US08988257B2
According to one embodiment, method for decoding encoded data comprises a hardware module including circuitry to process a data stream. The data stream includes one or more encoded symbols each including a code assigned to a corresponding symbol. A set of least frequently occurring symbols are assigned a common code to encode those symbols within the data stream. Data blocks are generated each containing a data stream portion. One or more encoded symbols within each data block are identified by comparing data block portions to maximum code values for corresponding code lengths to determine a code length for each data block portion. A starting location for the identified encoded symbols within each data block is determined based on the determined code lengths.
US08988251B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and method which allows information representing a state or condition or an action to be performed as part of a control system to be present to one or more users. The information is selected and generated in a manner which removes or at least reduces the risk of potentially catastrophic error occurring which would be possible if, for example, the information is corrupt or lost during subsequent transmission, remote processing and/or displaying. One such use of the apparatus and method of the invention is in relation to transport vehicles and the control of the movement of said vehicles along predefined geographical paths.
US08988238B2
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring operating machinery, acquiring data regarding characteristic behavior of the machinery being monitored, and processing of the data to determine and indicate when significant deviations from normal operating conditions are occurring that represent maintenance initiating or failure mode events. The method includes learning what normal operating conditions are for a machine of interest by acquiring data during observed normal operation, then calculating detection threshold values based on the acquired data. Finally, real-time monitoring of the machinery of interest during operation is employed, with alarms triggered upon occurrence of a previously-defined number of occurrences of behavior exceeding parameters associated with normal operation behavior.
US08988226B2
A device operable as an electronic shark deterrent has a high-voltage pulse signal waveform generator for pulses to be applied to electrodes immersed in water to deter sharks and other aquatic creatures. A preferred output waveform has a train of pulse bursts of alternating-polarity pulses in a series. Preferably, the timing intervals between pulses are of irregular duration, the amplitudes of pulses are varied to be irregular, and the interval between pulse bursts is kept to less than about 5 seconds, in order to be more effective as a shark deterrent signal. The device has the signal waveform generator enclosed in a thin, planar case mounted to a belt connector and a fastener strap for attachment to a part of a user's body. It can include a water-detection probe for automatic activation when immersed in water, a status LED indicator, and electrodes embedded in a layer at opposite ends of the fastener strap with an insulative screen layer for reducing electrostatic effects on the user.
US08988225B2
A window or door position detector includes an RFID tag attachable to the window or door, and a transceiver. The transceiver emits an activating signal to the tag. The tag in turn responds with an identifying RF signal indicative of a predetermined position of the window or door. The detector includes a transceiver which can communicate with both the tag and a displaced monitoring system control panel.
US08988220B2
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting an intruder inside a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a load sensor coupled to the vehicle, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the load sensor and is configured to monitor the load in the vehicle after the vehicle is vacated and locked and to determine if the load in the vehicle changes by more than a predetermined threshold.
US08988215B1
Techniques are described for providing control of a monitoring system (e.g., a home alarm or security system) using one or more mobile devices. In some implementations, a native mobile device application enables use of a mobile device as a security/automation system keypad and controller for a home security system. In these implementations, the mobile device, using the native mobile device application, checks real time status of system and sensors, arms/disarms system, turns lights on/off, looks in on live video of security cameras, reviews history of system events, reviews saved video clips, monitors/changes thermostat settings, and performs other features of a traditional security keypad in a home security system.
US08988206B2
The present disclosure provides an in-vehicle informing device equipped in a vehicle including an idle stop system so that a driver is prevented from mistaking an engine stop state by the idle stop system for the engine stop state by an OFF position of an ignition switch. The device first determines whether an engine is automatically stopped by the idle stop system. The device determines whether a stop state of the vehicle corresponds to specific drive suspending condition when the engine is automatically stopping by the idle stop system. The device informs the driver that the engine is automatically stopped by the idle reduction function, utilizing an information giving portion equipped in the vehicle when the driver is judged as in the drive suspending state.
US08988191B2
Systems and methods are provided for authenticating an input on a touch screen. A method comprises obtaining one or more pressure metrics for an input by a user on a touch screen that is being proffered as that of a known user. Each pressure metric corresponds to a pressure applied to the touch screen by the user at a respective impression location of the input. The method further comprises authenticating the user as the known user based at least in part on the one or more pressure metrics.
US08988190B2
A portable information handling system includes a top cover, a base, and an electronic latch. The top cover is connected to the base. The top cover has a gesture sensitive surface configured to receive a trace. The electronic latch is in communication with the gesture sensitive surface, and is configured to latch the top cover and the base together. The electronic latch is further configured to unlatch the top cover from the base in response to receiving a signal representing that the trace received on the gesture sensitive surface is proper.
US08988189B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a smart key system for door lock of a vehicle configured with at least two modes, the method including selecting one of a first mode and a second mode, detecting an ON/OFF state of an engine of the vehicle and a key signal of a smart key, activating a door lock function performed outside of the vehicle, if it is confirmed through the key signal that the smart key is present outside of the vehicle, in case the first mode is selected, and deactivating a door lock function performed outside of the vehicle, if it is confirmed through the key signal that the smart key is present inside the vehicle or the engine is running, in case the second mode is selected.
US08988182B2
Transformers and methods of constructing transformers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of constructing a transformer includes wrapping a first primary winding around a core, wrapping a secondary winding around the core, and wrapping a second primary winding around the core. The first primary winding traverses substantially an entire circumference of the core in a first circumferential direction. The secondary winding includes a first half and a second half. The first half traverses substantially the entire circumference of the core in the first circumferential direction, and the second half traverses substantially the entire circumference of the core in a second circumferential direction opposite the first circumferential direction. The second primary winding traverses substantially the entire circumference of the core in the second circumferential direction.
US08988172B1
A multifunction electronics member combining structural and electronics functions includes in one embodiment an elongate longitudinally-extending structural body configured to support a structural load and including a first support base, a stiffening projection, and a first electrical circuit supported by the first support base. The circuit preferably is embedded between the first circuit base and a cover to form an electrically-active, or in some embodiments passive, structural member.
US08988166B2
A novel and useful fabricated variable transmission line that is tuned digitally is presented. Digital tuning of the variable transmission line enables the compensation of process variation in both the active and passive devices of the RF design. Along with several embodiments of the variable transmission line, the present invention also provides a method of compact modeling of the variable transmission line. The variable transmission line structure and compact modeling enables circuit level simulation using a parametric device that in one embodiment can be included as an integral part of a silicon foundry design kit.
US08988165B2
A phase shifter with selectable phase shift and comprises a switchable phase shifting element that includes a first and second signal path coupled between an input and an output and providing a, respective, first and second phase shift for a signal coupled through the respective signal paths; a switch circuit for selecting between the first and second signal paths where the first and second signal paths and the switch circuit are configured to equalize the insertion loss for the first and second signal path, the phase shifter further including control circuit for controlling the switch circuit.
US08988157B2
An oscillation circuit includes an RS flip-flop for generating output signals based on a set signal and a reset signal, an electric-charge charge/discharge unit which has first and second capacitors and charges or discharges the first and second capacitors complementarily based on the output signals, a first comparator which compares a first voltage according to electric charge accumulated in the first capacitor and a first reference voltage and outputs the set signal, a second comparator which compares a second voltage according to electric charge accumulated in the second capacitor and the first reference voltage and outputs the reset signal, and a control unit for controlling a timing at which respective voltage levels of the first reference voltage and the first voltage match and a timing at which respective voltage levels of the first reference voltage and the second voltage match according to a frequency of the output signals.
US08988156B2
An oscillator/amplifier has a gain controlled amplifier that maintains a desired oscillation waveform amplitude for all possible oscillation frequencies of operation. A peak detector produces a direct current (DC) voltage proportional to the oscillation waveform, and a voltage reference generator provides a reference voltage that is compared against the DC voltage from the peak detector. When the DC voltage is less than the reference voltage the gain of the amplifier is increased, and when the DC voltage is equal to or greater than the reference voltage the gain of the amplifier is decreased. A programmable voltage reference generator may also be used to provide for selection of different oscillation waveform amplitudes. A digital control loop controls the oscillation waveform amplitude over the entire possible frequency range of operation. Various frequency determining elements, e.g., crystal, piezoelectric resonator, inductor-capacitor tuned circuit, resistor-capacitor network, etc., may be used in combination with the oscillator/amplifier.
US08988153B1
A low voltage ring oscillator circuit can have a frequency variation that depends on process variations of insulated gate field effect transistors (IGFETs) of a first conductivity type without substantially being affected by process variations to IGFETs of a second conductivity type. A ring oscillator stage may include an inverter including only IGFETs of the first conductivity type. The inverter may be coupled to a boot circuit that boosts the gate potential of a first IGFET of the first conductivity type with a timing such that IGFETs of the second conductivity type in the boot circuit do not affect the frequency variations of the ring oscillator circuit.
US08988152B2
To provide a semiconductor device including an inverter circuit whose driving frequency is increased by control of the threshold voltage of a transistor or a semiconductor device including an inveter circuit with low power consumption. An inverter circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor each including a semiconductor film in which a channel is formed, a pair of gate electrodes between which the semiconductor film is placed, and source and drain electrodes in contact with the semiconductor film. Controlling potentials applied to the pair of gate electrodes makes the first transistor have normally-on characteristics and the second transistor have normally-off characteristics. Thus, the driving frequency of the inverter circuit is increased.
US08988149B2
An amplifier circuit, comprising: an input, for receiving an input signal to be amplified; a power amplifier, for amplifying the input signal; a switched power supply, having a switching frequency, for providing at least one supply voltage to the power amplifier; and a dither block, for dithering the switching frequency of the switched power supply. The dither block is controlled based on the input signal. Another aspect of the invention involves using first and second switches, each having different capacitances and resistances, and using the first or second switch depending on the input signal or volume signal. Another aspect of the invention involves controlling a bias signal provided to one or more components in the signal path based on the input signal or volume signal.
US08988146B1
According to some embodiments, a switch having an “on” state and an “off” state is exhibiting a low impedance in the “on” state, and a very high impedance in the “off” state. The switch comprises three series MOS transistors, the first transistor having its drain connected to the input. The switch also comprises additional circuitry which reduces, in the “off” state, the leakage current of the MOS transistor connected to the input of the switch by connecting its source and bulk to an electrical node replicating the voltage of the input node. According to some embodiments, the said switch is used in a voltage amplifier for capacitive sensing devices, such as MEMS gyroscopes and MEMS microphones; the voltage amplifier uses an operational amplifier used in a trans-capacitance configuration, with the feedback path comprising the said switch and a capacitor, wherein the said switch is connected to the input of, the voltage amplifier. According to some embodiments, the said switch is used in an integrated circuit which processes the voltage across a sensing device.
US08988140B2
An integrated circuit includes logic regions and dynamically adjustable voltage controllers. A voltage controller connected to each logic region enables voltage adjustment while the chip is operating. Each voltage controller has a selector device connected to voltage input lines providing different voltages. A voltage sensor connected to the output of the selector device provides a supply voltage to one of the logic regions. A control circuit dynamically monitors the supply voltage, captures and stores a digital representation of the supply voltage during each cycle of a clock, and tracks variations over time, based on operation of the logic regions. When variations in the supply voltage exceed an operational threshold of one of the logic regions, the control circuit submits a request to a central controller. When the central controller grants permission, the control circuit dynamically adjusts the voltage by enabling the selector device to choose a different voltage input line.
US08988132B2
Provided is a semiconductor device which avoids an adverse effect of high temperatures due to a switching element and in which a circuit to prevent false firing is arranged on the same substrate as the switching element. An N-channel type MOSFET 10 and a JFET 30 of an N-channel type containing a semiconductor material of silicon carbide are individually arranged in proximity on conductive patterns 51, 52 on a substrate 5, and a gate electrode 13 of the MOSFET 10 and a drain electrode 31 of the JFET 30 are connected by a lead 61. When an external drive signal for on/off control of MOSFET 10 propagates between source electrode 32 and drain electrode 31 of JFET 30, the channel resistance of JFET 30 is changed to a large/small value according to a low/high level of gate voltage between source electrode 32 and gate electrode 33, whereby a leading edge of a switching waveform between drain electrode 11 and source electrode 12 of MOSFET 10 comes to have a gentler slope than a trailing edge thereof.
US08988122B2
A terminal includes control logic to control a phase-locked loop to output a spread-spectrum clocking signal. The control logic controls the generation of the spread-spectrum clocking signal by adjusting at least one parameter of the phase-locked loop. The parameter may be a charge pump setting or a loop-filter capacitance of the phase-locked loop, or their digital equivalents. Adjustment of the parameter reduces a predetermined portion of a communications spectrum. The predetermined portion may be located within a range of frequencies allocated to a specific channel, and reduction of the spectrum in this range may serve to reduce noise associated with clocking harmonics.
US08988120B2
A frequency multiplier includes a first impedance module, a second impedance module, a first path and a second path. When the first path is conducted, the first impedance module generates a first output signal and the second impedance module generates a second output signal. When the second path is conducted, the first impedance module generates a third output signal and the second impedance module generates a fourth output signal. The first and second paths are not conducted simultaneously. A frequency of a first combination signal generated from the first and third output signals and a frequency of a second combination signal generated from the second and fourth output signals are N times of a frequency of the input signal, where N is a positive rational number.
US08988108B2
Methods relating to distribution of a clock signal to logic devices of an integrated circuit. The method includes controlling, by a logic element, the distribution of a clock signal by a clock gater and distributing the clock signal by the clock gater to at least one first logic device, wherein the logic element allows the first clock gater to distribute the clock signal only when at least one first logic device requires the clock signal. An integrated circuit configured to perform such a method. Fabrication of such an integrated circuit.
US08988105B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a diode-built-in insulated-gate bipolar transistor having an insulated-gate bipolar transistor and a diode, which are disposed in the substrate, wherein the insulated-gate bipolar transistor includes a gate, and is driven with a driving signal input into the gate; and a feedback unit for detecting current passing through the diode. The driving signal is input from an external unit into the feedback unit. The feedback unit passes the driving signal to the gate of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor when the feedback unit detects no current through the diode, and the feedback unit stops passing the driving signal to the gate of the insulated-gate bipolar transistor when the feedback unit detects the current through the diode.
US08988100B2
Described are amplifiers that facilitate high-speed communication with calibrated drive strength and termination impedance. Drivers and termination elements can be divided into a number N of parallel portions, one or more of which can be disabled and updated without interfering with signal (e.g., clock or data) transmission. Some embodiments identify inactive elements by examining incoming signals.
US08988093B2
A probe assembly that acts as a temporary interconnect between terminals on an IC device and a test station. The probe assembly includes a plurality of stud bumps arranged on a first surface of a substrate in a configuration corresponding to the terminal on the IC device. The stud bumps include a shape adapted to temporarily couple with the terminals on the IC device. A plurality of conductive traces on the substrate electrically couple the stud bumps with the test station.
US08988086B1
Embodiments described herein provide capacitive sensor arrays. The capacitive sensor arrays include a plurality of column sensor elements arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of row sensor elements arranged in a plurality of rows. The plurality of rows and the plurality of columns are arranged such that each of the row sensor elements is at least partially within a gap between adjacent ones of the column sensor elements. A capacitance between a first portion of one of the columns and an adjacent first portion of one of the rows is greater than a capacitance between a second portion of one of the columns and an adjacent second portion of one of the rows.
US08988085B2
The invention described relates to an apparatus and method for measuring the concentration of a low molecular weight alcohol, in an aqueous liquid feed solution, comprising a first sensor including a hydrophilic capillary tube having an inner diameter, being disposed between two electrodes to form a first capacitor, a second sensor including a hydrophobic capillary tube having the same inner diameter as a capillary tube of the first sensor; said hydrophobic capillary tube having a hydrophobic coating on the inner diameter, being disposed between two electrodes to form a second capacitor, wherein the first hydrophilic and second hydrophobic sensors are dipped to the same depth in the aqueous solution to measure the solution concentration, means for measuring the capacitance of the two capacitors, and control means including a control circuit driven by a computer, wherein the difference in capacitance between the two capacitors is a measure of the concentration of the solution, independent of the depth of dipping of the two capacitors in the aqueous solution. In another embodiment, a single hydrophilic sensor is employed.
US08988084B2
A method and a device are provided for monitoring an energy reserve capacitor, in which monitoring of the internal resistance is provided in addition to monitoring of the capacitance. This is achieved by a time sequence of charging operations and an interruption of those charging operations.
US08988083B2
A conductivity sensor, comprising an electrode structure of four concentric electrodes, which are arranged on an end face of a support body. The electrodes are electrically insulated from one another. The electrodes have an equal, constant area in order to claim a space requirement as small as possible for the electrode structure.
US08988079B2
Certain embodiments of the present application describe a carbon-based electrode with graphene platelets. The addition of graphene platelets is intended to improve properties of the electrode. These properties include, but are not limited to, physical, electrical, and biochemical properties of the electrode. Enhanced reproducibility of these properties can also result from the addition of the graphene platelets.
US08988075B2
A method is disclosed for suppressing and/or eliminating noise signals during magnetic resonance imaging by way of a magnetic resonance sequence including an ultra-short echo time. In at least one embodiment, the method includes a recording step for recording magnetic resonance signals of an object to be examined, especially a partial region of a patient, by way of the magnetic resonance sequence, wherein in a noise signal determination step at least one item of information about at least one noise signal of a noise element, especially of a magnetic resonance antenna element, is made available.
US08988074B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to the generation of MR images of a volume section within an examination object by way of a magnetic resonance scanner. In at least one embodiment, the following steps are performed: generating at least one of the MR images; automatically performing a number of quality inspections on the at least one MR image; and, should one of these quality inspections fail, an action is automatically performed in order to improve a quality when generating more of the MR images.
US08988071B2
The invention relates to a non-destructive inspection method using eddy currents for detecting flaws in a metal structure (3) by means of an array (5) of coils attached to a surface (31) of said structure (3) comprising activation of the coils, measurement of the electrical signals representative of the eddy currents, and evaluation over time of a variation in the electrical signal of each of the coils (511-536) by taking as a reference an edge effect corresponding to a specific electrical signal emanating from at least one coil installed at the edge of the surface, the level of said variation being indicative of the presence of the flaws in the structure.
US08988062B2
A branch circuit monitoring system (BCMS) for monitoring branch circuit currents in one or more electrical circuit panels is described. The system is comprised of a data center server, one or more panel processors, each with one or more collection devices, and one or more current sensors per collection device. The BCMS is designed to be installed entirely inside the panel without the need for a dedicated enclosure or power supply to facilitate ease of installation and low-cost. The BCMS also allows for future upgradability through standard software updates so that the system can be updated or patched easily. The BCMS data center server collects, aggregates, stores, and serves historical branch circuit current data from the panel processors to networked users via a web server to provide visualization of data such as tables, charts, and gauges. Finally, the BCMS interfaces to third-party software suites using industry-standard protocols such as Modbus® TCP and BACnet™ for integration with data center infrastructure management or building management system software.
US08988061B2
The present invention provides a system for detecting and analyzing at least one of an electric field and an electromagnetic field. The system includes a micro/nanomechanical oscillator which oscillates in the presence of at least one of the electric field and the electromagnetic field. The micro/nanomechanical oscillator includes a dense array of cantilevers mounted to a substrate. A charge localized on a tip of each cantilever interacts with and oscillates in the presence of the electric and/or electromagnetic field. The system further includes a subsystem for recording the movement of the cantilever to extract information from the electric and/or electromagnetic field. The system further includes a means of adjusting a stiffness of the cantilever to heterodyne tune an operating frequency of the system over a frequency range.
US08988060B2
A system and method for controlling an electrical device is provided. The method comprises receiving three phase power from a source, decomposing signals representative of power in each phase of the three phase power to provide a positive-sequence component of each phase and tracking the positive-sequence component of each phase via a phase locked loop and a tracking filter.
US08988055B2
A current-mode controlled power converter (1) comprises a controllable switch (S3) which is coupled to an inductor (L1) to obtain a periodical current (I1) through the inductor (L1). A current feedback loop (2, 3, 4, 5) generates a current-error signal (CE) which is a difference between a set current level (SC) and a level of a sensed current (SE) in the power converter (1). A driver (9) for switches off the controllable switch (S3) when the current error signal (CE) indicates that the level of the sensed current (SE) has reached the set current level (SC). A voltage feedback loop (10, 3, 7, 8, 5) influences the set current level (SC) in response to a level of an output voltage (Vout) of the power converter (1). The voltage feedback loop (10, 3, 7, 8, 5) comprises: a window circuit (10) to detect whether the output voltage (Vout) is (i) within a first window (WS) around a nominal value (Vr), (ii) outside the first window (WS) but within a second window (WL), larger than the first window (WS), (iii) outside the second window (WL). A controller (3) is coupled to the window circuit (10) to determine an adaptation of the set current level (SC), wherein the adaptation is larger when the output voltage (Vout) detected is outside the second window (WL) than when the output voltage (Vout) detected is within the second window (WL) but outside the first window (WS).
US08988052B2
A control circuit for controlling a power supply including a first switch and a second switch coupled in series between a first potential and a second potential. The control circuit includes a detection circuit that detects a magnitude relation of a voltage value at a node between the first and second switches and a reference value during a period in which the first switch and the second switch are inactivated. The detection circuit generates a control signal corresponding to the magnitude relation. A regulation circuit regulates a switching timing of the second switch in response to the control signal to decrease a difference between the voltage value at the node and the reference value.
US08988049B2
A DC power stage provides a power output that tracks a PCM signal input. A mapping unit generates an integer number of N digital PWM signals each switched at a same switching frequency by switching states of the PWM signals one at a time based on a level of the PCM signal input. An imbalance correction unit adjusts a duty ratio of the PWM signals relative to one another based on differentially accumulating errors among the PWM signals to prevent divergence of PWM signals. N corresponding switches therefrom switch power from a DC power source. N inductances in parallel produce a combined signal that is low pass filtered to provide the power output. Switching is between only those state combinations where the switching frequency is cancelled in the combined signal. The switching frequency is a sampling frequency of the PCM signal input divided by a product of 2 times N.
US08988048B2
A method and circuit for generating a clock signal. A power factor correction circuit has n channels operating out of phase and independently. The circuit is able to generate a clock signal for each channel according to the current cycle duration of each channel.
US08988041B2
Disclosed is a handheld electronic device with positioning function that includes a device body that contains a transceiver circuit module, a positioning element, and a counterpart positioning element that corresponds to the positioning element in order to effect mutual positioning with respect to each other. The positioning element and the counterpart positioning element are both mounted to one side of the device body. Through rotating or putting up-side down one of two handheld electronic devices, the two handheld electronic devices can be positioned with respect to each other through the positioning elements and the counterpart positioning elements so as to have the transceiver circuit modules of the two handheld electronic devices precisely aligning with each other.
US08988037B1
A solar panel storage and deployment system includes a container with an opening formed therein and an assembly of solar voltaic panels transitionable between a folded state and a deployed state.The assembly defines a series of accordion-like folds along the length thereof when in its folded state. The assembly arrays the panels in a substantially planar arrangement when the assembly is in its deployed state. The system also includes at least one stake adapted to be anchored to a position in proximity to and outside of the container. At least one link is provided for coupling an end of the assembly to the stake(s) when the assembly is in its deployed state.
US08988032B2
A numerical controller capable of visually and accurately analyzing a change of the tool trajectory before and after changing a processing condition, whereby a parameter of a drive axis can be properly adjusted. The numerical controller comprises a numeric controlling part which controls each drive axis based on a predetermined position command; a position data obtaining part which obtains position data of each drive axis controlled by the numerical controlling part; a tool coordinate calculating part which calculates a coordinate of a tool center point based on position feedback or obtained position data of each drive axis and information of a mechanical structure of a machine tool; a tool trajectory storing part which stores the calculated coordinate of the tool center point as a feedback trajectory; and a displaying part which displays the stored feedback trajectory on a display.
US08988023B2
A portable service controller for controlling an electro-mechanical actuator, the portable service controller includes a battery configured to power the portable service controller and a user interface configured to receive input from a user and to responsively generate an input signal. The portable service controller also includes a phase sequencer configured to convert the input signal into a series of timed output signals and a driver circuit configured to convert the series of timed output signals into inverter gating signals. The portable service controller further includes a three-phase brushless motor inverter configured to convert inverter gating signals into control signals for a brushless motor of the electro-mechanical actuator. The portable service controller contains a motor brake on/off circuitry for engaging and disengaging the electro-mechanical actuator motor brake. The battery, the three-phase brushless motor inverter, the driver circuit, the phase sequencer and the user interface are all disposed in a housing.
US08988021B2
A method of controlling a brushless motor that includes rectifying an alternating voltage to provide a rectified voltage having a ripple of at least 50%, exciting a winding of the motor with the rectified voltage, and performing a first process or a second process in response to current in the winding exceeding a threshold that is proportional to the rectified voltage. The first process includes freewheeling the winding, while the second process includes continuing to excite the winding for an overrun period and freewheeling the winding at the end of the overrun period. Additionally, a control system that implements the method, and a motor system that incorporates the control system.
US08988019B2
An electric operating machine comprising a motor and a power circuit driving the motor by the electric power supplied from a battery. The power circuit comprises a voltage conversion part converting an input voltage entered in accordance with a voltage of said battery to generate an output voltage and outputting said generated output voltage to said motor. The power circuit is structured so that the voltage value of said output voltage of said voltage conversion part is changeable.
US08988016B2
A control method comprises determining wheel creep of a wheel operably coupled to a traction motor and limiting a rate of change of an excitation frequency applied to the traction motor to drive the wheel, based on the determined wheel creep. According to one aspect, the rate of change of the excitation frequency is limited if the wheel creep exceeds a wheel creep threshold.
US08988015B2
A power tool including a motor, an input unit such as a variable-speed trigger switch, and a controller is provided. The controller controls the speed of the motor as a function of the input level indicated by the electrical signal from the input unit. The function is a first expression within a first predetermined range of the input level and a second expression within a second predetermined range of the input level, where the second expression corresponds to a polynomial of a second degree or higher and is different from the first expression.
US08988010B2
An LED driving device that performs a dimming operation of an LED module, the device includes: a dimming controller that receives the dimming instruction signal and generates a dimming signal; and a driving circuit that supplies an output current to the LED module based on the dimming signal generated by the dimming controller, wherein the driving circuit unit includes: a converter controller that generates a drive signal based on the dimming signal and outputs the drive signal to a first switching element; a first current setting circuit; and a second current setting circuit that is connected in parallel to the first current setting circuit, and wherein the dimming controller controls an operating state of the second current setting circuit to switch an adjustment range of the output current and a change characteristic of the output current in response to the dimming signal.
US08988007B2
A drive voltage generation circuit for an LED display device capable of increasing the input voltage range thereof is disclosed. The drive voltage generation circuit includes a booster that boosts an input voltage from an external source, to generate a boosted voltage, a protection switching element that controls whether or not the boosted voltage generated from the booster is to be output, in accordance with a switch control signal, a protection circuit that compares a level of the boosted voltage output from the booster via the protection switching element with a predetermined threshold voltage, selects one of a high voltage and a low voltage, based on a result of the comparison, and outputs the selected voltage as the switch control signal, and a discharger that discharges a low voltage node, to which the low voltage is applied.
US08988004B2
In one embodiment, an LED current controller is formed to determine which of a plurality of LED branches has the largest voltage drop and to select the current through that branch to use in controlling the value of current that flows through other LED branches.
US08987998B2
An LED fluorescent lamp includes: an LED array having a plurality of LEDs connected in series; a first connection pin and a third connection pin connected to one side of the LED array; a second connection pin and a fourth connection pin connected to the other side of the LED array; at least one pair of capacitors connected to the LED array; and a short-circuit means for connecting at least one of the first connection pin and the third connection pin, and the second connection pin and the fourth connection pin, wherein the capacitors include: a first capacitor having one end connected to the first connection pin and the other end connected to one side of the LED array; a third capacitor having one end connected to the third connection pin and the other end connected to the one side of the LED array; a second capacitor having one end connected to the second connection pin and the other end connected to the other side of the LED array; and a fourth capacitor having one end connected to the fourth connection pin and the other end connected to the other side of the LED array. The LED fluorescent lamp can use an instant start electronic ballast that is a fluorescent lamp ballast installed in an existing lamp with no change.
US08987996B2
A light emitting diode module includes a main base board, a wireless communication module, multiple light emitting diodes, a power output control system and a control unit. The wireless communication module is used for receiving a control signal. The light emitting diodes are disposed on the main base board and include light emitting diodes having at least one color. The power output control system is electrically connected to the light emitting diodes. The power output control system adjusts an amount of current flowing through each light emitting diode to control the light emitting diodes to emit light by adjusting the amount of current. The control unit is electrically connected to the wireless communication module and the power output control system for controlling the power output control system to adjust the amount of current of each light emitting diode.
US08987995B2
The lighting circuit comprises an AC input connectable to receive an AC input voltage, a switched LED array comprising a plurality of LEDs reconfigurable into a plurality of configurations and having an input for receiving a LED driving voltage, a switched capacitor array having an input for receiving a charging voltage and an output selectively connectable to the input of the switched LED array and comprising a plurality of capacitors and switches connected to selectively couple the capacitors across the input or output, a first switched rectifier connected between the AC input and the switched LED array, a second switched rectifier connected between the AC input and the switched capacitor array, and, a control system configured to monitor the AC input voltage and control the switched LED array, the switched capacitor array and the first and second switched rectifiers based on the AC input voltage and a desired light output.
US08987991B2
A sub headlight unit for use in a vehicle that leans into turns includes a sub headlight light source that illuminates an area ahead and outward of the vehicle with respect to a width direction of the vehicle. The sub headlight light source is configured to, when the vehicle is in an upright state, produce an illumination range including an area above a horizontal plane. The sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with a lean angle of the vehicle. At a time of parking or stopping or at a time of running straight ahead, the sub headlight light source is turned on or caused to flash with the amount of light per unit of time being reduced as compared with the amount of light per unit of time emitted when the sub headlight light source is turned on in accordance with the lean angle of the vehicle.
US08987988B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an EL display device, which has a high operating performance and reliability. A third passivation film 45 is disposed so as to be in contact with an EL element 203 which comprises a pixel electrode (anode) 46, an EL layer 47 and a cathode 48, to make a structure in which heat generated by the EL element 203 is radiated. Further, the third passivation film 45 prevents alkali metals within the EL element 203 from diffusing into the TFTs side, and prevents moisture and oxygen of the TFTs side from penetrating into the EL element 203. More preferably, heat radiating effect is given to a fourth passivation film 50 to make the EL element 203 to be enclosed by heat radiating layers.
US08987985B2
Provided is an OLED device and method of making the OLED device. According to an embodiment, the OLED device incorporates a microcavity structure including a dielectric mirror formed on a glass substrate, an anode formed above the dielectric mirror, an organic film layer formed above the anode, and a reflective electrode formed above the organic film layer such that the cavity is formed in the organic film layer by the dielectric mirror and the reflective electrode. The OLED device with microcavity structure can incorporate one or more phosphors deposited on an underside of the glass substrate such that light of additional wavelengths can be generated by the OLED device.
US08987973B2
An energy harvester comprising a base; one or more first resilient means mounted on the base; a hollow chamber having a mounting point pivotally attached to the first resilient means; a hollow member enclosed within the hollow chamber being attached to one or more second resilient means extending from the mounting point in static equilibrium such that the center of mass of the hollow member is aligned with the second resilient means at a vertical axis; a plurality of piezoelectric material-built cantilevers mounted on the hollow member; an integrated circuit connecting the hollow chamber, hollow member, and piezoelectric material-built cantilevers with at least one of a primary storage and a device, wherein the energy is harvested through vibration of the plurality of piezoelectric material-built cantilevers at its approximately resonant frequency, reciprocation of the hollow chamber and the hollow member upon application of a force.
US08987970B2
A coil fixing member of a rotating electrical machine, wherein the rotating electrical machine includes a ring-shaped stator core, a slot formed at inner peripheral section of the stator core, a coil arranged in the slot, and wall sections defining opening on an inner periphery of the slot in a radial direction of the stator core, and wherein the coil fixing member is inserted into the slot, the coil fixing member comprising: a pressing section that presses the coil outward in the radial direction of the stator core; and engaging sections that are adjacent to both end sections of the pressing section in a peripheral direction of the stator core, that extend from the both end sections to an inward side in the radial direction of the stator core, and that include leading end sections respectively engaged with the wall sections.
US08987960B2
The present disclosure provides a supporting and heat dissipating structure. A driver is arranged on an inner surface of a heat sink. The heat sink has protrusions for heat dissipation. An axle hole and a fixing ring are formed at the center of the heat sink. An elastic ring is arranged around the fixing ring for connecting with a supporting frame. A tubular barrel is used for connecting the heat sink to a motor. A structure for easily and firmly supporting the motor and the driver can be obtained. The structure can also absorb vibration while the motor rotating.
US08987958B2
A waterproof motor stator structure includes a circuit board; a stator mounted on one face of the circuit board; a lower shell forming an open-topped annular recess for receiving the circuit board therein and having an central opening communicable with the annular recess; an upper shell fitted around an outer side of the stator; and a protective layer formed in the annular recess of the lower shell to encapsulate the circuit board and an open lower end of the upper shell, so that the lower shell and the upper shell are joined into an integral unit. With these arrangements, the stator located in between the lower and upper shells can be effectively protected against external moisture and salt spray with reduced time, labor and material costs while enabling extended service life a fan using same.
US08987950B2
An actuator in accordance with an embodiment includes at least one linear motor, a partition member and a fan. The linear motor is configured to linearly move a shaft serving as a movable member. The partition member is provided close to the shaft and configured to partition a space defined between the shaft and a control board for controlling the linear motor. Further, the fan is arranged on the side of the shaft with respect to the partition member and configured to flow an air existing in a partitioned space on the side of the shaft.
US08987949B1
A linear regulator includes a first drive voltage output to drive an analog load, a second drive voltage output to drive a digital load, and a third output to provide a clean source of current. Circuit elements that produce the respective drive voltages may be isolated from each other. In addition, local feedback may be included to compensate for wide swings in circuit loading conditions in the analog load and in the digital load.
US08987948B2
A solid state contactor assembly includes at least one solid state switch electrically connected to a first bus bar via at least one conductive plate. The solid state switch controls a flow of current between the first bus bar and a second bus bar. A current sensor is formed along a cross section of one of the first or second bus bar such that the current sensor separates its associated bus bar into two separate bus bar portions, and such that a flow of current between the two separate bus bar portions passes through the current sensor. A switch control is operable to control the solid state switch. The switch control is in communication with the current sensor.
US08987945B2
A control system has an instruction path of which an object section connects a microcomputer, a switch and a switch supervisory device with one another. The switch sets the path in conductive or non-conductive state on the low side of the microcomputer. An instruction signal is sent to the microcomputer through the conductive path to set the microcomputer in an operation state. When the device judges based on the operation state of the microcomputer that the switch has set the path in a conductive state, the device sends a first signal of first voltage, causing the signal to have current strength equal to or higher than predetermined value in the path, to the object section. When the device judges that the switch has set the path in a non-conductive state, the device sends a second signal of second voltage lower than first voltage to the object section.
US08987943B2
The subject of the invention relates to a multipurpose auxiliary energy transmission device for supplying electrical energy to portable electronic devices (1), which includes a carrier body (10) with an energy input gate (14) and an energy output gate (15) and at least two current conductor bodies (20, 30) located on the carrier body (10) which are electrically isolated from each other, where the one end (21) of the one current conductor body (20) is connected to the energy input gate (14) and its other end (22) to the energy output gate (15), while the one end (31) of the other current conductor body (30) is connected to the energy input gate (14) and its other end (32) to the energy output gate (15). The characteristic feature of the invention is that the carrier body (10) is supplemented with a reference signal forwarding gate (16) and a reference signal transmission body (40), the one end (41) of the reference signal transmission body (40) is connected to either the one current conductor body (20) or to the other current conductor body (30) and the other end (43) is connected to the reference signal forwarding gate (16) located on the edge (11) of the carrier body (10), and a voltage setting member (42) is inserted between the one end (41) and the other end (43) of the reference signal transmission body (40).
US08987941B2
A power transmission system a power transmission apparatus, a center frequency acquiring unit, and a control unit. The power transmission apparatus includes a primary-side coupling electrode electrically configured to couple to a secondary-side coupling electrode and connected load circuit of a power receiving apparatus, a high-frequency voltage generating circuit configured to generate and apply a high-frequency voltage to the primary-side coupling electrode, and a driving power circuit that supplies driving power to the high-frequency voltage generating circuit. The center frequency acquiring unit acquires a center frequency at which a high-frequency high voltage applied to coupling electrode is minimized in a state in which a low load is applied to the secondary-side coupling electrode of the power receiving apparatus and the frequency of the generated high-frequency voltage is varied. The control unit sets a driving frequency of the high-frequency voltage generating circuit at or near the center frequency to supply power to the power receiving apparatus.
US08987936B2
An apparatus and a method for peak shifting adjustment are disclosed. The apparatus includes a controlling unit that is configured to sequentially control different outputting units to output the Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) signals according to a preset time sequence. The interval between two adjacent outputted PWM signals is T1, which is the time when the current required by an electric device is higher than the normal current in case of an increase of the duty cycle of the PWM signals. At least two outputting units are connected to corresponding electric devices and configured to output the PWM signals to the corresponding electric devices according to the control of the controlling unit.
US08987933B2
A power over one-pair Ethernet approach. A data transformer is coupled to a single conductor pair using one or more direct current (DC) blocking elements that preserve an alternating current path. The data transformer enables a network device to transmit and receive data with a link partner device via the single conductor pair. Power transmission over the single conductor pair is enabled through the coupling of a power over Ethernet module to the single conductor pair using a diode that can be paired with a zener diode.
US08987932B2
A deep-water power generation system includes an initially evacuated enclosure having walls of suitable strength or reinforcement for maintaining its structural integrity thereof in deep-water pressures; a power axle extending through the enclosure from a north pole to below a south pole of the enclosure; preferably concave blades of a turbine secured upon a support frame secured to the power axle in a latitudinal plane of the enclosure; and inlet ports within the enclosure positioned at the latitudinal plane of the blades of the turbine and receiving an inflow of ambient deep water against the blades, in which a couple effect of force from the fluid flow induces rotation of the blades and of the power axle secured to the frame. A thrust deck is rigidly secured, within the enclosure, to the power axle above the turbine and to a generator secured upon the thrust deck. At the south pole of the enclosure, water is expelled into a high-pressure injection well descending to a geological level of a saline aquifer or discharged from a water chamber at the south pole and into a main water body under pressure provided to a discharge chamber in excess of the ambient deep-water pressure.
US08987931B2
An energy balancing system is provided that ensures continuous energy output to compensate for energy fluctuations commonly associated with wind power generation. The flexible energy balancing system employs a base load high-pressure steam boiler that is associated with one or more steam turbine generators. The steam turbine generators are also associated with one or more heat recovery steam generators whose temperature is controlled by the exhaust from combustion turbine generators and the base load high-pressure steam boiler. The energy balancing system can be selectively tuned to quickly compensate for energy fluctuations associated with wind power generation.
US08987926B2
Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include systems and methods for variable speed operation of combustion engines. According to an example embodiment of the disclosure, a method is provided for controlling the operation of the combustion engine. The method can include providing power from a power source to a converter; providing frequency variable power to a generator from the converter; accelerating the generator and associated turbine to a predetermined speed by modulating the frequency variable power from the converter; after a predetermined turbine speed is achieved, disconnecting power supplied to the generator by the converter; and modulating the subsequent operation of the generator using power from the converter.
US08987923B2
Among other things, a semiconductor seal ring and method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor seal ring comprises a plurality of dielectric layers formed over a semiconductor substrate upon which a semiconductor device is formed. A plurality of conductive layers is arranged among at least some of the plurality of dielectric layers. An upper conductive layer is formed over the plurality of dielectric layers. An upper passivation layer is formed over the upper conductive layer to isolate the upper conductive layer from conductive debris resulting from a die saw process along a die saw cut line. In an example, a first columnar region comprising a first portion of the conductive layers is electrically isolated from the semiconductor device because the first columnar region is disposed relatively close to the die saw cut line and thus can be exposed to conductive debris which can cause undesired short circuits.
US08987919B2
A built-in electronic component substrate includes a first substrate, an electronic component including side surfaces and mounted on the first substrate, a first resin provided on the first substrate and covering the side surfaces of the electronic component, a second substrate provided above the electronic component and the first resin and layered on the first substrate, a substrate connection member provided between the first and the second substrates and electrically connecting the first and the second substrates, a second resin filling in between the electronic component and the second substrate and in between the first resin and the second substrate, and a third resin filling in between the first and the second substrates and encapsulating the substrate connection member, the electronic component, the first resin, and the second resin.
US08987918B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards techniques and configurations of interconnect structures having a polymer core in integrated circuit (IC) package assemblies. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first die having a plurality of transistor devices disposed on an active side of the first die and a plurality of interconnect structures electrically coupled with the first die, wherein individual interconnect structures of the plurality of interconnect structures have a polymer core, and an electrically conductive material disposed on the polymer core, the electrically conductive material being configured to route electrical signals between the transistor devices of the first die and a second die. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08987913B2
Disclosed herein is a deformable network structure, which includes a first device portion, a second device portion and at least one connector interconnecting between the first device portion and the second device portion. Moreover, the second device portion can be electrically connected to the first device portion through one of the connectors. The first and second device portions respectively have a first and a second center. Each of the connectors may be deformable from an initial state to a final state, such that a first distance between the first and second centers in the final state varies by at least 10% of a second distance between the first and second centers in the initial state.
US08987910B2
The present invention relates to a method of bonding a copper wire to a substrate, particularly a printed circuit board and an IC-substrate, possessing a layer assembly comprising a copper bonding portion and a palladium or palladium alloy layer and a substrate having a copper wire bonded to aforementioned layer assembly.
US08987906B2
An integrated circuit and a method of formation provide a contact area formed at an angled end of at least one linearly extending conductive line. In an embodiment, conductive lines with contact landing pads are formed by patterning lines in a mask material, cutting at least one of the material lines to form an angle relative to the extending direction of the material lines, forming extensions from the angled end faces of the mask material, and patterning an underlying conductor by etching using said material lines and extension as a mask. In another embodiment, at least one conductive line is cut at an angle relative to the extending direction of the conductive line to produce an angled end face, and an electrical contact landing pad is formed in contact with the angled end face.
US08987897B2
The invention provides a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a substrate. A first passivation layer is disposed on the substrate. An under bump metallurgy layer is disposed on the first passivation layer. A passive device is disposed on the under bump metallurgy layer.
US08987891B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a heat sink apparatus for cooling a semiconductor device includes: (a) a rigid support ring having a top surface and a bottom surface; (b) a thermally conductive bottom sheet having a top and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface of the sheet is attached to the bottom surface of the rigid support ring; and (c) a channel for cooling fluid formed by a volume contained by the rigid support ring, the sheet, and an enclosure; wherein the sheet is held in tension by the rigid support ring, thereby reducing the macroscopic coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the sheet. In use, thermally induced mechanical stress in a semiconductor device attached to the bottom surface of the sheet may be ameliorated by the reduction in macroscopic CTE, thereby increasing reliability of an assembly as it is cycled in temperature during normal operation.
US08987889B2
An integrated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield for a semiconductor module package. The integrated EMI shield includes a plurality of wirebond springs electrically connected between a ground plane in the substrate of the package and a conductive layer printed on the top of the package mold compound. The wirebond springs have a defined shape that causes a spring effect to provide contact electrical connection between the tops of the wirebond springs and the conductive layer. The wirebond springs can be positioned anywhere in the module package, around all or some of the devices included in the package, to create a complete EMI shield around those devices.
US08987884B2
A device includes a first package component, and a second package component underlying the first package component. The second package component includes a first electrical connector at a top surface of the second package component, wherein the first electrical connector is bonded to the first package component. The second package component further includes a second electrical connector at the top surface of the second package component, wherein no package component is overlying and bonded to the second electrical connector.
US08987883B2
One exemplary disclosed embodiment comprises a high power semiconductor package configured as a buck converter having a control transistor and a sync transistor disposed on a common leadframe pad, a driver integrated circuit (IC) for driving the control and sync transistors, and conductive clips electrically coupling the top surfaces of the transistors to substrate pads such as leadframe pads. In this manner, the leadframe and the conductive clips provide efficient grounding or current conduction by direct mechanical connection and large surface area conduction, thereby enabling a package with significantly reduced electrical resistance, form factor, complexity, and cost when compared to conventional packaging methods using wirebonds for transistor interconnections.
US08987873B2
The CP555 Super Integrated Circuit Chip has a ceramic package casing made from (B4-C) Boron Carbide: a non-conducting ceramic material. The IC is connected to connector pins by microcircuits and a custom formulated bond wire. The CP555 Integrated Circuit's ceramic Boron Carbide (B4-C) outer package casing, Heterodiamond substrates and dielectric components allows these integrated circuits to reduce electro-migration to a minimum, produce superior radiation hardness, heat resistance, electromagnetic shielding, and resistance to damage from harsh elements and environments. The CP555 Integrated Circuit can be used as a CMOS, PIC or DIE microcontroller circuit or computer processor (CPU). FIG. 1, shows the integrated circuit package 50, the outer package casing 138 also in FIG. 1, top left. Together, the Heterodiamond (B—C—N) semiconductor substrate and dielectric components, combined with a (Cu—Au—Ag) custom formulated bond wire work synergistically to make The CP555 Super Integrated Circuit Chip a unique semiconductor device.
US08987872B2
One feature pertains to a multi-chip package that includes a substrate and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield coupled to the substrate. At least one integrated circuit is coupled to a first surface of the substrate. The EMI shield includes a metal casing configured to shield the package from radio frequency radiation, a dielectric layer coupled to at least a portion of an inner surface of the metal casing, and a plurality of signal lines. The signal lines are coupled to the dielectric layer and electrically isolated from the metal casing by the dielectric layer. At least one other integrated circuit is coupled to an inner surface of the EMI shield, and at least a portion of the inner surface of the EMI shield faces the first surface of the substrate. The signal lines are configured to provide electrical signals to the second circuit component.
US08987869B2
An integrated circuit device including an interlayer insulating layer on a substrate, a wire layer on the interlayer insulating layer, and a through-silicon-via (TSV) contact pattern having an end contacting the wire layer and integrally extending from inside of a via hole formed through the interlayer insulating layer and the substrate to outside of the via hole.
US08987854B2
A microelectronic device is provided, including: a substrate including a first semiconductor layer positioned on a dielectric layer and a second semiconductor layer; and an isolation trench disposed through the first semiconductor layer, the dielectric layer, and a part of the thickness of the second semiconductor layer, including a dielectric material and delimiting, in the first semiconductor layer, a roughly rectangular active area of the device, wherein in said part of the thickness of the second semiconductor layer, at least one portion of the dielectric material is positioned under the active area delimited by at least four side walls of the trench, and two of the at least four side walls are roughly parallel with one another and are positioned under the active area, and the other two of the at least four side walls are orthogonal to said two walls and are not positioned under the active area.
US08987834B2
Methods of isolating gates in a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, isolation is achieved using a spacer material in combination with fins. In another embodiment, etch characteristics of various materials utilized in fabrication of the semiconductor structure are used to increase an effective gate length (“Leffective”) and a field gate oxide. Semiconductor structures formed by these methods are also disclosed.
US08987833B2
In one implementation, a stacked composite device comprises a group IV lateral transistor and a group III-V transistor stacked over the group IV lateral transistor. A drain of the group IV lateral transistor is in contact with a source of the group III-V transistor, a source of the group IV lateral transistor is coupled to a gate of the group III-V transistor to provide a composite source on a top side of the stacked composite device, and a drain of the group III-V transistor provides a composite drain on the top side of the stacked composite device. A gate of the group IV lateral transistor provides a composite gate on the top side of the stacked composite device, and a substrate of the group IV lateral transistor is on a bottom side of the stacked composite device.
US08987825B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first type doping. The semiconductor device further includes a first deep well in the substrate, the first deep well having a second type doping. The semiconductor device further includes a second deep well in the substrate, the second deep well having the second type doping and being separated and above the first deep well. The semiconductor device further includes a first well over the second deep well, the first well having the first type doping and a gate structure over the first well.
US08987823B2
Methods and structures for forming a localized silicon-on-insulator (SOI) finFET are disclosed. Fins are formed on a bulk substrate. Nitride spacers protect the fin sidewalls. A shallow trench isolation region is deposited over the fins. An oxidation process causes oxygen to diffuse through the shallow trench isolation region and into the underlying silicon. The oxygen reacts with the silicon to form oxide, which provides electrical isolation for the fins. The shallow trench isolation region is in direct physical contact with the fins and/or the nitride spacers that are disposed on the fins. Structures comprising bulk-type fins, SOI-type fins, and planar regions are also disclosed.
US08987821B2
A lateral double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor device includes an enhancement implant region formed in a portion of an accumulation region proximate a P-N junction between body and drift drain regions. The enhancement implant region contains additional dopants of the same conductivity type as the drift drain region. There is a gap between the enhancement implant region and the P-N junction. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08987810B2
A semiconductor device has an FET of a trench-gate structure obtained by disposing a conductive layer, which will be a gate, in a trench extended in the main surface of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the upper surface of the trench-gate conductive layer is formed equal to or higher than the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The conductive layer of the trench gate is formed to have a substantially flat or concave upper surface and the upper surface is formed equal to or higher than the main surface of the semiconductor substrate. After etching of the semiconductor substrate to form the upper surface of the conductive layer of the trench gate, a channel region and a source region are formed by ion implantation so that the semiconductor device is free from occurrence of a source offset.
US08987809B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile semiconductor memory element including: a semiconductor substrate including: a source region; a drain region; and a channel region; a lower insulating film that is formed on the channel region; a charge storage film that is formed on the lower insulating film and that stores data; an upper insulating film that is formed on the charge storage film; and a control gate that is formed on the upper insulating film, wherein the upper insulating film includes: a first insulting film; and a second insulating film that is laminated with the first insulating film, and wherein the first insulating film is formed to have a trap level density larger than that of the second insulating film.
US08987807B2
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes first to n-th semiconductor layers which are stacked in a first direction perpendicular to a surface of a semiconductor substrate and which extend in a second direction parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, an electrode which extends in the first direction along side surfaces of the first to n-th semiconductor layers, the side surfaces of the first to n-th semiconductor layers exposing in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and first to n-th charge storage layers located between the first to n-th semiconductor layers and the electrode respectively. The first to n-th charge storage layers are separated from each other in areas between the first to n-th semiconductor layers.
US08987803B2
Nonvolatile memory devices include a vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells. The vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells includes a first nonvolatile memory cell having a first gate pattern therein, which is separated from a vertical active region by a first multi-layered dielectric pattern having a first thickness, and a second nonvolatile memory cell having a second gate pattern therein, which is separated from the vertical active region by a second multi-layered dielectric pattern having a second thickness. The second gate pattern is also separated from the first gate pattern by a distance less than a sum of the first and second thicknesses.
US08987799B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, a semiconductor substrate, an isolation electrode, a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, and a first insulating film. The semiconductor substrate has a first groove and a second groove. An isolation electrode is positioned in the first groove. The gate electrode is positioned in the second groove. The gate insulating film is adjacent to the gate electrode. The first insulating film is adjacent to the isolation electrode. The isolation electrode is greater in threshold voltage than the gate electrode.
US08987798B2
Provided is a magnetic tunneling junction device including a first structure including a magnetic layer; a second structure including at least two extrinsic perpendicular magnetization structures, each including a magnetic layer and; a perpendicular magnetization inducing layer on the magnetic layer; and a tunnel barrier between the first and second structures.
US08987792B2
Merged active devices on a common substrate are presented. Methods for operating and fabricating such merged active devices are also presented.
US08987790B2
A method for fabricating a field effect transistor (FET) device includes forming a plurality of semiconductor fins on a substrate, removing a semiconductor fin of the plurality of semiconductor fins from a portion of the substrate, forming an isolation fin that includes a dielectric material on the substrate on the portion of the substrate, and forming a gate stack over the plurality of semiconductor fins and the isolation fin.
US08987780B2
A graphene capped HEMT device and a method of fabricating same are disclosed. The graphene capped HEMT device includes one or more graphene caps that enhance device performance and/or reliability of an exemplary AlGaN/GaN heterostructure transistor used in high-frequency, high-energy applications, e.g., wireless telecommunications. The HEMT device disclosed makes use of the extraordinary material properties of graphene. One of the graphene caps acts as a heat sink underneath the transistor, while the other graphene cap stabilizes the source, drain, and gate regions of the transistor to prevent cracking during high-power operation. A process flow is disclosed for replacing a three-layer film stack, previously used to prevent cracking, with a one-atom thick layer of graphene, without otherwise degrading device performance. In addition, the HEMT device disclosed includes a hexagonal boron nitride adhesion layer to facilitate deposition of the compound nitride semiconductors onto the graphene.
US08987778B1
Embodiments of the invention provide increased ESD protection suitable for high-voltage devices. In one embodiment, an internal DMOS circuit is placed in parallel with a lateral NPN ESD clamp. The clamp has both a high holding voltage, above the operating voltage of the DMOS circuit, and a high maximum current before breakdown. The discharge path of the clamp includes a high-voltage lightly doped well containing a low-voltage higher doped well. The dopant of both wells is the same type, and the interface between the two defines a graded junction. The emitter of the entire circuit is grounded and the collector is coupled to the voltage of the DMOS circuit.
US08987768B2
A semiconductor light emitting device is provided, including a substrate, a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer that includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The device includes a first roughness layer having a random horn shape and formed with irregular intervals, a second roughness layer, and at least one of a first AlGaN based semiconductor layer and a second AlGaN based semiconductor layer. The second conductive semiconductor layer includes a plurality of apexes on the top surface, where the distance between at least two apexes is of about 0.3 μm to about 1.0 μm. The second roughness layer includes a lower surface having a shape corresponding to the top surface of the second conductive semiconductor layer. The second roughness layer includes an upper surface having a shape corresponding to a top surface of the first roughness layer.
US08987767B2
According to example embodiments, a light emitting device includes a transparent substrate, a transparent electrode on a transparent substrate, a transparent light extraction layer at least partially on the transparent electrode, a light emitting layer on the transparent electrode, and a reflective electrode on the light extraction layer and the light emitting layer. The light extraction layer and the light emitting layer may be alternately and repeatedly arranged between the transparent electrode and the reflective electrode.
US08987765B2
Light emitting devices and methods of integrating micro LED devices into light emitting device are described. In an embodiment a light emitting device includes a reflective bank structure within a bank layer, and a conductive line atop the bank layer and elevated above the reflective bank structure. A micro LED device is within the reflective bank structure and a passivation layer is over the bank layer and laterally around the micro LED device within the reflective bank structure. A portion of the micro LED device and a conductive line atop the bank layer protrude above a top surface of the passivation layer.
US08987762B2
According to one embodiment, a light-emitting unit which emits light, a wavelength conversion unit which includes a phosphor and which is provided on a main surface of the light-emitting unit, and a transparent resin which is provided on top of the wavelength conversion unit, are prepared. The transparent resin has a greater modulus of elasticity and/or a higher Shore hardness than the wavelength conversion unit.
US08987760B2
Disclosed herein is an organic EL display device in which pixels each including an organic EL element formed by interposing an organic layer between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are arranged in a matrix, the organic EL display device including: a common layer configured to be included in the organic EL element and be formed in the organic layer in common to the pixels; and a metal interconnect configured to surround periphery of the anode electrode and be electrically connected to the organic layer, wherein potential of the metal interconnect is set to a potential lower than potential of the anode electrode in a non-light-emission state of the organic EL element.
US08987759B2
A substrate for a display device comprises a first pattern and a second pattern disposed within an active region of the substrate; a first overlay pattern disposed at corner regions of the active region and made of the same material as that of the first pattern; and a second overlay pattern disposed at corner regions of the active region and made of the same material as that of the second pattern, wherein the first overlay pattern includes gradations, and the second overlay pattern includes gradations to face the gradations of the first overlay pattern.
US08987754B1
A highly directional thermal emitter device comprises a two-dimensional periodic array of heavily doped semiconductor structures on a surface of a substrate. The array provides a highly directional thermal emission at a peak wavelength between 3 and 15 microns when the array is heated. For example, highly doped silicon (HDSi) with a plasma frequency in the mid-wave infrared was used to fabricate nearly perfect absorbing two-dimensional gratings structures that function as highly directional thermal radiators. The absorption and emission characteristics of the HDSi devices possessed a high degree of angular dependence for infrared absorption in the 10-12 micron range, while maintaining high reflectivity of solar radiation (˜64%) at large incidence angles.
US08987752B2
A method of fabricating an optoelectronic device, comprising: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface; forming a light emitting stack on the second major surface of the substrate; forming a supporting layer covering the light emitting stack; forming a plurality of first modified regions in the substrate by employing a first energy into the substrate, wherein the supporting layer is formed before forming the plurality of first modified regions; forming an oxide layer on the first major surface of the substrate; and cleaving the substrate along the plurality of first modified regions.
US08987748B2
An integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor with epitaxial source and drain regions may be formed by implanting a retrograde anti-punch-through layer prior to etching the source drain regions for epitaxial replacement. The anti-punch-through layer is disposed between stressor tips of the epitaxial source and drain regions, and does not substantially extend into the epitaxial source and drain regions.
US08987735B2
A semiconductor device includes at least two semiconductor chips each including a plurality of data input/output pads, a data memory portion structured so as to read/write data through the plurality of data input/output pads, a test result input/output pad, and a test circuit for controlling a first test mode that decides data read from the data memory portion and outputs the decision from the test result input/output pad and a second test mode that decides data read from the data memory portion, inputs test result of another semiconductor chip from the test result input/output pad and outputs a synthesized test result of the test result of the chip itself and the test result of the other semiconductor chip from a specified part of the plurality of data input/output pads, and a plurality of data input/output terminals each connected with different data input/output pads.
US08987734B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor wafer, semiconductor package and semiconductor process. The semiconductor wafer includes a substrate, at least one metal segment and a plurality of dielectric layers. The semiconductor wafer is defined as a plurality of die areas and a plurality of trench areas, each of the die areas has an integrated circuit including a plurality of patterned metal layers disposed between the dielectric layers. The trench areas are disposed between the die areas, and the at least one metal segment is disposed in the trench area and insulated from the integrated circuit of the die area.
US08987732B2
Disclosed is a ceramic semiconductor capable of increasing the density of surrounding superoxide ions (O2−) after being heated and passing air. An oxide material capable of enhancing a space charge effect is doped when the ceramic semiconductor is formed, and the ceramic semiconductor has a plurality of through holes, such that after the ceramic semiconductor is electrically conducted to generate current and heat, outer shell electrons of the ceramic semiconductor are separated and remained in the through holes of the ceramic semiconductor and accumulated in the through holes to form an electron cloud. After air passes through the through holes, oxygen in the air collides with an electron and then they combine together to form a superoxide ion (O2−), so as to increase the density of surrounding superoxide ions (O2−).
US08987730B2
An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device by giving stable electric characteristics to a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode layer over a substrate, a gate insulating film over the gate electrode layer, an oxide semiconductor film over the gate insulating film, a drain electrode layer provided over the oxide semiconductor film to overlap with the gate electrode layer, and a source electrode layer provided to cover an outer edge portion of the oxide semiconductor film. The outer edge portion of the drain electrode layer is positioned on the inner side than the outer edge portion of the gate electrode layer.
US08987728B2
An object is to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device having stable electric characteristics by using an oxide semiconductor film having stable electric characteristics. Another object is to provide a semiconductor device having higher mobility by using an oxide semiconductor film having high crystallinity. A crystalline oxide semiconductor film is formed over and in contact with an insulating film whose surface roughness is reduced, whereby the oxide semiconductor film can have stable electric characteristics. Accordingly, the highly reliable semiconductor device having stable electric characteristics can be provided. Further, the semiconductor device having higher mobility can be provided.
US08987721B2
The objective of the present invention is to propose an organic electroluminescent element capable of realizing lighting with which a person feels comfortable irrespective of change in luminance of emitted light. The organic electroluminescent element according to the present invention is constituted by a plurality of layers stacked. The organic electroluminescent element has such characteristics that, in a range of 100 cd/m2 to 6000 cd/m2 inclusive, a color temperature of emitted light increases with an increase in luminance of the emitted light in a direction identical to a direction in which the plurality of layers are stacked.
US08987716B2
There is provided an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device, including: a first substrate on which a plurality of sub-pixel areas are defined; a plurality of first electrodes in the plurality of sub-pixel areas, respectively; and a plurality of light-emitting layers over the plurality of first electrodes and corresponding to the plurality of sub-pixel areas, respectively; wherein at least one of the plurality of light-emitting layers extends to a neighboring sub-pixel area among the plurality of sub-pixel areas, and has an occupied area in the neighboring sub-pixel area.
US08987713B2
The invention relates, inter alia, to an arrangement (10) for generating electromagnetic radiation, wherein the arrangement comprises inorganic semiconductor material and organic material (130), characterized by a semiconductor cylinder (30, 40) composed of inorganic semiconductor material and a charge carrier injection zone (50) situated in the semiconductor cylinder, wherein the charge carrier injection zone adjoins the lateral surface (110) of the semiconductor cylinder, the organic material (130) is suitable for emitting electromagnetic radiation in the case of a charge carrier recombination, and the organic material bears indirectly or directly on that section of the lateral surface of the semiconductor cylinder which is adjoined by the charge carrier injection zone and electron-hole pairs from the charge carrier injection zone of the semiconductor cylinder can enter into the organic material, and excite there the emission of electromagnetic radiation by recombination.
US08987705B2
Carbon nanotubes can be aligned with compatibility with semiconductor manufacturing processes, with scalability for forming smaller devices, and without performance degradation related to structural damages. A planar structure including a buried gate electrode and two embedded electrodes are formed. After forming a gate dielectric, carbon nanotubes are assembled in a solution on a surface of the gate dielectric along the direction of an alternating current (AC) electrical field generated by applying a voltage between the two embedded electrodes. A source contact electrode and a drain contact electrode are formed by depositing a conductive material on both ends of the carbon nanotubes. Each of the source and drain contact electrodes can be electrically shorted to an underlying embedded electrode to reduce parasitic capacitance.
US08987700B2
A memory device includes a plurality of side-wall electrodes formed on a first side-wall of a trench within an insulating layer over a first plurality of contacts in an array of contacts in a substrate. The plurality of side-wall electrodes contact respective top surfaces of the first plurality of contacts. The side-wall electrodes respectively comprise a layer of tantalum nitride, having a composition TaxNy, where y is greater than x, and a layer of electrode material having a lower electrical resistivity and a lower thermal resistivity than the layer of tantalum nitride. Top surfaces of the plurality of side-wall electrodes contact memory material. A second plurality of side-wall electrodes may be formed on a second side-wall of the trench over a second plurality of contacts in the array of contacts.
US08987698B2
Some embodiments include memory constructions having a plurality of bands between top and bottom electrically conductive materials. The bands include chalcogenide bands alternating with non-chalcogenide bands. In some embodiments, there may be least two of the chalcogenide bands and at least one of the non-chalcogenide bands. In some embodiments, the memory cells may be between a pair of electrodes; with one of the electrodes being configured as a lance, angled plate, container or beam. In some embodiments, the memory cells may be electrically coupled with select devices, such as, for example, diodes, field effect transistors or bipolar junction transistors.
US08987696B2
According to one embodiment, a resistance change memory includes a first interconnect line extending in a first direction, a second interconnect line extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, a cell unit which is provided at the intersection of the first interconnect line and the second interconnect line and which includes a memory element and a non-ohmic element that are connected in series. The non-ohmic element has a first semiconductor layer which includes at least one diffusion buffering region and a conductive layer adjacent to the first semiconductor layer. The diffusion buffering region is different in crystal structure from a semiconductor region except for the diffusion buffering region in the first semiconductor layer.
US08987694B2
Semiconductor devices, and methods of manufacturing the same, include a field region in a semiconductor substrate to define an active region. An interlayer insulating layer is on the semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor pattern is within a hole vertically extending through the interlayer insulating layer. The semiconductor pattern is in contact with the active region. A barrier region is between the semiconductor pattern and the interlayer insulating layer. The barrier region includes a first buffer dielectric material and a barrier dielectric material. The first buffer dielectric material is between the barrier dielectric material and the semiconductor pattern, and the barrier dielectric material is spaced apart from both the semiconductor pattern and the active region.
US08987693B2
A method of operating a memory device having a dielectric material layer, a transition metal oxide layer and a set of electrodes each formed over a substrate, includes applying a voltage across the set of electrodes producing an electric field across the transition metal oxide layer enabling the transition metal oxide layer to undergo a metal-insulation transition (MIT) to perform a read or write operation on memory device.
US08987690B2
A high-energy ion implanter includes a beam generation unit that includes an ion source and a mass analyzer, a high-energy multi-stage linear acceleration unit, a high-energy beam deflection unit that changes the direction of a high-energy ion beam toward a wafer, and a beam transportation unit that transports the deflected high-energy ion beam to the wafer. The beam transportation unit includes a beam shaper, a high-energy beam scanner, a high-energy beam collimator, and a high-energy final energy filter. Further, the high-energy beam collimator is an electric field type beam collimator that collimates a scan beam while performing the acceleration and the deceleration of a high-energy beam by an electric field.
US08987686B2
A method for the spectroscopic analysis of a sample is provided. The method including the illumination of the sample to be analyzed by a plurality of luminous excitation rays with respective wavelengths; the acquisition and the pre-treatment of frontal fluorescence spectra, each spectrum corresponding to a respective luminous excitation ray; for each sample, the calculation of a score vector by applying a multi-channel statistical model to the pre-treated spectra; and the determination of at least one parameter selected from a quality indicator of the sample and a parameter characterizing a method that has been applied to the sample, from said score vector. The average spectral distance between the luminous excitation rays is at least 50 nm, over a spectral range of at least 100 nm. The invention also relates to an appliance for implementing such a method.
US08987680B2
In order to provide a multipole measurement apparatus that can easily obtain table data for an aberration corrector that corrects the aberrations in a charged particle beam apparatus, the multipole measurement apparatus, which is provided with an optical system (10), a space into which an aberration corrector (6) is to be inserted, and a position detector (7), measures the relationship between the incident position and angle of a primary charged particle beam on the aberration corrector (6) at a plurality of points, the irradiation position upon the position detector (7), and a multipole, in a state of having a multipole field excited and in a state of not having a multipole field excited, so as to extract multipole components contained in the measurement executed in the state of having the multipole field excited.
US08987678B2
An inductively-coupled plasma source for a focused charged particle beam system includes a conductive shield that provides improved electrical isolation and reduced capacitive RF coupling and a dielectric fluid that insulates and cools the plasma chamber. The conductive shield may be enclosed in a solid dielectric media. The dielectric fluid may be circulated by a pump or not circulated by a pump. A heat tube can be used to cool the dielectric fluid.
US08987677B2
The invention relates to a modulation device for use in a charged particle multi-beamlet lithography system. The device includes a body comprising an interconnect structure provided with a plurality of modulators and interconnects at different levels within the interconnect structure for enabling connection of the modulators to one or more pattern data receiving elements. A modulator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an aperture extending through the body. The electrodes are located on opposing sides of the aperture for generating an electric field across the aperture. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a first conductive element formed at a first level of the interconnect structure and a second conductive element formed at a second level of the interconnect structure. The first and second conductive elements are electrically connected with each other.
US08987675B2
A radiation detecting apparatus is provided. The radiation detecting apparatus includes a pair of rails extending in a channel direction, a plurality of collimator modules provided in the pair of rails and arranged in the channel direction, each collimator module having a plurality of collimator plates arranged in the channel direction, and a plurality of detector modules provided on a radiation outgoing side of the collimator modules and arranged in the channel direction, wherein each of the collimator modules has a pair of alignment pins extending along an irradiation direction, wherein the rails include a surface of placement for each collimator module, the surface of placement formed with one of concave holes and grooves in which first ends of the alignment pins are fitted, and wherein each of the detector modules has one of concave holes and through holes in which second ends of the alignment pins are fitted.
US08987673B2
A detector arrangement of an imaging system detector detecting ionizing radiation includes a detector carrier, a plurality of detector modules attached to the detector carrier, and a collimator disposed in the radiation direction in front of the detector modules which are disposed on the incident radiation measurement side. In at least one embodiment, at least one air gap is included for conveying cooling air is disposed between the collimator and the measurement sensors of the detector modules. A method is also disclosed for cooling a detector arrangement of a detector rotating around a system axis with a plurality of measurement sensors disposed next to one another and a collimator arranged in the radiation direction in front of the measurement sensors, wherein cooling air is conveyed in or against the system axis direction between the collimator and the measurement sensors which directly cools the surface of the measurement sensors.
US08987671B2
An image intensifier tube and a night vision system fitted with such a tube. The tube body of the image intensifier tube includes a multilayer ceramic substrate fixed in a sealed manner to an input device and to an output device so as to assure leaktightness of a vacuum chamber delimited by the tube body. The multilayer substrate also maintains a microchannel plate arranged between a photocathode and a phosphorus screen, and supplies voltage to the photocathode, the plate, and the phosphorus screen.
US08987660B2
The methods described herein generally relate to characterization of large analytes, such as biomolecules, by molecular mass analysis. Specifically, the methods are directed to molecular mass analysis of singly— or multiply-charged ions by selective ion filtering carried out by a digital thresholding process.
US08987659B2
When calibrating a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner, a radioactive calibration phantom is scanned over a period of several half lives to acquire a plurality of frames of scan data. Interlaced timing windows are employed to facilitate acquiring coincidence data for a plurality of coincidence timing windows and energy windows during a single calibration scan. Coincident events are binned according to each of a plurality of selected coincidence windows, and the PET scanner is calibrated for each of the plurality of coincidence timing windows using data acquired from the single calibration scan.
US08987646B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a pixel includes a first stage coupled to a second stage. The second stage includes a sampling capacitor and a subtraction capacitor.
US08987640B2
An axial resistance sheathed heater is presented. The axial resistance sheathed heater includes a retaining sheath having a first end and a second end and a resistance wire completely disposed within the retaining sheath. The heater further includes a first conductor rod partially disposed within the retaining sheath and extending beyond the first end of the retaining sheath, the first conductor rod in direct electrical communication and direct mechanical communication with the resistance wire; and a second conductor rod partially disposed within said retaining sheath and extending beyond the second end of the retaining sheath, the second conductor rod in direct electrical communication and direct mechanical communication with the resistance wire. The resistance wire, the first conductor rod and the second conductor rod comprise a circuit achieving a power to voltage rating of about 5000:24.
US08987637B1
The welding torch performs oscillation of the torch head while moving the torch head along the circular weld path, under control of signals generated by a controller. The operator of the welding torch preferably has control over the amplitude of the oscillation, how fast it moves back and forth, and how long it remains at each turning point of the oscillation (dwell time).
US08987630B2
A method is provided for adhesively bonding together a pair of metal sheets to form a laminated sheet metal assembly. A coating of heat curable adhesive is placed on the bottom sheet. The top sheet is placed on top of the coating of adhesive. The stacked metal sheets are then placed between a pair of electrodes. One of the electrodes has a pointed projection that pierces through at least the adjacent sheet and into the adhesive. Electrical current is then conducted between the electrodes so that current flows through the projection to create electric resistance heating and thereby cure the adhesive. The electrodes can be rotating rollers and the metal sheets are fed between the rollers. The electrodes can provide heating and curing of the adhesive in a spot surrounding the pointed electrode and then the remaining uncured adhesive can be cured during later heating of the laminated assembly.
US08987622B2
A switch according to the embodiment includes a first contact that switches between an open state and a closed state, a second contact that switches between an open state and a ground state, an operating lever, and a rotating member that rotates for a predetermined angle in accordance with an operation of the operating lever. Furthermore, the switch includes a first cam that opens and closes the first contact by rotating in conjunction with a rotation of the rotating member in one direction, and a second cam that opens and closes the second contact by rotating in conjunction with a rotation of the rotating member in another direction.
US08987617B2
A multicolor light-emitting computer input device includes a key switch module including a bottom plat having through holes, press members spaced above the bottom plate, and linking members respectively coupled between the bottom plate and the press members for moving the press members up and down, a circuit board arranged above the bottom plate and carrying light-emitting diodes in the through holes of the bottom plate and a light guide cap of a selected color capped around each light-emitting diode, elastomer members arranged the top side of the circuit board, and a light guide panel arranged at the bottom side of the bottom plate for receiving light from the light-emitting diodes and the respective light guide caps and guiding the received light toward the press members.
US08987614B2
A vehicle passenger detection apparatus includes a load detecting part and a seat condition determining part. The seat condition determining part includes a vibration threshold value setting section, a vibration determining section and a seat determining section. The vibration threshold value setting section sets a vibration threshold value based on the load detection signal such that the vibration threshold value is higher when a fluctuation amount of the load detection signal is small than when the fluctuation amount of the load detection signal is large. The seat determining section executes a seating determination based on the load detection signal when the vibration determining section determines that the vehicle vibration is not occurring based on the load detection signal and the vibration threshold value, and to defer execution of the seating determination to maintain a previous seating determination result when the vibration determining section determines that the vehicle vibration is occurring.
US08987602B2
A laminated multilayer electronic support structure comprising a dielectric with integral vias and feature layers and further comprising a planar metal core characterized by a thickness of less than 100 microns.
US08987600B2
A electric wire includes a central conductor 1 made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, a cover layer 2 made of copper and covering the central conductor 1, and a ferromagnetic layer 3 covering the cover layer 2 and blocking the external magnetic field. The thickness of the ferromagnetic layer 3 is in a range from 0.04 μm to 14 μm, the total diameter of the central conductor 1 and the cover layer 2 is in a range from 0.05 mm to 0.4 mm, and the cross-sectional area of the central conductor 1 is in a range from 85% to 95% of the total cross-sectional area of the central conductor 1 and the cover layer 2.
US08987594B1
The present disclosure is generally directed to a reconfigurable multiple interconnection device including a first electrical interface including a first plurality of electrical connecting points, at least one wiring harness including a plurality of electrical conductors where a first end of the plurality of electrical conductors being electrically connected to respective electrical connecting points of the first electrical interface, and where a second end of the plurality of electrical conductors being electrically connected to an interchangeable terminal. The device further includes a second electrical interface including a second plurality of electrical connecting points, the second electrical interface configured to receive the interchangeable terminal of the at least one wiring harness in at least a first position.
US08987593B2
An electrical box extension includes a base, a movable ring and an extension ring. The base has an inwardly extending flange for coupling the base to the open end of an electrical box. The movable ring slides within the base and is captured by a screw that draws the movable ring into the base. The extension ring optionally can be coupled to the top end of the movable ring. A movable support flange can be coupled to the top end of either the movable ring or the extension ring for contacting the outer surface of the wall when the movable ring is drawn into the base.
US08987591B2
Alien crosstalk in communication channels is decreased with the use of crosstalk-mitigating materials. Electrical communication cables may be provided with crosstalk-mitigating materials that surround twisted pairs in the cables. According to one embodiment, the crosstalk-mitigating material is an electrically resistive material having electrically conductive areas placed thereon. Such a material mitigates the effects of electrical and magnetic fields that would normally lead to alien crosstalk between communication channels.
US08987584B2
A solar panel mounting system includes first and second mounting supports, at least one having a lower mounting ledge, and at least the other having an upper mounting ledge. At least two brackets each have a first platform coupled to the lower mounting ledge and a second platform spaced apart therefrom. Each bracket includes a first hinge portion with a curved channel and a first catch. A first frame, at a first end, has a panel gripping portion for gripping an edge of a solar panel oriented generally parallel to the lower mounting ledge, and at an opposing second end has a second hinge portion with a flange and a curved hook extending therefrom. The first hinge portion is configured to rotatably receive the second hinge portion. The hook is received in the channel and retained by the first catch and the flange is supported on the second platform.
US08987582B2
Provided is a solar cell apparatus. The solar cell apparatus includes a substrate, a first cell disposed on the substrate, and a second cell disposed on the substrate around the first cell.
US08987580B2
Thermoelectric devices are provided. In one embodiment, a thermoelectric device may include a glass wafer defined by conductive vias, a second wafer, and a plurality of metal film disposed between the glass wafer and the second wafer and against solid, conductive, integral, end surfaces of the conductive vias. A nanogap may be disposed between the metal film and the second wafer. The nanogap may have been created by applying a voltage extending between the conductive vias and the second wafer. Methods of forming the devices, along with methods of using the devices to transform heat energy to electricity, and for refrigeration, are also provided.
US08987563B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1035304. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1035304. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1035304 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1035304 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08987557B2
A promoter, which may be used to transform a plant and/or express a gene substantially uniformly in substantially all organs and/or tissues of a plant, and which may include a constitutive expression promoter for transforming a monocot plant. A vector including a promoter, which may include a recombinant plant expression vector. A method of producing a target protein using a vector, and a method of producing a transformed cell and/or plant using a vector. A transformed plant, a transformed seed and a transformed cell are included, which may be formed by the method of producing the same using a vector.
US08987556B2
The present invention provides isolated polynucleotide sequences encoding β-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase. The present invention further provides DNA construct comprising the polynucleotide sequence coding for β-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase in sense or antisense orientation, RNAi construct, recombinant vector comprising the construct and host cells comprising the recombinant vector disclosed in the present invention. The present invention further provides transgenic plant, plant cell, transgenic progeny and seeds expressing the polynucleotide with reduced β-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase protein accumulation, having enhanced fruit shelf life.
US08987555B2
Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
US08987553B2
The invention provides methods for improving plant yield, particularly under nitrogen limiting conditions. According to the invention, applicants have discovered that modulating ACC synthase activity in plants improves yield of plants, even when grown under low nitrogen conditions. The same plants, while demonstrating improved yield over non-modified plants, exhibited no deleterious effects under normal nitrogen conditions. The invention further provides methods using recombinant expression cassettes, host cells and transgenic plants.
US08987545B2
A feminine hygiene absorbent article comprising water-absorbing polymer particles, obtainable by polymerization of a foamed monomer solution or suspension, drying, grinding and classification.
US08987543B1
A sanitary or incontinence pad includes micro-perforated seams. On each side of the micro-perforated seam are sealed seams to retain the absorbent material within the pad. Tearing along the micro-perforated seam allows the pad to be separated into smaller functioning units to better meet the user's needs. Medical alert reagent tabs can be added to the surface of the pads to alert the user of possible health conditions.
US08987537B1
Low sulphur marine fuel compositions are provided. Embodiments comprise greater than 50 to 90 wt % of a residual hydrocarbon component, with the remaining 10 and up to 50 wt % selected from a non-hydroprocessed hydrocarbon component, a hydroprocessed hydrocarbon component, and a combination thereof. Embodiments of the marine fuel composition can have a sulphur content of about 0.1 wt % or less.
US08987536B2
The present disclosure relates to processes for reducing the concentration of RfC≡CX impurities in fluoroolefins. The process involves: contacting a mixture comprising at least one fluoroolefin and at least one RfC≡CX impurity with at least one amine to reduce the concentration of the at least one RfC≡CX impurity in the mixture; wherein Rf is a perfluorinated alkyl group, and X is H, F, Cl, Br or I. The present disclosure also relates to processes for making at least one hydrotetrafluoropropene product selected from the group consisting of CF3CF═CH2, CF3CH═CHF, and mixtures thereof and reducing the concentration of CF3C═CH impurity generated during the process. The present disclosure also relates to processes for making at least one hydrochlorotrifluoropropene product selected from the group consisting of CF3CCl═CH2, CF3CH═CHCl, and mixtures thereof and reducing the concentration of CF3C≡CH impurity generated during the process.
US08987527B2
A process for obtaining trimethylolpropane-enriched product streams from the forerun fractions obtained in the distillative purification of trimethylolpropane is characterized in that: (a) the forerun fractions are treated separately or in combination at a temperature of 160 to 280° C. and at a pressure of 1 to 30 MPa with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and an acidic compound; and (b) the reaction mixture obtained after step a) is separated by distillation into a trimethylolpropane-enriched, catalyst-free product stream and a catalyst-containing product stream. The trimethylolpropane is prepared by the Cannizzaro process using alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compounds or stoichiometric amounts of trialkylamines, or is produced by the hydrogenation process in the presence of catalytic amounts of trialkylamines or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compounds.
US08987526B2
Provided are a novel fullerene derivative which can adsorb quickly and efficiently an allergen which may cause a pollen allergy without releasing the allergen again, does not contain a metal or the like which may cause a harmful effect to a human body, and is easily applicable, impregnable, or chemically bondable onto surface of various materials: and a process for producing the same. The fullerene derivative is characterized in that a halogen group and many hydroxyl groups are bonded directly to a fullerene nucleus. In the case that the halogen group is chlorine, the fullerene derivative can be synthesized by a partial hydroxylation of a chlorinated fullerene or a partial chlorination of a hydroxylated fullerene.
US08987518B2
The present invention relates to polyamines and to a process for preparing polyamines.
US08987503B2
The present invention concerns a new process for the synthesis of aminaphtone, which makes use of non-toxic solvents and reagents, under mild reaction and temperature conditions. The aminaphtone obtained with the method of the present invention also has a purity of at least 98% in weight. The method comprises the following steps: a) epoxidating menadione 1 to provide epoxide 2, b) acidifying epoxide 2 to provide hydroxynaphthoquinone 3, c) esterifying between hydroxynaphthoquinone 3 and 4-aminobenzoyl chloride to obtain compound 4, and d) reducing compound 4 in the presence of a reducing agent in water to obtain aminaphtone.
US08987502B2
The present invention belongs to the field of natural medicine and pharmaceutical chemistry, and specifically relates to novel amidated derivatives of oleanolic acid according to formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a process for the preparation of these compounds, compositions containing such compounds and their use in preparing antineoplastic medicaments.
US08987501B2
A radioisotope labeled reagent includes a compound having the general formula (I), L-(aCbH2)naCbH3 (I) where a in each occurrence independently is a carbon mass number between 11 and 14 inclusive, b in each occurrence independently is a hydrogen mass number between 1 and 3 inclusive, such that a in each occurrence is not 12 simultaneously with b in each occurrence being 1; L is a leaving group R1SO2—O—, R1—S—, 12C1H3(12C3H2)n—S—R1C(O)O—, NC—, (R1)3P—, XMg- and Li—, where n is an integer between 0 and 3 inclusive, where X is chloro, bromo or iodine, where R1 is H, aryl, a substituent containing aryl, C1-C20 alkyl, a substituent containing C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, a substitute containing C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, and a substitute containing C2-C20 alkynyl with the proviso that when n is 0, a is 13 and b is 2 and R1 in R1—S is not aryl.
US08987497B2
A process for the oxidation of an organic carbonyl compound comprising reacting the organic carbonyl compound, optionally in the presence of a solvent, with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst comprising a tin-containing zeolitic material having an MWW-type framework structure.
US08987493B2
The invention provides a method of preparing silane dipeptide analogs, comprising the steps of treating a solution of a substituted 1,2-oxasilolane with lithium metal to form a solution of the dilithium salt of a substituted 3-hydroxypropylsilanol, and reacting the solution of the dilithium salt of the substituted 3-hydroxypropylsilanol with a substituted enamine.
US08987488B2
A process for producing C10-C26 monobranched fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof which includes isomerizing unsaturated C10-C26 fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof in the presence of a catalyst which comprises both a zeolite and a Lewis base. The zeolite can be reused after simple separation from the reaction products without having to regenerate. The process is particularly suitable for producing highly monobranched fatty acids or alkyl esters thereof.
US08987482B2
Process for producing a supported silver catalyst, which comprises (a) reacting oxalic acid with an alkali metal base in a solvent, preferably water, to the second equivalence point of oxalic acid to give alkali metal oxalate; (b) reacting the alkali metal oxalate obtained according to (a) with silver salt in a solvent, preferably water, to give silver oxalate; (c) forming a complexation of the silver oxalate obtained according to (b) with a diamine compound in a solvent, preferably water, to give a diamine-silver oxalate complex.
US08987480B2
The present invention relates to a process of separating chiral isomers of chroman compounds, particularly tocopherols and tocotrienols as well as the esters and intermediates thereof. It has been found that this process allows a separation of the desired isomer with a higher yield and enables the use of the non-desired isomers in a very efficient way. Said process is particularly useful when implemented in an industrial process. Furthermore, it has been found that this process allows using isomer mixtures as they result from traditional industrial synthesis.
US08987478B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a precursor for the synthesis of hexanoic acid derived statins and to the use of said precursor in the manufacture of a medicament.
US08987472B2
The present invention relates to a novel triscarbazole compound comprising cyclo- or polycycloalkyl or aralkyl substituent, which can be represented by Formula (I). wherein; RA is a substituent comprising a substituted or unsubstituted cyclo- or polycycloalkyl group wherein the ring system comprises three to twenty carbon atoms or an aralkyl group having an overall number of nine to twenty carbon atoms, RB, RC, RD and RE are any substituent other than a substituted or unsubstituted aniline, and m, o, p and q are same or different at each occurrence and represent an integer from 0 to 4.
US08987467B2
The present invention relates to substituted pyrazole azetidines, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08987464B2
An isoxazoline-substituted benzamide compound of formula (1) or a salt thereof: wherein A1, A2 and A3 independently of one another are carbon atom or nitrogen atom, G is benzene ring, etc., W is oxygen atom or sulfur atom, etc., X is halogen atom, C1-C6haloalkyl, etc., Y is halogen atom, C1-C6alkyl, etc., R1 is —CH═NOR1a, —C(O)OR1c, —C(O)NHR1d, phenyl substituted with (Z)p1, D-14, D-52, D-53, D-55 to D-59, etc., R1a is C1-C6alkyl, etc., R1c is C1-C6alkyl, etc., R1d is hydrogen atom, —C(O)R15, —C(O)OR15, etc., R2 is C1-C6alkyl, —CH2R14a, C1-C6alkynyl, —C(O)R15, —C(O)OR15, etc., further when R1 is —CH═NOR1a, —C(O)OR1c or —C(O)N(R1e)R1d, R2 may be hydrogen atom, R3 is C1-C6haloalkyl, etc., R14a is cyano, —OR25, etc., R15 is C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6haloalkyl, C1-C4alkoxy C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4alkylthio C1-C4alkyl, C3-C6cycloalkyl, C2-C6alkenyl, etc., R25 is C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4haloalkyl, —C(O)R32 or —C(O)OR32, etc., R32 is C1-C6alkyl or C3-C6cycloalkyl, etc., Z is halogen atom, cyano, nitro, C1-C6alkyl, C1-C6alkoxy, etc., m is an integer of 0 to 5, n is an integer of 0 to 4, p1 is an integer of 1 to 5. The pesticide containing these compounds.
US08987460B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing 1-pyridyl-substituted pyrazoles, comprising the reaction of acetyleneketones with pyridylhydrazine derivatives to give 1-pyridyl-substituted dihydro-1H-pyrazoles, the further reaction thereof with elimination of water to give 1-pyridyl-substituted trihalomethylpyrazoles, and the further processing thereof.
US08987459B2
The present invention relates to novel crystalline forms of salts of 2-((1R,4R)-4-(4-(5-(benzo[d]oxazol-2-ylamino)pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)cyclohexyl)acetic acid and their use in the treatment or prevention of a condition or a disorder associated with DGAT1 activity in animals, particularly humans.
US08987457B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula (A): as described herein, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, enantiomers, rotamers, tautomers, or racemates thereof. Also provided are methods of treating a disease or condition mediated by PIM kinase using the compounds of Formula I, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds.
US08987451B2
A single-step method of making tetradentate platinum complexes is disclosed. The method advantageously allows the formation of a platinum complex in a single step, even with sterically hindered ligands, without the use of highly reactive intermediates. The compounds made by the disclosed method are useful in OLED applications.
US08987446B2
The invention relates to bimetallic complexes in which the ligand contains a salophen unit which complexes copper, manganese or cobalt and a phenanthroline unit which complexes palladium and the two systems are linked by a continuous conjugated system. The invention further relates to the use of these bimetallic complexes as catalysts for the oxidative carbonylation of aromatic hydroxy compounds to form diaryl carbonates, a process for preparing diaryl carbonates using the bimetallic complex as catalyst and also diaryl carbonates prepared by oxidative carbonylation of aromatic hydroxy compounds using the bimetallic complexes of the invention as catalysts.
US08987445B2
Sulfonamide compounds having TRPM8 antagonistic activity are provided. A sulfonamide compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a prodrug thereof: (I) wherein Ring A is bicyclic aromatic heterocycle comprised of (a) pyridine is condensed with benzene; or (b) pyridine is condensed with monocyclic aromatic heterocycle, and Ring A binds to a sulfonylamino moiety on a carbon atom adjacent to a nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring constituting Ring A, Ring B is (a) monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; (b) monocyclic or bicyclic alicyclic hydrocarbon; (c) monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic heterocycle; or (d) monocyclic or bicyclic non-aromatic heterocycle, Ring C is (a) benzene; or (b) monocyclic aromatic heterocycle, and other symbols are the same as defined in the specification.
US08987438B2
A method for making a derivatized guar, comprising: (a) contacting derivatized guar splits, which have not been treated with a boron compound to crosslink the guar splits, with an aqueous wash medium comprising, based on 100 parts by weight of the aqueous wash medium: (i) from about 0.1 to about 30 parts by weight of a water soluble non-boron salt, or (ii) less than about 0.1 parts by weight water soluble salt, and (b) separating the washed derivatized guar splits from the aqueous wash medium, provided that the contacting of the derivatized guar splits with the aqueous wash medium comprising less than about 0.1 parts by weight water soluble salt is limited to a duration effective to maintain the water content of the washed derivatized guar splits at less than or equal to about 80 percent by weight.
US08987426B2
The present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings provides novel recombinant DT-based immunotoxins, and, more specifically anti-T cell immunotoxin fusion proteins. Also provided are immunotoxins that can be expressed in bacterial, yeast, or mammalian cells. The invention also provides means for expression of the immunotoxin fusion protein. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08987423B2
Antigen binding proteins, such as antibodies, which bind to human MAGE-A3, polynucleotides encoding such antigen binding proteins, and uses and manufacture thereof.
US08987411B2
The present invention related to a method of manufacturing a polycarbonate including the process of copolymerizing epoxide compound and CO2 using cobalt(III) or chromium(III), where the ligands contains at least 3 ammonium cations, central metal has formal −1 charge, and conjugated anions of the two cationic ammonium groups are acid-base homoconjugation, as catalyst.According to the present invention, the initial induction time can be reduced when the said polycarbonate is manufactured and it is possible to improve the activity of the catalyst and the molecular weight of the obtained polymer.
US08987404B2
The invention relates to a coating composition comprising: A) at least one thiol-functional compound having at least one thiol group, B) at least one polyisocyanate cross-linking agent with at least one free isocyanate group and C) at least one catalyst compound, said catalyst compound comprising at least one catalyst for the curing reaction between the thiol groups of component A and the free isocyanate groups of component B, and at least one cyclodextrine.
US08987391B2
A process for the polymerization of one or more monomers wherein at least one anhydride and at least one peroxy compound selected from inorganic peroxides, organic hydroperoxides, and peroxyacids are dosed during the polymerization reaction in a continuous or intermittent fashion to a reaction mixture comprising said monomers.
US08987376B2
Disclosed is a polyimide composition for semiconductor devices, which has a rheological characteristics suited for screen printing and dispense coating, which has an improved wetting property with various coating bases, by which continuous printing of 500 times or more can be attained, with which blisters, cissing and pinholes are not generated after printing and drying or during drying or curing, which can coat a desired area. A method of forming a film in a semiconductor and semiconductors having the film formed by this method as an insulation film, protective film or the like are also disclosed. The composition for semiconductor devices contains a mixed solvent of a first organic solvent (A) and a second organic solvent (B); and a polyimide resin having at least one group selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and perfluoroalkyl groups in recurring units, and having thixotropic property, the polyimide resin being dissolved in the mixed solvent.
US08987375B2
A moisture-curable polyurethane formulation is provided capable of curing to form a reaction product, having high green strength and being dispensable from a caulking gun. The polyurethane formulation comprises at least one isocyanate-terminated prepolymer, at least one rheology modifier or filler, optionally monomeric/polymeric isocyanate, and at least one urea-based thixotropic additive added to the formulation or formed in situ, to provide greater than 1% of urea groups in the reaction product. A method for making a moisture-curable polyurethane formulation capable of curing to form a reaction product and methods of bonding materials together using the formulation are also provided.
US08987373B2
Crosslinkable compositions based on organosilicon compounds, more particularly RTV-1 sealants, contain (A) at least one organosilicon compound having at least two condensable radicals, (B) at least one finely divided silicon dioxide having a BET surface area of 30 to 120 m2/g and a relative thickening effect ηrel of 1.4 to 10, and (C) at least one hydrocarbon component which has an initial boiling point above 150° C., a final boiling point below 350° C., each at a pressure of 1013 hPa, a kinematic viscosity of 1.5 to 6.0 mm2/s as measured at 40° C., a viscosity-density constant (VDC) of less than or equal to 0.820, a pour point of less than −5° C., and an aromatic carbon atom (CA) content of less than 0.1% CA.
US08987367B2
A substantially non-elastic incompressible composition, which substantially does not quickly self-level under standard operating conditions, includes: a suspending agent which reacts substantially as a solid when subjected to forces below a critical force, and which becomes substantially flowable when subjected to forces above said critical force. Aspects include compositions comprising one or more of ceramic microparticulates, flexible-walled microparticulates, celled macroparticulates, and fibers dispersed within the suspending agent, and energy absorbing applications thereof. Another aspect comprises thin-walled macrospheres containing a substantially non-elastic incompressible composition.
US08987361B2
An organosilane of general formula I below: (HO)2R1Si—Z—Sm—R2 in which: R1, which are identical or different, each represent a monovalent hydrocarbon-based group chosen from alkyls, which are linear or branched, cycloalkyls or aryls, having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; R2 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon-based group chosen from alkyls, which are linear or branched, cycloalkyls or aryls, having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; Z represents a divalent bonding group comprising from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; and m is a number greater than or equal to 2.
US08987355B2
The present invention provides an epoxy resin composition for sealing that demonstrates favorable adhesion to a copper lead frame in which oxidation has progressed and has superior mold release and continuous moldability. The epoxy resin composition for sealing includes (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a phenolic resin-based curing agent, (C) an inorganic filler, and (D) a curing accelerator. The curing accelerator (D) has an average particle diameter of 10 μm or less, and the ratio of particles having a particle diameter in excess of 20 μm is 1% by weight or less. Also, the curing accelerator (D) includes at least one type of curing accelerator selected from the group consisting of a phosphobetaine compound having a specific structure; adduct of a phosphine compound having a specific structure, and quinone compound; and an adduct of a phosphonium compound having a specific structure, and a silane compound. An electronic component device in which an electronic component is sealed by a cured product of the aforementioned epoxy resin composition for sealing is provided.
US08987343B2
Process for manufacturing a polymer by polycondensation of a hydroxy acid, said polymer comprising at least 80% by weight of units that correspond to the hydroxy acid, according to which at least one polyfunctional reactant capable of giving rise to the formation of a three-dimensional polymer network is mixed with the hydroxy acid, and according to which the mixture is subjected to temperature and pressure conditions and for a duration which are all suitable for giving rise to the formation of the network. Poly(hydroxy acid) (PHA) obtainable by such a process.
US08987342B2
A photosensitive resin composition for an insulating film of a display device includes (A) an alkali soluble resin including a polybenzoxazole precursor, polyamic acid, polyimide, or a combination thereof; (B) a photosensitive diazoquinone compound; (C) an ultraviolet (UV) absorber having a maximum absorption wavelength of about 300 to about 400 nm; and (D) a solvent. An insulating film and a display device can include the photosensitive resin composition.
US08987340B2
The invention relates to compositions suitable for the delivery and/or stabilization of biologically active substances. The compositions comprise a sublimable matrix material and the biologically active agent to be delivered. The compositions can be used as drug delivery systems to treat a wide variety of diseases or as systems for the protection and stabilization of such substances. Also disclosed are methods for preparing compositions of the present invention.
US08987336B1
The present invention is a method for increasing serotonin activity in mammary glands such that involution of milk secretion of the same mammary glands occurs. The present invention further is a composition that can be implanted, or infused into the mammary glands to cause involution of milk secretion.
US08987333B2
Disclosed are compositions comprising amantadine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more excipients, wherein at least one of the excipients modifies release of amantadine. Methods of administering the same are also provided.
US08987328B2
Provided are nutraceutical or dietary supplemental compositions comprising esterified capsaicinoids. The esterified capsaicinoids may converted to the active parent capsaicinoid compound following enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis. In various embodiments, these esterified capsaicinoids have a higher lipophilicity, lipid solubility and result in less irritation to the stomach than the parent capsaicinoid, and hence may be included in certain dietary supplement formulations, including capsules, pills and tablets dietary supplement formulations. The dietary supplement compositions may be used for pain management in mammals in vivo and/or in the treatment of various pathological conditions in humans.
US08987324B2
The invention relates to Simalikalactone E (SkE) to be used for preventing and/or treating cancers.
US08987323B2
Provided are crystalline forms of a compound having an inhibitory effect on sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter SGLT2. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, methods of preparing the crystalline compound, and methods of using the crystalline compound, independently or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for treating diseases and conditions which are affected by SGLT or SGLT2 inhibition.
US08987321B2
The present invention provides analogs of a Lysofylline (LSF), and synthetic methods for the preparation of such analogs. The have the active side chain moiety (5-R-hydroxyhexyl) of LSF and can have greater potency and oral bioavailability than LSF.
US08987319B2
This invention provides compounds of Formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (II), (IIa) or (III) and or salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (II), (IIa) or (III) and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, methods of modulating the androgen receptor, methods of treating diseases beneficially treated by an androgen receptor modulator (e.g., sarcopenia, prostate cancer, contraception, type II diabetes related disorders or diseases, anemia, depression, and renal disease) and processes for making compounds of Formula (I), (Ia), (Ib), (Ic), (II), (IIa) or (III) and intermediates useful in the preparation of same.
US08987316B2
The present invention relates to novel isocyanate and isothiocyanate compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and to the use thereof in the treatment of cancer diseases in humans and animals. The novel isocyanate and isothiocyanate compounds are distinguished, as compared with the known isocyanate and isothiocyanate compounds, by improved therapeutical breadth, i.e. fewer side effects while having high anti-tumor activity.
US08987315B2
The instant invention describes compounds having metalloenzyme modulating activity, and methods of treating diseases, disorders or symptoms thereof mediated by such metalloenzymes.
US08987306B2
Novel compounds inhibiting the integrin α2β1/GPIa-IIa receptor are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, as well as methods of their therapeutic use. The compounds disclosed are useful, inter alia, as inhibitors of integrin α2β1/GPIa-IIa-mediated activity.
US08987303B2
Disclosed are substituted pyridine compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use. One embodiment is a compound having the structure wherein E, J, T, the ring system denoted by “B”, T, R3, R4, w and x are as described herein. In certain embodiments, a compound disclosed herein activates the AMPK pathway, and can be used to treat metabolism-related disorders and conditions.
US08987302B2
Methods of treating a hepatitis C virus (HCV) related disease, such as HCV infections in subjects non-responsive to anti-HCV therapy, are described herein, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of hydroxychloroquine. An antiviral agent may be co-administered with the hydroxychloroquine. Methods utilizing synergistic combinations of hydroxychloroquine and an antiviral agent are disclosed. Further disclosed are compositions comprising hydroxychloroquine and an antiviral agent, as well as hydroxychloroquine and uses thereof for the treatment of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) related disease.
US08987290B2
The present invention concerns a needle-less drug delivery device being suitable for delivering drugs through a skin surface into a human or animal body comprising a pharmaceutical composition with at least one analgesic agent preferably being an opioid. The present invention also relates to the use of at least one analgesic agent, preferably being at least one opioid in a needle-less drug delivery device being suitable for injecting medication through a skin surface into the human or animal body. Further, the invention is concerned with a method of treating breakthrough pain by injecting at least one analgesic agent preferably being an opioid into the human or animal body using a needle-less drug delivery device.
US08987287B2
The application is directed to compounds of Formula I′-A and especially to compounds of Formula I-A and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein R1a-R5a, Y, Za are defined as set forth in the specification. The invention is also directed to use of compounds of Formula I′-A, and especially compounds of Formula I-A, to treat disorders responsive to the modulation of one or more opioid receptors, or as synthetic intermediates. Certain compounds of the present invention are especially useful for treating pain.
US08987286B2
Compounds of Formula (I), which are effective inhibitors of the Pi3K/Akt pathway, processes for their production and their use as pharmaceuticals. The compounds of formula (I) a: useful for the treatment of cancer.
US08987269B2
Provided are certain triazolopyridines and triazolopyrazines, compositions thereof and methods of use therefor.
US08987266B2
The present invention relates to mutations in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and methods of detecting such mutations as well as prognostic methods method for identifying a tumors that are susceptible to anticancer therapy such as chemotherapy and/or kinase inhibitor treatment. The methods involve determining the presence of a mutated EGFR gene or mutated EGFR protein in a tumor sample whereby the presence of a mutated EGFR gene or protein indicates the tumor is susceptible to treatment.
US08987262B2
The present technology relates the use of a beta blocker for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of hemangiomas, for example of infantile hemangiomas. The beta blocker may be a non-selective beta-blocker, for example propranolol. The present technology provides an alternative to the known compounds, e.g. corticosteroïds, interferon or vincristine, generally used for the treatment of hemangiomas.
US08987260B2
Provided herein is a pharmaceutical composition that comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent and, as an active ingredient, the compound 2-(1H-indazol-4-yl)-6-(4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-4-morpholin-4-yl-thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine bismesylate.
US08987255B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) having BACE1 and/or BACE2 inhibitory activity, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as therapeutically active substances. The active compounds of the present invention are useful in the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of e.g. Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes.
US08987249B2
This invention relates to 2-Aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-3-carboxylic acid (benzyl-cyano-methyl)-amides of formula 1 and their use as inhibitors of Cathepsin C, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and methods of using the same as agents for treatment and/or prevention of diseases connected with dipeptidyl peptidase I activity, e.g. respiratory diseases.
US08987243B2
The present invention relates to certain salts of a 11-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-ethoxy)-14,19-dioxa-5,7,26triaza-tetra-cyclo[19.3.1.1(2,6).1(8,12)]heptacosa-1(25),2(26),3,5,8,10,12(27),16,21,23-decaene (Compound I) which have been found to have improved properties. In particular the present invention relates to the maleate salt of this compound. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing this salt and methods of use of the salt in the treatment of certain medical conditions.
US08987237B2
Estrogen and progesterone replacement therapies are provided herein. Among others, the following formulations are provided herein: solubilized estradiol without progesterone; micronized progesterone without estradiol; micronized progesterone with partially solubilized progesterone; solubilized estradiol with micronized progesterone; solubilized estradiol with micronized progesterone in combination with partially solubilized progesterone; and solubilized estradiol with solubilized progesterone.
US08987236B2
A pharmaceutical composition includes, as an active ingredient, a compound according to formula 1436 as shown in FIG. 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Various pharmaceutical products may be produced including this pharmaceutical composition. Such pharmaceutical products may be used for the treatment of obesity or diabetes. Methods for using the pharmaceutical compositions also are described. In these methods, various diseases are treated or other body functions are activated or inhibited by administering an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition. For example, diabetes and obesity may be treated by administering an effective amount of the pharmaceutical compositions. Weight gain and growth factor production can be inhibited by administering an effective amount of these pharmaceutical compositions. Appetite can be suppressed by administering an effective amount of the pharmaceutical compositions, and a diuretic effect can be produced.
US08987233B2
Described herein are probes for Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Such probes are used to characterize and develop Btk-selective inhibitors intended for therapeutic use.
US08987230B2
The present invention provides a composition comprising a hyaluronic acid derivative having a crosslinking group(s) and a hydrophilic polysaccharide derivative having a hydrophobic group(s), wherein the hyaluronic acid derivative having a crosslinking group(s) is prepared by crosslinkage formation reaction in hyaluronic acid or a derivative thereof having a crosslinkable group(s) in the presence of the hydrophilic polysaccharide derivative wherein the hydrophilic polysaccharide derivative may have a crosslinkable group(s).
US08987227B2
The present invention provides agents, compositions, constructs and methods for silencing HCV polynucleotides, as well as methods and compositions for treating or preventing HCV infection in a mammalian cell. In one aspect, the present invention provides an agent or composition comprising at least one double-stranded RNA effector molecule or complex. The double-stranded RNA effector molecule or complex comprises: (1) a sequence of at least 19 nucleotides having at least 90% identity with a nucleotide sequence within HCV Conserved Region 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2), HCV Conserved Region 2 (SEQ ID NO: 3), HCV Conserved Region 5 (SEQ ID NO: 4), (ATR)-1 (SEQ ID NO: 86), ATR-2 (SEQ ID NO: 87), ATR-3 (SEQ ID NO: 88), ATR-4 (SEQ ID NO: 89); and (2) its complementary sequence. In another aspect, the present invention provides a construct suitable for replication in a host cell, and/or suitable for expression of an RNA molecule or complex of the invention in vitro or in vivo. In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method for silencing HCV RNA in a mammalian cell, which comprises administering to the mammalian cell an agent, composition, or construct of the invention in a manner and amount effective to silence HCV RNA in the cell. In a related aspect, the invention provides a method for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of an agent, composition, or construct of the invention as described herein.
US08987217B2
Methods of treating a fungal infection in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject a modified saponin.
US08987215B2
A composition useful in gene therapy and a method of treatment to effect gene therapy is provided. In particular, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a nonimmunogenic net polyanionic oligosaccharide, such as an oligouronate, associated with a particulate complex of an anionic nucleic acid material and a cationic macromolecule, optionally together with at least one pharmaceutical carrier or excipient, is provided.
US08987214B2
The present invention features solid compositions comprising a selected HCV inhibitor in an amorphous form. In one embodiment, the selected HCV inhibitor is formulated in an amorphous solid dispersion which comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic polymer and preferably a pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant.
US08987211B2
Fusion proteins that contain the fusion of (i) a peptide of less than 100 amino acids comprising a first amino acid sequence comprising AASSG (SEQ ID NO: 1) and a second amino acid sequence comprising XAGXDXXTEXPXS (SEQ ID NO: 2), wherein X designates any amino acid, and (ii) a protein transduction domain (PTD) are provided, along with pharmaceutical compositions containing the fusion protein. The proteins can be used to treat Huntington's disease.
US08987208B2
The present invention is based on the identification of synaptic vessel glycoprotein SV2 as the BoNT/A receptor and the further identification of various BoNT/A-binding fragments of SV2. The disclosure here provides new tools for diagnosing and treating botulism.
US08987201B2
Black bear parathyroid hormone (PTH) and functional fragments thereof are provided. Also provided are methods of using black bear PTH and functional fragments for increasing cAMP in a bone-forming cell; reducing apoptosis in a bone-forming cell; decreasing the ratio of expression levels of Bax protein to Bcl-2 protein in a bone-forming cell; increasing the expression level of one or more of a bone matrix protein, a transcriptional activator, or a transcriptional regulator in a bone-forming cell; enhancing bone mineral density, increasing bone mass, decreasing bone loss, or reducing the incidence of bone fractures, or any combination thereof, in a subject; also provided are antibodies directed against black bear parathyroid hormone (PTH) and functional fragments thereof.
US08987193B2
The present invention relates to a nisin derivative comprising amino acid substitutions in the peptide sequence encoding the hinge region of the protein, wherein the derivative exhibits an increased anti-microbial activity.
US08987190B2
Treatment of acute ischemic stroke or intracranial bleeding with tPa and carbamylated erythropoietin
The present invention relates a method for the treatment of intracranial bleeding comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of tPa and a therapeutically effective amount of carbamylated erythropoietin.
US08987188B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) in the form of any one of its stereoisomers or a mixture thereof, and wherein R1 represents a substituent of the benzene ring and is a bromine atom or a linear, branched or cyclic C1-8 alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy or alkenyloxy group; R2 represents a C1-3 alkyl group; and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group; and their use as perfuming ingredients, for instance to impart odor notes of the watery/ozone type.
US08987184B2
The present invention is directed, in certain embodiments, to compositions useful for the removal of grease, lime scale, soap scum, feces, rust or other soils from surfaces such as those found in bathrooms, toilets and kitchens. Methods of removing soils and preventing soil adhesion are also contemplated.
US08987173B2
The present invention relates to the fields of microbiology, molecular biology and protein biochemistry. More particularly, it relates to compositions and methods for analyzing and altering (e.g., enhancing or inhibiting) protein folding and solubility.
US08987169B2
A stabilized herbicidal composition comprising fenoxaprop ester herbicide in combination with pyrasulfotole. The present disclosure also provides for a method of stabilizing herbicidal compositions.
US08987161B2
A catalyst comprising a zeolite loaded with copper ions and at least one trivalent metal ion other than Al+3, wherein the catalyst decreases NOx emissions in diesel exhaust. The trivalent metal ions are selected from, for example, trivalent transition metal ions, trivalent main group metal ions, and/or trivalent lanthanide metal ions. In particular embodiments, the catalysts are selected from Cu—Fe-ZSM5, Cu—La-ZSM-5, Fe—Cu—La-ZSM5, Cu—Sc-ZSM-5, and Cu—In-ZSM5. The catalysts are placed on refractory support materials and incorporated into catalytic converters.
US08987160B2
Cryptomelane-type manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS-2) supported Fe and Co catalysts are utilized in a method for producing hydrocarbons by a Fischer-Tropsch mechanism. The hydrocarbon producing method includes providing a catalyst of a manganese oxide-based octahedral molecular sieve nanofibers with an active catalyst component of at least one of iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, vanadium, zinc, and mixtures thereof, and further containing an alkali metal. The formation of iron carbides and cobalt carbides by exposing the catalyst to conditions sufficient to form those carbides is also taught. After the catalyst has been appropriately treated, a carbon source and a hydrogen source are provided and contacted with the catalyst to thereby form a hydrocarbon containing product. The catalyst have high catalytic activity and selectivity (75%) for C2+ hydrocarbons in both CO hydrogenation and CO2 hydrogenation. Highly selective syntheses of high value jet fuel, C2-C6 alkenes, C2-C6 carboxylic acids; α-hydroxylic acids and their derivatives have been realized by tuning the oxidation ability of OMS-2 supports and by doping with Cu2+ ions.
US08987158B2
The present invention relates to a composition for forming a friable-resistant dielectric porcelain material. The present invention also relates to a friable-resistant dielectric porcelain material formed from the composition of the present invention, a method of making a friable-resistant dielectric porcelain material, a friable-resistant dielectric porcelain material formed by the method of the present invention, a dielectric porcelain material comprising a particular composition, and a system for producing ozone using the dielectric porcelain material of to the present invention.
US08987157B2
A sintering composition and calcined object which are precursors for a sintered zirconia. The burned surface of the sintered zirconia gives an X-ray diffraction pattern in which the ratio of the height of the peak present around the location where a [200] peak assigned to the cubic system is to appear to the height of the peak present around the location where a [200] peak assigned to the tetragonal system is to appear is 0.4 or more, and a region located at a depth of 100 μm or more from the burned surface gives an X-ray diffraction pattern in which the ratio of the height of the peak present around the location where a [200] peak assigned to the cubic system is to appear to the height of the peak present around the location where a [200] peak assigned to the tetragonal system is to appear is 0.3 or less.
US08987154B2
An R-glass composition including SiO2 in an amount from 59.0 to 64.5% by weight, Al2O3 in an amount from 14.5 to 20.5% by weight, CaO in an amount from 11.0 to 16.0% by weight, MgO in an amount from 5.5 to 11.5% by weight, Na2O in N an amount from 0.0 to 4.0% by weight, TiO2 in an amount from 0.0 to 2.0% by weight, Fe2O3 in an amount from 0.0 to 1.0% by weight, B2O3 in an amount from 0.0 to about 3.0% by weight, K2O, Fe2O3, ZrO2, and Fluorine, each of which is present in an amount from 0.0 to about 1.0% by weight, and SrO and ZnO, each of which is present in an amount from 0.0 to about 2.0% by weight. In exemplary embodiments, the glass composition does not contain lithium or boron.
US08987152B2
A polymer fiber comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an inorganic filler, wherein the filler content, based on the polymer fiber, is more than about 10% by weight and the mean particle size (D50) of the filler is less than or equal to about 6 μm. A textile fabric, especially nonwoven, produced from the polymer fiber.
US08987149B2
The present invention relates to fire resistant composite materials and to fire resistant fabric materials and mattresses made therefrom. The composite materials include (a) a substrate selected from the group consisting of cotton, rayon, lyocell and blends thereof; and (b) a coating consisting essentially of water, ammonium polyphosphate, binder material, cross-linking material, thickener material and a catalyst. The binder material bonds the ammonium polyphosphate, cross-linking material, thickener material and catalyst together and to the substrate such that the substrate is coated with the coating.
US08987147B2
A method of depositing a film on substrates using an apparatus including a turntable mounting substrates, first and second process areas above the upper surface of the turntable provided with gas supplying portions, a separation gas supplying portion between the first and second process areas, and a separation area including depositing a first oxide film by rotating the turntable first turns while supplying a first reaction gas, the oxidation gas from the second gas supplying portion, and the separation gas; rotating at least one turn while supplying the separation gas from the first gas supplying portion and the separation gas supplying portion, and the oxidation gas from the second gas supplying portion; and rotating at least second turns to deposit a second oxide film while supplying a second reaction gas from the first gas supplying portion, the oxidation gas from the second gas supplying portion, and the separation gas.
US08987145B2
A two-layered polysilicon capacitive element is manufactured to enable suppression of both of an increase in the applied electric field dependence of the capacitance value and the initial defect of the dielectric film. Included are a lower electrode into which phosphorous ions are implanted, a dielectric film formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the dielectric film. The dielectric film includes a thermal oxide film formed by partially oxidizing a polysilicon film constituting the lower electrode and etching out its outer layer part, and a deposited oxide film formed on the thermal oxide film.
US08987143B2
Methods and apparatus for processing using a remote plasma source are disclosed. The apparatus includes an outer chamber enclosing a substrate support, a remote plasma source, and a showerhead. A substrate heater can be mounted in the substrate support. A transport system moves the substrate support and is capable of positioning the substrate. The plasma system may be used to generate activated hydrogen species. The activated hydrogen species can be used to etch/clean semiconductor oxide surfaces such as silicon oxide or germanium oxide.
US08987134B2
Semiconductor devices and methods of making thereof are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate prepared with a first dielectric layer formed thereon. The dielectric layer includes at least first, second and third contact regions. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer. The device also includes at least first, second and third via contacts disposed in the second dielectric layer. The via contacts are coupled to the respective underlying contact regions and the via contacts do not extend beyond the underlying contact regions.
US08987129B2
Methods for improving the performance and lifetime of irradiated photovoltaic cells are disclosed, whereby Group-V elements, and preferably nitrogen, are used to dope semiconductor GaAs-based subcell alloys.
US08987119B2
A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing an insulating layer containing a plurality of openings, forming a first semiconductor layer in the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the first semiconductor layer, such that first conductivity type second portions of the first semiconductor layer remain in lower portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer, and upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer remain unfilled. The method also includes forming a second semiconductor layer in the upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer and over the insulating layer, and removing a first portion of the second semiconductor layer located over the insulating layer. The second conductivity type second portions of the second semiconductor layer remain in upper portions of the plurality of openings in the insulating layer to form a plurality of pillar shaped diodes in the plurality of openings.
US08987115B2
Methods of preparing a thin crystalline silicon film for transfer and devices utilizing a transferred crystalline silicon film are disclosed. The methods include preparing a silicon growth substrate which has an interface defining substance associated with an exterior surface. The methods further include depositing an epitaxial layer of silicon on the silicon growth substrate at the surface and separating the epitaxial layer from the substrate substantially along the plane or other surface defined by the interface defining substance. The epitaxial layer may be utilized as a thin film of crystalline silicon in any type of semiconductor device which requires a crystalline silicon layer. In use, the epitaxial transfer layer may be associated with a secondary substrate.
US08987108B2
Semiconductor structures that include bodies of a semiconductor material spaced apart from an underlying substrate. The bodies may be physically separated from the substrate by at least one of a dielectric material, an open volume and a conductive material. The bodies may be electrically coupled by one or more conductive structures, which may be used as an interconnect structure to electrically couple components of memory devices. By providing isolation between the bodies, the semiconductor structure provides the properties of a conventional SOI substrate (e.g., high speed, low power, increased device density and isolation) while substantially reducing fabrication acts and costs associated with such SOI substrates. Additionally, the semiconductor structures of the present disclosure provide reduced parasitic coupling and current leakage due to the isolation of the bodies by the intervening dielectric material.
US08987090B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes introducing at least a first and a second trench pattern including array trenches from a first surface into a semiconductor substrate, wherein an array isolation portion of the semiconductor substrate separates the first and second trench patterns. A buried gate electrode structure is provided in the first and second trench patterns at a distance to the first surface. In a single etch process, both a device separation trench having a first width is introduced into the array isolation portion and cell separation trenches having at most a second width that is smaller than the first width are introduced into semiconductor fins between the array trenches. Switching devices integrated in the same semiconductor die may be formed in a cost effective way.
US08987083B1
In a non-planar based semiconductor process where the structure includes both N and P type raised structures (e.g., fins), and where a different type of epitaxy is to be grown on each of the N and P type raised structures, prior to the growing, a lithographic blocking material over one of the N and P type raised structure portions is selectively etched to expose and planarize a gate cap. After the first type of epitaxy is grown, the process is repeated for the other of the N and P type epitaxy.
US08987080B2
Provided are methods for making metal gates suitable for FinFET structures. The methods described herein generally involve forming a high-k dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate; depositing a high-k dielectric cap layer over the high-k dielectric material; depositing a PMOS work function layer having a positive work function value; depositing an NMOS work function layer; depositing an NMOS work function cap layer over the NMOS work function layer; removing at least a portion of the PMOS work function layer or at least a portion of the NMOS work function layer; and depositing a fill layer. Depositing a high-k dielectric cap layer, depositing a PMOS work function layer or depositing a NMOS work function cap layer may comprise atomic layer deposition of TiN, TiSiN, or TiAlN. Either PMOS or NMOS may be deposited first.
US08987064B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a lead-frame having a metal connector mounted thereon and having a peripheral mounting region; forming an insulation cover on the lead-frame and on the metal connector; connecting an integrated circuit die over the insulation cover; forming a top encapsulation on the integrated circuit die with the peripheral mounting region exposed from the top encapsulation; forming a routing layer, having a conductive land, from the lead-frame; and forming a bottom encapsulation partially encapsulating the routing layer and the insulation cover.
US08987062B2
Thermal conductivity in a stacked IC device can be improved by constructing one or more active temperature control devices within the stacked IC device. In one embodiment, the control devices are thermal electric (TE) devices, such as Peltier devices. The TE devices can then be selectively controlled to remove or add heat, as necessary, to maintain the stacked IC device within a defined temperature range. The active temperature control elements can be P-N junctions created in the stacked IC device and can serve to move the heat laterally and/or vertically, as desired.
US08987061B2
Methods for antenna switch modules are disclosed. In certain implementations, a method of making an antenna switch module is provided. The method includes providing a package substrate implemented to receive one or more electrical components, attaching a silicon on insulator (SOI) die to the package substrate, and providing an integrated filter. The SOI die includes a capacitor and a switch coupled to a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal paths. The integrated filter filters an RF signal received on a first RF signal path of the plurality of RF signal paths, and includes the capacitor of the SOI die and an inductor.
US08987039B2
A process is provided for making a photovoltaic device comprising a silicon substrate comprising a p-n junction, the process comprising the steps of: forming an amorphous silicon carbide antireflective coating over at least one surface of the silicon substrate by chemical vapor deposition of a composition comprising a precursor selected from the group consisting of an organosilane, an aminosilane, and mixtures thereof, wherein the amorphous silicon carbide antireflective coating is a film represented by the formula SivCxNuHyFz, wherein v+x+u+y+z=100%, v is from 1 to 35 atomic %, x is from 5 to 80 atomic %, u is from 0 to 50 atomic %, y is from 10 to 50 atomic % and z is from 0 to 15 atomic %.
US08987036B2
A solar battery module (40) includes a stack of: a plurality of solar battery strings (30) and bus sections (32) connected to both ends of each of the plurality of solar battery strings (30); flexible resin layers (33a through 33c); and a flexible resin film (34). The flexible resin layers (33a through 33c) and the flexible resin film (34) have, on a light receiving surface side of solar battery cells (20), holes through which the bus sections (32) are each partially exposed. The exposed parts of the bus sections (32) serve as a respective plurality of electrically-connecting means (32a). A solar battery array (41) includes a plurality of solar battery modules (40). The plurality of solar battery modules (40) are electrically connected with each other via the plurality of electrically-connecting means (32a). This makes it possible to achieve a large-scale solar battery array (41) with high mechanical strength.
US08987034B2
A method of manufacturing a backside illumination image sensor includes forming an epitaxial layer on a silicon (Si) substrate, and forming an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) on the epitaxial layer. The method includes forming a trench in one side region of the epitaxial layer, forming an insulating layer at a side wall and bottom of the trench, forming a color filter and microlens on the IMD, bonding a support wafer onto the IMD with the color filter and microlens formed therein, and/or removing the Si substrate.
US08987032B2
A method for making a solar cell is disclosed. In accordance with the method of the present invention a composite wafer is formed. The composite layer includes a single crystal silicon wafer, a silicon-based device layer and sacrificial porous silicon sandwiched therebetween. The composite wafer is treated to an aqueous etchant maintained below ambient temperatures to selectively etch the sacrificial porous silicon and release or undercut the silicon-based layer from the single crystal silicon wafer. The released silicon device layer is attached to a substrate to make a solar cell and the released single crystal silicon wafer is reused to make additional silicon device layer.
US08987031B2
A method for a constructing radiation detector includes fabricating a multi-layer structure upon a wafer, the multi-layer structure comprising a plurality of metal layers, a plurality of sacrificial layers, and a plurality of insulating layers, forming a cavity within the multi-layer structure, filling the cavity with a gas that ionizes in response to nuclear radiation, and sealing the gas within the cavity.
US08987027B2
A method is provided for fabricating thin-film transistors (TFTs) for an LCD having an array of pixels. The method includes depositing a first photoresist layer over a portion of a TFT stack that includes a conductive gate layer, and a semiconductor layer. The method also includes doping the exposed semiconductor layer with a first doping dose. The method further includes etching a portion of the conductive gate layer to expose a portion of the semiconductor layer, and doping the exposed portion of the semiconductor layer with a second doping dose. The method also includes depositing a second photoresist layer over a first portion of the doped semiconductor layer in an active area of the pixels to expose a second portion of the doped semiconductor layer in an area surrounding the active area, and doping the second portion of the doped semiconductor layer with a third doping dose.
US08987025B2
A manufacturing method for an LED (light emitting diode) includes following steps: providing a substrate; disposing a transitional layer on the substrate, the transitional layer comprising a planar area with a flat top surface and a patterned area with a rugged top surface; coating an aluminum layer on the transitional layer; using a nitriding process on the aluminum layer to form an AlN material on the transitional layer; disposing an epitaxial layer on the transitional layer and covering the AlN material, the epitaxial layer contacting the planar area and the patterned area of the transitional layer, a plurality of gaps being defined between the epitaxial layer and the slugs of the second part of the AlN material in the patterned area of the transitional layer.
US08987024B2
System for wafer-level phosphor deposition. In an aspect, a semiconductor wafer is provided that includes a plurality of LED dies wherein at least one die includes an electrical contact, a photo-resist post covering the electrical contact, and a phosphor deposition layer covering the semiconductor wafer and surrounding the photo-resist post. In another aspect, a semiconductor wafer is provided that comprises a plurality of LED dies wherein at least one die comprises an electrical contact, a phosphor deposition layer covering the semiconductor wafer, and a cavity in the phosphor deposition layer exposing the at least one electrical contact.
US08987023B2
A light emitting device includes: a substrate; a light emitting element disposed on the substrate; a wavelength conversion unit disposed on the substrate to cover at least an upper surface of the light emitting element; and a reflection unit formed to cover a side surface and a lower surface of the substrate and having a resin and a reflective filler dispersed in the resin. Light emitting devices having uniform characteristics can be obtained by minimizing a chromaticity distribution of white light with respect to the different light emitting devices.
US08987017B2
This disclosure discloses a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device, comprising proving a single growth substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface; forming a plurality of light-emitting stacks on the first major surface, wherein the light-emitting stacks are electrically connected to each other in series via a first electrical connecting structure; forming an electronic device on the second major surface; and forming a second electrical connecting structure extending from the first major surface to the second major surface and electrically connecting the first light-emitting stacks and the electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a resistance, an inductance, capacitance, or a rectifying device, and wherein the material of the resistance comprises tantalum nitride (TaN), silicon-chromium alloy (SiCr), or nickel-chromium alloy (NiCr).
US08987013B2
A method of inspecting misalignment of a polysilicon gate is disclosed, characterized in forming only NMOS devices in P-wells in a test wafer and utilizing an advanced electron beam inspection tool operating with a positive mode to carry out electrical defect inspection. The method can be applied in precisely figuring out the in-plane misalignment of the polysilicon gates of an in-process semiconductor product and identifying a misalignment tendency therebetween across a wafer by verifying all locations of interest thereon, thus providing a methodology for process window optimization and on-line monitoring and contributing to the manufacturing process and yield improvement.
US08987009B1
A method for tracking an interposer die of a stacked silicon interconnect technology (SSIT) product includes forming a plurality of dummy components on the interposer die, and modifying one or more of the plurality of dummy components on the interposer die to form a unique identifier for the interposer die. An apparatus for a stacked silicon interconnect technology (SSIT) product includes an interposer die, and a plurality of dummy components at the interposer die. One or more of the plurality of dummy components is modifiable to form a unique identifier for the interposer die.
US08987008B2
The present disclosure provides one embodiment of a method for an integrated circuit (IC). The method includes forming a mandrel pattern on a substrate by a first lithography process; forming a first spacer pattern on sidewalls of the mandrel pattern; removing the mandrel pattern; forming a second spacer pattern on sidewalls of the first spacer pattern; removing the first spacer pattern; and etching the substrate using the second spacer pattern as an etch mask.
US08987005B2
[PROBLEMS] To provide a reagent for measuring agglutination by using a reaction accelerator, which causes no spontaneous agglutination of receptor-sensitized carrier particles in the coexistence of these carrier particles, and a measurement method.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A reagent for measuring agglutination by using a specific amine compound, whereby aggregation based on a specific reaction can be accelerated without causing spontaneous agglutination of carrier particles, and measurement method.
US08987003B2
A biosensor device (100) for detecting biological particles, the biosensor device (100) comprising an electromagnetic radiation transmitting member (102) adapted for transmitting electromagnetic radiation and a plurality of sensor active structures (104) arranged at the electromagnetic radiation transmitting member (102), wherein each of the plurality of sensor active structures (104) is sensitive to specific biological particles and is adapted to modify electromagnetic radiation transmission properties of the electromagnetic radiation transmitting member (102) in the event of the presence of the respective biological particles, and wherein the electromagnetic radiation transmitting member (102) is adapted for a simultaneous detection of different biological particles at different ones of the plurality of sensor active structures (104).
US08986997B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for enhancing folding and stability of biological molecules. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying biological molecules with enhanced stability. The present invention further relates to host cells that confer enhanced stability to biological molecules expressed therein.
US08986994B2
Provided are compounds of formula (I) and/or salts thereof, of the class of substituted pyridines and pyrimidines, useful for inducing cardiomyogenesis, a process for producing cardiomyocyte-like cells from mammalian cells by culturing mammalian cells in the presence of the compound of formula (I), the pharmaceutical use of compounds of formula (I) for producing cardiomyocyte-like cells from omnipotent, pluripotent, or lineage committed mammalian cells, and the use of thus produced cardiomyocyte-like cells for treating disorders associated with impaired function of the heart.
US08986992B2
Provided are ex vivo and in vivo methods of expanding renewable stem cells using agents capable of down-regulating Sir2 protein activity and/or expression, expanded populations of renewable stem cells, and uses thereof.
US08986991B2
A system and method of adapting host cells to suspension cell culture and suspension cell lines ATCC PTA-12593 and ATCC PTA-12461 produced thereby are disclosed. The method includes the serial replating of substantially undiluted culture cells onto a surface area until cell clumps are visualized and then, upon cell clumping, moving the cells into a suspension culture system.
US08986990B2
The invention described herein provides for human antibodies produced in non-human animals that specifically bind to Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The invention further provides methods for making the antibodies in a non-human animal, expression of the antibodies in cell lines including hybridomas and recombinant host cell systems. Also provided are kits and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies and methods of treating or preventing pseudomonas infection by administering to a patient the pharmaceutical compositions described herein.
US08986989B2
The invention provides a promoter derived from a genome of an actinomycete, Streptomyces species, and can specifically induce expression of a transgene in an actinomycete, Streptomyces species, in and after a logarithmic growth phase, and an actinomycete host having a high secondary metabolite production ability and a high precursor supply ability in and after the logarithmic growth phase, and a method for producing useful substances in which the promoter and the actinomycete host are combined.
US08986985B2
An invention proposes a photobioreactor with a cultivation chamber in the form of a shallow closed trough that is irradiated by the sun light. The bottom section of the shallow closed trough comprises an elongated polymer flexible film, which is arranged with small inclination to the horizontal plane; the middle longitudinal section of the elongated polymer flexible film plays a role of the bottom cover of the shallow closed trough. A bank of translucent or transparent flat rigid members, which are abutted in-line with a small inclination to the horizontal plane, provides required rigidity to the entire photobioreactor. The translucent or transparent flat rigid members are provided with longitudinal bottom spacers and joined with the lateral longitudinal sections of the elongated polymer flexible film. In addition, the translucent flat rigid members serve for closing the shallow trough from above.
US08986982B2
A thermal cycle system and method suitable for mass production of DNA comprising a temperature control body having at least two sectors. Each sector has at least one heater, cooler, or other means for changing temperature. A path traverses the sectors in a cyclical fashion. In use, a piece of tubing or other means for conveying is placed along the path and a reaction mixture is pumped or otherwise moved along the path such that the reaction mixture is repetitively heated or cooled to varying temperatures as the reaction mixture cyclically traverses the sectors. The reaction mixture thereby reacts to form a product. In particular, polymerase chain reaction reactants may continuously be pumped through the tubing to amplify DNA. The temperature control body is preferably a single aluminum cylinder with a grooved channel circling around its exterior surface, and preferably has wedge-shaped or pie-shaped sectors separated by a thermal barrier.
US08986974B2
The present invention relates to mutants of a parent Trichoderma strain, comprising a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide and one or more (several) genes selected from the group consisting of a first subtilisin-like serine protease gene, a first aspartic protease gene, a trypsin-like serine protease gene, a second subtilisin-like serine protease gene, and a second aspartic protease gene, wherein the one or more (several) genes are modified rendering the mutant strain deficient in the production of one or more (several) enzymes selected from the group consisting of a first subtilisin-like serine protease, a first aspartic protease, a trypsin-like serine protease, a second subtilisin-like serine protease, and a second aspartic protease, respectively, compared to the parent Trichoderma strain when cultivated under identical conditions. The present invention also relates to methods of producing a polypeptide in such mutants and methods for producing such mutants.
US08986962B2
This invention provides co-cultures of photosynthetic microorganisms and biofuel producing microorganisms. In certain embodiments, polysaccharide-producing, photosynthetic microorganisms are microalgae having frustules provide a substrate on which biofuel-producing microorganisms can grow. In other embodiments, the photosynthetic microorganisms produce a lipid and the non-photosynthetic microorganisms produce a solvent in which the lipid is soluble.
US08986960B2
Disclosed are microorganisms of the genus Cupriavidus or Ralstonia, which are genetically modified to express phosphomannose isomerase (EC5.3.1.8) and facilitated diffusion protein (EC1.3.1.74) for mannose uptake, and optionally mannofructokinase (EC2.7.1.4). The microorganisms also may be genetically modified to express xylose isomerase (EC 5.3.1.5), xylulokinase (E 2.7.1.17) and xylose proton symporter E or a high affinity ABC-transporter. The genetically modified microorganisms are capable of growing on mannose, xylose, arabinose, glucose, or galactose, or a combination thereof as the carbon source.
US08986957B2
A cell culture medium with high content of choline chloride is provided. The cell culture media further comprise only moderate amounts of amino acids, in particular the amount of glutamine in the cell culture media is limited. The cell culture media can be used for large scale production of polypeptides using cell cultures. The cell culture media with high content of choline chloride are particularly suitable for fed-batch cell culture whereby cell viabilities stay at a higher level for a longer time and high polypeptide titers although limited amounts of amino acids are used.
US08986956B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing hEGF (human epidermal growth factor) which has the same activity as the wild form, in high concentration and with a high degree of purity. More specifically, the invention relates to an hEGF expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence coding for the polypeptide of sequence number 14; a host cell in which the expression vector has been genetically transformed; and a method for producing hEGF, comprising a step in which the expression vector is created and is genetically transformed in yeast from which the KEX1 gene is lacking. Using the method of the present invention, it is possible to produce a large volume of human derived EGF which has the same size and activity as human derived EGF, and this EGF can be used in various ways such as in medicine and cosmetics.
US08986953B2
Macrocyclic compounds with a hybrid peptidic/non-peptidic backbone and methods for their preparation
Methods and compositions are provided that utilize synthetic molecules and genetically encoded polypeptides to generate macrocyclic peptide-containing molecules with a hybrid peptidic/non-peptidic backbone. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, and methods for generating libraries of macrocyclic peptide-containing molecules with a hybrid peptidic/non-peptidic backbone. These methods can be used to increase the structural diversity of ligand libraries as well as facilitate the functional screening of these libraries to identify compound(s) with desired activity properties.
US08986951B2
The present invention relates to novel muteins derived from human tear lipocalin, which bind to IL 4 receptor alpha. The sequences of the muteins comprise particular combinations of amino acids. In particular a mutated amino acid residue is present at any one or more of the sequence positions 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 53, 57, 61, 64, 66, 80, 83, 104-106 and 108 of the linear polypeptide sequence of the mature human tear lipocalin. A mutated amino acid residue is also present at any 2 or more of the sequence positions 26, 32, 34, 55, 56, 58 and 63 of the linear polypeptide sequence of the mature human tear lipocalin. The invention also provides a corresponding nucleic acid molecule encoding such a mutein and a method for producing such a mutein and its encoding nucleic acid molecule.
US08986944B2
The present invention includes methods of enriching rare cells, such as cancer cells, from biological samples, such as blood samples. The methods include performing at least one debulking step on a blood sample and selectively removing at least one type undesirable component from the blood sample to obtain a blood sample that is enriched in a rare cell of interest. In some embodiments magnetic beads coupled to specific binding members are used to selectively removed components.
US08986942B2
Compositions and methods related to carbon nanotubes are provided. More particularly, imaging agents comprising carbon nanotubes internally loaded with a contrast agent and associated methods are provided. One example of a method may involve a method for imaging comprising: providing an imaging agent comprising a carbon nanotube loaded with contrast agent; introducing the imaging agent into a cell; and imaging the cell to detect the presence of the imaging agent.
US08986936B2
The present invention relates to methods and kits for the prediction of risk for heart failure using post-translation modified forms of cardiac troponin T as a biomarker.
US08986935B2
Described herein are methods for the identification or validation of compounds capable of causing ribosomal frameshifting and the use of the compounds identified by the methods described herein to produce a stabilized SMNΔEx7 protein and treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
US08986933B2
A process for detecting human rhinovirus nucleic acid in a biological sample, includes producing an amplification product by amplifying an human bocavirus nucleotide sequence using a forward primer of SEQ ID NO: 1, and a reverse primer of SEQ ID NO: 2, and measuring said amplification product to detect human rhinovirus in said biological sample. Also provided are reagents and methods for detecting and distinguishing human rhinovirus from other viruses. A kit is provided for detecting and quantifying human rhinovirus in a biological sample.
US08986930B2
Compositions, kits, methods and systems for single molecule nucleotide sequencing comprising producing polymerase reactions having monovalent cations that control the median pulse width for incorporated nucleotides are disclosed. The levels of alkali metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium in the polymerization are used to control pulse width while allowing other sequencing parameters to remain within a desirable range.
US08986925B2
Method for in vitro detection and/or quantification and/or identification of infectious compounds present in a fluid medium M constituting a biological material, in which method a suspension of microbeads of solid polymer material capable of binding proteins is prepared; the microbeads are loaded with β2GPI proteins by coupling with a sufficient amount of β2GPI proteins; said microbeads are brought into contact with the fluid medium M while adding ions of at least one oxidizing metal, so as to bind the infectious compounds to the β2GPI proteins; the microbeads thus prepared are separated from their suspension medium, so as to obtain a residue; and the infectious compounds of the residue are detected and/or quantified and/or identified.
US08986924B2
A thiosulfate polymer composition includes an electron-accepting photosensitizer component, either as a separate compound or as an attachment to the thiosulfate polymer. The thiosulfate polymer composition can be applied to various articles, or used to form a predetermined polymeric pattern after photothermal reaction to form crosslinked disulfide bonds, removing non-crosslinked polymer, and reaction with a disulfide-reactive material. Such thiosulfate polymer compositions can also be used to sequestering metals.
US08986919B2
A resist composition including a base component (A) which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, the base component (A) including a resin component (A1) containing a structural unit (a0-1) having a group represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester which may have the hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon atom on the α-position substituted with a substituent and contains an acid decomposable group which exhibits increased polarity by the action of acid.
US08986917B2
A method of making a toner composition includes preparing raw toner particles, increasing a surface area of the raw toner particles by contacting the raw toner particles with a base to produce base-treated raw toner particles, and mixing the base-treated raw toner particles with at least one surface additive such that the at least one surface additive attaches to a surface of the base-treated raw toner particles to obtain blended toner particles. A toner composition includes blended toner particles containing base-treated raw toner particles, and at least one surface additive attached to a surface of the base-treated raw toner particles, wherein a ratio of a triboelectric charge of the blended toner composition to a triboelectric charge of the base-treated raw toner particles is from about 0.8 to about 1.2.
US08986910B2
There are provided an EUV optical member, in which deterioration in the reflectivity due to oxidation of the Ru protective layer is prevented, a functional film-equipped substrate to be employed for production of the EUV optical member. A reflective layer-equipped substrate for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light and a protective layer for protecting the reflective layer, formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the reflective layer is a Mo/Si multilayer reflective film, the protective layer has a three-layer structure wherein a first layer made of a Ru layer or a Ru compound layer, a second layer made of a Mo layer and a third layer made of a Ru layer or a Ru compound layer are laminated in this order on the reflective layer.
US08986904B2
A solid oxide fuel cell and a manufacturing method thereof includes a unit cell and a cell coupling member. The unit cell includes a first electrode layer, an electrolyte layer surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer surrounding the electrolyte layer so that one end portion of the electrolyte layer is exposed. The cell coupling member is coupled to the unit cell and includes a coupling member. A sealing member including at least two layers having different porosities is coated on at least one portion of the coupling member to seal the unit cell and the cell coupling member.
US08986903B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a polymer electrolyte molded article, which comprises forming a polymer electrolyte precursor having a protective group and an ionic group, and deprotecting at least a portion of protective groups contained in the resulting molded article to obtain a polymer electrolyte molded article. According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a polymer electrolyte material and a polymer electrolyte molded article, which are excellent in proton conductivity and are also excellent in fuel barrier properties, mechanical strength, physical durability, resistance to hot water, resistance to hot methanol, processability and chemical stability. A polymer electrolyte fuel cell using a polymer electrolyte membrane, polymer electrolyte parts or a membrane electrode assembly can achieve high output, high energy density and long-term durability.
US08986901B2
A fuel cell system includes an air supply flow path configured to supply the air to a fuel cell, a reed valve provided in the air supply flow path, an air exhaust flow path configured to allow the air discharged from the fuel cell to flow therethrough, a pressure regulating valve provided in the air exhaust flow path and configured to adjust back pressure of the air supplied to the fuel cell, a bypass flow path configured to connect an upstream section of the air supply flow path upstream of the reed valve with the air exhaust flow path, and a bypass valve provided in the bypass flow path and configured to open and close the bypass flow path. The fuel cell system reduces the opening of the pressure regulating valve with supplying the air to the fuel cell in the closed position of the bypass valve, so as to increase the pressure of the air upstream of the pressure regulating valve, and subsequently opens the bypass valve.
US08986897B2
A fuel cell constructed with single layer bipolar plates, water damming layers and membrane electrode assembly with gas diffusion layers locally impregnated with water transporting materials, which has reactant gas flow fields placed on both sides of the single layer plates, while cooling liquid flow fields are integrated at least on one side of the plates. Disclosed novel configuration of the fuel cell provides a united means for humidifying reactant gases, hydrating membrane, removing generated water and cooling cells.
US08986895B2
An all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery containing a novel garnet-type oxide serving as a solid electrolyte. The garnet-type lithium ion-conducting oxide is one represented by the formula Li5+XLa3(ZrX, A2-X)O12, wherein A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Y, Nb, Hf, Ta, Al, Si, Ga, Ge, and Sn and X satisfies the inequality 1.4≦X<2, or is one obtained by substituting an element having an ionic radius different from that of Zr for Zr sites in an garnet-type lithium ion-conducting oxide represented by the formula Li7La3Zr2O12, wherein the normalized intensity of an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern with a diffraction peak, as normalized on the basis of the intensity of a diffraction peak, is 9.2 or more.
US08986889B2
A positive active material for a lithium secondary battery comprises a core comprising a compound that can reversibly intercalate and deintercalate lithium; and a compound attached to the surface of the core and represented by Chemical Formula 1: Li1+xM(I)xM(II)2−xSiyP3−yO12, [Chemical Formula 1] wherein M(I) and M(II) are selected from the group consisting of Al, Zr, Hf, Ti, Ge, Sn, Cr, Nb, Ga, Fe, Sc, In, Y, La, Lu, and Mg, and 0
US08986876B2
Provided are a cap assembly for a secondary battery. The cap assembly includes a cap-up, a PTC thermistor disposed under the cap-up, a vent disposed under the PTC thermistor, and an insulating plate disposed between the vent and the cap-up and preventing contact between the vent and the PTC thermistor. Here, the vent includes a curling part bent to cover an external surface of the insulating plate. Further, the secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a can accommodating the electrode assembly and having an opening, and the cap assembly which seals the can.
US08986869B2
A shaft core includes a positive electrode shaft core portion having a positive electrode splaying portion at one end, a negative electrode shaft core portion having a negative electrode splaying portion at the other end, and an insulation portion that mutually insulates and integrates the positive and negative electrode shaft core portions. The positive electrode plate is electrically connected to the positive electrode collector in a state of being splayed through the positive electrode splaying portion, and the negative electrode plate is electrically connected to the negative electrode collector being splayed through the negative electrode splaying portion. The positive and negative electrode shaft core splaying portions press and open their respective electrode laminates at the end surfaces of the wound electrode group, the positive electrode connection piece and the positive electrode collecting portion are welded, and the negative electrode connection piece and the negative electrode collecting portion are also welded.
US08986867B2
A battery pack assembly comprises at least one light emitting device, a switch for operating the light emitting devices, a case, and a battery pack. The battery pack assembly includes a support portion, an elastic connection portion, a button and an observation portion. The support portion is fixed to an inside of the case. The elastic connection portion is extended from one side of the support portion. The button is formed at an end portion of the elastic connection portion. The observation portion is fixed between the support portion and the case, and is configured to allow light emitted from the light emitting devices to pass therethrough. In the battery pack assembly, the button is exposed through the button hole, and light passing through the observation portion is exposed through the observation holes.
US08986864B2
A battery housing for a hybrid vehicle battery includes a degassing system on a floor of the housing. The degassing system includes a base body configured for attachment to the floor, where the base body includes an opening in an upper section and is at least partially permeable to a liquid in a lower section. The degassing system also includes a guide in the base body and a float provided in the base body. The guide is configured to guide the float.
US08986862B2
A metal-ligand coordination compound containing an aliphatic ligand useful as a catholyte and/or an anolyte that enables the provision of a redox flow battery having high energy efficiency and charge/discharge efficiency.
US08986858B2
Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device (organic EL device) that is improved in luminous efficiency, sufficiently secures driving stability, and has a simple configuration. This organic EL device comprises organic layers between an anode and a cathode piled one upon another on a substrate and at least one organic layer selected from a light-emitting layer, a hole-transporting layer, an electron-transporting layer, and a hole-blocking layer contains a carbazole compound represented by the following formula (1). In the case where the light-emitting layer of the organic electroluminescent device contains a phosphorescent dopant and a host material, it is the carbazole compound that is contained as the host material. In formula (1), X is C—Y or a nitrogen atom; Y is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, or an aromatic group; n is an integer of 2 to 4: A is an n-valent aromatic group; L is a direct bond or a divalent aromatic group; and R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a cycloalkyl group.
US08986853B2
A red phosphorescent compound includes a host material being capable of transporting an electron or a hole; and a dopant material represented by following Formula 1: and each of R1 to R4 is one of the group consisting of hydrogen atom (H), C1 to C6 substituted or non-substituted alkyl group, C1 to C6 substituted or non-substituted alkoxy group, and halogen atom.
US08986848B2
A hydrophilic coating can be applied to virtually any surface to produce a long-lasting, durable antifog effect. The coating includes a molecular-level blend of hydrophilic polymers. The coating can be assembled using a layer-by-layer assembly process.
US08986845B2
A ceramic composite article includes ceramic carbide fibers and a ceramic matrix in which the ceramic carbide fibers are embedded. The ceramic matrix includes a laminar structure with at least one layer of a first ceramic material and at least one layer of a second, different ceramic material.
US08986844B2
A method for manufacturing a touch screen panel includes reinforcing a glass substrate, the glass substrate to be formed with a plurality of touch screen panels in unit cells, reinforcing the glass substrate including forming a reinforcing layer on an upper and a lower side of the glass substrate by performing a reinforcement treatment on a whole surface of the glass substrate, cutting the reinforced glass substrate in each unit cell, removing a part of the reinforcing layer formed in the upper and the lower side of the glass substrate adjacent to a cut cross section, performing a chemical HF treatment on a cross section of the glass substrate corresponding to the cut cross section and exposing the glass substrate by partially removing the reinforcing layer, and forming a touch screen panel per region of the unit cells, respectively.
US08986841B2
A process for reinforcing a glass-ceramic article, into which a maximum tension is introduced beneath the surface of the glass-ceramic, advantageously in proximity to said surface. The invention also relates to an enamel that can be used for this reinforcement, this enamel being formed from a glass frit having the following composition, the proportions being expressed as weight percentages: SiO250-66% MgO3-8% Na2O 7-15% K2O0-3% Li2O 0-12% CaO 0-10% BaO 0-15% Al2O30-3% ZrO20-3% ZnO0-5% B2O30-8% the sum of the alkaline-earth metal oxides CaO+BaO moreover being between 8 and 15%, and the sum of the alkali metal oxides Na2O+K2O+Li2O moreover being between 7 and 20%. The reinforced glass-ceramics obtained by the process.
US08986835B2
A GaN nanorod and formation method. Formation includes providing a substrate having a GaN film, depositing SiNx on the GaN film, etching a growth opening through the SiNx and into the GaN film, growing a GaN nanorod through the growth opening, the nanorod having a nanopore running substantially through its centerline. Focused ion beam etching can be used. The growing can be done using organometallic vapor phase epitaxy. The nanopore diameter can be controlled using the growth opening diameter or the growing step duration. The GaN nanorods can be removed from the substrate. The SiNx layer can be removed after the growing step. A SiOx template can be formed on the GaN film and the GaN can be grown to cover the SiOx template before depositing SiNx on the GaN film. The SiOx template can be removed after growing the nanorods.
US08986834B2
A insulated wire includes a conductor, and an insulating coating on a periphery of the conductor. The insulating coating includes an insulating film formed by applying and baking a polyester imide resin insulating coating material, and the insulating film has a relative permittivity of less than 3.5 both in a dried state and in a moisture-absorbed state. The insulating film is formed by applying and baking a polyester imide resin insulating coating material including an imide dicarboxylic acid and an alcohol component, the imide dicarboxylic acid being obtained by synthesizing a diamine component including aromatic diamine having not less than three aromatic rings and an acid component including aromatic tricarboxylic acid anhydride.
US08986831B2
A tape that includes a cellulosic substrate defining a first surface and an opposing second surface; a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the first surface of the cellulosic substrate; and an encapsulated fibrous material disposed on the first surface of the cellulosic substrate or the second surface of the cellulosic substrate.
US08986825B2
The invention relates to a resin curing agent having the formula (I), wherein R1 to R4 are each individually selected from linear or branched C1 to C5 alkyl, a process for its manufacture, blends of the reaction products, and two-component curable resin systems.
US08986816B2
A method and apparatus comprising a layer of material having a decorative graphic and an electrically conductive material in the layer of material. The layer of material is configured to be attached to a surface of an aircraft. The electrically conductive material is configured to cause a current from an atmospheric electrostatic discharge contacting the layer of material to spread out in a desired amount within the layer of material.
US08986815B2
A jacket configured to encase building component insulation is provided. The jacket comprises at least inner layer, an intermediate layer attached to the inner layer, and an outer layer attached to the intermediate layer. The inner layer, intermediate layer and outer layers are configured for attachment to each other with the use at least one of heat, polymeric material, and pressure. Additionally, the jacket complies with the standards of flame retardancy as provided by ASTM C1136.
US08986814B2
Surfaces having a hierarchical structure—having features of both microscale and nanoscale dimensions—can exhibit superhydrophobic properties and advantageous condensation and heat transfer properties. The hierarchical surfaces can be fabricated using biological nanostructures, such as viruses as a self-assembled nanoscale template.
US08986809B2
In exemplary implementations of this invention, a digital material comprising many discrete units is used to fabricate a sparse structure. The units are reversibly joined by elastic connections. Each unit comprises fiber-reinforced composite material. Each unit is small compared to the sparse structure as a whole. Likewise, in a sparse structure made from this digital material, the number of types of units is small compared to the total number of units. The digital material is anisotropic. This anisotropy may be due to different fiber orientations within each unit. Furthermore, different units in a single sparse structure may be oriented in different directions and in different, non-parallel planes. In some cases, the digital material is reinforced with carbon fibers, and connections between units are stronger than the units themselves. The small discrete units may be assembled into a strong, lightweight sparse structure, such as an airframe.
US08986808B2
An artificial turf is disclosed having a base and a plurality of synthetic fibers attached to and extending upward from the base, the fibers comprising a chlorin-based organic colorant and the colorant reflects infrared radiation in the range of 700 to 1,100 nm.
US08986806B1
A warpage control stiffener ring package includes a substrate having an upper surface and corners. A segmented stiffener ring is formed of “L” shaped segments, each segment being mounted to the upper surface at a corner of the substrate, wherein a gap exists between each of the segments. By forming the segmented stiffener ring of segments having gaps therebetween, warpage of the segmented stiffener ring itself, and thus the thermal stress applied by the segmented stiffener ring on to the substrate, is reduced as compared to a continuous stiffener ring. This allows the segmented stiffener ring to be designed to minimize warpage of the warpage control stiffener ring package.
US08986798B2
A new and novel impact energy attenuation material, impact energy attenuation module employing the material and a fit system for optimizing the performance thereof is provided. Non-linear energy attenuating material consisting of a plurality of loose particles is employed for impact energy dissipation. The loose particles are preferably spherical elastomeric balls. An impact energy attenuation module includes a container that holds the loose particles. The impact energy attenuation module can be provided in a wide range of sizes and shapes and the loose particles can be provided in different materials, sizes, density, compaction and hardness to suit with the application at hand. A matrix of impact energy attenuation module are provided about the surface of a shell to provide the required impact energy attenuation. The material, impact energy attenuation module and system of the present invention are well suited for protection of body parts and other cushioning and protection needs.
US08986796B2
There is provided a thermal transfer sheet that includes a heat-resistant slipping layer and a colorant layer, the heat-resistant slipping layer and the colorant layer being formable in an in-line process, has excellent heat resistance, and can suppress tailing. The thermal transfer sheet includes a substrate, a colorant layer provided on one surface of the substrate, and a heat-resistant slipping layer provided on the surface of the substrate opposite to the colorant layer, wherein the heat-resistant slipping layer contains at least a binder resin containing an amino group-containing acrylic resin and an epoxysilane, and a slipping agent.
US08986789B2
The invention relates to a substrate having a bondable metal coating comprising, in this order, on an Al or Cu surface: (a) a Ni—P layer, (b) a Pd layer and, optionally, (c) an Au layer, wherein the thickness of the Ni—P layer (a) is 0.2 to 10 m, the thickness of the Pd layer (b) is 0.05 to 1.0 m and the thickness of the optional Au layer (c) is 0.01 to 0.5 m, and wherein the Ni—P layer (a) has a P content of 10.5 to 14 wt.-%. The deposit internal stress of the resulting Ni—P/Pd stack is not higher than 34.48M−Pa (5,000 psi). Further, a process for the preparation of such a substrate is described.
US08986786B2
A distribution manifold having a manifold and a removable cartridge with a plurality of needle tubes extending from the removable cartridge is disclosed. The distribution manifold can be used with a pre-metered coating system to apply coating material to a substrate.
US08986785B2
An apparatus for continuous sulfonization of discrete articles comprising a feeder box for drying the discrete articles with ultra-dry air, a sulfonization chamber for treating the discrete articles with sulfur trioxide gas, a conveyor assembly for transporting the discrete articles from the feeder box to the sulfonization chamber, and a neutralizing tank for treating the discrete articles with neutralizing fluid. The sulfonization chamber includes a rotating dial plate with a circular periphery and an upper surface extending radially from and rotatable about a center axis (A) for receiving the discrete articles at the circular periphery. A plurality of arcuate guides extend perpendicularly from a guide arm toward the rotating dial plate and are spaced radially outward from one another along a radial (R) extending radially from the center axis (A) for moving the discrete articles radially inward in a spiral path during rotation of the rotating dial plate.
US08986776B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a microbial substance-releasing layer on a technical surface. The inventive method comprises three steps: a) producing a solution from polyvinylacetate, a preservative agent and a solvent, b) applying the solution to the technical surface, and c) drying the solution applied to the technical surface while forming the layer. The inventive method is characterized by using benzoic acid, sorbic acid, natamycin, bacteriocines, plant extracts or mixtures thereof as the preservative agent and an ethanol/water mixture, ethyl acetate or acetone as the solvent.
US08986769B2
The present invention is directed to a processing method and a selection of ingredients that will retain TGF-β levels, bioactivity, and/or bioavailability in a liquid nutritional product. The method involves selecting one or more protein ingredients that have been subjected to a heat load comprising medium-heat or less; combining the protein ingredients with other components of the liquid nutritional product to form a slurry; subjecting the slurry to a pressure of from about 2500 psi to about 3500 psi at a temperature of from about 55° C. to about 65° C. for about 5 to 20 seconds; subjecting the slurry to a temperature of about 135 to 150° C. for about 1.5 to 15 seconds; and cooling the slurry to a temperature of less than about 8° C. over about 30 minutes or less.
US08986766B2
The present invention relates to a beverage mixing and dispersing apparatus comprising: —a metering device, —a mixing chamber, —at least one diluent feeding means, —means for moving the mixing chamber, characterized in that the mixing chamber is movable between: —a metering position, where the metering device outlet emerges in the mixing chamber inlet, and —a mixing position, where the diluent feeding means are able to inject the diluent in the mixing chamber and the metering device outlet does not emerge in the mixing chamber inlet.
US08986744B2
The present invention relates to populations of stem cells, methods for isolating these stem cell populations, and methods repairing, regenerating, and reconstituting tissues using the these stem cell populations. The invention additionally relates to methods of screening agents that promote growth, engraftment, or differentiation of stem cells.
US08986736B2
The present invention is concerned with delivering a pharmaceutical composition to a tissue target of a mammalian subject for treating brain diseases or disorders. The process includes the steps of: (i) providing a dispersion of the pharmaceutical composition as particles having an average particle size of from about 150 nm to about 100 microns, and (ii) administering the dispersion to the mammalian subject for delivery to the tissue target of a portion of the pharmaceutical composition by cells capable of reaching the tissue target. The dispersion of the pharmaceutical composition as particles, for example, can be phagocytized or adsorbed by the cells prior or subsequent to administration into the mammalian subject. The dispersion of the pharmaceutical composition can be administered to the central nervous system or the vascular system. After administration, the loaded cells transport the pharmaceutical composition as particles into the tissue target.
US08986730B2
Methods for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel are provided that include introducing a porous carrier formed from lyophilized hydrogel or other material into the puncture. The plug may include at least first and second hydrogel precursors and a pH adjusting agent carried by the porous carrier in an unreactive state prior to exposure to an aqueous physiological environment. Once exposed to bodily fluids, the carrier expands as the lyophilized material hydrates to enhance and facilitate rapid hemostasis of the puncture. When the plug is placed into the puncture, the natural wetting of the plug by bodily fluids (e.g., blood) causes the first and second precursors to react and cross-link into an adhesive or “sticky” hydrogel that aids in retaining the plug in place within the puncture.
US08986725B2
A composite for delivering extended-release of oxygen is disclosed. The composite can include a biocompatible polymeric support having a plurality of solid peroxide particles suspended therein. The polymer support can exhibit an oxygen tension value of at least 40 mmHg for a period of 14 days. The weight ratio of biocompatible polymeric support to solid peroxide particles can range from 1:1 to 99:1. Also disclosed is a method of using the composite to deliver oxygen to cells in both in vivo and in vitro environments.
US08986721B2
Skin care or cleansing implements are described containing a liquid, semisolid or solid cleansing or skin treatment composition that is releasably associated with the implement. The composition is substantially nonaqueous and has a continuous and a discontinuous phase. Components of the discontinuous phase can react with each other or with water when water is blended with the nonaqueous cleansing or skin treatment composition during consumer use. Methods for treating the skin with the inventive implements are also described.
US08986719B2
Disclosed herein are teeth whitening compositions generally including an oxidizing agent (e.g., a peroxide), and an activating agent that has an emission wavelength between about 400 nm and about 570 nm (e.g., Eosin B). Methods of employing these compositions to whiten teeth, methods of making these compositions and kits that include some or part of the composition ingredients, are also described.
US08986714B2
Novel formulations and methods for their use in treating neuropathology incident to trauma are provided. Multiple-component formulations of the invention, and especially those having four components, comprise biologically active compounds configured for preventing or reducing the incidence and severity of damage caused by neurotrauma. Formulations and methods of the invention effect both neuroprotective actions to prevent or reduce secondary injuries, and neurotrophic actions to repair and restore cells and tissues affected by the trauma. Formulations and methods of the invention are especially useful in treating neurological trauma, such as those caused by sports injuries and improvised explosive devices in combat.
US08986710B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 71. In another aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition including an isolated non-lipidated, non-pyruvylated ORF2086 polypeptide from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, and at least one conjugated capsular saccharide from a meningococcal serogroup.
US08986701B2
Methods of treating cancer by targeting tumor vasculature using an enzyme prodrug cancer therapy treatment are provided.
US08986700B2
The present invention provides synthetic immunogenic lipopeptide molecules comprising co-linear T-helper and CTL epitopes, and methods for their production and use in the generation of primary and secondary immune responses, and for the vaccination of animal subjects against particular CTL epitopes. More particularly, the present invention provides highly soluble lipopeptides wherein the lipid moiety is attached to the terminal side-chain group of an internal lysine or lysine analog, preferably to the terminal side-chain group of an internal diamino acid residue. Preferably the internal lysine or lysine analog is positioned between the T-helper epitope and the CTL epitope.
US08986690B2
The present invention relates to methods for modulating the activity of one or more neurotrophins, such as neural growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), in an animal and methods for treatment of a disease or disorder in an individual by modulation of neurotrophin activity. The modulation is carried out by interfering with binding between a neurotrophin and a receptor of the Vps10p-domain receptor family or modulating the expression of a receptor of the Vps10p-domain receptor family. Methods for screening for agents capable of modulating neurotrophin activity and agents selected using these screening methods are also disclosed, as are methods for determining the effect of an agent on one or more neurotrophins in cells. The present invention also pertains to methods for modulating the transport of one or more neurotrophins.
US08986686B2
The present invention provides liquid formulations of SYNAGIS® or an antigen-binding fragment thereof that immunospecifically bind to a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen, which formulations exhibit stability, low to undetectable levels of aggregation, and very little to no loss of the biological activities of SYNAGIS® or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, even during long periods of storage. In particular, the present invention provides liquid formulations of SYNAGIS® or an antigen-binding fragment thereof which immunospecifically binds to a RSV antigen, which formulations are substantially free of surfactant, inorganic salts, and/or other common excipients. Furthermore, the invention provides method of preventing, treating or ameliorating symptoms associated with RSV infection utilizing liquid formulations of the present invention.
US08986682B2
The present invention relates to a method to increase the absorption by a human infant of at least one unsaturated fatty acid, said method comprising the enteral administration to said infant of recombinant human bile-salt-stimulated lipase (rhBSSL). In another aspect the invention also relates to a method to improve the visual and/or cognitive development of a human infant, said method comprising the enteral administration to said infant of rhBSSL. Such methods have particular utility for preterm human infants, particular those in medical need of increasing their absorption of or availability to such unsaturated fatty acids. In further aspects, the invention relates to kits, packaged-pharmaceutical-products, recombinant human bile-salt-stimulated lipase and pharmaceutical compositions, in each case useful for increasing the absorption by a human infant of at least one unsaturated fatty acid, or for increasing the visual and/or cognitive development of a human infant.
US08986672B2
The present invention is directed to the composition and use of a modified Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) as a medicament in the treatment of cancer. The modified HSV-2 has fusogenic activity, and comprises a modified/mutated ICP 10 polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having ribonucleotide reductase activity and lacking protein kinase activity.
US08986665B2
Provided are polyglyceryl compositions comprising one or more polyglyceryl compounds having: (a) a node structure comprising at least three contiguous glyceryl remnant units; (b) one or more cationic groups each linked to the node structure by an independently selected linking group; and (c) one or more hydrophobic moieties each independently (i) linked to the node structure by a linking group, or (ii) constituting a portion of one of the one or more cationic groups, wherein the composition has an average degree of polymerization determined by hydroxyl value testing (DPOH) of from about 3 to about 20. Also provided are polyglyceryl compounds which may compose such compositions, and uses of the polyglyceryl compositions and compounds.
US08986660B2
Disclosed is a cooling component or sensate component which does not have undesirable stimulus feeling, bitterness and the like and is excellent in the persistence of refresh-feeling and cool-feeling, a sensate composition which comprises the same, and various products that comprise said sensate composition. Also disclosed is a cooling agent comprising (3S)-1-menthyl 3-hydroxybutyrate represented by the following formula (I)
US08986655B2
PSMA ligands, compositions, and methods therefore are disclosed where the ligand is a peptide having the sequence X1X2CVEVX3QNSCX4X5 where X1-X5 are independently a natural or non-natural amino acid or a peptide having the sequence CALCEFLG [SEQ ID NO: 1]. Especially preferred aspects include diagnostic reagents for detection and/or quantification of PSMA in a sample, therapeutic reagents, and diagnostic imaging reagents.
US08986641B1
In some embodiments, the present invention provides amphiphilic nanosheets that comprise lamellar crystals with at least two regions: a first hydrophilic region, and a second hydrophobic region. In some embodiments, the amphiphilic nanosheets of the present invention also comprise a plurality of functional groups that are appended to the lamellar crystals. In some embodiments, the functional groups are hydrophobic functional groups that are appended to the second region of the lamellar crystals. In some embodiments, the lamellar crystals comprise α-zirconium phosphates. Additional embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of making the aforementioned amphiphilic nanosheets. Such methods generally comprise appending one or more functional groups to a stack of lamellar crystals; and exfoliating the stack of lamellar crystals for form the amphiphilic nanosheets.
US08986639B2
A process of introducing a NOx reduction fluid into combustion products within a downstream end of a regenerative pyrolysis reactor. This NOx reduction fluid may thermally reduce NOx contained therein. The NOx reduction fluid may include ammonia.
US08986631B2
A reactor vessel for performing a steam reforming reaction having a vessel inlet for natural gas and steam; a vessel inlet for a hot gaseous medium; a vessel outlet for the steam reforming product; and a reactor space which is a bed of steam reforming catalyst, which reactor space inlet is fluidly connected to the inlet for natural gas and steam and at its outlet end fluidly connected with the outlet for the gaseous product; wherein inside the catalyst bed a passageway is provided fluidly connected to the vessel inlet for the hot gaseous medium for passage of hot gaseous mixture counter currently to the flow of reactants in the catalyst bed.
US08986626B2
The invention relates to a probe arrangement (10g) for exchanging in a controllable way liquids with micro-sized samples of material like biological cells, especially in connection with an scanning probe microscope, said probe arrangement (10g) comprising a probe holder (11) with at least one embedded first channel (18) and a cantilever (12) with at least one embedded second channel (15) and being provided to be attached to said probe holder (11) in a way that at least one aperture (19) of the first channel (18) is connected to at least one aperture (17) of the second channel (15) in a way that permits the liquid-tight transfer of a liquid between said first and second channels (15, 18). A safe and easy use of the probe arrangement is achieved by having the cantilever (12) permanently attached to said probe holder (11) to form a prefabricated probe unit (10g).
US08986625B2
A method for sampling a sulphur-containing solid product including supplying a gas flow comprising hydrogen sulphide, bringing the gas flow into contact with a solid reagent and reacting the solid reagent with the hydrogen sulphide contained in the gas flow, the reaction fixing the sulphur of the hydrogen sulphide by forming a sulphur-containing solid product which is different in color from the solid reagent, and recovering the sulphur-containing solid product. The invention also relates to a device suitable for the implementation of this method.
US08986624B2
A measurement device includes a housing and at least one display integrated in the housing. The housing includes a recess adapted for insertion of a cartridge into the housing to deliver a sample to be measured to the device. The recess has an opening at the front of the housing and a first part of the housing for insertion of the cartridge protrudes in a direction enclosing an angle with a second part of the housing.
US08986622B2
A crude oil feedstream is treated to remove or reduce the content of known undesired heteroatomic and polynuclear aromatic compounds containing nitrogen and sulfur by contacting the feedstream with one or more solid adsorbent materials selected from attapulgus clay, alumina, silica gel and activated carbon in a mixing vessel for a time that is sufficient to optimize the adsorption of the undesired compounds from the crude oil, subjecting the mixture to atmospheric flash distillation and then to vacuum flash distillation to recover presorbed boiling ranges of products having a lowered content of the undesired compounds, and preferably regenerating at least a portion of the solid adsorbent material for reuse in the process.
US08986616B2
An ultrasonic oscillation machine for manufacturing porous collagen matrices has a hollow body, a vessel, a conveyor, multiple frames, multiple oscillation devices and an ultrasonic mechanism. The vessel is mounted in the body. The frames are connected to the conveyor. The conveyor moves the frames to leave from or to be put into the vessel. Each frame has multiple containers to carry subjects. The oscillation devices are connected respectively to the frames. The ultrasonic mechanism is mounted in the vessel. During the manufacturing process, the oscillation devices and the ultrasonic mechanism operate to provide affection. Then the connective tissues in the containers gradually become porous collagen matrices.
US08986613B2
The present invention provides a handheld USB Cup for use in collection of a fluidic body sample, comprising ad receptacle comprising side surfaces, a bottom plate and a sensor assembly, the sensor assembly comprising at least one sensor and a slave circuitry; said sensor assembly is permanently affixed to said side surfaces or said bottom plate. The receptacle is capable of maintaining the fluidic body sample for a sufficient time period in the vicinity of the sensor thereby the sensor is operative to provide continuous measurement of an electric, chemical or physical property of the urine. The slave circuitry responds to the electric, chemical or physical property of the fluidic body sample received from the sensor and is configured and operable to electronically communicate the measurement of the electric, chemical or physical property of the fluidic body sample to an external processing master unit.
US08986610B2
A system and method delivers an atomized solution to the interior volume of a building or room utilizing a venturi effect for the atomization.
US08986609B2
The present invention relates to a terminal sterilization process for biodegradable PEG-based insoluble hydrogels using irradiation. The presence of a protective solvent ensures that the hydrogel remains intact with functionally preserved three-dimensional and physicochemical properties.
US08986607B2
A validatable method for determining a photochemically effective dose for inactivating pathogens in a fluid sample is described herein. In particular, the instant invention covers methods for determining a photochemically effective dose sufficient to inactivate pathogens in a biological sample while leaving biologically active substances of interest unaffected. A batch irradiation reactor effective for inactivating pathogens in biological samples is also described.
US08986605B2
Disclosed herein is a method and gas atmosphere for a metal component in a continuous furnace. In one embodiment, the method and gas atmosphere comprises the use of an effective amount, or about 1 to about 10 percent volume of endo-gas, into an atmosphere comprising nitrogen and hydrogen. In another embodiment, there is provided a method sintering metal components in a furnace at a one or more operating temperatures comprising: providing a furnace comprising a belt comprising a wire mesh material wherein the metal components are supported thereupon; and sintering the components in the furnace in an atmosphere comprising nitrogen, hydrogen, and effective amount of endothermic gas at the one or more operating temperatures ranging from about 1800° F. to about 2200° F. wherein the amount of endothermic gas in the atmosphere is such that it is oxidizing to the wire mesh material and reducing to the metal components.
US08986597B2
A method is disclosed for manufacturing a zircon composition, the method comprising contacting a zircon powder with a sintering aid, wherein the sintering aid is in the form of a liquid, a sol, or a combination thereof. Also disclosed are methods for forming the zircon composition into a desired shape and for firing a composition to produce a ceramic body. The zircon composition and ceramic body produced by the described methods are also disclosed.
US08986595B2
Provided is a method of producing a resin molded article which hardly involves the occurrence of optical distortion and of sink marks. The method of producing a resin molded article includes: a first step including pouring a polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer into a molding die and irradiating the polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer with radiant energy rays until a polymerization conversion degree reaches 1 to 10% to polymerize a part of the polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer; and a second step including heating the polymerized polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer after the first step in a state where the polymerized polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer is held in the molding die to further polymerize a remaining part of the polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer until the polymerization conversion degree reaches 60% or more.
US08986594B2
The present invention relates to metal coated nano-fibres obtained by a process that includes electrospinning and to the use of said metal coated nano-fibres. The process is characterised in that a polymer nano-fibre with functional groups providing the binding ability to a reducing reagent is prepared by electrospinning at ambient conditions. Then this is contacted with a reducing agent, thereby opening the epoxy ring on the surface of polymer nano-fibre and replacing with the reducing agent and the reducing agent modified film is reacted with metal solution in alkaline media. Finally the electrospun mat is treated with water to open the epoxy rings in the structure and crosslinking the chains to provide integrity.
US08986590B2
Provided are a polymer article excellent in mechanical strength, toughness, and stretchability and a production method of the polymer article. The polymer article of the present invention is formed of a polymer material and is a polymer blank or a formed polymer body. The polymer article of the present invention has a crystallinity of not less than 50% but less than 90% and a tensile strain at fracture of not less than 60%. A method for producing a polymer article of the present invention includes: a heating step of heating the polymer material to a temperature of not lower than (Tm−70)° C. but lower than Tm(° C.) where Tm is the melting point (° C.) of the polymer material; and a compression step of cooling the polymer material heated in the heating step and compressing the polymer material in the course of the cooling to obtain a polymer article having a crystallinity of not less than 50% but less than 90% and a tensile strain at fracture of not less than 60%.
US08986589B2
A method for manufacturing a carrier tray includes softening and disposing a plastic film on a first mold, wherein the first mold includes a top surface and a first lateral surface, the top surface includes a recession and a first edge, the first lateral surface is connected to the top surface and extends from the first edge, and the first lateral surface and the top surface form a first included angle; attaching the plastic film to the top surface and the first lateral surface; disposing a restorer on an outer side of the first mold; separating the first mold from the plastic film, wherein the plastic film is pushed by the first lateral surface such that the restorer is moved from an initial position to a final position; and pushing the plastic film from the final position to the initial position by the restorer; and cooling the plastic film.
US08986585B2
A method of manufacturing polishing layers having a window for use in chemical mechanical polishing pads is provided, wherein a plurality of polishing layers having an integral window are derived from a cake, wherein the formation of density defects in the cake and the surface roughness of the polishing layers formed are minimized.
US08986584B2
A process for making an embossed web. A precursor web is provided between a forming structure and a compliant substrate. The forming structure has a plurality of discrete protruded elements and lands completely surrounding them. Pressure is provided between the compliant substrate and the forming structure to conform the precursor web to the forming structure to form the embossed web. The resulting embossed web has a plurality of discrete extended elements completely surrounded by land areas.
US08986581B2
A method for producing biochar particles or pellets which use sulphur and other additives. The method includes producing a mixture with biochar and additives selected from sulphur, lignin, and gluten. The mixture is mixed with water and passed through an extruder to produce an extrudate. The extrudate is then cut into pellets. The pellets are then tumbled/spun with each other and heated to result in mostly spheroidal pellets whose mechanical characteristics allow them to be used with well-known agricultural equipment. The biochar can be produced with sulphur incorporated as an outer coating. To produce this sulphur coated biochar, the method includes feeding a biomass feedstock to a pyrolysis reactor, pyrolyzing the feedstock into biochar particles, size-sorting the biochar particles, and coating the biochar particles with the sulphur coating material.
US08986572B2
The invention is directed to calcium fluoride crystal optics with improved laser durability that can be used for the transmission of below 250 nanometer (nm) electromagnetic radiation. The optics consists of CaF2 as the major component and Mg in an amount in the range of 13 ppm to 20 ppm while Ce and Mn are <0.5 ppm. The doped crystal and optics made therefrom have a ratio of 515/380 nm transmission loss of less than 0.3 after exposure to greater than 2.8 MRads of γ-radiation. Further, the doped crystal and optics made therefrom exhibit a greatly improved lifetime as shown by ALDT testing to at least 1 billion pulses.
US08986568B2
The present invention aims to ensure strength of a thin-walled sintered magnet. A sintered magnet is a ferrite sintered magnet made by sintering a magnetic material. A magnetic powder mixture obtained by mixing magnetic powder with a binder resin is injection-molded into a mold with a magnetic field applied thereto to produce a molded body, which is then sintered to produce the sintered magnet. The sintered magnet has a thickness of 3.5 mm or less in the position of center of gravity thereof. The sintered magnet has a surface roughness Rz of 0.1 μm or more and 2.5 μm or less. The surface roughness Rz is a 10 point average roughness.
US08986566B2
A thermoelectric material including a composition according to Chemical Formula 1: (Bia-xSb1-a-yMb)2-i(TecSe1-c)3-j Chemical Formula 1 wherein M is an element of Group 13, 0≦a≦1, 0
US08986563B2
A method for producing three-dimensional microstructures in which a source material is applied on a substrate, with a property changing by exposure with electromagnetic radiation. A three-dimensional source structure is written via spatially-resolving exposure in the source material, the source material is removed except for the source structure, and the source structure is molded with a target material, from which the microstructure to be produced is made. Here, a shell structure is provided surrounding the microstructure to be produced, with the source structure being created as the shell structure or the shell structure is produced using the source structure, and subsequently the target material is inserted into the shell structure.
US08986557B2
Method and apparatus for forming a patterned magnetic substrate are provided. A patterned resist is formed on a magnetically active surface of a substrate. An oxide layer is formed over the patterned resist by a flowable CVD process. The oxide layer is etched to expose portions of the patterned resist. The patterned resist is then etched, using the etched oxide layer as a mask, to expose portions of the magnetically active surface. A magnetic property of the exposed portions of the magnetically active surface is then modified by directing energy through the etched resist layer and the etched oxide layer, which are subsequently removed from the substrate.
US08986550B2
A method and a modular system for performing a sterilizing treatment of ballast waters (12) onboard of a ship (10), for reducing and/or removing the contents of invasive living micro-organisms. A water loading pump (13) and a water preliminary filtering stage (14) are operatively connected to a plurality of ballast water storing tanks (11); a UV sterilizing apparatus (18) for the ballast water is submerged into the ballast water in each water storing tank (11), and is operatively connected to a local control unit (QE). Each UV sterilizing apparatus (18) comprises a UV radiation source (28). The ballast water (12) inside each storing tank (11) is recirculated although the UV radiation source (28), for a required time and mixed with the ballast water inside the water storage tank (11) to enable the living micro-organisms to be substantially reduced or eliminated, during the navigation.
US08986541B2
According to one embodiment, a copper recovery apparatus includes a precipitation tank, a mixing tank, a filter-aid feeder, a solid-liquid separator includes a filter, a cleaning-water supply line, a cleaning-water discharge line, a separation tank, and a filter-aid return line. The precipitation tank is configured to receive copper ions-containing water to be treated and an alkali to prepare treated water containing a precipitate of copper compound. The solid-liquid separator is configured to allow the treated water to be passed through the filter on which the precoat layer is deposited to separate the precipitate retained on the precoat layer from a filtrate.
US08986539B2
In an inside-out flow filter, a transition pressure recovery member is provided at the inlet and has structured contoured guide surfaces guiding fluid flow therealong into the hollow interior of an annular filter element to minimize transition pressure loss from the inlet to the hollow interior. The transition pressure recovery member includes transition flow deceleration surfaces gradually decelerating flow of fluid into the hollow interior and minimizing pressure drop.
US08986535B2
The invention discloses an erythropoietin receptor modified electrode, which is a glassy carbon electrode with erythropoietin receptor as recognition element fixed onto the electrode surface via ZnO sol-gel. The modified electrode can be prepared easily, and its performance is stable. After 50-day storage in the dark at 4° C., its response current remained approximately 77% of the original value. An electrochemical biosensor using this modified electrode as working electrode, a platinum electrode as counter electrode, a saturated calomel electrode as reference electrode, and 2 mmol/L K3[Fe(CN)6]—K4[Fe(CN)6]phosphate buffer as the test base solution, can detect erythropoietin (EPO) and/or recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) in a fast, specific, and sensitive manner, with a linear range of 5 pg/L-500 ng/L and a limit of detection of 0.5 pg/L. In particular, according to peak potential differences, the biosensor allows accurate discrimination of EPO and rhEPO. It may be used not only for detection of low concentrations of EPO or rhEPO, but also for detection of the stimulant rhEPO in sports games.
US08986533B2
The invention relates to various embodiments of an environmentally beneficial method for reducing carbon dioxide. The methods in accordance with the invention include electrochemically or photoelectrochemically reducing the carbon dioxide in a divided electrochemical cell that includes an anode, e.g., an inert metal counterelectrode, in one cell compartment and a metal or p-type semiconductor cathode electrode in another cell compartment that also contains an aqueous solution of an electrolyte and a catalyst of one or more substituted or unsubstituted aromatic amines to produce therein a reduced organic product.
US08986529B2
Improved electrophoretic analysis is provided by interaction of anionic and cationic isotachophoresis (ITP) shock waves that propagate toward each other, and analysis of the resulting interaction zones. These shock wave interactions can provide qualitatively different capabilities from conventional ITP methods. Shock wave interaction can enable a single assay to identify analyte and quantify its concentration via isotachophoretic focusing followed by separation of the concentrated analytes via electrophoresis, without any mid-assay alteration of the externally imposed experimental conditions (i.e., no switching, valve operation, etc. during the measurement). As another example, shock wave interaction can enable a single assay to provide coupled ITP processes with different electrolyte concentrations (as in cascade-ITP) in a single simple system (again, without any mid-assay alteration of the externally imposed experimental conditions).
US08986507B2
Methods, devices and systems for continuously converting biomass are described herein. A device has a feed section for holding a moving bed of biomass, namely wood, having a drying section, a flame zone for degassing, and a, smolder zone for carbonizing the biomass into a solid converted product, namely charcoal. The device includes a tank for collecting the solid converted product arranged below a grate and coupled with the feed section in a gas-tight manner. The system comprising the device, a biogas plant and/or a combined heat and power plant conveys the liquid converted product, namely pyroligneous acid or acetic acid, to the biogas plant and/or the solid converted product, namely charcoal, to the combined heat and power plant.
US08986506B2
A shoe press belt, and a method for manufacturing and using it. The press belt comprises a base formed of heat-resistant elastomer, inside which base there is a support structure comprising a plurality of support yarns. At least some of the support yarns are heat-resistant polymer yarns, the polymer structure of the material of which comprises a naphthalene group.
US08986505B2
A sheet manufacturing apparatus is provided with a screen portion in which introduced material is passed through a plurality of openings; an information acquiring unit configured to acquire at least one of inflow information related to a flow rate of the material that flows into the screen portion and outflow information related to a flow rate of the material that passes through the screen portion; and a controller configured to make a determination that a clogging of the screen portion is generated when the flow rate is reduced based on at least one of the inflow information and the outflow information.
US08986493B2
When a substrate is etched by using a processing gas including a first gas containing halogen and carbon and having a carbon number of two or less per molecule, while supplying the processing gas toward the substrate independently from a central and a peripheral portion of a gas supply unit, which face the central and the periphery part of the substrate respectively, the processing gas is supplied such that a gas flow rate is greater in the central portion than in the peripheral portion. When the substrate is etched by using a processing gas including a second gas containing halogen and carbon and having a carbon number of three or more per molecule, the processing gas is supplied such that a gas flow rate is greater in the peripheral portion than in the central portion.
US08986484B2
A tooling system may include a cure tool and a biasing element. The cure tool may have a cure tool coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and may be configured for curing a composite article formed of two or more components having dissimilar component CTEs. The biasing element may be fixedly attached to the cure tool and has a biasing element CTE that may be different than the cure tool CTE. The biasing element may be configured such that a combination of the cure tool CTE and the biasing element CTE causes a heat-up displacement in the cure tool when heated and the composite article is cured in a distorted shape. When the cured composite article is cooled, the cured composite article may substantially assume an as-designed shape.
US08986481B2
A manufacturing method of a composite sheet includes: bonding a belt member to a sheet surface of the belt-like sheet by supplying a belt-like sheet to an outer circumferential surface of a bonding roll; supplying the belt member to a part of the belt-like sheet that is brought in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the bonding roll and overlapping the belt member to the part. The guide member has a reciprocating roller and a supply roller. The method further includes wrapping the belt member subsequently around the outer circumferential surface of the supply roller and the outer circumferential surface of the reciprocating roller, and leading the belt member to the belt-like sheet; and oscillating the supply roller so that the outer circumferential surface of the supply roller faces toward the reciprocating roller in accordance with a reciprocating motion of the reciprocating roller.
US08986475B2
A transfer label machine has a post treatment station for exposing newly applied labels to heat in order to finish and gloss out the label. The heat is applied through a nozzle coupled to a hot air supply system that includes a blower, ductwork, and a heating element disposed in the airflow. A temperature probe measures temperature of the air flow and an IR sensor measures the resulting temperature of containers on which the labels have been applied. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is programmed with proportional integral derivative (PID) algorithms to control the blower speed and the heating element to provide the appropriate amount of heat for the labeling or processing speed at which the labeling machine is operating. A vision system can confirm the quality of label after the post treatment heating. In the event of a machine jam, the blower and/or heating element can be turned off or the air can be shunted away from the containers to reduce greatly the likelihood of a fire, which has occurred with prior art flame based post treatment heating units.
US08986474B2
Methods related to forming superabsorbent composite core structures using superabsorbent materials, such as superabsorbent polymers (SAP). In one method superabsorbent material is sprayed simultaneously with an adhesive to form a superabsorbent layer adhered to a first flexible sheet of material. A second flexible sheet of material is applied to the superabsorbent layer to position the superabsorbent layer between the first and second flexible sheets of material. At least one of the first or second flexible sheets of material is liquid permeable to allow liquid to penetrate into the superabsorbent layer from outside the composite product.
US08986453B2
The invention relates to a device for coating substrates having a process chamber (1) disposed in a reactor housing and a two-part, substantially cup-shaped susceptor (2, 3) disposed therein, forming an upper susceptor part (2) with the cup floor thereof having a flat plate (2′) and a lower susceptor part (3) with the cup side walls thereof, the outer side (4) of the plate (2′) of the upper susceptor part (2) facing upwards toward the process chamber (1) and forming a contact surface for at least one substrate, the upper susceptor part (2) contacting a front edge (3″) of the lower susceptor part (3) at the edge of said upper susceptor part (2), the lower susceptor part (3) being supported by a susceptor carrier (6), and heating zones (A, B, C) for heating the upper susceptor part (2) being disposed below the plate (2′). An advantageous refinement of the invention proposes that the upper susceptor part (2) be removable from the process chamber (1) separately from the lower susceptor part (3), and the joint (30) between the edge of the upper susceptor part (2) and the front edge (3″) of the lower susceptor part (3) be formed as a heat conduction barrier.
US08986444B2
A hybrid cement clinker incorporates specific ranges of clinker phases and falls within specific modulus values as set forth and described in this document.
US08986432B2
Filter media, as well as related assemblies, systems and methods. Filter media may contain one or more layers formed of a meltblown material.
US08986429B2
An off gas extraction system provides superior results to other systems for cleaning polluted soil. Off gas is extracted, followed by compression and condensation. Compression and condensation produce an off gas further treated to produce pollutant-free exhaust. A regenerative adsorber cleans the influent gas/air by adsorbing residual chemical vapor and concentrates the removed chemical vapor and reprocesses them. Conventional scrubbers are used on the back end of the system to produce a final exhaust as prescribed by environmental regulation. Methods of accomplishing the same are likewise taught including combinations and additions consistent with schemes as they evolve.
US08986428B2
To include a boiler 11 that burns fuel F, an air heater 13 that recovers heat of flue gas 18 from the boiler 11, a first precipitator 14 that reduces dust in the flue gas 18 after heat recovery, a desulfurizer 15 that reduces sulfur oxides in the flue gas 18 after dust reduction by an absorbent, a dewaterer 32 that reduces gypsum 31 from desulfurization discharged water 30 discharged from the desulfurizer 15, a spray drying device 34 including an atomizer that atomizes a dewatering filtration fluid 33 discharged from the dewaterer 32, and a flue-gas introducing line L11 that introduces a part of the flue gas 18 into the spray drying device 34.
US08986424B2
Method for rhenium recovery from copper solvent extraction solution. It is determined whether the copper solvent extraction solution contains trace amounts of rhenium. If so, a feedstock from the copper solvent extraction solution is provided, which is then filtered, producing filtered feedstock. Trace amounts of rhenium are absorbed from the filtered feedstock using a supply of ion exchange resin selective for rhenium. The ion exchange resin is washed. Trace amounts of rhenium are eluted from the ion exchange resin using a first amount of eluent, a second amount of eluent and a third amount of eluent. The first amount and the third amount of eluent produce supplemental feedstock and the second amount of eluent produces rhenium eluate. The rhenium eluate is collected and the ion exchange resin is protonated.
US08986404B2
The present application is directed to gas generators comprising a fuel mixture and a catalyst. The catalyst is contained in a self-regulated reactor or buoy, and selectively opens and closes to produce a gas in accordance with the demand for gas. This fuel mixture is generally a solution formed by dissolving a solid fuel component in a liquid fuel component. The mixing preferably occurs before the first use, and more preferably occurs immediately prior to the first use. The inventive gas generators preferably further comprises a starting mechanism that isolates the solid fuel from the liquid fuel or vice versa before the first use. In one embodiment, the starting mechanism further comprises a catalyst shield mechanism that isolates the catalyst in the reactor or buoy from the liquid and/or the solid fuel prior to the first use.
US08986399B2
A process of covalently modifying a lignocellulosic material is provided. The process includes oxidizing a lignocellulosic material having hydroxyl groups with an oxidant to oxidize at least a portion of the hydroxyl groups to carboxylic acid groups, optionally activating the carboxylic acid groups with an activating agent to form activated carboxylic acid groups, and reacting the carboxylic acid groups or the activated carboxylic acid groups with a first nitrogen-containing reagent selected from amino acids, peptides, or protected derivatives thereof to provide a treated lignocellulosic material. The treated lignocellulosic materials thus prepared displays resistance to degradation.
US08986390B2
A method of trialing prosthetic components of a knee prosthesis including positioning a femoral trial component on a surgically-prepared distal end of a patient's femur, assembling a tibial bearing trial component, and positioning the tibial bearing trial component on a tibial base trial component seated on a surgically-prepared proximal end of a patient's tibia. The method may also include adjusting the patient's leg with the tibial bearing trial component engaging the femoral trial component, and readjusting the patient's leg with the tibial bearing trial component engaging the femoral trial component after positioning the tibial bearing trial component on the tibial base trial component and a keel punch.
US08986387B1
Systems and methods for distracting an intervertebral disc space are provided. The systems use a staged, bilaterally expandable trial. The systems and methods of distracting an intervertebral space are provided in a manner that addresses the problem of subsidence. The method includes inserting the trial into the intervertebral space in a collapsed state and, once inserted, the trial is then used for distracting the intervertebral space using an expansion that includes a first stage and a second stage. The first stage includes expanding the trial laterally toward the peripheral zones of the top vertebral plate and the bottom vertebral plate, and the second stage includes expanding the trial vertically to distract the intervertebral space.
US08986386B2
The subject disclosure is directed to systems, apparatuses, devices and methods for vertebral and spinal correction. In some embodiments, an expandable implant is provided which may be inserted inside the vertebral body and/or between two vertebrae, for instance, for maintenance and/or restoration of a space therein or there between. In certain embodiments, the implant includes a mechanical resistance that prevents the expandable implant from contracting once it has been expanded. Methods of treatment and methods of use of such implants for the alleviation of back pain (for example) are also provided herein.
US08986383B2
The present invention is a spinal implant that can be inserted into a surgically created cavity of one or more regions of the mammalian spine. Among other things, the biocompatible implant and end cap or biocompatible implant, connector and end cap combinations can assist with the restoration of the normal anatomic spinal alignment and spinal stability.
US08986380B2
Provided herein is a biocompatible implant for meniscus tissue engineering. Particularly, the biocompatible implant comprises a multi-layered crescent-shaped silk fibroin scaffold, in which each layer comprises distinct pore size and/or pore orientation, e.g., to mimic native meniscus complex architecture. Accordingly, the biocompatible implant can be used for repairing any meniscal defect or promoting meniscal regeneration in a subject.
US08986377B2
Graft materials and devices for surgical breast procedures, as well as methods of making graft devices are described.
US08986371B2
A method for treating paravalvular leakage at a location of a stented prosthetic valve includes the steps of delivering a clip to a location adjacent chordae tendinae of a native valve, and deploying the clip such that the clip captures at least some of the chordae tendinae of the native valve, thereby increasing tension in the captured chordae tendinae. The clip is delivered to the location in a collapsed stated and is released from a sheath convert to an undeflected or relaxed state. After the clip is released from the sheath, the clip is rotated to capture the chordae tendinae. The clip is then released from the delivery system and the delivery system is retracted.
US08986355B2
Facet fusion implants with various body geometries are provided. The bodies of the facet fusion implants can be configured to minimize migration of the implants when the implants are inserted into facet joints. Surgical methods and accompanying surgical instrumentation for inserting the facet fusion implants into facet joints are provided.
US08986352B2
A method for securing neighboring bone plates by an implant includes the steps of resting an inner contact element of the implant on inner faces of the bone plates, resting an outer contact element of the implant on outer faces of the bone plates, connecting the inner contact element and the outer connecting element by a flexible tensioning element, forming a knot between free strands of the tensioning element, wherein the knot is a slip knot, and pushing the knot in a recess of the outer contact element with the knot being positioned at least partially below an outer surface of the outer contact element.
US08986351B2
Plate devices are provided for mounting to bone and receiving one or more spinal rods. The devices may include coupling members or rod receiving members coupled to the plate member and configured to have multiple degrees of adjustability in order to accommodate elongate connecting members of various orientations. The plate devices may also include quick locking features or locking devices that secure multiple points of articulation simultaneously.
US08986346B2
A wedge knotless anchor that is suture/wire activated. The anchor includes an anchor body and at least two flexible strands attached to the body. One of the flexible strands is a tying strand (attached to tissue to be fixated) and the other strand is a locking strand having a first end (a wedge end) and a second end. The wedge end has a larger cross-section than the second end. In the “locked position,” the locking strand is pulled so that the wedge end (the larger portion) is pulled into the anchor body and plugs up an opening in the anchor body, preventing movement (sliding) of the tying tissue strand which also passes through the opening.
US08986337B2
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods, devices, and computer systems thereof for reducing stomach volume in a subject. In certain embodiments, a subject receives a stomach-volume-reducing device that optionally includes at least one reservoir configured to release at least one appetite suppressant. In an embodiment, the stomach-volume-reducing device is responsive to one or more environmental conditions of the subject, for example, pH or chemical chemicals in the stomach of the subject. In an embodiment, the stomach-volume-reducing device controls hunger in the subject.
US08986336B2
An apparatus and method deploy a self-expandable bronchial obstruction device in an air passageway. The apparatus includes a catheter configured to be passed down the trachea. The apparatus further includes a capsule for housing the self-expandable bronchial obstruction device in a sterile environment. The capsule is configured to be advanced down the catheter. The capsule further includes a tubular extension. The capsule has a breakable seam so as to release the bronchial obstruction device in the air passageway upon a proximal force being exerted upon the bronchial obstruction device. The method includes guiding a conduit down a trachea into the air passageway. The method further includes advancing a capsule having a bronchial device therein down an internal lumen of the conduit into the air passageway. The method further includes releasing the bronchial device from the capsule. The method further includes deploying the bronchial device into the air passageway.
US08986335B2
Surgical apparatus and method includes a cannula that houses an endoscope and supports a dilating element near a distal end of the cannula. The dilating element has a dimension which is greater than the diameter of the cannula for enlarging a surgical cavity in tissue as the cannula is advanced through tissue at a surgical site to provide working space adjacent a target vessel within which surgical instruments may be conveniently manipulated. The dilating element of oval sided shape permits surrounding tissue to be pushed away or otherwise displaced away from the target vessel atraumatically. A locking mechanism is disposed on the cannula, which accepts a succession of mating dilating elements of progressively larger dimensions for successive insertion and enlargement of a surgical cavity as required. In one embodiment, the dilating element is made of rigid plastic, and in another embodiment, the dilating element is made of resilient material that may be confined within a retractable sheath which, in the extended position, encases and compresses the dilating element to a smaller dimension and which, in a retracted position, allows the dilating element to resiliently expand and enlarge the surgical cavity.
US08986329B2
A prosthetic valve assembly for use in replacing a deficient native valve comprises a replacement valve supported on an expandable valve support. The valve support, which entirely supports the valve annulus, valve leaflets, and valve commissure points, is configured to be collapsible for transluminal delivery and expandable contact the anatomical annulus of the native valve when the assembly is properly positioned. Portions of the valve support may expand to a preset diameter to maintain coaptivity of the replacement valve and to prevent occlusion of the coronary ostia.
US08986324B2
Systems and methods are provided for harvesting hair grafts from a body surface utilizing a removal tool comprising first and second elongated bodies. The described systems and methods serve to eliminate and/or at least minimize unnecessary compression of adjacent tissue during the removal process, thereby minimizing damage to the follicular unit being removed, reducing the opportunities for the follicular unit to intersect the path of the harvesting tool, and/or improving the quality of the removed specimen, preferably preserving its integrity.
US08986323B2
A microdermabrasion system upgrade kit includes a plurality of couplers from which a user may choose one or more couplers in order to connect the upgrade kit to a vacuum source of an existing microdermabrasion system. In an implementation, the upgrade kit includes a power socket that the user can plug the vacuum source into.
US08986314B1
A multi-positional dual drill guide for use in orthopedic surgical procedures provides two independent drill guides which are independently, pivotally and removably secured along a pivotal drill guide plate comprising two separate and independent guide plate sections, selectively aligning each of the two drill guides for drilling an intersecting bone channel into a common bone from different locations for the passage of a suture and associated tissue during an orthopedic repair of a joint. The drill guide provide for three dimensional movement of the drill guides to provide a range of drilling angles from nearly zero degrees up to 180-degrees apart and in a three dimensional array, the drill.
US08986312B2
The present invention relates to medically useful devices and methods for introducing flowable compositions into mammalian body cavities. More specifically, the devices and methods of the present invention are useful for introducing restorative compositions into intraosseous cavities. Such devices and methods are particularly useful in percutaneous vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty procedures for the controlled introduction of bone cement into a vertebral cavity.
US08986309B1
A medical imaging device takes one or more images of the local anatomy of a patient undergoing a surgical procedure. A surface model generator receives the one or more images and generates a 3-D surface model of the patient's anatomy. A fabrication device utilizes the 3-D surface model to fabricate a template custom designed to match the surface of the patient's anatomy. Attached to the template is a directional guide vane. The fabrication device is configured to create a template and directional guide vane such that, when the template is fitted to the patient's anatomy, the directional guide vane points along a predefined orientation relative to the patient's anatomy. A physician uses the directional guide vane as a visual guide or cue for installing an implantable prosthetic component during a surgical procedure.
US08986307B2
A surgical instrument for inserting an implant is shown. The instrument has a housing having a first end and a second end, a rotatable drive member having an elongated member comprising a grip that is associated with the first end, an implant holder having a securing member that extends through the second end and that is adapted to receive and hold the implant. A universal joint couples the implant holder and the elongated member and is adapted to permit a user to rotatably drive the implant holder when the implant holder is in a pivoted position.
US08986305B2
A method of performing vertebral facet fusion by lateral approach and related devices. The lateral approach to facet fusion involves identifying the lateral mass and introducing any of the fixation methods known or described herein laterally at one or more facets through the use of a Kirschner wire guide, a cannulated bone drill and cooperatively cannulated staple guide. A surgical bone staple have a perforated bridge is used across the lateral facet joint where fixation is required. Where fusion is desired, a bone screw have lateral perforations of the shank is inserted through the cannulated staple guide and bridge perforation at the joint to promote fusion. A staple cap and graft container for overlay grafting may be utilized for additional fusion. The method involves less surgical time, reduced blood loss and discomfort for the patient as compared to the posterior approach.
US08986304B2
A method of treating a disc that is leaking nucleus pulposus through at least one defect in the annulus fibrosus. The method includes injecting a fibrin sealant into the disc to reduce at least a portion of the at least one defect, wherein the fibrin sealant injected into the disc comprises fibrinogen and an activating compound, wherein at least a portion of the fibrin forms after injection, wherein the fibrinogen, the activating compound or both has been reconstituted with a solution containing at least one additive, with the proviso that a corticosteroid is absent from the fibrin sealant injected into the disc.
US08986290B2
Devices to perform femtolaser ablation and phacoemulsification are physically and/or operationally combined. In some embodiments the femtolaser ablation and phacoemulsification are housed together, and in other embodiments they are housed separately, but operated through a common display screen. At least some software can be shared by the femtolaser ablation and phacoemulsification functionalities. A non-transitory computer-readable memory can provide data that can be used to operate each of at least one femtolaser ablation functionality and at least one phacoemulsification functionality.
US08986270B2
A device for treatment of wounds using reduced pressure is provided. The device includes a pump, a reservoir connected to the pump for collecting exudate from a wound, an inlet to the reservoir for connecting the reservoir with the wound so as to allow the pump to expose the wound to the reduced pressure, a wound pad to be arranged in the wound cavity, and a sealing covering the wound and the wound pad. The wound pad consists of an open-cell polyurethane foam which is fully impregnated with a soft hydrophobic silicone gel. The foam has a hardness of 1.0-6.0 kPa measured according to ISO 3386-1 at 40% compression. Also provided is a wound pad to be used with an absorbent member. In addition, provided is a method for manufacturing the wound pad.
US08986269B2
A wound leakage collection device is described wherein a chamber provides a volume wherein wound leakage material can be removed from vacuum tubing and said device can be easily removed from a wound and a negative pressure source.
US08986265B2
A catheter assembly is provided comprising a catheter including a catheter tube and a connector arranged in one end of the catheter tube. The catheter is preferably a urinary, hydrophilic catheter. Further, the assembly comprises a catheter receptacle, a compartment accommodating the wetting fluid, the compartment being an integrated part of the receptacle but is separated from the cavity, the separation between the wetting fluid compartment and the cavity accommodating the catheter providing a rupturable sealed enclosure with at least one point of weakness.
US08986262B2
A sampling connector for use in sampling a body fluid such as arterial blood or cerebrospinal fluid. The sampling connector comprises at least two apertures in fluid communication via a fluid flow conduit and a one-way valve (14) disposed to allow fluid flow from the first aperture, through the fluid flow conduit and out of the second aperture, but not to allow fluid to flow into the second aperture and through the fluid flow conduit to the first aperture. In use, the sampling connector is connected to a body cavity to enable the sampling of a body fluid by withdrawal of the body fluid through the first aperture, and to prevent the introduction of a separate fluid to the body cavity. The first aperture can be within a male end and the second aperture can be within a female end or vice versa. A sampling device comprising a sampling connector according to the present invention and use of the sampling connector and/or sampling device is also claimed.
US08986259B2
Various embodiments of piston rod assemblies, drug delivery devices making use of such piston rod assemblies, and methods for assembling such piston rod assemblies and drug delivery devices are provided. In one embodiment, a piston rod assembly for a drug delivery device is provided, wherein the piston rod assembly is configured to engage a piston of a medicament cartridge. The piston rod assembly comprises (i) a piston rod, (ii) at least one adjusting member displaceably engaged with a distal end section of the piston rod, wherein the at least one adjusting member is displaceable along a long axis of the piston rod, and (iii) at least one interlock member configured to mutually lock the at least one adjusting member and the piston rod in an arbitrary relative axial position.
US08986258B2
A device for receiving a hypodermic syringe comprises an outer housing which has at one end a supporting element with an opening for an injection cannula and which has on its inner surface fixing means for engaging in counter-fixing means which are arranged on the outer surface of an injection container, and a displacement element which has at its end opposite the supporting element an actuating element on which at least one means is arranged which, during displacement, tensions a spring element with the build-up of a restoring force and, if a hypodermic syringe is received in the device, disengages the fixing means from the counter-fixing means. The spring element is disposed such that the outer housing and the injection container are moved relative to one another by the restoring force to such an extent until the injection cannula is fully received in the outer housing.
US08986254B2
A medical fluid delivery cassette configured for use with a medical fluid pumping system. The cassette includes a base, a membrane attached to the base, and an adhesive disposed on a portion of the membrane overlying a fluid pump chamber of the cassette. The portion of the membrane overlying the fluid pump chamber is moveable such that the volume of the fluid pump chamber can be changed.
US08986251B2
The invention relates to an adapter for a syringe plunger. The adapter of some embodiments may include a first side adapted to interface with a syringe plunger and an opposing a second side adapted to interface with a drive ram of a medical fluid injector. The adapter may include a peripheral side surface exhibiting a thickness and may include what may be characterized as at least one mating section adapted to engage with the syringe plunger. The mating section(s) may include a channel extending through the entire thickness of the adapter. In some embodiments, the mating section(s) may include a stop adjacent the channel that extends less than the entirety of the thickness of the adapter.
US08986247B2
An insufflation pump is provided for single handed actuation for inflation of dilatation balloons or other inflatable devices employed during medical procedures. The insufflation pump includes a pump body having a first end and a second end. The first end is provided with a syringe mechanism and the second end is provided with an actuation mechanism. The syringe mechanism and the actuation mechanism are linked by a pivoting mechanical linkage member facilitating the transfer of power from the actuation mechanism to the syringe mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes an actuator pivotally secured adjacent the second end of the pump body. The linkage member includes a first end and a second end, the first end of which is pivotally connected to the second end of the actuator, the second end of the linkage member is pivotally secured to the plunger of the syringe mechanism.
US08986245B2
Injection device for manual penetration and injection comprising a distal housing part (10); a proximal housing part (12) with a multi-chamber container (20); a plunger rod (40); a push button (70); an activation member (30); a drive force means(100) and a locking member (50), wherein the device further comprises a guide rod (60) arranged to generate an audible and tactile indication of the start of an injection.
US08986243B2
Peritoneal dialysis connectors, connector sets, connector systems and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a connector includes, a body, a spike located at a first end of the body, a sealing ring sized to seal inside a female connector and located adjacent to the spike end, threads located adjacent to the sealing ring, and at least one barbed ring located adjacent to the threads at a second end of the body. The at least one barbed ring is configured to seal the second end of the body to a tube.
US08986237B2
A filtering unit for removing a virucidal substance from a biological fluid including an outer casing having at least one input aperture and at least one output aperture. The outer casing including a filter medium, which separates the filtration unit into an input compartment and an output compartment. The filter medium includes at least one hydrophilic material able to absorb or adsorb the virucidal substance. The at least one hydrophilic material includes either porous non-woven material or a porous membrane.
US08986235B2
An ankle brace is provided that includes (a) a boot assembly having a semi-rigid or rigid support, (b) an adjustable stirrup configured to go under the arch of a wearer's foot, and (c) a lace and rotatable tightening mechanism configured to tighten the adjustable stirrup and pull it upward.
US08986234B2
A custom brace and method for fabricating the custom brace includes marking a body with reference points and/or other indicators. Multiple images of the body from multiple angles are then obtained. The images are used to determine the contours of the body and the other markings are located and used to design the custom brace. Fenestrations can be added to the brace design. The custom brace can be fabricated with the fenestrations as a single piece structure or in multiple pieces that are assembled to complete the custom device.
US08986233B2
A leg assist device having an abnormality management procedure which appropriately adapts to an abnormal situation is provided. The leg assist device is provided with a leg attachment and a controller. The leg attachment comprises upper and a lower links connected with a rotary joint, and an actuator. The upper link is to be attached to the upper leg of the user. The lower link is to be attached to the lower leg of the user. The actuator swings the lower link relative to the upper link. The controller outputs the commands so that the swing angle of the lower link follows a target trajectory. Further, the controller executes a first abnormality management process in which the controller shuts off torque transmission from the actuator to the user when the controller detects an abnormality before outputting the commands to the actuator.
US08986232B2
An actuator (10) includes a body (12), an output member (14) slidably received in the body (12) along— a first axis (X1), an electric motor (18) arranged to set into rotation a motor shaft (20) about a, second axis (X2) and a motion conversion mechanism (22) for converting the rotary motion produced by the electric motor (18) about the second axis (X2) into a translational motion of the output member (14) along the first axis (X1). The motion conversion mechanism (22) includes a driving pulley (24) which is drivingly connected for rotation with the motor shaft (20) and an elongated mechanical transmission member which is wound onto the driving pulley (24) and is fastened at its two opposite ends to the output member (14) to draw this latter in either direction along the first axis (X1) as a result of the rotation of the driving pulley (24) in either direction. The output member (14) is shaped as a rod and is received in a cylindrical cavity (16) of the body (12) so as to project partially therefrom. The elongated mechanical transmission member (2S) is fastened to the output member (14) at axially opposite points of this latter with respect to the driving pulley (24).
US08986229B2
An apparatus for evaluating the tongue strength of a subject during a sucking event includes an insert positioned within a nipple element to provide an output in response to deformation of the nipple element during a sucking event. The output is at least one of resistive force exerted against the subject's tongue and movement measurement of deformation force exerted on the nipple element during the sucking event. The apparatus is configurable to evaluate nutritive sucking (NS) or non-nutritive sucking (NNS) capabilities of the subject. The insert may be a sensing device, a compliance element, an intermediate device or a combination of these. A coupling device is configured to position the insert relative to the nipple element and/or to receive output from the insert. A method includes evaluating tongue strength of a subject during NS or NNS and using inserts providing increasing levels of resistive force to exercise the subject's tongue.
US08986224B2
A medical device formed of a coil with repeating loops, each loop forming a polygon and each successive loop being slightly rotated with respect to its adjacent loops to form a spiral configuration. The polygon in a preferred embodiment is a triangle, and the repeating triangular loop coil can be used as a guidewire in a stent delivering catheter. The guidewire can further include a stiff core wire that is disposed within the triangular loop coil, where the stiff core wire includes tapered sections that reduce the stiffness in the distal direction. The coil can include multiple sections of different loop shapes, including circular, to alter the stiffness of the guidewire to meet the needs of the application.
US08986219B2
Devices and methods are disclosed to detect or verify fallopian tube occlusion. Devices include an elongated body, a continuous open space extending between proximal and distal openings, a first pressure sensor or flow meter configured to measure a pressure or fluid flow within the continuous open space, at least one seal member protruding from the outer wall of the elongated body, and a second pressure sensor or flow meter configured to measure a pressure or flow meter within a space created by the at least one seal member.
US08986218B2
A system and method is provided for calibrating and normalizing eye data of one or more subjects prior to and/or during emotional testing of the subjects. In particular, initially performing one or more calibration or normalization operations prior to an emotional test of a subject may result in accurate evaluations of emotional responses based on measurements of eye data. Additionally, further calibration or normalization performed during the emotional test may be used to refine the initial calibration or normalization, further increasing the accuracy of the evaluated emotional responses.
US08986216B2
A process is provided for leak testing in a respirator (10) with overpressure operation. An indicator of a breathing gas consumption is compared with an indicator of an expiration volume and a leak is detected in case of a deviation of the result of the comparison (58) from a desired value. A device is also provided for carrying out the process as well as to a respirator (10) with overpressure operation with such a device.
US08986209B2
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.
US08986206B2
A health care apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes: a motion sensing unit; a bio-electric potential sensing unit sensing an electric potential signal of the health examinee corresponding to the sensed result; and an analysis unit analyzing the sensed result. By recognizing a current motion of the examinee and sensing an electric potential signal corresponding to the recognized current motion from the examinee, a more reliable health index of the examinee can be calculated. Even when information on the current motion of the health examinee is not given, the current motion can be recognized by the apparatus and method. Furthermore, since the health examinee is notified of the calculated health index in real time, the health examinee can be informed immediately if the physical condition is in an emergency state. As a result, the examinee can respond quickly to the emergency situation.
US08986205B2
Disclosed is a multi-variable sensor and systems and methods for its use to sense process changes or variations. The sensor is employed to concurrently sense a plurality of parameters (e.g., temperature and pressure) for a process.
US08986204B2
Methods and systems for telemedicine are provided. A method for operating a telemedicine base unit includes initiating a remote connection with a remote care site. The remote care site may be selected from a plurality of remote care sites based on an attached medical device. The telemedicine base unit transmits the output from the attached medical device to the remote care site. Medical device operating instructions and other information are received from the remote care site. The medical device operation instructions provide guidance for operating the attached medical device.
US08986197B2
A medical system includes: a treatment instrument having an insertion portion configured by an exterior member, and an insertion member that is inserted into the exterior member and is longer than the exterior member; an insertion portion inserting/pulling-out device to transmit a driving force to the exterior member or the insertion member configuring the insertion portion of the treatment instrument, the insertion portion inserting/pulling-out device advancing/retreating at least one of the exterior member and the insertion member; and a driving force non-transmitting portion provided to the insertion member, the driving force non-transmitting portion preventing a driving force of the insertion portion inserting/pulling-out device from being transmitted to the exterior member when the insertion member is moved by a predetermined distance.
US08986187B2
A transducer is configured to couple to the cochlear fluid so as to transmit sound with low amounts of energy, such that feed back to a microphone positioned in the ear canal is inhibited substantially. The cochlear fluid coupled hearing device can allow a user to determine from which side a sound originates with vibration of the cochlea and the user can also receive sound localization cues from the device, as feedback can be substantially inhibited. The transducer may be coupled to the cochlear fluid with a thin membrane disposed between the transducer and the cochlear fluid, for example with a fenestration in the cochlea. In some embodiments, a support coupled to the transducer directly contacts the fluid of the cochlea so as to couple the transducer to the cochlear fluid.
US08986184B2
Aspects of the present disclosure involve methods and apparatuses for folding absorbent articles.
US08986169B2
A manually operated treadmill is provided. The treadmill includes a treadmill frame, a front shaft rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, a rear shaft rotatably coupled to the treadmill frame, a running belt including a contoured running surface upon which a user of the treadmill may run, wherein the running belt is disposed about the front and rear shafts such that force generated by the user causes rotation of the front shaft and the rear shaft and also causes the running belt to rotate about the front shaft and the rear shaft without the rotation of the running belt being generated by a motor, and a one-way bearing assembly configured to prevent rotation of the running surface of the running belt in one direction.
US08986165B2
A key includes a safety mechanism operatively connectable to a safety port on an exercise device. When the safety mechanism is operatively connected to the safety port, the exercise device is placed in an operational configuration and when disconnected, the exercise device is in a non-operational configuration. The key further includes a user identification mechanism that is communicatively connectable to a user identification port on the exercise device and transmits user identification information to the exercise device.
US08986159B2
An actuator comprises a shaft 12 arranged to be driven for rotation by an electrically powered motor 18, a sleeve 22 encircling at least part of the shaft 12 and carrying a toothed rack formation 26, and a low friction screw coupling 36 between the shaft 12 and the sleeve 22 and arranged such that rotation of the shaft 12 drives the sleeve 22 for axial movement, wherein the low friction screw coupling 36 is adjacent and aligned with the rack formation 26.
US08986158B2
The present invention relates to a reduction gearing with a ring gear, at least one planet gear rolling around in the ring gear and having a planet gear axis, and an output being rotatably mounted coaxially to the ring gear. According to the invention, it is provided that the planet gear comprises a guide member that is spaced apart from the planet gear axis and describes a hypocycloid relative to the ring gear when the planet gear rolls around, wherein guidance is provided between the guide member and a cam disk of the output, such that the output experiences a drive motion by the planet gear rolling around.
US08986155B2
A family of transmission gearing arrangements provides a plurality of forward speed ratios and one or more reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of shift elements in various combinations. An input and an output are provided. Three planetary gear sets are located at an offset position relative to the input axis and the output axis. Axis transfer gears are provided to transfer rotational energy from the input to one of the planetary gear sets, and from one of the planetary gear sets to the output.
US08986154B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include: a first shaft; a second parallel shaft; a first planetary gear set on the first shaft including a first element selectively connected to the first shaft, a second element selectively connected to the first shaft or a transmission housing, and a third output element; a second planetary gear set on the second shaft, and including a fourth element selectively connected to the first shaft, connected to the first element, and selectively connected to the transmission housing, a fifth element connected to the third element and directly connected to an output gear, and a sixth element selectively connected to the first shaft; four transfer gears; and frictional elements including clutches selectively connecting the first, second, fourth, and sixth elements with the first shaft and brakes selectively connecting the second and fourth elements with the transmission housing.
US08986151B2
A powertrain with a disconnecting rear drive axle generally includes a prime mover including an output that rotates about a rotational axis. A transmission includes an output that rotates about a rotational axis. The rotational axes of the outputs are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the powertrain. A front driveline is operable to direct rotary power from the prime mover to front vehicle wheels. A rear driveline includes a propeller shaft that provides rotary power to a first shaft member and a second shaft member through a pinion and a ring gear. The first shaft member and the second shaft are operable to connect to rear vehicle wheels. A power switching mechanism has an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. The power switching mechanism is operable to direct the rotary power from the transmission to the rear driveline in the engaged condition. A torque transfer device has an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. The power switching mechanism and the torque transfer device in the disengaged condition are operable to only transmit rotary power to the first vehicle wheels. The torque transfer device in the disengaged condition prevents the first shaft member and the second shaft member from back-driving the ring gear and the pinion of the rear driveline. The power switching mechanism in the disengaged condition prevents the transmission from driving the propeller shaft.
US08986150B2
A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged with various combinations of brakes and clutches to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable torque output ratios.
US08986148B2
A disconnectable driveline arrangement for an all-wheel drive vehicle includes a power take-off unit having a disconnect mechanism, a rear drive module having a torque transfer device providing a disconnect function, a speed synchronization function and a torque biasing function, and a control system for controlling actuation of the disconnect mechanism and the torque transfer device. The power take-off unit and the rear drive module can each be equipped with a two-speed range shift unit which, under the control of the control system, permits establishment of high and low speed drive connections.
US08986146B2
A reduction gear with epicyclic gear train including an annulus gear, and at least one planet gear rolling on the annulus gear and able to rotate about a planet spindle borne by a planet carrier is provided. The planet spindle is mounted such that it can itself rotate about its axis relative to the planet carrier. The reduction gear is suitable for mounting in a high bypass ratio jet engine for driving the fan thereof.
US08986132B2
The present invention provides a golf club head having air flow guiding slot with uneven surface, which includes a ball striking plate, a connection portion, a top plate, a bottom portion and at least one air flow guiding slot. The at least one air flow guiding slot is mounted on the top plate and the bottom portion, is near to the connection portion, and has an uneven surface. Utilizing the uneven surface of the at least one air flow guiding slot, the stability of air flow can be improved and the surface area of the air flow guiding slot can be greatly increased so as to raise the weight of the air flow guiding slot so that the center of gravity for the golf club head can be mounted on the at least one air flow guiding slot.
US08986131B2
A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a rear and a crown. The crown may include a forward crown region, a rearward crown region, and a crown transition region therebetween. The rearward crown region may have a lower height than the forward crown region. The crown transition region may extend generally in a heel-to-toe direction. The vertical slope of the crown transition region may decrease as the crown transition region extends from the heel toward the toe. The crown transition region may lie at an angle from a front plane of the club head. Optionally, a club head may include a forward sole region, a rearward sole region, and a sole transition region therebetween.
US08986127B2
A coupling means (10) provided with a first member (20) suitable for being fastened to a first rotary part (2) and with a second member (30) suitable for being fastened to a second rotary part (3), the first member (20) being provided with a first diaphragm (22) and the second member (30) being provided with a second diaphragm (32) that is secured to the first diaphragm (22). An emergency torque transmission device comprises at least one bayonet system including a protuberance (50) secured to one member (30) and co-operating with an angled groove (60) secured to the other member (20) by being inserted in the angled groove (60) by a thrust-and-rotation movement, in the absence of said breakage said coupling means (10) including both axial clearances in compression (70′) and in translation (70″) and also circumferential clearance between each protuberance (50) and walls defining the corresponding angled groove (60).
US08986121B2
A system, method and apparatus for a gaming system is provided. The gaming system includes a rewards server and a separate gaming or slot accounting server. The system may further include a separate player tracking server. The system further includes one or more game machines. The game machines may include a base game, rewards tracking module, and a game management module. Further details will be apparent from the description, drawings and claims.
US08986118B2
An apparatus and method including a multi-touch interface for card gaming includes providing a multi-touch interface for displaying a card having a hidden value. The method includes detecting a touch on the interface. The touch has a curved pattern with multiple points of contact with the interface. The curved pattern is indicative of the lateral edge of a human hand in contact with the interface, oriented to hide the card from others. The method then detects movement of the multiple points of contact sweeping over a portion of the interface to reveal the value of the card to the user.
US08986115B2
Virtual items may be unlocked in a virtual space responsive to physical token detection. A common virtual item repository may be provided in the virtual space. Once unlocked, a given virtual item may be accessible to multiple characters in the virtual space via the virtual item repository. Customization of a virtual space may be facilitated. The customization may be based on the virtual items accessible via the virtual item repository.
US08986112B2
An example video game program download system and method apparatus for downloading a video game program to a target video game platform in which a processing system receives a download request from the target video game platform requesting downloading of a video game program that executes on a native video game platform different than the target video game platform. In response thereto, the requested video game program is sent along with a program for providing compatibility between the target and native video game platforms.
US08986110B2
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments operate an anti-cheating hybrid game. One embodiment includes an anti-cheating hybrid game constructed to communicate occurrences based upon a player's skillful execution of an entertainment game that triggers a randomly generated payout to a gambling game; where the anti-cheating hybrid game incorporates an anti-cheating module constructed to: receive player data for a player, where the player data is indicative of the player's current gameplay performance at the entertainment game; analyze the player data to determine whether cheating is occurring by comparing the player's current gameplay performance with historical gameplay data to evaluate whether the player's current gameplay performance is beyond the statistical limits of the randomness inherent in the anti-cheating hybrid game; and send a command to penalize the player during play of the entertainment game based upon a determination that cheating has occurred from the analyzed player data.
US08986103B2
In one embodiment, the gaming device and method disclosed herein provides a player one or more modifiers to apply to different components or characteristics of a game. In one such embodiment, the gaming device enables a player to selectively apply or associate a plurality of modifiers to a single game component or apply the plurality of modifiers across the plurality of game components. For each game component with at least one applied modifier, the gaming device disclosed herein modifies said game component based on each applied modifier. The gaming device generates any awards based on any modified game components and any unmodified game components and provides any generated awards to the player.
US08986102B2
A gaming system includes a wagering game initiated by a wager. The wagering game further includes an ascending-feature game outcome that triggers an ascending feature in which symbols displayed in a symbol array are changed into different symbols, including higher-value symbols, that may be subsequently evaluated for winning symbol combinations.
US08986098B2
The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a keno game including an additional number triggering event that causes at least one additional number to be added to a selected number set to form a modified number set. A player number set and a gaming system number set are selected from a plurality of numbers. Upon an occurrence of an additional number triggering event, the gaming system adds at least one of the numbers to one of: the player number set to form a modified player number set, and the gaming system number set to form a modified gaming system number set. The gaming system determines any awards based on a comparison of the player number set (or the modified player number set) with the gaming system number set (or the modified gaming system number set), and provides any determined awards.
US08986097B2
Methods and systems for providing a lottery ticket to a player of a hybrid game having a gambling game portion and an entertainment game portion are provided. One or more lottery tickets are generated by a lottery system and transmitted to the hybrid game where the one or more lottery tickets are held in a queue. Attendant rules for issuing a lottery ticket are also transmitted to the hybrid game. The hybrid game receives player actions from the entertainment portion of the hybrid game and, based on the player actions and the attendant rules, awards a lottery ticket to the player.
US08986089B1
Sports based computer game, e.g., football game, is played using data from actual games. Updates are received about new information from more recent games. Each game is divided into plays, and each play is characterized so that the play can be replayed on the game. Characteristics of the plays can be changed to simulate what is scenarios.
US08986084B2
Device for receiving coins improved in such a way that large amounts of coins can be received as well as separated reliably and quickly and such that the adverse influence of foreign matters introduced along with the coins on the coin separating function and/or on the performance of the coin separating unit may be reduced. The device includes an aperture for charging coins, a unit for separating coins and a feed unit for feeding coins which is provided with a guide face giving support to the coins during the feeding process and which is an active type feeder having a feed module (5) that is operable with the aid of an actuator means to feed coins toward the coin separating unit and that is designed such that the coins are transported toward the coin separating unit along said guide face.
US08986075B2
Disclosed is a blade grinder comprising a blade holder that is mounted so as to be rotatable about a horizontal shaft which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis, thus allowing the blade to be optimally adjusted relative to a grinding disk. The grinding disk can preferably be vertically and horizontally moved using spindles. This creates a simple design allowing a lawnmower blade to be ground in a fully automatic manner.
US08986071B2
A parts carrier assembly for a grinding machine includes an annular parts carrier and a bearing insert. The annular parts carrier includes an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner edge, an outer edge, and a plurality of loading apertures. The inner edge is configured to engage a driving wheel of the grinding machine. The driving wheel rotates about a central axis resulting in rotation of the parts carrier about an offset axis, which is offset from the central axis. The loading apertures are configured to receive parts to be ground by the grinding machine. The bearing insert includes an inner bearing surface complementary in shape to the outer edge of the parts carrier. The outer surface the parts carrier bears against the inner bearing surface of the bearing insert as the parts carrier rotates about the offset axis.
US08986066B2
A rotating top assembly toy play set includes at least one track segment having a starter section, a launch section and a guiding path therebetween. Also included is a rotatable top configured to translate along the guiding path. Further included is a top receiving structure positionally spaced from the launch section for receiving the rotatable top subsequent to a flight of the rotatable top, wherein the flight extends along an aerial trajectory between the launch section and the top receiving structure.
US08986061B2
An aquatic accessory adapted for frictional attachment with a shoe being worn by a user comprises a receptacle portion and a fin portion extending outwardly from the receptacle portion. The receptacle portion is adapted to receive at least a portion of an inserted shoe, and frictionally attach with the shoe. Gripping members can be configured and angled in a manner for providing increased frictional attachment between the aquatic accessory and inserted shoe. The accessory can be fabricated from a stretchable material to provide a radial attachment force for enhancing frictional attachment between the aquatic accessory and an inserted shoe.
US08986060B2
A vehicle propulsion system having a mount; a rotation shaft oriented substantially normal to a plane of travel of a vehicle; a fixture coupled to the rotation shaft, the fixture being rotatable about a rotation shaft axis of the rotation shaft; and an oar assembly coupled to the fixture; wherein the coupling is coupled to the fixture, wherein the rotation shaft axis is substantially normal to the rotational axis; wherein the coupling is coupled to the fixture to permit rotation of the oar assembly about the rotation axis when the lock is locked.
US08986050B2
In a particular embodiment, a connector includes a connector module and a set of conductive connectors coupled to the connector module. The set of conductive connectors is configured to electrically couple to a set of contacts of a memory module. The connector also includes a ground contact coupled to the connector module. The ground contact is configured to be coupled to a ground of the memory module and to a conductive shroud.
US08986046B2
A duplex harness assembly for a motor vehicle airbag occupant restraint system. The system design incorporates a connector housing for connection via a cable with a restraint system controller. The connector housing having an integrated circuit provides a duplex restraint system control. The duplex control is provided by incorporating one or more electronic elements such as diodes mounted to the circuit. One or more electronic device attachments are remotely mounted from the connector housing via pairs of conductive wires.
US08986042B2
An electrical contact includes a female portion having a conductive sheath, a dielectric disposed within the conductive sheath, and a center conductor extending through the dielectric; and a male portion having a conductive sheath, a dielectric disclosed within the conductive sheath, and a center conductor extending through the dielectric. The female portion and the male portion are arranged to be engageable with one another. The conductive sheath, center conductor, and dielectric of each of the female portion and the male portion have a substantially square shape. Each of the center conductors of the female portion and the male portion includes a contact portion. The contact portions of the female and male portions are arranged to be engaged with one another when the female portion and the male portion are engaged with one another. The contact portion of each of the center conductors of the female portion and the male portion has a thickness of substantially half of a thickness of the remaining portions of the center conductors.
US08986037B2
The present invention relates to a plug element (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1″″) with a plugging section (2) which is configured to be able to be brought together in a direction of plugging (Z) of the plug element (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1″″) with a mating plug element (100) and has at least one receptacle (5) for an electrical plug-in contact, and with a contact lock member (8) which, at least in its securing position (S), projects, at least in sections, into the receptacle (5). In order, with the smallest possible external dimensions of the plug element (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″, 1″″), to be able simply to feel that the securing position (S) has been reached, provision is made according to the invention for the contact lock member (8) in the securing position (S) to release a test path (P) along which a test member (3, 200) can be moved past a test stop (18).
US08986027B2
A connector includes a plurality of contacts, a housing made of a predetermined material and a reinforcement member. The housing holds the contacts. The housing includes a bottom portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the connector. The reinforcement member is, at least in part, embedded in the bottom portion of the housing via insert-molding. The reinforcement member has a rib portion extending in the longitudinal direction. The rib portion has a reversed U- or V-shape cross-section and is filled with the predetermined material of the housing.
US08986019B2
An electrical connector a semiconductor processing tool is provided. The electrical connector comprises a male connector part having pins and a first holder in which the pins are mounted and a female connector part having sockets and a second holder in which the sockets are mounted. The male connector part is configured to mate with the female connector part, and at least one of the male connector part and the female connector part has an air extraction conduit of which one end communicates with a vacuum pump and the other end communicates with a space formed between the male connector part and the female connector part.
US08986013B2
A system and device for welding training. In one example, a welding training system includes a display configured to show welding features related to a training welding operation. The system also includes a training workpiece having a substantially transparent weld joint configured to be placed adjacent to the display during the training welding operation. The system includes a processing device coupled to the display and configured to provide welding data relating to the training welding operation to the display. The system also includes a training torch comprising an optical sensor. The training torch is coupled to the processing device and configured to provide the processing device with data from the optical sensor corresponding to a position of the training torch relative to the training workpiece.
US08986012B1
The 3D visualization kit helps visualize concepts relating to points, surfaces, planes, curves, contours, and vectors in three dimensions. The kit is an inexpensive solution provided along with accompanying materials for its use that will allow students to effectively visualize concepts in three dimensions and aid in understanding important calculations in multivariable calculus eliminating the abstraction normally associated with concepts in three dimensions.
US08986010B2
The present disclosure relates to an airburst simulation system and method. The airburst simulation system includes a laser emitting unit to emit laser beam to an airburst aiming position, preset above a target hidden behind an obstacle, such that a warhead is airbursted to shoot the target, a laser detecting unit mounted onto the target to detect an arrival of the laser beam above the target, and a determining unit to measure a distance between the airburst aiming position and an arrival position of the laser detected by the laser detecting unit, and determine whether or not the target has been shot based on the distance. This allows for a simulated engagement using an airburst apparatus, with no harm to human bodies by virtue of the use of laser.
US08986005B2
An oral care device is described for contacting or transferring a dental composition to the hard or soft surfaces of the teeth comprising a backing layer and a discontinuous pattern of a dentally therapeutic composition. A method of using said oral care device to effectuate an aesthetic or therapeutic treatment is also described, whereby the oral care device is placed against the surface of at least one oral cavity structure, the discontinuous pattern of dentally therapeutic composition is contacted with or transferred to said structure. The backing layer may be left in place during the treatment period, or optionally removed from the oral cavity while leaving the therapeutic composition in contact with the target structure.
US08986003B2
Improved aligners are provided with pearlescent white coloring and improved aesthetics.
US08985999B2
A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) furnace has a venturi premixer and a disturber disposed downstream relative to the premixer and in an undivided output of the venturi premixer.
US08985995B2
A process for manufacturing a stiffener made of composite material with an inside surface of a concave shape, includes producing a flat strip (18) that includes at least one layer of fibers; heating it to be able to deform it; connecting one of the lateral edges of the strip (18) to a rotary mandrel (36) in such a way as to cause a winding of the strip on the mandrel (36) during its rotation, whereby the mandrel (36) has an outside surface (46) of which at least one part corresponds to the inside surface of the stiffener to be produced; and exerting tension at the other lateral edge of the strip (18) in a direction that is opposite to the direction of the movement of the strip (18) caused by the winding on the rotary mandrel (36).
US08985987B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for producing thermoplastic resin pellets of uniform shape. The apparatus includes a batch-type polymerization vessel whose inner pressure can be controlled; a pelletizer for cutting a strand-form thermoplastic resin discharged from the polymerization vessel, thereby forming pellets; a pipe for transferring the pellets to a storage container by pneumatic transportation or suction transportation; a pressure differential measuring unit for determining variation in a pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet of the transfer pipe; and a pressure controlling unit for controlling the inner pressure of the batch-type polymerization vessel on the basis of the variation in the measured pressure difference; wherein the inner pressure of the batch-type polymerization vessel is controlled in relation to a pressure loss in the transfer pipe.
US08985983B2
A blade-type fluid transmission device includes a rotor eccentrically located in the room of a stator and the outer periphery of the rotor is tangent to the inner periphery of the room. At least one blade is pivotably connected to stator and movably inserted in at least one slot of the rotor. The distal end of the at least one blade is in contact with the inner periphery of the room so as to form a space for receiving fluid between the outer periphery of the rotor and the inner periphery of the room. The contact between the at least one blade and the inner periphery of the room increases the efficiency for transmitting fluid which enters into the stator from an inlet and leaves from the stator from an outlet.
US08985982B2
A pump housing has a cylindrical interior surface having outlets and a pair of side surfaces defining, in combination with the interior surface, a substantially cylindrical chamber. The surfaces have inlets. A rotor has a void, lobes and, for each lobe, a throughpassage. The rotor is positioned in the chamber such that the void communicates with the inlet to receive fluid and the throughpassage for each lobe provides communication between the void and chamber. The rotor is rotatably mounted in the chamber such that the lobes traverse the cylindrical surface. Provided for each outlet is a vane. As the rotor turns, the rotor outer surface is traversed by the vane to create, as the vane traverses a throughpassage, a chamber ahead of the vane which increases in volume and communicates with the throughpassage, and a chamber behind the vane which decreases in volume and communicates with the outlet port.
US08985981B2
A rotary displacement pump of an undulatory disk type; with a pump housing (24) comprising a front end plate (56) and a rear end plate, the pump housing enclosing a stator (40, 48), a rotor (42), a scraper (44) and a scraper guide (46), a shaft (8) extending through at least the rear end plate; the stator including a generally semi-circular arc-formed first stator member (40) and a generally semi-circular arc-formed second stator member (48), the stator, the pump housing and the scraper together with the scraper guide defining an inlet and outlet chamber, wherein at least part of the end faces of the first and second stator members being situated in the outlet chamber are oblique so as to provide an obtuse-angled transition to the inner faces of the front end plate and the rear end plate.
US08985967B2
A rotor is provided. The rotor comprises external blades for use in causing rotation of the rotor, and internal blades for use in propelling a fluid through the rotor during rotation of the rotor.
US08985963B2
A vane compressor includes a cylinder block, a cylinder chamber having an ellipsoidal inner wall, a rotor whose outer circumferential surface is provided with vane slots formed thereon, a drive source for the rotor, and vanes housed in the vane slots, respectively. The rotor is rotated by the drive source while the vanes are protruded from the vane slots by backpressure generated in backpressure spaces in the vane slots to contact end edges of the vanes with the inner wall of the cylinder chamber. The compressor further comprises a stop mechanism that makes the rotor stopped at a predetermined rotational position where a difference between a total volume of the backpressure spaces when operated and a total volume of the backpressure spaces when stopped becomes minimum. According to the compressor, chattering can be prevented without extra workings on the vanes or the rotor and without providing extra parts.
