively normal to the direction of the load in contact with the pressurized fluid.
US08443668B2
A yaw rate sensor having a substrate, a first Coriolis element and a second Coriolis element is described, the first Coriolis element being excitable to a first vibration by first excitation means, and the second Coriolis element being excitable to a second vibration by second excitation means, and the first and second Coriolis elements being connected to one another by a spring structure, and the spring structure also including at least one rocker structure, the rocker structure being anchored on the substrate by at least one spring element.
US08443667B2
The current invention is a novel gyroscope design, which yields devices robust to fabrication and environmental variations, allows flexible selection of operational parameters, and provides increased bandwidth with minimized sacrifice in gain regardless of the selected frequency of operation. The gyroscope has a single degree-of-freedom (DOF) drive-mode and a 2-DOF sense-mode. The drive-mode operational frequency and the sense-mode bandwidth can be selected arbitrarily in the proposed design, relaxing the tradeoff between the gain, die size, and detection capacitance. The symmetry of the structure ensures the optimal location of the drive-mode resonance relative to the sense-mode operational region, even in presence of fabrication imperfections.
US08443666B2
A rate-of-rotation sensor having a substrate and a first Coriolis element are provided, an excitation arrangement being provided for the excitation of vibrations of the first Coriolis element in a first direction, a first detection arrangement being provided for detecting a first deflection of the first Coriolis element in a third direction running generally perpendicular to the first direction; characterized by the first Coriolis element being developed as balancing rocker.
US08443648B2
A continuous emissions monitoring system is in fluid communication with a flue stack conducting exhaust gas from a combustion source. The continuous emissions monitor system comprises an analyzer for measuring concentrations of an analyte present in the exhaust gas. A probe is in fluid communication with the flue stack to acquire a sample of exhaust gas from the flue stack. The probe is also in fluid communication with and located upstream of the analyzer. The probe tends to remove analyte from the sample. A calibration checking system is in fluid communication with the probe. The calibration checking system includes a source that provides a flow of a known concentration of calibration material to be measured by the analyzer. The calibration material is the same as the analyte. A humidifier is associated with the source to provide moisture to a flow of calibration material. The moisture acts to cleanse removed analyte from the probe and thereby enable an accurate measurement of the concentration of the calibration material. A supply system is operatively connected with the humidifier to provide a desired amount of a liquid to the humidifier.
US08443641B2
An explosion forming apparatus (10) that preferably utilizes a shock wave (42) directed along a work piece (12) to progressively conform the work piece to a contour die cavity (44).
US08443637B2
There is provided a locking system having a lock bar and a lock cylinder, where the lock cylinder comprises an outer tube, an inner tube and securing means. The inner tube is placed inside the outer tube and has an opening for receiving a part of the lock bar, and the inner tube can rotate between a first and a second position relative to the outer tube corresponding to open and locked position of the locking system. The outer tube, the inner tube, the securing means and the lock bar are dimensioned so that when the inner tube is in the first position relative to the outer tube, then the securing means are in engagement with the outer tube and the inner tube, and the lock bar can be brought in and out of the inner tube, and when the inner tube is in the second position relative to the outer tube, then the securing means are in engagement with the inner tube and the lock bar, whereby the lock bar is securely locked to the inner tube, while at the same time the lock bar and the inner tube can rotate relative to each other. It is preferred that the securing means is made up of a number of locking balls.
US08443634B2
Textile-based electrodes incorporating graduated patterns include a fabric portion having non-conductive yarns and an electrically conductive region having electrically conductive yarn filaments. The electrodes can further include float yarns and can be configured in a textured or ribbed construction. When incorporated into a garment, the electrodes can be used to monitor biophysical characteristics, such as the garment wearer's heart rate.
US08443628B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a non-planar product in glass-ceramic. Said method comprises the following steps: (i) in a conventional furnace (3), heating a sheet of precursor glass of said glass-ceramic, so that said sheet becomes formable while avoiding its ceramming; (ii) forming said heated sheet; (iii) cooling said formed sheet (2b); (iv) ceramming said formed, cooled sheet.
US08443621B2
The present invention relates to an ice maker and a method for making ice, and more particularly, to an ice maker provided in a refrigerating chamber of a refrigerator and an ice making method. According to an ice maker and an ice making method, there is no need for forming an additional duct to supply cold air to the ice maker in order to make ice, whereby it is possible to simplify a manufacturing process of a refrigerator and to reduce manufacturing costs of a refrigerator. In addition, since a portion of refrigerant used in a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator is used for making ice, no additional energy is required for making ice, thereby reducing energy consumption.
US08443593B2
A valve assembly may include a valve body, a valve member, and a valve shaft. The valve body may include an inlet, an outlet, and first and second fluid paths in fluid communication with the inlet. The first fluid path may extend axially through at least a portion of the valve body. The second fluid path may be defined by first and second annular walls and may at least partially surround the first fluid path. The valve member is disposed in the valve body and may be movable between a first position preventing fluid flow through the first fluid path and a second position allowing fluid flow through the first fluid path. The valve shaft may be fixed to the valve member and mounted to the valve body for rotation relative to the valve body.
US08443592B2
An exhaust purification system is provided with an NOx storage reduction catalyst arranged in an exhaust passage and an SOx trap material arranged upstream of the NOx storage reduction catalyst and removes SOx contained in exhaust gas. A main flow path has a secondary flow path connected to it. In the secondary flow path, a removal device is arranged for removing the sulfur constituent contained in fuel. The secondary flow path includes an opening and closing device. When the SOx removal rate of the SOx trap material becomes a predetermined removal rate judgment value or less or the concentration of the SOx which flows into the SOx trap material becomes a predetermined concentration judgment value or more, at least part of the fuel flowing through a main flow path is made to flow into the secondary flow path and run through the removal device.
US08443587B2
An internal combustion engine includes first and second sets combustion chambers fluidly coupled to respective first and second aftertreatment devices. A third aftertreatment device including a supplemental heating device is fluidly coupled to outlets of the first and second aftertreatment devices. The first set of combustion chambers is operated rich and the second set of combustion chambers is operated lean. The supplemental heating device is operated to transfer thermal energy to the exhaust gas feedstream.
US08443578B2
A method and apparatus for sealing a bag made of a polymeric material by applying heat activated layers on different portions of the bag, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer have respective heat activation temperatures below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material; creasing the bag along a fold line, applying heat at a temperature below the softening point temperature of the polymeric material to activate the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer to adhesive states after the bag has been filled with contents; and folding the bag to form an adhesive-to adhesive seal by contact between the heat activated first adhesive layer and the heat activated second adhesive layer.
US08443574B2
A door assembly has a door header mounted on a frame defining a doorway, a door movably supported on the frame, and a track including at least one supporting surface along at least one side of the track. The track is secured to the door header. The assembly has at least one roller that is adapted to roll along the track. The roller has a rim portion adjacent a hub portion, and a tire material surrounding the rim portion that contacts the track. The roller is at least partially covered with a thermal barrier between the tire material and at least one of the rim portion and the hub portion to prevent heat transfer to the tire material.
US08443573B1
Blast-resistant foundations are presented that can be used to support a tower, a building, a building supporting a tower, and a tower supporting a building. These foundations can be transported to an installation site and rapidly deployed. They are comprised of one or more precast foundation blocks that do not penetrate the ground beneath them, do not require adjacent foundation blocks to be bound to one-another at their sides with interconnecting steel, and do not require the buildings and/or towers they support to use guy-wires. They can include protected cavities that contain utility equipment and supplies, and they can include conduits from these cavities that can be extended upward through one or more legs of a tower.
US08443557B2
A tower base section, a tower adapter and a wind turbine having the tower base section and the tower adapter are provided. The tower base section includes a tubular side wall and a flange portion. The flange portion has an inner radius and an outer radius and is configured as a T-flange. The tubular side wall is located closer to the outer radius than to the inner radius. The adapter is arranged outside the tubular side wall and includes a bottom surface pressing from above on the flange portion.
US08443543B2
A bird repellent apparatus having an integral base member and a plurality of prongs. The base member, by means of a plurality of tabs having holes for receiving screws or other fasteners, can be affixed to virtually any desired surface. The plurality of prongs with sharp tips presents an impossible barrier to birds that would otherwise land or perch on the surface to which the present invention is affixed. The combined base member and prongs are formed from injection molded plastic structure that also provide the tabs having holes to secure the base member to the underlying surface.
US08443540B2
A bipod kit for a firearm has a bipod leg mounting body and a firearm structural component. The bipod leg mounting body has a substantially round central passage defining an interior side surface thereof and has two leg mounting structures on an exterior side surface thereof generally opposite the interior side surface. The firearm structural component is mountable on the firearm at an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) mounting structure thereof. The firearm structural component includes a bipod mounting portion integral therewith. The bipod mounting portion is cylindrical and is rotatably mounted within the central passage of the bipod leg mounting body. The bipod mounting portion is configured such that a barrel of the firearm extends through a central passage thereof when the firearm structural component is mounted on the firearm at the OEM mounting structure thereof.
US08443537B2
A firearm has a firing mechanism that includes a firing pin, a drop safety, a spring mounted to the drop safety and a trigger in mechanical communication with the firing pin and the drop safety. The drop safety includes a roller portion having an outer circumferential surface and an inner opposing wall. When the trigger is actuated, the opposing wall of the drop safety abuts and engages the firing pin in the forward-most axial position thereof, thereby allowing the firing pin to strike a primer of a chambered round of ammunition. In all other configurations, the spring rotationally biases the drop safety so that the outer circumferential surface of the roller portion of the drop safety blocks the forward axial reciprocation of the firing pin, preventing the firing pin from engaging the primer of a chambered round of ammunition.
US08443521B2
A folding lock back knife apparatus includes a blade having a tip and a tang portion pivotally connecting to a handle of unitary construction formed from a continuous piece of metal having an integral locking mechanism and integral locking end portion, the locking end portion proximal to the pivot hole positioned to stop the blade from pivoting past the open position and the locking mechanism having a locking bar integral with a support arm continuously formed between a locking end portion and a pressure pad end constructed and arranged to lock the blade in relation to the handle when the locking end portion engages the at least one tang notch and unlocks the blade in relation to the handle when force is applied to the pressure pad end in the direction of the handle flexing the support arm, thereby disengaging the locking end portion from the tang notch.
US08443520B2
A device for helically cutting and automatically removing waste sheathing from the stressing tails of unbonded tendons. The device comprises an elongated body and an attached cutting head. Both the body and the cutting head have a uniform through bore along their longitudinal axis for accepting a post-tensioned tendon. The cutting head comprises an integral blade having a cutting face radially offset from the longitudinal axis and inclined at a pitch angle of between 45 and 85 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. The blade cuts the sheathing while also ejecting the waste sheathing.
US08443517B2
An expansion joint bracket retains an expansion joint board in a concrete installation. The expansion joint bracket may include a base member having multiple nail holes for securing the bracket to the earth (or sand or gravel put down prior to pouring concrete there upon). First and second board support members may run perpendicular to the base and parallel to each other to hold the expansion joint board in place. Gussets, typically triangular shaped gussets, extend from the board support members to the base member. The expansion joint brackets may be disposed every 12-24 inches on the expansion joint board and concrete may be poured over the expansion joint brackets, resulting in a quick and simple concrete installation.
US08443510B1
A method for providing at least one transducer including magnetic structure and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) are described. The method includes providing a lapping electronic lapping guide (lapping ELG) and a targeting ELG. The lapping ELG and targeting ELG each are coplanar with the desired thickness of the magnetic structure and have a back edge at the distance from the ABS such that the ELG back edges are substantially aligned with the flare point. The targeting ELG has a front edge at a front edge distance from the ABS corresponding to an intersection of the bevel and the desired thickness. The method further includes lapping the transducer and terminating the lapping based on a first resistance of the lapping ELG and a second resistance of the targeting ELG.
US08443509B1
A method of preparing a plurality of bar-wound stator conductors for electrical interconnection includes inserting the plurality of conductors into a stator, twisting a conductor such that a first conductor of a first row is adjacent to a second conductor of a second row; trimming the adjacent first and second conductors to a common length using a trimming device; and grinding the trimmed first and second conductors to a pre-determined surface profile using a rotary cutting tool.
US08443501B2
Prosthesis devices can include sockets having adjustable features. In one example, a socket includes one or more panels that can move outwardly or inwardly relative to a receptacle portion of the socket. The panels can be moved by tightening a tensioning line.
US08443498B2
The present invention carries out the vacuum deposition by setting a deposition angle between a single mask set including a shadow mask having a plurality of slits and a deposition source to form a lower terminal layer, a dielectric layer, an inner electrode layer, and an upper terminal layer at once under a vacuum state generated once, or adjusts slit patterns by relatively moving upper and lower mask sets that respectively include shadow masks having a plurality of slits and face each other to form a lower terminal layer, a dielectric layer, an inner electrode layer, and an upper terminal layer at once under a vacuum state generated once.
US08443497B2
A kit for transforming a cremation container into a casket for display comprises a frame and a canopy. The frame includes a head end section, a right side section, and a left side section. Moreover, each section has a top surface, a bottom surface and a continuous channel along the bottom surface. The frame seats over the cremation container such that the channel of the head end section receives a rim of an end panel of the cremation container, the channel of the right side section receives a rim of a right side panel of the cremation container and the channel of the left side section receives a rim of a left side panel of the cremation container. The canopy temporarily overlies at least a portion of the cremation container.
US08443488B2
A door closer capable of realizing self-control positioning has a cylindrical housing, a piston, a spring and a pull rod; the piston is built in the cylindrical housing and connected and fastened with one end of the pull rod; the pull rod is sheathed in the spring, and the two end parts of the spring respectively are in contact with a sealing lid of the piston and the cylindrical housing; the door closer further has a self-control positioning mechanism having a cylindrical outer sleeve a control part and a locking part; the cylindrical outer sleeve is connected and fastened with the cylindrical housing; the control part and the locking part are linked by a clutch and joined together; the locking part and the pull rod are linked by a clutch, and the pull rod is provided with a series of grooves which can be clasped with the locking part.
US08443484B2
To automatically purge a transfer chamber by means of inert gas. There is provided a substrate processing apparatus including a controller that performs control so that a transfer chamber 102 connected to a processing chamber 202 for processing a substrate is purged by gas, the controller having a switching unit that switches a function of exhausting the gas in the transfer chamber 102 in a set direction, and a function of circulating the gas through the transfer chamber 102 in an inert gas atmosphere.
US08443483B2
A wiper blade for use on a vehicle window comprises a blade hinge made of a hydrophobic, elastomeric material, a wiping lip and a blade body. The wiping lip has a tip that contacts the vehicle window, a wiping lip base adjoining the blade hinge, and a tapered portion extending between the tip and the wiping lip base. The wiping lip base is made of a hydrophobic, elastomeric material and a majority of the tapered portion is made of an elastomeric material that is not hydrophobic. The blade body includes a main body portion configured to secure a wiper arm thereto, and a base portion adjoining the main body portion and the blade hinge. The base portion is made of a hydrophobic, elastomeric material and the main body portion is made of an elastomeric material that is not hydrophobic.
US08443480B2
A hand tool and related method is provided for cleaning the discharge opening of an ostomy pouch. The hand tool includes a handle with a handgrip, a swab holder, and a bore extending through the handle; and a swab plunger having a telescoping shaft with proximal and distal ends extending though the bore, a gripping member attached to the proximal end of the shaft, and a swab engagement cap attached to the distal end of the shaft, the plunger having retracted and extended positions. A closed-end tubular swab is inserted over the distal end of the swab holder to wipe waste material from the ostomy pouch discharge opening. The plunger is then extended and pushed forward to detach the swab from the hand tool.
US08443473B2
Devices and methods of the present invention are directed to positioning a patient in a prone position that exposes the posterior thoracic lumbar spine during a surgical procedure, such as a laminectomy procedure. The device has at least three support members, with a first support member configured and adapted to support at least a portion of a patient's torso and the patient's hips; a second support member, generally contiguous with the first, configured and adapted to contact a patient's thighs and to position the patient's thighs in a desired angular position relative to the patient's hips and torso; and a third support member, generally contiguous with the second support member, adapted to support a patient's knees and lower legs and to position the patient's lower legs in a desired angular position relative to the patient's torso and thighs. A patient is positioned in the frame device prior to being anesthetized while the patient is lying supine and, during or following administration of anesthesia, the patient (mounted in the device) is rolled onto an operating table and positioned in a prone position. Operation on the posterior thorical-lumbar spine in this position is especially advantageous, and the spinal canal remains virtually bloodless, providing excellent visualization during the surgical procedure. When the surgery is finished, the process is reversed.
US08443469B2
A mount for a toilet seat includes a first elongate post configured to be secured to a first post holder; a second elongate post configured to be secured to a second post holder; a first hinge pin configured to join the toilet seat and the first post holder; a second hinge pin configured to join the toilet seat and the second post holder; a first post receptacle configured to be secured in a first aperture of a toilet bowl flange; and a second post receptacle configured to be secured in a second aperture of the toilet bowl flange.
US08443467B2
An earmuff assembly includes a headband consisting of two headband elements each having two constraint lugs bilaterally located on one end and a coupling portion located on the opposite end, the coupling portion of one headband element being inserted through a groove on each constraint lug of the other headband element for allowing adjustment of the length of the headband, two ear cups, two connection devices that connect the coupling portions of the headband elements to the ear cups such that the angular positions of the ear cups are adjustable in the X-axis direction as well as in the Y-axis direction relative to the headband, and a soft fabric material covering the ear cups for optimal wearing comfort.
US08448256B2
According to an embodiment, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of logic blocks, memory and a logic unit. The logic blocks are grouped into one or more partitions. The memory stores authentication and partition information uploaded to the programmable logic device prior to partition programming. The logic unit authenticates programming access to the one or more partitions based on the authentication information and controls programming of the one or more partitions based on the partition information.
US08448254B2
There are provided a digital content management apparatus which further embodies a digital content management apparatus used with a user terminal, and a system which protects the secrets of a digital content. The system and the apparatus are a real time operating system using a micro-kernel, which is incorporated in the digital content management apparatus as an interruption process having high priority. When a user uses the digital content, whether there is an illegitimate usage or not, is watched by interrupting the usage process. In the case where illegitimate usage is carried out, a warning is given or the usage is stopped. The decryption/re-encryption functions of the digital content management apparatus having the decryption/re-encryption functions are not restricted to the inside of the user apparatus. By providing the decryption/re-encryption functions between the networks, the exchange of secret information between different networks is secured. By using this apparatus for converting a crypt algorithm, information exchange is made possible between systems which adopt different algorithms.
US08448247B2
Systems and methods for analyzing historical network traffic and determining which traffic does not belong in a network are disclosed. Intrusion detection is performed over a period of time, looking for behavioral patterns within networks or information systems and generating alerts when these patterns change. The intrusion detection system intelligently forms correlations between disparate sources to find traffic anomalies. Over time, behaviors are predictive, and the intrusion detection system attempts to predict outcomes, becoming proactive instead of just reactive. Intrusions occur throughout whole information systems, including both network infrastructure and application servers. By treating the information system as a whole and performing intrusion detection across it, the chances of detection are increased significantly.
US08448246B2
According to one embodiment, a plurality of components are located within an appliance configured to send and receive email. The appliance receives an email and selects one or more policies to apply based on a designation indicating that the email communicates sensitive information. The policies determine whether to allow or block the email according to rules for assuring email. If the email is allowed, the appliance directs the email to one or more recipients.
US08448244B1
Embodiments allow for use of fused files that comprise executable code and content data in a more user-friendly and flexible manner. For example, a fused file can include content data and application logic for editing the content data within the file. Security through the use of digital signatures can be supported, but with at least part of a file recognized as extensible so that the file can be edited without “breaking” the signature. Additionally, a computing device can be configured to utilize a “sandbox” environment so that extensible (and/or other) portions of a fused file do not introduce unacceptable security issues even if the digital signature is valid. In some embodiments, the support of extensibility and sandboxing allows a runtime environment to utilize installer-free operation, which can represent a significant advantage in that fused files can be widely distributed to any device utilizing the runtime environment.
US08448238B1
Disclosed are methods, devices, and systems to provide an end-to-end secure transaction over a software defined network (SDN). In one embodiment, a machine-implemented method comprises opening an in-band virtual secure channel (VSC) or an out-of-band VSC over the SDN; authenticating, through the control plane of a switch managing the SDN, a user of a resource over the in-band VSC or the out-of-band VSC; authorizing the user, through the control plane, access to the resource over the in-band VSC or the out-of-band VSC; and accounting for a transaction conducted by the user accessing the resource, through the control plane, over the in-band VSC or the out-of-band VSC. In another embodiment, a switch to manage the SDN and to implement the method described herein is disclosed.
US08448234B2
In a method of determining whether a data stream includes unauthorized data, the data stream is analyzed using a hardware filter to detect a presence of one or more of a first set of patterns in the data stream. It is determined whether a packet in the data stream belongs to one of a plurality of data flows to be further inspected based on the analysis of the data stream by the hardware filter. A set of rules is applied to the packet to produce rule match status data if it is determined that the packet belongs to one of the plurality of data flows to be further inspected. The packet is analyzed to determine if the packet includes unauthorized data using software stored on a computer-readable medium and implemented on a processor if the rule match status data indicates that the packet potentially includes unauthorized data.
US08448230B2
A system and method for real world biometric analytics through the use of a multimodal analytic wallet. The system includes a biometric wallet comprising a pervasive repository for storing biometric data, the pervasive repository including at least one of a biometric layer, a genomic layer, a health layer, a privacy layer, and a processing layer. The biometric wallet further comprises a biometric analytic interface configured to communicate the biometric data to one or more devices.
US08448226B2
A coordinate-based computer authentication system (1) and methods have been disclosed. A method comprises providing instructions to present a graphical interface (1, 121) on a display, wherein the graphical interface includes a plurality of graphical images. Selection information is received that corresponds to the selection of one or more of the plurality of graphical images. The selection information is authenticated (1, 110).
