US08477411B2
Techniques, in the form of an apparatus, logic and a method, are provided to set power levels for multiple Raman pump wavelengths in a distributed Raman amplification configuration in order to achieve a target gain and tilt or desired gain profile. A Raman pump light source is activated at each of a plurality of pump wavelengths and at each of a plurality of pump power levels such that only one pump wavelength at a given pump power level is active at a time to thereby amplify an optical probe signal in the optical fiber to produce an amplified probe signal. The level of the amplified probe signal at each of the pump power levels for the plurality of pump wavelengths is measured. The pump power level for each of the plurality of pump wavelengths is computed based on the measured levels of the amplified probe signals due to each of the pump power levels and at each of the pump power levels for the plurality of pump wavelengths.
US08477409B2
Disclosed are a PLC-type delay demodulation circuit and a PLC-type optical interferometer capable of reducing the size of a PLC chip with respect to the arrangement of various kinds of light output waveguides. In a PLC-type delay demodulation circuit, arm waveguides of a first MZI and arm waveguides of a second MZI are formed so as to overlap each other in the same region of a planar lightwave circuit. The optical paths of the MZIs are arranged such that the propagation directions of two DQPSK signals branched by a Y-branch waveguide are opposite to each other.
US08477406B2
The present invention relates to a method for making a device provided with at least one closed enclosure filled with at least one liquid and closed with at least one flexible membrane based on an elastic material, comprising the steps of: a) depositing on a support (100) at least one given material in liquid form, b) at least partly solidifying said given material (130), c) depositing at low pressure an elastic material onto said solidified material so as to form a membrane, the membrane and the support forming at least one closed enclosure filled with said given material, d) melting said given material (130), so as to again liquefy said given material in the closed enclosure.
US08477405B2
A particle dispersion for display including: first particles for display including a colorant and a first polymer having a first charging group, the first particles for display being movable in response to an electric field; a first polymeric dispersant attached to the first particles for display; second particles for display including a colorant and a second polymer having a second charging group, the second particles for display being movable in response to an electric field; a second polymeric dispersant attached to the second particles for display; and a dispersing medium in which the first particles for display and the second particles for display are dispersed, the first polymeric dispersant and the second polymeric dispersant having different weight average molecular weights so that the first particles for display and the second particles for display start moving upon application of different voltages.
US08477404B2
A display medium includes: a pair of substrates having electrodes and disposed to form a space therebetween, at least one of the substrates transmitting light; a dispersion medium enclosed between the substrates; a group of particles that is dispersed in the dispersion medium and that moves in the dispersion medium according to an electric field applied between the substrates; and a treatment layer provided on at least one of surfaces of the substrates that oppose each other, the treatment layer being formed by treating the at least one of surfaces of the substrates that oppose each other with a polymer compound having a silicone chain.
US08477388B2
A scanner is disclosed. The scanner has a flatbed glass and an ADF glass mounted to a top cover with a gap formed between the two glass pieces. The scanner has a scanner module that has an ADF scan position underneath the ADF glass and a flatbed scan position underneath the flatbed glass. When the scanner module is in the flatbed scan position the scanner module references the flatbed glass. The scanner module crosses the gap between the two glass pieces when the scanner module moves from the flatbed scan position to the ADF scan position. The scanner module is lowered away from the flatbed glass as the scanner module approaches and moves across the gap between the two glass pieces.
US08477384B2
A solid-state image pickup device and image pickup method eliminate a dark-current component by adjusting the black level appropriately even if the dark-current component varies among horizontal lines. A pixel array includes light-receiving pixel elements and light-blocking pixel elements disposed such that horizontal lines include the light-blocking pixel elements individually. A readout circuit block reads pixel signals of each of the horizontal lines from the pixel array, inputs the pixel signals to ADC circuits (column ADC circuit block), and outputs the pixel signals of the light-blocking pixel elements. A ramp signal generation circuit obtains the pixel signals of the light-blocking pixel elements output from the readout circuit block, generates a ramp signal by using a reference level of AD conversion adjusted for each of the horizontal lines in accordance with the obtained pixel signals of the light-blocking pixel elements, and inputs the ramp signal to the ADC circuits.
US08477378B2
A region for quantization having a value lower than the value B is assumed as having little influence by Bk data on the pixels in this region. Thus, in order to prioritize the optimization of the granularity at the start of the input of GY data, the LUT having a combination of GY and gy as an input as an input is used to perform separation quantization. On the other hand, since a region having a value equal to or higher than the value B requires the use of Bk data, the LUT having only a combination of Bk and GY as an input as an input is used to perform quantization. As a result, the number of types of pieces of ink data referencing the table can be 2, thus suppressing an increase in the table size.
US08477377B2
A mechanism for integrating print quality enhancement (PQE) and multi-bit halftone data is disclosed. A system of embodiments of the invention includes a print control unit communicably coupled to a printer, the print control unit operable to process received multi-bit input print data for printing by the printer. The system further comprises a PQE card communicably coupled with the printer, the PQE card configured to separate multi-bit text and line art input data from multi-bit halftone image input data in the multi-bit input print data, ignore any of the identified multi-bit halftone image input data for purposes of applying PQE technology to the identified multi-bit halftone image input data, and apply the PQE technology to the identified multi-bit text and line art input data. Lastly, the system includes a print head communicably coupled to the printer, the print head operable to print multi-bit output created by the PQE card.
US08477373B2
Disclosed is an image processing system, comprising: an image processing apparatus to output image data based on an input of a print job; and an image forming apparatus to form an image based on the image data, wherein the image processing apparatus comprises a first control section to output color adjustment data so as to perform a gamma adjustment for the image data, and wherein the image forming apparatus comprises an adjustment section to perform the gamma adjustment for the image data based on the input color adjustment data.
US08477372B2
What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining a printer metric in terms of image quality (IQ) over a large complex set of conditions based upon measurements taken over a small simple set of conditions while compensating for printer drift. The present system and method effectively utilizes a predictive model that predicts noise measurements of multi-separations from those of single-separation colors and/or a subset of the multi-separations. Because a model is used to comprehend the metric over the entire gamut, the number of patches is reduced. This reduction enables the method to be used within a machine to dynamically characterize the device's image quality metric. Various embodiments have been disclosed.
US08477369B2
An image processing apparatus which inputs data obtained by reading a chart of highlights formed by an image forming apparatus and generates a correction condition of an image reading unit based on the data. The image processing apparatus includes a first image reading unit configured to read the chart of highlights formed by the image forming apparatus, a second image reading unit configured to read the chart of highlights, a calculation unit configured to calculate a difference between an image signal read by the first image reading unit and an image signal read by the second image reading unit, and a generation unit configured to generate a correction condition for correcting reading resolving power of the first image reading unit or reading resolving power of the second image reading unit corresponding to the difference.
US08477367B2
A system and related method for selectively printing color content of a page with a reduced color gamut are provided. The system includes a detection module, a printing mode module, and a conversion module. The detection module is configured to detect a color object in the page and the printing mode module exists in at least one mode. The conversion module can selectively convert the detected color object to a converted reduced-colorant object in accordance with the existence of the at least one mode of the printing mode module.
US08477354B2
The systems and methods presented herein provide print operations to a client via a print application in a manner that makes the print application independently operable within a computing environment of the client. The system includes a print application initiator that is operable in the client to copy system definitions of the client that control computing sessions within the client, to retrieve print application definitions that control computing sessions for the print application, and to change one or more of the copied system definitions based on the print application definitions. The print application initiator is also operable to generate a computing session for the print application within the client based on the changed system definitions and to start the print application within the computing session to provide the print operations of a print processing device to the client.
US08477353B2
An information processing apparatus includes an application executing unit and a printing program executing unit. The application executing unit executes an application according to operation content received from an external terminal apparatus and outputs a printing command to print an execution result. The printing program executing unit receives the printing command output from the application executing unit using a pseudo-printing apparatus driver and transmits the printing command from the pseudo-printing apparatus driver to a pseudo-application that can output the printing command to a printing apparatus driver of the external terminal apparatus connected to a printing apparatus through a local area network.
US08477352B2
Function information related to a plurality of kinds of functions arranged in a first image forming apparatus is acquired. The acquired function information is displayed. A desired function is designated from the displayed functions. A document containing the identification information is read on the basis of the designated function. The read document image is transmitted to the first image forming apparatus through a network. The identification information of original data corresponding to the document image is received from the first image forming apparatus through the network.
US08477339B2
This invention determines a compression method of printing data in consideration of a printing operation halt time when a low-speed interface is used. An image processing apparatus of this invention, which is connected to a printing apparatus, compresses printing data, and outputs the compressed printing data, determines the interface type, acquires a print waiting time, and determines the compression method of printing data based on the determined interface type and the acquired print waiting time. The image processing apparatus compresses printing data using the determined compression method, and outputs the compressed printing data to the printing apparatus.
US08477338B2
A print job management system includes a job maintaining unit, a user default storing unit, a determining unit, and a job providing unit. The job maintaining unit stores a print job, ID information on an owner user of the print job, and model information on a job handling printer in association with each other, the job handling printer being a printing device corresponding to the print job. The user default storing unit stores ID information on a user and information on a user default printer in association with each other, the user default printer being a printing device selected as the job handling printer by default when a print job of the user is generated. The determining unit determines a specific printing device as the user default printer corresponding to a user and updates data stored in the user default storing unit when ID information on the user is input using an input device associated with the specific printing device. The job providing unit provides a print job stored in the job maintaining unit to a job handling printer corresponding to the print job.
US08477331B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for creating an electronic version of printed matter. Advantageously, the electronic version of the printed matter is such that is has the same appearance and layout as the printed matter. The electronic version of the printed matter is also such that that a viewer's interaction with the electronic version can trigger the sending of information to the viewer. The information can be in various forms including an e-mail or e-coupon. It comes with an intelligence and interactive module where viewers can read other languages' printed matter instantaneously with multi-lingual translation both in text and voice. The apparatus and method is also capable of compressing the electronic version so that it can be quickly and efficiently distributed to viewers over numerous networks. These networks can include LAN, WAN, internet, or mobile and wireless communication networks.
US08477330B2
A system providing printer resource sharing in a communication network includes a first communication device at a first location, communicatively coupled to a printer resource and to a second communication device at a second location. The first communication device may authenticate the second communication device, and subsequent to the authentication, may enable printing of information content on the printer resource, at a request of a user of the second communication device. The first communication device may authenticate the second communication device based on a signal received from the second communication device. The first and second communication devices and the printer resource may be communicatively coupled via a communication network. The communication network may include a broadband access headend, a cable infrastructure, a satellite network infrastructure, a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure, an Internet infrastructure, an intranet or wired infrastructure, closed communication infrastructure, local area network, and/or a wireless infrastructure.
US08477323B2
A system enables a rendering intent to be specified for an object in a page description language that does not support the specifying of rendering intents. Such a system includes a user interface for receiving a rendering intent and an identification of an object associated with the received rendering intent, a page description language (PDL) file generator for generating a tag to associate the identified object with a PDL output parameter, and an encoder for encoding the received rendering intent in the PDL output parameter associated with the identified object. Such a system may be used, for example, with a PostScript or a PDF print job file.
US08477321B2
A high precision, rapidly operable optical parallelism measurement device includes a light source module, a light beam splitting module and at least two photoelectric detectors. The light source module has a light source and a light beam splitting element such that the light source module is able to produce two light beams perpendicular to each other. One of them is parallel to the moving direction, and is received by one of the detectors, while the other beam is split into two beams perpendicular to each other by the light beam splitting module. One beam is parallel to the former parallel by moving beam and is received by the other detector. With this scheme, the measurement can be performed by means of those perpendicular and parallel light beams without being affected by the structure of the machine platen to cause errors. The device can be manufactured with low cost and high precision. It is very compact in size and easy to carry and build up for rapid measurement.
US08477317B2
A position measuring arrangement that includes a retroreflector, a light source generating a lightbeam and a scanning unit that generates a partially-divergent lightbeam. The scanning unit includes a scanning mirror mounted so it is deflected in a reproducible manner so that a grid-like scanning of a two-dimensional spatial area by the partially-divergent lightbeam takes place over a plurality of scanning tracks. The position measuring arrangement including an interferometric distance measuring unit that includes a beam splitter element that splits the lightbeam generated by the light source so that split lightbeams pass through a reference arm and a measuring arm at least once in each direction. The interferometric distance measuring unit includes an opto-electronic detector unit, through which a detection of distance-dependent signals from superimposed lightbeams from the reference arm and the measuring arm takes place.
US08477301B2
An edge exposure unit includes a projector, a projector holding unit, a substrate rotating unit, an outer edge detecting unit and a surface inspection processing unit. Each component of the projector holding unit operates to move the projector in an X direction and a Y direction. The projector irradiates a peripheral portion of a substrate with light transmitted from a light source for exposure through a light guide. Edge sampling processing is performed based on distribution of an amount of light received in a CCD line sensor of the outer edge detecting unit. Surface inspection processing is performed based on distribution of an amount of light received in a CCD line sensor of the surface inspection processing unit.
US08477300B2
An optical device that may include a sighting portion including an optical axis; an electromagnetic beam source coupled to said sighting portion, electromagnetic beam source facilitates generating a source beam including an axis that is substantially parallel to said optical axis; an optical surface coupled to said electromagnetic beam source; and a frequency filter coupled within said sighting portion.
US08477297B2
The method measures first transmitted wavefronts and second transmitted wavefronts by respectively causing reference light to enter an object placed in plural placement states in a first medium and a second medium, calculates an aberration sensitivity with respect to changes of the placement state of the object, and calculates an alignment error of the object in each placement state by using the aberration sensitivity and the first and second transmitted wavefronts measured in each placement state. The method further calculates first and second reference transmitted wavefronts respectively acquirable when causing the reference light to enter the reference object placed in placement states including the alignment errors in the first medium and the second medium, and calculates a refractive index distribution of the object which a shape component thereof is removed, by using the first and second transmitted wavefronts and the first and second reference transmitted wavefronts.
US08477274B2
Disclosed is a liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell comprising a liquid-crystal layer that aligns vertically to the substrate thereof in a black state, two polarizing elements that are disposed to sandwich the liquid-crystal cell therebetween in a manner that their absorption axes are perpendicular to each other, and retardation films having equivalent optical anisotropy that are disposed between each of the two polarizing elements and the liquid-crystal cell, wherein the retardation films comprise a cellulose acylate and a liquid-crystal compound, and satisfy 30 nm≦Re(550)≦80 nm, 70 nm≦Rth(550)≦140 nm, Re(450)/Re(550)<1 and Re(650)/Re(550)>1.
US08477271B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixels defined thereon, each of which is provided with a reflection layer, a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate, and a display surface which displays images by the pixels, where the display surface is curved in one direction, and each of the reflection layers is formed so that a reflectance of light reflected from each of the reflection layers in a direction normal to the display surface is higher in both edge portions in a curvature direction than in a middle portion in the curvature direction on the display surface.
US08477263B2
A liquid crystal display device including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix along a first direction and a second direction which are perpendicular to each other a TFT substrate, a counter substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a plurality of microlenses, and a backlight provided on a side of the plurality of microlenses which is opposite to the TFT substrate. The plurality of microlenses includes a plurality of lenticular lenses extending in the first direction, the plurality of lenticular lenses being arranged side by side along the second direction.
US08477262B2
Disclosed are a backlight unit and a display device using the same. The backlight unit includes a light guide plate, a light emitting module provided on at least one lateral surface of the light guide plate to supply light to the light guide plate, and a bottom cover to contain the light guide plate and the light emitting module. The light emitting module includes a substrate including a plurality of through holes and a plurality of light emitting devices which are inserted into the through holes and spaced apart from the light guide plate at a first distance.
US08477260B2
A light guide plate comprises: a rectangular light exit plane and at least one light entrance plane in contact with the light exit plane, wherein the light guide plate comprises three or more structural layers disposed on each other in a direction normal to the light exit plane, each structural layer containing scattering particles dispersed therein, the structural layers having different particle densities of scattering particles.
US08477255B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a light guide plate, a light source module, a first tape, a circuit board holder and an elastic support piece, an optical film, a panel, and an elastic buffer piece. By implement of the liquid crystal display device of this invention, the thickness and the weight of the liquid crystal display device can be reduced.
US08477253B2
A liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first substrate; a plurality of color filters formed on the first substrate and arranged in a matrix with an island shape; a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on the color filters; and a capacitor disposed between neighboring color filters in a column direction among the color filters, wherein two terminals forming the capacitor are disposed at a portion outside a position overlapping the color filters.
US08477252B2
A display apparatus includes a first gate line extended in a predetermined direction; a second gate line extended in parallel to the first gate line; a first gate output terminal corresponding to the first gate line; a second gate output terminal corresponding to the second gate line; a first gate leading line electrically connecting the first gate line to the first gate output terminal; a second gate leading line electrically connecting the second gate line to the second gate output terminal and having a length longer than said first gate leading line; and a static electric protection line disposed so as to overlap the first gate leading line and the second gate leading line with an insulating layer interposed between said static electric protection line and the first and second gate leading lines, wherein an overlapping area between the first gate leading line and the static electric protection line is larger than an overlapping area between the second gate leading line and the static electric protection line.
US08477250B2
A rollable circular display device (10) is disclosed, comprising, in one embodiment, a ring-shaped display (6) expandable in two dimensions between a stored configuration and an expanded configuration and a body for winding the ring-shaped display in the stored configuration. In another embodiment, the rollable circular display device (10) comprises a housing (20), a circular display (6) expandable in two dimensions between a stored configuration in which the circular display (6) is stored within the housing (20) and an expanded configuration in which the circular display is fully viewable, and an inner cone, being arranged co-axially within the housing (20) and rotatable within the housing, wherein the circular display (6) is wound around the inner cone in the stored configuration.
US08477243B2
A digital television signal receiver, which includes an audio processor to process the audio data to be output as sound; a video processor to process a video data to be output on a screen; a storage to store the extracted program information; a processor to access the storage to generate a channel list based on the stored program information; wherein the channel list comprises at least one main channel number and the at least one main channel number has at least one corresponding sub-channel number in the received transport stream; a user interface to allow a user to navigate the channel list to search a channel number.
US08477227B2
Disclosed herein is an information display apparatus including a wireless reception section configured to receive image data and position information acquired and sent by a plurality of imaging apparatuses constituting a wireless network; an image display section configured to display images; and a display control section configured to display on the image display section thumbnails derived from the acquired image data received by the wireless reception section, a map covering the positions of the imaging apparatuses, and icons indicating the imaging apparatuses as they are positioned on the map based on the position information received by the wireless reception section.
US08477221B2
An image sensing system comprises an image sensor having an image sensing surface, a filter arranged between the image sensing surface and an optical system which forms an image of an object on the image sensing surface, a sensor configured to detect a luminance of the object in a band in the vicinity of a cutoff wavelength of the filter relative to an average luminance of the object via the optical system, and a corrector configured to execute color shading correction of the image, sensed by the image sensor, using a color shading correction coefficient determined by the relative luminance detected by the sensor.
US08477218B2
The invention relates to matrix image sensors, and it relates more particularly to a method for correcting the fixed spatial noise of the matrix.The signal (Sij,n) obtained from each pixel (Pij) during a large number of successive images is collected; for each pixel, an approximate value (Mij) of an average of the signal obtained from the pixel during this large number of images is determined; the signal obtained from each pixel is corrected by adding to it the difference between a reference average value (M0) and the approximate average value. The approximate average is obtained by determining high and low limit values taken by the signal obtained from the pixel during the large number of images, and by calculating a median between these high and low limit values.
US08477216B2
An image capturing apparatus and a booting method thereof are provided. In the method, a power-on signal is received, and then memory card plug information is read to determine whether a memory card of the image capturing apparatus has been plugged out in a power-off period of the image capturing apparatus. If it is determined that the memory card has not been plugged out, a previously recorded free space and a previously recorded file index table of the memory card are directly read, so as to accordingly boot the image capturing apparatus. If it is determined that the memory card has been plugged out, the free space of the memory card is re-calculated and a file sorting procedure is executed to generate the file index table, so as to accordingly boot the image capturing apparatus.
US08477213B2
A lens unit 1 acquires identification information for an attached lens unit from the lens unit and stores the acquired identification information in a second memory 37. In a case in which correction information for the stored identification information is not registered, a CPU 36 reads the correction information for the stored identification information out from an external memory 39 and registers it.
US08477196B2
A mobile device comprises a built-in camera connects to a monitoring server via a communication network. The mobile device records a video feed and compresses the recorded video feed. The mobile device uploads the compressed video to the monitoring server. The mobile device can log in to the monitoring server to watch the uploaded video feed.
US08477187B2
In an imaging apparatus, when a pan/tilt head is located at a predetermined position, a photographed image acquired by an imaging unit is stored as a registered image. A photographed image, which is newly acquired by the imaging unit, is compared with the registered image when the pan/tilt head is not driven from the predetermined position after the registered image is stored. The pan/tilt head is driven to an initial position if, as a result of comparison between the photographed image and the registered image, it is determined that a degree of matching between the photographed image and the registered image satisfies a predetermined condition.
US08477184B2
A thrown or projected ball-shaped camera for capturing images over the arc of its airborne trajectory is disclosed. Improvements include a position sensor for determining the camera's perspective in flight. An embedded processor for normalizing multiple captured images to a single ground plane, stitching multiple images into a panoramic image, and compiling multiple images into a smooth, continuous fly-by video. Also disclosed is a plurality of camera apertures facing outwardly from the sphere for capture of images to be stitched into a larger panoramic image.
US08477175B2
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving data indicative of a personal position of an end user and receiving image data associated with an object. The image data can be captured by a first camera at a first angle and a second camera at a second angle. The method also includes synthesizing the image data in order to deliver a three-dimensional rendering of the object at a selected angle, which is based on the data indicative of the personal position of the end user. In more specific embodiments, the synthesizing is executed by a server configured to be coupled to a network. Video analytics can be used to determine the personal position of the end user. In other embodiments, the method includes determining an approximate time interval for the synthesizing of the image data and then delaying audio data based on the time interval.
US08477174B2
After a video conference is established, a video conferencing system receives a video stream from the participants of the video conference. One of the received video streams is transmitted to the conference participants (e.g. the video stream of the person currently speaking). The video conferencing system monitors a second one (or typically all) of the received video streams to determine if a designated video event (e.g. someone raising his hand) has occurred. If the designated video event has occurred, the video conferencing system switches or supplements the currently transmitted video stream to or with the second one of the received video streams that contains the designated video event. The second video stream is then transmitted to participants in the video conference. The switching of the video stream and the switching of the audio stream may be independent.
US08477173B2
In some embodiments, a videoconferencing system may support using high definition images (e.g., 1280×720 pixels) for high definition displays. The videoconferencing system comprises a plurality of participant locations that may participate in the videoconference. Each participant location may comprise videoconferencing equipment, such as at least one camera, microphone(s), a display, one or more speakers, and a videoconferencing codec. The camera may be a high definition camera operable to acquire or capture images having a high resolution compatible with HDTV. In one embodiment, the videoconferencing equipment comprises a H.264 encoder and is operable to encode the video stream of high definition images using H.264 encoding techniques. In one embodiment the network may be 1.544 MB or less (e.g., T1 or less). In another embodiment, the network is 2.048 MB or less.
US08477172B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for writing a flip image structure on a base. Said apparatus comprises a laser light source that has a control device for specifically modifying an angle at which the laser light emerges from the laser light source, and a holder for the base. According to the invention, two deflection elements for the laser light are provided in the beam range of the laser light source. Said deflection elements are arranged such that laser light of the laser light source that is deflected, especially reflected by the deflection elements is incident on the flip image structure of the base accommodated on the holder at a different angle of incidence. The invention further relates to a method that can be carried out especially by means of a disclosed apparatus.
US08477166B2
A thermal head comprises a first substrate having a concave portion, a second substrate mounted on the first substrate and covering the concave portion to form with the first substrate a cavity portion, a heating resistor provided on a surface of the second substrate, and a pair of electrodes connected to the heating resistor for supplying power to the heating resistor. At least one of the pair of electrodes has a low thermal conductivity portion in a region opposed to the cavity portion. The low thermal conductivity portion is made of a material having a thermal conductivity lower than a thermal conductivity in other regions of the pair of electrodes and having an electrical resistance lower than an electrical resistance of the heating resistor.
US08477163B2
Media for receiving a printed image during sublimation or heat activated ink printing, and for transferring the image to a final substrate during subsequent heat transfer and activation, and a process of using the media. The media comprises a fibrous sheeting material, which can curve and conform to a three dimensional object to be imaged during the transfer printing process. A thin metal or metalized layer is to be applied onto the fabric/textile sheet shielding the fibrous structure, creating a reflective surface with excellent release properties. This reflective surface allows minimal dye penetration and excellent heat conductivity during heat transfer.
US08477154B2
A method of using a Graphic User Interface (GUI) for interactive virtual inspection of modeled objects. The method includes acquiring a three-dimensional model of a modeled object and displaying a first view of the modeled object for a user to identify locations of interest on a surface of the modeled object visible within the first view. The user enters information to create a markup tag that annotates the location of interest, and the markup tag is automatically associated with the location of interest on the modeled object. A second view of the modeled object is displayed including the user identified location of interest and the markup tag.
US08477148B2
A smooth curve is represented in a graphics texture by setting the texels that are inside the curve 80 to a value greater than a predetermined threshold value for the curve 80 and the texels that are outside the curve 80 to a value of less than the threshold value for the curve 80 (or vice-versa).Such representations of two smooth curves 80, 81 are packed into a single graphics texture (the same texel space) 82 by giving each curve 80, 81 a different threshold value, setting the texel values so that they are appropriately valued with respect to each curve's threshold value, and ensuring that the positions of the threshold value contours of the two curves do not actually overlap each other in the texture.
US08477147B2
Methods and systems of representation and manipulation of surfaces with perceptual geometric features, using a computer graphics rendering system, include executing algorithmic instructions to compute a plurality of vertices, edges and surfaces in a mesh for the purpose of defining representations of surfaces on grids. Normals and distances are determined for triangular surfaces to be considered. Additionally, height fields of a function are defined. A set of feature curves and a set of feature points are determined, based on the defined function. Infinitesimal movements along the representations of the surfaces are determined, along with determinations of properties of representations of continuous surfaces. Additional determinations of perceptual geometric features include determinations such as zero crossings, parabolic curves, flecnodes, ruffles, gutterpoints, conical points and biflecnodes in a given mesh. After these determinations are made, visual representations are rendered which capture perceptually important features for smoothly varying shapes.
US08477144B2
An image display system includes: a frame buffer having a plurality of lines, each of which stores image data and repetition information of the image data; a memory controller in signal communication with the frame buffer for reading the image data and the repetition information from the frame buffer; a display controller in signal communication with the memory controller for regenerating the image data, which is provided from the memory controller, in accordance with the repetition information provided from the memory controller; and a display device in signal communication with the display controller for displaying the regenerated image data, which is provided from the display controller, under regulation by the display controller.
US08477139B2
An electronic device with a touch screen display, a computer-implemented method, and a graphical user interface for navigating in three-dimensional virtual spaces and manipulating three-dimensional objects in the virtual spaces using simple finger gestures are disclosed.
US08477133B2
A method and apparatus for generating a three-dimensional FEM are provided. In the three-dimensional FEM generating method, a surface mesh is generated by meshing the surface of a three-dimensional model of a three-dimensional object. A projected contour is generated by projecting the three-dimensional model from one direction, and a projected contour mesh is generated by meshing the surface of the projected contour. A solid base mesh is generated by stacking solid elements on a base side formed of two-dimensional elements of the projected contour mesh. The surface mesh is substituted into the solid base mesh in alignment with the projected contour. A final solid mesh is generated by distinguishing solid elements surrounded by the surface mesh in the solid base mesh.
US08477131B2
A decoder circuit which outputs a voltage based on a 8-bit digital value includes: a first decoder circuit and a second decoder circuit which output one voltage respectively using upper-order 6 bits of the 8-bit digital value; a selection circuit which receives voltages outputted from the first decoder circuit and the second decoder circuit, and distributes the two voltages to three terminals; and an intermediate voltage output circuit which outputs an intermediate voltage which is a one of five kinds of values based on the three voltages. The first decoder circuit and the second decoder circuit respectively include a select-switch-type decoder circuit and a tournament-type decoder circuit. Due to such a constitution, it is possible to reduce a circuit scale of the decoder circuit which outputs the voltage corresponding to the 8-bit digital value.
US08477130B2
A display device capable of driving at low power consumption is provided. In a display device (1) for displaying images by supplying voltages on the sub-pixel electrode (Ep) and the common electrode (Ecom), the display device (1) includes a voltage selection circuit (102) for receiving first and second refresh voltages (4V and −5V). The voltage selection circuit (102) supplies the first refresh voltage (5V) on the sub-pixel electrode (Ep) through a first current path (Pa) when the data voltage on the sub-pixel electrode (Ep) is −5V, while the second refresh voltage (−5V) is supplied to the sub-pixel electrode (Ep) through a second path (Pb) when the data voltage on the sub-pixel electrode (Ep) is 5V.
US08477126B2
In a display driver, one scanning period is divided into a period P and a subsequent period D. In the period P, a pre-charge voltage equal to an original data voltage is applied in a time-sharing manner to data lines in one block, and in the period D after the period P, the original data voltage is applied again.
US08477122B2
The display apparatus is provided with: a display that displays a raw image and an identification image by which an electronic document is identifiable within a screen including at least two areas, the raw image representing a content of the electronic document, the identification image being smaller than the raw image; a detection unit that detects a moving operation of the raw image displayed in a first area to a second area that is different from the first area; and a controller that controls the display to display the identification image in the second area in response to the detection by the detection unit.
US08477112B2
A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal, a touch screen display configured to display a plurality of independent first objects and a controller configured to receive a selection signal indicating a touching of one of the first objects, control the touch screen display to distinctly display a second independent object indicating a drop point where the touched first object can be dropped and receive a dragging signal indicating the touched first object is being touched, dragged and dropped toward the second object. The mobile terminal stops displaying other non-selected first objects and executes a function indicated by the touched and dragged first object when the first object is dropped at the drop point. Further, the second object is displayed separately and independently from the first objects.
US08477110B2
A sensing device for sensing a touch panel. The sensing device includes a touch sensor and a touch controller. The touch sensor senses touch events on the touch panel to generate raw data representing sensed values of the pixels on the touch panel, and further filters the raw data to generate filtered data. The data size of the filtered data is smaller than the data size of the raw data. The touch controller receives the filtered data from the touch sensor and processes the filtered data so as to determine positions of the touch events on the touch panel.
US08477102B2
The invention relates to a method of extending the life of conductive polymer in a device comprising providing conductive polymer, passing direct current through said polymer, and reversing the voltage gradient in the organic polymer conductor.
US08477101B2
A reading device for an electronic document and an operation method of reading an electronic document are provided. The reading device for the electronic document includes an input module and a main body. When the user operates the input module to move in 3D space, the input module can detect a motion state of the input module in the 3D space and generate motion data. Additionally, the main body includes a screen used for displaying a picture of the electronic document. The main body may be connected with the input module via a wireless transmission path. As a result, the main body can receive the motion data generated by the input module and compute the motion data to generate an operation instruction, and then the main body may adjust the picture of the electronic document according to the operation instruction.
US08477100B2
A keyboard module suitable for being applied to an electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes a display unit and the keyboard module. The keyboard module is electrically connected to the display unit. The keyboard module includes a supporting structure, a membrane circuit sheet, and a vibrator. The supporting structure has a carrying surface. The membrane circuit sheet is disposed on the carrying surface of the supporting structure and has a plurality of triggers. The vibrator is connected to the supporting structure.
US08477099B2
A portable data processing apparatus is provided. It has at least one data processing function which depends on detected motion of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a video camera operable to capture successive images of a part of the real environment around the apparatus; a video motion detector operable to detect motion of the apparatus by analysis of image motion between pairs of captured images; a hardware motion detector operable to detect motion of the apparatus, whereby the data processing function depends on motion detected by the hardware motion detector; and a controller operable to adjust the operation of the hardware motion detector if the motion detected by the video motion detector and the motion detected by the hardware motion detector differ by at least a threshold difference.
US08477093B2
A device for controlling the level of a transmission signal according to the channel loading is provided. The device may include a plurality of semiconductor devices and a controller to control the plurality of semiconductor devices. The controller may control the level of a signal to be transmitted to each of the plurality of semiconductor devices according to the channel loading on each semiconductor device.
US08477091B2
An information output unit according to the present invention includes a first-gamma-correction-information storing unit that stores gamma correction information suitable for display of an image by a first liquid crystal display unit, a gamma correction unit that applies gamma correction based on the gamma correction information stored in the first-gamma-correction-information storing unit to inputted image information and outputs obtained image information to the liquid crystal display unit, a second gamma-correction-information storing unit that stores, when gamma correction is applied to the image information outputted by the gamma correction unit, gamma correction information for obtaining image information suitable for display of an image by a second liquid crystal display unit, and a control unit that outputs the gamma correction information stored in the second-gamma-correction-information storing unit to the liquid crystal display unit. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an information output unit that can make it unnecessary to perform operation in replacing a liquid crystal display unit and can prevent an increase in size of an apparatus, an increase in power consumption, and the like.
US08477077B1
Systems and methods are provided for an antenna coupler mechanism. The antenna coupler mechanism includes a bottom plate that includes a first conductor that is configured to couple energy into a nearby structure. A first tuning leg is connected in parallel with the bottom plate by a first set of electrical connections. The first tuning leg includes a second conductor and is configured to accept a radio frequency device in series with the second conductor. A second tuning leg is connected in parallel with the bottom plate by a second set of electrical connections. The second tuning leg includes a third conductor and a capacitor connected in series.
US08477073B2
Disclosed is a wide-band internal antenna that uses a slow-wave structure. The antenna includes an impedance matching/power feed part, which includes a first conductive element that extends from a power feed line and a second conductive element that is separated by a particular distance from the first conductive element and is electrically connected with a ground, and at least one radiator extending from the impedance matching/power feed part. Here, the first conductive element and the second conductive element of the impedance matching/power feed part form a slow-wave structure. By applying a slow-wave structure to coupling matching, the antenna provides the advantage of resolving the problem of narrow band characteristics found in inverted-F antennas while maintaining a low profile.
US08477065B2
An antenna configuration is described for high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) radars contained in a single vertical post. The radar may include a vertical dipole or monopole transmitting antenna collocated with a three-element receive antenna. The three antennas including two crossed loops and a vertical element are used in a direction-finding (DF) mode. Isolation between the three antennas produces high quality patterns useful for determining target bearings in DF mode. The single vertical post is sufficiently rigid mechanically that it may be installed along a coast without guy wires.
US08477057B2
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for sensing AC voltage. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for sensing AC voltage. The method includes providing a voltage sensing circuit in communication with an AC power source; rectifying an AC signal from the AC power source with rectifier circuitry of the voltage sensing circuit; applying a first voltage to an analog-to-digital (A-to-D) converter circuit, wherein the first voltage is across a second resistive element of a first half cycle voltage divider comprising a first resistive element and the second resistive element and in communication with a positive DC output of the rectifier circuitry; and analyzing the first digital voltage value and the second digital voltage value by a processor to determine a voltage of the AC power source.
US08477056B2
A system, method, and apparatus is disclosed for interpolation of an output of an analog to digital converter (ADC) to enable operation of the ADC at a sampling rate that is independent of the sampling rate for a DSP core so as to efficiently enable operation at higher date rates. According to one of the embodiments, an interpolation circuit is coupled between the ADC and DSP core and receives a first plurality of samples of data at the first data rate from the ADC and supplies a plurality of samples of second data at a second data rate to the DSP core; the second data rate being less than the first data rate. According to one of the embodiments, the interpolation circuit includes a memory and a FIR filter circuit having filter tap coefficient values selected to provide attenuation at high frequencies to reduce aliasing noise.
US08477052B2
A single-ended SAR ADC includes an additional capacitor, a self-test engine, and independent control of sample and hold conditions, which allows for quick and accurate testing of the ADC.
US08477040B2
A system and method for detecting a leak or structural defect in a tank are provided. The system includes a removable test plate to seal an opening in a tank to be tested with all other openings in the tank to be sealed. The system also includes a motor-driven blower or other vacuum-generating device coupled to a first opening in the test plate. When the blower is activated, it generates a vacuum inside the tank of a predetermined value. A vacuum-monitoring device is coupled to a second opening in the test plate and monitors the vacuum in the tank. A leak or structural defect in the tank is indicated if the vacuum decreases from the predetermined value by more than a predetermined differential within a predetermined time.
US08477038B2
A method for producing a proof of the presence and/or of the availability of an entity in a site over a period that is greater than or equal to a presence threshold, the method including: successively transmitting messages, the messages being generated from a secret such that the secret may be reconstituted by having the knowledge of a given number of messages that is greater than or equal to a threshold, each message being transmitted over a transmission period whose duration is chosen such that the product of the duration of the transmission period times the threshold is substantially equal to the presence threshold; comparing the secret and a secret candidate generated from messages received by the entity; the proof being produced only if the secret and the secret candidate are equal.
US08477034B2
An information providing system includes a portable terminal, and a server that provides the portable terminal with information of an arrival time of the portable terminal at a destination. The portable terminal comprises an RFID tag to which identification information of the destination and identification information of a departure place are written; and a communication unit that transmits the destination identification information, the departure place identification information, and information of a departure time which is a current time to the server when triggered by the departure place identification information written in the RFID tag. The server comprises an arrival time deriving unit that derives the arrival time at the destination using the departure place identification information, the destination identification information, and the departure time information transmitted from the portable terminal; and a communication unit that transmits the information of the arrival time at the destination to the portable terminal.
US08477032B2
A system for detecting electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) marker shielding includes an EAS subsystem, a metal detector, an object detector, a timer, a cart detection subsystem and a processor. The EAS subsystem is operable to detect an EAS marker in an interrogation zone. The metal detector is operable to detect a metal object in the interrogation zone. The object detector is operable to detect objects located proximate to an entry point of the EAS subsystem. The timer is programmed to start a countdown sequence upon receiving a signal generated by the object detector. The cart detection subsystem includes a sensor array. The cart detection subsystem is operable to differentiate between a wheeled device and a human passing through the interrogation zone based on an output of the sensor array. The processor is electrically coupled to the EAS subsystem, the metal detector, the object detector, the timer and the cart detection subsystem. The processor is programmed to receive a signal from the object detector and the timer to initiate gathering information outputted from the cart detection subsystem and information outputted from the metal detector to determine whether to generate an alarm signal based on the presence of EAS marker shielding.
US08477025B2
The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a lorry or bus, provided with a device for issuing, in the event of the vehicle turning off, an acoustic warning signal in the direction of a warning region next to the vehicle, comprising: —at least one sound source for generating an acoustic warning signal; —at least one sound director, which is connected to the sound source, for sending the acoustic warning signal to the warning region in substantially one or more preferred directions with respect to the vehicle and attenuating the acoustic warning signal outside the warning region in the remaining directions with respect to the vehicle, —control means for switching on the sound source when the vehicle turns off or is about to turn off; wherein the sound director has at least one outlet which is formed at a distance from the vehicle wall such that the warning signal is amplified in the one or more preferred directions as a result of interference as a consequence of reflection against the vehicle wall.
US08477023B2
An information presentation apparatus includes an action determination section to execute a determination as to whether a driver becomes aware of an attention-seeking display sign or an alarm display sign, and an information presentation control circuit to cause a display device to perform a display changeover to change a display mode of an attention-seeking display sign or alarm display sign into an attenuation display mode based on an affirmative result from the determination by the action determination section. Herein, the action determination section executes the above determination based on reference information such as driver action confirmation information or vehicle information, which is a signal generated by a switch manipulation or a driving operation of the driver when noticing the attention-seeking display sign or alarm display sign displayed in the display device.
US08477020B2
Disclosed is a key-less ignition system for a vehicle. The system allows a user to automatically start the engine of a vehicle via a push button and a remote passive transponder. The system finds particular application in conjunction with smaller vehicles such as motorcycles. In one specific embodiment of the invention, the system is used in connection with an anti-theft device, such as a wheel lock. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the key-less ignition system is used in connection with a records management system, whereby service technicians can remotely retrieve maintenance records relating to the vehicle.
US08477015B1
A system and method is disclosed for using an input data signal as a clock signal in a state machine of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. An output of a demodulator in the RFID tag is directly coupled to a clock input of the command state machine in the RFID state machine. The command state machine receives an edge detect signal directly from the input data signal and then immediately generates backscatter signals to begin a backscatter process. The edge detect signal may comprise a rising edge of a data symbol of the RFID protocol. The immediate initiation of the backscatter process reduces latency of the backscatter process in the RFID state machine.
US08477007B2
A network includes a client and an appliance configured to perform an operation cycle on an article using a consumable. Information associated with the consumable can be exchanged between the appliance and the client across the network.
US08477002B2
An electromagnetic hydraulic valve, having a solenoid (1) with a coil carrier (3), which receives at least one coil (4) in a completely encapsulated manner in an injection-molded encapsulation (7) and carries at least one terminal, wherein the terminal is formed of individual segments (10, 11) which are inserted into radially extending through openings (8, 9) that are formed in the coil carrier (3) and in the insert molding (7) adjacent to the at least one coil (4).
US08476995B2
The present invention relates to an RF MEMS switch device comprising: a substrate; a bias electrode positioned on the substrate and supplying bias voltage; a pair of signal electrodes positioned to be spaced-apart each other on the substrate and transmitting an RF signal from one side to the other side; a dielectric layer formed on upper part of the pair of signal electrodes to be overlapped with the pair of signal electrodes; a membrane electrode formed on the dielectric layer to be overlapped with the pair of signal electrodes and the dielectric layer; a bias line connecting between the membrane electrode and the bias electrode; at least one pooling electrode formed to be overlapped with the membrane electrode and having the dielectric layer be interposed therebetween; and a pooling line connecting any one of the pair of signal electrodes and the pooling electrode, and manufacturing method thereof.
US08476988B2
A design structure, structure, and method for providing an on-chip variable delay transmission line with a fixed characteristic impedance. A method of manufacturing a transmission line structure includes forming a signal line of the transmission line structure, forming a first ground return structure that causes a first delay and a first characteristic impedance in the transmission line structure, and forming a second ground return structure that causes a second delay and a second characteristic impedance in the transmission line structure. The first delay is different from the second delay, and the first characteristic impedance is substantially the same as the second characteristic impedance.
US08476979B1
One or more embodiments of the present invention pertain to an all solid-state microwave power module. The module includes a plurality of solid-state amplifiers configured to amplify a signal using a low power stage, a medium power stage, and a high power stage. The module also includes a power conditioner configured to activate a voltage sequencer (e.g., bias controller) when power is received from a power source. The voltage sequencer is configured to sequentially apply voltage to a gate of each amplifier and sequentially apply voltage to a drain of each amplifier.
US08476976B2
There is disclosed a power supply stage, and a corresponding method, comprising: a plurality of amplifiers for amplifying an input signal, each amplifier receiving a power supply voltage; a common selection means for selecting one of a plurality of power supply voltages in dependence on a reference signal representing a desired power supply voltage; and a plurality of adjusting means, corresponding to the plurality of amplifiers, adapted to generate an adjusted selected power supply voltage for a respective amplifier tracking the reference signal in dependence on the one selected power supply voltage and the reference signal.
US08476971B2
A driver utilizes selective biasing of the terminal of an operational amplifier to reduce offset in the operational amplifier output. Each operational amplifier input includes a differential input pair of transistors including a NMOS transistor and PMOS transistor. At low and high ends of the input voltage range these transistors are selectively and individually coupled to either a standard input or biased to be on so as to contribute offset for offset compensation. The transistors are biased in a conventional manner for input voltages between the low and high ends of the voltage range.
US08476968B2
A filter system capable of automatically adjusting bandwidth includes a filter and an adaptive unit. The filter is used for filtering a digital signal to generate an output signal to an application unit. The adaptive unit is used for generating an adjustment signal to the filter according to the digital signal and the output signal. The filter dynamically adjusts bandwidth of the filter according to the adjustment signal.
US08476967B2
Provided is a constant current circuit and a reference voltage circuit with improved line regulation without needing a start-up circuit. The constant current circuit includes: a constant current generation circuit including NMOS transistors and a resistor; a current mirror circuit including a pair of depletion mode NMOS transistors, for allowing a current of the constant current generation circuit to flow; and a feedback circuit for maintaining constant voltages of source terminals of the pair of depletion mode NMOS transistors.
US08476966B2
The invention relates to a voltage regulator circuit for providing voltage to an integrated circuit chip, comprising a reference voltage generator providing a reference voltage, a pFET header device having a plurality of pFET fingers, wherein each pFET finger in the plurality of pFET fingers is adapted for providing a different pFET output voltage to the integrated circuit chip, and a pFET control device for switching the plurality of pFET fingers depending on a comparison between the reference voltage and the pFET output voltage. The voltage regulator circuit allows for dynamically switching on or off the pFET fingers based on the output of the comparison of the reference voltage and the pFET output voltage, and thus allows for dynamically switching on or off, respectively, at least partly the integrated circuit chip.
US08476962B2
A system includes a first circuit, a first charge pump, a second circuit, and a second charge pump. The first circuit has a first power supply terminal coupled to a positive power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal. The first charge pump has an input coupled to positive power supply terminal and an output coupled to the second power supply terminal of the first circuit. The second circuit has a first power supply terminal coupled the second power supply terminal of the first circuit and a second power supply terminal. The second charge pump has an input coupled to the first power supply terminal of the second circuit and an output coupled to the second power supply terminal of the second circuit.
US08476960B1
An identifying circuit is connected between a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface and a controller. The identifying circuit includes first to fourth electronic switches. When a power adapter connects to the USB interface, the first and fourth electronic switches are not turned on, and the second and third electronic switches are turned on. An identification pin of the controller receives a low level signal and determines that the power adapter connects to the USB interface. When a computer connects to the USB interface, the first and fourth electronic switches are turned on, and the second and third electronic switches are not turned on. The identification pin receives a high level signal and determines that the computer is connected to the USB interface.
US08476958B2
The invention discloses a mixer circuit (10, 20, 30, 410, 60) comprising a first mixer component (11, 21) with a first (13, 23) and a second (12, 22) input port for a first and a second input signal respectively and an output port (14, 24) for outputting a mixed signal. According to the invention, the mixer circuit (10, 20, 30, 410, 60) also comprises a transformer (15) which connects the first (13, 23) and second (12, 22) input ports of the mixer component (11, 21) inductively via an inverting coupling. In one embodiment, the mixer circuit (30, 410, 60) also comprises inputs for DC-bias of one (13) of the input ports and of the output port (14), as well as an impedance (31) as a filter at the output port.
US08476956B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor switch includes a power supply section, a driver, and a switch section. The power supply section is configured to generate a first potential higher than a positive power supply potential, and a negative second potential. The driver is connected to the power supply section and configured to output a control signal. A potential of the control signal is set to the first potential at high level and set to the second potential at low level according to a terminal switching signal. The switch section is configured to receive the control signal and switch a connection between terminals. The driver has a first level shifter, a second level shifter and a first circuit. The first level shifter has a first high-side switch and a first low-side switch. The second level shifter has a second high-side switch and a second low-side switch.
US08476952B2
Disclosed is a mixer able to simultaneously suppress self-mixing and low-order harmonic response in a charge sampling circuit. Specifically disclosed is a multiphase mixer provided with a transconductance amplifier (101) for converting a voltage signal into a current signal, an N number (where N is a natural number that is 2 or more) of first integrators (401, 402) which are connected in parallel to the subsequent stage of the transconductance amplifier (101), and a 2N number of mixers (102, 103, 104, 105) connected in parallel in pairs to the respective N number of first integrators (401, 402), wherein two mixers connected to the same first integrator of any of the N number of first integrators (401, 402) are controlled by driving signals comprised of pulse trains with the same frequency and phases differing by 180°.
US08476951B2
A latch circuit, such as a memory cell or a flip-flop, that is immune to single-event upset at any single node. The latch circuit includes two banks of four logic gates each. The output of each logic gate in the first bank is connected to inputs of two logic gates in the second bank, and the output of each logic gate in the second bank is connected to inputs of two logic gates in the first bank. Each logic gate includes a logic function receiving an input node and an enable signal, such as a load signal. The interconnection of the logic gates corrects single-event upset at any one of the nodes. In the memory cell arrangement, redundant data paths are used to produce two input nodes provides single-event upset immunity at those input nodes. A layout of the latch circuit that ensures that random ionization affects only a single node is also disclosed.
US08476950B2
A high-speed latch circuit includes a latching unit for latching an inputted signal, a signal input unit connected to the latching unit and a clock control unit connected to the signal input unit. The clock control unit includes a first switch element, a second switch element connected to the first switch element and an inverter connected to the second switch element. The first switch element and the inverter are both connected to a clock signal input end. The high-speed latch circuit of the present invention has a simple circuit structure, shortens the triggering time of the signal and reduces chances of wrong triggering.
US08476946B2
A delay lock loop includes a phase frequency detector, a loop filter, and a voltage controlled delay circuit. The phase frequency detector is used for outputting an upper switch signal or a lower switch signal according to a reference clock and a feedback clock. The loop filter includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a first switch. The first capacitor is charged or discharged and the first switch is turned off during a phase tracking period. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are charged or discharged and the first switch is turned on during a phase locking period. The voltage controlled delay circuit is used for outputting the feedback clock according to the reference clock and a control voltage outputted by the loop filter.
US08476938B2
The device for generating three mode signals includes: a voltage setting block including an input terminal receiving three input signals of driving voltage, open, and ground and setting three voltages according to the three input signals; and an output block including two output terminals and a second node B receiving the three voltages from the voltage setting block, and outputting three combined signals by comparing an input voltage with a reference voltage, whereby only a small number of resistors and amplifiers generates three mode signals to further reduce the chip size than the related art and the external power source is not required to solve the problems of the related art due to noise.
US08476930B2
In one embodiment, a level shifter circuit may include a shift stage that also embeds transistors that implement a logic operation on two or more inputs to the level shifter. At least one of the inputs may be sourced from circuitry that is powered by a different power supply than the level shifter and circuitry that receives the level shifter output. Additionally, the level shifter includes one or more dummy transistors that match transistors the perform the logic operation, to improve symmetry of the level shifter circuit. In some embodiments, certain design and layout rules may be applied to the level shifter circuit to limit variation in the symmetry over various manufacturing variations.
US08476919B2
A prober unit in which probes are brought into contact with to-be-tested semiconductor chips to establish electrical connection between the semiconductor chips and a test unit via the probes. A probe assembly and a plurality of wiring boards are prepared, the probe assembly being constituted by integrated regularly-arranged multiple probe groups including output terminals connected directly to the probes, and each of the wiring boards including wiring adhering to a surface of a non-conductive film; and an n-th row of an output terminal group of the probe assembly is brought into contact with a land group provided at an end of an n-th wiring board, and a wiring terminal provided at the other end of the n-th wiring board is connected to one of a wiring board of the test unit and a connector to establish electrical connection between the to-be-tested semiconductor chips and the test unit.
US08476915B2
An apparatus for determining a type of an electromagnetic wave generating source, including: a measurement unit that measures electromagnetic field strength at first and second measurement points at vertically different respective distances from a main surface of an object to be measured; a calculation unit that calculates an attenuation amount of the electromagnetic field strength between the first and second measurement points using measured values of the electromagnetic field strength measured by the measurement unit; and a determination unit that determines whether the generating source is the electric current source or the magnetic current source by judging which one of a reference value of an electric current source and a reference value of a magnetic current source is close to a value of the attenuation amount calculated by the calculation unit.
US08476910B2
A capacitive sensor with a calibration mechanism is provided. The capacitive sensor includes a set of sensing capacitors to generate a capacitance variation, a subtraction circuit and an integration circuit. The subtraction circuit includes a first capacitor array to generate offset-adjusting charges and a second capacitor array to generate subtraction charges according to an initial offset and a sensitivity of the sensing capacitors respectively. The integration circuit includes two input ends, wherein one of them is connected to the sensing capacitors and the subtraction circuit. During a sensing period, the integration circuit performs integration according to the capacitance variation and performs cancellation of the effect of the initial offset according to the offset-adjusting charges to generate an integration output signal that is continuously subtracted by the subtraction charges during a computing period to generate a subtraction count. A capacitive sensing method is disclosed herein as well.
US08476908B2
A signal capture system for capturing a signal and storing the captured signal in a storage apparatus in real time, and a test apparatus including the signal capture system. The signal capture system includes a printed circuit board; a socket that is connected to the printed circuit board and on which a reference memory component is mounted; and an interposer that is mounted on the printed circuit board, is connected to the socket, an external apparatus, and a storage apparatus, receives first signals from the reference memory component and transmits the received first signals to the external apparatus and the storage apparatus, and receives second signals from the external apparatus and transmits the received second signals to the reference memory component and the storage apparatus, wherein a shape of the socket is defined according to a type of the reference memory component.
US08476888B1
An apparatus includes a sense element that generates a sense signal based on an output signal generated by a regulator. The apparatus also includes a current control unit that generates a compensated reference signal using the sense signal. The compensated reference signal is associated with an average of the output signal. The apparatus further includes a comparator that compares the compensated reference signal and the sense signal. In addition, the apparatus includes a hysteretic control unit that adjusts a control signal based on an output of the comparator and that provides the control signal to the regulator in order to adjust the output signal generated by the regulator. The hysteretic control unit could dynamically adjust peak and valley currents through an inductor in the regulator to maintain the average of the output signal at a substantially constant value.
US08476885B2
A power arrangement that includes a monolithically integrated III-nitride power stage having III-nitride power switches and III-nitride driver switches.
US08476882B2
The present invention uses a reference voltage that varies within a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) cycle to generate the PWM signal. This allows for stability in the feedback of Constant On-Time (COT) control for buck controllers when low Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) capacitors are used as the output capacitor. The reference voltage is adjusted using features of a PWM cycle in a voltage mode without using external inductor current information.
US08476880B2
One embodiment of the invention includes regulation voltage system for a power supply system. The system includes a current sense system configured to generate a sense signal that represents an output current of the power supply system that is supplied to a load. The system also includes a positive voltage droop controller configured to provide a regulation voltage to the power supply system, the positive voltage droop controller setting the regulation voltage to one of a predetermined fixed reference voltage or a variable reference voltage based on the sense signal. The variable reference voltage can be less than the predetermined fixed reference voltage.
US08476850B2
A drive control signal is effectively obtained. An offset is added to a rotational state signal. A drive control signal having a period which is reduced by a predetermined period compared to the sine wave form signal is generated between a crossing of a reference value for a second time and a crossing of the reference value for a next time by an added signal obtained by sequentially offsetting the rotational state signal in a direction reaching the reference value. A pulse indicating that the polarity has been reversed when the offset is added is added to the crossing of the reference value for the first time, to reliably detect crossing of the reference value for the second time.
US08476846B1
A controller for optical transducers uses stochastic signal density modulation to reduce electromagnetic interference.
US08476840B2
An LED lighting device includes light emitting diode, a current control circuit having a first series circuit of first and second switching elements, a second series circuit of third and fourth switching elements, and a condenser, which is configured so that the first and second series circuits are parallel connected and the condenser is connected between a connection point of the first and second switching elements and a connection point of the third and fourth switching elements, and a control circuit for alternatively on-off controlling a pair of the first and fourth switching elements and a pair of the second and third switching elements.
US08476839B2
A series connected L-C resonant circuit is connected between a lamp electrode of a xenon arc lamp and chassis ground. The L-C circuit has the ability to store energy as well as act as an oscillator. Energized by an initial high voltage pulse to a xenon arc lamp, the L-C circuit extends the ‘tail’ of the initial high voltage pulse provided to ignite the xenon arc lamp with a train or series of high frequency oscillations, which gradually decay. This resonant ‘tail’ causes the plasma streamer in the lamp to remain in the ionized state for an extended time period, until current ramp to the lamp up occurs, resulting in highly reliable ignition of the xenon arc lamp.
US08476823B2
An organic electroluminescence device including at least an anode, an emitting layer, an electron-transporting region and a cathode in sequential order, wherein the emitting layer contains a host and a dopant which gives fluorescent emission of which the main peak wavelength is 550 nm or less; the affinity Ad of the dopant is equal to or larger than the affinity Ah of the host; the triplet energy ETd of the dopant is larger than the triplet energy ETh of the host; and a blocking layer is provided within the electron-transporting region such that it is adjacent to the emitting layer, and the triplet energy ETb of the blocking layer is larger than ETh.
US08476815B2
A ground electrode and a metal shell are joined by welding or the like while an entire end face of a base of the ground electrode is brought into contact with a front end constituent face of the metal shell. The ground electrode has an extending portion extending forward in an axial (O) direction of the ground electrode. A front end portion faces a noble metal tip joined to a front end portion of the center electrode through a bending portion and forms a spark discharge gap (G) therebetween. A gap (a clearance) having a sufficient space to accommodate a virtual sphere (Q) with a radius of 1.2 mm is provided so that the virtual sphere (Q) being in contact with an inner face of the bending portion of the ground electrode is neither in contact with a center electrode nor an insulator.
US08476808B2
Disclosed is a tire mountable apparatus and methodology for mounting devices within a tire. In certain embodiments a signal generator may be mounted to the tire to generate signals based on changes in the radius of curvature of a tire. A piezoelectric sandwich and/or a substrate is/are provided having a length and width based at least in part on tire dimensions and positioned in the tire such that the longer length dimension is positioned laterally with respect to the width of the tire. The sandwich and/or substrate is/are sized such that the width dimension provides substantially no response to changes in the circumferential radius of curvature of the tire so that the length dimension defines the primary bending direction while the width dimension provides a strain free mount for associated devices.
US08476802B2
Disclosed is a core including a plurality of core layers in a laminated structure formed through one-directional press shearing and having an insulating layer formed on the surface thereof prevented from being damaged by burrs formed through the press shearing when a winding coil is wound on and around the core, and a motor having the core. The core for a motor includes: a plurality of core plates having a laminated structure formed through one-directional press shearing; and a chamfered portion formed on at least some of the corners of a face opposed to one face of the core plate to which force is applied by the press shearing.
US08476799B2
Electric motor cluster consisting of several stator sections each possessing a minimum of two salient pole projections, wound with power windings, and each section containing a single rotor. Each individual motor is angularly displaced one from the other, while mounted within a common housing, and geared together such that each motor section contributes to the rotation of a common output shaft. Each motor comprises at least one stator and one rotor section, such that each rotor section is associated with a specific stator section. The lateral axis of each rotor section is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the axis of the shaft for that particular motor.
US08476798B2
The tandem electric machine arrangement comprises an outside rotor having two axially spaced-apart sets of circumferentially-disposed permanent magnets. It also comprises an inside stator having at least two electrically-independent windings, the at least two windings axially spaced apart from one another and disposed relative to the magnet sets to thereby be magnetically coupled to a respective one of the sets of permanent magnets during rotation of the rotor. One of the rotor and the stator is provided in two separate pieces, each piece supported from opposite axial sides of the electric machine relative to one another. The other of the rotor and the stator is supported from substantially centrally of the two pieces.
US08476795B2
In a circuit substrate of an electric water pump, a Hall IC can be mounted on a circuit substrate at an optimum position in a stable and durable state. The electric water pump includes a motor housing, a stator constituted by a stator core covered by a resin insulator and a coil, a circuit substrate, a holder 6 mounted on the circuit substrate, and a Hall IC mounted on the holder. A holder accommodation portion, into which the holder is inserted, is formed in the insulator, the stator is disposed in and fixed to the motor housing, the circuit substrate is appropriately mounted on the motor housing, and the holder 6 is inserted into and supported by the holder accommodation portion.
US08476793B2
An apparatus and method are provided for stiffening a base plate of a spindle motor to improve shock resistance and vibration response, and thereby increase reliability and performance of a disc drive memory system. A stiffener tab for stiffening a base plate is connected to the base plate, extends from the base plate, and is dimensioned to fit adjacent to a stator tooth. Stiffening of a base plate is especially useful in the case of stamped base plate designs that typically have uniform thickness, whereas cast base plate designs are formed with thicker sections. In an aspect, the present invention stiffens a motor cup portion of the base plate, and replaces stiffness lost by removal of material from the base plate to form holes for recessing a stator into the base plate. Axial and angular displacement of a spindle motor during shock events and vibration are decreased.
US08476783B2
A wind energy generator using a piezoelectric material and an auxiliary mechanism thereof are disclosed. The wind energy generator comprises the auxiliary mechanism and the piezoelectric material. The auxiliary mechanism comprises a wind collecting device and a wind driving device. The wind collecting device is used for collecting a wind and increasing the wind speed. The wind driving device cooperates with the wind collecting device to receive the wind. The piezoelectric material contacts with the wind driving device. When the wind collecting device receives the wind, the piezoelectric material is vibrated by the wind via the wind driving device to generate an electric power.
US08476782B2
A wave energy converter (WEC) includes a float and a spar for guiding the up and down movement of the float in response to the waves. A power take off (PTO) device coupled between the float and the spar and mounted within one of the float and spar such that the PTO includes apparatus responsive to the mechanical interaction of the float with the portion of the spar in proximity to the float for converting their relative motion into useful energy. In one embodiment the PTO includes a linear rack extending along an external portion of the spar and a linear to rotary converter, mounted within the float, including a double sided toothed belt for engaging the rack and causing rotation of the rotary converter to drive an electric generator. In another embodiment the PTO includes tires mounted within the float which rotate as the float moves up and down. In another embodiment the PTO includes a rack and pinion arrangement with one of them connected to the spar and the other mounted in the float.
US08476779B2
The present invention refers to a method of reducing torsional oscillations in the power train of a wind turbine in the event of grid loss. According to the method, after the grid loss, a braking torque is applied to the power train during a period of time and said period of time is determined as a function of the torsional resonance frequency of the power train.
US08476770B2
Methods and apparatus for forming through vias in an integrated circuit package are disclosed. An apparatus is disclosed, having a substrate having one or more bond pad terminals for receiving electrical connections on at least one surface; an encapsulation layer covering the at least one surface of the substrate and having a first thickness; a plurality of through vias extending through the encapsulation layer and positioned in correspondence with at least one of the one or more bond pad terminals; conductor material disposed within the plurality of through vias to form electrical connectors within the plurality of through vias; and at least one external terminal disposed on a surface of the encapsulation layer, electrically coupled to one of the one or more bond pad terminals by an electrical connector in at least one of the plurality of through vias. Package arrangements and methods for the through vias are disclosed.
US08476768B2
A system on a chip (SOC) includes a physical interface having first and second sets of interface pads. Interface pads from the first set are interleaved with interface pads from the second set. Additionally, the SOC is arranged for operation with a superset die having first and second personalities and has a physical interface with interface pads. The SOC uses a first number of interface pads in the first personality and a second number of interface pads in the second personality, where the first number is greater than the second number. A switch switches signals between the superset die and the physical interface and, in the second personality, switches signals to the physical interface so that interface pads in the second number of interface pads are interleaved with interface pads not in use in the second personality.
US08476767B2
A stacked layer type semiconductor device includes N memories each including at least one main via and (N−1) sub vias, the N memories being sequentially stacked on one-another so that central axes of the N memories face each other crosswise, and a plurality of connection units electrically connecting the N memories. Here, N is a natural number greater than 1.
US08476765B2
A copper interconnect structure has an intrinsic graphene cap for improving back end of line (BEOL) reliability of the interconnect by reducing time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) failure and providing resistance to electromigration. Carbon atoms are selectively deposited onto a copper layer of the interconnect structure by a deposition process to form a graphene cap. The graphene cap increases the activation energy of the copper, thus allowing for higher current density and improved resistance to electromigration of the copper. By depositing the graphene cap on the copper, the dielectric regions remain free of conductors and, thus, current leakage within the interlayer dielectric regions is reduced, thereby reducing TDDB failure and increasing the lifespan of the interconnect structure. The reduction of TDDB failure and improved resistance to electromigration improves BEOL reliability of the copper interconnect structure.
US08476758B2
The present invention provides a method of fabricating an airgap-containing interconnect structure in which a patternable low-k material replaces the need for utilizing a separate photoresist and a dielectric material. Specifically, this invention relates to a simplified method of fabricating single-damascene and dual-damascene airgap-containing low-k interconnect structures with at least one patternable low-k dielectric and at least one inorganic antireflective coating.
US08476757B2
A monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) flip chip interconnect is formed by coating an active side of the chip with a dielectric coating, such as benzocyclobutene (BCB), that inhibits deposition of metal plating materials. A portion of the dielectric coating is removed to expose bond pads on the active side of the chip, stud bumps are bonded to the bond pads, and the active side is then plated with first and second consecutive metal plating materials, such as nickel and gold, respectively, that do not adhere to the dielectric coating. The chip is then oriented such that the plated stud bumps on the active side of the chip face bond pads on a substrate, and the stud bumps on the chip are bonded to the bond pads on the substrate.
US08476755B2
A high frequency ceramic package includes: a first conductive pattern placed on the top surface of a ceramic RF substrate; a second conductive pattern placed on the bottom surface of the ceramic RF substrate; a through hole for passing through the top surface and bottom surface of the ceramic RF substrate; a through hole metal layer which is filled up in the through hole and which connects the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern; a ceramic seal ring placed on the ceramic RF substrate; an insulating adhesive bond placed on the ceramic seal ring; and a ceramic cap placed on the insulating adhesive bond, wherein the second conductive pattern is used as an external terminal, and between the ceramic cap and the top surfaces of the ceramic seal ring is sealed with the insulating adhesive bond and it is simple for structure and excellent in high frequency characteristics.
US08476740B2
To provide a semiconductor wafer surface protection sheet having good adhesion to irregularities on a patterned surface of a semiconductor wafer and having good peelability after wafer grinding. Specifically, a semiconductor wafer surface protection sheet is provided that includes a base layer having a tensile elasticity at 25° C., E(25), of 1 GPa or more; a resin layer A that satisfies the condition EA(60)/EA(25)<0.1, where EA(25) is a tensile elasticity at 25° C. and EA(60) is a tensile elasticity at 60° C., the EA(60) ranging from 0.005 MPa to 1 MPa; and a resin layer B having a tensile elasticity at 60° C., EB(60), of 1 MPa or more and having a thickness of 0.1 μm to less than 100 μm, the EB(60) being larger than the EA(60) of the resin layer A.
US08476738B2
An electronic component package is described. The electronic component package includes a first electronic component package module mounted on a surface of a packaging layer. A second electronic component package module laminated on a bottom of the first electronic component package module is mounted on a surface of a packaging layer. The first and second electronic component package modules respectively include at least two semiconductor chips laminated. A first redistribution layer is between the first and the second electronic component package modules, electrically connected to the first and the second electronic component package modules. A conductive bump is mounted on a bottom of the second electronic component package module, electrically connected to the second electronic component package module.
US08476727B2
A photodetector is described along with corresponding materials, systems, and methods. The photodetector comprises an integrated circuit and at least two optically sensitive layers. A first optically sensitive layer is over at least a portion of the integrated circuit, and a second optically sensitive layer is over the first optically sensitive layer. Each optically sensitive layer is interposed between two electrodes. The two electrodes include a respective first electrode and a respective second electrode. The integrated circuit selectively applies a bias to the electrodes and reads signals from the optically sensitive layers. The signal is related to the number of photons received by the respective optically sensitive layer.
US08476719B2
Oxygen is released from the insulating layer, whereby oxygen deficiency in the oxide semiconductor layer and an interface state between the insulating layer and the oxide semiconductor layer can be reduced. Accordingly, a semiconductor device where reliability is high and variation in electric characteristics is small can be manufactured.
US08476709B2
An ESD protection device includes an MOS transistor with a source region, drain region and gate region. A node designated for ESD protection is electrically coupled to the drain. A diode is coupled between the gate and source, wherein the diode would be reverse biased if the MOS transistor were in the active operating region.
US08476708B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, memory cell array portion, single-crystal semiconductor layer, and circuit portion. The memory cell array portion is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and includes memory cells. The semiconductor layer is formed on the memory cell array portion, and connected to the semiconductor substrate by being formed in a hole extending through the memory cell array portion.The circuit portion is formed on the semiconductor layer. The Ge concentration in the lower portion of the semiconductor layer is higher than that in the upper portion of the semiconductor layer.
US08476706B1
A delta doping of silicon by carbon is provided on silicon surfaces by depositing a silicon carbon alloy layer on silicon surfaces, which can be horizontal surfaces of a bulk silicon substrate, horizontal surfaces of a top silicon layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, or vertical surfaces of silicon fins. A p-type field effect transistor (PFET) region and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) region can be differentiated by selectively depositing a silicon germanium alloy layer in the PFET region, and not in the NFET region. The silicon germanium alloy layer in the PFET region can overlie or underlie a silicon carbon alloy layer. A common material stack can be employed for gate dielectrics and gate electrodes for a PFET and an NFET. Each channel of the PFET and the NFET includes a silicon carbon alloy layer, and is differentiated by the presence or absence of a silicon germanium layer.
US08476699B2
A method for producing a semiconductor device includes a step of forming a conductor layer and a first semiconductor layer containing a donor impurity or an acceptor impurity on a first semiconductor substrate; a step of forming a second insulating layer so as to cover the first semiconductor layer; a step of thinning the first semiconductor substrate to a predetermined thickness; a step of forming, from the first semiconductor substrate, a pillar-shaped semiconductor having a pillar-shaped structure on the first semiconductor layer; a step of forming a first semiconductor region in the pillar-shaped semiconductor by diffusing the impurity from the first semiconductor layer; and a step of forming a pixel of a solid-state imaging device with the pillar-shaped semiconductor into which the impurity has been diffused.
US08476698B2
A superjunction device and methods for layout design and fabrication of a superjunction device are disclosed. A layout of active cell column structures can be configured so that a charge due to first conductivity type dopants balances out charge due to second conductivity type dopants in a doped layer in an active cell region. A layout of end portions of the active cell column structures proximate termination column structures can be configured so that a charge due to the first conductivity type dopants in the end portions and a charge due to the first conductivity type dopants in the termination column structures balances out charge due to the second conductivity type dopants in a portion of the doped layer between the termination column structures and the end portions.
US08476694B2
A memory cell including a substrate, a stacked gate structure and a first isolation structure is provided. The substrate has a first doped region, a second doped and a channel region located between the first doped region and the second doped region. The stacked gate structure is disposed on the channel and at least includes a charge trapping layer and a gate from bottom to top. The first isolation structure is disposed in the substrate and is connected to the first doped region and extends downwards from the first doped region for a predetermined length, and a bottom of the first isolation structure is lower than a bottom of the first doped region.
US08476686B2
An embodiment relates to a memory cell comprising a programmable resistance memory element electrically coupled to a heterojunction bipolar transistor.
US08476677B2
An aspect of the present invention inheres in a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor region, a source electrode and a drain electrode, which are provided on a main surface of the semiconductor region, a gate electrode exhibiting normally-off characteristics, the gate electrode being provided above the main surface of the semiconductor region while interposing a p-type material film therebetween, and being arranged between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a fourth electrode that is provided on the main surface of the semiconductor region, and is arranged between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.
US08476672B2
The present invention provides an ESD protection device comprising a SCR structure that is a transverse PNPN structure formed by performing a P-type implantation and an N-type implantation in an N-well and a P-well on a silicon substrate, respectively, wherein a P-type doped region in the N-well is used as an anode, and N-type doped region in the P-well is used as a cathode, characterized in that, N-type dopants are implanted into the N-well to form one lead-out terminal of a resistor, P-type dopants are implanted into the P-well to form another lead-out terminal for the resistor, and the two leading-out terminals are connected by the resistor.
US08476671B2
A light emitting device includes a support member, a light emitting structure on the support member, the light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the second conductive type semiconductor layer and the first conductive type semiconductor layer, a first nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the second conductive type semiconductor layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the first nitride semiconductor layer and including an uneven structure, and a first electrode pad disposed on the light emitting structure wherein the second nitride semiconductor layer has an opening, the first electrode pad is in contact with the first nitride semiconductor layer through the opening, and the first nitride semiconductor layer has a work function smaller than that of the second nitride semiconductor layer.
US08476667B2
An optoelectronic component (10) comprising at least one metal body (15) and a layer sequence (17), which is applied on a base body (11) and which is embodied to emit an electromagnetic radiation and to which an insulation (12) is applied on at least one side area, wherein the at least one metal body (15) is applied to at least one region of the insulation (12) and is embodied in such a way that it is in thermally conductive contact with the base body (11).
US08476665B2
The present invention provides a display device. The display device comprises first and second wirings, first and second transistors, an insulating film over the first and second transistors, a first electrode over the insulating film, a light emitting layer over the first electrode, and a second electrode over the light emitting layer. The gate electrode of the first transistor is formed in a different layer from the first wiring. One of a source electrode and a drain electrode of the first transistor is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the second transistor. The first wiring is parallel to the second wiring.
US08476652B2
A three-dimensional LED structure with vertically displaced active-region includes at least two groups of vertically displaced surfaces on a non-planar substrate. The first group of surfaces are separated from the second group of surfaces by a vertical distance in the growth direction of the LED structure. The first group of surfaces are connected to the second group of surfaces by sidewalls, respectively. The sidewalls can be inclined or vertical and have a sufficient height so that a layer such as an n-type layer, an active-region, or a p-type layer in a first LED structure deposited on the first group of surfaces and a corresponding layer such as an n-type layer, an active-region, or a p-type layer in a second LED structure deposited on the second group of surfaces are separated by the sidewalls. The two groups of surfaces may be vertically displaced from each other in certain areas of an LED chip, while merge into an integral surface in other areas. A method for fabricating the three-dimensional LED structure is also provided.
US08476650B2
A film-covered LED device includes a high thermal conductive substrate, a reflector, a plurality of LED chips, and a fluorescent film. A pair of electrical contacts is respectively disposed on two ends of the high thermal conductive substrate. A thru opening is formed on the reflector, which is disposed on the high thermal conductive substrate. The LED chips are disposed on the high thermal conductive substrate and connected electrically, within the thru opening. The fluorescent film is disposed on the reflector and casted over the LED chips. Thereby, the LEDs illumination is more evenly distributed, in maintaining illumination efficiency uniformity. The yield rate is also enhanced with savings in labor cost.
US08476610B2
A multi-view composite collimator includes a first parallel collimator segment having a plurality of collimator channels oriented at a first slant angle and a second parallel collimator segment adjacent to the first parallel collimator segment having a plurality of collimator channels oriented at a second slant angle different from the first slant angle and a bridging collimating element is provided between the first and second parallel collimator segments, wherein radiation can pass through the bridging collimating element.
US08476607B2
The drawing apparatus includes an optical system housing configured to emit a charged particle beam toward the substrate, a stage configured to hold the substrate and be moved at least in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the optical system housing, a detection device including a detector and a support for supporting the detector such that the detector faces a side surface of the stage, and configured for measuring a position of the stage, and a magnetic shield member provided to the stage and configured to shield an opening of the optical system housing that faces a top surface of the stage from a magnetic field. Here, the magnetic shield member is provided to the stage at a region, in a direction of the axis, other than a region where the detection device is provided.
US08476605B2
A scintillator panel which has achieved enhanced sharpness and sensitivity is disclosed, comprising on a first support a phosphor layer comprising phosphor columnar crystals formed by a process of vapor phase deposition and containing a parent component of cesium iodide (CsI) and an activator of thallium (Tl), and the phosphor layer comprising a first layer of a CsI layer which is in the bottom portion of the phosphor layer and does not contain any activator of thallium, and on the first layer, a second layer of a CsI—Tl layer which contains the activator of thallium and exhibits not more than 32% of a coefficient of variation of concentration of thallium in the direction of thickness.
US08476603B2
A device for analyzing plants, by luminous excitation and fluorescence measurement, can be used on site without preparation of the plants. The device evaluates the content of a compound in the skin or epidermis of a plant. The geometry of the device is characterized by a direction of the excitation light rays and a direction of the fluorescence light rays which are non-collinear with each other. The device includes several sets of emitters of different wavelengths, each including several emitters, and makes it possible to measure a plurality of excitation-fluorescence combinations. A method for evaluating and monitoring the development and maturity of a crop, as well as a method for monitoring and controlling plant treatment are also described.
US08476597B2
When all TFTs are turned on, an electric signal is compared with a first threshold value. If the electric signal is equal to or more than the first threshold value, a first judgment unit judges that X-ray irradiation has been started. A second judgment unit compares second and third threshold values with a first-order differentiation value of an electric signal that is outputted in a state of turning off all the TFTs. If the first-order differentiation value is within or out of a range defined by the second and third threshold values throughout a verification period, the second judgment unit verifies that the judgment of the first judgment unit is correct. When the judgment of the first judgment unit is verified to be correct, the TFTs are kept turned off, and an FPD continuously carries out charge accumulation operation for capturing an X-ray image.
US08476595B2
A gamma ray imager includes a chamber containing a scintillation liquid such as xenon and several mutually optically isolated interaction modules immersed in the scintillation liquid within the chamber. Multiple photodetectors optically coupled to the modules separately detect scintillation light resulting from gamma ray interactions in the modules. Charge readout devices coupled to the modules provide time projection chamber-class detection of ionization charges produced by gamma ray interactions within the modules. A signal processor connected to the multiple photodetectors and charge readout devices analyzes signals produced by gamma ray interactions within the modules and calculates from the signals gamma ray energy and gamma ray angle. The calculations use Compton scattering formula inversion and also use anti-correlation of prompt scintillation light signals from gamma ray interactions and charge signals from gamma ray interactions.
US08476592B2
Provided is a terahertz wave apparatus. The terahertz wave apparatus includes: a wavelength-fixed laser emitting a first laser light having a fixed first wavelength; a wavelength-swept laser emitting a second laser light having a tunable second wavelength; a coupler coupling the first laser light with the second laser light; and a generator converting a mixed light emitted from the coupler into a terahertz wave, wherein a frequency of the terahertz wave is continuously tunable.
US08476590B2
In a thermal imaging camera for acquisition of thermographic images of a measurement object, an electronic evaluation unit is integrated into the thermal imaging camera; it is designed for recognition of corresponding partial regions of the acquired thermographic images, and with it, the acquired images can be assembled into an overall image by overlapping the corresponding partial regions and displayed. The acquisition of the images preferably takes place during the swiveling of the thermal imaging camera over the solid angle region of the desired overall image.
US08476576B2
An optical device includes a light-transmitting medium positioned on a base. The light-transmitting medium defines a waveguide. The optical device also includes a light sensor. The light sensor includes a light-absorbing medium positioned on the base. A portion of the waveguide ends at a facet such that a first portion of a light signal being guided by the wavegide passes through the facet and a second portion of the light signal bypasses the facet and remains in the light-transmitting medium. The light-absorbing medium is positioned on the light-transmitting medium such that the light-transmitting medium is between the light-absorbing medium and the base. Additionally, the light-absorbing medium is positioned on the light-transmitting medium such that the light-absorbing medium receives the first portion of the light signal that passes through the facet. Further, the light-absorbing medium is configured such that the second portion of the light signal is coupled into the light-absorbing medium from the light-transmitting medium.
US08476570B2
A solid-state image pickup device may include: an image pickup unit in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix; a sample-and-hold unit having a switch element and a capacitance element; a frequency conversion unit in which a plurality of stages of inverting circuits are connected, the pixel signal is supplied to the first power supply terminal, and a start signal for starting clock generation and an output signal from the inverting circuit of a predetermined stage are input to one of the inverting circuits; a counting unit that counts the clock output from the frequency conversion unit; and a buffer circuit provided between a first terminal of the capacitance element connected to the switch element and the first power supply terminal, wherein a second terminal of the capacitance element is connected to the second power supply terminal.
US08476569B2
An object is to provide a image projection device which has a small size but can project an image having a high image quality. To achieve the object, in an image projection device, a reflection part which reflects a light flux from a light source is, while being rotated around a first axis by non-resonance driving, rotated by resonance driving around a second axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and thereby the light flux is deflected in a two-dimensional direction. By controlling the rotation of the reflection part, a correction for suppressing an image distortion along one scanning direction on a projection surface, and a correction for keeping substantially constant a scanning speed of the light flux along the other scanning direction on the projection surface, are performed. Here, the relationship of 10°<θ<70° is satisfied, where θ represents an angle of inclination of the light flux, which is projected to the projection surface, toward the other scanning direction relative to a normal line of the projection surface, in a case where the reflection part is in a central position of the rotations around the first and second axes.
US08476563B2
An induction heating cooker includes a switch element and an inductive coil, which is coupled between a power voltage and a first terminal of the switch element. A second terminal of the switch element is coupled to a common voltage. A control circuit for controlling the inducting heating cooker includes first and second comparators and a pulse generator. The first comparator receives voltages of two terminals of the inductive coil and thus outputs a trigger signal. The second comparator receives a reference voltage and a voltage of the first terminal of the switch element, and enables a fading signal when the voltage of the first terminal is higher than the reference voltage. When the trigger signal is enabled, the pulse generator outputs a pulse to control the switch element. When the fading signal is enabled, the pulse generator reduces a pulse width of the pulse.
US08476560B2
A thermal processing furnace comprises: a tubular heat insulation member 4 surrounding a processing vessel 3 for receiving and thermally processing an object to be processed w; a heating resistor 5 helically arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the heat insulation member 4; and a support member 13 disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the heat insulation member 4, the support member 13 supporting the heating resistor 5 such that the heating resistor 5 can be thermally expanded and thermally shrunk. The thermal processing furnace further comprises: a movement prevention member 15 disposed on the heating resistor 5 to be in contact with one side surface of the support member 13 so as to prevent a downward movement of the heating resistor 5.
US08476554B2
A TIG welder and methodologies for providing an output welding current in a welding circuit. The welder has main and background power supplies. The main supply has an SCR network which selectively connects a transformer secondary winding to the welding circuit according to SCR control signals. The background supply is connected to the SCR network, which selectively connects the second power supply to the welding circuit according to the SCR control signals. The SCR network may have first and second SCRs operating according to first and second SCR control signals from a control circuit, where the control circuit is connected to the SCR network and the second power supply and selectively connects the SCR control signals to the SCR network according to the setpoint current value.
US08476553B2
A method of dividing a workpiece includes: forming a pre-machining alteration region in the inside of a region in which no device is formed; detecting the position of the pre-machining alteration region through infrared imaging by imaging means, to thereby recognize a deviation between the pre-machining alteration region and a planned dividing line as machining position correction information; and forming a main machining alteration region by utilizing the machining position correction information, whereby the workpiece can be accurately divided along the planned dividing lines into individual devices.
US08476547B1
A wire electric discharge machine (WEDM) and method of cutting a work piece. The WEDM having a movable support plate for supporting one or more work pieces thereon and for moving one or more work pieces into the proper position for a cutting operation. Process information is recorded and compared to predetermined operating parameters and tolerances to determine deviations therefrom and adjustments are automatically made to the cutting operation to correct such deviations.
US08476546B2
Switch assemblies and electrical distribution devices for making and breaking electrical connections in an electrical circuit are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a switch assembly that includes a pair of electrically conductive jaws attached to a platform. The first jaw is configured to electrically connect to an incoming line of the electrical circuit, whereas the second jaw is configured to electrically connect to an outgoing line. The switch assembly also includes a blade having at least two electrically conductive plates that are attached to and spaced from each other via an electrical insulator. The blade is pivotably coupled to the platform to rotate between a disengaged position, whereat the blade is electrically decoupled from the first and second jaws, and an engaged position, whereat the blade delivers an electrical current from the incoming line through the first and second plates to the outgoing line.
US08476545B2
A piece of material that includes low-Z elements is classified based on photonic emissions detected from the piece of material. Both XRF spectroscopy and OES techniques, for example, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and spark discharge spectroscopy, may be used to classify the piece of material. A stream of pieces of material are moved along a conveying system into a stimulation and detection area. Each piece of material, in turn, is stimulated with a first and second stimulus, of a same or different type, causing the piece of material to emit emissions, for example, photons, which may include at least one of x-ray photons (i.e., x-rays) and optical emissions. These emissions then are detected by one or to more detectors of a same or different type. The piece of materials is then classified, for example, using a combination of hardware, software and/or firmware, based on the detected emissions, and then sorted.
US08476535B2
A multilayered printed wiring board includes a flexible wiring board with wiring layers on both main surfaces thereof; a rigid wiring board with wiring layers on both main surfaces thereof and formed opposite to the flexible wiring board under the condition that an area of the main surface of the rigid wiring board is smaller than an area of the main surface of the flexible wiring board; and an electric/electronic component embedded in the rigid wiring board.
US08476531B2
A flex-rigid wiring board includes a flexible board including a flexible substrate and a conductor pattern formed over the flexible substrate, a non-flexible substrate disposed adjacent to the flexible board, an insulating layer covering the flexible board and the non-flexible substrate and exposing one or more portions of the flexible board, a conductor pattern formed on the insulating layer, and a plating layer connecting the conductor pattern of the flexible board and the conductor pattern on the insulating layer.
US08476527B2
A resin composition is made of a mixture including a crosslinked polyethylene and a non-crosslinked polyethylene. The mixture has a density of 0.960 g/cm3 or more and a melt fracture tension within a range from 20 to 100 mN. A high-frequency co-axial cable includes sequentially: an internal conductor; an internal solid layer; a foamed insulation layer; an external solid layer; an external conductor; and an outer coat. The foamed insulation layer of includes a foam body of the above resin composition.
US08476525B1
An electrical device mounting assembly for recessed mounting of high and low voltage components in order to provide electrical power and low voltage signals to a television or home entertainment center is provided. Mounting surfaces are provided within the mounting assembly to recess electrical components therein and behind the wall surface. The assembly includes a mounting frame for receipt of mounting devices such as high voltage boxes and low voltage mounting plates. The mounting devices are secured at an angle with respect to the mounting frame, thereby minimizing the depth of the mounting frame while providing sufficient space for recessing plug ends of electrical cords and terminal ends of signal cables within the wall. The electrical device mounting assembly provides a recessed area on a wall for mounting all the various electrical and signal hookups for a television or home entertainment system.
US08476520B2
A sound generation control apparatus displays in a loop region a music data image corresponding to music data to be generated as time progresses, such that progression of the music data corresponds to a lengthwise position of the loop region. The sound generation control apparatus outputs time information indicating the time that progresses from a start of generation of music sound. The sound generation control apparatus controls the generation of the music sound based on the music data according to a relationship between a lengthwise position of the loop region and a displayed location of the music data image in the loop region. The sound generation control apparatus displays a plurality of the music data images in the loop region, and simultaneously generates a plurality of music sounds corresponding to the plurality of the music data images as the time progresses.
US08476515B2
A high hat cymbal has a magnetic clutch that engages the top cymbal and allows it to be controlled by a standard high hat foot pedal. When the drummer's foot is removed from the high hat foot pedal, the magnetic clutch strikes a mechanical arm, which causes the magnetic clutch to disengage without any action, required on the part of the drummer. The top cymbal can be re-engaged by the magnetic clutch so that the high hat foot pedal can now be operated again, simply by depressing the high hat foot pedal. A trip bar may be provided to provide for automatic disengagement of the clutch mechanism.
US08476514B2
The present invention is a percussion device to be utilized with a percussion tool, such as a drum stick. The percussion device comprises a support structure and a percussion accessory. The device provides for creating musical sounds in addition to the sounds created by the percussion tool.
US08476505B1
An inbred corn line, designated SSH88, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line SSH88, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line SSH88 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line SSH88 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line SSH88, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line SSH88 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US08476495B2
A lettuce cultivar, designated Bolsachica, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar Bolsachica, to the plants of lettuce cultivar Bolsachica and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar Bolsachica with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Bolsachica, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Bolsachica and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar Bolsachica with another lettuce cultivar.
US08476488B1
A novel maize variety designated X85B697 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X85B697 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X85B697 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X85B697, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X85B697. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X85B697.
US08476474B2
Disclosed are asymmetric styryl derivatives and an organic light emitting diode prepared using the same. More particularly, there are provided asymmetric styryl derivatives that can provide a blue organic light emitting diode with superior thermal stability, as well as improved luminous efficiency, improved brightness, and extended lifetime, by synthesizing a novel thermally stable compound with a styryl structure represented by Formula 1, and using the compound as a dopant in an organic light emitting layer (EML) of a multilayered organic light emitting diode, and an organic light emitting diode prepared by the same.
US08476473B2
A compounds represented by the Formula (I) or the Formula (I′). wherein Z1 and Z2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1 to C12 alkyl group or a C3 to C12 cyclic saturated hydrocarbon group, provided that at least one of Z1 and Z2 represent a C1 to C12 alkyl group or a C3 to C12 cyclic saturated hydrocarbon group; rings Y1 and Y2 independently represents an optionally substituted C3 to C20 alicyclic hydrocarbon group; Q1 to Q4 and Q′1 to Q′4 independently represent a fluorine atom or a C1 to C6 perfluoroalkyl group; and m and n independently represent an integer of 0 to 5.
US08476467B2
An organometallic precursor is provided. The precursor corresponds in structure to Formula I: Cp(R)nM(CO)2(X) (Formula I) wherein: M is Ru, Fe or Os; R is C1-C10-alkyl; X is C1-C10-alkyl; and n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. The precursors are useful in chemical phase deposition processes, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
US08476464B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide processes, columns, and systems for removing acetaldehyde from alkylene oxide in a feed stream and for providing an alkylene oxide-water stream that can be directly transferred to a glycol reaction process. The alkylene oxide purification column includes a first section to convert a feed stream into a gas phase portion and a liquid phase portion and a second section located in the column above the first section to separate alkylene oxide from the acetaldehyde, water, and other impurities that enter the second section from the first section.
US08476463B2
Processes for decreasing fumaric acid deposits in preparing maleic anhydride by heterogeneously catalyzed oxidation of a hydrocarbon with molecular oxygen. Maleic anhydride is absorbed from the crude mixture in an absorbent in an absorption column and desorbed in a desorption column, the entirety or portion of absorbent depleted in maleic anhydride, for controlled precipitation of fumaric acid, being cooled and/or concentrated by evaporating a portion of absorbent such that the difference between the concentration of fumaric acid in the recycle stream at the outlet of the desorption column under existing conditions and the equilibrium concentration of fumaric acid according to the solubility curve after cooling and/or evaporation of a portion of absorbent is ≧250 ppm by weight, and the fumaric acid precipitated as a solid is removed completely or partly from the absorbent recycling system and the fumaric acid-depleted absorbent is recycled completely or partly to the absorption column.
US08476452B2
Sodium sulfide hydrate is at least partially dehydrated by heating with N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone. 2-chlorobenzamide is added to the mixture which is heated further. The mixture is cooled and treated with aqueous hydrogen peroxide to give the sodium salt of 1,2-benzoisothiazoline-3-one in good yield. Acidification if desired gives rise to the free 1,2-benzoisothiazoline-3-one.
US08476450B2
A method to detect the presence or amount of at least one molecule in a sample which employs a derivative of luciferin or a derivative of a fluorophore is provided. Compounds and compositions for carrying out the methods of the invention are also provided.
US08476445B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing piperidine derivative compounds of the formulae: wherein n is 0 or 1; R1 is hydrogen or hydroxy; R2 is hydrogen; or, when n is 0, R1 and R2 taken together form a second bond between the carbon atoms bearing R1 and R2, provided that when n is 1, R1 and R2 are each hydrogen; R3 is —COOH or —COOR4; R4 is an alkyl or aryl moiety; A, B, and D are the substituents of their rings, each of which may be different or the same, and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogens, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, and other substituents, The process comprises providing a regiosomer of the following formula: wherein Z is —CG1G2G3, m is an integer from 1 to 6; Q and Y are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of O, S, and NR5; G1, G2, and G3 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of OR8, SR8, and NR8R9; R6 and R7 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl moiety, an aryl moiety, OR8, SR8, and NR8R9; and R5, R8, and R9 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl moiety, and an aryl moiety and converting the regioisomer to the piperidine derivative compound with a piperidine compound.
US08476435B2
A fluorine-containing polyether carboxylic acid amide represented by the general formula: CnF2n+1O(C3F6O)mRfCONHAr, wherein Rf is a fluorocarbon group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms, Ar is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, n is an integer of 1 to 3, and m is an integer of 10 to 30, is produced by reacting a fluorine-containing polyether carboxylic acid fluoride represented by the general formula: CnF2n+1(C3F6O)mRfCOF, wherein Rf, n, and m are as defined above, with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic amine compound represented by the general formula: ArNH2, wherein Ar is as defined above; wherein the reaction is carried out while a reaction temperature is first increased to 80 to 100° C., and then increased at a temperature increase rate that produces a temperature difference of 3 to 5° C. after 48 hours.
US08476417B2
Provided herein are isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments from the from the p15 region of chromosome 11 encoding human and tumor suppressing subtransferable candidate 4 (TSSC4) and methods of use.
US08476415B2
The present invention provides a method for rapid solution capture purification of nucleic acids for subsequent analysis by electrospray mass spectrometry which is efficient and cost-effective relative to existing methods. The present invention also provides kits useful for practicing rapid solution capture of nucleic acids so that purified samples are in condition for analysis by electrospray mass spectrometry.
US08476403B2
The present invention provides a cross linked polyolefin thermoset material, comprising maleic anhydride functionalized reactive polyolefin wax cross linked with a polyamine. The thermoset may be made by a method involving reaction of a maleic anhydride functionalized reactive polyolefin wax with a polyamine. The polyolefin may be polyethylene, polypropylene and their copolymers. The polyamine is a primary or secondary alkyl polyamines, alkyl ether polyamines, aryl polyamines. Polyols may be used instead of polyamines, for example alkyl polyols, alkyl ether polyols or aryl polyols.
US08476398B2
Fluorocarbon- and urethane-(meth)acryl-containing additives and hardcoats. The hardcoats are particularly useful as a surface layer on an optical device.
US08476396B2
A composition that includes isocyanate group containing compounds that include on average i) a NCO functionality less than or equal to 3.5; and ii) from 1.5 to 8 percent by weight, based on the isocyanate containing compound, of allophanate groups; and which is substantially free of uretdione groups. The composition can be used in two component elastomeric coating compositions that include a component A the above-described composition and a component B that includes a compound containing one or more functional groups that are reactive with isocyanate groups. The elastomeric coating compositions can be used to coat substrates.
US08476388B2
Polymers useful as catalysts in non-enzymatic saccharification processes are provided. Provided are also methods for hydrolyzing cellulosic materials into monosaccharides and/or oligosaccharides using these polymeric acid catalysts.
US08476381B2
The present invention has its object to produce a highly reactive crystalline polyoxyalkylene polyol with a very high isotacticity at low cost, and provide polyurethane resins, and polyester resins which are excellent in sharp meltability. The present invention relates to a method for producing a crystalline polyoxyalkylene polyol having a number average molecular weight of 500 to 20,000 including performing ring-opening polymerization of an alkylene oxide (a) in the presence of a salen complex (B), the crystalline polyoxyalkylene polyol (A), and a polyurethane resin and a polyester resin produced by the crystalline polyoxyalkylene polyol (A).
US08476379B2
There is disclosed a silphenylene skeleton-containing silicone type polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (1) and having a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 40,000. There can be a novel silphenylene skeleton-containing silicone type polymer which enables to satisfy both chemical resistance and adhesiveness to a substrate and can be used as a material for a thermosetting resin for forming coatings for protecting substrates, circuits, and interconnections; and a method for manufacturing the same.
US08476376B2
The invention relates to heat-curing powder-lacquer compositions exhibiting a matte surface after curing of the coating, as well as to a simple method for production of the same.
US08476373B2
New branched or star-branched styrene polymeric, telomeric, and monomeric product distributions, their preparation, their use as raw materials for bromination to produce flame retardants, the flame retardants themselves, and their use as flame retardants in various polymeric substrates are described.
US08476366B2
Embodiments of the invention provide block composites and their use in thermoplastic vulcanizate compounds.
US08476356B2
A (per)fluoroelastomeric composition curable by peroxidic way comprising for 100 phr of (per)fluoroelastomer: as filler, from 2 to 70 phr of carbon black having a surface area between 25 and 35 m2/g; as crosslinking agent, from 0.5 to 10 phr of a bis-olefin having general formula: wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, equal to or different from each other, are H or C1-C5 alkyls; Z is selected between a linear or branched C1-C18 alkylene or cycloalkylene radical, optionally containing oxygen atoms, preferably at least partially fluorinated, or a (per)fluoropolyoxyalkylene radical.
US08476353B2
Provided are an amorphous polyamide resin composition having high transparency, and is excellent in heat resistance and stiffness, and a molded product thereof. The glass filler contains, expressed in terms of oxides by mass %, 68 to 74% of silicon dioxide (SiO2), 2 to 5% of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), 2 to 5% of boron oxide (B2O3), 2 to 10% of calcium oxide (CaO), 0 to 5% of zinc oxide (ZnO), 0 to 5% of strontium oxide (SrO), 0 to 1% of barium oxide (BaO), 1 to 5% of magnesium oxide (MgO), 0 to 5% of lithium oxide (Li2O), 5 to 12% of sodium oxide (Na2O), and 0 to 10% of potassium oxide (K2O), where a total amount of lithium oxide (Li2O), sodium oxide (Na2O), and potassium oxide (K2O) is 8 to 12%.
US08476352B2
An elastomeric compositions having improved impermeability is disclosed. The cured elastomeric composition may comprise at least one C4-C7 monoolefin elastomer, a hydrocarbon polymer additive, and a clay. In some embodiments, the cured elastomeric composition has a permeation coefficient at 40° C. of 90 cc*mm/(m2-day) or less. In some embodiments, the elastomeric composition is substantially free of naphthenic oil.
US08476348B2
Provided is a protein-free natural rubber for which the risk of inducing allergic reactions is extremely low. Also provided are a latex of said rubber and a method for efficiently manufacturing said rubber and latex. In the provided manufacturing method, a urea compound, a surfactant, and a polar organic solvent are added to a natural rubber latex, and the proteins in said latex are denatured and then removed. This results in a protein-free rubber latex having a nitrogen content of at most 0.001% as measured by an RRIM test. Also, the amount of protein in a solid rubber obtained by drying the provided natural rubber latex is at most 0.5 μg/g as measured by an improved Lowry method.
US08476347B1
A resin compound includes a reaction product of (A) polymer which is at least selected from aliphatic polyester and aliphatic polyamide and (B) an aromatic compound with a compositional ratio from 0.1 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of (A) and represented by the following Formula (1): wherein each of R1, R2, and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms; each of R4, R5, R6, and R7 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms; each dm and n independently represents an integer from 0 to 3; and each of p and q represents an integer from 0 to 4.
US08476346B2
A resist pattern thickening material containing a resin, a cyclic compound expressed by the general formula 1, at least one of compounds expressed by the general formulae 2 to 3, respectively, and water:
US08476342B2
A rubber composition has a base rubber, a filler which is a protein, including soy protein, derived from byproducts resulting from the manufacture of biodiesel fuel and a coupling agent.
US08476336B2
The invention relates to an ophthalmologic composition including a dye of the general formula I in which R1=substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical, R2=substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical with at least one polymerizable double bond, R3═H or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical, R4═H, electron-withdrawing substituent or substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical and X═O, S, NH or NR5, wherein R5 is a substituted and/or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical. Moreover, the invention relates to another ophthalmologic composition and an ophthalmologic lens.
US08476333B2
The present invention relates to a photocurable composition which exhibits excellent adhesiveness not only to thermoplastic resins such as PET and polyimide but also to adherends of metal oxides such as IZO and metals such as gold, more particularly to a photocurable composition which comprises a urethane oligomer (A) having two or more allyl ether and/or vinyl ether groups and a polythiol (B) having two or more thiol groups.
US08476326B2
A method for generating a thermoplastic foam from an aqueous dispersion, the aqueous dispersion comprising a thermoplastic resin, water, and a dispersion stabilizing agent, the method including: adding at least one froth stabilizing surfactant to the aqueous dispersion to form a mixture; adding a fiber to the mixture; and frothing the mixture to create a froth, removing at least a portion of the water in the froth to create a foam, wherein the foam generated has a non-cellular fibrillated morphology. In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a foam having a thermoplastic-based, fibrillated, non-cellular structure, wherein the foam has an average density of about 0.02 g/cm3 to about 0.07 g/cm3. In certain embodiments, the foam may be used in an absorbent article.
US08476311B2
New pharmaceutical compositions extracted from Ferula assa-foetida are confirmed to effectively treat influenza A (H1N1) virus. The extraction method of the new pharmaceutical compositions mainly includes steps of (a) extracting F. assa-foetida with methanol to obtain a crude extract; (b) fractioning the crude extract with n-hexane-methanol to obtain a methanol extract; (c) fractioning the methanol extract with chloroform-water to obtain a chloroform extract; and (d) chromatographing the chloroform extract to obtain the pharmaceutical compositions, which can be further fractioned and chromatographed to obtain various sesquiterpene coumarins.
US08476309B2
Furanopyridine cannabinoid analog compounds of the formula I are disclosed. The compounds are useful to modify the activity of CB1 and CB2 receptors and treat conditions mediated by these receptors.
US08476308B2
GPR120 agonists are provided. These compounds are useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases, including Type II diabetes and diseases associated with poor glycemic control.
US08476303B2
The compounds herein disclosed are N-aminopyrrolylmethyltetrahydropyridine analogs that have modifications on the phenyl rings by introducing groups with various electronic properties. These derivatives of N-aminopyrrolylmethyltetrahydropyridines have been shown to have anti-proliferative activity against cells. In particular, the compounds have been found to be effective in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells, such as cancer cells that originated in breast tissue. Additionally, it has been shown that the novel compounds have IC50 values against the breast cancer cells that are 6-10-fold less than the IC50 of tamoxifen.
US08476302B2
The present invention is directed to α-ketoamide derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by endothelial lipase, for example, cardiovascular disorders.
US08476294B2
The invention relates to the use of 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolinone derivatives and salts thereof in the treatment of protein and/or lipid kinase dependent diseases and for the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations for the treatment of said diseases; 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolinone derivatives for use in the treatment of protein and/or lipid kinase dependent diseases; a method of treatment against said diseases, comprising administering the 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolinone derivatives to a warm-blooded animal, especially a human; pharmaceutical preparations comprising an 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolinone derivative, especially for the treatment of a protein and/or lipid kinase dependent disease; novel 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolinone derivatives; and a process for the preparation of the novel 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolinone derivatives.
US08476290B2
A compound represented by formula (I): a salt thereof, an N-oxide thereof, or a solvate thereof (symbols in the formula are as described in the specification). The compounds of the present invention exhibit very low risk of side effects and also have persistent and strong antagonistic activity against CXCR4, and are therefore useful as pharmaceuticals, for example, as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for inflammatory and immune diseases, infections (for example, HIV infection), diseases associated with HIV infection (for example, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)), cancer, cancer metastasis, psychoneurotic diseases and cardiovascular diseases (for example, retinopathy), metabolic diseases, cancerous diseases, or as an agent for regeneration therapy.
US08476285B2
The invention relates to compounds of Formulae I-III: and therapeutic uses thereof, wherein A is chosen from a substituted or unsubstituted aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclic, or carbocyclic group; B is chosen from a substituted or unsubstituted piperidine, homopiperidine, piperazine, pyrrolidine or azetidine group; R1 is chosen from hydro, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, amino, or halo; and L1, L2, are as defined herein.
US08476283B2
Novel compounds are provided which are GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulators. GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulators are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases requiring GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulator therapy. These novel compounds have the structure: or stereoisomers or prodrugs or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein n2, n3, n4, A, B, D, E, G, J, Y, R1 and R2 are defined herein.
US08476280B2
Compositions and methods for treatment of a urinary tract dysfunction by administering to a subject in need of such treatment a pharmaceutical composition including a delta opioid receptor agonist in an amount effective to reduce the effects of the urinary tract dysfunction. The compositions may further include an additional active agent that is used to treat urinary tract dysfunctions, e.g., alpha-adrenergic agonists, anticholinergics, alpha-adrenergic antagonists and tricyclic antidepressants.
US08476277B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula IA and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, compositions comprising an effective amount of a compound of formula IA or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, and methods for treating or preventing a condition such as pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD and IBS, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula IA or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
US08476274B2
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides a novel class of biaryl spiroaminooxazoline analogues as modulators of α2C adrenergic receptor agonists, methods of preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more such compounds, methods of preparing pharmaceutical formulations comprising one or more such compounds, and methods of treatment, prevention, inhibition, or amelioration of one or more conditions associated with the α2C adrenergic receptors using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions.
US08476271B2
Compounds of Formula (I): where R1, R2, R5, a, and b are disclosed herein, and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof (a “Substituted-Quinoxaline-Type Bridged-Piperidine Compound”), compositions comprising an effective amount of a Substituted-Quinoxaline-Type Bridged-Piperidine Compound, and methods to treat or prevent a condition, such as pain, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Substituted-Quinoxaline-Type Bridged-Piperidine Compound.
US08476270B2
The present invention relates to novel dihydropyrido[4,3 -b]pyrazin-3(4H)-ones of the general formula: useful as modulators of toll-like receptors, and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US08476255B2
Provided herein are novel, stilbene like compounds of the general formula (I), their derivatives, analogs, tautomeric forms, stereoisomers, polymorphs, hydrates, metabolites, prodrugs, solvates, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and compositions thereof. These compounds can inhibit HDACs and are useful as a therapeutic or ameliorating agent for diseases that are involved in cellular growth such as malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases, skin diseases, infections, inflammation, etc.
US08476248B2
The present invention provides products having resveratrol with high water solubility and nutraceutical and/or phytotherapic compositions having said substances. The processes for obtaining them include the solubility increase of the polyphenol corresponding to a resveratrol compound, preferably trans-resveratrol in water, by its complexation with cyclodextrin under specific conditions that favor thermodynamic equilibrium. The products of the invention present high solubility and purity in aqueous medium, being, therefore, useful to prepare nutraceutical compositions (pharmaceutical and/or alimentary) with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antidiabetics, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, chemoprotective activities; besides protecting against infections and ischemia, reducing obesity, and preventing aging. Phytotherapic compositions useful to the same therapeutical activities, prepared from the complex of resveratrol and cyclodextrin compound, preferably beta-cyclodextrin/trans-resveratrol, are also provided.
US08476244B2
A method of producing a recombinant biological product, which method employs a mammalian producer cell culture, comprises the steps of generating a biomass of mammalian producer during an initial phase of cell culture, and causing an increase in a level of one or more of the miRNA molecules of Table 1 within the mammalian producer cells once a desired concentration of mammalian producer cells has been achieved. The method may also comprise the step of increasing a level of an inhibitor of one or more of the miRNA molecules of Table 1 within the mammalian producer cells at the start of or during an initial phase of culture.
US08476240B2
The present disclosure relates to amyloid beta (Aβ) channels and the diseases and disorders caused by abnormal activity in these channels, such as Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, inclusion body myositis, or cerebral amyloid angiopathy. The disclosure provides compositions and methods that block Aβ channel activity and/or reduce Aβ-induced toxicity in a cell. Compositions comprised of compounds having histidine coordinating capacity are used in methods to prevent, reduce, or eliminate damage caused by Aβ ion channels.
US08476234B2
Polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding same comprising at least one carboxy-terminal peptide (CTP) of chorionic gonadotrophin attached to a carboxy terminus of a coagulation factor and not to an amino terminus are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the polypeptides and polynucleotides of the invention and methods of using same are also disclosed.
US08476231B2
Novel products comprising conditioned cell culture medium compositions and methods of use are described. The conditioned cell medium compositions of the invention may be comprised of any known defined or undefined medium and may be conditioned using any eukaryotic cell type. Once the cell medium of the invention is conditioned, it may be used in any state. Physical embodiments of the conditioned medium include, but are not limited to, liquid or solid, frozen, lyophilized or dried into a powder. Additionally, the medium is formulated with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as a vehicle for internal administration, applied directly to a food item or product, or formulated with a salve or ointment for topical applications. Also, the medium may be further processed to concentrate or reduce one or more factors or components contained within the medium.
US08476222B2
The disclosure relates to a compound of the formula (I) wherein R1 is H, C(O)—(C1-C6)alkyl or C(O)—O—(C1-C6)alkyl; R2 is OH, NH2, NH—(C1-C6)alkyl, NH—(C1-C4)alkylene-phenyl or NH—(C1-C4)alkylene-pyridyl; R3 and R4 are independently of each other H or OH, or R3 and R4 together are ═O; and m and n are independently of one another 0, 1 or 2; in any stereochemical form, or a mixture of any stereochemical forms in any ratio, or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, obtainable from Actinomadura namibiensis (DSM 6313), and its use for the treatment of bacterial infections, viral infections and/or pain, and pharmaceutical composition comprising it.
US08476220B2
A process for treating fibroses including administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition which includes at least one biocompatible polymer of the following general formula (I): AaXxYy wherein: A represents a monomer selected from the group consisting of a sugar or —(O—CH2—CH2—CO)—, X represents a carboxyl group bonded to monomer A and is contained within a group according to the following formula: —R—COO—R′, in which R is a bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, optionally branched and/or unsaturated, and which can contain one or more aromatic rings except for benzylamine and benzylamine sulfonate, and R′ represents a hydrogen atom or a cation, Y represents a sulfate or sulfonate group bonded to monomer A and is contained within a group according to one of the following formulas: —R—O—SO3—R′, —R—N—SO3—R′, —R—SO3—R′, in which R is a bond or an aliphatic hydrocarbon chain, optionally branched and/or unsaturated, and which can contain one or more aromatic rings except for benzylamine and benzylamine sulfonate, and R′ represents a hydrogen atom or a cation, a represents the number of monomers A such that the mass of the polymers of formula (I) is greater than approximately 5,000 da, x represents a substitution rate of the monomers A by the groups X, which is between approximately 20 and 150%, and y represents a substitution rate of the monomers A by the groups Y, which is between approximately 30 and 150%.
US08476216B2
This invention relates to non-bleeding and controlled color-releasing speckles for use in granular laundry detergents and other consumer products. The speckles are comprised of a salt or salt-containing carrier, a coloring agent, and a water-insoluble (or minimally water-soluble) salt coating.
US08476211B2
The present invention relates to personal care compositions, especially those personal care compositions in the form of a personal care article that is a porous dissolvable solid substrate. The porous dissolvable solid substrate has a surface resident coating comprising the starch perfume complex that can provide a consumer benefit.
US08476210B2
A composition of compressor working fluid including a dissolved gas or a condensate from a dissolved gas, and a base fluid including at least a first base stock and a second base stock, wherein the viscosity difference between the first base stock and the second base stock is greater than 125 cSt, Kv 100° C. A composition of compressor working fluid including a dissolved gas or a condensate from a dissolved gas, and a base fluid including a first base stock and a second base stock, wherein the viscosity difference between the first and second base stock is greater than 40 cSt, Kv 100° C., and wherein the first and second base stocks are each polyglycol or polyalkylene glycol base derived from propylene oxide. A method of achieving favorable viscosity index for a compressor working fluid. A method of reducing dilution from gas being compressed for a compressor working fluid.
US08476200B2
The present invention relates to the use of gene expression profiles obtained in vitro from patient samples for differentiating between the non-infectious and infectious causes of multiple organ failure. The invention also relates to a method for measuring gene expression profiles in vitro and the use of said gene expression profiles and/or of the probes used therein for screening active substances against the non-infectious and/or infectious causes of multiple organ failure.
US08476195B2
There is a need for a selective, low-risk herbicide that can be used to control weeds in cereal cultures and turf. The present invention discloses that a bacterial secondary metabolite, thaxtomin and optionally another herbicide is an effective herbicide on broadleaved, sedge and grass weeds. Thaxtomin A and structurally similar compounds can be used as natural herbicides to control the germination and growth of weeds in cereal, turf grass, Timothy grass and pasture grass cultures with no phytotoxicity to these crops. As a natural, non-toxic compound, thaxtomin can be used as a safe alternative for weed control in both conventional and organic farming and gardening systems.
US08476194B2
The present invention relates to the use of hydrazone compounds and copper for controlling the growth of fungi.
US08476192B2
An aqueous seed treatment insecticidal and/or nematicidal composition in the form of a suspension comprising (A) at least one insecticide and/or nematicide in an amount of at least 3 weight %, based on the total weight of the composition, and (B) at least two surface active compounds, wherein (i) at least one is an anionic phosphate type compound, and (ii) at least one is a non-ionic alkoxylated phenol. Such compositions demonstrate improved dust-off performance when applied to plant propagation material, such as seeds.
US08476188B2
A renewable adsorbent enabling to adsorb cesium selectively and efficiently, and to reuse cesium by eluting adsorbed cesium, and its manufacturing method are provided. Polyethylene (PE)/polypropylene (PP) based non-woven fabric may be exposed with electron beam, PE/PP based non-woven fabric to which electron beam was exposed is contacted to the monomer solution containing acrylonitrile (AN), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Tween80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate) as a surfactant, and AMP (ammonium molybdophosphate n-hydrate) as an inorganic ion exchanger, and then the inorganic ion exchanger (AMP) is supported directly by the non-ionic graft chain.
US08476187B2
The present invention details a process for producing a catalyst powder. The steps of the process include preparing catalyst slurry, drying, pyrolyzing, and calcining the catalyst slurry to obtain a calcined catalyst powder. The catalyst slurry comprises a catalyst, a liquid carrier, a templating agent, and a catalyst substrate. The catalyst slurry is dried to obtain a raw catalyst powder. The raw catalyst powder is heated in a first controlled atmosphere to obtain a pyrolyzed catalyst powder and the pyrolyzed catalyst powder is calcined in a second controlled atmosphere to obtain a calcined catalyst powder. A method of fabricating a catalyst surface and catalytic converter using the prepared catalyst powder is also illustrated.
US08476179B2
A grain boundary-insulated semiconductor ceramic contains a SrTiO3-based compound as a main component, and a diffusing agent containing a grain boundary insulating agent and a glass component. The grain boundary insulating agent is composed of a material free of lead, the glass component mainly contains a SiO2—X2O-MO—TiO2-based glass material that does not contain boron or lead and in which X represents an alkali metal, and M represents at least one of barium, strontium, and calcium, and the content of the glass component is 3 to 15 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the grain boundary insulating agent. A component base is composed of the grain boundary-insulated semiconductor ceramic.
US08476176B2
A fluorophosphate glass having a fluorine content of 25% or more by anionic %, which is produced from a glass raw material containing 0.1 to 0.5%, by anionic %, of a halide containing a halogen element selected from chlorine, bromine or iodine, and a phosphate glass having a fluorine content of less than 25% by anionic %, which is produced from a glass raw material containing 0.1 to 5%, by anionic %, of a halide containing a halogen element selected from chlorine, bromine or iodine.
US08476171B2
The present invention is to provide a heat treatment method for effectively eliminating Te deposits in a ZnTe single crystal substrate, and a ZnTe single crystal substrate having an optical characteristic suitable for use of a light modulation element and having a thickness of 1 mm or more. A heat treatment method of a ZnTe single crystal substrate, includes: a first step of increasing a temperature the ZnTe single crystal substrate to a first heat treatment temperature T1, and retaining the temperature of the substrate for a predetermined time; and a second step of gradually reducing the temperature of the substrate from the first heat treatment temperature T1 to a second heat treatment temperature T2 lower than the heat treatment temperature T1 with a predetermined rate, wherein the first heat treatment temperature T1 is set in a range of 700° C.≦T1≦1250° C. and the second heat treatment temperature T2 is set in a range of T2≦T1−50.
US08476170B2
According to one embodiment, a pattern formation method includes, before forming a circuit pattern on a substrate using imprinting, a wall pattern with a predetermined height is formed to surround the periphery of an area serving as imprint shots on the substrate in each imprint shot and to allow the imprint shots to be separated from one another. The circuit pattern is formed in the imprint shots surrounded by the wall pattern through imprinting.
US08476164B1
A method of manufacturing semiconductor device is provided. A substrate at least with a patterned silicon-containing layer on the substrate and spacers adjacent to the patterned silicon-containing layer is provided. A metal layer is formed on the substrate and covers the patterned silicon-containing layer and spacers. Then, a capping layer is formed on the metal layer. A first rapid thermal process is performed to at least make a portion of the metal layer react with the substrate around the spacers to form transitional silicides. The capping layer and the unreacted portions of the metal layer are removed. A first nitride film with a first tensile stress S1 is formed on the substrate. A second rapid thermal process is performed to transfer the transitional silicide to a silicide and transfer the first nitride film to a second nitride film with a second tensile stress S2, wherein S2>S1.
US08476163B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface is on the opposite side of the substrate facing away from the first surface. The method further includes forming a first portion of an opening by etching a portion of the substrate from the first surface, forming a buffer layer on an inner surface of the first portion, etching a bottom of the buffer layer to expose an area of the underlying substrate, and etching the exposed area of the substrate to form a second portion of the opening. The method also includes performing an isotropic etching on the second portion of the opening to obtain a flask-shaped opening and filling the opening with a filling material. The method also includes partially removing a portion of the second surface and the filling material from the second portion of the opening.
US08476158B2
A GaN substrate storage method of storing, within an atmosphere in which the oxygen concentration is not greater than 15 vol. % and the water-vapor concentration is not greater than 20 g/m3, a GaN substrate (1) having a planar first principal face (1m), and whose plane orientation in an arbitrary point (P) along the first principal face (1m) and separated 3 mm or more from the outer edge thereof has an off-inclination angle Δα of −10° or more, 10° or less with respect to the plane orientation of an arbitrarily designated crystalline plane (1a) that is inclined 50° or more, 90° or less with respect to a plane (1c), being either the (0001) plane or the (000 1) plane, through the arbitrary point. In this way a method of storing GaN substrates whose principal-face plane orientation is other than (0001) or (000 1), with which semiconductor devices of favorable properties can be manufactured is made available.
US08476156B1
In a manufacturing method of a flash memory structure with a stress area, a better stress effect can be achieved by controlling the manufacturing process of a tunneling oxide layer formed in a gate structure and contacted with a silicon substrate, so that an L-shaped spacer (or a first stress area) and a contact etch stop layer (or a second stress area) of each L-shaped spacer are formed between two gate structures and aligned towards each other to enhance the carrier mobility of the gate structure, so as to achieve the effects of improving a read current, obtaining the required read current by using a lower read voltage, reducing the possibility of having a stress-induced leakage current, and enhancing the data preservation of the flash memory.
US08476155B1
Provided are a method of forming a dielectric and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a preliminary dielectric including Hf, O and an “A” element on an underlying layer. The preliminary dielectric is formed in an amorphous structure or a mixed structure of an amorphous structure and an “M” crystalline structure. The “A” element about 1 at % to about 5 at % of the total content of the “A” element and Hf in the preliminary dielectric. Through a nitridation process, nitrogen is added to the preliminary dielectric. The nitrogen-containing dielectric is changed into a dielectric having a “T” crystalline structure through a phase transition process, wherein the “T” crystalline structure is different from the “M” crystalline structure. An upper layer is formed on the “T” crystalline dielectric.
US08476153B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method includes: exposing a photoresist coated on the semiconductor substrate using a photomask including a plurality of regions having different light transmittances; developing the photoresist to form a resist pattern including a plurality of regions having different thicknesses that depend on an exposure amount of the photoresist; and implanting impurity ions into the semiconductor substrate through the plurality of regions of the resist pattern having different thicknesses to form a plurality of impurity regions whose depths from a surface of the semiconductor substrate to peak positions are different from each other. The depths to the peak positions depend on the thickness of the resist pattern through which the implanted impurity ions pass.
US08476152B2
A method includes epitaxially growing a germanium (Ge) layer onto a Ge substrate and incorporating a compensating species with a compensating atomic radius into the Ge layer. The method includes implanting an n-type dopant species with a dopant atomic radius into the Ge layer. The method includes selecting the n-type dopant species and the compensating species in such manner that the size of the Ge atomic radius is inbetween the n-type dopant atomic radius and the compensating atomic radius.
US08476145B2
A method to fabricate a semiconductor device, including the sequence of: implanting one or more regions on a semiconductor wafer forming a doped layer; performing a first transfer of the doped layer onto a carrier; and then performing a second transfer of the doped layer from the carrier to a target wafer; and then etching said one or more regions of the doped layer to form transistors on the doped layer.
US08476140B2
A diode and memory device including the diode, where the diode includes a conductive portion and another portion formed of a first material that has characteristics allowing a first decrease in a resistivity of the material upon application of a voltage to the material, thereby allowing current to flow there through, and has further characteristics allowing a second decrease in the resistivity of the first material in response to an increase in temperature of the first material.
US08476139B2
A semiconductor structure which exhibits high device performance and improved short channel effects is provided. In particular, a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOFET) is provided that includes a low dopant concentration within an inversion layer of the structure; the inversion layer is an epitaxial semiconductor layer that is formed atop a portion of the semiconductor substrate. The structure also includes a well region of a first conductivity type beneath the inversion layer, wherein the well region has a central portion and two horizontally abutting end portions. The central portion has a higher concentration of a first conductivity type dopant than the two horizontally abutting end portions.
US08476137B1
Disclosed herein are methods for better variable height control of FinFET patterned fins. In one example, the method includes forming a layer on a substrate, patterning that layer to create trenches, and forming a common stack material in the trenches. Next, a pFET masking material is formed over a portion of the structure, and an nFET channel material is formed in the unmasked trenches. The pFET masking material is removed and an nFET masking material is formed over the portion of the structure that includes the nFET channel material, and a pFET channel material is formed in the unmasked trenches. Next, the unmasked patterned material is made flush with the pFET channel material, thereby creating a difference in height with the masked pattern material. Finally, the nFET masking material is removed and the patterned layer is recessed to expose pFET and nFET channel material fin structures of differing heights.
US08476136B2
In an MIS structure a field plate electrode is incorporated below a buried gate electrode by using an insulating oxide layer, which is formed concurrently with the gate dielectric layer. In order to obtain superior dynamic behavior and enhanced dielectric strength the oxidation behavior of the field plate electrode is modified, for instance by incorporating a desired high concentration of arsenic.
US08476132B2
It is intended to provide a method of producing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate on one side of which at least one semiconductor pillar stands; forming a first dielectric film to at least partially cover a surface of the at least one semiconductor pillar; forming a conductive film on the first dielectric film; removing by etching a portion of the conductive film located on a top surface and along an upper portion of a side surface of the semiconductor pillar; forming a protective film on at least a part of the top surface and the upper portion of the side surface of the semiconductor pillar; etching back the protective film to form a protective film-based sidewall on respective top surfaces of the conductive film and the first dielectric film each located along the side surface of the semiconductor pillar; forming a resist pattern for forming a gate line in such a manner that at least a portion of the resist pattern is formed on the top surface of the semiconductor pillar by applying a resist and using lithography; and partially removing by etching the conductive film using the resist pattern as a mask while protecting, by the protective film-based sidewall, the portions of the conductive film and the first dielectric film each located along the side surface of the semiconductor pillar, to form a gate electrode and a gate line extending from the gate electrode.
US08476129B1
A method and structure for fabricating sensor(s) or electronic device(s) using vertical mounting with interconnections. The method includes providing a resulting device including at least one sensor or electronic device, formed on a die member, having contact region(s) with one or more conductive materials formed thereon. The resulting device can then be singulated within a vicinity of the contact region(s) to form one or more singulated dies, each having a singulated surface region. The singulated die(s) can be coupled to a substrate member, having a first surface region, such that the singulated surface region(s) of the singulated die(s) are coupled to a portion of the first surface region. Interconnections can be formed between the die(s) and the substrate member with conductive adhesives, solder processes, or other conductive bonding processes.
US08476127B2
An integrated circuit containing a dual drift layer extended drain MOS transistor with an upper drift layer contacting a lower drift layer along at least 75 percent of a common length of the two drift layers. An average doping density in the lower drift layer is between 2 and 10 times an average doping density in the upper drift layer. A process of forming an integrated circuit containing a dual drift layer extended drain MOS transistor with a lower drift extension under the body region and an isolation link which electrically isolates the body region, using an epitaxial process. A process of forming an integrated circuit containing a dual drift layer extended drain MOS transistor with a lower drift extension under the body region and an isolation link which electrically isolates the body region, on a monolithic substrate.
US08476125B2
Fabrication methods of a high frequency (sub-micron gate length) operation of AlInGaN/InGaN/GaN MOS-DHFET, and the HFET device resulting from the fabrication methods, are generally disclosed. The method of forming the HFET device generally includes a novel double-recess etching and a pulsed deposition of an ultra-thin, high-quality silicon dioxide layer as the active gate-insulator. The methods of the present invention can be utilized to form any suitable field effect transistor (FET), and are particular suited for forming high electron mobility transistors (HEMT).
US08476123B2
A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor array panel includes forming a gate line; forming an insulating layer on the gate line; forming first and second silicon layers first and second metal layers; forming a photoresist pattern having first and second portions; forming first and second metal patterns by etching the first and second metal layers; processing the first metal pattern with SF6 or SF6/He; forming silicon and semiconductor patterns by etching the second and first silicon layers; removing the first portion of the photoresist pattern; forming an upper layer of a data wire by wet etching the second metal pattern; forming a lower layer of the data wire and an ohmic contact by etching the first metal and amorphous silicon patterns; forming a passivation layer including a contact hole on the upper layer; and forming a pixel electrode on the passivation layer.
US08476112B2
A mechanism is provided for optimizing semiconductor packing in a three-dimensional (3D) very-large-scale integration (VLSI) device. The 3D VLSI device comprises a processor layer coupled, via a first set of coupling devices, to at least one signaling and input/output (I/O) layer. The 3D VLSI device further comprises a power delivery layer coupled, via a second set of coupling devices, to the processor layer. In the 3D VLSI device the power delivery layer is dedicated to only delivering power and does not provide data communication signals to the elements of the three-dimensional VLSI device, and the at least one signaling and input/output (I/O) layer is dedicated to only transmitting the data communication signals to and receiving the data communications signals from the processor layer and does not provide power to the elements of the processor layer.
US08476103B2
Disclosed is a method for forming banks during the fabrication of electronic devices incorporating an organic semiconductor material that includes preparing an aqueous coating composition having at least a water-soluble polymer, a UV curing agent and a water-soluble fluorine compound. This coating composition is applied to a substrate, exposed using UV radiation and then developed using an aqueous developing composition to form the bank pattern. Because the coating composition can be developed using an aqueous composition rather than an organic solvent or solvent system, the method tends to preserve the integrity of other organic structures present on the substrate. Further, the incorporation of the fluorine compound in the aqueous solution provides a degree of control over the contact angles exhibited on the surface of the bank pattern and thereby can avoid or reduce subsequent surface treatments.
US08476093B2
A method of manufacturing a display substrate includes forming a common electrode line, a gate line, a data line and a switching element connected to the gate and data lines on an insulation substrate. A first pixel electrode and an insulation layer are sequentially formed on the insulation substrate. A first photoresist pattern having a first hole and a second hole is formed from a first photoresist layer on the insulation substrate. A first transparent electrode layer is coated on the insulation substrate. A second photoresist layer is coated on the insulation substrate. The second photoresist layer is exposed and developed to form a second photoresist pattern remaining in the first hole and the second hole. The first transparent electrode layer is patterned using the second photoresist pattern, to form a second pixel electrode.
US08476091B2
A light emitting apparatus is fabricated by measuring light output of a semiconductor light emitting device, and selectively applying luminous material to the light emitting device based on the measured output of the light emitting device. An amount of luminous material, different compositions of luminous material and/or different doping levels of luminous material may be selectively applied based on the measured output of the light emitting device.
US08476090B2
A circuit board for a light emitting diode package improved in heat radiation efficiency and a manufacturing method thereof. In a simple manufacturing process, insulating layers are formed by anodizing on a portion of a thermally conductive board body and plated with a conductive material. In the light emitting diode package, a board body is made of a thermally conductive metal. Insulating oxidation layers are formed at a pair of opposing edges of the board body. First conductive patterns are formed on the insulating oxidation layers, respectively. Also, second conductive patterns are formed in contact with the board body at a predetermined distance from the first conductive patterns, respectively. The light emitting diode package ensures heat generated from the light emitting diode to radiate faster and more effectively. Additionally, the insulating layers are formed integral with the board body by anodizing, thus enhancing productivity and durance.
US08476089B2
A method for manufacturing an LED package, comprising steps of: providing a substrate, the substrate forming a plurality of spaced rough areas on a surface thereof, each of the rough areas forming a rough structure thereon, a block layer being provided on a remaining part of the surface of the substrate relative to the rough areas; forming a metal layer on a top surface of each rough structure; forming a reflector on the substrate, the reflector defining a cavity and surrounding two adjacent metal layers; arranging an LED chip in the cavity, the LED chip electrically connecting to the two adjacent metal layers; forming an encapsulation layer in the cavity to seal the LED; and separating the substrate from the metal layers, the encapsulation layer and the reflector.
US08476086B2
Method of high-yield manufacturing superior semiconductor devices includes: a step of preparing a GaN substrate having a ratio St/S—of collective area (St cm2) of inversion domains in, to total area (S cm2) of the principal face of, the GaN substrate—of no more than 0.5, with the density along the (0001) Ga face, being the substrate principal face, of inversion domains whose surface area where the polarity in the [0001] direction is inverted with respect to the principal domain (matrix) is 1 μm2 or more being D cm−2; and a step of growing on the GaN substrate principal face an at least single-lamina semiconductor layer to form semiconductor devices in which the product Sc×D of the area Sc of the device principal faces, and the density D of the inversion domains is made less than 2.3.
US08476078B2
A cassette for preparing a sample is disclosed herein. The cassette includes a housing, which encloses the structures and the processes used to prepare the sample.
US08476071B2
The present invention relates to methods for expanding a stem cell population. More particularly, the invention relates, inter alia, to methods and compositions for expanding a stem cell population, particularly a hematopoietic stem cell population.
US08476070B2
Well-defined, xeno-free culture media which comprise a TGF-beta isoform or the chimera formed between IL6 and the soluble IL6 receptor (IL6RIL6), which are capable of maintaining stem cells, and particularly, human embryonic stem cells, in an undifferentiated state are provided. Also provided are cell cultures comprising the culture media and the stem cells and methods of expanding and deriving embryonic stem cells in such well-defined, xeno-free culture media. In addition, the present invention provides methods of differentiating ESCs or EBs formed therefrom for the generation of lineage specific cells.
US08476068B2
The present specification discloses clonal cell lines susceptible to BoNT/A intoxication, methods of producing such clonal cell lines, and methods of detecting Botulinum toxin serotype A activity using such clonal cell lines.
US08476065B2
The present invention is directed to a device comprising (a) a substrate having a surface and (b) an ordered array of posts over the surface, wherein the posts are capable of binding a protein or small molecule ligand, and wherein the pitch between adjacent posts is less than about 100 nm. The invention is also directed to methods for identifying the presence of an analyte in a fluid and to methods for measuring relative binding specificity or affinity between an analyte in a fluid and the posts, using the device of the present invention.
US08476049B2
The present invention provides methods for producing derivatives from cultured cells. In addition, the present invention provides methods for conversion of prenyl deerivatives, obtained from biological or petrochemical sources, to isoprene by employing chemical or biological catalysts. The present invention also provides compositions that include the cultured cells or isoprene or prenyl derivatives produced there from.
US08476042B2
The present invention provides host cells that have been genetically manipulated to have an enhanced capacity to produce proteins of interest. In particular, the invention relates to modified Bacillus sp. Host cells that have at least one inactivated phr gene. The enhanced production of proteins of interest by the modified Bacillus sp. Host cells is further increased in modified Bacillus sp. Host cells that overexpress YmaH. Methods for producing proteins of interest in the modified host cells are also provided.
US08476041B2
A method is disclosed for restoring a Glu+ phenotype to a PTS−/Glu− bacterial cell which was originally capable of utilizing a phosphotransferase transport system (PTS) for carbohydrate transport. Bacterial cells comprising the Glu+ phenotype have modified endogenous chromosomal regulatory regions which are operably linked to polynucleotides encoding galactose permeases and glucokinases.
US08476036B2
A method to detect the presence or amount of at least one molecule for an enzyme-mediated reaction in a multiplex luminogenic/nonluminogenic assay is provided.
US08476034B2
This invention relates generally to the field of homocysteine detection. In particular, the invention provides a method for determining homocysteine presence or concentration in samples, which method comprises: contacting a sample containing or suspected of containing Hcy with a Hcy co-substrate and a Hcy converting enzyme in a Hcy conversion reaction to form a Hcy conversion product and a Hcy co-substrate conversion product; and assessing the Hcy co-substrate conversion product to determine the presence, absence and/or amount of the Hcy in the sample. The Hcy co-substrate conversion product may be assessed directly, or it may be assessed by further conversion of the Hcy co-substrate conversion product into another material by the action of one or more additional enzymes. A kit for assaying homocysteine based on the same principle is also provided.
US08476028B2
There is provided a method for determining whether a subject has a bacterial infection comprising: identifying an abnormal expression of one or more of CD49e, CD 14, CD11c, CD49f, and CD29 on leucocytes in a sample obtained from the subject; wherein an abnormal expression of CD49e, CD 14, CD11c, CD49f or CD29 is indicative of the subject having a bacterial infection.
US08476027B2
A binding partner, especially an antibody fragment that specifically recognizes an antigen-antibody immune complex between anti-THC and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), is disclosed. The binding partner facilitates a non-competitive homogenous immunoassay for detection of cannabis use. A test kit comprising the binding partner is also described. Preferably the immunoassay is applied for roadside testing of saliva from suspected drivers.
US08476019B2
The invention provides a system of enhancing the expression of transgenes in algae. Transgenes are engineered to have a binding site for certain proteins in proximity to their promoter, for example a LexA binding site. The algae is also engineered to express a nucleosome alteration protein fused to a protein with affinity to the DNA binding site acting in coordination. An example is a LexA-p300 fusion protein, where the p300 is derived from Chlamydomonas. The LexA binding domain guides the p300 to the binding site and the p300 loosens the nucleosome structure by acetylating histones within proximity of the transgene, thus remodeling the local chromatin structure to allow for high-level expression.
US08476017B2
Methods and compositions for diagnosis and/or analysis of a condition in a mammal are disclosed in which RNA from microvesicles is enriched and differentiated to so obtain a result that is indicative of the condition of tissue or organ from which the microvesicle originated. In especially preferred embodiments, the condition is a neoplastic disease of a human and can be identified and staged by differential analysis of one or more distinct RNAs, optionally together with identification and analysis of a non-RNA component of the microvesicle.
US08476009B2
The invention involves the detection of virally infected cells by antibodies or antibody fragments which selectively bind to TSG101. TSG101 is on the surface of mammalian cells, and thus available for detection by antibodies, during viral budding—a phenomenon wherein viral particles escape a virally infected cell after propagation in that cell, so as to infect other cells. To achieve budding, a protein, TSG101 is “hijacked” and misdirected to, or mis-expressed on, the surface of the infected cell. Antibodies can be used to selectively detect such infected cells. Certain TSG101 antibodies may provide therapeutic benefit when administered to infected mammals.
US08476005B2
A method of screening one or more cells is described; the method includes: (i) providing one or more cells to a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) force sensor; (ii) applying at least one reagent to the one or more cells; and (iii) observing a response of the one or more cells to the reagent with the force sensor, thereby screening the one or more cells.
US08476002B2
Some embodiments include methods in which spaced-apart first features are formed from a first material having a reflow temperature. Second material is formed along sidewalls of the first features, and third material is formed over the second material and the first features. The third material may be formed at a temperature above the reflow temperature of the first material, and the second material may support the first features so that the first features do not collapse even though they are exposed to such temperature. In some embodiments the third material has an undulating topography. Fourth material may be formed within the valleys of the undulating topography, and subsequently the first features may be removed together with at least some of the third material to leave a pattern comprising second features formed from the second material and pedestals formed from the fourth material.
US08475992B2
A process for preparing a toner comprising a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the binder resin comprises a polyester resin having an acid value (AV) greater than 5 mg KOH/g, the process comprising: providing an aqueous dispersion of self-dispersed polyester resin particles and associating the polyester resin particles by means of a change in the pH of the dispersion.
US08475986B2
The invention is to provide a toner with a small difference of charging properties and an excellent cleaning property. The toner includes toner particles of cylindrical bodies.
US08475984B1
An image holding member for an image forming apparatus includes a support and a photosensitive layer disposed on the support and containing a compound represented by following formula (I), wherein R1s each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms; Ar's each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon group having two aromatic rings, a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent condensed aromatic hydrocarbon group having two or three aromatic rings, or a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent aromatic heterocyclic group; and n's each independently represent a number of from 0 to 7.
US08475981B2
An image holding member for an image forming apparatus is disclosed which the image holding member includes a support and a photosensitive layer disposed on or above the support, the photosensitive layer including a compound including a partial structure represented by the following Formula (A), wherein Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon group having from 2 to 10 aromatic rings, a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent condensed aromatic hydrocarbon group having from 2 to 10 aromatic rings, or a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent aromatic heterocyclic group; q represents 0 or 1; and Each n each independently represent an integer of from 0 to 7.
US08475975B2
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for recording holographic data in an optical data storage medium is provided. The method includes (i) providing an optical data storage medium including: (a) a thermoplastic polymer matrix, (b) a latent acid generator, (c) a non-linear sensitizer, and (d) a reactant including a latent chromophore. The method further includes (ii) irradiating a volume element of the optical data storage medium with an interference pattern, said interference pattern including an incident radiation having a wavelength and an intensity sufficient to cause upper triplet energy transfer from the non-linear sensitizer to the latent acid generator, thereby generating an acid, wherein the latent acid generator is substantially non-responsive to said incident radiation. The method furthermore includes (iii) reacting at least one protected chromophore with the acid generated to form at least one chromophore, thereby causing a refractive index change within the volume element; and (iv) producing within the irradiated volume element refractive index variations corresponding to the interference pattern, thereby producing an optically readable datum. An optical data storage medium is also provided.
US08475969B2
High power density generators are formed with a flexible multi-layered structure. The structure includes a fuel layer with a separate fuel cell stack adjacent to each side of the fuel layer. The structure can be flexible and formed into a variety of shapes.
US08475965B2
The fuel cell power generation system includes a fuel cell, a reformer, a carbon monoxide decreasing unit, a first raw material supply source, a first valve which is provided to a first raw material flow passage, a second valve which is provided downstream of the carbon monoxide decreasing unit, a second raw material supply source which supplies a raw material to the inside of a flow passage which is closed by the first valve and the second valve from downstream of the carbon monoxide decreasing unit, and a control unit which controls the first valve and the second valve, wherein the control unit, after the first valve and the second valve are closed, supplies the raw material fed from the second raw material supply source to the inside of the flow passage closed by the first valve and the second valve at the time of stopping the system.
US08475959B2
Lithium dopant is introduced into lithium rich high capacity positive electrode active materials as a substitution for manganese within the complex metal oxides. In some embodiments, the lithium doped compositions can be written in a two component notation as x.Li2MnO3.(1−x)LiNiu+ΔMnu−Δ−dLidCowO2, where d ranges from about 0.004 to about 0.25 and 2u+w is approximately equal to 1. The materials are believed to form a layer-layer composite crystal structure that has very good cycling properties at high voltages, although the materials exhibit significant first cycle irreversible capacity loss.
US08475958B2
A nickel hydrogen storage battery is provided which includes an electrode assembly formed by winding spirally a strip-like negative electrode (4) and a strip-like positive electrode with a separator interposed therebetween, the strip-like negative electrode (4) having a mixture layer containing a hydrogen storage alloy disposed on a core material. The electrode assembly is contained in a bottomed cylindrical container such that the negative electrode (4) forms the outermost peripheral portion. A portion corresponding to an outermost peripheral portion (5) of the negative electrode is a thin portion, and the thin portion is bent in advance in the winding direction of the electrode assembly to form an arc shape. In this manner, when the spirally wound electrode assembly is configured, the outermost peripheral portion of the negative electrode is prevented from peeling from the electrode assembly, and thus the insertability into the bottomed cylindrical container is improved.
US08475945B2
A composite article includes a substrate, at least one protective layer on the substrate and an intermediate layer between the at least one protective layer and the substrate. The intermediate layer includes dense silicon oxycarbide.
US08475940B2
According to the invention, there is provided a compound represented by a formula (1) below: wherein X represents a residue derived from an aryl ring or a heteroaryl ring, or a single bond, Ar1 and Ar2 respectively represent a phenyl group or heteroaryl group, Ar3 represents a group having 60 or less carbon atoms, the group represents a structure in which six or less aryl or heteroaryl groups which may have one or more substituents are conjugatedly linked, or the same group as a substituent at the ninth or tenth position on the anthracene ring, and n represents an integer of 0 or 1.
US08475937B2
A silicone composition comprising (A) a hydrolysis product prepared by reacting at least one thiophenyl-substituted silane and a cross-linking agent with water in the presence of an organic solvent to form an organic phase containing the hydrolysis product and an aqueous phase, and separating the organic phase from the aqueous phase, and (B) an organic solvent; and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) containing a hole-transport/hole-injection layer comprising a cured polysiloxane prepared by applying the aforementioned silicone composition to form a film and curing the film.
US08475934B2
The present invention relates to timber materials rendered flame-retardant by using halogen-free organophosphorus compounds, to means and processes for producing these materials, and also to their use.
US08475933B2
The present invention relates to compositions and processes of making and using interpolymers having a controlled molecular weight distribution. Multilayer films and film layers derived from novel ethylene/α-olefin interpolymers are also disclosed.
US08475911B2
A device housing and a manufacturing method for fabricating the device housing are provided. The device housing includes a transparent substrate, a first decorative coating formed on the transparent substrate, a second decorative coating formed on the first decorative coating and the transparent substrate, and a third decorative coating formed on the first decorative coating and the second decorative coating. The first decorative coating has a grid pattern appearance. The second decorative coating is light reflective. The third decorative coating has a color that contrasts against the first decorative coating.
US08475900B2
The invention relates to a container prepared from a PCR HDPE blend comprising PCR HDPE and an effective amount of an impact modifier to provide acceptable ESCR results.
US08475898B2
Resin blends useful for pipe and blow-molded articles are disclosed. The blends comprise a low-molecular-weight, high-density polyethylene and a high-molecular-weight, low-density ethylene copolymer. The high-molecular-weight component is made with a bridged indenoindolyl Group 4 metal complex having open architecture. Blends of the invention uniquely have high molecular weight (Mw>200,000) and low levels of long-chain branching. A quick, convenient approach for estimating levels of long-chain branching in polyethylenes from gel permeation chromatography and dynamic oscillatory rheometry (“viscosity enhancement factor”) is disclosed.
US08475889B2
Disclosed are a liquid-crystalline medium of negative dielectric anisotropy based on a mixture of polar compounds, which contains at least one compound of formula IA and at least one compound of formulae IB, IC and/or ID and the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the ECB, PALO, FFS or IPS effect.
US08475888B2
Provided is a liquid crystal compound having general physical properties necessary for a compound, stability to heat, light or the like, a wide liquid crystal phase temperature range, a high clearing point, an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, a large refractive index anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy. Provided are a liquid crystal composition including the liquid crystal compound, and a liquid crystal display device containing the liquid crystal composition.The compound is represented by formula (1): wherein, for example, R1 is alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons; at least one of the rings A1 to A6 is pyrimidine-2,5-diyl or pyridine-2,5-diyl and the others are 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; Z1 to Z6 are a single bond; L1 to L4 is hydrogen or halogen; X1 is hydrogen, halogen, —C≡N or alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons; and l, m, n, o, p and q are 0 or 1 and l+m+n+o+p+q=3.
US08475887B2
A liquid crystal medium having a wide temperature range of a liquid crystal phase, a large optical anisotropy, and a large dielectric anisotropy and having an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase is provided. The liquid crystal medium is characterized by containing a liquid crystal compound having a pyrimidine ring and a linking group —CF2O— and a chiral dopant, and exhibiting an optically isotropic liquid crystal phase.
US08475876B2
An electrode mixture paste is applied on both sides of a strip of core material as it runs along its lengthwise direction, and the coating thickness of the paste is adjusted as the core material coated with the paste passes through a gap between a pair of scraper tools. Tips provided to the scraper tools scrape off the paste to form a paste-coated portion of a predetermined width. The electrode mixture paste scraped off with the tips is returned through recesses on the upstream side of the tips in the running direction of the core material, so as to prevent the phenomenon where the coating thickness is increased at both side edges of the paste-coated portion. Thus, a method for applying electrode mixture paste is realized that can prevent the phenomenon where the coating thickness is increased at both side edges of the paste-coated portion.
US08475864B1
A method of reversing the formation of an oxidized off-flavor in milk that includes providing milk, and heating the milk to a temperature between approximately 70° C. and approximately 90° C. for a period of between approximately 25 seconds and approximately 60 seconds.
US08475863B2
A dried confectionery meringue formed from a meringue mixture having a pre-drying moisture level of between about 18% and about 30%, said mixture including a protein foaming agent, sucrose and at least one monosaccharide.
US08475862B2
A composition for preserving solid food products comprising a moisture-sensitive isothiocyanate compound and a hygroscopic carrier, wherein the composition is substantially free of sorbic acid, benzoic acid, and salts thereof. Also disclosed is a solid food product containing the aforementioned preservative composition and a method for preserving solid food products including the steps of adding a moisture-sensitive isothiocyanate to the solid food product and storing the resulting product at a reduced temperature.
US08475857B2
Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for the energy-saving control of at least one process in a food processing device including a processing chamber, at least one processing device, and a control or regulating device. The control or regulating device can reduce the duration of at least the first process step or the duration of regulation in the first processing step or switch off the processing device during at least a part of the processing step to save energy, based on at least one first variable relating to the climate in the processing chamber or at least one second variable relating to the processing device or at least one third variable relating to the food item to be processed or at least one fourth variable relating to a degree of soiling of the processing chamber, during at least one second processing step directly after the first processing step.
US08475854B2
Apparatuses, methods and systems for liquid flow control and beverage preparation are disclosed. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention include liquid flow control and beverage preparation capsules, pods, cartridges, pouches, systems, and modules for controlling and directing flow streams of liquid through a beverage preparation process. The apparatuses, methods and systems of the present invention may be used in combination with or included as an integral assembly of any apparatus, method or system for liquid dispension.
US08475850B2
Compositions and methods for enhancing heavy metal detoxification are described. The compositions and methods described provide enhanced activity of key detoxification systems including that the induction of phase II detoxification enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and NADPH quinone reductase (NQO1) activity.
US08475849B2
A formulation for well-being in humans including: extracts from the herbal varieties, Polygonum multiflorum, Panax quinquefolium, Gingko biloba, and Equisetum arvense; beta sitosterol methyl sulfonyl methane; soy isoflavones; levo-arginine; inositol; niacin; pantothenic acid or salts thereof; alpha-tocopherol; biotin; pyridoxine hydrochloride zinc (or amino acid chelate thereof); and colostrum.
US08475843B2
Silane-functionalized hydrophilic polymers and polymeric matrices are described. Hydrophilic matrices can be formed from the polymers, and can be used in association with the preparation of implantable and injectable medical devices. Exemplary devices include those having a durable lubricious coating formed from the hydrophilic polymers.
US08475842B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising the drug 4-[3-(4-cyclopropanecarbonyl-piperazine-1-carbonyl)-4-fluoro-benzyl]-2H-phthalazin-1-one in a solid dispersion with a matrix polymer that exhibits low hygroscopicity and high softening temperature, such as copovidone. The invention also relates to a daily pharmaceutical dose of the drug provided by such a formulation. In addition, the invention relates to the use of a matrix polymer that exhibits low hygroscopicity and high softening temperature in solid dispersion with 4-[3-(4-cyclopropanecarbonyl-piperazine-1 -carbonyl)-4-fluoro-benzyl]-2H-phthalazin-1-one for increasing the bioavailability of the drug.
US08475840B2
The sustained release formulation for oral administration of an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor of the present invention can be easily and economically prepared and is capable of maintaining a constant drug level in blood by slowly releasing the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor at a uniform rate for 24 hrs. Accordingly, the sustained release formulation of the present invention can be effectively used for lowering blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
US08475838B2
A rapidly-dissolving oral dosage pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting ovulation in a mammal, said composition comprising drospirenone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, optionally ethinyl estradiol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or ether thereof, a surfactant and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the drospirenone has a surface area of less than 10,000 cm2/g.
US08475835B2
Provided is a transdermal preparation, which is capable of long-term (1-day to 7-day) release of a basic drug from a preparation, continuously and at a consistent concentration; shows little reduction over time in the drug content, even if multiple drugs are contained in the preparation; and is produced by a simple process. The transdermal preparation comprises a substrate, and an adhesive layer containing a basic drug and a water-soluble polymer.
US08475832B2
The present invention relates to products and methods for treatment of narcotic dependence in a user. The invention more particularly relates to self-supporting dosage forms which provide an active agent for treating narcotic dependence while providing sufficient buccal adhesion of the dosage form.
US08475819B2
This invention provides compounds of Formula 1, N-oxides and suitable salts thereof wherein R1 is Me, Cl, Br or F; R2 is F, Cl, Br, C1-C4 haloalkyl or C1-C4 haloalkoxy; R3 is F, Cl or Br; R4 is H; C1-C4 alkyl, C3-C4 alkenyl, C3-C4 alkynyl, C3-C5 cycloalkyl, or C4-C6 cycloalkylalkyl, each optionally substituted with one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen, CN, SMe, S(O)Me, S(O)2Me, and OMe; R5 is H or Me; R6 is H, F or Cl; and R7 is H, F or Cl. Also disclosed are methods for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising contacting the invertebrate pest or its environment with a biologically effective amount of a compound of Formula 1, an N-oxide thereof or a suitable salt of the compound (e.g., as a composition described herein). This invention also pertains to a composition for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising a biologically effective amount of a compound of Formula 1, an N-oxide thereof or a suitable salt of the compound and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a solid diluent and a liquid diluent.
US08475818B2
The present invention provides formulations and methods useful in the control of ectoparasites on a domestic animal, using a formulation comprising Indoxacarb and a veterinarily acceptable carrier that is applied topically to 10% or less of the total surface area of a domestic animal. Other embodiments include these formulations also including one or more additional pesticides such as fipronil.
US08475808B2
Recombinant production of immunogenic West Nile Virus (WNV) proteins is described. These proteins, heterodimers comprising the proteins, fusions thereof, polynucleotides encoding the proteins, and combinations thereof, as well as antibodies produced therefrom, can be used in immunogenic compositions for preventing, treating and diagnosing WNV infection. Also described are highly sensitive ELISA and strip immunoassay methods for detecting the presence of WNV in biological samples.
US08475798B2
Monoclonal antibodies which can bind to the SdrF protein of Staphylococcus epidermidis are provided which can be useful in the treatment and protection against infection from staphylococcal bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis. The monoclonal antibodies of the invention are advantageous in that they can also recognize binding domains and subdomains of the S. epidermidis SdrF protein in addition to the protein itself. Suitable compositions and passive vaccines based on the monoclonal antibodies of the invention, as well as methods for their use, are also provided.
US08475792B2
The present invention provides molecules, including IgGs, non-IgG immunoglobulins, proteins and non-protein agents, that have increased in vivo half-lives due to the presence of an IgG constant domain, or a portion thereof that binds the FcRn, having one or more amino acid modifications that increase the affinity of the constant domain or fragment for FcRn. Such proteins and molecules with increased half-lives have the advantage that smaller amounts and or less frequent dosing is required in the therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic use of such molecules.
US08475773B2
The present invention generally relates to oral compositions such as toothpastes, toothpowders, liquid dentrifices, mouthwashes, rinses, dental floss, denture cleansers, chewing gums, lozenges and the like. In particular, it relates to such oral compositions that include cesium and rubidium salts. In one aspect of the present invention, a composition for oral use is provided. The composition includes a cesium or rubidium salt and water having a surface tension ranging between 45 and 70 dynes per cm2. In another aspect of the present invention, a method for improving oral hygiene in a mammal is provided. The method involves taking a volume of a solution into the mammal's mouth, where the solution includes a cesium or rubidium salt and water having a surface tension ranging between 45 and 70 dynes per cm2, swishing the solution around and expelling the solution.
US08475766B2
Antibodies having dual specificity for two different but structurally related antigens are provided. The antibodies can be, for example, entirely human antibodies, recombinant antibodies, or monoclonal antibodies. Preferred antibodies have dual specificity for IL-1α and IL-1β and neutralize IL-1α and IL-1β activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. Methods of making and methods of using the antibodies of the invention are also provided. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting two different but structurally related antigens (e.g., IL-1α and IL-1β) and for inhibiting the activity of the antigens, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which IL-1α and/or IL-1β activity is detrimental.
US08475763B2
A method for detecting antigen associated with adenocarcinoma commences by forming a 124I conjugate of a preferential locator, such as an antibody, and introducing the conjugate into a patient suspected of having adenocarcinoma. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning of the patient reveals sites of accumulated conjugate, such sites including lymph nodes. The course of treatment of the patient then is determined by the amount of revealed lymph nodes.
US08475760B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for producing nanotubes, the apparatus being adapted to produce doped and/or undoped single-walled or multi-walled nanotubes, the apparatus comprising at least a thermal reactor. In accordance with the invention, the reactor is at least of the hottest part thereof and at least partly manufactured from a material that is at least partly sublimed into the thermal reactor as a result of the thermal reactor being heated, and the sublimed material at least partly participates in the growth of the nanotubes.
US08475750B2
An air pollution control system 10A includes a boiler 11 that burns fuel, an air heater 13 that recovers heat of flue gas 17 from the boiler 11, and a desulfurizer 15 that reduces sulfur oxides contained in the flue gas 17 after heat recovery by an absorbent, and waste-water supplying units P0 to P5 that supply desulfurized waste water 28 discharged from the desulfurizer 15 to at least one of a path for supplying fuel to the boiler 11, inside of a furnace of the boiler 11, and the inside of a flue gas duct between the boiler 11 and the air heater 13 are installed. With this configuration, an amount of desulfurized waste water to be returned into the flue gas duct per unit time can be increased as compared to conventional systems, without increasing the size of the entire air pollution control system.
US08475723B2
A Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Generation Cell (DBDPGC) includes a plurality of hot electrodes interspersed with a plurality of ground electrodes whereby a power supply connected between the hot and ground electrodes creates a non-thermal plasma between the electrodes. The hot electrodes are hermetically sealed. A cleaning solution is applied to the electrodes to wash gas stream contaminants and/or reaction by products off the electrodes at times during operation of the cell when desired to clean the electrodes to maintain cell efficiency. A catalyst solution can be applied to the electrodes after cleaning. Where a plurality of cells are electrically connected in parallel, shorts in a cell can be detected by sensing the difference in currents feed to each of the plurality of cells.
US08475716B2
An embodiment of the invention described herein is directed to a detection system utilizing at least one radiofrequency identification (RFID) sensor comprising: an RFID sensor comprising: a substrate; an antenna; a sensor material selected to be sensitive to one of chemical or biological environment; and a reader, wherein said reader is configured to measure a signal in the form of a complex impedance from said RFID tag wherein said signal comprises a plurality of frequencies and a frequency shift of the maximum of the imaginary part of the complex impedance, a frequency shift of the minimum of the imaginary part of the complex impedance, a frequency shift of the maximum of the real part of the complex impedance, and changes in magnitude of the real part of the complex impedance; and, wherein said complex impedance is related to a nature and a concentration of analyte species derived from multivariate analysis.
US08475711B2
Processes for producing a nickel-titanium alloy are disclosed. The processes are characterized by the production of nickel-titanium alloy articles having improved microstructure. A pre-alloyed nickel-titanium alloy is melted and atomized to form molten nickel-titanium alloy particles. The molten nickel-titanium alloy particles are cooled to form nickel-titanium alloy powder. The nickel-titanium alloy powder is consolidated to form a fully-densified nickel-titanium alloy preform that is hot worked to form a nickel-titanium alloy article. Any second phases present in the nickel-titanium alloy article have a mean size of less than 10 micrometers measured according to ASTM E1245-03 (2008) or an equivalent method.
US08475709B2
A method for producing a composite part is provided. The method comprises compacting a powder composition comprising a lubricant into a compacted body; heating the compacted body to a temperature above the vaporization temperature of the lubricant such that the lubricant is substantially removed from the compacted body; subjecting the obtained heat treated compacted body to a liquid polymer composite comprising nanometer-sized and/or micrometer-sized reinforcement structures; and solidifying the heat treated compacted body comprising liquid polymer composite by drying and/or by at least one curing treatment.
US08475704B2
Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for ink jet printhead nozzle plate and related printing apparatus, wherein the ink jet printhead nozzle plate can include a coaxially electrospun layer to provide a low adhesion oleophobic textile surface exhibiting a low sliding angle and a high contact angle with ultra-violet gel ink and/or solid ink.
US08475702B2
According to one embodiment, first image information of a mold is acquired by irradiating the mold with first light, the mold having an uneven pattern with a shape corresponding to a pattern to be transferred onto a substrate to be processed. The position of the uneven pattern of the mold is adjusted by applying stress to the mold. Second image information is acquired by irradiating the mold whose position is adjusted with the first light. Stress information of the mold whose position is adjusted is measured by comparing the first image information with the second image information. The position adjustment is repeated until the measurement result satisfies a desired condition, and a pattern is formed on the substrate by using the mold whose position is adjusted.
US08475696B2
A method for packaging a light emitting diode is provided. The steps comprise: providing a material; drying the material; feeding the material into a feeding inlet; and providing a mold with pre-embedded light diodes. The material enters the feeding inlet and is injected into the mold by pressing a screw, allowing the material to combine with the light emitting diode.
US08475691B2
Novel UV absorbing monomers are disclosed. The UV absorbers are particularly suitable for use in intraocular lens materials.
US08475683B2
Disclosed herein are yellow-green and yellow-emitting aluminate based phosphors for use in white LEDs, general lighting, and LED and backlighting displays. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cerium-activated, yellow-green to yellow-emitting aluminate phosphor comprises the rare earth lutetium, at least one alkaline earth metal, aluminum, oxygen, at least one halogen, and at least one rare earth element other than lutetium, wherein the phosphor is configured to absorb excitation radiation having a wavelength ranging from about 380 nm to about 480 nm, and to emit light having a peak emission wavelength ranging from about 550 nm to about 600 nm.
US08475679B2
The invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics; and is to provide a AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth, wherein the liquid crystal composition has negative dielectric anisotropy and includes a two-ring compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and having at least three fluorines or chlorines at the lateral positions as a first component, a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a second component, a specific compound having a small viscosity as a third component, and a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a fourth component, and the liquid crystal display device contains this composition.
US08475654B1
Included in this disclosure is a downspout drain filter for rain gutter downspouts. The downspout drain filer comprises elongated housing having an axis, a top portion, and a bottom portion. A transition portion connects the top portion to the bottom portion. The top portion includes an intake opening, a top portion perimeter, a debris opening, a filter attachment location, and a downspout attachment location. The downspout attachment location includes a flexible collar that defines a downspout attachment location perimeter that is less than the top portion perimeter. The bottom portion includes a flexible collapsible body that extends from the transition portion. A connection end is positioned opposite the transition portion as a part of the bottom portion. A filter is positioned in the top portion to direct debris out the debris opening and to permit liquid to pass to the bottom portion.
US08475645B2
A cooling water circulation apparatus is capable of limiting attachment of microorganisms and scale in an environmentally friendly manner. An electrolytic device 10 is provided on a cooling water circulation route R1. In the arrangement, mineral contents such as calcium ions and magnesium ions contained in cooling water W are deposited as scale S on an electrode 12A or 12B in an electrolytic step, thereby enabling the mineral contents to be removed from the cooling water W. Even if the hardness of the cooling water W is increased by evaporation of the water with elapse of time, the hardness can be reduced by the electrolytic processing. Thus, the deposition of the scale S in the circulation route R1 can be reduced. Further, the scale S deposited on the electrode 12A or 12B can be easily separated by operating while reversing the polarities of the electrodes 12A and 12B at predetermined time intervals.
US08475641B2
Particles may be injected into a matrix for concentration by scodaphoresis using a quadrupole injection field. Particles may be injected from two or more sample chambers simultaneously. Particle injection may be performed simultaneously with performing scodaphoresis. In some embodiments the particles are concentrated into a well containing fluid. The well can extend out of a plane of the matrix. Altering the relative phases of components of a scodaphoresis field permits concentration of selected particles and exclusion of other particles. Scodaphoresis methods may be applied to DNA, other bio-molecules and other particles.
US08475639B2
A titration apparatus comprising a titration reservoir for a non-flowing sample solution to be titrated; an ion source reservoir comprising an ion source solution of selected ions; an ion exchange membrane barrier capable of passing ions from the ion source solution to the titration reservoir, but of blocking bulk liquid flow; a first electrode in electrical communication with the ion source reservoir; and a second electrode in electrical communication with the titration reservoir. Also, an electrolytic titrant generator for use in the titration apparatus.
US08475638B2
In a biosensor that detects introduction of a sample liquid into a specimen supply path using a detecting electrode, a means of improving accuracy of detection is provided. The biosensor has: an electrode system including measuring electrode, counter electrode, and detecting electrode on first electrically insulating support; specimen supply path for introducing the sample liquid; and reagent layer used for quantifying a substrate contained in the sample liquid. The means is characterized in that detecting electrode is spaced from measuring electrode by a distance sufficient for the sample liquid to sufficiently cover measuring electrode before the sample liquid reaches detecting electrode.
US08475633B2
Provided is a method for preparing an epoxy substrate having a nanopattern, including: (a) forming a titanium oxide film by anodizing a titanium substrate; (b) obtaining a titanium substrate having a concave shape formed on the surface by removing the titanium oxide film from the titanium substrate on which the titanium oxide film has been formed; (c) coating an epoxy resin onto the titanium substrate on which the concave shape has been formed; and (d) obtaining an epoxy substrate having a nanopattern of convex surfaces by removing the titanium substrate.
US08475632B2
A method for recycling cutting fluid includes preparing and processing a cutting fluid of silicon including a silicon mixture and a cutting fluid at an anoxic circumstance of 150° C. to 350° C. in a container, to obtain a vaporized cutting fluid and a silicon slurry; and condensing the vaporized cutting fluid to obtain a recycling cutting fluid.
US08475631B2
The process of making crosslinked cellulose pulp fiber comprising plasma treating a sheet of cellulose pulp fiber before the sheet is impregnated with a crosslinking formulation which comprises a crosslinking agent and a catalyst, then defiberizing the treated cellulose pulp sheet to form treated defiberized cellulose pulp, then heating and curing the treated defiberized cellulose pulp to form intrafiber crosslinked cellulose pulp fibers.
US08475627B2
A process of treating a lignocellulosic material includes a pre-extraction step in which hemicellulose is extracted from the lignocellulosic material. In one embodiment, the pre-extraction step involves contacting the lignocellulosic material with an aqueous solution under conditions that release acidic material from the lignocellulosic material into the aqueous solution, and the aqueous solution includes a basic material that at least partly neutralizes the acidic material so that the aqueous solution at the end of the pre-extraction step has a pH within a range of from 4.5 to 11. The process also includes a pulping step, after the pre-extraction step, in which the lignocellulosic material is separated into pulp. The process further includes an adsorption step, after the pulping step, in which hemicellulose is adsorbed on the pulp.
US08475625B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus, such as a processing chamber, suitable for etching high aspect ratio features. Other embodiments include a showerhead assembly for use in the processing chamber. In one embodiment, a processing chamber includes a chamber body having a showerhead assembly and substrate support disposed therein. The showerhead assembly includes at least two fluidly isolated plenums, a region transmissive to an optical metrology signal, and a plurality of gas passages formed through the showerhead assembly fluidly coupling the plenums to the interior volume of the chamber body.
US08475622B2
A method of reusing a consumable part for use in a plasma processing apparatus includes cleaning a surface of the consumable part made of SiC that has been eroded by a first plasma process performed for a specific period of time. The method further includes depositing SiC on the cleaned surface of the eroded consumable part by CVD. The method also includes remanufacturing a consumable part having a predetermined shape by machining the eroded consumable part on which the SiC is deposited for performing a second plasma process on a substrate by using the remanufactured consumable part.
US08475617B2
A device for producing a drip irrigation tube comprising an extrusion apparatus for extruding a tube body made from a thermoplastic synthetic material is provided. Metering elements are inserted in the extruded tube body and connected to the tube body. A calibrating device adjusts the tube body to the desired outer shape, and a cooling device cools the tube body. Outlet holes are made in the tube body in the vicinity of the metering elements to permit the passage of water from the tube body during use. A control unit for controlling the device for making outlet holes is provided, and a sensor which upon lifting of the roller during passage of a metering element emits a signal to the control unit which emits a signal to the device for making outlet holes.
US08475614B2
Method for producing a fuel tank provided with internal accessories and having a wall made of plastic made in a single piece by moulding a split parison or a parison in at least two parts, said method comprising the following steps: a) the parison is introduced in the heat-softened state into a mould comprising dies; b) a core on which the accessories are placed is introduced inside the parison; c) the parison is pressed onto the dies of the mould; d) the accessories are fastened to the parison with the aid of the core in an ideal layout; e) the core is withdrawn and the mould is closed; f) the tank is moulded from the parison; and g) the tank is removed from the mould.
US08475611B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for the application of a strip material to a substrate. Particularly, the present invention relates to a automatic application of an elongate strip of elastic material to a substrate. The present invention further relates to a device and a method for applying a seal strip such as a weatherstrip seal to a substrate. The elongate strip is advanced by drive means and positioned on a substrate by means of an application unit. The stress of the elongate strip is controlled by a stress control unit which is positioned in the area between the drive means and the application unit.
US08475601B1
A rapid and effective means for decontaminating fouled oil-control booms is provided. The process involves washing the boom with pressured washing fluid, reorienting the boom to facilitate full inspection, and drying the boom. This can be performed in an assembly-line manner, using one or more conveyors to transport the boom sequentially to a washing area, an inspection area, and a drying area. Consequently, contaminated oil-control booms can be cleaned and redeployed rapidly and inexpensively during an oil release accident.
US08475599B2
Substrate preparation using stabilized fluid solutions and methods for making stable fluid solutions
A method for making a solution for use in preparing a surface of a substrate is provided. The method includes providing a continuous medium that adds a polymer material to the continuous medium. A fatty acid is adding to the continuous medium having the polymer material, and the polymer material defines a physical network that exerts forces in the solution that overcome buoyancy forces experienced by the fatty acid, thus preventing the fatty acids from moving within the solution until a yield stress of the polymer material is exceeded by an applied agitation. The applied agitation is from transporting the solution from a container to a preparation station that applies the solution to the surface of the substrate.
US08475598B2
A process for forming a coated substrate comprises providing a nickel base alloy substrate, depositing a chromium coating onto the nickel base alloy substrate and diffusing chromium from said coating into the substrate, applying a MCrAlY coating onto the nickel base alloy substrate and heat treating the substrate with the deposited chromium and the MCrAlY coating so that chromium diffuses into an outer region of the substrate. Further, in accordance with the present invention, a strip process for removing a coating from a substrate broadly comprises the steps of providing a nickel base alloy substrate having chromium diffused into an outer region and a MCrAlY coating deposited over the substrate with the diffused chromium and removing the MCrAlY coating by immersing the nickel base alloy substrate in an acid solution containing a sulfuric acid-hydrochloric acid mixture in water.
US08475596B2
An apparatus for processing coating material includes a crucible having a receptacle for receiving coating material, a drive member having a drive shaft, a cover coupled to the drive shaft, and a flame nozzle opposing the receptacle. The cover includes an inner chamber, a first through hole and a number of second through holes. The first through hole and the second through holes communicate with the inner chamber. The cover has a flat surface with the second through holes exposed at the flat surface. The drive shaft drives the cover to rotate between a closed position where the cover covers the receptacle and the flat surface presses against the coating material to flatten the coating material, and an open position where the cover is moved away from the receptacle. The flame nozzle sprays flame from the second through holes through the first through hole to heat the coating material.
US08475584B1
Zinc clays, methods for preparation of zinc clays, and compositions containing the same are disclosed. The methods comprise mixing a clay with a zinc ammonia complex solution to prepare the zinc clays. Zinc clays according to the present invention may further comprise quaternary ammonium salts. The present clays may be used in compositions and/or as additives in rubber and plastic formulations and products, as nutrient delivery agents, and in catalyst formulations.
US08475578B2
The present invention is directed to magenta inks and ink sets for ink-jet printing. The inks and ink sets provide exceptional ozone fastness, particularly when printed on porous media or plain paper. The inks of the ink sets are formulated to be compatible with each other and are capable of producing high quality printed images.
US08475576B2
The present invention relates to a component for producing vacuum insulation systems, comprising at least one insulation layer which is surrounded by a casing, wherein the gas pressure in the insulation layer can be reduced by means provided in the component, wherein the means for reducing the gas pressure is embodified as activatable. The present invention further describes a vacuum insulation system comprising a component according to the invention.
US08475574B2
An exhaust treatment system comprises a particulate matter filter, a first heater element, and a second heater element. The particulate matter (PM) filter filters PM from exhaust gas and includes N zones. Each of the N zones includes an inlet area that receives a portion of the exhaust gas. N is an integer greater than one. The first heater element includes a contact area that heats exhaust gas input to an inlet area of a first one of the N zones. The second heater element includes a second contact area that heats exhaust gas input to an inlet area of a second one of the N zones. A ratio of the contact area of the first heater element to the inlet area of the first zone is greater than a ratio of the contact area of the second heater element to the inlet area of the second zone.
US08475568B2
This invention relates to a process for the enrichment of isotopes by chromatography on a saturated stationary phase. The process provides a more efficient method than the existing methods.
US08475566B2
The present invention relates to a method for recovery of carbon dioxide from a gas stream. The method is a two-step method in which carbon dioxide is compressed in the first step, while the residual carbon dioxide is recovered by an absorption process in a subsequent step. The present invention also relates to the use of the method for the recovery of carbon dioxide and a plant for recovery of carbon dioxide.
US08475564B2
The present invention provides a biomass dryer/burner having an air cleaning apparatus adapted to accept emissions from the biomass dryer/burner and to convert said emissions to clean air to meet government emission standards. The biomass dryer/burner unit includes a dryer adapted to dry biomass, such as demolition waste or cut trees. The biomass dryer/burner unit optionally including a burner adapted to burn biomass. The biomass dryer/burner further producing emissions requiring cleaning before exhausting to the atmosphere. The air cleaning apparatus including a spray scrubber fluidly connected to the biomass dryer/burner adapted to moisten emissions, a recirculation tank in fluid communication with a collection tank, and the recirculation tank further having a sensor adapted to measure contaminant levels contained within the recirculation air filtration system. The sensor contained within the recirculation tank measures levels of carbon monoxide. If the air contained within the recirculation air filtration system measures above a predetermined contaminant level, then the air contained within the recirculation air filtration system is directed back into the spray scrubber. If the air contained within the recirculation air filtration system is below a predetermined level, then the air is exhausted into the atmosphere.
US08475557B2
Cellular ceramic articles are manufactured from a green cellular ceramic body that includes a binder material and a plurality of channels. At least one of the channels is coated with a slurry that includes a green coating composition and a solvent to form a coating layer. The binder material is insoluble in the solvent.
US08475550B2
A method for injecting a chemical, such as an odorant, from a chemical supply into a fluid-containing system such as a natural gas or an LPG pipeline. A tank of odorant is maintained at a pressure above ambient, but below pipeline pressure. An injection conduit communicates the odorant tank with the pipeline. A hydraulic pressure booster is located in the injection conduit for pressurizing the chemical to a pressure above that of the pipeline. Flow-control apparatus located within the injection conduit for metering chemical to be injected into the pipeline is either (a) drip-style metering valve adjustable between a drop-wise setting and a steady-flow setting or (b) a pair of valves one of which is a flow valve allowing larger volumes to be injected and the other which is a drop-wise flow valve for metering smaller volumes of the chemical.
US08475531B1
Disclosed are osteochondral constructs that can be utilized to encourage both bone and articular cartilage tissue repair in synovial joints. Disclosed constructs are composites including a hydrogel portion for implant in a cartilage defect site and an adjacent portion for implant in a bone defect site. The portion to be implanted in a bone defect site can include a polymeric/ceramic composite material. Disclosed constructs also include a polymeric anchor that can secure the construct at the desired site. Disclosed constructs can also include capillary channeled fibers within the bone portion of the construct that can provide improved nutrient flow to and waste flow from cells growing and developing on and in the construct.
US08475530B2
A middle ear prosthesis device and corresponding implantation procedure are described. A sensing microphone converts an acoustic audio signal into a corresponding electrical audio signal. A sensing amplifier amplifies the electrical audio signal. An audio transducer converts the amplified electrical audio signal into a corresponding amplified acoustic audio signal. An acoustic waveguide conducts the amplified acoustic audio signal from the audio transducer to the middle ear and includes: i. a main tubular portion having an outer end for placement in the outer ear canal and an inner end for placement in the middle ear, and ii. an extension portion having an outer end coupleable to the audio transducer and an inner end coupleable to the outer end of the main tubular portion.
US08475521B2
A system for implanting a heart valve prosthesis in a patient's heart includes a balloon expandable, tissue, stented heart valve and a transfemoral valve delivery device for delivering the stented heart valve to a target site in the patient's heart. The delivery device includes an inflation balloon module for expanding the stented heart valve prosthesis, markers on to assist in location of the delivery device at an appropriate location; and a streamlined cap.
US08475520B2
A stenting ring made of a tube or rolled-up sheet that has a characteristic wall thickness. The ring defines a lumen and is equipped with at least one marker made of a material different from that of the ring. The ring is expansible from a radially compact disposition with a relatively small circumference to a radially expanded disposition with a relatively large circumference. The ring exhibits in the compact disposition a serpentine arrangement of succeeding struts lying in alternate opposite directions to the longitudinal axis of the lumen. The marker has a thickness in the radial direction of the ring that is less than the characteristic wall thickness, and has a width that extends circumferentially around an arc of the ring. The marker is attached to the ring at a zone located at a point intermediate in the extent of said arc. The marker overlaps with a respective one of said struts, at each end of its circumferential arc, when the ring is in the compact disposition, the respective struts moving away from each other, and from the marker, when the ring expands towards said radially expanded disposition.
US08475517B2
Methods and systems are described for receiving a parameter relating to a specific patient, and for customizing one or more attributes of a stent ex situ as an at-least-roughly contemporaneous response to receiving the parameter relating to the specific patient or for customizing one or more junctions of a stent ex situ in response to the received parameter relating to the specific patient.
US08475507B2
A handheld apparatus for delivering optical energy to fractionally resurface skin of a consumer is configured to be used by the non-physician consumer. The handheld apparatus includes a housing dimensioned for manual grasping and manipulation. The housing encloses a laser and an optical pattern generator having a rotatable component with a plurality of reflective segments that rotate through an optical beam from the laser to deflect and divide the optical beam into pulses that propagate from the housing and form a fractional pattern at the skin surface. The handheld apparatus also includes a transducer associated with fins on the rotatable component to generate signals for each pulse of electromagnetic radiation, the signals being monitored by a controller to enable an end of dose indication for the consumer when the treatment is completed.
US08475496B2
A method for distracting two tissue surfaces away from one another within a spine. In one embodiment, the method involves the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of biocompatible and generally rectangular spinal inserts having a generally planar top surface having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a generally planar bottom surface disposed generally parallel to the top surface and including a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a beveled surface extending from at least one of the leading edge of the planar top surface and the leading edge of the planar bottom surface; and (b) successively introducing into a spine the plurality of spinal inserts such that the generally planar top and bottom surfaces are generally parallel to the two tissue surfaces, wherein the beveled surface are configured to allow a currently inserted spinal insert to be positioned at least one of above and below a previously introduced spinal insert to distract the two tissue surfaces.
US08475492B2
Methods, devices and systems are described for treating venous insufficiency in which the vein is compressed at least partially along a treatment zone. A system can be provided including an injection device, such as a glue gun, that is operably connected to a delivery catheter that can be advanced across a treatment zone in the vein. The delivery catheter can be used to deliver one, two, or more boluses of media (e.g., cyanoacrylate) to occlude the vein along different spaced-apart sections of the treatment zone. External compression can also be applied to the vein by a compression element, such as a hand or multifunctional ultrasound transducer, to occlude portions of the vein along the treatment zone prior to or during the introduction of the boluses of media.
US08475487B2
A cross stream thrombectomy catheter with a flexible and expandable cage preferably formed of nitinol for removal of hardened and aged thrombotic material stubbornly attached to the interior of a blood vessel. The cage, which can be mesh or of straight or spiral filament design, is located close to inflow and outflow orifices at the distal portion of a catheter tube and is deployed and extended at a thrombus site for intimate contact therewith and for action of a positionable assembly and subsequent rotation and lineal actuation to abrade, grate, scrape, or otherwise loosen and dislodge difficult to remove thrombus which can interact with cross stream flows to exhaust free and loosened thrombotic particulate through the catheter tube. An alternative embodiment discloses a mechanism involving a threaded tube in rotatable engagement with an internally threaded sleeve to incrementally control the deployment and expansion of the flexible and expandable cages.
US08475485B2
A medical instrument has a cannula, a seal disposed in the cannula. An expansion device serves for expanding the opening in the seal for guiding shafts of other instruments of greater diameter in a sealed manner through the expanded opening. The expansion device has an expansion cone with a plurality of slats mounted pivotably on an annular body at a first end thereof, a second end of the slats, being connected to the seal in an area of the opening. The slats can either be connected at its first ends to the annular body via spherical heads engaged into corresponding openings in the annular body or the slats are connected at their ends via film hinges to the annular body.
US08475480B2
A multi-sleeve handpiece for performing phacoemulsification with a vibratory, ported needle and for cooling an exterior of an incision. The vibratory, ported needle breaks up and aspirates broken eye tissue. The handpiece has at least one inner sleeve that guides irrigation fluid to the eye and/or reduces friction between the vibrating tool and the surrounding rigid sleeve or tissues. The handpiece has an outer, cooling sleeve that is concentric with the inner sleeve and the needle and whose distal end has peak and valley formations. The cooling sleeve is collapsible to engage incision tissue with the peak formations and allow the cooling fluid to flow across the valley formations to cool the tissue via heat transfer.
US08475471B2
Organopexy tool set (S) is comprised of suturing tool (30) comprised of rod-shaped securing section (31) and suture (32), puncture needle (10) for insertion that accommodates plural securing sections with the ends of sutures protruding to the outside, and extruding device (20) that is arranged at the base end of puncture needle for insertion and can extrude the securing section accommodated in puncture needle for insertion from an opening at the tip of puncture needle for insertion. Also, plural suture exiting holes (24) are formed at intervals around the axis on extruding device, and the ends of sutures connected to plural securing sections protrude from different suture exiting holes. In addition, extruding device (20) is equipped with extruding rod (22), friction member (29), attachment/detachment pressing section (23), and coil spring (28).
US08475470B2
A percutaneous registration apparatus and method for use in minimally invasive spinal surgery. The apparatus including a holding member, first and second clamping members, first and second gripping members, and an adjustment mechanism for closing and opening the first and second gripping members.
US08475454B1
The electrosurgical midline clamping scissors includes a pair of elongate arms pivotal about each other at a common axis. Each arm includes a finger loop at one end and a jaw at the opposite end. Each jaw includes a midline cutting section and a grasping section on either side of a cutting blade in the cutting section. A wire is operatively connected from a generator to each arm to transmit electricity or radio frequency through electrical conductors inside the arms. The electrical conductors extend into the jaws to form a bipolar configuration. During use, as the jaws close, the jaws complete the circuit and simultaneously clamp, cut and electrocoagulate the target tissue.
US08475453B2
An electrosurgical instrument for treating tissue includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom having an axis A-A defined therethrough. The shaft is at least partially flexible and includes first and second jaw members attached at a distal end thereof. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. A drive assembly is disposed in the housing and has a first actuator operably coupled to a drive rod for reciprocation thereof to move the jaw members from a first position in spaced relation to one another to a second position closer to one another for engaging tissue. A second actuator is disposed on the housing and is actuatable to articulate the shaft.
US08475428B2
A belted absorbent article includes an absorbent structure extending about a first longitudinal axis, the absorbent structure including a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent batt disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the absorbent structure having a transverse axis dividing the absorbent structure into a front panel terminating in a front end region and a rear panel terminating in a rear end region, the absorbent structure being delimited by opposed longitudinal edges and opposed transverse edges, and a pair of opposed belt halves including nonwoven material attached to the absorbent structure at the rear end region of the rear panel, each of the belt halves being attached by a respective joint, each belt half extending about a longitudinal axis of the belt such that each belt half extends outwardly from a respective longitudinal edge of the absorbent structure.
US08475425B2
A catamenial tampon comprises a compressed absorbent member having an inner region and an exterior surface, the compressed absorbent member comprising an absorbent material. An overwrap substantially covers the exterior surface of the compressed absorbent member. The overwrap comprises an apertured fluid pervious material that is hydrophobic or rendered hydrophobic relative to the compressed absorbent member. The fluid pervious overwrap therefore tends to remain free of fluid as the fluid is preferentially partitioned into the absorbent member.
US08475418B2
A closed system for surgical limb prep has: a two-layered construction, including an inner layer and a top layer; or a three-layered construction, including an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and a top layer. The inner layer fits over and engages the limb of the patient, and the inner layer also serves as a storage medium for a topical antiseptic or other prep fluid. The intermediate layer, if present, is positioned over the inner layer and is preferably made of a substantially waterproof or fluid-resistant material. The top layer covers the other layer(s) and includes one or more strips of adhesive that can be used to secure the top layer to the limb of the patient, effectively sealing and closing the system about the limb of the patient.
US08475409B2
Described is an infusion pump comprising electronic infusion regulating means with wired or wireless communication means and a power source, a medicament bag (7) and an infusion device, said infusion device being in fluid communication with said medicament bag (7) and comprising two valves (1, 2), a pressure cavity (4) provided between said two valves (1, 2) and a membrane (3) covering said cavity (4), wherein said infusion device comprises at least two active actuators, preferably either made of electroactive polymer so as to form a self actuating membrane (3) or made of shape memory alloy wire, one of said actuators being adapted to apply pressure to said membrane (3) for fluid displacement in said cavity (4), and the other of said actuators being adapted to operate one of said valves which is adapted to passively close in the flow direction of a fluid from said medicament bag (7) through the cavity (4), wherein the other of said valves is adapted to, in particular passively, close in a direction opposite to said flow direction.
US08475404B2
A device for mixing and transferring is described. The device comprises a housing having open ends, a container accessing member having at least one fluid conduit therethrough, the container accessing member extending generally outwardly from one end of the housing. The device comprises a fluid delivery device accessing member having at least one fluid conduit therethrough, the fluid delivery device accessing member extending generally outwardly from the other end of the housing having the container accessing member, the fluid delivery device accessing member and the container accessing member in fluid communication therewith.
US08475398B2
An extracorporeal blood processing method using a blood circuit comprising a pair of blood passages attached to opposite flow ends of a blood treatment device and said blood circuit is mounted on a blood pump console, the method includes: withdrawing blood from a vascular system of a human patient and drawing the blood into the blood circuit; pumping the withdrawn blood through one of the pair of blood passages using a first blood pump of the console and into the blood treatment device; pumping the treated blood from the treatment device through the other of the pair of blood passages using a second blood pump of the console; infusing the treated blood from the other blood passage and into the vascular system of the patient, and periodically reversing a flow direction of blood through the pair of blood passages and blood treatment device.
US08475397B2
The present invention relates to a plantar fasciitis rehabilitation controlling device. It mainly comprises a securing portion, a rotatable portion, a torque pivoting portion, a pulling portion, and a controller. The securing portion and the rotatable portion are provided for securing a user's shank and foot. This torque pivoting portion can create a torque causing the rotatable portion moving back. The pulling portion has a controller so as to pull the rotatable portion to rotate between a first angle and a second angle so that it can reduce possibility of the plantar fasciitis and ease pain of the plantar fasciitis. Hence, this invention can achieve an active rehabilitation exercise. The belt's pulling interval time can be adjusted. It has a safety switch to ensure its product safety. It is convenient that the user can use a wireless device to operate this system. In addition, the user can be informed about current condition via an audio device.
US08475396B2
A system and method for visualizing auditory scene analysis by way of a portable device is provided. In one embodiment, the method steps include capturing multiple sounds from a sensor array of microphones connected to the portable device, performing auditory scene analysis on detected body sounds in accordance with a psychoacoustic representation of body organ functions, and rendering to a display of the portable device a visualization of auditory scene auscultation of the body sounds, including user input functionality for separated sound source tracks, sound source identifier tracks, and sound source location trajectories.
US08475395B2
A method is provided for collecting a small blood sample by painlessly puncturing a finger. When the skin of a human being is punctured by a needle or another device at the depth that does not exceed 0.5 mm, pain accompanying the puncture is diminished or decreased. Regardless of an error in the depth of the puncture, the depth of puncture must not exceed this depth. The puncture site is located on the dorsal surface of a finger, in the area from the finger joint (IP joint of thumb, DIP joint of fingers other than thumb) to the proximal nail wall and the area extending from the proximal nail wall to the lateral nail wall.
US08475392B2
This invention provides a needle for a living body and a process for sampling a tissue with the needle. The needle and the process are used for harvesting a tissue sample from a living body with minimal damage. The needle is made of ceramics, and is provided with a sampling hole for aspirating a sample and with a cooling hole for supplying cooling gas. The holes penetrate through in the longitudinal direction, and have openings on a pricking-end surface of the needle. For the purpose of cutting off the tissue sample, the pricking-end surface is provided with a cutting part positioned between the openings. When the needle is pricked into a body, a tissue is aspirated through the sampling hole while cooling gas is being supplied through the cooling hole. Thus, the tissue is partly frozen or semi-frozen and cut off with the cutting part to harvest by aspiration.
US08475386B2
Methods, systems, devices and computer program products for providing maintenance, guidance and/or control of certain systems are disclosed. Typically, in some aspects the systems are complex. Also disclosed are methods, systems, devices and computer program products for providing therapeutic guidance for controlling a subject's circulation. One such method comprises the steps of: (i) determining the subject's present and desired circulatory states as a function of at least mean systemic filling pressure (Pms), heart efficiency (EH) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR); (ii) determining a target direction of a trajectory from the subject's present circulatory state to said subject's desired circulatory state, wherein treatment of the subject so as to traverse the trajectory will cause the subject's circulatory state to move towards a desired circulatory state; and (iii) visually representing the target direction of the trajectory.
US08475374B2
A system is provided for monitoring intraocular pressure, the system comprising: a sensor package configured to be disposed in the suprachoroidal space of a patient's eye; a pressure sensor; a wireless transceiver disposed within the sensor package and coupled to the pressure sensor; an external transceiver, the external receiver being wirelessly coupled to the wireless transceiver when the transceiver is disposed proximate to the patient's eye.
US08475373B2
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
US08475366B2
A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories.
US08475365B2
A clear, sealable isolation sleeve for use in a medical environment especially with hand-held electronic devices, for the purpose of reducing the spread of infectious diseases. The sleeve offers an isolated containment for such hand-held medical devices while in patient proximity. The sleeve features a perforated tear zone for easy removal and disposal. Embodiments of the present invention can be manufactured from a clear material that allows the hand-held device to read bar codes through it, while also allowing the clinician to read displayed data and manipulate keypads on the device all while contained within the sleeve.
US08475363B2
A coil arrangement for contact-free guidance of a magnetic element such as an endoscopy capsule, has a number of individual coils arranged in pairs by which the components of a guidance field are generated. By arranging the individual coils to include coils corresponding to blades at an exterior of a cylindrical surface, the number of degrees of freedom required for guidance can be obtained with fewer individual coils and fewer power amplifiers to operate the coils.
US08475362B2
Provided is a surgical apparatus for transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) in which a thin and long endoscope and surgical instruments are inserted through a natural orifice of a human body and the endoscope and surgical instruments are conveyed to the operation area in the body to perform the operation area in the body. According to the surgical apparatus for TEM, a rotation function is added to a barrel of the surgical apparatus for TEM to enable manual rotation of the barrel to a required extent and adjustment of an operation area, without separation of the surgical apparatus for TEM from a fixing frame during an operation. In addition, since the endoscope is disposed outside the barrel, it is possible to reduce the outer diameter of the barrel and uniformly maintain a visual direction of the endoscope even when the barrel is rotated. Further, since the rotation function is added to both the barrel and the surgical instrument insertion hole, more convenient operation is possible.
US08475361B2
A medical procedure and a system are provided so that two visions are obtainable through natural orifices by means of two observational apparatuses, or one the two visions is selectable. The medical procedure through a natural orifice comprises: forming an orifice in a hollow organ by using a device inserted into the hollow organ from a natural orifice of a patient; introducing a first observation device from said orifice formed in said hollow organ into an abdominal cavity; introducing a second observation device from said orifice formed in said hollow organ into the abdominal cavity; arranging said second observation device in a position different from that of said first observation device; simultaneously or selectively displaying an image obtained from said first observation device and an image obtained from said second observation device; and performing a desired procedure in the abdominal cavity while confirming the images.
US08475359B2
A medical apparatus according to the present invention is a medical apparatus used in a state in which the medical apparatus is led into a body and fixed. The medical apparatus includes: a fixing section that fixes the medical apparatus on a body wall in the body; an image pickup section that picks up an image of a subject in the body and is provided pivotably around a first axis; and a holding section that includes the fixing section and holds the image pickup section pivotably around a second axis different from the first axis. Therefore, the medical apparatus can change a photographing range and a visual field direction as desired to photograph the subject by performing magnified observation and photographing the subject from different directions without using a zoom function in the state in which the medical apparatus is fixed in a limited space in the body.
US08475358B2
Provided is a dry, edible, sexual enhancement lubricant powder. The powder comprises a powdered sweetening agent which is also a sialogogue; a powdered thickening agent, which is combined with the sweetening agent/sialogogue; and a powdered flavoring agent, which is combined with the sweetening agent/sialogogue and thickening agent. Human saliva, when added to the dry powdered composition, effectuates the transformation of the composition into a gel-like lubricant useable for sexual enhancement. Also provided is a method of sexual enhancement using the sexual enhancement lubrication powder.
US08475356B2
An implantable device for selectively controlling defecation has an outer body defining on one end a flange that is surgically attachable to the person's anus and/or tissue adjacent to the anus. A connector is mounted on the other end of the outer body and is secured to the distal end of the person's large intestine for connecting the large intestine in fluid communication with the device. An inner body is slidably received within the outer body. A macerator-type pump is mounted within the inner body and an inlet valve is mounted between the pump and the connector. An actuator in the form of an RF receiver is electrically coupled to the inlet valve and the pump and a remote transmitter is operatively coupled to the receiver. The receiver is responsive to control signals received from the transmitter to open the inlet valve and operate the pump in order to move fecal matter through the device.
US08475351B2
The present invention provides a zonal centrifuge which has superior workability and functionality when a sample is filled and extracted. An oil bearing fitted to an outer circumference of a lower tube of a rotor is arranged on an internal face of a bearing housing fixed over a door adapter of the centrifuge. As the oil bearing and the lower tube are lubricated, a vacuum environment in a rotor rotating chamber is maintained. A rotating seal located at an upper leading end of the lower tube of the rotor and a fixing seal facing the rotating seal are arranged and provided in a sealed space formed by a mechanical seal member and the bearing housing, and the fixing seal is so manipulated as to be able to freely join and separate from the rotating seal.
US08475349B2
Pre-stretched films may be used to increase the rate at which loads can be wrapped and to minimize the exertion required when using traditional handheld film. However, the edges of pre-stretched films are easily damaged, which may result in tearing or failure of the film during use. The present disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for folding the edges of the film, resulting in a film that is less susceptible to damage and easier to use.
US08475347B2
An industrial roll includes: a substantially cylindrical core having an outer surface; a polymeric cover circumferentially overlying the core outer surface; and a sensing system. The sensing system includes: a first signal carrying member serially connecting a first set of sensors; a second signal carrying member serially connecting a second set of sensors; and a signal processing unit operatively associated with the first and second signal carrying members and configured to selectively monitor the signals provided by the first and second set of sensors.
US08475339B2
A method for correcting life patterns for providing feedback for an exercise program periodically or in real time is disclosed. The method of the present invention detects a starting point of a dynamic activity interval periodically or in real time by sensing movement of a user in daily life, and provides an exercise program for filling a deficient amount of activity compared to a target value in the detected activity interval when the starting point is detected. Therefore, the method of the present invention may simply provide feedback for an amount of activity of a pertinent interval at an actual starting point of the dynamic activity interval, and thus the user may effectively follow the provided exercise program for correcting life patterns.
US08475329B2
A vehicle includes an engine, a first motor, a second motor, and a gearbox. An oncoming clutch is configured to engage during a transition to a target operating mode to transfer an engine torque to the gearbox during the target operating mode. An off-going clutch is configured to transfer a reactive torque to the gearbox during the transition to the target operating mode. The off-going clutch is configured to be disengaged during at least a portion of the target operating mode. A controller is configured to simultaneously control the off-going clutch and the oncoming clutch during the transition. The controller is configured to control the reactive torque of the off-going clutch using a clutch torque profile associate with the target operating mode and the engagement of the oncoming clutch using a shift profile associated with target operating mode.
US08475325B2
A carrier assembly includes a first plate, a second plate spaced from the first plate and formed with a cylinder, pinions supported on the first and second plates; and a piston located in the cylinder for displacement along an axis of the cylinder.
US08475317B2
A vehicle drive system includes a first power path wherein an engine drives an accessory and a starter-alternator at relatively low speed, a second power path wherein the engine drives the accessory and a starter-alternator at relatively high speed, a third power path wherein the starter-alternator drives the accessory while the engine is off, and a fourth power path wherein the starter-alternator cranks the engine before an engine restart.
US08475315B2
An easily structured swing internal contact type planetary gear device is proposed which can achieve a higher meshing ratio when an involute tooth profile is adapted. Each of an internal tooth of an internally toothed gear wheel and an external tooth of an externally toothed gear wheel is formed with an involute tooth profile. Under a driving condition, one of an internal tooth body of the internally toothed gear wheel and an external tooth body of the externally toothed gear wheel is elastically deformed in an extending direction and the other thereof is elastically deformed in a contracting direction so that the number of meshing teeth becomes larger than the number of meshing teeth under a non-driving condition.
US08475305B2
A computer-controlled apparatus for setting destination speed stages of a bicycle transmission comprises a shift command unit and a transmission control unit. The shift command unit generates shift commands, and the transmission control unit receives the shift commands and generates transmission command signals for causing the bicycle transmission to move to a destination speed stage. When the shift command unit is operated for a first time interval, the transmission control unit generates a first transmission command signal for causing the bicycle transmission to move through one speed stage to a first destination speed stage. When the shift command unit is operated for a second time interval greater than the first time interval, the transmission control unit generates a second transmission command signal for causing the bicycle transmission to move through a plurality of speed stages to a second destination speed stage.
US08475302B1
A hunting arrow has a wound-enhancing accessory which has at least one pair of pivoting knife blades which deploy upon striking the targeted prey. Unlike existing broad head devices, the blades of the present invention are positioned at the tail of the arrow between the fletching and the nock where there is less impact on the aerodynamics of the arrow. In one embodiment, the restraining force resisting deployment of the knife blades can be adjusted using a set screw.
US08475296B2
A golf club or component thereof has a surface, wherein at least one area of the surface has a level of hydrophilicity which is less than the level of hydrophilicity in at least one surrounding portion, causing moisture to be preferentially attracted to the surrounding portion. In one aspect, the surface is a striking face and the surrounding portion is one or more grooves formed in the striking face. In another aspect, the surface is a grip and the surrounding portion is one or more channels formed in the grip. In some examples, hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surfaces on golf club components repel water and, in some instances, also offer self-cleaning functionality.
US08475291B2
Embodiments of multiple flex shaft systems are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also presented herein.
US08475289B2
A launch monitor that includes substantially all of its functional components on or within a housing is disclosed. In one embodiment, the launch monitor is capable of being transported and used in any desired location. One or more camera's, flashes, and triggers may be used to acquire images of a golf club and golf ball. The launch monitor is preferably capable of receiving and transmitting data over a wireless network. Acquired images and other data may be analyzed by a processor, and then displayed using an LED, LCD or other type of display or printer. The launch monitor may “recognize” a plurality of golf clubs and golf balls based on an optical fingerprint. The optical fingerprints, which are preferably stored in a memory, allow the launch monitor to identify a golf club and/or ball substantially soon after they are placed in the field of view of the monitor Optical fingerprinting enables automatic record keeping, and storing performance data and equipment used simultaneously. This feature eliminates tedious record keeping, eliminates data entry errors, and enables rapid equipment optimization.
US08475284B1
Systems and methods for providing dynamic views for video game programs are provided herein. Exemplary methods for providing a dynamic view of a gaming environment may include continually calculating a bounding area of a gaming environment, the bounding area being defined by locations of a plurality of players relative to one another within the gaming environment, the bounding area changing as the plurality of players move relative to one another, as well as continually generating a top down view of the bounding area of the gaming environment, the top down view being dynamically altered as the bounding area is dynamically adjusted.
US08475274B2
A method for use with a simulation includes running the simulation, receiving information from a control interface used by a user to interact with the simulation, analyzing the received information, forming at least an indication of the user's level of skill based on the analysis of the received information, and adjusting a difficulty level of the simulation based on the indication of the user's level of skill. A storage medium storing a computer program executable by a processor based system and an apparatus for use with a simulation are also disclosed.
US08475265B2
A gaming system including a multiple player persistent game, such as an ongoing community game. This ongoing community game includes a community game matrix which is continuously displayed to at least each of the players. The community game matrix includes a plurality of displayed positions which may be associated with an award or an award opportunity. In operation, at least each of the players playing the gaming devices of the gaming system are associated with a displayed participant that moves (either randomly or based on the player's control) to different of the displayed positions of the community game matrix. If a player moves their associated participant to a displayed position that is associated with an award or an award opportunity, the gaming system provides the player any associated award or enables the player to participate in any associated award opportunity to potentially win an award.
US08475257B2
Novel methods, devices and systems are described for mapping a variety of Class III game outcomes to a common set of bingo patterns. Each game theme may have a different entertaining display, based upon a corresponding Class III game. Preferably, each game theme will offer game play and paytable percentages closely matching those of the original Class III game. Some implementations provide a system wherein electronic gaming machines presenting entertaining displays of various Class III game themes are linked to a single bingo server. By linking many participating electronic gaming machines to a single server, some implementations of the invention allow all of the progressive contributions to be pooled into one large progressive jackpot, thereby making the game more attractive to players.
US08475249B2
Methods and system for presenting a plurality of attributes of a plurality of players from a plurality of teams that are part of a league includes obtaining a plurality of attributes of the plurality of players and the plurality of teams. The plurality of attributes of the plurality of the players and of the teams is populated in one or more databases along with any updates to these attributes. The databases are queried to retrieve updated plurality of attributes of the plurality of players and the plurality of teams. A roster grid is generated for the plurality of teams for rendering at a client in substantial real time. The roster grid displays the updated status of the plurality of attributes of the plurality of players and the plurality of teams simultaneously in a clean, concise and effective manner.
US08475247B1
A combine harvester threshing drum threshing bar includes a rigid, integral, unitary threshing fixture having a leading edge and an opposed trailing end, an upstream face and an opposed downstream face formed with an oblique crop deflecting surface, a threshing side and an opposed threshing drum emplacement side. The threshing side includes a trailing threshing face formed toward the trailing end of the threshing fixture, and an inclined leading threshing face extending from the trailing threshing face to the leading edge, and which cooperates with the threshing drum emplacement side and the upstream and downstream faces of the threshing fixture at the leading edge to form a wedge in the threshing fixture. Crop threshing grooves are formed in the trailing threshing face of the top threshing side of the threshing fixture, which extend from the trailing end to the leading threshing face of the threshing fixture.
US08475236B2
A sander according to the present invention having a housing, a motor mounted in the housing, wherein the housing comprises an upper housing section and a lower housing section, the upper housing section includes an inner surface, the lower housing section includes a motor housing, the lower housing section at least partially overlapped by the upper housing section, and a grip portion formed on the upper housing section. The upper housing section is connected with the lower housing section through a damping means including at least a damping element positioned on the inner surface the upper housing section and on the periphery of the motor housing section, the damping element engaged with engagement member. The arrangement of the damping means simplifies the connection between the upper and lower housing sections, while effectively reducing the vibrations in the horizontal and vertical directions when the sander is in use.
US08475230B2
An abrasive cutting or drilling system, apparatus and method, which includes an upstream supercritical fluid and/or liquid carrier fluid, abrasive particles, a nozzle and a gaseous or low-density supercritical fluid exhaust abrasive stream. The nozzle includes a throat section and, optionally, a converging inlet section, a divergent discharge section, and a feed section.
US08475229B2
Short and/or rod-shaped workpieces are completely machined by grinding two parallel end faces and the longitudinal sides of the workpiece with very short cycle times. The grinding machine includes two grinding spindles that are arranged in a tandem arrangement with parallel rotational axes on a shared grinding headstock and that are jointly moved in the X direction. In cooperation with a special holding and transport device for the workpieces, two workpieces are each ground, at least partly concurrently, the end faces of the one workpiece being ground in one machining position and the final non-circular grinding of the exterior contour of a second workpiece occurring in a second machining station, the end faces of the second workpiece having already been ground.
US08475226B2
The present invention provides for a plurality of interconnectable modular members that may create a pathway system with multiple entrances into the upper portion of each member and at least one exit from the lower portion of each member, thereby providing for a variety of convergence and divergence possibilities. The pathway system is suitable for receiving and transporting marbles and other spherical objects from one member to another. The modular members may be interlinked via male/female connectors to create a variety of configurations.
US08475225B2
Construction kit with two- and/or three-dimensional construction elements (1, 9) with magnetic elements (4) in the corners and/or sides and ferromagnetic spheres (11), which can be placed between the magnetic elements (4) of adjacent construction elements (1, 9) to connect the construction elements (1, 9) together using a magnetic bond so that they can be detached.
US08475221B1
An automatic speed control system that provides desired watercraft velocity over land. The coupled algorithms correct engine speed and torque using inertia based measurements, GPS, and tachometer measurements, and the corrections are augmented and enhanced by velocity/speed and torque/speed relationships that are dynamically and adaptively programmed with real-time data collected during replicated operations of the watercraft in specified conditions.
US08475220B2
An electrical connector formed to have at least one or more pairs of opposing legs extending from a body portion where each leg extends to a contact point where an inner surface of each opposing leg contact. A spring clip can be positioned over one or more of the opposing legs to increase a compressive force. The spring clip may include an alignment feature to limit clip rotating and/or pitching.
US08475215B2
Systems and methods electrically connect a first electronic device or electrical component, having a external electrical connector, to a circuit board of a second electronic device. A low-cost, user-installable connection system isolates mechanical stresses imposed on the external electrical connector to within the user-installable connection system, thereby preventing the mechanical stresses from reaching the circuit board in the second electronic device. If the connection becomes faulty, only the low-cost, user-installable connection system must be replaced.
US08475212B1
A charging connector adapted for connecting between a mated connector and a cable includes an insulating housing, a terminal and a shielding shell surrounding the insulating housing. The insulating housing has a base body, and a protruding portion protruding upward from a top surface of the base body. The insulating housing defines a terminal groove. The terminal has a locating piece located on the top surface of the base body. A front of the locating piece defines a contact piece disposed in the terminal groove with a front thereof electrically contacting with the mated connector. A rear of the locating piece defines a soldering piece disposed to a rear of the insulating housing to be soldered with the cable. A side of the shielding shell defines a soldering plate disposed to one side of the insulating housing to be soldered with the cable.
US08475206B2
A coaxial connecter and a method for assembling the same are provided, in which there is little variation in the amount of holding an inner conductor between connection terminals and the connection between the inner conductor and the connection terminals is achieved with high reliability. The coaxial connector includes a housing, an inner contact, and an outer contact. The inner contact is secured to the housing and includes a conductor mounting portion and a conductor holding arm with a lock. The conductor holding arm is integrally formed with the conductor mounting portion. The outer contact is secured to the housing, as well. Either the housing or the conductor mounting portion is provided with a holding portion into which the lock is press-fitted when the conductor holding arm is folded toward the conductor mounting portion.
US08475196B2
An unlubricated bearing structure for supporting a rocking arm of an IC socket includes an arm support as an operating member that supports the rocking arm, a support shaft, made of metal, fitted and fixed to the arm support, and a cylindrical bush, made of metal, mounted to the support shaft so that the cylindrical bush is fitted into a bearing hole formed to the rocking arm. The support shaft, the cylindrical bush and the rocking arm are arranged such that a first clearance is formed between an outer peripheral surface of the support shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical bush, and a second clearance is formed between an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical bush and an inner peripheral surface of the bearing hole.
US08475191B2
An electric connection terminal includes a housing having at least one conductor insertion opening. A clamping spring is disposed in the housing. A metal part is disposed in the housing. An actuating element is disposed in the housing and has a handle configured to move the actuating element into an open position and a closed position so as to open and close the connection terminal. A labeling field identifying the connection terminal is disposed so as to be visible to a user at all times.
US08475190B2
A connection unit for fluorescent tubes includes a base having an extension which has an opening and an engaging portion is defined along an inner periphery of the opening, a cover is removably mounted to the base and a rotatable member is located in the cover, the cover has a terminal entrance defined in the base portion thereof so that terminals of a fluorescent tube are inserted into the terminal entrance, a shank extends from the base portion and a disk is connected to a distal end of the shank, the disk is engaged with the engaging portion of the base, the extension of the base and the cover position the disk so that the rotatable member is secured when being rotated.
US08475184B2
An electrical connector includes a housing and a plurality of terminals. Each of the terminals is formed of a sheet metal and held by the housing. Each of the terminals has a contact section to contact with a mating terminal and a connecting section to be connected to a circuit board each forming a continuous flat sheet surface. The contact section has a contact surface that slidably contacts with the mating terminal so as to extend in a connector fitting direction, and the plurality of terminals is arranged so that adjacent terminals have the contact surfaces parallel to each other.
US08475182B2
A board-to-board connector includes a double plastic pin header connector and a supporting plate. The double plastic pin header connector includes two opposite positioning plates, and a number of pin headers arranged in two rows and extending through the positioning plates. The supporting plate is placed between the two rows of pin headers, with opposite ends of the supporting plate resisting against the corresponding positioning plates.
US08475170B2
A tool for implementing Korean characters using a consonant-vowel combination system, in which a simple and concise combination system capable of implementing all Korean characters 5 using only six consonants and vowels is constructed, and thus users of the tool may realize originality, superiority, and convenience of Korean letters in daily life. The tool for implementing Korean characters using a consonant-vowel combination system is configured to implement the Korean characters using six consonant and vowel plates. Therefore, users of the Korean letters may recognize value of the Korean letters from the heart and be proud of the Korean letters.
US08475163B2
This invention relates to a heating device consisting of at least one burner for the combustion especially of a gaseous fuel, at least one radiant tube connecting to the burner, at least one fan generating a negative pressure or an excess pressure in the radiant tube, and at least one exhaust gas recirculation system with at least one exhaust gas recirculation passage through which an exhaust gas produced during the combustion of the primary fuel can be recirculated from the radiant tube to a transition zone from the burner into the radiant tube. In order to further develop a heating device of this type as well as a method for its operation the burner is adapted for being operated in at least two power stages and the exhaust gas recirculation system is controlled in dependence of the power stages of the burner in such a way that the volume flow of the recirculated exhaust gas is reduced with an increasing power stage of the burner.
US08475149B2
A scroll fluid machine that suppresses fluctuations in a port aperture area during each revolution of an orbiting scroll. Suction ports for sucking in a working fluid are disposed on a second base plate to have openings in a vicinity of a winding start end portion of a second spiral tooth, and near an inward facing surface of the second spiral tooth at a position separated by an involute angle approximately 90° from the winding start end portion of the second spiral tooth. Discharge ports for discharging the working fluid are disposed on a first base plate to have openings in a vicinity of a winding start end portion of a first spiral tooth, and near an inward facing surface of the first spiral tooth at a position separated by an involute angle approximately 90° from the winding start end portion of the first spiral tooth.
US08475147B2
A pump assembly having an inhibitor tube is provided for lifting produced fluids to the surface. The pump assembly includes a pump and may optionally include a gas separator. The pump assembly includes an inhibitor tube having an outlet configured to be in fluid communication with the suction opening of either the pump or the gas separator. The inhibitor tube allows for the separation of gas from the produced fluid prior to the produced fluid entering the gas separator or the pump.
US08475145B2
The present invention provides micro-fluidic systems, a method for the manufacturing of such a micro-fluidic system and a method for controlling or manipulating a fluid flow through micro-channels of a such a micro-fluidic system. Herefore, an inner side of a wall of a microchannel is provided with actuator elements which can change shape and orientation as a response to an external stimulus. Through this change of shape and orientation the flow of a fluid through a microchannel may be controlled and manipulated.
US08475141B2
A pump assembly 10 for high pressure cleaners having a pump body 12 encasing the free end 14 of a motor shaft provided with a keyed-on wobble plate 16 which moves one or more than one axial pistons 18 that are elastically tensioned by helical springs 20. The pump assembly also includes a pump head 32 fixed to the pump body 12 provided with fluid inlet and outlet conduits and relative valves, and an intermediate housing 34 for receiving and guiding the piston 18. The intermediate housing 34 has a frustoconical-shaped body with its larger diametered bottom section facing the same-diametered pump body 12 and being secured thereto by screws 36.
US08475136B2
A compressor includes at least one current sensor and processing circuitry in communication with the at least one current sensor. The processing circuitry declares a locked rotor condition when current drawn by the compressor is at least forty percent of peak locked rotor current.
US08475134B2
The method consists in depositing, by alumina spraying, an electrically insulating sublayer on the substrate, then in placing the sensor on the electrically insulating sublayer and finally in depositing, by alumina spraying, a cover layer on the sensor and the electrically insulating sublayer. It further includes, before the cover layer is deposited, a step in which an impermeable and thermally insulating cement is applied locally on wires of the sensor.
US08475130B2
An axial flow fan comprises a central hub (2) and a plurality of blades (3), each fixed to the central hub (2) and extending from a respective first end (3a) proximal to the hub (2) to a respective second end (3b) distal from the hub (2); the blades (3) are inclined at a keying angle (β) to a rotation plane (R) of the fan which also comprises a plurality of aerodynamic protrusions (11), each extending from a first lateral edge (6) of a corresponding blade (3) in the vicinity of its second end (3b); each protrusion (11) lies in a plane (PP) perpendicular to an axis (A) of fan rotation.
US08475128B2
The invention relates to a fairing adapted to be mounted on a wind turbine blade (2), wherein the outer surface of said fairing is arranged so as to reduce, when mounted on the blade, the aerodynamic drag in a flapwise (z) direction of the blade. In this way a reduction of the exciter power required in a flatwise fatigue test of the blade is achieved.
US08475125B2
Tip shrouds on last stage buckets for condensing steam turbines may create significant blockage and form a vortex at the wall of the steam guide of the diffuser, causing the steam flow to separate from the wall of the steam guide. Vortex formation reduces the effective flow area for the remaining fluid to diffuse, causing poor recovery. An inward radial depression is provided of a predetermined depth and distance along an outer steam guide, which redirects the tip leakage flows slightly downward, reducing a shroud blockage effect. This deflection assists the main flow in rejoining the steam guide, thereby making the diffuser more effective.
US08475124B2
A method for assembling an exhaust hood for a turbine is provided. The method includes providing a bearing cone that substantially circumscribes a rotor of the turbine; and positioning a guide radially outward from the bearing cone. The guide and the bearing cone are configured to channel fluid from the turbine. The method also includes extending a guide cap from the guide. The guide cap is oriented to facilitate preventing the generation of fluid vortexes within the exhaust hood.
US08475111B2
A ring fan and shroud guide system which includes a rotating fan member with a conical outer ring and a cylindrical shroud member overlapping at least a portion of the outer ring. A plurality of guide vanes are provided in the shroud which minimize the tangential velocity component of the air flow entering the tip-gap region and provide improved air flow through the system. The guide vanes can have a curved configuration.
US08475108B2
A system for moving a large object is provided that includes one or more wheels in contact with a ground surface and two pedals coupled to at least one wheel such that a downward force on at least one of the pedals by an operator seated on the system causes the wheels to move in a forward direction. The system further includes a gearing element that includes a gearbox that translates the downward force to the wheels. The system also includes a loading element that receives at least a portion of the large object such that it can be transported when the wheels move in the forward direction, where the large object weighs at least 300 pounds. In more specific embodiments, the system includes a steering component that includes one of the wheels, where the steering component allows a direction of the system to be guided by the operator.
US08475093B2
A clamping unit for releasably holding a tubular toolholder shank has a base member with a canister sleeve mounted therein. To secure the canister sleeve within the base member and to minimize movement caused by tolerances, retention bolts are threadably mated within the base member to engage a slot within the canister, wherein the relationship between the retention bolt and the slot is such that the retention bolt is intentionally misaligned, so that when engaged with the canister slot, the retention blot resiliently deflects and provides both an axial force and a lateral force upon a canister sleeve.
US08475075B2
A suspension component for a vehicle includes a cast iron body, a high strength steel tube and an adapter ring. The adapter ring includes a protrusion engaged with a face of the cast iron body. The protrusion is heated to a plasticized state as a capacitor is discharged through the protrusion and the face. The adapter ring is welded to the body upon cooling of the adapter ring. The high strength steel tube is fixed to the adapter ring.
US08475073B1
A pivot connector has a first connecting part and a second connecting part. The first connecting part has a male pivot member and a first mounting member that is connected to the male pivot member. The second connecting part has a female pivot member and a second mounting member that is connected to the female pivot member. The first connecting part is connectable to the second connecting part such that a first engagement surface of the male pivot member is in engagement with a second engagement surface of the female pivot member. Each tab of a plurality tabs of the male pivot member is receivable in a respective slot of a plurality arcuate slots of the female pivot member such that the first connecting part is pivotable with respect to the second connecting part over a limited range of motion.
US08475072B1
A scraping apparatus (350), which secures to a wand (142) of a pressure sprayer. The scraping apparatus (350) includes a scraping blade (120), which is fastened to a spacing block (352). The assembly is secured to the wand (142) via a clamping mechanism (354). The clamping mechanism (354) can be of a quick release design. The rotating blade (152) can be pivotally assembled to the block (352) and held in position by any of a variety of designs.
US08475062B2
A shutter drive device includes a base member, an actuator, a first drive member, and a second drive member. The actuator is fixed to the base member and produces a driving force to drive the shutter mechanism. The first drive member is rotatably supported by the base member and configured to be rotated by the driving force. The second drive member is supported by the base member so as to be linearly movable in a first direction and configured to transmit the driving force of the actuator to the shutter mechanism. The first drive member has a gear component to drive the second drive member in the first direction, and a cam component configured to hold the second drive member in a specific position. The second drive member has a rack gear configured to mesh with the gear component, and a cam follower configured to contact the cam component.
US08475045B2
A bag includes an outer body portion or outer shell which encloses a storage compartment. The bag also includes a pocket non-removably attached to the bag which is accessible through the outer body portion or outer shell and is freely contained within the storage compartment. The pocket is configured to retain a cover, which is non-removably attached thereto. The cover is a flexible material that is water resistant or water repellant. The cover can be collapsed and stored within the pocket or can be withdrawn from the pocket and spread over the outer body portion or outer shell of the bag, thereby protecting it, for example, from inclement weather.
US08475044B2
An analyzing apparatus of the present invention includes a cassette unit (20) for generating a cassette identification signal identifying a type of a cassette (21), a sample holder (8) having an insertion hole (83) and a ring shaped pedestal (82), a transport section (23) for transporting the sample (S), a sample holder identifying section (35) for generating a sample holder identification signal identifying the type of the sample holder appropriate to the diameter of the sample to be placed, and a determining section (40) for determining, based on the cassette identification signal and the sample holder identification signal, whether or not the diameter of the sample to be accommodated in the cassette (21) and the diameter of the sample to be placed on the pedestal of the sample holder (8) match with each other.
US08475042B1
A thermal shield for an XRF measurement tool is formed from a heat shield and a heat shield cowling. These components protect the X-ray head assembly that includes the x-ray generation and detection columns and the head control electronics, communications and cooling systems. The heat shield is directly below the X-ray head, parallel to the x-ray head plane and plane of the PV substrate, and perpendicular to the primary beam output from the x-ray head. The heat shield is fabricated of machined copper with several ports machined through the shield. These ports provide a path for primary beam x-rays through the heat shield and for the return of fluoresced X-rays from the PV substrate back to the detector in the X-ray head, while preventing damage to the X-ray head due to the heat emitted from the PV substrate.
US08475038B2
Described is a method and apparatus for compensating for a change in an output characteristic of a temperature sensor due to varying temperature. The temperature sensor includes a temperature sensing core, an analog-to-digital converter, a counter, and a temperature compensating circuit. The temperature sensing core generates a sense voltage corresponding to a sensed temperature. The analog-to-digital converter converts the sense voltage into a digital signal and generates a conversion signal. The temperature compensating circuit generates a counter clock signal that varies according to a temperature change. The counter counts the number of pulses of the counter clock signal according to the conversion signal.
US08475034B2
Enhanced compound pendulums provide thermal compensation and/or barometric compensation, such as for a mechanical clock system. The enhanced compound pendulums are simple to construct, and can be more easily compensated than conventional, single-bob pendulums. The enhanced compound pendulums typically comprise material that is added above the point of rotation. Thermal expansion factors for components of the enhanced compound pendulums may preferably be chosen to provide thermal compensation to the first order. In some embodiments of enhanced compound pendulums, volume is added above the pivot to provide barometric compensation, such as by equalizing the moments above and below the pivot, or by providing geometric symmetry above and below the pivot, with a lower density above the pivot.
US08475030B2
An LED backlight method for display systems comprising receiving a plurality of light emitting diodes categorized into a plurality of bins, wherein each bin references a separate range of white point colors, and determining an optimal order for mounting the plurality of light emitting diodes at spatially distributed positions, the plurality of light emitting diodes comprising white point colors associated with separate bins, wherein the optimal order of the plurality of light emitting diodes produces a light of a desired white point color when the light outputs of the plurality of light emitting diodes are mixed.
US08475023B2
A light emitting module includes: a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements; a substrate by which the arranged plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements are supported; and a plate-shaped light wavelength conversion component that is provided so as to face the light emitting surfaces of the plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements and that converts the wavelength of the light emitted by the semiconductor light emitting element. A phosphor layer has a shielding portion formed in the boundary between respective areas facing the respective light emitting surfaces of the adjacent semiconductor light emitting elements.
US08475022B2
A vehicle lighting assembly is provided which includes a housing, first and second light sources located in the housing, and an articulating reflector. The articulating reflector is located within the housing and moves between a use position in front of the first light source to reflect light from the second light source and a retracted position. Accordingly, light assembly housing is effectively used to provide a secondary light source, such as a daylight running lamp.
US08475010B2
The invention provides an illumination device (1) comprising a lighting unit (2). The lighting unit (2) comprises a light source (100) and a substantially flat collimator (200), arranged to collimate light source light (111). The collimator (200) has an entrance window (210), an edge window (220), a top collimator surface (201), a bottom collimator surface (202), a first collimating side edge (230) and a second collimating side edge (240). The lighting unit has an optical axis (O). One or more of the top collimator surface (201), the bottom collimator surface (202), the first collimating side edge (230) and the second collimating side edge (240) comprise n*½ grooves (300), wherein n is a positive integer number, and wherein the grooves (300) independently have a longitudinal axis (301) having a groove direction angle (ω) with the optical axis (O) ≧0° and & and <90°.
US08475006B2
A dark field illuminator that includes: (i) a light source adapted to provide ring of light characterized by uniform intensity distribution; (ii) a collimating ring adapted to receive the ring of light and to direct collimated light beams towards an area of an inspected object such that different points within the area are illuminated by identical cones of light characterized by an incidence angle; and wherein the collimating ring and the light source are co-centric to an optical axis of the dark field illuminator.
US08475001B2
A lamp including a tube holder and a light emitting diode tube is disclosed. The tube holder includes a first terminal socket and a second terminal socket. The first terminal socket is electrically connected to a power source. The light emitting diode tube is installed onto the tube holder. One end of the light emitting diode tube has two first conductive terminals plugging in the first terminal socket so as to provide the power source to the light emitting diode tube. Alternatively, one end of the light emitting diode tube includes at least one first conductive terminal and the other end includes at least one second conductive terminal so as to conduct an alternate current power or a direct current power to the light emitting diode tube via the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal of two ends of the light emitting diode tube, respectively.
US08474996B2
An LED illumination apparatus includes a body, a light source module, a shell, and a driver. The light source module includes a substrate and an LED chip. The light source module is arranged on the body. The shell is made of transparent material and covers the light source module. The driver drives the light source module. A plurality of fins extends on one side of the body away from the light source module. The fins are integrally formed on the body by extrusion technology.
US08474994B2
A multi purpose visual and audible signaling baton having applicability to fire scenes, traffic and crowd control, police operations, military procedures, search and rescue operations, and event parking has a whistle and LED assembly. A controller and power assembly controls and powers the baton by directly responding to a plurality of modes including an audible sound generating mode as well as an audio voice button. The baton provides a high intensity colors that illuminate much like a neon tube. The baton can function as a flashlight or strobe light. Also, each light that is selected can be accompanied by a loud 100 dbA whistle, merely by pressing a button. The baton permits a user to select up to ten colors with a capability of five different sounds including verbal commands and the baton, with a radio transmitter, can communicate with a remote radio receiver due to a programmable microprocessor.
US08474992B2
A lighting device comprising: a light emitting module including a plurality of electrically connected light emitting bars each having a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices; a chassis for containing the light emitting module and having a discharge opening; a reflection sheet arranged in the chassis; and a brightness nonuniformity reduction unit, wherein the light emitting bar includes: a band plate-shaped substrate; a wiring formed on one surface of the substrate; the plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices; and first and second connectors formed in proximity to opposing shorter sides on the one surface of the substrate, wherein the reflection sheet has at least a plurality of corresponding holes through which the plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices are inserted, and wherein the brightness nonuniformity reduction unit is arranged in proximity to a position of the first and second connectors of each light emitting bar.
US08474990B2
A vehicle inside mirror device employs a ball clamp in which a barrel-shaped ball clamp is prepared by assembling a pair of semi-barrel-shaped and symmetrical bodies to accommodate for manufacturing errors and the like. The ball clamp includes a mirror through which a driver can view rearwardly; and a mirror mounting part. The mirror mounting part has a barrel-shaped hinge part. A first ball clamp surrounds and clamps the hinge part. A second ball clamp corresponds to the first ball clamp with a spring between the first ball clamp and the second ball clamp for generating an expansion force. The mirror mounting part is fixed to a glass or a ceiling of a vehicle and has a hinge part for coupling the second ball clamp thereto. A tube surrounding the first ball clamp, the second ball clamp and the spring.
US08474977B2
A fiber optic illuminator is provided comprising an optics bed, a light source, a collimating lens, and a condensing lens. The light source is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed. The collimating lens is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed and collimates at least a portion of the light from the light source. A condensing lens receives the substantially collimated light output and focuses the collimated light output to optically couple to an optical fiber. The condensing lens may be mounted on an adjustable mount. The tolerances of the fixed optical elements i.e. light source and collimating lens allow the fixed optical elements to be positioned with a minimal amount of variation where the variation is determined by manufacturing tolerances associated with these individual elements and their mounts and couple them to the optics bed.
US08474971B2
A transport apparatus transports a recording medium fed from a feeding roll and wound up onto a take-up roll. A transport roller is arranged in a path between the feeding roll and the take-up roll. A first tension bar is arranged in a path between the transport roller and the take-up roll to apply tension to the recording medium in a first direction different from a transport direction of the recording medium. A second tension bar is arranged in a path between the first tension bar and the take-up roll to apply tension to the recording medium in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second tension bars apply tension to the recording medium in the first and second directions so that the recording medium is tightened by the first and second tension bars and the tightened recording medium is wound up onto the take-up roll.
US08474968B2
In a stopped state where a sheet is not moving, control is performed so that at a location, the sheet is heated by a heating unit and cooled by a cooling unit at the same time. When the sheet starts moving after the stopped state in order for the inkjet head to apply ink to the sheet, control is performed so that at the location, the sheet continues to be heated by the heating unit and is cooled by the cooling unit at a lower power than in the stopped state.
US08474963B2
An inkjet recording ink which includes: a carbon black; a dispersant, wherein the dispersant is a sodium naphthalenesulfonate-formalin condensate; resin emulsion; and water, in which the resin emulsion contains a resin which is at least one of a urethane resin and a styrene-acryl resin, and the ink satisfies the following relationship: 20≦B−A≦50, where A(nm) represents a particle diameter D90 of particles contained in dispersion containing the carbon black, the dispersant, and water, which is before added with the resin emulsion, and B(nm) represents a particle diameter D90 of particles contained in the ink.
US08474957B2
An ink tank includes a stirrer supported in a freely moveable manner near an inner wall of an ink storage chamber. When the stirrer moves closest to the inner wall, a predetermined gap is formed between opposing surfaces of the inner wall and the stirrer.
US08474955B2
A multi-channel valve apparatus for a multi-channel printhead is provided having ink ports and gas ports defined through a body, first and second pinch elements, and a pinch drive arrangement for selectively moving the first and second pinch elements. Each ink port is configured to receive therethrough a respective one of ink tubes interconnecting ink containers with the printhead. Each gas port is configured to receive therethrough a respective one of gas tubes interconnecting gas vents with the printhead. The first pinch element is moved into and out of pinching contact with the ink tubes so as to respectively block and allow fluid flow through the ink tubes. The second pinch element is moved into and out of pinching contact with the gas tubes so as to respectively block and allow fluid flow through the gas tubes.
US08474944B2
An imaging apparatus for forming an image on a flexible media includes a carriage which moves relative to the flexible media. An optical displacement sensor (ODS) is mounted on the carriage for scanning a surface of the flexible media to form scanned data wherein the scanned data represents the surface of the flexible media. A digital front end is adapted to analyze the scanned data to detect and locate defects on the flexible media. An imaging head mounted on the carriage for writing an image on the flexible media wherein the location of imaging on the flexible media is adjusted to avoid the location of the defects detected on the flexible media.
US08474941B2
There are provided an inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method, whereby, the temperature of a print head is controlled and the ejection volume of ink to be ejected is stabilized to print a high-quality image, even at a high printing duty. Based on print data, an ejection number of ink to be ejected into a unit printing area is counted. The print head is heated to a target temperature that is raised in consonance with an increase in the count value.
US08474938B2
A replaceable printing component is provided, including a fluid reservoir, an electrical storage device mounted on the fluid reservoir, and an identifier stored on the information storage device, wherein the identifier is fixed based on an initial volume of fluid stored in the fluid reservoir.
US08474937B2
Provided are an apparatus and method of controlling jetting of ink of an inkjet printer. The apparatus includes at least one print head chip, which includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the print head chip and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) for converting the sensed temperature to a frequency component. The apparatus may also include a counter, which converts the frequency component to a code information using a reference frequency component, and a controller, which controls the ink jetting operation of the at least one print head chip based on the code information and/or the frequency component.
US08474936B2
An ink jet printing apparatus, an ink jet printing method, and a data generating apparatus are provided in which an image performance such as an abrasion resistance can be improved and a printing head can have a longer life by ejecting processing liquid at an appropriate time. The processing liquid is ejected, to a predetermined area on a printing medium in which the formation of a image by ink is completed, from a printing head in two or more scannings in five scannings of the printing heads.
US08474930B2
An ink delivery system is provided for an inkjet printer. The ink delivery system includes a supply of ink and an inkjet printhead having a first port, second port and an ink ejection nozzle. The inkjet printhead is connected to the ink supply tank by a first fluid supply path. The first fluid supply path includes first and second check valves which permit ink to flow from the ink supply tank to the inkjet printhead, but prevent fluid flow in the opposite direction. The ink delivery system includes a second fluid supply path which is connected at one end to the first fluid supply path between the respective first and second check valves. The second fluid supply path is connected at its opposite end to the inkjet printhead's second port. The second fluid supply path further includes a bidirectional pump so as to direct fluid flow in either direction through the second fluid supply path. The delivery system operates in various modes including a re-circulate mode, pressure purge mode, maintenance mode and normal print mode.
US08474929B2
An image forming apparatus includes a first path through which liquid is supplied to a recording head; a second path connected to a liquid tank; a pressure-adjustment valve connecting the first path with the second path, wherein resistance inside the pressure-adjustment valve changes according to a flow rate of the liquid flowing through the first path; a third path connecting the second path with the pressure-adjustment valve, wherein the third path includes a pump; a fourth path that connects the recording head with the liquid tank and bypasses the pressure-adjustment valve; and an opening/closing valve that opens/closes the fourth path. When an environmental temperature exceeds a threshold, liquid is supplied to the recording head by operating the pump and opening the fourth path. When the environmental temperature is less than the threshold, liquid is supplied to the recording head by operating the pump and closing the fourth path.
US08474922B2
An electronic device enclosure includes a cabinet, a door, a connection element, a spacing element, and a torsion spring. The cabinet includes a front panel and a standing table. The front panel defines an opening for receiving the standing table. A pair of first engagement portions extends from the standing table. The standing table defines a spacing hole. The door includes a pair of second engagement portions and a pair of third engagement portions. The connection element includes a pair of first shafts and second shafts respectively engaged with the first engagement portions and the second engagement portions. The spacing element includes a sliding portion and two arms, the sliding portion is received in the spacing hole, and a pair of third shafts extends outward from the arms and is engaged with the third engagement portions. The torsion spring is fixed between the door and the connection element.
US08474916B2
A stowable chair system having a base assembly and a back pivotably connected to the base assembly. A first leg retention assembly operatively coupled to the base assembly to selectively retain and position legs in a seating configuration. A second leg retention assembly separate from the first leg retention assembly to selectively retain and position the legs in a stowing configuration.
US08474915B2
An ergonomic task chair having a front and a rear, including a laterally extending seat having a front and a rear, a back brace disposed above the rear of the seat, and a knee support disposed in the front of the chair, wherein the back brace and the knee support have a first position where there is a first minimum distance between the back brace and the knee support and a second position where there is a second minimum distance between the back brace and the knee support, the second minimum distance being less than the first minimum distance, wherein movement from the first minimum distance to the second minimum distance is triggered by a downward movement of the seat.
US08474904B2
To inhibit the attractiveness of a ceiling material from deteriorating. According to a passenger compartment material structure (10), on a ceiling material (12), there is disposed a water guide portion (34) that guides water (W) flowing on a surface (32A) of an air barrier film (32) on a passenger compartment outer side toward a pillar garnish (14) to the pillar garnish (14). Consequently, even in a case where the water (W) has flowed on the surface 32A of the air barrier film 32 on the passenger compartment outer side toward the pillar garnish 14, this water guide portion (34) guides the water (W) to the pillar garnish 14, so the water (W) can be inhibited from reaching an end (28A) of an upholstery material (28) on the pillar garnish (14) side. Because of this, the water (W) can be inhibited from seeping out to a passenger compartment inner side of the upholstery material (28), so the attractiveness of the ceiling material (12) can be inhibited from deteriorating.
US08474903B2
A vehicle body structure includes a vehicle roof member, a first panel, a second panel, and a serpentine-shaped reinforcement structure. The first panel connects with and depends downwardly from the vehicle roof member. The second panel connects with the first panel. The first panel and the second panel form, when connected, a vehicle pillar. The serpentine-shaped reinforcement structure includes a plurality of peak sections and a plurality of valley sections and is disposed in the vehicle pillar between the first panel and the second panel. The reinforcement structure is fixed to the first panel via a weld at a peak section. The reinforcement structure is closest to the second panel at a valley section. A method for manufacturing a vehicle body structure is also disclosed.
US08474902B2
The present invention relates to a transverse-member motor-vehicle module for receiving the instrument panel and reinforcing the bodywork for the direct connection of the two A-pillars of a motor vehicle, composed of a transverse member with a steering-column retainer, where the transverse-member module, i.e. not only the transverse member but also the steering-column retainer, are manufactured using a metal-plastic-composite design (hybrid technology), and these are composed of at least one main body and of at least one first thermoplastic part and one second thermoplastic part, where these have been securely bonded via injection molding firstly to the main body and simultaneously the various plastics parts have been bonded to one another, where the two plastics parts are composed of different plastics materials and these are injected in the bi-injection molding process, where they fuse with one another when they encounter one another.
US08474900B2
This beam (4) is intended to be located between a shield skin (2) and a front end (6) of a motor vehicle front assembly (1), said beam (4) being designed to deform by absorbing energy in the event of an impact with the shield skin (2), said beam (4) having an approximately planar front face (8). The beam (4) comprises a rear fairing element (10) having a concavity (16) facing the front of the vehicle so as to promote a laminar flow of air from the front face (8) of the beam (4) toward the front end (6) of the front assembly (1) of the motor vehicle.
US08474898B1
A floor mat is positionable in front of a vehicle seat on a vehicle floor of a vehicle having at least one structural member that contacts the vehicle floor and is disposed rearward of a front edge of the vehicle seat. The floor mat includes a main body and an engagement structure. The main body has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, and a second end that is longitudinally spaced from the first end. The engagement structure is defined at a peripheral edge of the main body between the upper and lower surfaces. The engagement structure has a first edge portion that extends in a longitudinal direction and a second edge portion that laterally extends from the first edge portion. The second edge portion is positionable to engage the at least one structural member to restrain horizontal movement of the main body in the longitudinal direction.
US08474893B2
A grasping apparatus includes a base unit, left and right parallel links, and a driving unit that is housed in the base unit and drives the first link of the right parallel link and the first link of the left parallel link in the open/close direction. Each of the left and right parallel links has a first link attached pivotably in an open/close direction about a base shaft of the base unit, a second link attached pivotably in the open/close direction about an auxiliary shaft located on an outer side in the open/close direction, a finger unit supported pivotably at an end of the first link and an end of the second link, and a claw projecting toward the inner side in the open/close direction and disposed along an end face of the grasping surface of the finger unit of each of the left and right parallel links.
US08474890B2
A tool for retrieving animal waste is effective in complete removal as it deploys at its end a row of tines that are inserted beneath the solid waste so that is can be lifted from the ground as the first step for proper disposal. The waste is then removed from the tines by a plate that pushes it off into a waste receptacle.
US08474886B2
The object of the present invention is a vehicle door latch, whose basic version contains a locking mechanism (1, 2) with at least one operating lever (3) for the locking mechanism (1, 2) and a motor drive (4, 5, 6, 7) for opening the locking mechanism (1, 2). According to the invention, the motor drive (4, 5, 6, 7) directly acts upon the locking mechanism (1, 2) solely via the operating lever (3).
US08474885B2
A fire door lock structure includes a stopper disposed at a door frame and a latch assembly disposed at a fire door, wherein the latch assembly comprises a lock base, a latch unit, a blocking member, a pair of male and female means and a linking set. The latch unit includes a latch bolt. The latch unit and the blocking member are swingably disposed at an accommodating slot of the lock base. The blocking member is fastened at the stopper by the pair of male and female means, wherein the male means comprises a fastener formed at the blocking member. In the locked state, the fastener of the male means can be fastened at the stopper to prevent the stopper from being unable to block the latch bolt caused by a deformed fire door or deformed door frame under a fire condition.
US08474884B2
A door lock with a bolt, wherein the bolt pieces of the dual-action bolt are prevented from turning away from each other as the bolt pieces have two projections (24, 26) arranged to cooperate with the inner surface (30) of the front plate. In relation to the support of the bolt piece on the shaft (29), one of the projections (26) is arranged on the opposite side in the axial direction compared to the other away-facing projection.
US08474880B2
Pipe ends having radial flanges may be easily attached by an arcuate snap coupler having a channel for receiving portions of spaced face to face flanges on respective pipe end portions to be connected. The flanges may be formed directly on the pipe end portions, or may be formed by coupler body pieces attached to the pipe end portions. The arcuate snap coupler includes an open channel portion having two parallel side walls spaced apart a distance equal to the maximum desired distance over the face to face flanges when the two pipe end portions are joined together, a first hinge portion for rotatable attachment to a first fastener bolt extending between the flanges, and a second hinge portion for attachment to a second fastener bolt extending between the flanges after rotation of the coupler to receive the flange portions in the channel.
US08474879B2
A threadless connection for coupling segments of pipe longitudinally end to end includes a pin end having a groove for receiving therein a locking ring. A box end has a groove for receiving the locking ring therein when the pin end is inserted into the box end. The locking ring has an uncompressed diameter selected to exert lateral force on the groove in the box end when assembled to the pin end.
US08474877B2
An electrical fitting in the form of a connector or coupler for connecting an electrical metallic tube or EMT to an electrical box or panel or to one another. A unidirectional locking device is disposed in an outermost chamber and an O-ring is disposed in an intermediate chamber. The unidirectional locking device has gripping tangs. The intermediate chamber and gripping tangs are sized so as to prevent the gripping tangs from contacting the O-ring. A contact shoulder is used on one end of the fitting to prevent excessive compression of a sealing washer. Internal longitudinal radially increasing ribs are formed in the fitting body improving continuity and support for the EMT. A tube support may also be provided to prohibit any undesirable bending movement of the EMT connected thereto.
US08474876B2
An anti-rotation key inserts into a pocket formed on an outer surface of a male threaded connector. The key has a lower inner side portion for contact with the base of the pocket. An array of teeth on a lower outer side portion of the key bite into an inner wall of a female threaded connector as the key is forced into the pocket. One of the edges of the key is configured such that a line tangent to the first side edge where it intersects the lower outer side portion will intersect a line tangent to a central portion of the lower inner side portion at an angle less than 90 degrees. Relative motion between the male and female threaded connectors in a loosening direction causes the key to pivot about an engagement of the first side edge with the first side wall and bite more deeply into the inner wall of the female threaded connector.
US08474875B2
A wired drill pipe electronic device includes a housing having a threaded connection at each end configured to couple to a wired drill pipe having double shoulder threaded connections. A chassis is disposed inside the housing and is configured to define at least one sealed atmospheric chamber between the chassis and the housing. The chassis defines an internal passage therethrough. The device includes a stress coupling to enable transmission of at least one of axial and torque loading from both the inner and outer shoulder of adjacent wired drill pipe segments through the housing.
