US08917867B2
A cryptography module includes a key store having a plurality of storage locations for storing a private key as k key fragments. One or more crypto-processing segments each operate based on corresponding ones of the k key fragments to process a message in accordance with elliptic curve digital signature algorithm (ECDSA) to produce a signed message.
US08917863B2
A method and a device for data processing in a digital subscriber line environment, wherein a flat noise margin is determined based on an actual noise determined and based on a maximum noise expected. A device is initialized using the flat noise margin. Also, a communication system is described that includes such a device.
US08917862B2
A system and method for creating, storing, and retrieving data associated with initiated communications to a vendor are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a response server in communication with a database that provides a platform for storage and retrieval of records created by the response server. The response server is configured to provide a series of menus including a group of selections during the initiated communications to the vendor and receive inputs in response to the menus. The response server is further configured to create a record for each initiated communication as the initiated communication is occurring, and to create a report including at least a portion of the data from each record. The portions of data taken from each record each describe a characteristic of at least one of the inputs for the initiated communication associated with each respective record.
US08917833B1
A method of recording audio/video or a combination of audio/video information on a local, possibly mobile, device while in a live communication with one or more parties. The method comprises signaling the compute device to perform a routing of input directly to its internal recording subsystem, not transmitting the input over the communication, signaling the compute device to resume normal routing of its input for transmission, indexing and storing (recording) the input in a local data store and retrieving the locally stored information for later playback. A system and computer-readable medium are also disclosed.
US08917832B2
Systems and methods are provided for obtaining statistics from the use of a voice application. More particularly, the invention may comprise an interception engine that is configured to receive a document from an IVR application server and inject a marker(s) into the document, and pass the document on to an IVR browser. The interception engine is further configured to receive a response document from the IVR browser, remove the marker results, and pass the document on to the IVR application server. The marker results are used to create statistical information useful in the analysis of the operation of the voice application in the IVR system. In an exemplary embodiment, the markers are used in connection with a map of the call flow of the voice application.
US08917830B2
The present invention allows a user to screen messages being left at a hosted voicemail system from a telephone terminal. Incoming calls intended for the telephone terminal are routed to the voicemail system immediately or after attempting to connect incoming call to the telephone terminal. As the caller is leaving a message at the voicemail system, a connection between the incoming call, voicemail system, and telephone terminal is established to allow the user to listen to the message and decide whether to take the call. The user may decide to take the call or let the caller finish leaving the message. In one embodiment, the telephone terminal is equipped to open only the speaker channel for monitoring the message and will provide a fully bi-directional connection if the user takes the call. The supporting switch and telephone terminal communicate with each other to facilitate the monitoring and taking of calls.
US08917821B2
A system and method for presenting caller ID information related to a caption assisted telephone call incorporating a first party Network appliance, a first party telephone service/terminal, and a relay linkable to the first party Network appliance via the Internet.
US08917819B2
A method, apparatus and system to provide the ability for an analog telephone adapter (or other consumer electronics device) to provide spoken information to a consumer to help diagnose problems. The spoken diagnostics system and method for comprises a central analysis server and an analog telephone adapter (“ATA”). When in operation, when a consumer (as an end user) pick up a telephone which is connected to and/or operating through the ATA and enters a preset diagnostic code, defined a telephone number in one embodiment, the ATA and the central analysis server perform a series of diagnostic functions and cause one or more verbal messages relating to the status of the ATA as determined through the diagnostic functions to be spoken over the phone so as to be communicated to the consumer.
US08917817B1
A call calculator and method thereof used to automate testing of a voice self service platform. The call calculator may have functional logic to calculate an estimated call load. The type of load may be least one of cyclic, peak, burst, choppy, and sustained. The call calculator may use a set of input parameters of an algorithm to calculate the estimated call load, wherein the algorithm may be based on an integral calculus model.
US08917813B2
Systems, methods, and related computer program products for image-guided radiation treatment (IGRT) are described. Provided according to one preferred embodiment is an IGRT apparatus including a barrel-style rotatable gantry structure that provides high mechanical stability, versatility in radiation delivery, and versatility in target tracking. Methods for treatment radiation delivery using the IGRT apparatus include conical non-coplanar rotational arc therapy and cono-helical non-coplanar rotational arc therapy. A radiation treatment head (MV source) and a treatment guidance imaging system including a kV imaging source are mounted to and rotatable with a common barrel-style rotatable gantry structure, or alternatively the MV and kV sources are mounted to separate barrel-style rotatable gantry structures independently rotatable around a common axis of rotation. Methods for intra-fraction target tracking in a gantry-style IGRT system based on comparisons between a pre-acquired planning image and intrafraction x-ray tomosynthesis images and/or intrafraction cone beam CT (CBCT) images are also described.
US08917804B2
A clock data recovery circuit includes a ring oscillator, an oscillation control circuit unit to start or stop the ring oscillator according to existence or absence of a PWM signal, a counter circuit unit to count pulse signals to hold N bits of count value, a register circuit unit which is configured to transmit upper M bits of count value, as a reference count value, in response to a transmission signal, a comparison circuit unit to output a timing clock when the count value exceeds the reference count value, and a transmission control circuit unit to be synchronized with a rising timing of the PWM signal to generate the transmission signal and a reset signal for resetting the counter circuit unit.
US08917803B1
Circuits and methods characterize a receiver. The circuit includes a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) circuit, a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit, a data checker, and an eye-scan controller. The DFE circuit generates a filtered signal from the communication signal. The filtered signal is a sum of the communication signal and a variable weighting of a symbol recently sampled from the filtered signal. The CDR circuit samples a sequence of sampled symbols from the filtered signal. The CDR circuit samples the filtered signal at a variable phase relative to a clock signal. The data checker generates an indication of an error in the sequence of sampled symbols. The eye-scan controller varies the variable weighting and the variable phase through multiple value combinations. The eye-scan controller checks for the indication of the error for each of the value combinations.
US08917795B1
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described system includes circuitry configured to generate, in accordance with a clock signal, a first baseband signal for transmission over a wireless channel, one or more first preamble symbols of the first baseband signal are based on a pre-determined preamble sequence when a first clock frequency is used in the clock signal. The described system includes circuitry configured to generate, in accordance with the clock signal, a second baseband signal for transmission over the wireless channel, one or more second preamble symbols of the second baseband signal are based on the pre-determined preamble sequence, the one or more second preamble symbols have a longer duration than the one or more first preamble symbols when a second clock frequency is used in the clock signal. The second clock frequency is lower than the first clock frequency and is used to extend a wireless communication range of the wireless channel.
US08917789B2
A method implemented in a base station is disclosed. The method includes precoding data with a precoder, and transmitting the precoded data to a user equipment, and the precoder can be expressed as multiplication OV where V is a first matrix corresponding to a first indication of the precoder for a group of transmitted symbols, and O is a second matrix corresponding to a second indication of the precoder for a variation in a channel. Other methods and apparatuses also are disclosed.
US08917788B2
By taking into account the power consumption and PH of a mobile station apparatus on an uplink, while communication quality is maintained, the efficiency of power consumption is improved. There are provided a PUSCH reception section 14 for receiving a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared CHannel) signal from the mobile station apparatus; a PH detection section 15 for detecting the PH (Power Headroom) from the received PUSCH signal; a transmission antenna number determination section 16 for determining, from the detected PH, the number of transmission antennas that the mobile station apparatus uses; a DCI generation section 10 for generating DCI (Downlink Control Information) based on frequency assignment information of the mobile station apparatus on the uplink; and a PDCCH transmission section 11 for converting the generated DCI and the determined transmission antenna number information into a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control CHannel) signal to transmit the PDCCH signal to the mobile station apparatus.
US08917776B2
A method of determining bit rates for use in encoding video data for joint decoding, is disclosed. An approximation of the video data is generated for later use as side information during a process of joint decoding. Bit error probabilities are determined for each bit plane and for each coefficient band of the approximation. The bit rates are determined for encoding the bit planes depending on the bit error probabilities, bit planes, and coefficient bands.
US08917760B2
The invention provides a method of manufacturing a user equipment comprising a wireless modem, a method of activating a user equipment as a wireless modem, and a corresponding server and user equipment. A processor is produced for executing wireless modem code to operate the processor as a wireless modem, the processor having a writeable, non-volatile memory for storing the wireless modem code but being produced with at least a substantive portion of said wireless modem code not installed on said memory or otherwise, thus rendering the processor inoperative as a wireless modem. The processor is assembled into a user equipment and supplied to an end-user still without the substantive portion of wireless modem code installed. In response to an indication from the end-user requesting activation of the user equipment as a wireless modem, at least said substantive portion of wireless modem code is then distributed to the end-user for installation on the memory the user equipment's processor.
US08917754B2
A method and apparatus for melting aluminum uses a dense metal salt of Rubidium, Cesium, or Strontium. The salt is melted by a stinger and then superheated by AC applied to electrodes immersed in the salt. Aluminum in contact with the salt melts and floats on the salt. In continuous scrap melting, inflows and outflows of aluminum are comparable and may be shielded by inert gas. The superheated salt may be purified and may be heated in a separate reservoir and pumped to and from another reservoir containing salt and/or metal. The salt may be used to supplement the heating of an existing furnace.
US08917748B2
There is provided an output coupler modulated laser. The laser includes an optical resonator for light to circulate within, a gain medium housed within the optical resonator and a pump. An output coupler included in the optical resonator is responsive to a control signal to generate a modulated optical signal at a laser output port, and a complementary signal at a through port to retain circulating light within the optical resonator. The output coupler and the pump are jointly controllable to maintain the power level of the circulating light substantially at a selected, steady state level, and to decouple the modulation response of the laser from the intrinsic response of the circulating light due to interaction with the gain medium. The output coupler is configurable for simple amplitude modulation, Phase-Shift Keying (PSK), Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), and is suitable for use with high-finesse, micron or millimeter scale resonators.
US08917730B2
Method and apparatus for decoding is provided. A decoding channel IDentity (ID) of a Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) and a decoding channel ID of an Enhanced DPCCH (E-DPCCH) of a user are acquired according to a user ID of the user; Transport Format Combination Indicator (TFCI) symbols in the DPCCH and Enhanced TFCI (E-TFCI) symbols in the E-DPCCH are de-mapped, and the de-mapped symbols are stored according to the decoding channel ID; and a symbol queue to be decoded is selected according to priorities of symbol queues of the DPCCH and the E-DPCCH, symbols corresponding to the selected symbol queue from the de-mapped symbols, and decoding the read symbols are read out.
US08917717B2
A system and method for provisionable, multi-modal communications, including detecting a provisioning condition, selecting a communications mode based on the provisioning condition from a first usage mode, a second usage mode, and a third usage mode, and displaying an interface corresponding to the selected communications mode. The first usage mode includes a first communications channel supporting a first communication data consisting of instant messages (IM) and in-network voice data. The second usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a second communication data consisting of IM, in-network voice data and out-of-network voice data. The third usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a third communication data comprising video data.
US08917716B2
Systems and methods are disclosed having one or more mesh network appliances (such as ZigBee appliances); a mesh network telephone base station in communication with the mesh network appliances, the mesh network telephone base station including a telephone jack wired to a plain old telephone service (POTS) or a public switched telephone network (PSTN) land-line; and a telephone in communication with the one or more mesh network appliances including the mesh network telephone base station.
US08917710B2
A method for processing a service connection between a user terminal and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is provided. A WLAN interactive network includes at least a WLAN user terminal, a WLAN access unit, a service control unit and a user information storage unit. The method includes setting flags that represent the attached or detached status of the service connection between the user terminal and the WLAN in the WLAN user terminal and the service control unit respectively; and establishing or canceling the connection between the user terminal and the network through the interaction between the WLAN user terminal and the WLAN, meanwhile modifying the corresponding flags.
US08917709B2
A method for scheduling absence periods on a WLAN is provided. The method can include a WLAN station joining a WLAN served by a WLAN access point using an operating channel; formatting a message defining an absence schedule of absence periods during which the WLAN station will be off of the operating channel and unavailable to receive traffic on the operating channel; sending the message to the WLAN access point to register the absence schedule with the WLAN access point; and leaving and returning to the operating channel in accordance with the absence schedule after the absence schedule has been registered with the WLAN access point.
US08917692B2
The present application relates to a method for a victim cell to construct a subframe alignment in a wireless communication system. More particularly, the method comprises the following steps: receiving, from an interfering cell, subframe alignment information including a first bitmap for defining a subframe pattern for the victim cell and a second bitmap for defining a hybrid automatic repeat and request (HARQ) process pattern of the victim cell; constructing a subframe alignment of the victim cell on the basis of the first bitmap and second bitmap; and performing scheduling for a terminal in the victim cell using the constructed subframe alignment. A downlink signal of the interfering cell may not be transmitted in one or more subframes designated by the subframe pattern for the victim cell, and the second bitmap has a size of 8 bits.
US08917689B2
The present invention provides a method, a base station, and a user equipment for feeding back ACK/NACK information for carrier aggregation. The method includes configuring a common field preset in DCI as at least one type of command field related to ACK/NACK feedback of at least two types of command fields related to ACK/NACK feedback, where the common field can be configured as the command fields related to ACK/NACK feedback; and sending the DCI to a user equipment, so that the user equipment feeds back ACK/NACK information according to the DCI.
US08917683B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. The present invention relates to a method for transmitting ACK/NACK in a wireless communication system in which carrier aggregation is set, and an apparatus therefor. Specifically, the present invention relates to an ACK/NACK transmission method and an apparatus therefor, the method comprising the steps of: receiving information on a plurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources via upper layer signaling; receiving a transmit power control (TPC) field on a secondary carrier through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH); receiving data indicated by the PDCCH; and transmitting ACK/NACK for the data, wherein the ACK/NACK is transmitted using a PUCCH resource which is indicated by the value of the TPC field among the plurality of PUCCH resources.
US08917680B2
One embodiment of the present invention implements a FHSS system using single transmitter/multiple receiver transceivers. Such transceivers are configured to receive multiple FHSS channels (e.g., five channels) but only transmit on one channel. In an embodiment, one channel is dedicated to high priority traffic and the other four channels are dedicated to standard traffic. In receiving a high priority message, the transceiver is configured to address the high priority traffic first. For example, because the single transmitter/multiple receiver transceivers only has one transmitter, such transceiver may immediately dedicate it transmitting resources to addressing the received high priority data. Other embodiments are disclosed that implement multiple priorities among a plurality of communication channels.
US08917673B2
Transmission techniques using configurable channels for the downlink and/or uplink are described. In one aspect, the downlink channel and/or uplink channel may be independently selected for a terminal. The terminal may establish a connection with a base station on default downlink and uplink channels. Another downlink channel and/or another uplink channel may be selected based on various factors such as channel quality, loading, and interference. The terminal would then switch to the new downlink and/or uplink channel for communication. In another aspect, the base stations broadcast sector information used by the terminals for communication and/or channel selection. The sector information may include various types of information such as the available downlink and uplink channels, the frequencies of the available channels, the loading on the available channels, and QoS information. The terminals may select a sector, a downlink channel, and/or an uplink channel based on the sector information.
US08917663B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for obtaining downlink or uplink signal characteristics of at least one access point in a network. The signal characteristics may be obtained through user equipment receiving the signal characteristics, through the at least one access point, or through another access point. Frequency or timing offset between two or more access points may be determined based on the obtained signal characteristics, where the frequency or timing offset may be handled through post processing. For example, a clock servo may be controlled or adjusted in response to the determined offset, the absolute frequency of a master network oscillator may be calibrated, traffic anomalies within the network may be detected and corrected, and/or respective clocks of the two or more access points may be synchronized.
US08917657B2
An automatic repeat request (ARQ) receiver is provided. The ARQ receiver comprises a receiver configured to receive a plurality of ARQ blocks. The ARQ receiver further comprises a processor configured to generate a feedback message configured to provide status of the plurality of ARQ blocks. The feedback message comprises an acknowledgement sequence number (ACK_SN) field and a flag field. The processor is configured to provide a first value in the flag field if the feedback message contains only the ACK_SN field and the flag field. The processor is also configured to provide a second value in the flag field if the feedback message contains one or more fields in addition to the ACK_SN field and the flag field.
US08917656B2
The present invention relates to methods, a network controller unit (120A, 120B) and a network unit 110A, 110) in a wireless communications system (100). According to the present invention, the transmission/reception mode to be used by a user equipment UE (130A, 130B) can be decided in the network controller unit (120A, 120B) based on reports transmitted from the network unit (110A, 110B). The reports include a recommendation on the mode to be used by the UE (130A, 130B).
US08917655B2
Provided is an operation method of a wireless personal area network (WPAN) device. In the wireless personal area network (WPAN) device, the WPAN device supporting a plurality of physical layer (PHY) communication modes determines timing for changing a PHY communication mode, with reference to a beacon frame, in order to communicate with devices using various PHY communication modes, and transmits information indicating a PHY communication mode as a parameter of a primitive to a PHY layer, at the determined timing.
US08917641B2
A system for optimizing communications on a radio network by altering transitions between different link states that includes several modules. The activity, environment, and load module monitor monitors the link layer based on spectral-load metrics and radio-link metrics. The state transition control module determines when user equipment transitions between different states based on the type of user equipment, user equipment battery life, whether the user equipment is connected to an alternating current outlet, a spectral cost, and a backhaul cost. The channel state influencer module uses any of direct messages, ping messages, and keep-alive messages to influence the link state. The policy and preference handler enables or disables transitions based on the bearer technology type, the type of user equipment, the user's subscription plan, and the load level on the network.
US08917639B2
Embodiments are directed to eliminating false audio using an egress gateway in a communications network. At least one false audio packet is received by an egress gateway. The false audio packet includes false audio. A DTMF packet is received by the egress gateway. The DTMF packet is received subsequent to the at least one false audio packet. The false audio in the false audio packet is replaced with a substitute signal by the egress gateway.
US08917638B2
A frame structure for support of large delay spread deployment scenarios (e.g., cellular system operation in large cell sizes or low frequency bands) is generally presented. In this regard a method is introduced comprising partitioning a radio frame into a plurality of equal-sized (or non-equal-sized) sub-frames to simplify system implementation. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US08917635B2
Method for dynamically optimizing bandwidth allocation in a variable bitrate conference environment. Conference means with two or more outputs are provided, where each one can output data at different rates, in order to support two or more endpoints which may have different media rates. Two or more endpoints are connected to these conference means for participating in the conference. Whenever more than one video rate is used by participants during the conference, each set of output rates is selected from all possible combinations of output rates in the conference means, wherein the lowest output rate in each selected set is the entry rate of the endpoint joining the conference at the lowest rate. A Quality Drop Coefficient (QDC) for each endpoint that joins the conference is determined for each selected set, wherein the QDC is computed according to the endpoint entry rate and the highest rate, among the output rates of each selected set, that is lower or equal to said endpoints' entry rate. A Quality Drop Value (QDV) is calculated for each of the selected sets, wherein, preferably, the set of output rates with the lowest QDV is determined as the optimal video rate set to select. The video rate of all the endpoints having a video rate above the highest optimal video rate is reduced to the highest optimal video rate, if required, and the video rate of other endpoints having video rate between two consecutive levels of optimal video rates is reduced to the lowest level among said levels. Whenever a change occurs in either the amount of participating endpoints in the conference or in the declared bit rate capability of the participating endpoints, the video rates of all the outputs are recalculated.
US08917633B2
A method of providing conference call connections includes initiating a conference call between multiple conferees using a conferencing controller, placing each of the multiple conferees in a half-duplex listen only mode using the conferencing controller, and receiving a signal at the conferencing controller from at least one of the multiple conferees to actively participate in the conference call. Active participation can be in the form of asking questions, giving comments, or providing a keypress to vote or provide other information. The conference call can also be broadcast to increase participants. Also, after the conference call is initiated, additional potential conferees can be added.
US08917630B2
Contextual information for wireless communications is managed in terms of management objects (MO) using device management (DM) protocol. Contextual information management is performed by determining a need to change from an old configuration to a new configuration, retrieving profile information necessary to make a decision about the new configuration, and making a decision about the new configuration based upon the retrieved profile information. The new configuration may include information about access technology and changes in one or more defined profiles.
US08917629B2
A method, apparatus, and system for discovering devices on a local area network. The method comprises sending a DNS request from a host networking element, receiving the DNS request at one or more devices, and responding to the host networking element with one or more DNS responses. The DNS request comprises one or more particular domain names. The one or more DNS responses comprise local network address information for the one or more VoIP devices. The apparatus comprises means for filtering a set of network traffic for a DNS request, means for responding to a DNS request with a local network address, and means for forwarding the DNS request to another device. The system comprises a computer for generating a DNS request for a particular domain, and one or more VoIP devices for receiving the DNS request and sending a DNS response to the computer with a local network address for the VoIP device.
US08917624B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet flow associated with a click-through from an end user node destined for an advertiser server; extracting information from the packet flow; analyzing the extracted information to determine one or more characteristics of the packet flow; and classifying the packet flow based on the determined one or more characteristics; modifying the packet flow to include classification information to provide classification information indicating a quality level of the click-through. The packet flow may include a hypertext transfer protocol GET request. Modifying the packet flow may include adding a tag with classification information that indicates a likelihood of fraudulent click behavior associated with the packet flow.
US08917617B2
A method for sharing a network connection between a host system and a virtual machine includes receiving an incoming data frame. The host system is enabled to use the network connection using a first layer 2 address and a first layer 3 address. The first layer 2 and the first layer 3 addresses are associated with the network connection. The virtual machine is enabled to attempt to use the network connection using a second layer 2 address and a second layer 3 address. The first layer 3 and the second layer 3 addresses are compliant with IPv6.
US08917613B2
The present invention provides a method for transmitting keepalive information, a terminal, and a network device. The method includes: transmitting, by a terminal, first information to a network device, where the first information is used to instruct the network device to determine keepalive information to be received; the terminal transmits keepalive information to the network device, where the network device is configured to optimize the keepalive information. With the present invention, signaling loads are reduced.
US08917608B2
Certain embodiments relate to systems and methods for coordinating MAC Protocol Data Unit (A-MPDU) frame boundaries within Video frame/slice boundaries for 802.11 MAC implementations. These embodiments facilitate higher throughput and MAC efficiency by utilizing MAC aggregation without generating undue latency penalty. Certain embodiments ensure that Block-ACK windows are aligned with video frame boundaries so that no Block-ACK windows straddle successive video frames.
US08917604B2
Methods and systems for performing rate limiting are provided. According to one embodiment, information is maintained regarding a set of virtual networks into which a network has been logically divided. Each virtual network comprises a loop-free switching path, reverse path learning network and provides a path through the network between a first and second network device thereby collectively providing multiple paths between the first and second network devices. Packets are received by the first device that are associated with a flow sent by a source network device. The packets are forwarded by the first device to the second device via a particular path of the multiple paths. A congestion metric is determined for the particular path and based thereon it is determined whether a congestion threshold has been reached. Responsive to an affirmative determination, the source device is instructed to reduce the rate at which the packets are sent.
US08917602B2
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for determining rogue traffic using flow statistics and a list of authorized media engines. A system configured according to this disclosure receives data associated with a group of packets in a media queue, such as the source network address where the packets originated, the destination network address for the packets, and an indication of an associated queue for the packets. The system then verifies the data received by comparing the source network address to a list of network addresses of known media engines. The system further verifies that the indication of an associated queue for the packets is correct for the packets. Should the system detect failure in the verification of known media engines or the verification of indication of associated queues, the system generates a notification.
US08917598B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate providing flow control feedback for controlling downlink data transmission rates. Various schemes can be utilized to send the flow control feedback from an access terminal to a base station. For example, a control PDU (e.g., MAC control PDU, PDCP control PDU) can be generated based upon a level of resource utilization of the access terminal, and sent to the base station for controlling the downlink data transmission rate. Following this example, a type of control PDU, a value included within the control PDU, etc. can be selected as a function of the level of resource utilization. By way of another illustration, a CQI report that includes a value selected as a function of the level of resource utilization associated with the access terminal can be generated and transmitted to the base station for controlling the downlink data transmission rate.
US08917593B2
User equipment, systems, apparatuses, methods and/or computer program products are provided to facilitate random access procedures in a wireless communication network. The selection and utilization of uplink and downlink component carriers for conducting contention-free and contention-based random access procedures is facilitated in a multiple component carrier system, where a user equipment is configured with multiple uplink and downlink component carriers.
US08917591B2
A method may include: (i) provisioning a first network-side interface of a first plug-in unit and a second network-side interface of a second plug-in unit as members of a network-side protection group, the first plug-in unit and the second plug-in unit integral to an adaptation layer network element; (ii) provisioning a first client-side interface of the first plug-in unit and a second client-side interface of the second plug-in unit as members of a client-side protection group; (iii) designating one of the first and second network-side interface as an active network-side interface of the network-side protection group; and (iv) designating one of the first second client-side interface as an active client-side interface of the client-side protection group, such that traffic ingressing on the active network-side interface may egress on the active client-side interface and traffic ingressing on the active client-side interface may egress on the active network-side interface.
US08917590B2
A conference calling system enables transfer of control of a conference bridge. The transferor terminal has an option to transfer control of the conference bridge to a transferee terminal. The transferee terminal has an option to accept or reject control of the conference bridge. When the transferee terminal accepts control prior to the transferor terminal severing control, the control of the conference bridge is transferred to the transferee terminal. However, when the transferee terminal rejects or does not accept within a predetermined time the control of the conference bridge, the transferor terminal is provided an option to transfer control of the conference bridge to alternate terminals, one terminal at a time, until an alternate terminal accepts control or the transferor terminal severs control of the conference bridge. As long as a terminal has control of the conference bridge, the conference bridge is not severed.
US08917587B2
A terminal apparatus is disclosed wherein even in a case of applying SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO at the same time, the inter-sequence interference in a plurality of pilot signals used by the same terminal can be suppressed to a low value, while the inter-sequence interference in pilot signal between terminals can be reduced. In this terminal apparatus (200): a pilot information deciding unit (204) decides, based on allocation control information, Walsh sequences of the respective ones of first and second stream groups at least one of which includes a plurality of streams; and a pilot signal generating unit (205) forms a transport signal by using the decided Walsh sequences to spread the streams included in the first and second stream groups. During this, Walsh sequences orthogonal to each other are established in the first and second stream groups, and users are allocated on a stream group-by-stream group basis.
US08917586B2
Methods of allocating orthogonal resources of a wireless communication network to a user equipment (UE) that uses transmit diversity are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the UE is configured to transmit a reference symbol and a modulated symbol on multiple orthogonal resources on an antenna. The method includes: selecting, by the UE, a first and a second orthogonal resource, respectively, from a plurality of orthogonal resources according to the state of information bits to be communicated by the UE; and transmitting, by the UE, the reference and data symbols on the first and the second orthogonal resource, respectively, on one antenna. The first and the second resource are different for at least one of the states of the information bits. The first and the second resource are both in the same physical resource block.
US08917584B1
Systems and methods are provided for computing a relative path delay between multiple transmitting source to select a source that is closest to a receiving device. Preamble sequences unique to each source are received by a receiving device. The receiving devices determines based on a channel estimation or differential algorithm which transmitting source is closer to the receiving device. The channel estimation algorithm computes the path delay based on a channel estimation correlation at different preamble sequence indices. The differential algorithm computes the path delay based on a correlation between the received and transmitted preamble sequences at different preamble sequence indices. The receiving device selects the closer of the multiple sources to be the source from which to extract data.
US08917578B2
An information display device of the present invention includes an hour plate having an opening, a rotor which is rotatably placed below the hour plate and has a display section which is partially exposed corresponding to the opening of the hour plate, and a braking member which gives a load to the rotor when the rotation of the rotor is stopped, and reduces the load on the rotor when the rotor is rotating.
US08917577B2
A mobile communications device contains at least two microphones. One microphone is located away from the handset receiver and serves to pick up voice of a near end user of the device for transmission to the other party during a call. Another microphone is located near the handset receiver and serves to pick up acoustic output of the handset receiver (a far end signal). A signal processor measures the frequency response of the receiver. The signal processor performs spectral analysis of the receiver frequency response to determine whether or not the device is being held at the ear of the user. On that basis, the device automatically changes its operating mode, e.g., turns on or off a touch sensitive display screen during the call. Other embodiments are also described.
US08917576B2
Utilizing a sonar system to determine if a structural member of an underwater support structure that is supposed to be filled with air is instead flooded with water. The determination that a supposedly air filled structural member is instead flooded with water provides an indication that the structural member is cracked or damaged, making it easier to find damaged members and effect suitable repair. The sonar system is located a distance from the structural member so that it is spaced from the structural member.
US08917563B2
A semiconductor device includes: an input node supplied with an input signal; an output node provided correspondingly to the input node; first and second input circuits coupled in parallel to each other between the input and output nodes; and a control circuit configured to control the first and second input circuits such that one of the first and second input circuits is switched over from an active state to an inactive state and the other of the first and second input circuits is switched over from an inactive state to an active state during the one of the first and second input circuits being still in the active state.
US08917561B2
A memory bank includes memory cells and an additional cell to determine an operating voltage of the memory bank. The additional cell has an operating margin that is less than a corresponding operating margin of the other memory cells in the memory bank.
US08917560B1
A half bit line high level voltage generator, a memory device and a driving method are disclosed herein. The half bit line high level voltage generator includes a control module, a driving module and a detecting module. The control module is configured for generating a first control signal and a second control signal in accordance with an update signal and a half bit line high level voltage. The driving module is configured for generating a half bit line high level voltage to a memory device in accordance with the first control signal and the second control signal. The detecting module is configured for detecting whether a cross current flows through the driving module, and accordingly generating the update signal to adjust the driving module to reduce the cross current.
US08917556B2
Disclosed is a method reading memory device information from a nonvolatile memory device having a three-dimensional (3D) memory cell array including an original plane storing data associated with the information in a first group of memory cells and a replica plane storing the data in replica in a second group of memory cells. The method applies a selection read voltage to a selected word line connected to first and second groups of memory cells while applying a non-selection read voltage to other word lines, and simultaneously reading first data from the first group of memory cells and second data from the second group of memory cells.
US08917553B2
Some embodiments include a memory device and a method of programming memory cells of the memory device. One such method can include applying a signal to a line associated with a memory cell, the signal being generated based on digital information. The method can also include, while the signal is applied to the line, determining whether a state of the memory cell is near a target state when the digital information has a first value, and determining whether the state of the memory cell has reached the target state when the digital information has a second value. Other embodiments including additional memory devices and methods are described.
US08917551B2
A novel NVM-based 2T or 2nT NAND-cell for a NAND-array for PLD, PAL and matching functions is disclosed. The preferable NVM cell can be ROM or Flash. The 2T flash cell preferably uses FN for both program and erase operation, while 2T ROM cell preferably to use phosphorus for ROM code implant to get negative Vt0.
US08917549B2
A NOR flash memory array structure is provided, comprising: a substrate (100); and a two dimensional memory array structure formed on the substrate (100) and comprising: a plurality of memory cell columns arranged in a first direction, and each memory cell column including a plurality of memory cells (300), in which each memory cell (300) comprises: a channel region (308) located on the substrate (100), a gate structure located on the channel region (308) and formed by a tunneling oxide layer (304), a silicon nitride layer (303), a barrier oxide layer (302) and a polysilicon gate layer (301) stacked sequentially, a source region (306) and a drain region (305) located at a first edge and a second edge of the gate structure respectively; a plurality of word lines WL; a source line SL for connecting the source regions of all the memory cells; and a plurality of bit lines BL.
US08917545B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device, a method of manufacturing the same, and a method of driving the same are provided. The device includes a semiconductor substrate, an upper electrode extending from a surface of the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of switching structures extending from both sidewalls of the upper electrode in a direction parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a phase-change material layer disposed between the plurality of switching structures and the upper electrode.
US08917542B2
Spin torque transfer magnetic random access memory devices configured to be programmed unidirectionally and methods of programming such devices. The devices include memory cells having two pinned layers and a free layer therebetween. By utilizing two pinned layers, the spin torque effect on the free layer from each of the two pinned layers, respectively, allows the memory cells to be programmed with unidirectional currents.
US08917538B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including memory cells having a variable resistance element provided at intersections of crossing first and second lines, the memory cell array including third lines, fourth and fifth lines, and first and second diodes; and a control circuit which, when the memory cells include a selected memory cell, a selected first line connected to the selected memory cell and an unselected first line, and a selected second line connected to the selected memory cell and an unselected second line, supplies a first voltage to the selected first line, and supplies a second voltage to the unselected first line, and when the third lines include a selected third line electrically connected to the selected second line via one of the fourth line and a first diode, supplies a third voltage to the selected fourth line.
US08917536B2
A structure and method is described for an adaptive reference used in reading magnetic tunneling memory cells. A collection of magnetic tunneling memory cells are used to form a reference circuit and are coupled in parallel between circuit ground and a reference input to a sense amplifier. Each of the magnetic memory cells used to form the reference circuit are programmed to a magnetic parallel state or a magnetic anti-parallel state, wherein each different state produces a different resistance. By varying the number of parallel states in comparison to the anti-parallel states, where each of the two states produce a different resistance, the value of the reference circuit resistance can be adjusted to adapt to the resistance characteristics of a magnetic memory data cell to produce a more reliable read of the data programmed into the magnetic memory data cell.
US08917532B2
A microelectronic package includes a microelectronic element having memory storage array function overlying a first surface of a substrate, the microelectronic element having a plurality of contacts aligned with an aperture in the substrate. First terminals which are configured to carry all address signals transferred to the package can be exposed within a first region of a second substrate surface, the first region disposed between the aperture and a peripheral edge of the substrate. The first terminals may be configured to carry all command signals, bank address signals and command signals transferred to the package, the command signals being write enable, row address strobe, and column address strobe.
US08917528B2
The present invention relates to a constant voltage constant current (CVCC) controller, and associated control methods. In one embodiment, a CVCC controller for a flyback converter can include: (i) a current controller configured to generate an error signal by comparing an output current feedback signal against a reference current; (ii) a voltage controller configured to receive an output voltage feedback signal and a reference voltage, and to generate a control signal; (iii) a selector configured to control the flyback converter to operate in a first or a second operation mode based on the control signal, and to further generate a constant voltage or a constant current control signal based on the error signal; and (iv) a pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller configured to generate a PWM control signal to control a main switch, and to maintain the output voltage and/or current of the flyback converter as substantially constant.
US08917525B2
An insertion member provided with a male thread on the peripheral surface thereof is inserted through an opening of a receiving member. The insertion member is fastened by a fastening member provided with a female thread on the inner surface thereof. A first O-ring is provided between the insertion member and the fastening member, and a second O-ring is provided between the fastening member and the receiving member. When viewing each circular cross-section of the first and second O-rings along a surface parallel to a moving direction of the fastening member at the point of fastening the insertion member by rotating the fastening member, a first point of each circular cross-section is pressed against a surface perpendicular to the moving direction, and a position displaced from a second point opposite to the first point of each circular cross-section is pressed against an inclined surface inclined to the moving direction.
US08917520B2
A circuit substrate includes: a laminate substrate in which a conductive layer and an insulating layer are laminated; a filter chip that has an acoustic wave filter and is provided inside of the laminate substrate; and a chip component that is provided on a surface of the laminate substrate and is connected to the filter chip, at least a part of the chip component overlapping with a projected region that is a region of the filter chip projected in a thickness direction of the laminate substrate.
US08917519B2
An electronic device includes a circuit substrate, a bottom case, and a top case. The circuit substrate has a plurality of slits penetrating therethrough. The bottom case has a groove portion positioned at an inside surface of the bottom case such that edge portions of the circuit substrate are slidable and inserted into the groove portion. Besides, a plurality of pin-shaped protrusion portions is provided in the bottom case to be snib-fitted with the top case, and each protrusion portion has a plurality of locking portions at a tip end portion. Each protrusion portion elastically biases the circuit substrate toward the top side of the bottom case and presses the circuit substrate to a top surface of the groove portion by locking the locking portions to the circuit substrate after the locking portions are respectively inserted into the slits.
US08917509B2
An electric power conversion apparatus includes a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that has an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module includes first and second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further includes a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel.
US08917500B2
A portable computer comprises a base, a display module, at least one support element and at least one sliding assembly. The base comprises a first area and a second area. The display module comprises a connect end and a display face. Each support element comprises a first end pivoted on a portion of the display module other than the display face and a second end pivoted on the rear end of the base. Each sliding assembly comprises a slide rail disposed at least in the second area and a roller sliding element connected with the connect end and moved along the slide rail.
US08917472B2
Provided are a storage device, method, and program for controlling a tape speed to manage a tape drive buffer. A tape speed is increased from a current tape speed to a target tape speed on a predetermined speed-change timing to control the reading or writing of data between the buffer and the tape medium.
US08917468B1
An apparatus for detecting media flaws includes an envelope based media defect detector operable to identify a media defect based on an envelope of an input signal, a periodic pattern detector operable to determine whether the input signal comprises a data pattern, and a media flaw signal generation circuit operable to indicate a media defect when the envelope based media defect detector identifies the media defect and the periodic pattern detector determines that the input signal does not comprise the data pattern.
US08917467B1
Systems, methods, devices, circuits for data processing, and more particularly to data processing including adjacent track interference mitigation.
US08917457B2
An imaging lens system has, from an object side, at least one positive lens element convex to the object side, a negative lens element, and at least one lens element having an aspherical surface. The positive and negative lens elements are arranged next to each other. The formulae 0.1
US08917449B2
An optical filter includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first reflecting film disposed on a first opposed surface of the first substrate, a second reflecting film disposed on a second opposed surface of the second substrate, a first electrode provided to the first substrate at a peripheral position of the first reflecting film in a plan view, and a second electrode provided to the second substrate and opposed to the first electrode. At least one of the first opposed surface and the second opposed surface is provided with a step section, and an initial gap between the first reflecting film and the second reflecting film is smaller than an initial gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, to thereby allow control of the gap between the reflecting films with good accuracy.
US08917446B1
A display device with plural screens includes a plurality of display units arranged in matrix and at least one lens module. Each display unit includes a frame located at an outer periphery thereof. The connecting portions located at a crossing of four adjacent display units are substantially cruciform. The at least one lens module is arranged on the cruciform connecting portions. Each lens unit includes a first lens covering a side wall of a display unit, a second lens covering a side wall of an adjacent display unit, and a third lens connected to the first lens and the second lens. The light output surface of the first lens has a plurality of first sawtooth protrusions, the light output surface of the second lens has a plurality of second sawtooth protrusions, and the light output surface of the third lens has a plurality of third sawtooth protrusions.
US08917415B2
A method for automatically scaling print jobs in an image production device network may include receiving a request to print a print job using a particular media sheet size a particular image production device, determining a size of media in one or more media trays in the particular image production device, determining if the size of the media in the requested print job matches the determined media size in one of the one or more media trays, wherein if it is determined that the size of the media in the requested print job does not match the determined media size in one of the one or more media trays, determining the media size in the one or more media trays closest to the print job media sheet size, scaling the requested print job to the determined closest media size, and printing the requested print job on the determined closest media sheet size from one of the one or more media trays.
US08917412B2
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for monitoring the consumption of paper, toner, energy, other resources, etc., by an information technology device, and for encouraging a user to reduce consumption of such resources when using the information technology device.
US08917407B2
An image forming apparatus that is connected to a network includes a web server, a setting item management unit, and a web server management unit. The setting item management unit is configured to select, when the web server receives a request for job execution screen data from a terminal apparatus that is connected to the network, a job setting item in association with at least one of the terminal apparatus and a user at the terminal apparatus from among all job setting items. The web server management unit is configured to generate the job execution screen data that includes the job setting item selected by the setting item management unit and transmit the job execution screen data to the terminal apparatus via the web server.
US08917402B2
A power-supply control device includes a changing unit, a monitoring unit, a commanding unit, an imaging unit, and an individual recognition unit. The changing unit changes an operation mode of a controlled subject to a power supply mode or a power cutoff mode. The monitoring unit monitors a movement of a moving body during the power cutoff mode. The commanding unit outputs a command for changing the operation mode of the controlled subject to the power supply mode if the monitoring unit determines that the moving body is approaching the controlled subject. The imaging unit is supplied with electric power in response to the approaching of the moving body and captures a characteristic image of the moving body. The individual recognition unit executes an individual recognition process based on image information of the characteristic image captured by the imaging unit.
US08917393B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing image data for generating an image of a region of a target object. The method includes the steps of providing incident radiation, focusing the radiation downstream or upstream of a target object and via at least one detector located downstream of a focusing element, detecting an intensity of radiation scattered by the target object at an observation plane offset from a back focal plane associated with the focusing element.
US08917383B2
A wind turbine includes a number of blades and an optical measurement system comprising a light source, such as a laser, an optical transmitter part, an optical receiver part, and a signal processor. The light source is optically coupled to the optical transmitter part, which includes an emission point for emitting light in a probing direction. The optical receiver part comprises a receiving point and a detector. The optical receiver part is adapted for receiving a reflected part of light from a probing region along the probing direction and directing the reflected part of light to the detector to generate a signal used to determine a first velocity component of the inflow. The emission point is located in a first blade at a first radial distance from a center axis, and the receiving point is located in the first blade at a second radial distance from the center axis.
US08917378B2
A method for exposing a substrate includes arranging, in a direction, pattern areas to projection systems respectively arranged at an interval and each having a magnifying magnification, the pattern areas having area widths each smaller than the interval and greater than a width obtained by dividing an exposure width of the projection system by the magnifying magnification; and successively transferring onto the substrate an image, projected by an associated projection system, of a first pattern provided in a first partial pattern area in each pattern area and an image, projected by the associated projection system, of a second pattern provided in a second partial pattern area in each pattern area and having at least a partial area different from the first partial pattern area in the direction in each pattern area. The occurrence of any stitch error is suppressed and the transfer accuracy is improved.
US08917370B2
A gate line (40) has a two-layered structure comprising a lower gate line (40a) made of material identical to a pixel electrode (70), and positioned in the same layer as the pixel electrode (70), and an upper gate line (40b) layered on the lower gate line (40b), and made of material having a higher electrical conductivity than the transparent conductive material. According to this structure, it is possible to reduce the number of times performing exposure processes in manufacturing an in-plane switching type liquid crystal panel.
US08917364B2
A pixel array is disclosed that comprises a storage capacitor, and the pixel array is coated with a color filter area, where the color filter areas comprises a first color filter area of the storage capacitor and a second color filter area of the regions beyond the storage capacitor. The thickness of the first color filter area is bigger than the thickness of the second color filter area, and the thickness of the regions beyond the storage capacitor is equivalent to the minimum value of thickness that retains the color chroma of the pixel array, which enables a pixel to hold the desired potential within a frame cycle while the area of the storage capacitor is diminished. The invention further provides a fabrication method of the pixel array.
US08917361B2
A touching display panel and a display device using the same are provided. The touching display panel includes a liquid crystal layer, a first substrate having a hard surface structure, a second substrate, a touch sensor layer, a thin-film transistor layer, and a color filter layer. The first and second substrates are respectively disposed at two sides of the liquid crystal layer. The touch sensor layer is disposed between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and is formed on the first substrate. The thin-film transistor layer and the color filter layer are both disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. At least one of the thin-film transistor layer and the color filter layer is formed on the first substrate.
US08917358B2
Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus including: a reception portion configured to receive AV content being transmitted; a command execution portion configured to execute a first application program in response to a first command for controlling the operation of the first application program executed in interlocked related to the AV content; a command transmission portion configured to transmit to an external terminal apparatus a second command for controlling the operation of a second application program that can be executed by the terminal apparatus in interlocked relation to the AV content when the terminal apparatus is connected to the reception apparatus; and a command reception portion configured to receive the first command transmitted from the terminal apparatus executing the second application program. The command execution portion executes the first application program in response to the received first command.
US08917357B2
As information to be processed at an object-based video or audio-visual (AV) terminal, an object-oriented bitstream includes objects, composition information, and scene demarcation information. Such bitstream structure allows on-line editing, e.g. cut and paste, insertion/deletion, grouping, and special effects. In the interest of ease of editing, AV objects and their composition information are transmitted or accessed on separate logical channels (LCs). Objects which have a lifetime in the decoder beyond their initial presentation time are cached for reuse until a selected expiration time. The system includes a de-multiplexer, a controller which controls the operation of the AV terminal, input buffers, AV objects decoders, buffers for decoded data, a composer, a display, and an object cache.
US08917352B2
A lens frame drive apparatus for an image pickup apparatus includes: a first lens frame that moves along a plurality of guide shafts; a second lens frame that moves along the plurality of guide shafts; and a drive shaft with a cam portion for driving the first lens frame, a nut for driving the second lens frame, a feed screw portion threadably connected to the nut, and a driven portion that upon receipt of a driving force from a motor, simultaneously rotates the cam portion and the feed screw portion, formed thereon, wherein the cam portion and the feed screw portion are driven by the nut so that a total amount of movement of the second lens frame is extremely smaller than a total amount of movement of the first lens frame and the second lens frame corrects the amount of movement of the first lens frame.
US08917331B2
A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus, the method including determining whether a condition for changing an environment setup of the digital photographing apparatus is satisfied; if the condition is satisfied, searching for an environment setup to be changed according to the condition; and changing the environment setup according to the condition.
US08917324B2
In an image capturing and processing system, a device and method is provided. The lens is made of simple lens with high diffractive materials and known strong color aberrations. The method includes the steps of: calibrating or measuring a Point Spread Function (PSF) for each color components at a set of distances, capturing image data, and calculating the image obtained using a de-convolution method based on the PSF found.
US08917323B2
In an image capture system for use in vehicles as well as an optical system for use in the automotive sector, the image capture system has at least one image sensor element having a plurality of image sensors situated in an image plane and at least one micro-lens system having a plurality of micro-lenses. Optionally, at least one aperture mask having a plurality of openings is situated between the micro-lens system and the at least one image sensor element. One image sensor, one micro-lens and one opening respectively define a pick-up direction of the image sensor. The totality of the pick-up directions defines a main viewing direction, which together with the image plane encloses an angle α of less than 80°.
US08917309B1
A system, apparatus, and method for relaying video information that is part of a multi-party video communication session having multiple endpoints. The server can receive multiple video information streams from multiple endpoints and re-transmit some or all of the video information streams to the endpoints with one or more of the video information steams identified as having active status and being decoded at high resolution at the endpoints, while transmitting key frames from video information streams not having active status. Upon switching active speaker status to a new video information stream, the endpoints, already having a key frame from the switched-to video information, can switch to decoding the new video information stream having active status at high resolution without delay.
US08917307B2
In a method and system for performing a video call between a first terminal and a second terminal, video data for the video call is captured with a camera of the first terminal. The captured video data is transmitted in real-time to the second terminal for use in the video call. The captured video data is output in real-time at a display of the second terminal in the video call. A video hold input is received from a user at the first terminal to initiate a video hold state. Holding video data is determined for output at the display of the second terminal in the video hold state. In the video hold state, the determined holding video data is output at the display of the second terminal, instead of outputting video data captured by said camera of the first terminal in real-time at the display of the second terminal.
US08917305B2
A resin BD lens having a property of refracting a light beam in a direction corresponding to a main scanning direction may cause a variation in generation timing difference among a plurality of horizontal synchronization signals and accordingly degrade accuracy to correct the starting position of an electrostatic latent image. The present invention uses a glass BD lens having a property of refracting a light beam in a direction corresponding to the main scanning direction.
US08917302B2
A method to display information using an information layer laminate comprising at least three color layers each comprising a different color by selectively removing one or more portions of a first color layer to display portions of a second color layer, and selectively removing one or more portions of a first color layer and one or more portions of a second color layer to display portions of a third color layer.
US08917296B2
A luminous intensity distribution system includes a first optical element extending in a first direction, and distributes, given that a first direction is taken to be leftward-rightward when viewed frontward-rearward, light having entered a light-incident surface from a right-rear direction and emits the light through a light-emitting surface toward a right-forward direction when viewed from the frontward end, and distributes light having entered the light-incident surface from a left-rear direction and emits the light through the light-emitting surface toward a left-forward direction when viewed from the frontward end; and a second optical element extending in the first direction and that diffuses light having entered the light-incident surface and emits the light through the light-emitting side, with the first optical element and the second optical element being arranged in parallel with each other vertically when viewed frontward-rearward.
US08917288B2
Generating an accuracy-referenced electronic record of a locate and/or marking operation performed by a locate technician. The locate and/or marking operation comprises locating and/or identifying, using at least one physical locate mark, a presence or an absence of at least one underground facility within a dig area, wherein at least a portion of the dig area may be excavated or disturbed during excavation activities. A location of the at least one underground facility and/or the at least one physical locate mark is electronically rendered on a display device so as to generate an electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation. An accuracy of the represented location is digitally represented on the display device using at least one accuracy indicator overlaid on the electronic visual representation of the locate and/or marking operation so as to generate an accuracy-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation. Information relating to the accuracy-annotated representation of the locate and/or marking operation is electronically transmitted and/or stored so as to generate the accuracy-referenced electronic record of the locate and/or marking operation.
US08917287B2
A digital manipulator for an inverter and an image display method for the digital manipulator are disclosed. The digital manipulator is connected to and an external computer. The images used by the digital manipulator are edited by editing software in an external computer and are downloaded to LCM of the digital manipulator to display. The digital manipulator has a plurality of function buttons. Corresponding functions of the function buttons are assigned via editing software by a user. As a result, the digital manipulator is more flexible to use, and users are allowed to configure a digital manipulator based on own individual requests and operating habits.
US08917283B2
Techniques for improving the performance of vector-based, fluid motion simulation techniques in procedural painting algorithms. The techniques may be implemented in procedural painting algorithms that employ a vector-based, fluid motion simulation technique to help achieve dynamic and serendipitous behaviors of watercolor painting at good interactive rates even on relatively low-powered devices. The techniques may include resampling the vertices of pigment polygons after growth at least at some iterations of the algorithm to provide smoother, more uniform growth; rasterizing dried pigment polygons into a texture so that the dried polygons are not rendered at each iteration of the algorithm; and rendering only a subset of live pigment polygons at each iteration of the algorithm. Polygons used by the techniques may be separated into static water polygons and dynamic pigment polygons.
US08917280B2
An exemplary apparatus for controlling display devices writes pixel data in a buffer in synchronous with an input clock signal. A differential value that represents a change of timing difference between input and output sides is calculated in each of a plurality of frames, and a timing correction based on the differential value calculated during the previous frame is performed within the vertical blanking period. Thereafter, the pixel data is read and output from the buffer to the display device in synchronous with an output clock signal.
US08917279B2
A system for dynamically binding and unbinding of graphics processing unit GPU applications, the system includes a memory management for tracking memory of a GPU used by an application, and a source-to-source compiler for identifying nested structures allocated on the GPU so that the virtual memory management can track these nested structures, and identifying all instances where nested structures on the GPU are modified inside kernels.
US08917275B2
A developer tool is used to programmatically calculate the contrast between the text and background in a user interface. A luminosity ratio is automatically calculated by the tool by capturing an image of a user interface, archiving user interface elements that do not contain text, performing optical character recognition on the remaining user interface elements to find pixels on the text part of the user interface element and pixels on the background part of the user interface element, and finally calculating the luminosity ratio. Results including errors, warnings and luminosity ratio for one or more hotspots in the image can be returned. Results can be used to identify user interface elements that comply or fail to comply with visibility guidelines for contrast between user interface text and background.
US08917259B2
Multi-touch interfaces allow user interaction with multiple points of contact to control external devices such as game consoles, authenticate users, partition the interface for multiple users, and so forth. The multi-touch interface may provide graphical representations that are manipulated by users through multiple points of contact to participate in games running on an external game console. Additionally, user authentication may occur through multiple points of contact with the multi-touch interface where each user has a unique contact pattern that includes points of contact, location of points of contact, rhythm of points of contact, and so forth. The graphical representations may be customized based on the authentication of a user, and the multi-touch surface may be partitioned based on the number of users present.
US08917256B2
A method and device is provided for control interface sensitive to a movement of a body or of an object and the control equipment integrating this device, in particular gestural and/or tactile and/or vocal, sensitive to a movement of at least one part of a body or of an object within a detection space, including a detection surface, at least one capacitive sensor, having a measurement electrode, a guard made of electrically conducting material disposed in proximity to the measurement electrodes, and electronic apparatus for processing the signals emanating from the at least one capacitive sensor. The active surfaces of the measurement electrodes are independent of one another, and an electronic device for excitation and processing interrogate these measurement electrodes independently of one another.
US08917248B2
A character input method using a touch screen, in which one or more areas requiring user input is defined in the touch screen, pre-recognized information is defined for each of the defined areas, character information is received by a user in one or more user desired areas among the defined areas, the character information is recognized using a character recognizer, and the recognized character information is updated in the user desired areas.
US08917246B2
A layout function unit 4 controls a display unit 2 to display a shortcut key layout at activation of the display unit 2 and, after a predetermined period of time from the activation of the display unit 2, to change a display to a normal key layout. In addition, the layout function unit 4 inserts a blank template as a changeover screen when changing the display from the shortcut key layout to the normal key layout and, when detecting input to a touch panel 1 during a display of the changeover screen, cancels the changeover of the display to the normal key layout and displays the shortcut key layout.
US08917232B2
A display apparatus according to the present invention comprises a display panel having a transmittance that can be changed for each frame of an input video signal, an adjusting unit that adjusts a timing at which the transmittance of the display panel changes, and a backlight unit that emits light in a period corresponding to a period of an applied alternating-current voltage, wherein the adjusting unit adjusts the timing at which the transmittance of the display panel changes on the basis of the period of the alternating-current voltage.
US08917227B2
A display includes: a display panel; and a flexible circuit board connected to the display panel, and including power source lines for supplying driving current to the display panel, a signal line for transmitting a control signal to the display panel, and an integrated circuit element, in which the flexible circuit board includes a metal pattern connected to the power source lines, and the metal pattern is in contact with an outer surface of the integrated circuit element directly or via a thermal conductor.
US08917224B2
The present disclosure discloses a pixel unit circuit and an OLED display apparatus. The pixel unit circuit comprises a first sub-circuit module, a second sub-circuit module, a first capacitor and OLED. An input of the first sub-circuit module is connected to a data line; another input of the first sub-circuit module is connected to an output of the second sub-circuit module and a first terminal of the OLED; an output of the first sub-circuit module is connected to an input/output of the second sub-circuit module via the first capacitor; a voltage difference between positive power supply and negative power supply of a backboard is applied between an input of the second sub-circuit module and a second terminal of the OLED. The pixel unit circuit can compensate the aging of OLED devices, the non-uniformity of threshold voltage of TFT driving transistors, and IR Drop of the power supply of the backboard.
US08917215B2
A dielectric antenna with an electromagnetic feed element (2) and with a lens (3) made of a dielectric material, the feed element (2) emitting electromagnetic radiation (4) and the lens (3) being supplied with electromagnetic radiation (4) in the feed region (5), the lens (3) relaying the electromagnetic radiation (4) and radiating it with the transmission region (6). To configure these dielectric antennas such that the disadvantages of the dielectric antennas known from the prior art are at least partially avoided, first of all, the lens (3) is shaped essentially ellipsoidally at least in the transmission region (6) and the lens (3) is arranged relative to the feed element (2) such that the electromagnetic radiation (4) emitted by the lens (3) in the direction of maximum radiation (7) of the antenna has an essentially planar phase front.
US08917210B2
A radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chip package is provided having an RFIC chip and an integrated antenna structure. The integrated antenna structure includes an on-chip antenna having one or more radiator elements formed as part of a back-end-of-line structure of the RFIC chip. The antenna structure further includes a superstrate structure disposed on the back-end-of-line structure of the RFIC chip. The superstrate structure includes at least one substrate layer and a focusing metal element. The focusing metal element has a structure that is complementary to the on-chip radiator elements and which is configured to focus electromagnetic radiation to and from the planar antenna structure. The superstrate structure improves the performance (e.g., antenna gain and bandwidth) of the on-chip antennas for millimeter-wave applications.
US08917207B2
An in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a phased array antenna and control circuitry associated therewith to be carried by the aircraft and to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.
US08917200B2
An avionic weather radar system tracks aircraft orientation with respect to acquired scan radar data to correct the display of the weather radar data for range distortion and orientation changes of the aircraft between radar acquisition and display, reducing image artifacts.
US08917196B2
An A/D converter comprising: a sampling circuit including a continuous section, a sampling and holding section for intermittently sampling an input signal based on an analog signal input from the continuous section to hold and transfer the sampled signal, and a digital section for outputting a signal transferred from the sampling and holding section as a digital signal; and a control circuit for supplying a clock signal in which jitter is not added to the continuous section and supplying a clock signal in which the jitter is added to the sampling and holding section.
US08917182B2
A system for preventing drowsiness in a driver by employing a thermal grill. The system includes a detection module and an intervention module. The detection module monitors a driver's parameters to determine whether the driver is drowsy. If the driver is determined to be drowsy, the intervention module activates a thermal grill with interlaced hot and cold regions. This activation causes the hot regions to approach one temperature and the cold regions to approach another. Additionally, this activation leads to an uncomfortable sensation for the driver, alerts the driver, and prevents the driver from getting drowsy.
US08917178B2
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for use with a vehicle according to one embodiment includes a housing adapted for permanent or detachable coupling to the vehicle, control circuitry coupled to the housing, and a battery for providing power to the control circuitry. A secondary power source is also present for recharging the battery. A memory stores information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle. The capability of recharging the battery greatly extends the active (self-powered) life of the tag. Systems for tracking ownership of objects, servicing of vehicles, and other applications, as well as methods are also presented.
US08917177B2
An apparatus is disclosed including one or more security structures. The one or more security structures includes: a weldable frame; a plurality of composite panels, each panel securable to the weldable frame, each composite panel configured to form at least one joint with at least one adjoining composite panel; and a respective security element embedded within each of the composite panels. The security element is configured to detect a breach in the composite panel.
US08917174B2
Systems and methods for indicating the presence of a mobile device within a passenger cabin are provided. A method for indicating the presence of a mobile device within a passenger cabin of a vehicle includes linking a vehicle computing device with the mobile device, determining whether a vehicle ignition is off and whether a vehicle lock has been actuated. The method further includes generating an audible mobile device search signal that is played through a cabin and waiting to receive a response from the mobile device as to whether the mobile device detected the audible mobile device search signal. The method further includes determining whether the mobile device is within the passenger cabin based on whether a response was received from the mobile device and generating a first audible indication when the mobile device is within the passenger cabin.
US08917171B2
This invention relates to an externally mounted vehicle warning light system and related method, employing an accelerometer illuminating different lights to indicate to other drivers whether a vehicle is accelerating, decelerating, coasting or braking.
US08917164B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for identification of components in an electrical low-voltage switchgear assembly is disclosed. The electrical low-voltage switchgear assembly according to one embodiment of the invention includes at least one truck module, which can be positioned in a truck slot. In at least one embodiment, both the truck slot and the truck module include associated devices for wire-free communication, wherein the communication devices are designed to transmit and/or receive data which is relevant for an automatic identification of the truck slot and/or the truck module, and allow automatic association of these components with one another.
US08917162B2
A wireless communication apparatus includes a first communication system, and a second communication system configured to transmit a transmission signal in a communication frequency band which is the same or substantially the same as that of the first communication system and at an electric power which is stronger than that of a reception signal of the first communication system. The first communication system includes a feeder circuit having a resonant frequency, the resonant frequency being within the communication frequency band if a reception signal of the first communication system is input, and the resonant frequency being out of the communication frequency band if a transmission signal of the second communication system is input.
US08917161B2
A data transmission system comprising a data bridge, a reader device, and a network access system. The data bridge comprises an RFID system, a network system, a memory module, and a processor operatively connected between the RFID system and the network system. The data bridge system operates in a first mode using the RFID system and a second mode using the network system. The reader device communicates with the memory module using the RFID system. The network access system communicates with the memory module using the network system.
US08917160B2
An RFID module including an antenna element forming an RFID antenna; an RFID circuit block to which the antenna element is connected; and a first resonance frequency adjustment circuit having an element that includes a drain terminal connected to the antenna element, a gate terminal that is grounded, and a source terminal that is grounded, wherein a pull-up resistor is connected between the drain terminal and a power supply.
US08917157B2
A resistance-type touch panel includes a first electrode plate and the second electrode plate spaced from and opposite to the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first transparent conductive layer. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second transparent conductive layer. The first transparent conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotube film includes a number of carbon nanotube wires substantially parallel with each other and a number of carbon nanotube clusters located between the number of carbon nanotube wires. The carbon nanotube wires extend along an X direction and are spaced from each other along a Y direction. The carbon nanotube clusters between each adjacent two of the carbon nanotube wires are spaced from each other along the X direction. The X direction is intercrossed with the Y direction.
US08917156B2
The invention relates to a transformer construction comprising a plurality of transformer cores configured to share magnetic flux paths and, as a result, at least one of the cores comprises a post and an associated sidewall having an effective cross-sectional area which is less than that of the post. Such a construction may be employed in a power conditioning unit, for example, for a photovoltaic module, which is configured to operate the cores out of phase from each other. Also described is a transformer winding comprising a longitudinal spine having a first turn emanating from a first portion of the spine in a first transverse direction and a second turn emanating from a second portion of the spine in a second transverse direction, wherein the second transverse direction is opposite to the first transverse direction.
US08917150B2
An apparatus may include one or more conductive surfaces, waveguide structures and/or ports. One or more waveguide structures may include a portion disposed above a conductive surface, an outer conductor, and/or an inner conductor. A first portion of an outer conductor may be connected to a conductive surface. A port end of an outer conductor may be connected to an outer conductor port. An inner conductor may be disposed inside and spaced apart from an outer conductor. An inner conductor port may be connected to an inner conductor. An inner conductor of two or more waveguide structures may be connected to each other. A conductive surface may include at least one aperture portion, which may have a width substantially similar to the width of a waveguide structure. A substrate may be disposed between one or more waveguide structures and a conductive surface for a substantial portion of a waveguide structure.
US08917148B2
A transmission unit with reduced crosstalk signal includes a first conductor group having at least one first conductor surrounded by a first sheath and at least one second conductor surrounded by a second sheath. The first and the second conductor are axially arranged corresponding to one another. The first sheath has a dielectric coefficient higher than that of the second sheath, so that a difference in dielectric property exists between the first and the second conductor to enable reduction of crosstalk occurred during high-speed signal transmission over the transmission unit.
US08917139B2
A digital amplifier comprises: a switching unit that amplifies a signal input to the digital amplifier by performing a switching operation; a driving unit that turns the switching unit on and off; an input signal detection unit that detects an input signal to the digital amplifier; and a first control unit that performs control such that the switching unit starts a switching operation by starting driving of the driving unit, when the digital amplifier is changed to a signal input state and the input signal detection unit detects an input signal, and performs control such that the switching unit stops the switching operation by stopping the driving of the driving unit, when the digital amplifier is changed to a no signal input state and the input signal detection unit does not detect an input signal. This configuration enables to reduce power consumption when no signal is input.
US08917133B2
The clock generation method contains the following steps. In a pulse recognition step, an input pulse signal is first filtered to remove a shorter signal. Then, a width digitization calculation is conducted on the remaining pulse signal. Based on the width digitization calculation, a signal is recorded and a period of the recorded signal is determined. The value of the period is delivered to a gain module. In a step for verifying the input value to D/A converter, two values are input to a D/A converter from the gain module, and the output from the D/A converter is delivered to an oscillator. The gain module determines a desired input value from the gain module to the D/A converter. In a pulse generation step, the gain module inputs the desired input value to the D/A converter which in turn delivers to the oscillator for the generation of a corresponding clock.
US08917132B2
Apparatuses, methods, and delay circuits for delaying signals are described. An example apparatus includes a fine delay circuit configured to provide an output signal based on a ratio of a first input signal and a second input signal. The fine delay circuit including a phase mixer circuit including first signal drivers configured to receive the first input signal. The fine delay circuit further including second signal drivers configured to receive the second input signal, where at least two of the first signal drivers have different drive strengths and at least two of the second signal drivers have different drive strengths.
US08917127B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes a plurality of one-shot pulse generation circuits connected in series between an input node and an output node. Each of the one-shot pulse generation circuits receives an input clock signal supplied from previously connected one-shot pulse generation circuit to output an output clock signal to subsequently connected one-shot pulse generation circuit. Both of a rising edge and a falling edge of the output clock signal are controlled based on one of a rising edge and a falling edge of the input clock signal. A time period from one of the rising edge and the falling edge of the output clock signal to the other of the rising edge and the falling edge of the output clock signal being variable.
US08917120B2
A semiconductor device arrangement and a method. One embodiment includes at least one power transistor and at least one gate resistor located between a gate of the power transistor and a connecting point in the drive circuit of the power transistor. The semiconductor device arrangement includes a switchable element between the connecting point and a source of the power transistor.
US08917116B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an output waveform synthesizer using phase interpolators and an on-chip eye opening monitoring (EOM) circuit for a low-power transmitter. In order to achieve both small area and low-power consumption in the transmitter design, a single-stage multiphase multiplexer operating in subrate is employed. The multiphase multiplexer is composed of parallelized open-drain NAND gates. In subrate transmitter architecture, the phase mismatch among multiphase clock signals degrades jitter performance significantly and is a critical bottleneck for its widespread use despite low power consumption. In order to overcome such mismatch problem, an area-and-power-efficient phase interpolator based waveform synthesizing scheme is developed.
US08917108B2
A device for monitoring operating parameters of integrated circuits. A signal is generated at least at one output of a comparison element by comparing switching states of input signals at the at least two inputs of the comparison element, which signal indicates that the at least one operating parameter has fallen below or has exceeded a predefined threshold. The two input signals are generated by at least two operating parameter-dependent devices, and the switching behavior thereof is subject to a time delay depending on the current value of the at least one operating parameter. A predefined time delay has a value such that when the predefined threshold of the operating parameter is exceeded, one of the input signals changes its switching state at the times predefined for the comparison element by the clock signal on the basis of the time delay.
US08917106B2
Provided are microfabricated probe elements, including elastomer elements, and methods of making the same, that can be readily used with fine pitch microelectronic arrays, for instance by providing sufficient compliance in a small package, while minimizing deflection forces, and while precisely maintaining the planarity and positioning of the contact tips across vast grid arrays. Elastomer elements may be generated using photolithography, either directly or through a sacrificial lost-mold process. Elastomer probe elements are provided with rigid tip structures microfabricated thereon to improve contact pressure. A novel space transformation probe card assembly is also provided.
US08917105B2
A testing apparatus for measuring the material properties of solder balls includes a frame and a chuck base moveable in X, Y, Z dimensions, relative to the frame. A probe tip is fixed to the frame. A measuring device is mounted to the frame and maintains a spacing with relationship to the probe tip and which has an initial, known height above the chuck base.
US08917095B2
A sulfide-based solid electrolyte cell which can efficiently detect its deterioration, a cell pack equipped with the cell, a vehicle system equipped with the cell pack, and a method for detecting hydrogen sulfide. A sulfide-based solid electrolyte cell including at least one or more power generation units each including a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte present between the positive and negative electrodes, and a cell case which houses the power generation units, wherein at least one of the positive electrode, negative electrode and electrolyte includes a sulfur material, and wherein at least one of a current collector which constitutes a charging and discharging path, a lead which constitutes a charging and discharging path, and a lead which is connected to a circuit that is attached to the charging and discharging path, includes a material which chemically reacts with hydrogen sulfide to change electrical resistance.
US08917092B2
A method for mineral analysis of a sample based on detection of NQR and/or Local Field Magnetic Resonance (LFMR) signals from a particular substance within a sample includes: setting a frequency of RF pulses to be approximately equal to one of the NQR or LFMR frequencies of the substance; setting a set of parameters of the RF pulses to be optimal for the substance; setting a set of receiving parameters to be optimal for the substance; tuning the probe to maximum sensitivity for the signals detected at predetermined frequency and/or to maximum power transfer efficiency for RF pulses transmitted with the probe; transmitting the RF pulses with the probe at said optimal level during a transmitting period to irradiate the sample and excite an NQR or LFMR signal in the substance, if present; detecting and processing NQR or LFMR signals emitted by the substance; and calculating the concentration of the substance in the sample.
US08917082B2
A power detector having a differential input unit and a differential output unit. In one aspect, the invention may be a power detector including a differential input unit including a differential input terminal to which an AC signal is input and a DC voltage generator which generates and outputs a DC voltage; and a differential output unit including a differential output terminal which full wave rectifies the AC signal input from the differential input unit and outputs a differential signal, wherein a negative output terminal of the differential output terminal is connected to the output terminal of the DC voltage generator.
US08917079B2
A reference potential adjusting apparatus is provided. The reference potential adjusting apparatus includes a reference potential measuring unit configured to measure a potential of a solution, a counter electrode disposed in the solution, and configured to change the potential of the solution through oxidation-reduction reactions with the solution, and a comparator configured to compare a measurement voltage provided by the reference voltage measuring unit to a reference voltage provided by a reference voltage supply unit, and to adjust reactions of the counter electrode with the solution according to the result of the comparison. The reference potential measuring unit includes a reference electrode, a common electrode disposed to be spaced apart from the reference electrode, and at least one nano structure contacting the reference electrode and the common electrode, and having electrical conductivity changing according to the potential of the solution.
US08917065B2
In aspects of the invention, a photocoupler output signal receiving circuit includes a first constant current circuit, connected between an input terminal and the high potential side of a direct current power source, that discharges current, a second constant current circuit, connected between the input terminal and the low potential side of the direct current power source, that takes in current, and switching elements that operate the first and second constant current circuits in a complementary way, wherein the switching elements are operated so that current is taken in by the second constant current circuit after a photocoupler is turned on, and are operated so that current is discharged by the first constant current circuit after the photocoupler is turned off, and a discharge current value in a current discharge period is reduced after a certain period elapses from the start of discharging.
US08917060B2
A secondary cell control system includes a plurality of cells; a charging circuit section and a discharging circuit section. The charging circuit section charges cells selected from among said plurality of cells, and the discharging circuit section discharges cells selected from among said plurality of cells.
US08917059B2
Provided is an inter-module voltage balance correcting circuit of a power storage system including a plurality of storage modules connected in series, each of the storage modules including a plurality of storage cells connected in series. The inter-module voltage balance correcting circuit includes a resistance voltage dividing circuit (R1-R2) that equally divides a series voltage across a first storage module and a second storage module connected in series; and a pair of transistors that are turned ON/OFF complementarily based on a voltage (Vp1-Vp2) appearing between an intermediate connecting point (p2) between the storage modules M1, M2 in series and a voltage dividing point p1 of the resistance voltage dividing circuit, and a bypass discharge resistive element is selectively connected to modules by turning ON/OFF the complementary transistors.
US08917052B2
A solar cell connection module that includes a solar cell, a first junction box, and a second junction box. The solar cell panel includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The first junction box includes a first conductor, a second conductor, a first cable electrically connected to the second conductor, and a diode electrically connected between the first and second conductors. The first conductor is electrically connected to the negative electrode and the second conductor is electrically connected to the positive electrode so that the diode is electrically connected in parallel with the solar cell panel. The second junction box includes a conductor piece electrically connecting to the negative electrode and a second cable electrically connected to the conductor piece.
US08917048B2
A motor control device and a motor control method are disclosed herein, where the motor control device includes a signal conversion unit, a frequency multiplication unit, a profile generation circuit and a frequency converter unit. The signal conversion unit receives a rotation speed signal from a motor and converts the rotation speed signal into a digital signal. The frequency multiplication unit generates a frequency multiplication signal based on the digital signal. The profile generation circuit performs frequency division on the frequency multiplication signal to get a profile signal. The frequency converter unit generates a reference signal and compares the reference signal with the profile signal to output a motor control signal.
US08917047B2
The present disclosure discloses a converter system, which at least includes the first and second back-to-back converters. The first back-to-back converter includes a first rectifier module and a first inverter module. The first rectifier module is used to convert a first AC voltage to a first DC voltage. The first inverter module is used to convert the first DC voltage to a second AC voltage. The second back-to-back converter includes a second rectifier module and a second inverter module. The second rectifier module is used to convert the first AC voltage to a second DC voltage. The second inverter module is used to convert the second DC voltage to the second AC voltage. The converter system can suppress the circular current through the synchronous operation of the first and second rectifiers or the synchronous operation of the first and second inverters.
US08917037B2
The power circuit comprises a voltage conversion part converting an input voltage entered in accordance with a voltage of a power source to generate an output voltage and outputting the generated output voltage to the motor and a current detection part outputting a first signal in accordance with a current flowing through a given part of the power circuit. The voltage conversion part lowers the voltage value of new output voltage being generated when the current detection part outputs the first signal.
US08917030B2
An electronic ballast for a lighting unit may include a Power Factor Correction (PFC) circuit, an inverter, and a control circuit for controlling startup of the inverter, wherein the control circuit is coupled between the PFC circuit and the inverter and includes a switching device coupled in a startup loop for the inverter; a unidirectional conductive device coupled between a PFC power supply circuit for providing an operation current to a PFC controller of the PFC circuit and an input of the PFC controller for preventing a startup current flowing through the PFC circuit from triggering the switching device; and a triggering device coupled to the switching device and a connection point between the unidirectional conductive device and the PFC power supply circuit for controlling switch-on and switch-off of the switching device.
US08917028B2
A driving circuit includes a plurality of light-emitting units, a plurality of switches, and a voltage generating module. The light-emitting units are coupled with each other in series and are driven with an input voltage varying according to a frequency. Each switch has a preset voltage and an activation voltage and includes a light-emitting end, a control end, and a setting end. The light-emitting ends are coupled with the light-emitting units, and the setting ends of the switches are coupled with each other. The voltage generating module includes a plurality of control units and provides a plurality of control voltages to the switches, and each switch is driven to be activated or to be deactivated according to a relation of the preset voltage and a difference between the control voltage and the activation voltage when the input voltage drives the light-emitting units, the switches, and the control units.
US08917026B2
An electrical circuit is described that comprises a first string and second LED string coupled in parallel, a first and second transistor, at least one bypass transistor, and a controller. The first transistor is coupled to the first LED string at a first terminal of the first transistor. The second LED string includes multiple LED color strings coupled in series. The second transistor is coupled to the second LED string at a first terminal of the second transistor. The bypass transistor is coupled to one of the color strings. A first terminal of the bypass transistor is coupled to a first terminal of the color string. The second terminal of the bypass transistor is coupled to a second terminal of the color string. The controller controls a gate voltage of the first and second transistors and the bypass transistor to operate all transistors in linear modes.
US08917024B2
A daylight sensor is adapted to be mounted to a surface in a space having a window, and has a rotatable enclosure for directing a lens of the daylight sensor towards the window. The daylight sensor includes a photosensitive circuit for measuring a light intensity in the space, and an enclosure for housing the photosensitive circuit. The lens directs light from the space towards the photosensitive circuit. The enclosure has a cover portion and a base portion adapted to be mounted to the surface. The cover portion is rotatable with respect to the base portion, so as to direct the lens towards the window after the base portion is mounted to the surface. The base portion may also include a cylindrical wall having a channel adapted to capture a snap of the cover portion, such that the snap may move angularly through the channel to allow for rotation of the cover portion with respect to the base portion.
US08917015B2
An organic EL device includes a substrate, a first colored layer, a first luminescence element having a first pixel electrode, a reflection layer, and an insulation layer which overlaps a second portion without overlapping a first portion of a first pixel electrode. Light emitted from the first luminescence element includes a first light emitted from a region overlapping a first portion and a second light emitted from a region overlapping a second portion, and a film thickness of an insulation layer or optical characteristics of the first colored layer are set so that the first light is transmitted through the first colored layer more than the second light is.
US08917011B2
An LED heat dissipation structure including: a heat sink, with a lug axially extended from an end of the heat sink, a hollow portion disposed inside the heat sink and axially extended to the lug, and a plurality of fins integrally extended from a peripheral side of the heat sink; and a support base, having an axial through hole sheathed on the lug of the heat sink, and an end of the support base abutting the support surface of the heat sink. A semiconductor light emitting module is tightly coupled onto a distal surface at an end of the lug for conducting generated heat to the heat sink, and a mirror mount is pressed against the semiconductor light emitting module and coupled to the support base.
US08917002B2
An electric machine for installation to a retaining device includes a stator having an axis, and a torque-support device for supporting the stator against the retaining device to prevent a turning movement around the axis. The torque-support device has an intermediate element, at least two holding support elements for providing support against the retaining device, and at least two stator support elements for providing support against the stator. The holding support elements and the stator support elements possess each a greater rigidity in a circumferential direction in relation to the axis than in any other spatial direction.
US08916995B2
A current control device is described. The current control device includes at least one line socket configured to couple to a first power system. The current control device also includes at least one load socket configured to couple to a second power system and at least one micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switching device coupled between the at least one line socket and the at least one load socket. The at least one MEMS switching device is configured to selectably couple the first power system to the second power system.
US08916993B2
A propulsion system includes an electric drive, a first energy storage system electrically coupled to the electric drive through a DC link, and a second energy storage system electrically coupled to the first energy storage system in a series connection. The first energy storage system comprises a high specific-energy storage device and the second energy storage system comprises a low specific-power storage device. The propulsion system also includes a third energy storage system comprising a high specific-energy storage device electrically coupled to the second energy storage system. A bi-directional boost converter is electrically coupled to the second and third energy storage systems such that a terminal of the third energy storage system is electrically coupled to a low voltage side of the bi-directional boost converter and a terminal of the second energy storage system is coupled to a high voltage side of the bi-directional boost converter.
US08916991B2
An electrical system for a computer cart enables power to be diverted between electrical channels within the cart using an intelligent round robin charging scheme. All power may be diverted to individual channels one at a time for short charging intervals. When a selected primary channel does not require all available power within the cart, excess power is provided to a secondary channel. All three channels may likewise share power if excess is available. Relays are used to allow power to be controlled to the individual channels. Current sensors on each channel sense an amount of current used by the channel. The output of the current sensor is digitized and integrated to determine how much current is being used by the channel. The current is used by the control to detect uncharged laptops and to selectively divert power between channels to optimize use of power within the computer cart.
US08916990B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for a functional high-voltage interlock system. The apparatus includes an enclosure, a high-voltage terminal, a low-voltage circuit, and a control circuit. The enclosure includes an access point that may be breached. The high-voltage terminal is disposed at least partially within the enclosure, is accessible by breaching the high-voltage access point, and is configured to be energized from a high-voltage electrical power source. The low-voltage circuit is disposed within the enclosure, and is coupled to selectively receive a low-voltage electrical signal. The control circuit is coupled to, and is configured to supply the low-voltage electrical signal to, the low-voltage circuit only when the high-voltage access point is not breached. The control circuit implements a first function and a disparate second function. The first function determines whether the access point is breached and, if so, prevents the high-voltage terminal from being energized from the high-voltage electrical source.
US08916988B2
A control system is provided. The control system includes a turbine controller that is configured to generate at least a first signal that is representative of pitch control commands for a plurality of turbine blades and a second signal that is representative of the pitch control commands for the turbine blades. A first pitch controller is coupled to the turbine controller, wherein the first pitch controller is configured to receive the first signal and to implement the pitch control commands for each of the turbine blades in response to receiving the first signal. A second pitch controller is coupled to the turbine controller and to the first pitch controller, wherein the second pitch controller is configured to receive the second signal and to implement the pitch control commands to each of the turbine blades when the first pitch controller is unable to implement the pitch control commands.
US08916984B2
A wind turbine including at least one generator is disclosed. The generator includes a stator with two sets of stator windings. The first set of stator windings is connected to a first electrical converter unit by a first cable connection and the second set of stator windings is connected to a second electrical converter unit by a second cable connection. The first cable connection is guided from the respective set of stator windings in the region of the side facing the drive end of the wind turbine and the second cable connection is guided from the respective set of stator windings in the region of the side facing the non-drive end of the wind turbine.
US08916981B2
Epoxy-amine underfill materials for semiconductor packages and semiconductor packages having an epoxy-amine underfill material are described. In an example, a semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor die having a surface with an integrated circuit thereon. A semiconductor package substrate has a surface with a plurality of contact pads thereon. A plurality of conductive contacts couples the surface of the semiconductor die to the surface of the semiconductor package substrate. An epoxy-amine underfill material is disposed between the surface of the semiconductor die and the surface of the semiconductor package substrate and surrounds the plurality of conductive contacts. The epoxy-amine underfill has high adhesion and is based on a low volatility multi-functional amine species.
US08916977B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate configured to include a plurality of active regions that are stretched in parallel to each other, a plurality of first contact plugs and the plurality of active regions, wherein each active region is coupled with a corresponding first contact plug, and a contact pad configured to couple with a given number of first contact plugs among the plurality of first contact plugs. Misalignment occurring at the ends of a series of drain contacts may be prevented, and the size of well-pickup contacts may be decreased by forming contact plugs that are coupled with drain regions with the same distance to a well-pickup contact region without additionally forming well-pickup contact plugs and using the contact plugs as well-pickup contact plugs. Therefore, loss of a substrate may be minimized, and burden of Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) is relieved, reducing Turn-Around Time (TAT).
US08916975B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor circuit substrate having a chip pad forming region. A pair of data lines are formed on the semiconductor circuit substrate at one side of the chip pad region. The pair of data lines extend along a direction that the chip pad region of the semiconductor circuit substrate extends. The pair of data lines are arranged to be adjacent to each other and receive a pair of differential data signals. A power supply line is formed on the semiconductor circuit substrate at the other side of the chip pad region. The power supply line extends along the direction that the chip pad region of the semiconductor circuit substrate extends, and the power supply line receives power.
US08916965B2
Thermal transfer from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) die is improved by mounting the die in a bump-on-leadframe manner in a semiconductor package, with solder or other metal bumps connecting the active layer of the SOI die to metal leads used to mount the package on a printed circuit board or other support structure.
US08916960B2
A semiconductor unit includes a base having a surface where a first insulation layer is disposed, a second insulation layer spaced apart from the first insulation layer to form a region therebetween and disposed parallel to the surface of the base where the first insulation layer is disposed, a single conductive layer disposed across the first insulation layer and the second insulation layer, and a semiconductor device bonded to the conductive layer.
US08916954B2
The invention provides a method of forming an electronic device from a lamina that has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is matched or nearly matched to a constructed metal support. In some embodiments the method comprises implanting the top surface of a donor body with an ion dosage to form a cleave plane followed by exfoliating a lamina from the donor body. After exfoliating the lamina, a flexible metal support that has a coefficient of thermal expansion with a value that is within 10% of the value of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the lamina is constructed on the lamina. In some embodiments the coefficients of thermal expansion of the metal support and the lamina are within 10% or within 5% of each other between the temperatures of 100 and 600° C.
US08916948B2
A pyroelectric detector includes a support member, a capacitor and a fixing part. The support member includes a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, with the first side facing a cavity. The capacitor includes a pyroelectric body between a first electrode and a second electrode such that an amount of polarization varies based on a temperature. The capacitor is mounted and supported on the second side of the support member with the first electrode being disposed on the second side of the support member. The fixing part supports the support member, with the cavity being formed between the support member and the fixing part.
US08916943B2
An integrated circuit device includes a first layer comprising at least two partial cavities, an intermediate layer bonded to the first layer, the intermediate layer formed to support at least two Micro-electromechanical System (MEMS) devices, and a second layer bonded to the intermediate layer, the second layer comprising at least two partial cavities to complete the at least two partial cavities of the first layer through the intermediate layer to form at least two sealed full cavities. The at least two full cavities have different pressures within.
US08916924B2
A method for manufacturing semiconductor device is disclosed. A substrate with a plurality of protruding strips formed vertically thereon is provided. A charging trapping layer is formed conformally on the protruding strips. A conductive layer is formed conformally on the charging trapping layer. A thin hard mask is conformally deposited on the conductive layer, wherein a plurality of trenches are formed between the thin hard mask on the protruding strips. A patterned photo resist is formed on the thin hard mask, wherein the patterned photo resist fills into the trenches. The thin hard mask is patterned according to the patterned photo resist to form a patterned hard mask layer and expose a portion of the conductive layer. The conductive layer is patterned for removing the exposed portion of the conductive layer to form a patterned conductive layer and expose a portion of the charging trapping layer.
US08916918B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device including: an active region defined by an element isolation region; a gate trench going across the active region to define source/drain regions on both sides thereof, respectively, and to define, between the source/drain regions, the channel region having a first, second, and third protruding portions which are arranged in a gate width direction; and a gate electrode formed in the gate trench so as to cover the channel region through a gate insulating film.
US08916913B2
The present disclosure discloses a high voltage semiconductor device and the associated methods of manufacturing. In one embodiment, the high voltage semiconductor device comprises: an epitaxial layer, a first low voltage well formed in the epitaxial layer; a second low voltage well formed in the epitaxial layer; a high voltage well formed in the epitaxial layer, wherein the second low voltage well is surrounded by the high voltage well; a first highly doping region formed in the first low voltage well; a second highly doping region and a third highly doping region formed in the second low voltage well, wherein the third highly doping region is adjacent to the second highly doping region; a field oxide formed in the epitaxial layer as a shallow-trench isolation structure; and a gate region formed on the epitaxial layer.
US08916901B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a light emitting unit, a first and second conductive pillar, a sealing unit, and a first and second terminal. The light emitting unit includes a first and second semiconductor layer and a light emitting layer. The light emitting layer is provided on the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is provided on the light emitting layer. The first conductive pillar is provided on the first semiconductor layer. The second conductive pillar is provided on the second semiconductor layer. The sealing unit covers side faces of each of the light emitting unit, the first conductive pillar, and the second conductive pillar. The first terminal is provided on the first conductive pillar and on the sealing unit. The second terminal is provided on the second conductive pillar and on the sealing unit.
US08916898B2
Disclosed are a light emitting diode (LED) package and a method of fabricating the same. The LED package includes a first substrate, a semiconductor stack disposed on a front surface of the first substrate, a second substrate including a first lead electrode and a second lead electrode, a plurality of connectors electrically connecting the semiconductor stack to the first and second lead electrodes, and a wavelength converter covering a rear surface of the first substrate. The semiconductor stack includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.
US08916896B2
Light emitter components and methods having improved performance and related methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a light emitter component can include a submount and at least one light emitting diode (LED) chip disposed over the submount. The submount can contact at least two different sides of the at least one LED chip. In one aspect, a submount can include surface portions adapted to receive portions one or more LED chips. In one aspect, one or more LED chips can be embedded within the submount.
US08916895B2
This invention discloses an infrared light-emitting diode. The infrared light-emitting diode comprises: only one core for emitting infrared light; a packaging body which at least comprises a first surface that is convex and in front of the core and a second surface that is plane and on one side of the core; and leads connected to the core and extending to outside of the packaging body; wherein the infrared light emitted by the core forms at least two beams of infrared light in different directions after being emitted from the packaging body through the first surface and the second surface. With such infrared LED and the touch screen, touch system and interactive display based on the LED, at least two beams of infrared light in different directions can be emitted requiring only one core.
US08916894B2
A light-reflective anisotropic conductive adhesive and light-emitting device capable of maintaining luminous efficiency of a light-emitting element and preventing the occurrence of a crack to obtain conduction reliability are provided. The light-reflective anisotropic conductive adhesive contains a thermosetting resin composite, conductive particles, and a light-reflective acicular insulating particles. These light-reflective acicular insulating particles are inorganic particles of at least one type selected from the group including titanium oxide, zinc oxide, and titanate.
US08916892B2
A light-scattering substrate which can be thinned and has improved thermal resistance, a method of manufacturing the same, an organic light-emitting display device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the organic light-emitting display device are disclosed. The light-scattering substrate includes a light-scattering layer composed of a plurality of metal nanoparticles which are attached to at least a surface of a substrate. The metal nanoparticles are formed by agglomeration of a metal on the substrate, and show a surface plasmon phenomenon.
US08916891B2
A light emitting device includes a first light extraction structure including a reflective layer and a pattern; an ohmic layer on the first light extraction structure; a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the ohmic layer; an active layer on the second conductive type semiconductor layer; and a first conductive type semiconductor layer on the active layer, wherein the pattern has a refractive index that is higher than that of air and lower than that of the second conductive type semiconductor layer.
US08916878B2
A thin film transistor includes a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, an active layer spaced from the gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode spaced from the gate electrode and coupled to the active layer, a gate wiring at a same layer as the gate electrode and coupled to the gate electrode, and first conductive members electrically coupled to, and overlapping, the gate wiring.
US08916870B2
It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor with stable electric characteristics. In a semiconductor device including an inverted staggered thin film transistor whose semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer, a buffer layer is provided over the oxide semiconductor layer. The buffer layer is in contact with a channel formation region of the semiconductor layer and source and drain electrode layers. A film of the buffer layer has resistance distribution. A region provided over the channel formation region of the semiconductor layer has lower electrical conductivity than the channel formation region of the semiconductor layer, and a region in contact with the source and drain electrode layers has higher electrical conductivity than the channel formation region of the semiconductor layer.
US08916866B2
A semiconductor device includes a first gate electrode; a gate insulating layer covering the first gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor layer that overlaps with the first gate electrode; oxide semiconductor layers having high carrier density covering end portions of the oxide semiconductor layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor layers having high carrier density; an insulating layer covering the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the oxide semiconductor layer; and a second gate electrode that is in contact with the insulating layer. Each of the oxide semiconductor layers is in contact with part of each of an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface of one of the end portions of the oxide semiconductor layer and part of an upper surface of the gate insulating layer.
US08916864B2
An organic light-emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, and an organic compound layer interposed between the anode and the cathode. The organic compound layer contains a heterocyclic compound having 4,10-Diazachrysene.
US08916860B2
An organic light-emitting device including: a substrate; a transparent cathode on the substrate; an anode disposed opposite to the cathode; an emission layer between the cathode and the anode; and a first electron transport layer between the cathode and the emission layer and including an imidazole derivative.
US08916859B2
A pixel of an organic light emitting display device includes a transistor, an organic light emitting diode, and a common line. The organic light emitting diode includes a first common layer, an organic light emitting layer disposed on the first common layer, and a second common layer. The common line is disposed between the first common layer and the second common layer to make electrical contact with the first common layer. The common line is supplied with a reference voltage to prevent the organic light emitting diode from generating light by leakage current in the transistor.
US08916856B2
A display with organic electroluminescent elements each having an optical-interference structure includes; a blue-light emitting layer containing a host material and a light emitting material, where lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of a hole-transporting layer is smaller than that of the host material and highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the host material is larger than that of the hole-transporting layer by 0.5 eV or lower; and a film-thickness adjustment layer disposed between a light emitting layer and the hole-transporting layer of a red-light emitting electroluminescent element or a green-light emitting electroluminescent element, where the hole-mobility of the adjustment layer is higher than the carrier-mobility of the light emitting layer of the electroluminescent element having the adjustment layer, and HOMO of the adjustment layer is not higher than that of the hole-transporting layer and not lower than that of the light emitting material in the light emitting layer thereof.
US08916845B2
Memory cells described herein have an increased current density at lateral edges of the active region compared to that of conventional mushroom-type memory cells, resulting in improved operational current efficiency. As a result, the amount of heat generated within the lateral edges per unit value of current is increased relative to that of conventional mushroom-type memory cells. Therefore, the amount of current needed to induce phase change is reduced.
US08916844B2
A container apparatus that is able to contain a radiographic imaging apparatus having a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The container apparatus includes a container portion into which the radiographic imaging apparatus is insertable in a direction perpendicular to a radiation detecting surface of the radiographic imaging apparatus and a protecting member that covers side surfaces of the radiographic imaging apparatus contained in the container portion, the side surfaces of the radiographic imaging apparatus being adjacent to the radiation detecting surface. The container apparatus also includes a holding portion that engages with the radiographic imaging apparatus contained in the container portion in order to hold the radiographic imaging apparatus in the container portion.
US08916842B2
Treatment planning methods are provided that determine the variability of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) along a beam line and calculate, among other things, what intensity of hadron beam such as a proton or a carbon ion beam should be applied to achieve a desired biological dose at treatment site of a patient afflicted with a medical condition. Typically, three or four RBE values at three or four corresponding spacially-dispersed intervals along the beam line are calculated. In one embodiment, two RBE values for the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) region of the treatment site; one for the proximal section and one for the declining distal section is calculated. A third and different RBE value may be determined for the distal edge region of the SOBP. A fourth value may also be calculated for a pre-SOBP region.
US08916838B2
The present invention relates to a particle therapy system that comprises a spot scanning system to irradiate with a particle beam a plurality of spots in a layer of a target with prescribed spot doses for each spot of the layer. The therapy system is further adapted to perform multiple paintings of the layer and to deliver partial spot doses to selected spots of the layer during each painting time so that each spot of the layer will have received its prescribed dose after completion of the multiple paintings. The therapy system further comprises means for setting the partial spot doses and the number of times that a spot will be selected for irradiation in the course of the multiple paintings to such values that any spot of the layer will never have to be irradiated with a partial dose which would fall below a minimum dose deliverable by the system, and this whatever the number chosen for the number of layer paintings.The invention also relates to a corresponding irradiation method.
US08916832B1
The invention provides a method for detecting a moving radiation source, the method comprising placing a plurality of radiation detectors at one or more locations; collecting information of counting rate as a function of time for each detector, computing the Fourier transform of the counting rate function for each detector and extracting from the computed Fourier transform the dynamic component of the detector response for each detector, and computing the convolution of the counting rate functions for combinations of detectors at different locations, then extracting therefrom information concerning the presence of radiation sources moving with respect to the radiation detectors.
US08916831B2
An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) actinic reticle imaging system suitable for discharge produced plasma (DPP) or laser produced plasma (LPP) reticle imaging systems using a thin film coating spectral purity filter (SPF) positioned on or proximate to the EUV imaging sensor; an EUV imaging sensor carrying this SPF; and methods for making and using the SPF for reticle inspection. The coating may be applied to the imaging sensor in any manner suitable for the particular coating selected. The coating may be composed of a single layer or multiple layers. Typical SPF coating materials include zirconium (Zr) and silicon-zirconium (Si/Zr) in a thickness between 10 nm and 100 nm.
US08916826B2
A diode sensor matrix including a multitude of diodes is configured to detect, in a first measuring cycle, a first sensor value at a first diode or at diodes of a first group of diodes while operating the first diode and/or the diodes of the first group in the flow direction and operating the diodes, which share an anode or cathode or terminal with the first diode or with any of the diodes of the first group, in the reverse direction, and to detect, in a second measuring cycle, a second sensor value at a second diode among the diodes which share an anode or cathode terminal with the first diode or with any of the diodes of the first group, while operating the second diode in the flow direction and operating the first diode or a diode from the first group in the reverse direction.
US08916824B2
A pyroelectric light detector has a base unit, a support member, and a plurality of pyroelectric capacitors containing pyroelectric bodies. The support member includes a first surface and a second surface facing opposite the first surface, and has a hollow space section formed between the second surface and the base unit. The plurality of pyroelectric capacitors are supported by the support member. The plurality of pyroelectric capacitors supported by the support member are electrically connected in series in a direction matching the polarization direction. The position of the projection point for which the center of gravity of the light absorption region corresponding to the pyroelectric capacitor is projected two dimensionally with a plan view can be made to exist inside the region in which the contour line of the pyroelectric body of the pyroelectric capacitor is projected two dimensionally.
US08916817B2
Methods are described for measuring the amount of a vitamin B2 in a sample. More specifically, mass spectrometric methods are described for detecting and quantifying vitamin B2 in a sample utilizing on-line extraction methods coupled with tandem mass spectrometric techniques.
US08916816B2
An example system for downhole measurement disclosed herein comprises a tool to be positioned downhole in a formation, the tool comprising an imaging system to determine measurement information from imaging information obtained by sensing light, and an illumination system to control source light to be emitted by the tool. The system also comprises an optical cable to sense an optical field of view that is remote from the tool, the optical cable including an optical fiber bundle comprising a bundle of imaging fibers to convey the imaging information from a sensing end of the optical cable to the imaging system, and a plurality of illumination fibers positioned outside the bundle of imaging fibers, the illumination fibers to convey the source light from the tool to the sensing end of the cable, the illumination fibers to emit the source light to illuminate the optical field of view.
US08916809B2
A method is provided for optically providing at least one of power and data to a projectile from an external optical source. The method including: outputting an optical signal from an external optical source into an interior of the projectile; receiving the optical signal in the interior of projectile and at least one of converting the optical signal to electrical energy and storing data provided in the optical signal. The electrical energy can be provided to the one or more electronic components and/or energy storage medium disposed on the interior of the projectile. The data provided in the optical signal can be provided to a data storage medium disposed on the interior of the projectile.
US08916805B2
The present invention provides a heating glass including a glass; a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer formed on one surface of the glass; and a thermal conductive pattern formed on the transparent conductive oxide layer, and a method of manufacturing the same.
US08916796B2
An apparatus for forming a pattern of a nanoparticle-based ink on a substrate has a printing apparatus that is energizable to deposit the nanoparticle-based ink in a pattern on a surface of the substrate. An illumination apparatus is energizable to direct a patterned illumination to cure the deposited ink pattern on the substrate, the illumination apparatus having an array having at least a first and a second laser diode, each laser diode coupled to a channel in a laser light coupling element through an optical fiber and having an illumination lens disposed to direct illumination from the coupling element onto the surface of the substrate. A transport apparatus is energizable to provide relative motion between the substrate and the illumination apparatus.
US08916781B2
An interconnection component includes an element with an opening, a plurality of conductors electrically insulted from one another extending through the opening, and a plurality of second contacts electrically insulated from one another. The element is comprised of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 10 parts per million per degree Celsius. At least some of the conductors extend along at least one inner surface of the opening. The conductors define a plurality of wettable first contacts at the first surface. The first contacts are at least partially aligned with the opening in a direction of the thickness and electrically insulated from one another.
US08916780B2
A Z-directed signal delay line component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection to internal conductive planes contained with the PCB. In one embodiment the Z-directed delay line component is housed within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The delay line embodiments include a W-like line and a plurality of spaced apart, semi-circular line segment connected such that current flow direction alternates in direction between adjacent semi-circular line segments, each of which in other embodiments can be varied by use of shorting bars. Several Z-directed delay line components may be mounted into a PCB and serially connected to provide for longer delays. The body may contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body.
US08916766B2
A solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure is described. The solar concentrator and photoelectric conversion structure includes a glass concentrator and at least one photoelectric conversion layer. The glass concentrator forms a light incident surface and a plane. The plane includes a plurality of concentrating elements. Each concentrating element includes a hollow taper and a hollow pillar. The hollow taper includes a first opening. The hollow pillar includes a second opening and a third opening on opposite sides, in which the second opening is correspondingly connected to the first opening. The photoelectric conversion layer deposited onto inner side surfaces of the hollow tapers and the hollow pillars of the concentrating elements. The photoelectric conversion layer includes at least one p-type material and at least one n-type material.
US08916765B2
A low cost design for a concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar cell device is developed with a 3-D solar cell structure that eliminates the need for sun-ray tracking and with improved electricity conversion efficiency for cooling solar cells. The 3-D solar cell structure can be built with conventional monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon or with multi-junction III-V solar material, joining two or more solar cell segments perpendicular to a base solar cell. This structure is able to collect all incident sunlight from sunrise to sunset.
US08916764B2
An output ripple voltage average amplitude of a switch mode DC-DC converter is dynamically maintained. The converter has a switch and an output filter. By varying a switching period (TPERIOD) of the switch, VRIPPLE is maintained at a substantially constant value over a first range of converter input voltages and a second range of switch duty cycles. Where the output filter includes an inductor having inductance (L) and a capacitor having capacitance (C) the average amplitude of VRIPPLE is dynamically maintained by varying TPERIOD with respect to switch duty cycle (D) and input voltage (VIN) so as to approximately satisfy the following relationship: TPERIOD=(VRIPPLE*8*L*C)0.5/(VIN*(D−D2)).5.
US08916762B2
For each one note or for each plurality of notes constituting a reference tone, a segment setting section segments a time series of actual pitches of the reference tone into one or more note segments. For each of the one or more note segments, a relativization section creates a time series of relative pitches that are relative values of individual ones of the actual pitches of the reference tone to a normal pitch of the note of the note segment. Information registration section stores, into a storage device, relative pitch information comprising the time series of relative pitches of each individual one of the note segments. The segment setting section may use musical score data, time-serially designating the notes of the reference tone, to set each of the note segments for each note designated by the musical score data, and may correct at least one of start and end points of each of the set note segments in response to user's operation.
US08916759B2
An acoustic drum 10 has a hollow cylindrical shell 11, a drumhead 12 mounted to an opening end of the shell 11 to form a striking surface, a striking surface attachment 13a provided on the entire surface of a useful movable portion of the front side of the drumhead 12, and a striking surface attachment 13b provided on the entire surface of a useful movable portion of the reverse side of the drumhead 12. Each of the striking surface attachments 13a and 13b is formed of a resin film, with respective outer areas of the striking surface attachments 13a and 13b being fixed to the drumhead 12. As a result, the acoustic drum 10 can reduce sound volume, while maintaining struck sounds having brightness and providing a player with favorable feeling of striking.
US08916751B2
The subject invention relates in part to the control of AAD-12 and/or AAD-13 dicot volunteers in fields planted with monocot crops such as corn. The dicots can include soybeans and cotton.
US08916748B2
This invention relates generally to nucleic acid sequences encoding proteins that are related to the presence of seed storage compounds in plants. More specifically, the present invention relates to Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus, Glycine max and Oryza sativa nucleic acid sequences encoding sugar and lipid metabolism regulator proteins and the use of these sequences in transgenic plants. In particular, the invention is directed to methods for manipulating sugar-related compounds and for increasing oil level and altering the fatty acid composition in plants and seeds. The invention further relates to methods of using these novel plant polypeptides to stimulate plant growth and/or to increase yield and/or composition of seed storage compounds.
US08916739B2
Methods and apparatuses for preparing normal paraffins and hydrocarbon product streams are provided herein. A method of preparing normal paraffins includes providing an unsaturated feed that includes an unsaturated compound that has at least one alkenyl group. The unsaturated feed is epoxidized to convert the at least one alkenyl group in the unsaturated compound to an epoxide functional group, thereby converting the unsaturated compound to an epoxide compound that has at least one epoxide functional group. The at least one epoxide functional group in the epoxide compound is converted to at least one secondary hydroxyl functional group, thereby converting the epoxide compound to a hydroxyl-functional compound that has at least one hydroxyl functional group. The hydroxyl-functional compound is deoxygenated to form normal paraffins.
US08916737B2
Process for performing an endothermic reaction in a reactor containing catalyst tubes, the catalyst tubes containing a catalyst promoting the endothermic reaction, the process comprising the steps of, a. contacting the catalyst contained in the catalyst tubes with a feed flow passing through the channels from an entrance end to an exit end, b. contacting an outer surface of the catalyst tubes with a flow of a heating medium having an initial heating temperature and flowing co-currently with the flow of feeds to heat the surface by convection, c. mixing at least part of the heating medium after having been contacted with the catalyst tubes with a flow of fresh heating medium having a start temperature higher than the initial heating temperature to form the co-current heating medium having the initial heating temperature and reactor for carrying out the process.
US08916733B2
A process for making 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane. The process has the step of contacting 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of a catalyst having about 25 to about 99.9 mole percent antimony pentachloride and about 0.1 to about 75 mole percent of a metal of a Lewis acid under conditions sufficient to form the 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane. There is a second process for making 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane. The process has the step of hydrofluorinating about 75 to about 99.9 mole percent 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and about 0.1 to about 25 mole percent of one or more other hydrocarbons having at least one chlorine atom in the presence of a catalyst of fluorinated antimony pentachloride under conditions sufficient to form the 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane. There is yet another process for hydrofluorinating 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene to 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane. The process has the step of contacting the 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene with hydrogen fluoride in the presence of a vapor phase catalyst under conditions sufficient to form the 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane.
US08916731B2
A dialkyl or diaryl ether is produced by reacting carbon dioxide with a metal alcoholate having the formula, M(RO)x, where “M” is a Group 1, Group 2, or Group 3 metal; “x” is the valence of the metal M; “R” is a C1 to C6 lower alkyl or aryl, wherein the reaction produces a dialkyl or diaryl ether having a formula, R—O—R, and a metal carbonate having a formula M2CO3 where M is a Group 1 metal, MCO3 where M is a Group 2 metal, and M2(CO3)3 where M is a Group 3 metal. The metal carbonate may be removed by conventional means, such as filtration. The dialkyl or diaryl ether may be recovered and used as a fuel, fuel additive, propellant, or building block for other fuels or petrochemicals. In some cases the metal alcoholate is in an alcohol solution and the alcohol and metal carbonate are recycled to regenerate the metal alcoholate. A specific example of dimethyl ether production is disclosed.
US08916728B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing alkylalkanolamines, comprising the reaction of a carbonyl-based compound with a hydroxylalkylamine, in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst.
US08916725B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing isocyanates by reacting the corresponding amines with phosgene in the gas phase, if appropriate in the presence of an inert medium, in which the amine and the phosgene are first mixed and converted to the isocyanate in a reactor, by cooling a reaction gas which comprises isocyanate and hydrogen chloride and leaves the reactor in a quench by adding a liquid quench medium to obtain a mixture of reaction gas and quench medium. The amount of quench medium added is such that the temperature of the mixture of reaction gas and quench medium which is established in the quench is above the dew point of the gas present in the quench.
US08916720B2
Disclosed is a process for producing a dry, purified carboxylic acid product comprising furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Also disclosed is a method for treating an oxidation off-gas stream from such a process. The method features solvent as well as energy recovery from the off-gas stream.
US08916719B2
Disclosed is a process for producing a dry, purified carboxylic acid product comprising furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Also disclosed is a method for treating an oxidation off-gas stream from such a process. The method features solvent as well as energy recovery from the off-gas stream.
US08916718B2
The present invention relates to a compound having a 2-fluorophenyloxymethane structure and useful for organic electronic materials and medical and agricultural chemicals, particularly materials for liquid crystal display elements.A problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a compound having relatively large Δ∈, relatively high T→i, low viscosity (η), and high miscibility with other liquid crystal compounds, and also provide a liquid crystal composition containing the compound as a constituent component.The present invention provides a compound having a 2-fluorophenyloxymethane structure and also provides a liquid crystal composition containing the compound and a liquid crystal display device using the liquid crystal composition.
US08916710B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing tetrazole-substituted anthranilic acid diamide derivatives of the formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4, Q and Z have the meanings given in the description, by reacting pyrazole acids with anthranilic esters.
US08916708B2
Compounds of formula (I) are p38 MAPK inhibitors, useful as anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of, inter alia, diseases of the respiratory wherein R1 is a radical of formula (IA) or (IB) or (IC): 10 Y is —O— or —S(O)p—wherein p is 0, 1 or 2; A is an optionally substituted cycloalkylene radical having 5, 6 or 7 ring atoms fused to a phenyl ring; and R2, R3b and R4b are as defined in the claims.
US08916707B2
The present invention provides a process for preparing an oxycodone acid adduct, said process comprising hydrogenating an aqueous solution of 14-hydroxycodeinone and an acid to form a solution of the oxycodone acid adduct, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out at one or more temperatures greater than ambient temperature in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogen gas, wherein the solution of oxycodone acid adduct comprises 6α-oxycodol in an amount ≦about 0.800 area % as determined by HPLC.
US08916696B2
An aptamer-mRNA conjugate is provided. The aptamer-mRNA conjugate may include an aptamer component that binds a membrane associated protein on a target cell and an mRNA component that is expressed by the target cell.
US08916688B2
The invention relates to an insecticidal protein, its gene encoding and the uses thereof. The protein comprises: (a) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO:2 or a sequence of amino acid residuses at positions 1 to 640 thereof; or (b) a protein derived from (a) by substitution, deletion, or addition of one or more amino acid residuses of the amino acid sequences in (a), and having insecticidal activity; or (c) a protein generated by the expression of nucleic acid molecules containing a sequence of amino acid residuses at the positions 1 to 1920 of SEQ ID NO:1; or (d) a protein generated by the expression of nucleic acid molecules containing a complementary sequence that hybridized with the sequence of nucleotides at the positions 1 to 1920 of SEQ ID NO:1 under stringent conditions. The protein has high expression level and strong toxicity against pests.
US08916685B2
The present invention relates to a fusion protein comprising small heat shock protein, a cage protein formed thereby, and novel use thereof, more particularly, a fusion protein comprising a small heat shock protein, a recognition site of a protease, and a histidine polymer, wherein the recognition site and the histidine polymer are sequentially linked to a carboxyl terminal of the small heat shock protein, a cage protein formed thereby, and novel use thereof. The fusion protein of the present invention, and a cage protein formed by the self-assembly properties of the fusion protein are not cytotoxic, and emits a fluorescence signal of about 20 to about 50 times higher comparing to a single peptide for the conventional molecular imaging, per unit protein. Additionally, cell permeability is very excellent, thereby to be effectively used as a biosensor or a bioactive material carrier.
US08916684B2
A mutant Escherichia coli β-barrel monomeric protein pore bioengineered to remove a lumen-occluding domain and modify some of its extracellular domains. The modified protein, FhuA Δ/CΔ4L, forms a highly conductive pore as compared to other known pores and is capable of sensing large polypeptides and discriminating between modified protein analytes.
US08916682B2
There is provided a lipid peptide that is capable of forming a hydrogel with an extremely small amount thereof over a liquid property range from acidic to alkaline, and a hydrogel having high environmental suitability, biocompatibility and biodegradability. A lipid peptide represented by Formula (1): (where R1 represents an aliphatic group having 9 to 23 carbon atoms; R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 7 carbon atom(s) which optionally has a branched chain having 1 to 3 carbon atom(s), a phenylmethyl group, a phenylethyl group or a —(CH2)n—X group, and at least one of R2, R3, R4 and R5 represents a —(CH2)n—X group; n represents the number of 1 to 4; X represents an amino group, a guanidine group, a —CONH2 group or a 5-membered ring, a 6-membered ring or a fused heterocyclic ring composed of a 5-membered ring and a 6-membered ring which optionally have 1 to 3 nitrogen atom(s); and in represents 1 or 2), and a hydrogel comprising the lipid peptide.
US08916678B2
To provide: a monomer having a polyalkylene glycol chain preferably used in various industrial applications such as detergent builder compositions for clothes and bodies, water-treatment agents, and pigment dispersants; and a polyalkylene glycol polymer using such a monomer as a raw material. A polyalkylene glycol monomer having a polymerizable double bond and a polyalkylene glycol chain, wherein the polyalkylene glycol monomer has a hydrophobic part in the polyalkylene glycol chain and/or at a terminal of the chain, and the polymerizable double bond is derived from allyl glycidyl ether, and a polyalkylene glycol monomer having a monomer unit derived from the above-mentioned polyalkylene glycol monomer, wherein the polyalkylene glycol polymer is a polyalkylene glycol polymer having a carboxylic acid group and/or a sulfonic acid group.
US08916668B2
The invention provides protein adhesives and methods of making and using such adhesives. The protein adhesives contain ground plant meal or an isolated polypeptide composition obtained from plant biomass.
US08916666B2
The present invention relates to hexafluoropropylene oxide polymer composition and a process of preparing of hexafluoropropylene oxide polymer by an anionic polymerization, and in particular the hexafluoropropylene oxide polymer composition comprises an anionic initiator, a polar solvent, hexafluoropropylene and hexafluoropropylene oxide. The hexafluoropropylene oxide polymer is prepared under particular reaction conditions by using the composition, hexafluoropropylene oxide polymer prepared by using the composition according to a preparation process herein has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 1,500-4,000 at −10-20° C.
US08916664B2
An ethylene oligomerization catalyst that oligmerizes ethylene to a series of α-olefins and that has a Schulz-Flory constant of about 0.75 to 0.995 produces a stream of α-olefins. This stream is then added to a vessel containing ethylene and a copolymerization catalyst that copolymerizes ethylene and α-olefins. The resulting branched polyethylene often has good processing properties. The good processing is presumably due to the presence of “long chain branching”. Such polymers are useful for films and other packaging materials, and for molding resins for molding parts such as industrial, automotive or electrical parts.
US08916653B2
A curable composition and use thereof are provided. The exemplary curable composition can show excellent processability and workability. Also, the curable composition can have a high refractive index before or after curing. The composition has low moisture permeability before or after curing and shows excellent crack resistance, thermal shock resistance, adhesive property and hardness. In addition, the composition does not cause color change such as whitening under a high-temperature or high-humidity condition, and does not exhibit stickiness on a surface thereof. The curable composition may be used as an adhesive material or as an encapsulation material for semiconductor devices such as an LED, a CCD, a photo coupler, or a photovoltaic cell.
US08916652B2
The invention describes families of compounds that utilize multihydroxyl phenyl groups to provide adhesive properties. Selection of the multihydroxy phenyl group along with linkers or linking groups and the linkages between the linkers or linking groups with polyalkylene oxides, provides materials that can be engineered to afford controllable curing time, biodegradation and/or swelling.
US08916649B2
The present invention relates to a process of producing an ethylene polymer composition in multiple stages, of which the first stage is preferably a slurry polymerization stage, in the presence of a catalyst system, comprising: a) a solid catalyst precursor, comprising a transition metal selected from titanium and vanadium; magnesium; a halide, optionally an electron donor; and a solid particulate material comprising an inorganic oxide, and wherein the median particle diameter, D50, of the solid catalyst precursor, based upon the total volume of solid catalyst precursor, is from 1 to 13 micrometers; and b) an organoaluminium compound.
US08916645B2
The HBP Free-POSS compounds of Formula I are superior to prior HB polymers and linear polymers in space and electronic applications because they have better resistance to electrons, protons and atomic oxygen, have superior out-gassing performance, and are transparent. They are used as coatings, films, adhesives, sealants and elastomers.
US08916644B2
[Object] To provide a polypropylene resin composition for use in the formation of a microporous membrane having excellent heat resistance and strength.[Solution] A polypropylene resin composition for use in the formation of a microporous membrane according to the present invention comprises as an essential component an ultra-high-molecular-weight propylene homopolymer (A) that satisfies the following requirements (1) to (4): (1) the intrinsic viscosity [η] is 7 dl/g or more and less than 25 dl/g; (2) the mesopentad fraction ranges from 90.0% to 99.5%; (3) the melting point ranges from 153° C. to 167° C.; and (4) in an elution temperature-elution volume curve measured by temperature-rising elution fractionation (TREF), the maximum peak has a peak top temperature in the range of 116° C. to 125° C. and a half-width of 7.0° C. or less.
US08916643B2
A water- and oil-repellent includes, as an active ingredient, a fluorine-containing copolymer including as a copolymer unit (A) at least one of perfluoroalkylalkyl acrylates and corresponding methacrylates, (B) benzyl acrylate or benzyl methacrylate represented by the general formula: CnF2n+1CmH2mOCOCR═CH2 (wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; n represents 4, 5, or 6; and m represents 1, 2, 3, or 4), (C) a fluorine-free polymerizable monomer other than benzyl acrylate and benzyl methacrylate, and (D) a cross-linkable group-containing polymerizable monomer.
US08916639B2
A paint composition contains polyurethane paint and nano silicon dioxide. The weight percentage of the nano silicon dioxide in the paint composition is about 2% to about 10%. The surface of the nano silicon dioxide chemically bonds with a silane coupling agent having amino function groups or an aluminate coupling agent having amino function groups.
US08916638B2
Clay aerogel polymer composites, formed from various types of clay and (co)polymers, which are relatively low density materials having myriad applications. Numerous methods for preparing the clay aerogel polymer composites are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the clay aerogel polymer composites are formed using a freeze-drying process. Structures and compositions including the clay aerogel polymer composites are also described. In a preferred embodiment, the clay aerogel polymer composites are derived from a clay, polymer and binder component that provides the composite with increased toughness and durability. Ceramic structures derived from the composites are also described.
US08916633B2
A film is used as a TAB leader tape. The film comprises 45 parts by mass or more of a polyphenylene ether-based resin and 55 parts by mass or less of at least one component selected from a thermoplastic resin and a plasticizer based on 100 parts by mass of the film. The film optionally includes inorganic filler and other additional components.
US08916622B2
A heat-curable composition comprises—from 25 to 65% by weight of a mixture of epoxy-functional monomers, said mixture consisting of at least one polyfunctional epoxy monomer selected from monomers comprising from 4 to 8 glycidyl groups and/or cycloaliphatic epoxy groups, and at least one bi- or tri-functional epoxy monomer selected from monomers comprising two or three glycidyl groups and/or cycloaliphatic epoxy groups, —from 25 to 70% by weight of at least one organic solvent selected from glycol monoethers, —from 2.5 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of epoxyfunctional monomers (a) and (b), of at least one blocked strong acid catalyst, said heat-curable composition not containing any non-epoxyfunctional monomers, in particular not containing any acrylic, methacrylic or silane monomers.
US08916619B2
A porosity is freely controlled in preparation of a porous polymer film by a phase separation method. A solvent absorption sheet is used for a solvent in a polymer solution so that the coating film of the polymer solution may be covered with the sheet. After that, the solvent in the film is selectively removed. Then, the resultant is immersed in a poor solvent. Thus, a porous polymer film can be produced.
US08916618B2
The invention is directed to a method for recycling an organic-matrix composite material. The organic-matrix composite material comprises a first component comprising at least one organic matrix polymer and at least one solid second component being compatible with said first component and being structurally different from said first component, wherein said at least one organic polymer has thermosetting properties at room temperature and wherein said polymer comprises thermally reversible cross-links The method of the invention comprises —heating the organic-matrix composite material to a temperature at which at least part of the thermally reversible cross-links cleave and at which temperature the first component as a viscosity of at most 500 Pa·s, as measured by oscillatory measurements on an Anton Paar MCR 301 rheometer using parallel plate geometry; and —separating the at least part of said first component from said second component.
US08916617B2
Method and apparatus for reducing CO2 in a stream by conversion to a syngas for production of energy
A system and method for producing Syngas from the CO2 in a gaseous stream, such as an exhaust stream, from a power plant or industrial plant, like a cement kiln, is disclosed. A preferred embodiment includes providing the gaseous stream to pyrolysis reactor along with a carbon source such as coke. The CO2 and carbon are heated to about 1330° C. and at about one atmosphere with reactants such as steam such that a reaction takes place that produces Syngas, carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2). The Syngas is then cleaned and provided to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor to produce Ethanol or Bio-catalytic synthesis reactor.
US08916616B2
Multifunctional polymers are disclosed having a smart segment and a biodegradable segment. Advantageously, the biodegradable segment includes a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment. Embodiments include combining the multifunctional polymeric material with a biologically active substance in an aqueous loading environment and administering the composition as a drug delivery vehicle to a human subject.
US08916615B2
Disclosed is a dual-transition polymeric hydrogel. Also, provided is the use of the dual-transition polymeric hydrogel as a carrier for drug delivery and disease diagnosis, or in the preparation of a polymeric hydrogel-type pharmaceutical composition comprising the physiologically active agent loadable into the block copolymer. Being sensitive to pH as well as temperature, the block copolymer can form a more stable hydrogel at suitable temperatures and pH values. In addition, the block copolymer exhibits a dual transition behavior with pH values so that it can carry ionic drugs, proteins, DNA, and markers, whether positively or negatively charged, simultaneously. Therefore, it can be applied to a sustained drug delivery system for sparingly soluble, hydrophobic drugs, and hydrophilic drugs. Further, it is safe to and stable within the body, and is expected to find various applications in the medical field.
US08916611B2
The invention provides a method for alleviating discogenic pain by administering a therapeutic agent that disrupts neuronal and/or vascular elements in the disc, which is typically a degenerated disc. Disruption of neuronal elements in the disk includes destroying nerve endings without substantially affecting the central body of the nerve, suppressing activation of the nerve endings, and inhibiting the growth of nerve endings into the disk. Disruption of vascular elements includes causing the vascular extensions to retract from the disk, or suppressing the formation of such extensions. The therapeutic agent may be administered locally via an interbody pump, a bolus or a depot, or may be administered systemically.
US08916610B2
An acid addition salt of a nortriptyline-GABA conjugate, a novel crystalline form of a fumaric acid addition salt of a nortriptyline-GABA conjugate, and processes of preparing the forgoing are disclosed. Uses of the above-indicated forms of a nortriptyline-GABA conjugate in the treatment of CNS disorders, and in the treatment of pain in particular, are also disclosed. Further disclosed in a large-scale process of preparing a nortriptyline-GABA conjugate.
US08916609B2
A method of preventing or inhibiting L-cystine crystallization is disclosed, using the compounds of formula I: R1a—[O]v-(-A-L-)m-A-[O]v—R1b I, wherein A, L, R1a, R1b, m, and v are as described herein. The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of conditions that are causally related to L-cystine crystallization, such as comprising (but not limited to) kidney stones.
US08916603B2
The present invention concerns the use of methods for evaluating bucindolol treatment for a patient, particularly one with heart failure. It concerns methods for determining whether to administer or prescribe bucindolol to a patient based on whether the patient is homozygous for the Arg 389 polymorphism in the β1-adrenergic receptor (AR).
US08916592B2
Compounds of formula I wherein X is O or S(═O)n; n is 0, 1 or 2; R1 is optionally substituted alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, cycloalkyl, halocycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halocycloalkenyl, phenyl, hetaryl, phenylalkyl, hetaryl alkyl, optionally fused to phenyl, hetaryl or heterocyclyl; A is —NRb2, —C(=G)GRb, —C(=G)NRb2, —C(═NORb)Rb, C(=G)[N═SRb2], —C(=G)NRb—NRb2, C2-C6-alkandiyl, C2-C6-alkenediyl, C1-C3-alkyl-G-C1-C3-alkyl, wherein Rb is as defined in the description, or optionally substituted phenyl, hetaryl, heterocyclyl, optionally fused to phenyl or heterocyclyl; B is an optionally substituted saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbon chain with 1 to 3 carbon chain atoms; D is an optionally substituted saturated or partially unsaturated hydrocarbon chain with 1 to 5 carbon chain atoms or C3-C6-cycloalkyl; G is oxygen or sulfur; or the enantiomers or diastereomers or salts or N-oxides thereof, processes for preparing the compounds I, pesticidal compositions and synergistic mixtures comprising compounds I, methods for the control of insects, acarids or nematodes by contacting the pests or their food supply, habitat or breeding grounds with a pesticidally effective amount of compounds formula I, and a method for treating, controlling, preventing or protecting animals against infestation or infection by parasites which comprises orally, topically or parenterally administering or applying to the animals a parasiticidally effective amount of compounds of formula I.
US08916591B2
Compounds of formula (I) have checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) inhibitory activity: wherein R1, R2, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, hydroxymethyl, methoxy, trifluoromethoxy, methylamino and dimethylamino; R3, and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-C3 alkyl, fluoro-(C1-C3)-alkyl, hydroxy-(C1C3)-alkyl, C1-C3 alkoxy, fluoro-(C1-C3)-alkoxy, hydroxy-(C1-C3)-alkoxy, -AIk-N(R11)—R12, -0-AIk-N(R11)—R12, —C(═O)OH, carboxy-(C1-C3)-alkyl, or —C(═O)—NH—R13; AIk is a straight or branched chain divalent C1-C6 alkylene radical; R7 and R8 are independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxy, or C1-C3 alkoxy; X is a straight chain divalent C1-C3 alkylene radical, optionally substituted on one or more carbons by R9 and/or R10; W is selected from —C(═O)—N(—R16)— or —N(—R17)—C(═O)—; Y is hydrogen, C1-C3 alkyl, C1-C3 alkoxy, or halo; and Q is selected from optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted cyclohexyl, or an optionally substituted 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring.
US08916589B2
The present invention relates to compounds of general formula I wherein n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are defined as stated hereinafter, the enantiomers, the diastereomers, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with organic or inorganic acids or bases, which have valuable properties, the preparation thereof, the pharmaceutical compositions containing the pharmacologically effective compounds, the preparation thereof and the use thereof.
US08916587B1
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a drug substance consisting essentially of a pharmaceutically acceptable organic acid addition salt of an amine containing pharmaceutically active compound wherein the amine containing pharmaceutical active compound is selected from the group consisting of racemic or single isomer ritalinic acid or phenethylamine derivatives and the drug substance has a physical form selected from amorphous and polymorphic.
US08916584B2
Benzisoxazole and azabenzisoxazole compounds which are useful as allosteric potentiators/positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4); synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of using the compounds, for example, in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders or other disease state associated with glutamate dysfunction.
US08916578B2
Pyrimidine compounds and their use in controlling pests such as insects and other invertebrates are provided. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects and benefits shall become apparent from the description.
US08916576B2
The present invention relates to inhibitors of ROCK1 and ROCK2 and methods of modulating the pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic properties of such compounds. Also provided are methods of inhibiting ROCK1 and or ROCK2 that are useful for the treatment of disease.
US08916574B2
The present invention relates to 4-(substituted anilino)-quinazoline derivatives as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Specifically, compounds of formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof are disclosed, in which each substitutent in formula I is defined in the description. Preparation method of the compounds of formula I, pharmaceutical compositions and pharmaceutical uses thereof are also disclosed. The compounds of formula I are effective tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
US08916572B2
Novel bis-quinazoline derivatives as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, synthesis of these compounds, and novel methods for treating tyrosine kinase mediated diseases or disorders using these compounds are disclosed. In particular, the present invention provides tethered quinazoline derivative dimers as inhibitors to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and their therapeutic uses for treating EGFR kinase-mediated diseases or disorders, such as various cancers, as well as synthetic methods for preparing these novel compounds.
US08916571B2
The invention relates to the treatment of cancer using an inhibitor of 5′-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP). The invention particularly relates to the treatment of prostate cancer and head and neck cancer.
US08916566B2
The present invention provides a compound which has the effect of PDE inhibition, and which is useful as a medicament for preventing or treating schizophrenia or so on.A compound of formula (I0): wherein R1 represents a substituent, R2 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent, R3 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituent, Ring A represents an aromatic ring which can be substituted, and Ring B represents a 5-membered heteroaromatic ring which can be substituted, or a salt thereof.
US08916564B2
Substituted pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazines for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neurological disorders
Compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds are disclosed, wherein the compounds have the structure of Formula I as defined in the specification. Corresponding pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treatment, methods of synthesis, and intermediates are also disclosed.
US08916561B2
Disclosed herein are substituted quinoxaline of Formula (I): and compositions thereof, which may be useful as inhibitors of PAS Kinase (PASK) activity in a human or animal for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes mellitus.
US08916558B2
This invention relates to powders for reconstitution comprising the NNRTI TMC278 dispersed in certain water-soluble polymers, which can be used in the treatment of HIV infection.
US08916557B2
The present invention relates to substituted 4-Aryl-N-phenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-amines of general formula (I) as described and defined herein, and methods for their preparation, their use for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of disorders, in particular of hyper-proliferative disorders and/or virally induced infectious diseases and/or of cardiovascular diseases. The invention further relates to intermediate compounds useful in the preparation of said compounds of general formula (I).
US08916555B2
Provided herein are 3,5-diaminopyrazoles, for example, compounds of Formula IA, that are useful for modulating regulated-in-COPD kinase activity, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods of their use for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a RC kinase-mediated disorder, disease, or condition.
US08916553B2
Disclosed are sulfonamide compounds of Formula (I): or stereoisomers, N-oxides, prodrugs, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein ring A, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds in the treatment of conditions related to CYP17 enzyme, such as cancer, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds.
US08916552B2
The invention provides combinations comprising (or consisting essentially of) one or more ancillary compound(s) and a compound of the formula (I): or salts, tautomers, solvates and N-oxides thereof; wherein R1 is hydroxy or hydrogen; R2 is hydroxy; methoxy or hydrogen; provided that at least one of R1 and R2 is hydroxy; R3 is selected from hydrogen; halogen; cyano; optionally substituted C1-5 hydrocarbyl and optionally substituted C1-5 hydrocarbyloxy; R4 is selected from hydrogen; a group —(O)n—R7 where n is 0 or 1 and R7 is an optionally substituted acyclic C1-5 hydrocarbyl group or a monocyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic group having 3 to 7 ring members; halogen; cyano; hydroxy; amino; and optionally substituted mono- or di-C1-5 hydrocarbyl-amino; or R3 and R4 together form a monocyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring of 5 to 7 ring members; and NR5R6 forms an optionally substituted bicyclic heterocyclic group having 8 to 12 ring members of which up to 5 ring members are heteroatoms selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur. The combinations have activity as Hsp90 and/or glycogen synthase kinase-3 and/or cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors.
US08916546B2
The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for the prevention and treatment of disease conditions associated with oxidative stress or a compromised reducing environment, including inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Another aspect of the subject invention concerns compositions formulated for administration as an enema. The subject invention also concerns compositions formulated for oral administration. Methods of the invention include administration of compounds or compositions of the invention. In one embodiment, compounds or compositions of the invention are rectally instilled in a patient. In another embodiment, compounds or compositions are orally administered.
US08916544B2
Described herein are fatty acid carbohydrate-hydroxyl-hybrid compounds and derivatives thereof, and methods of treating or preventing disease and disease symptoms using the compounds and compositions thereof.
US08916534B2
The present invention provides a method of inducing insulin production in a cell by up-regulating a target gene involved in insulin production in said cell using an saRNA (short activating ribonucleic acid) which specifically down-regulates a target antisense RNA transcript present in said cell, wherein (i) said target RNA transcript is complementary to a sequence located on the coding strand of the target gene between 1000 nucleotides upstream and 1000 nucleotides downstream of the transcription start site of the target gene; and (ii) said sRNA is a single or double stranded RNA molecule up to 30 nucleotides in length comprising a sequence of at least 13 nucleotides which has at least 95% complementarity to a region of the target transcript. Also provided are certain saRNA molecules and uses thereof, particular medical uses, and induced cells and uses thereof.
US08916532B2
This invention provides a method for enhancing utrophin protein production in a cell by inhibiting an utrophin microRNA molecule. Moreover, the invention provides that methods for enhancing utrophin protein production in a muscle cell are used for treating a muscular dystrophy and/or other myopathies.
US08916531B2
Disclosed herein are antisense compounds and methods for decreasing CD40. Examples of disease conditions that can be ameliorated with the administration of antisense compounds targeted to CD40 include hyperproliferative disorders, graft versus host disease (GVHD), graft rejection, asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and certain forms of arthritis.
US08916530B2
In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating cancer, comprising: (a) obtaining a specimen of cancer tissue and normal tissue from a patient; (b) extracting total protein and RNA from the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (c) obtaining a protein expression profile of the cancer tissue and normal tissue; (d) identifying over-expressed proteins in the cancer tissue; (e) comparing the protein expression profile to a gene expression profile; (f) identifying at least one prioritized protein target by assessing connectivity of each said over-expressed protein to other cancer-related or stimulatory proteins; (g) designing a first RNA interference expression cassette to modulate the expression of at least one gene encoding the prioritized target protein; (h): designing a first RNA interference expression cassette to modulate the expression of at least one gene encoding a protein of higher priority in the signaling pathway in which the first protein is a component; (i) incorporating the first cassette into a first delivery vehicle; (j) providing a patient with an effective amount of the first delivery vehicle; (k) extracting total protein and RNA from the treated cancer tissue; (l) identifying over-expressed proteins in the treated cancer tissue; (m) designing a second RNA interference expression cassette to modulate the expression of a second prioritized protein in the treated tissue; (n) incorporating the second cassette into a second delivery vehicle; (o) providing the previously treated patient with an effective amount of the second delivery vehicle; (p) identifying a novel protein signal following prior treatment with protein specific knockdown; (q) identifying a gene mutation provided by gene sequencing/microarray on assessment of other protein signals; and (r) identifying of a novel protein signal as a result of determination of the gene mutation and assessment of other protein signals to, directly or indirectly, modify the expression (i.e., production) of such proteins.
US08916529B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions containing oligonucleotides suitable for administration to humans and other mammals.
US08916519B2
The present invention includes compositions and methods related to the structure and function of the cellular polyadenylation and specificity factor 30 (CPSF30) binding site on the surface of the influenza A non-structural protein 1 (NS1). Specifically, critical biochemical reagents, conditions for crystallization and NMR analysis, assays, and general processes are described for (i) discovering, designing, and optimizing small molecule inhibitors of influenza A (avian flu) viruses and (ii) creating attenuated influenza virus strains suitable for avian and human flu vaccine development.
US08916516B2
The present invention relates to the use of a polypeptides, comprising repeats of a peptide derived from a Heparan Sulphate Proteoglycan (HSPG) receptor binding region of an apolipoprotein, for treating or preventing a fungal and/or protist infection. The invention further relates to the use of such peptides for treating or preventing the contamination of surfaces or objects with such peptides.
US08916509B2
A bearing lubricant of the present invention contains a compound represented by the following general formula: CfH2f+1—R1a—O—(C═O)—O—R2b—CgH2g+1 wherein O represents an oxygen atom; C represents a carbon atom; H represents a hydrogen atom; R1 and R2 independently represent a C2-C48 oxaalkylene group having 1 to 6 oxygen atoms; a and b independently represent an integer of 0 or 1 and satisfy a+b≧1; and f and g independently represent an integer of 1 to 12.
US08916499B2
Provided herein are synergistic herbicidal compositions containing (a) a compound of formula (I): or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor, e.g., acifluorfen, azafeniden, bifenox, carfentrazone-ethyl-ethyl, flumioxazin, ipfencarbazone, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxyfluorfen, pentoxazone, pyraclonil, pyraflufen-ethyl and saflufenacil, or a salt or ester thereof. The compositions and methods provided herein provide control of undesirable vegetation, e.g., in direct-seeded, water-seeded and transplanted rice, cereals, wheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, corn or maize, sugarcane, sunflower, oilseed rape, canola, sugar beet, soybean, cotton, pineapple, pastures, grasslands, rangelands, fallowland, turf, tree and vine orchards, aquatics, plantation crops, vegetables, industrial vegetation management (IVM) and rights-of-way (ROW).
US08916493B2
Disclosed is a self-supporting solid compacted composition of material comprising an ammonia storage material capable of reversibly absorbing and desorbing ammonia in its ammonia saturated state and compacted to such a density that it has of at least 70% of the single crystal density of said material in its ammonia-saturated state in admixture with one or more additive incapable of storing ammonia and having a thermal conductivity of at least five times the thermal conductivity of the ammonia storage material at a temperature of from at least −45° C. to 250° C., as well as a process for preparing it.
US08916491B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a catalyst for carrying out methanation reactions. The production of the catalyst is based on contacting of a hydrotalcite-comprising starting material with a fusible metal salt. The compounds brought into contact with one another are intimately mixed, thermally treated so that the metal salt fraction melts and subsequently subjected to a low-temperature calcination step and a high-temperature calcination step. The metal salt melt comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of K, La, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Ce, preferably Ni. The metal salt melt more preferably comprises/contains nickel nitrate hexahydrate. The hydrotalcite-comprising starting material is preferably hydrotalcite or a hydrotalcite-like compound as starting material, and the hydrotalcite-comprising starting material preferably comprises magnesium and aluminum as metal species.The catalyst of the invention is preferably used for carrying out methanation reactions at elevated pressures (from 10 to 50 bar) and elevated temperatures.
US08916480B2
The present disclosure provides for methods and systems for controlling profile uniformity of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) film. A method includes depositing a first layer on a substrate by CVD with a first shower head, the first layer having a first profile, and depositing a second layer over the first layer by CVD with a second shower head, the second layer having a second profile. The combined first layer and second layer have a third profile, and the first profile, the second profile, and the third profile are different from one another.
US08916473B2
An effective chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) method is provided for forming vias in silicon wafers for the fabrication of stacked devices using TSV (through-silicon via) technology. The method affords high removal rates of both metal (e.g., copper) and silicon such that a need for a grinding step prior to CMP processing may not be necessary. The method affords an approximately 1:1 Cu:Si selectivity for removal of silicon and copper under appropriate conditions and the Cu:Si selectivity is tunable by adjustment of levels of some key components.
US08916467B2
A doped contact region having an opposite conductivity type as a bottom semiconductor layer is provided underneath a buried insulator layer in a bottom semiconductor layer. At least one conductive via structure extends from an interconnect-level metal line through a middle-of-line (MOL) dielectric layer, a shallow trench isolation structure in a top semiconductor layer, and a buried insulator layer and to the doped contact region. The doped contact region is biased at a voltage that is at or close to a peak voltage in the RF switch that removes minority charge carriers within the induced charge layer. The minority charge carriers are drained through the doped contact region and the at least one conductive via structure. Rapid discharge of mobile electrical charges in the induce charge layer reduces harmonic generation and signal distortion in the RF switch. A design structure for the semiconductor structure is also provided.
US08916461B2
An electronic fuse and method for forming the same. Embodiments of the invention include e-fuses having a first metallization level including a metal structure, a second metallization level above the first metallization level, a metal via in the second metallization level, an interface region where the metal via meets the first metallization level, and a damaged region at the interface region. Embodiments further include a method including providing a first metallization level including a metal structure, forming a capping layer on the first metallization level, forming an opening in the capping layer that exposes a portion of the metal structure; forming above the capping layer an adhesion layer contacting the metal structure, forming an insulating layer above the adhesion layer, etching the insulating layer and the adhesion layer to form a recess exposing the metal structure, and filling the fuse via recess to form a fuse via.
US08916458B2
An III-nitride quantum well structure includes a GaN base, an InGaN layer and an InGaN covering layer. The GaN base includes a GaN buffering layer, a GaN post extending from the GaN buffering layer, and a GaN pyramid gradually expanding from the GaN post to form a mounting surface. The InGaN layer includes first and second coupling faces. The first coupling face is coupled with the mounting surface. The GaN covering layer includes first and second coupling faces. The first coupling face of the GaN covering layer is coupled with the second coupling face of the InGaN layer. A method for manufacturing the III-nitride quantum well structure and a light-emitting unit having a plurality of III-nitride quantum well structures are also proposed.
US08916452B2
A semiconductor wafer contains semiconductor die separated by saw streets. The semiconductor wafer is singulated through a portion of the saw streets to form wafer sections each having multiple semiconductor die per wafer section attached by uncut saw streets. Each wafer section has at least two semiconductor die. The wafer sections are mounted over a temporary carrier in a grid pattern to reserve an interconnect area between the wafer sections. An encapsulant is deposited over the wafer sections and interconnect area. A conductive pillar can be formed in the encapsulant over the interconnect area. An interconnect structure is formed over the wafer sections and encapsulant in the interconnect area. The wafer sections and interconnect area are singulated to separate the semiconductor die each with a portion of the interconnect area. A heat sink or shielding layer can be formed over the wafer sections.
US08916439B2
Method of forming dual gate insulation layers and semiconductor device having dual gate insulation layers is disclosed. The method of forming dual gate insulation layers comprises forming a first thin layer of a thick gate insulation layer on a semiconductor substrate by oxidizing the semiconductor substrate, depositing a second thicker layer of the thick gate insulation layer on the first thin layer, removing a portion of the thick gate insulation layer to expose a surface area of the semiconductor substrate and forming a thin gate insulation layer on the exposed surface area of the semiconductor substrate. The method of forming dual gate insulation layers, when applied in fabricating semiconductor devices having dual gate insulation layers and trench isolation structures, may help to reduce a silicon stress near edges of the trench isolation structures and reduce/alleviate/prevent the formation of a leaky junction around the edges of the trench isolation structures.
US08916438B2
A method for fabricating a trench type transistor. An epitaxial layer is provided on a semiconductor substrate. A hard mask with an opening is formed on the epitaxial layer. A gate trench is etched into the substrate through the opening. A gate oxide layer and a trench gate are formed within the gate trench. After forming a cap layer atop the trench gate, the hard mask is removed. An ion well and a source doping region are formed in the epitaxial layer. A spacer is then formed on a sidewall of the trench gate and the cap layer. Using the cap layer and the spacer as an etching hard mask, the epitaxial layer is etched in a self-aligned manner, thereby forming a contact hole.
US08916432B1
Methods of forming memory cells including non-volatile memory (NVM) and MOS transistors are described. In one embodiment the method includes: depositing and patterning a gate layer over a dielectric stack on a substrate to form a gate of a NVM transistor, the dielectric stack including a tunneling layer overlying a surface of the substrate, a charge-trapping layer overlying the tunneling layer and a blocking layer overlying the charge-trapping layer; forming a mask exposing source and drain (S/D) regions of the NVM transistor; etching the dielectric stack through the mask to thin the dielectric stack by removing the blocking layer and at least a first portion of the charge-trapping layer in S/D regions of the NVM transistor; and implanting dopants into S/D regions of the NVM transistor through the thinned dielectric stack to form a lightly-doped drain adjacent to the gate of the NVM transistor.
US08916429B2
Some embodiments relate to a manufacturing method for a semiconductor device. In this method, a semiconductor workpiece, which includes a metal gate electrode thereon, is provided. An opening is formed in the semiconductor workpiece to expose a surface of the metal gate. Formation of the opening leaves a polymeric residue on the workpiece. To remove the polymeric residue from the workpiece, a cleaning solution that includes an organic alkali component is used.
US08916423B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a first electrode on a first semiconductor substrate; coating the semiconductor substrate with an insulating material having a first viscosity at a first temperature, having a second viscosity lower than the first viscosity at a second temperature higher than the first temperature, and having a third viscosity higher than the second viscosity at a third temperature higher than the second temperature; and forming a first insulating film by curing the insulating material. In this method, the forming the first insulating film includes: bringing the insulating material to the second viscosity by heating the insulating material under a first condition; and bringing the insulating material to the third viscosity by heating the insulating material under a second condition. The first condition and the second condition are different in their temperature rising rate.
US08916413B2
The present invention discloses a phase change memory and a manufacturing method thereof. The phase change memory according to the present invention uses top electrodes provided on the top of storage nodes to heat the storage nodes such that a phase change layer in the storage nodes undergoes a phase change. In the phase change memory of embodiments of the present invention, the contact area between the top electrode and the storage node is relatively small, which is good for phase change. Moreover, each column of storage nodes is connected by the same linear top electrode, which can improve photo alignment shift margin.
US08916411B1
A gallium-containing alloy is formed on the light-receiving surface of a CIGS absorber layer, and, in conjunction with a subsequent selenization or anneal process, is converted to a gallium-rich region at the light-receiving surface of the CIGS absorber layer. A second gallium-rich region is formed at the back contact surface of the CIGS absorber layer during selenization, so that the CIGS absorber layer has a double-graded gallium concentration that increases toward the light-receiving surface and toward the back contact surface of the CIGS absorber layer. The double-graded gallium concentration advantageously produces a double-graded bandgap profile for the CIGS absorber layer.
US08916408B2
Leadframe-based premolded package having air channel for microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device
A low-cost microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device has a mass-produced carrier fabricated as a pre-molded leadframe so that the space of the leadframe center is filled with compound and a two-tier stepped recess is created in the center. The first tier is filled by an inset with a first perforation and a second perforation. An integrated circuit chip with an opening and a membrane at the end of the opening, operable as a pressure sensor, microphone, speaker, etc, is assembled on the inset so that the chip opening is aligned with the first perforation. The chip is protected by a cover transected by a vent aligned with the second inset perforation. An air channel extends from the ambient exterior through the vent and the second perforation to the second tier recess, which acts as a channel and connects to the first perforation and the chip opening to the membrane.
US08916403B2
A method for producing a plurality of optoelectronic semiconductor chips includes providing a carrier wafer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein a plurality of individual component layer sequences spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction are applied on the first surface, the component layer sequences being separated from one another by separation trenches; introducing at least one crystal imperfection in at least one region of the carrier wafer which at least partly overlaps a separation trench in a vertical direction; singulating the carrier wafer along the at least one crystal imperfection into individual semiconductor chips.
US08916402B2
The present invention provides a compound semiconductor light emitting device including: an Si—Al substrate; protection layers formed on top and bottom surfaces of the Si—Al substrate; and a p-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and an n-type semiconductor layer which are sequentially stacked on the protection layer formed on the top surface of the Si—Al substrate, and a method for manufacturing the same.
US08916395B2
A method of printing an electronic device includes providing a source of a mixture of semiconducting carbon nanotubes and metallic carbon nanotubes in a carrier liquid, a printhead, and a substrate. The mixture of semiconducting carbon nanotubes and metallic carbon nanotubes in the carrier liquid is separated using the printhead. One of the separated semiconducting carbon nanotubes and the separated metallic carbon nanotubes is caused to contact the substrate in predetermined pattern.
US08916394B2
A carbon nanotube field emission device with overhanging gate fabricated by a double silicon-on-insulator process. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08916382B2
In one aspect, there is provided a cell culturing substrate including: a cell culture surface having a film attached thereto, wherein the film includes one or more plasma polymerized monomers; and a coating on the film-coated surface, the coating deposited from a coating solution comprising one or more extracellular matrix proteins and an aqueous solvent, where the total extracellular matrix protein concentration in the coating solution is about 1 ng/mL to about 1 mg/mL.
US08916372B2
The present invention relates to a new bacterial strain of Samonella enterica serovar Typhimurium VNP20009 deposited in the Polish Collection of Microorganisms under access no. B/00024 and its us in the production of a vaccine, especially an anti-cancer vaccine. The present invention also relates to a method of obtaining a therapeutic vaccine vector, characterized in that a genetic modification is introduced into the vector strain specific to cancer cells, resulting in the delayed over expression of a gene encoding a protein responsible for the invasive ability of this strain.
US08916368B2
Isolated polypeptide with an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 8 or 9.
US08916362B2
A polynucleotide device is provided that adds one or more bases to a single stranded polynucleotide. Methods of using the device are provided, comprising contacting a single stranded target molecule with an extension reaction mixture comprising (i) a device or composition of the disclosure, (ii) a polymerase, and (iii) free nucleotides, whereupon an extension reaction product is generated. Kits comprising a device of the disclosure are also provided.
US08916361B2
The subject invention relates to the identification of a gene involved in the elongation of polyunsaturated fatty acids containing unsaturation at the carbon 9 position (i.e., “Δ9-elongase”) and to uses thereof. In particular, Δ9-elongase may be utilized, for example, in the conversion of linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) to eicosadienoic acid (EDA, 20:2n-6). The production of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA, 20:3n-6) from eicosadienoic acid (EDA, 20:2n-6), and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) from dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA, 20:3n-6) is then catalyzed by Δ8-desaturase and Δ5-desaturase, respectively. AA or polyunsaturated fatty acids produced therefrom may be added to pharmaceutical compositions, nutritional compositions, animal feeds, as well as other products such as cosmetics.
US08916360B2
The present invention provides conjugates between erythropoietin and PEG moieties. The conjugates are linked via an intact glycosyl linking group interposed between and covalently attached to the peptide and the modifying group. The conjugates are formed from glycosylated peptides by the action of a glycosyltransferase. The glycosyltransferase ligates a modified sugar moiety onto a glycosyl residue on the peptide. Also provided are methods for preparing the conjugates, methods for treating various disease conditions with the conjugates, and pharmaceutical formulations including the conjugates.
US08916346B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for production of activatable diazo-derivatives for use in labeling nucleotides. Labeling nucleotides is accomplished by contacting a stable hydrazide derivative of a detectable moiety with an activating polymer reagent which is used to directly label the nucleotide sample. Labeling occurs on the phosphate backbone of the nucleotide which does not perturb hybridization of the labeled nucleotide with its anti-sense strand. Since the method involves direct labeling, all types of nucleotides can be labeled without prior amplification or alteration.
US08916344B2
A method for detecting a methylated genomic locus is provided. In certain embodiments, the method comprises: a) treating a nucleic acid sample that contains both unmethylated and methylated copies of a genomic locus with an agent that modifies cytosine to uracil to produce a treated nucleic acid; b) amplifying a product from the treated nucleic acid using a first primer and a second primer, wherein the first primer hybridizes to a site in the locus that contain methylcytosines and the amplifying preferentially amplifies the methylated copies of the genomic locus, to produce an amplified sample; and c) detecting the presence of amplified methylated copies of the genomic locus in the amplified sample using a flap assay that employs an invasive oligonucleotide having a 3′ terminal G or C nucleotide that corresponds to a site of methylation in the genomic locus.
US08916341B1
An improved assay for detecting an analyte in a fluid sample includes a step of conducting a photochemical reaction, in which a substrate conversion catalyzed by a photosensitizer into a product of the photochemical reaction is temporary inhibited when the reaction mixture is irradiated with a light at a wavelength within a light absorption spectrum of the photosensitizer. The photosensitizer (or an enzyme to catalyze producing thereof) is attached to an entity having an affinity to the analyte, such entity is bound to the analyte prior to irradiation. The assay may increase the sensitivity of ELISA 20- to 100-fold.
US08916340B2
Rational design of immunotherapeutics relies on clear knowledge of the immunodominant epitopes of antigens. Current methods for identifying kinetically stable peptide-MHC complexes are in many cases inadequate for a number of reasons. Disclosed herein is a reductionistic system incorporating known participants of MHC class II antigen processing in solution to generate peptide pools from antigens, including those for which no immunodominant epitope has yet been identified, that are highly enriched for proteolytic fragments containing their immunodominant epitopes. HLA-DM-mediated editing contributes significantly to immunodominance and is exploited in discovering immunodominant epitopes from novel or previously uncharacterized antigens, particularly antigens associated with pathogens, tumors or autoimmune diseases.
US08916318B2
A toner comprising toner particles, each of which contains a binder resin, a compound in which a polymer portion is bound to an azo skeleton structure are linked, and carbon black. The polymer portion has a monomer unit represented by the Formula (2) that is bound to a structure represented by Formula (1):
US08916317B2
The present disclosure provides toners and processes for making said toners. In embodiments, the toners are invisible when viewed under natural light, but possess a fluorescent agent that renders them visible when exposed to UV light of a specific wavelength. In other embodiments the toners have a color under natural light, and a different color when exposed to UV light.
US08916315B2
In the field of semiconductor production using shaped charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein a plurality of circular or nearly-circular shaped beam shots can form a non-circular pattern on a surface. Methods for manufacturing a reticle and for manufacturing a substrate such as a silicon wafer by forming non-circular patterns on a surface using a plurality of circular or nearly-circular shaped beam shots is also disclosed.
US08916307B2
The degree of dryness in a fuel cell can be judged more accurately. A system has: an impedance calculation part that calculates an impedance of a fuel cell, extracts from the calculated impedance a high-frequency impedance which is an impedance in a high frequency range and a low-frequency impedance which is an impedance in a low frequency range, and subtracts the high-frequency impedance from the low-frequency impedance to calculate a differential impedance; a water content calculation part that calculates the water content of an electrolyte membrane using the high-frequency impedance and calculates the water content of a catalyst layer using the differential impedance; and a water content control part that performs water content recovery processing to increase the water content of the catalyst layer if the water content of the catalyst layer is smaller than a predetermined water content.
US08916301B2
In a proton exchange membrane fuel cell power plant (9) in which each of the fuel cells (11) employ reactant gas flow field channels (51) extending inwardly from a first surface of a conductive, water permeable reactant gas flow field plate (50), for at least one of the reactants of the fuel cell, a region (63) of the reactant gas flow field channels is substantially shallower than the remaining portion (60) of the flow field channels (51) thereby decreasing resistance to gas phase mass transfer from the wetted walls of the flow field plate to the gas in the region (63), the resulting increase in thickness of the web (58) adjacent the region (63) reduces the resistance to liquid water transport from the first coolant channel (52) to the inlet edge (55) of the plate (50) so that the plate supports a higher evaporation rate into the reactant gas in the shallow region (63).
US08916299B1
A self-propelled microbial fuel cell apparatus includes a microbial fuel cell with a cathode electrode and an anode electrode wherein the anode electrode is enclosed within an enclosure that has an opening in it. The microbial fuel cell is positioned within a self-propelled delivery vehicle so that the electrodes of the fuel cell are exposed to interface with a microbial environment.
US08916298B2
Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolytic solution which enables formation of a nonaqueous-electrolyte battery having high capacity and excellent storage characteristics at high temperatures, while sufficiently enhancing safety at the time of overcharge. A nonaqueous-electrolyte battery produced by using the nonaqueous electrolytic solution is also disclosed. The nonaqueous electrolytic solution comprises an electrolyte and a nonaqueous solvent, and includes any of specific nonaqueous electrolytic solutions (A) to (D).
US08916288B2
A lithium rechargeable battery having corrosion resistance and a method of making the same. In the lithium rechargeable battery including a metal case, a cap plate and terminals, a protective layer is formed on at least portions of surfaces of the metal case, the cap plate and the terminals, and the protective layer is formed of a protective layer forming composition comprising at least one hydrophobic compound selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted 1,2,3-benzotriazole, alkoxysilance having 1 to 20 carbons, vinylakoxy silane having 1 to 20 carbons, and (meth)acryl silane, and chromic oxide.
US08916287B2
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator therebetween; a case that has an opening that houses the electrode assembly; a cap assembly including a cap plate that covers the opening of the case; and an electrode terminal that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly and protrudes through the cap plate to the outside of the case. The electrode terminal includes a lower terminal plate that is connected to the electrode assembly, an upper terminal plate that covers an upper part of the lower terminal plate, and a terminal fastener that is housed in a space between the lower terminal plate and the upper terminal plate that protrudes through an upper surface of the upper terminal plate.
US08916282B1
A method and apparatus comprising a number of battery cells, a housing having a plurality of channels, an assembly, and a number of grooves. The housing is configured to hold the number of battery cells. The assembly is configured to separate the number of battery cells from the housing in which the housing has the plurality of channels. The number of grooves is formed by the assembly and surfaces of the number of battery cells.
US08916277B2
Wallboards, as well as other building materials, are produced by methods which use significantly reduced embodied energy, generating far less greenhouse gases when compared with the energy used to fabricate gypsum wallboard. A novel cementitious core, consisting in one embodiment of post-industrial waste such as slag and combined with pH modifiers, provides a controlled exothermic reaction to create a gypsum-wallboard-like core which can be wrapped in a selected material such as recycled paper and manufactured on a conveyor system to appear, weigh and handle similar to gypsum wallboard, but without the large amounts of energy required to make gypsum wallboard. The manufacturing process results in lower greenhouse gas emissions than the processes used to make gypsum wallboard.
US08916276B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a composite material formed of an organic compound and an inorganic compound, and has an excellent carrier transporting property, an excellent carrier injecting property to the organic compound, as well as excellent transparency. A composite material of the present invention for achieving the above object is a composite material of an organic compound represented in the general formula below, and an inorganic compound. For the inorganic compound, an oxide of a transition metal, preferably an oxide of a metal belonging to groups 4 to 8 of the periodic table, in particular vanadium oxide, tantalum oxide, molybdenum oxide, tungsten oxide, rhenium oxide, and ruthenium oxide, can be used.
US08916273B2
The formulation for making plasterboard with paper cover sheets comprises finely divided gypsum, a minor amount by weight of starch and, as crosslinking agent for the starch, a tri-functional reactive s-triazine having substituents at positions 2, 4 and 6 of the triazine ring which are reactive with the starch. A preferred crosslinking agent is 2,4,6-trichloro-s-triazine, which is preferably partially reacted with the starch before further reaction with the paper cover sheets for the plaster board.
US08916263B2
Disclosed herein are composites as well as methods of making these composites. The composite may, for example, be used as light-weight, high-strength structural members and wall panels. In some embodiments, the composites can be prepared from a light-weight assembly using simple procedures. Also disclosed herein are assemblies for preparing the composites.
US08916262B2
The invention provides composite components, structures and method for producing composite components. A composite component has a negative effect Poisson's ratio and comprises a first component and a second component. The first component and the second component extend longitudinally relative to an axis, the first component being provided around the second component through one or more turns which are spaced longitudinally relative to the axis. A variation in the tensile load on the first component causes the radial position of the second component relative to the axis to vary.
US08916260B2
A web substrate having indicia having a unique color gamut expressed by a difference in L*a*b* color values is disclosed.
US08916257B1
An embossing and texturizing system capable of imparting a natural cloth-like surface to a flexible thermoplastic material or film simultaneously to either or both of its two exterior surfaces, through the use of a unique device and technique combining metal rolls, metal and rubber rolls, and embossing and texturizing fabric rolls into an embossing system creating the desired visual and tactile feel of natural fabrics as well as additional performance characteristics. The embossing and texturizing system embosses and texturizes the exterior surface of the flexible thermoplastic material or film by selectively altering the exterior surface, and therefore, the film can be embossed simultaneously on either or both of its two exterior surfaces (face and reverse) without necessitating major interruption or adjustment of the system. The use of the embossing and texturizing mechanism and its alignment to the core and stabilizing reinforcing substrate enables the exterior texturized surface and the bottom side exterior texturized surface to be identical in all manner.
US08916251B2
A towel having an elongated first body portion provided with a first width and extends in a generally vertical direction when used with a towel bar. The elongated first body portion includes a first end that is configured to be secured to the towel bar by use of an attachment member. The elongated first body portion also includes a second end that is coupled to a first drying portion, which has a second width that is greater than the first width of the elongated first body portion. The towel may also include a second body portion that extends over the towel bar and is positioned to lie generally parallel to the elongated first body portion.
US08916245B2
A fracture-safe viewport for a pressure system having a pressure port which is pumped by said pressure system to a pressure above or below atmospheric pressure, comprising a plurality of panes each capable of passing electromagnetic radiation therethrough, each pane being mounted inside a tubular structure and being hermetically sealed to the wall of the pressure chamber. Each of the panes may be a different material or any combination of materials may be used from the group comprising sapphire, glass and quartz or any other material through which a high powered laser or other electromagnetic beam may be directed without adverse consequences. Highly pure, defect-free, ultra-polished, single-crystal sapphire is preferred. Spacing between the panes is used in most embodiments to avoid shrapnel damage in case of catastrophic failure of a pane. Half-donut shaped or chimney-shaped strain relief mounts are used in some embodiments to relieve strain caused by differential rates of thermal expansion when the structure is heated.
US08916238B2
There is provided a method of producing a composite that separates carbon dioxide that has a carbon dioxide separating film on a support includes preparing, at greater than or equal to 50° C., a coating liquid for carbon dioxide separating film formation that contains a water absorbent polymer, a carbon dioxide carrier and a gelling agent, and that gels, after being left at 12° C. at a solution film thickness of less than or equal to 1 mm, within 120 seconds and liquid not dropping-off due to gravity; coating the coating liquid on a strip-shaped support; cooling, at less than or equal to 12° C., a coated film obtained by the coating, and obtaining a gel film; and drying the gel film at least by warm air, and obtaining a carbon dioxide separating film, wherein, from coating to drying are carried out continuously while conveying the support in a given direction.
US08916236B2
The invention relates to a method of forming (rutile) titanium dioxide-coated platelet-like pigments in which hydrous titanium dioxide is deposited on platelet-like particles followed by calcining, comprising (a) effecting the titanium deposit in the presence of an α-hydroxy carboxylic acid, especially glycolic acid, or oxalic acid, and an amino acid, especially glycine, alanine, valine, aspartic acid (α-, β- and γ-form); or an amino acid; to the pigments obtained by the method and the use thereof. The method can work in the absence of exogenous metal and Ti(III). The rutile TiO2-coated substrate of the present invention has at least the same advantages and characteristics of a tin containing product which includes luster, color, color homogeneity and few small particle formation during manufacture.
US08916230B2
When a mask layer is formed, a first liquid composition containing a mask-layer-forming material is applied on an outer side of a pattern that is desired to be formed (corresponding to a contour or an edge portion of a pattern) to form a first mask layer having a frame shape. A second liquid composition containing a mask-layer-forming material is applied so as to fill a space inside the first mask layer having a frame shape to form a second mask layer. The first mask layer and the second mask layer are formed to be in contact with each other, and the first mask layer is formed to surround the second mask layer. Therefore, the first mask layer and the second mask layer can be used as one continuous mask layer.
US08916221B2
A method for producing cheese and a device therefore, in particular what is known as a cassette press with round or angular cheese molds. The method is intended in particular to achieve gentle and hygienic de-molding of the cheese blocks after removal of whey. A raw cheese mass is first poured into molds of a cassette press, then pressed to remove liquid and emptied out of the mold after a turning process. Directly after turning, the raw cheese mass in the mold is subjected to a shaking movement, so the pressed raw cheese mass is detached gently from the inner wall of the mold.
US08916220B2
A portion capsule for producing a beverage is proposed, having a capsule body with a capsule base and a filling side, with a cavity for accommodating a pulverulent or liquid beverage base being formed between the capsule base and the filling side, with a filter element being arranged between the beverage base and the capsule base, and with the filter element having a non-woven which is arranged in the region of the capsule base.
US08916218B2
One exemplary aspect comprises: inserting a device into a skin of a fruit to collect juice, said device comprising a juice extractor having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion of the juice extractor having an edge that is inserted into said skin, the juice extractor containing a cavity, said edge enclosing a substantially closed external surface having openings through which some solids do not pass and juice flows and collects in said cavity; and a spray dispenser comprising a top portion and bottom portion and a spray pump, the spray dispenser detachably coupled with the juice extractor, the spray pump comprising a spray outlet connected to a tube; directing said spray outlet in a desired direction; and activating said spray pump to cause juice collected within said cavity to flow within the tube through the spray outlet to spray the juice in the desired direction.
US08916216B2
An apparatus used to arrange and display decorative items or candy. A narrow stem comprises a plurality of holes running throughout the stem. A plurality of metal rods are inserted into respective holes in the stem. Each metal rod has is attached to a plastic petal, which also comprises a clip. A piece of candy can be attached to each clip and can be supported by each respective petal. The plurality of metal rods arranged in this manner create a visually appealing arrangement of decorative items or dispenser of candy.
US08916212B2
A topical composition includes an alcohol-extracted Salvia hispanica seed extract in a glycol carrier in an amount effective for inhibiting melanin content in an individual. The extract may be extracted in a C1-C4 ethanol and re-suspended in a glycol carrier with one or more permeation enhancers. The topical composition may further include a Punica granatum extract. Methods for making and using the composition for whitening skin in an individual are also described.
US08916208B2
A method is provided for promoting blood clotting. The area which is bleeding is contacted with an aluminophosphate molecular sieve. The molecular sieve preferably contains a substance which assists the clotting of blood. This substance is preferably Ca2+ ions, which are readily introduced into aluminophosphate molecular sieves. Preferred aluminophosphate molecular sieves include AlPO4-5 and VPI-5.
US08916203B2
The present disclosure generally relates to lyophilized pharmaceutical compositions comprising polymeric nanoparticles which, upon reconstitution, have low levels of greater than 10 micron size particles. Other aspects of the invention include methods of making such nanoparticles.
US08916188B2
The present invention provides a block copolymer for a coating on an implantable device for controlling release of drug and methods of making and using the same.
US08916186B2
A method of correcting spinal deformity, which includes locating pharmaceutical-loaded implants adjacent to targeted spinal growth plates, and then eluting the pharmaceutical onto the growth plates. Preferably, the method involves correcting spinal deformity by simply inserting a pharmaceutical-eluting pedicle screw onto the concave side of a scoliotic curve. The screw has a cannulated internal reservoir that contains a chondrocyte growth-inducing pharmaceutical (such as a growth factor or small molecule) and at least one fenestration that allows the pharmaceutical to elute onto the vertebral body growth plate.
US08916181B1
An aerosol glitter composition for achieving the “sugar” glitter effect comprises a solvent, binder, square polyester glitter, optionally a rheology modifier, and propellant.
US08916180B2
A cosmetic treatment system is provided having ingredients that may prevent signs of aging, improve the aesthetic appearance of skin, and promote recovery from environmental stresses. The composition includes natural ingredients, including at least one ingredient or extract from rosemary; at least one ingredient or extract from Centella, Echinacea, Alpinia or mixtures thereof; a DNA repair enzyme; and at least one pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable vehicle. The treatment system may further include a patch for applying the cosmetic ingredients and/or a packaging system for holding the components of the cosmetic treatment system.
US08916179B2
An animal chew including a surface comprising a base composition, wherein the animal chew exhibits a hardness in the range of Shore 70A to Shore 70D as measured by ASTM D2240-05 (2010) and a flexural modulus in the range of 50×103 psi to 500×103 psi as measured by ASTM D790-10 and Ascophyllum nodosum applied onto at least a portion of the surface of the animal chew, wherein the Ascophyllum nodosum is present in an amount of 0.1% by weight to 5.0% by weight of the animal chew. At least 10% by weight of the total amount of the Ascophyllum nodosum present in the animal chew may be applied to the animal chew surface.
US08916168B2
Compositions and methods for preventing, treating and detecting leishmaniasis are disclosed. The compositions generally comprise Leishmania sterol 24-c-methyltransferase (SMT) polypeptides, portions, variants and/or fusions, as well as polynucleotides encoding SMT polypeptides, portions, variants and/or fusions.
US08916163B1
A method for treating a microbial infection or an abscessed tissue in a subject includes administering to the subject an effective amount of a metal ion chelator. In some embodiments, the metal ion chelator can be a protein, such as a calprotectin heterodimer. In some embodiments, the metal ion chelator is a calprotectin heterodimer including an S100A8 polypeptide and an S100A9 polypeptide.
US08916157B2
A liquid aqueous pharmaceutical formulation is described which has a high protein concentration, a pH of between about 4 and about 8, and enhanced stability.
US08916156B2
A method for separating proteins and fats from an egg mixture is disclosed herein. The method includes a step of microfiltration of the egg mixture, wherein microfiltration includes pumping across a filter an egg mixture containing egg yolk and egg whites (albumen). An egg powder obtained from egg and a high gel strength egg powder are also disclosed.
US08916139B2
The invention provides an oral care composition (preferably a dentifrice) comprising one or more curcumin compounds and a source of zinc ions. The incorporation of a source of zinc ions into the composition suppresses the degradation and/or discoloration of the curcumin compound(s) in the composition.
US08916128B2
The invention relates to an energetically self-sufficient syngas production method in at least one chemical loop. The chemical loop involves at least three distinct oxidation, reduction and gasification reaction zones: 1. at least one air-supplied oxidation reaction zone R1, referred to as “air” reactor, where the reaction of oxidation of the metallic oxides takes place after reduction, 2. at least one combustion reduction reaction zone R2, referred to as “fuel” reactor, where the feed combustion reaction takes place in the presence of the oxygen present in the metallic oxides, 3. at least one gasification reaction zone R3, referred to as “gasification” reactor, for gasification of the solid and/or liquid feeds in order to produce a syngas, said gasification being catalyzed by the at least partly reduced metallic oxides from R2.
US08916120B2
Dry processes, apparatus, compositions and systems are provided for reducing emissions of sulfur oxides, and sulfur dioxide in particular, and/or HCl in a process employing a combination of a dolomite hydrate sorbent and a sorbent doping agent administered to achieve coverage of a three-dimensional cross section of a passage carrying SOx and/or HCl —containing gases with a short but effective residence time at a temperature effective to provide significant sulfur dioxide and/or HCl reductions with high rates of reaction and sorbent utilization. The once-through, dry process can advantageously introduce the sorbent and sorbent doping agent dry or preferably as a slurry to enable uniform treatment. Preferred sorbent doping agents include water-soluble or water-dispersible copper and/or iron compositions which can be heated to an active form in situ by the flue gases being treated.
US08916119B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for removing nitrogen oxides (NOx) more effectively at 300° C. or below in boilers, gas turbines, incinerators, diesel engines, glass melting furnaces, etc. by selective catalytic reduction (SCR). To this end, an oxidation catalyst is mounted in front of a NOx-reducing device based on selective catalytic reduction and the NOx composition, i.e. the ratio of NO:NO2, in the exhaust gas is adjusted to about 1:1, such that de-NOx catalytic reaction is carried out under optimized fast SCR condition and de-NOx efficiency at low temperature can be maximized.
US08916114B2
A microtitration plate, having a frame made of a plastic which has a plate with a multiplicity of holes, and a multiplicity of receptacles made of the same plastic which are fixedly connected to the plate at the holes by directly molding them thereto, have a receiving portion protruding from the underside of the plate, and are accessible from the upper surface of the plate through apertures.
US08916112B2
Devices for handling liquid, for example microfluidic devices, are described, which are rotatable about an axis of rotation to drive liquid flow within the device. The 5 devices provide one or more of an aliquoting structure (6) having a plurality of daisy chained aliquoting chambers (100, 200, 300) for providing a plurality of aliquots, arrangements for sequencing the dispensing of the aliquots by controlling the rotation of the device and arrangements for ensuring that a fault condition can be detected when insufficient liquid is present in the device to fill 10 all aliquots. Further disclosed are arrangements for ensuring a detection chamber (12) of the device remains filled with liquid, arrangements for reducing the risk of air ingress to the detection chamber (12) on repeated emptying and filling of a supply structure (10) and arrangements for reducing the risk of bubble formation when filling the detection chamber (12). A corresponding system for operating the 15 device and method for processing of a sample using the device is also disclosed.
US08916111B2
The invention relates to a miniaturized fluid container with microchannels (11, 12) which are bordered by ridges (13, 14), wherein the crests of the ridges (13, 14) are glued to a cover plate (20). Additional stability may be achieved by distributing glue (33) in cavities between the microchannels (11, 12), the spreading of said glue being driven by capillary forces.
US08916110B2
A device and a process are proposed for separating constituents of a sample fluid, wherein the sample fluid is supplied by capillary force to a receiving region (7) for metering, stopping or delaying the sample fluid and the sample fluid is pre-treated with a soluble chemical (13) in the receiving region (7) before the sample fluid is supplied to a separating device (5) for separating off constituents of the sample fluid.
US08916108B2
A vial and particles for distributing reagent bound particles in a fluid, a kit, and methods for distributing particles in a fluid.
US08916107B2
Portable decontamination and deodorization systems configured to decontaminate a target environment for specified periods of time. A housing contains pressurized media. A spherical media diffuser can be connected to and controlled by a sphere retainer module and a funnel-like orifice can be located under a lower hemisphere of the spherical media diffuser to move the spherical media diffuser and over the funnel-like orifice creating a gap there-between to evenly distribute chemical in a fog or spray throughout a room. a valve controller can be coupled by tubing between media contained in said housing and the gap formed between the spherical media diffuser and funnel-like orifice.
US08916103B2
The present invention relates to a fiber mat, preferably a non-intumescent, polycrystalline, needle-punched or stitchbonded aluminia-silica fiber mat, which contains an organosilicon compound. The fiber mat comprises a fiber blanket which is essentially free of organic binder and which is impregnated with an organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of siloxane compounds, alkoxy group-containing silanes, hydrolysates and condensates of these compounds, and combinations thereof. In a further embodiment the fiber mat comprises a high friction coating on at least the side of the mat which is to be brought in contact with a pollution control element of a pollution control device. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a pollution control device containing such a fiber mat.
US08916095B2
The automatic analyzer stores: a predetermined period from the opening of a reagent vessel to the deterioration of the reagent; a reagent production lot number, reagent vessel unsealing time, and reagent expiration date as reagent information kept on a reagent-set-by-set basis; and relevant calibration curve factor information. The automatic analyzer judges whether a calibration curve factor for a reagent set is applicable or not to another reagent set of the analyzer with the same production number based on the predetermined period from the reagent vessel unsealing time and on the reagent expiration date.
US08916077B1
Provided herein are sutures to be used in a procedure applied to tissue, and methods for forming such sutures. A suture can include an elongated suture body having a periphery, and a plurality of retainers formed from molten material applied to portions of the periphery. The retainers can extend from and be arranged along at least a segment of the elongated suture body. The retainers can be formed by applying molten material to portions of the periphery of the elongated suture body and cooling the material to form the retainers.
US08916075B2
A method of making a reinforced resin structure is disclosed. A volume of uncured resin compound is placed on a first outer surface of a carrier structure comprising a plurality of fibers. The uncured resin compound and the carrier structure are pressed between two cooperating plates to disperse the resin compound into and through a plurality of passages between the plurality of fibers. The dispersed resin compound is cured to fix the resin within the plurality of passages and around the plurality of fibers.
US08916073B2
Disclosed is a method for making a membrane for use as a vacuum bag, a natural rubber vacuum bag made using such methods, and methods for using such a natural rubber bag to form a composite article. One method can include providing a substantially non-porous working surface having a desired shape for forming a vacuum bag, spraying at least one layer of a natural rubber liquid over at least a portion of working surface, and solidifying the natural rubber liquid to form a membrane having a shape substantially corresponding to that of the working surface. The membrane formed being elastically deformable and substantially impermeable for functioning as a vacuum bag in Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding, debulking, compaction, or similar processes.
US08916063B2
A liquid crystal composition and an AM liquid crystal display device are described. The liquid crystal composition has a negative dielectric anisotropy, contains a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a two-ring compound having a small viscosity as a second component, and may further contain a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a third component, a specific compound having a small viscosity as a fourth component and a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a fifth component. The AM liquid crystal display device includes the liquid crystal composition.
US08916055B2
A processing method and apparatus uses at least one electric field applicator (34) biased to produce a spatial-temporal electric field to affect a processing medium (26), suspended nano-objects (28) or the substrate (30) in processing, interacting with the dipole properties of the medium (26) or particles to construct structure on the substrate (30). The apparatus may include a magnetic field, an acoustic field, an optical force, or other generation device. The processing may affect selective localized layers on the substrate (30) or may control orientation of particles in the layers, control movement of dielectrophoretic particles or media, or cause suspended particles of different properties to follow different paths in the processing medium (26). Depositing or modifying a layer on the substrate (30) may be carried out. Further, the processing medium (26) and electrical bias may be selected to prepare at least one layer on the substrate (30) for bonding the substrate (30) to a second substrate, or to deposit carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a controlled orientation on the substrate.
US08916049B2
The processing method for a mixture according to the present invention is a method for processing a mixture having first particles made of a magnetic material or a nonmagnetic material and second particles made of a magnetic material or a nonmagnetic material wherein the second particles are mixed in a fluid medium containing the first particles, and comprises a dispersion step of dispersing aggregates of the first particles and the second particles present in the mixture, and a magnetic separation step of providing the first particles and second particles with a magnetic force a of different magnitudes by applying a magnetic field to the mixture in parallel with or after the dispersion step, thereby separating the first particles and the second particles from each other.
US08916044B2
A filter module includes a filter element with a ring of media and an end cap at one end of the ring. The end cap includes an annular body with a sealing member located around a surface of the body circumscribing a central opening, wherein the sealing member has a repeating, undulating, non-planar geometry. The axial, distal end of the annular body also has an repeating, undulating non-planar geometry, matching the geometry of the sealing member, and can have one or more tabs projecting axially outward from the distal end, positioned at a point of maximum amplitude of the distal end, and which are received in cooperating slots formed in a socket of a diaphragm, to facilitate positioning and installing the element into the module. The socket includes an outer wall having a matching non-planar geometry which receives and seals against the sealing member on the end cap.
US08916042B2
A method for upgrading a heavy oil includes: disposing an initiator in a heavy oil environment, the heavy oil environment including a heavy oil; producing a radical from the initiator; contacting the heavy oil with the radical; and converting the heavy oil to upgraded oil.
US08916041B2
A method of reducing the fouling propensity of a hydrocarbon feed stream having a Total Base Number based on ASTM method D2896-11 of less than 150 ppm and/or a P-value according to ASTM method D7060-09 of less than 1.15 which method comprises processing the feed stream such that the product obtained has a calculated Total Base Number of at least 150 ppm, a calculated P-value of at least 1.15 and a calculated Po-value higher than the FRmax of the feed stream, more specifically blending at least two hydrocarbon feed streams to prepare a blend having these properties.
US08916039B2
To provide a barrel electroplating method which is less prone to bare spots and adhesion failure such as blisters and peeling, and which makes it possible to obtain uniform plated coatings free from burnt deposits and poor brightness, irrespective of the amount of workpieces.The present invention provides a method for performing barrel electroplating by use of an aluminum or aluminum alloy plating bath, the method comprising rotating, swinging, or vibrating an anode (6) placed inside a barrel (4) receiving workpieces, and simultaneously rotating, swinging, or vibrating the barrel, with a voltage being applied between the anode and a cathode provided on an inner wall surface of the barrel.
US08916037B1
An instrument and method for accurately measuring target analyte levels is a gas sample over an extended range. The instrument includes (i) a sensor effective for detecting the analyte, and (ii) a barrier film having limited permeability for the analyte covering the inlet orifice on the sensor for reducing the flux of analyte into the sensor. The method involves (a) sensing the flux of target analyte passing through the barrier film and into sensing contact with the sensor, and (b) reporting a concentration of analyte by multiplying a concentration value previously correlated to the sensed flux by the flux reduction factor of the barrier film.
US08916030B2
An ethylene cracking furnace comprising a high pressure steam drum (1), a convection section (2), a radiant section (3), multiple groups of radiant coils (4) arranged vertically in the firebox of radiant section, burners (5) and transfer line exchangers (6), each radiant coil comprising a first-pass tube (7), a second-pass tube (8) and a connection member (9); feedstocks being introduced into an inlet end of the first-pass tube and outflow from an outlet end of the second-pass tube, said first-pass tube (7) and said second-pass tube (8) are non-split coils, and the centerlines of the respective radiant tubes (7, 8) are within a common plane; said connection member (9) is a tridimensional structural member comprising an inlet bending tube (10), a return bending tube (11) and an outlet bending tube (12); said inlet bending tubes (10) and said outlet bending tubes (12) are arranged at two sides of the plane containing the centerlines of said first-pass tubes (7) and said second-pass tubes (8), respectively; the projections of the respective connection members (9) in a side view are the same curve line that is symmetrical, continuous and closed; the inner diameters of said radiant coils (7, 8) is varied at least once along the length of the tubes.
US08916029B2
A contaminated solvent recycling system is disclosed and claimed. The system comprises a distillation vessel having an upper distillation zone and a separate, lower, waste collection zone. A heater heats contaminated solvent feed within the distillation zone to distill off the solvent. By separating the distillation zone from the waste collection zone, the distillation zone can process consecutive batches of contaminated solvent feed. The waste collection zone can accommodate waste accumulating from the distillation process for extended periods of time between waste removal operations.
US08916028B2
In a processing machine including a processor having a processing blade and a receiver having a reception member and in which a blade edge of the processing blade and a reception portion, of the reception member, engage with each other to process a paper sheet therebetween, the processing blade is one processing blade selected from a blade group and is attached to the processor so as to be changeable to another processing blade of the blade group, reception portions of kinds corresponding to a plurality of kinds of the processing blades of the blade group are formed on the reception member, and the processing blade attached to the processor is positioned so as to be in a position where the blade edge is engageable with the reception portion of the corresponding kind.
US08916023B2
A prehydrolysis of wood chips or other lignocellulosic material in a vessel having a gaseous portion and a liquid portion. The vessel includes at least one stress relieving piece that inhibits overcompression of the lignocellulosic material. The vessel operates in a continuous process. A slurry of lignocellulosic material and liquid is removed from the bottom of the vessel.
US08916019B2
The present invention aims to provide a method for manufacturing a solar cell module capable of improving positioning accuracy of solar cell elements relative to a light reflection plate. When a solar cell module is manufactured, a corrugated light reflection plate 4 is first prepared by bonding a thermoplastic resin film 7 to a plastic substrate 6. Subsequently, the light reflection plate 4 is set on a lower mold 10, and a thick resin sheet 12 made from an encapsulation resin is arranged on the light reflection plate 4. Then, vacuum suctioning and hot-press processing are performed sequentially, whereby a precursor assembly 13 is formed with the light reflection plate 4 and the resin sheet 12 attached together. Subsequently, a plurality of solar cell elements 2 is placed on an upper surface of the precursor assembly 13. Then, a thin resin sheet 14 made from the encapsulation resin is arranged on the solar cell elements 2, and a front surface plate 3 is arranged on the resin sheet 14. Subsequently, a cross-linking reaction of the encapsulation resin proceeds with a dry laminator, thus the respective solar cell elements 2 are laminated.
US08916016B2
Manufacturing method for components made of fiber-reinforced composite materials by using microwaves
A method for manufacturing a component comprising at least one layer having a fiber-reinforced composite material that absorbs microwaves is disclosed. The method comprises at least the following steps: a) arranging the at least one layer in a shape, b) treating a first surface section of the at least one layer with microwaves, wherein a temperature limiting mechanism of the at least one layer cooperate with at least one adjacent second surface section, at least part of the time. The method may be carried out in such that steps a) and b) are carried out for a plurality of components and that the components are further treated according to at least the following steps: c) positioning a plurality of components with respect to one another such that each second surface section forms at least one overlapping area at least partially, d) treating the at least one overlapping area with microwaves.
US08915999B2
A shower plate is disposed in a processing chamber in a plasma processing apparatus, and plasma excitation gas is released into the processing chamber so as to generate plasma. A ceramic member having a plurality of gas release holes having a diameter of 20 μm to 70 μm, and/or a porous gas-communicating body having pores having a maximum diameter of not more than 75 μm communicating in the gas-communicating direction are sintered and bonded integrally with the inside of each of a plurality of vertical holes which act as release paths for the plasma excitation gas.
US08915997B2
A concrete mix for producing freeze-thaw durable concrete having enhanced strength properties, like compressive strength, abrasion resistance, impact strength, toughness, is disclosed. The novel concrete mix contains deformable solid elements in place of 4-8% entrained air for good durability of concrete under freeze-thaw cycles.
US08915995B2
The invention relates to coated material for the base layer of road pavement, made up of aggregate coated with a hydrocarbon binder, wherein the aggregate is more than 95 wt % of the coated material; wherein the aggregate includes a granular structure, which includes a plurality of granular fractions d/D; one intermediate fraction of which is less than 15% of the granules; wherein the hydrocarbon binder is less than 5 wt % of the coated material; wherein the coated material includes, after compacting, a void fraction of less than 8%; wherein the hydrocarbon binder is a hydrocarbon binder modified by adding polymers or oil, or modified by foaming or by emulsion, by means of which the modulus of rigidity of the coated material, once compacted, is higher than 9000 MPa.
US08915992B2
A system for providing a high purity acetylene comprising 100 ppm or less solvent to a point of use comprising a storage vessel that houses an acetylene feed steam comprising acetylene and solvent; a cooling system that maintains the storage vessel and provides the acetylene feed stream at a temperature ranging from 20° C. to −50° C.; and a purifier in fluid communication with the storage vessel wherein the acetylene feed stream is introduced into the purifier at a temperature ranging from −50° C. to 30° C. to remove at least a portion of the solvent contained therein and provide the high purity acetylene.
US08915991B2
The invention relates to a fluid separator 40 having first and second inlets, a turbine and a separation chamber having a centrifugal separation member. The first inlet is in direct fluid communication with a turbine inlet, and in use delivers high pressure vent air flow from a first gas turbine engine bearing housing to the turbine. The second inlet is in direct fluid communication with the centrifugal separation member, and in use delivers low pressure vent air flow from a second gas turbine engine bearing housing to the centrifugal separation member. An outlet of the turbine is in direct fluid communication with the centrifugal separation member. The centrifugal separation member is driven by the turbine.
US08915990B2
A refining system for refining a feed gas comprising hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide having a first concentration of hydrogen sulfide including a first part for producing a stream of a first processed feed gas, and a second part for producing a second stream of a second processed feed gas from the stream of the first processed feed gas using a separation process for H2S removal.
US08915979B2
The present application is directed to a gas-generating apparatus. Hydrogen is generated within the gas-generating apparatus and is transported to a fuel cell. The first fuel component is introduced into the second fuel component through a conduit which punctures a septum separating the reaction chamber and the first fuel component reservoir, and the fuel conduit introduces the first fuel component to different portions of the second fuel component to produce hydrogen.
US08915978B2
A method comprising applying a chemical change reagent to coal prior to combustion of the coal is provided. In some instances, the chemical change reagent can include an effective amount of a material to reduce NOx emissions, SOx emissions, or both from combustion of the coal.
US08915972B2
An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable treating chamber for holding laundry and a motor for rotating the treating chamber based on a monitored torque signal from the motor of the laundry treating appliance.
US08915965B2
A posterior cruciate ligament retaining knee implant prosthesis comprising a femoral component including a medial condyle and a lateral condyle separated from one another by an intercondylar channel adapted to accommodate throughput of a native cruciate ligament, both the medial condyle and the lateral condyle posteriorly terminate individually, the medial condyle including a medial condyle bearing surface and the lateral condyle including a lateral condyle bearing surface, the femoral component including an anterior cam, and a tibial component including a medial condyle receiver having a medial condyle receiver bearing surface, the tibial component also including a lateral condyle receiver having a lateral condyle receiver bearing surface, the tibial component also including an anterior post.
US08915961B2
Methods and devices are provided for anchoring graft to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a bone cavity is created in bone, a graft is partially advanced into the bone cavity, and a hardenable filler material is inserted into the cavity. The hardenable filler material can change from a viscous first state to a harder second state, compressing the graft against the walls of the bone cavity and thereby anchoring the graft within the cavity. The hardenable filler material can be inserted in an open sac, a closed sac, other carriers or housings, or directly into the bone cavity.
US08915960B2
A prosthetic tricuspid remodeling annuloplasty ring for use in tricuspid valve repairs to provide annular support after reconstructive valve surgery. The ring maintains an optimal annular dimension to prevent excessive dilatation of the natural valve annulus while adapting to the dynamic motion of the tricuspid annulus during the cardiac cycle. An exemplary ring features a waveform contour and may be constructed of a titanium core having a varying cross-section for selective flexibility for good Z-axis or out-of plane movement. The “waveform” contour and selective flexibility of the different segments of this ring are designed to adapt to the complex motion of the annulus. This reduces the stress on the anatomical structures and therefore minimizes the risk of arrhythmia and ring dehiscence.
US08915957B2
An implantable stent comprises a tubular member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, with a region of at least one of the surfaces being hydrophobic. The region is provided with an array of microstructures or nanostructures that covers first portions of the surface but leaves second portions exposed in the interstices of the array. These structures cause the region to have a dynamically controllable hydrophobicity. In one embodiment, a control device, which is affixed to the tubular member, varies the hydrophobicity of the region. In another embodiment, which is particularly applicable to the delivery of a medicinal substance to fluids in body vessels, the stent also includes such a medicinal substance that adheres to the exposed portions until the control device alters the hydrophobicity of the region and causes the substance to be released into a body fluid in contact with the stent. Various ways to load the stent are described. In yet another embodiment, the tubular member is provided with a mechanism that enables the shape of the stent (e.g., its diameter) in vivo to be controlled dynamically, again by means of external wireless communication. In one more embodiment, sensors are affixed to the tubular member to enable fluid parameters (e.g., pressure, flow rate) to be monitored remotely.
US08915954B2
Endoprosthesis for delivery in a body lumen is provided. The endoprosthesis includes an annular element defined by a set of interconnected strut members, each strut member including a first end and a second end. The first end of selected pairs of circumferentially-adjacent strut members of the annular element are interconnected to define apices proximate a first longitudinal side of the annular element and the second end of selected pairs circumferentially-adjacent strut members are interconnected to define apices proximate a second longitudinal side of the annular element. At least one of the selected pairs of circumferentially-adjacent strut members has a modulator disposed proximate the apex defined there between, the modulator having a first mode to allow expansion of the annular element from an unexpanded configuration toward an expanded configuration and a second mode to resist contraction of the annular element from the expanded configuration toward the unexpanded configuration.
US08915951B2
The present invention provides a system and method for providing a coating on a self-expandable medical device, such as a stent, while avoiding the issues relating to coating damage from the delivery sheath during loading and deployment. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a constrictive coating that acts as a constrictive sheath for the stent. A cutting mechanism is mounted on the end of the delivery tube such that when the stent with the constrictive coating exits the delivery tube, the constrictive coating is cut. This releases the constriction retaining the sheath, and the stent self-expands, pressing the cut portions of the coating against the lumen wall.
US08915930B2
A surgical clip applier and methods for applying surgical clips to a vessel, duct, shunt, etc., during a surgical procedure are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical clip applier is provided having a housing with a trigger movably coupled thereto and an elongate shaft extending therefrom with opposed jaws formed on a distal end thereof. The trigger is adapted to advance a clip to position the clip between the jaws, and to move the jaws from an open position to a closed position to crimp the clip positioned therebetween.
US08915929B2
A tissue displacing and fastening device is provided for manipulating and fastening tissue together. The device includes a tissue displacing elements, which displaces tissue. A fold is formed from the displaced tissue and the tissue is fastened together to secure the fold.
US08915924B2
A drill guide includes a first bone plate that extends along a first middle plane, and a second bone plate that extends along a second middle plane. The drill guide further includes a first articulation and a second articulation that is connected to the first articulation. The first and second articulations are arranged between the first and the second bone plate. Each of the first and second articulations is releasably lockable.
US08915923B2
A patella resection assembly comprises a modular handle and claw member. The claw member is reversibly mountable on the handle so that the same modules may be used to resect the patellae of both the right and the left knees. The handle has an adjustable member that carries a bone-gripping member. Linear movement of the adjustable member allows the same patella resection assembly to be used to securely grip patellae of various sizes.
US08915918B2
A bone plate system is provided herein. The system may include a first and a second bone plate, which plates may be affixed to one or more bone portions and each other, so as to align and stabilize the bone and correct a bone fracture. A first bone plate is provided which includes both a bone contacting and a top surface, one of which corresponds to a primary plane. The first bone plate may be configured to engage a bone portion and a secondary plate. A secondary bone plate is provided, which plate is configured to engage the first plate. The secondary plate includes a bone contacting surface, which corresponds to one or more planes or an arc that are provided at an angle or substantially perpendicular to the primary plane. Methods of using such bone plating systems for the reduction, restoration and treatment of bone fractures are provided.
US08915909B2
An impedance matching circuit may be used to adjust for manufacturing and design tolerances in a surgical instrument. The matching circuit may match the load of a thermal element with the impedance of a power source used to deliver electrical energy to the surgical instrument. The matching circuit may include capacitors, inductors, coaxial cables, varactors, transformers, resistors, and/or combinations thereof. The matching circuit may also comprise a circuit board or flex board layers which may be modified to adjust the impedance of the load.
US08915907B2
A method for removing tattoos using two laser beams and a multi-photon process is disclosed. A 0.1 to 100 nsec pulse secondary laser beam focused to 108 W/cm2 creates a temporary channel from the skin surface to the tattoo pigment. A 100 fsec pulse main laser beam is then guided through the channel to the pigment and focused to sufficient intensity, i.e., 1012 W/cm2 or more, to initiate a multi-photon process that breaks up the pigment, disrupting its light reflecting properties. The channel allows the main laser beam unobstructed passage to the pigments, resulting in efficient use of the main laser. The pigment fragments escape through the temporary channel or diffuse into the blood stream. A suitably configured Ti/Sapphire laser beam is split into two components, with an uncompressed component used as the secondary laser beam, and a compressed component as the main laser beam.
US08915905B2
An apparatus for ophthalmic laser surgery comprises a source (28) for a pulsed femtosecond laser beam, a telescope (32) expanding the laser beam, a scanner (36) downstream of the telescope, for deflecting the laser beam in a plane perpendicular to the beam path, and also an f-theta objective (44) downstream of the scanner, for focusing the laser beam. In accordance with the invention, an entrance lens (52) of the telescope (32) takes the form of a controllable lens of variable refractive power. The entrance lens (52) is preferentially constituted by an electrically controllable liquid lens or liquid-crystal lens.
US08915903B2
A fluid conduit connector assembly includes a connector having a body with an inner surface defining a fluid channel. The connector also includes an inlet region for flow of fluid into the fluid channel, and an outlet region for flow of fluid from the fluid channel. The connector further includes an axial alignment member outward of the body, and a pair of flexible tabs arranged generally circumferentially of the alignment member and outward of the body. The connector can be configured as a day-side connector, transfer member with check valve, and/or patient-side connector. An implementation includes a day-side connector, a patient-side connector, and a transfer member, each of which has a pair of flexible tabs. The pairs of tabs are configured such that the transfer member releasably couples the day-side and patient-side connectors. A method for aseptically connecting a fluid conduit is also disclosed.
US08915901B2
A fastening and carrying device (2) for a disposable absorbent incontinence pad (4) has a belt (6) which is closed on itself in a detachable manner by means of belt closure elements (22), thus forming a continuous hip opening in the circumferential hip direction (8). The belt (6) has one flap section (32, 34) each proceeding from the back region (16) and the abdominal region (14) extending in a longitudinal direction in direction (38) on the crotch region of the user, having preferably mechanically acting closure elements (40, 42) on the side thereof facing the body, which interact in a detachably adhering manner with complementary, preferably mechanically acting, closure elements on the side of the incontinence pad (4) facing away from the body.
US08915900B2
A disposable diaper having front and rear waist regions that comprise an upper elasticized region extending in a vicinity of a waist-opening periphery, lower elasticized regions, intermediate elasticized region extending between the upper elasticized region and the lower elasticized regions and outside longitudinally opposite ends of a liquid-absorbent structure. At least in the front waist region of the front and rear waist regions, there is a non-elasticized region opposed to a central zone of a liquid-absorbent core wherein a tensile stress of the intermediate elasticized region is lower than a tensile stress of the upper elasticized region.
US08915899B2
An absorbent article includes a body side liner, a back sheet, an absorbent body positioned between the body side liner and the back sheet, and a body conforming structure positioned in direct facing relation with the body side liner. The body conforming structure length is at least 50% the absorbent body length and is aligned with a longitudinal centerline of the absorbent article. The median anterior portion width of the body conforming structure is greater than the median central portion width of the body conforming structure which is greater than the median posterior portion width of the body conforming structure. The anterior portion includes a well, the central portion includes a channel, and the posterior portion includes a taper. The well transitions into the channel via a first convex transition and a concave transition. The channel transitions into the taper via a second convex transition.
US08915897B2
A removable manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system. The manifold is dimensioned to be mounted to a receiver integral with the system. The manifold includes a includes at least one fitting through which waste is drawn into the manifold. The fitting opens through an inlet port into a void space internal to the manifold. A backflow prevention valve is disposed in the manifold void space. The backflow prevention valve includes a static hub to which a driver for engaging a complementary valve internal to the receiver. The valve regulates flow between the receiver and the down line components of the waste collection system. The valve is normally closed. When the manifold is fitted to the receiver the driver engages the valve so as move the valve to the open position. This allows fluid flow from the manifold and receiver to the downstream components of the system.
US08915895B2
A reduced pressure treatment system includes a reduced pressure source and a reduced pressure dressing. The dressing includes an interface layer adapted to be positioned at a tissue site and an absorbent layer in fluid communication with the interface layer to absorb liquid from at least one of the interface layer and the tissue site. A diverter layer is positioned adjacent the absorbent layer, and the diverter layer includes a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with the absorbent layer to distribute a reduced pressure to the absorbent layer. A cover is positioned over the diverter layer to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site.
US08915891B2
A Luer securement device comprising a Luer adapter having a septum and a catheter hood, the Luer adapter further having a wedge seal for receiving a base portion of a catheter. The Luer securement device further includes an inserter body in which is slidably housed a catheter threader having a probe which is configured to advance a base portion of a catheter through the septum thereby seating the base portion of the catheter into the wedge seal of the Luer adapter as a tip portion of the catheter is inserted into a patient. The catheter threader further includes a needle adapter having a needle which is threaded through the probe and the catheter to assist in inserting the catheter into the patient. Following insertion of the catheter, the catheter threader is retracted within the inserter body thereby withdrawing the needle from the catheter and shielding a sharpened tip of the needle within at least one of the inserter body and the catheter threader. The inserter body is then detached from the Luer adapter and discarded.
US08915881B2
The invention relates to a injection device, comprising a housing being adapted to receive in its proximal housing portion a container with an injection fluid and to receive in its distal housing portion a dose setting and injection mechanism, wherein the mechanism includes a piston rod being axially displaceable with respect to the housing for dispensing injection fluid from the container, wherein the piston rod has an outer thread and is arranged torque proof with respect to the housing, dose setting means comprising a threaded element, which threaded element has an inner thread being in engagement with the outer thread of the piston rod, is designed so that its axial position relative to the housing is changeable and is rotatable relative to the piston rod and relative to the housing during setting of an injection dose, wherein the dose setting means are designed such that the threaded element is held in torque proof manner relative to the piston rod and to the housing during the injection of the beforehand set injection dose in such a manner that the threaded element and the piston rod are axially displaceable together with respect to the housing, wherein the mechanism further comprises holding means being in contact with the piston rod and being designed such that the axial displacement of the piston rod can be substantially immobilized during use of the device except for the dispensing of the injection dose. It is proposed according to the invention that the holding means are axially fixed with respect to the housing.
US08915878B2
An electrosurgical end effector for ablating tissue is provided that comprises at least one electrically-conductive ablation member adapted to be connected to a source of RF energy, with the ablation member having a tissue engaging surface and defining an internal fluid passageway. Preferably, the end effector includes two electrically conductive ablation members that are electrically isolated from one another and have their fluid passageways in fluid communication. Alternatively, the end effector may comprise four electrically conductive ablation members arranged as two pairs of ablation members, all of the ablation members having internal fluid passageways that are electrically isolated from each other, with the fluid passageways of each of the four ablation members being in fluid communication with each other.
US08915877B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides an implant device for use in an eye with elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for lowering intraocular pressure and/or treating a condition associated with elevated intraocular pressure using the implant device of the present invention.
US08915874B2
An adjusting device having a first element and a second element movably mounted with respect thereto, wherein the first element has at least one latching device, and wherein at least one locking element coupled to an actuating element is movably disposed on the second element and can be moved out of a release position out of engagement with the latching device into a locking position in engagement with the latching device. The adjusting device has a simple construction which functions reliably and enables rapid adjustment of the stop position. The actuating element has at least one actuating magnet, which is associated with a locking magnet coupled to the locking element and the locking element moves into the release position and/or locking position and/or out of the release position and/or locking position.
US08915861B2
An adaptor is adapted to be attached on a face of the subject to collect expiration gas of the subject. An airway case is formed with a chamber, and adapted to be coupled with a carbon dioxide sensor so that carbon dioxide in the expiration gas flowing through the chamber is detected by the carbon dioxide sensor. Nasal tubes are adapted to be inserted into nostrils of the subject when the adaptor is attached on the face of the subject. The nasal tubes are adapted to lead nasal expiration gas of the subject to the chamber. A mouth guide is adapted to lead oral expiration gas of the subject to the chamber when the adaptor is attached on the face of the subject. A branch tube is communicating with the nasal tubes and adapted to lead pressure generated by the nasal expiration gas to an external pressure sensor.
US08915858B1
A system and method (1000) for an interactive game is disclosed herein. The system (1000) preferably includes monitoring device (20) monitoring the vital signs of a user, an interface (1115), a game console (1010) and an accessory (1020). The monitoring device (20) is preferably an article (25) having an optical sensor (30) and a circuitry assembly (35), and a pair of straps (26a and 26b). The monitoring device (20) preferably provides for the display of the following information about the user: pulse rate; blood oxygenation levels; calories expended by the user of a pre-set time period; target zones of activity; time; distance traveled; and/or dynamic blood pressure. The article (25) is preferably a band worn on a user's wrist, arm or ankle.
US08915853B2
Methods for treating skin and subcutaneous tissue with energy such as ultrasound energy are disclosed. In various embodiments, ultrasound energy is applied at a region of interest to affect tissue by cutting, ablating, micro-ablating, coagulating, or otherwise affecting the subcutaneous tissue to conduct numerous procedures that are traditionally done invasively in a non-invasive manner. Methods of lifting sagging tissue on a face and/or neck are described.
US08915850B2
In aspects of the present disclosure, a no coding blood glucose monitoring unit including a calibration unit is integrated with one or more components of an analyte monitoring system to provide compatibility with in vitro test strip that do not require a calibration code is provided. Also disclosed are methods, systems, devices and kits for providing the same.
US08915849B2
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.
US08915848B1
An ophthalmic instrument that includes an elongated handle member and a plurality of extensions configured to grasp an eyelid, wherein the extensions extend from a top surface of the handle member at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle member, wherein a first extension is located on a first side of the top surface of the handle member and a second extension is located on a second side of the top surface of the handle member. A double-everting method that includes holding an eyelid to a second end of the handle member and rotating the instrument until the eyelid is placed in an everted position, positioning the plurality of extensions over a lower edge of the everted eyelid in order to grasp the everted eyelid with the plurality of extensions, and rotating the instrument until the grasped-everted eyelid is placed in a double-everted position.
US08915844B2
The endoscope diagnostic apparatus includes a light source emitting white light and two or more kinds of excited light with different center wavelengths for emitting two or more kinds of self-fluorescence from a self-fluorescent material, an imaging unit which receives reflected light of white light to image a normal light image, and receives self-fluorescence emitted from the self-fluorescent material to image self-fluorescent images, and a light source control unit which has compensation coefficients for preventing emission intensity from being lowered depending on the volume of blood when the two or more kinds of excited light are absorbed by blood, and compensates the ratios of emission intensity of the two or more kinds of excited light using the calculated compensation coefficients so as to exclude the influence of absorption of light by blood in each of the two or more kinds of excited light.
US08915840B2
Provided is a capsule-type endoscope that has a power receiving coil that wirelessly receives an electric power from outside a body of an individual to be examined, a processing circuit that performs predetermined processing, and an adjusting reactance section that is capable of adjusting a reactance that is connected to the power receiving coil.
US08915839B2
An in-vivo information acquiring system previously sets synchronization signals for each imaging unit which captures an image. In the in-vivo information acquiring system, a capsule endoscope transmits scan-line data of an image to be transmitted using the synchronization signal corresponding to the imaging unit which captures the image to be transmitted, and a receiving apparatus identifies that the received scan-line data forms the image captured by the imaging unit corresponding to the detected synchronization signal by detecting the synchronization signal from received information.
US08915829B2
A reformer exercise apparatus is disclosed that has a generally rectangular frame. The rail portions of the frame each have an upright outer wall, an integral downwardly slanted inner wall and a hidden outwardly open slot therein between the outer and inner walls. A foot bar support assembly movably carried by each of the outwardly open slots supports the foot bar. Each foot bar support assembly has an elongated slide plate movably supported within the slot, a hook plate fastened to the slide plate, and a foot bar support arm rotatably and slidably fastened to the hook plate. A pair of tubular risers each having an upper roller therein at the head end of the frame direct arm cord ends to a cord retraction assembly mounted on the carriage. The retraction assembly releases the cords by pivoting either one of the shoulder stops toward the foot end of the frame.
US08915827B2
Footwear for use in resistance band training includes plural spaced straps extending loosely over the instep. Each strap is circumscribed by a connection ring freely movable along the strap such that, when the ring is pulled by an applied force, the ring traverses the strap and is repositioned according to the direction of the force. The user may alternatively select any of the straps to engage a resistance band. A belt for connection to the straps includes a band connection ring movable to different positions on the belt. A pad may be positioned over a front belt ring to comfortably project the band away from the user's body. The footwear and belt may be used with a vest connected to limbs and extremities to body parts for a full body workout.
US08915823B2
A method for processing biological information is provided, wherein the method includes receiving biological information from a monitoring device responsive to a first party and responsive to an exercise regime and processing the biological information to generate resultant information responsive to at least one physical characteristic of the first party.
US08915799B2
A golf ball having a core that includes an aqueous solution contained by a boundary layer with a solid center suspended in the solution to modify the moment of inertia of the golf ball. The aqueous solution can be thixotropic, or rheopectic, or dilatant, or pseudoplastic in nature and the center formulated to simulate the specific gravity of the solution.
US08915787B2
In a sliding type constant velocity universal joint which includes a coil spring (14) employed to urge an intermediate shaft (13), a cylindrical portion (34) of a spring receptacle which supports an end of the coil spring (14) rises by a height h3, so that an edge (37) of the cylindrical portion (34) makes contact with a lower end surface of an outer ring (26) of a roller assembly (28) of an inner joint member (12) when the constant velocity universal joint takes a maximum operating angle.
US08915786B2
The gaming device disclosed herein includes a plurality of simultaneously, substantially simultaneously or sequentially played primary games, wherein a designated triggering event in at least one of the games causes the gaming device to change, modify, supplement, add to, activate or otherwise influence the paytable of at least another game.
US08915781B2
The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. The system may provide mirage reveals that give an appearance to the user that an objective may be achieved to obtain a reward. However, the objective may not be achievable, thereby guaranteeing a loss. The mirage reveals may be used to reveal a loss resulting from a real-world wager in a manner that the loss appears to result from the failure to achieve the objective.
US08915780B2
A lottery data transfer method for processing lottery ticket data piggybacks on a merchant's existing debit or credit card interchange system. A BIN is assigned to lottery tickets that is unique in the merchant's credit or debit card interchange, the BIN associated with a lottery data blob also provided on the lottery ticket. The lottery BIN and data blob are into the merchant's existing credit or debit card activation barcode protocol to initiate transfer of the lottery data to a central lottery site via the interchange. At a processor within the interchange, the unique lottery BIN is flagged to initiate special routing to and further processing of the lottery data blob at the lottery central site, wherein the lottery data blob is processed outside of the interchange's debit or credit card data transfer and processing procedures.
US08915778B2
A hybrid solar attic vent comprising a housing configured to be mounted on the roof or in the gable of a building in communication with the attic of the building. A photovoltaic solar panel is positioned to be exposed to sunlight and to power the attic fan when sufficient sunlight is present. An alternative source of energy, which may be the building's AC power, is connected to the fan through an electronic control module. The control module monitors the output of the solar panel and switches the fan's power source from solar power to the alternative source of energy when the solar panel produces insufficient electrical energy to power the fan. A thermostat allows operation of the fan by the alternative power source only when the temperature in the attic is above a predetermined threshold.
US08915777B2
An aircraft air conditioning system includes a main air conditioning device which taps air off a turbine engine, and an auxiliary unit with a compressor that taps ambient air and conditions it to send to a distributing device in place of a main device, when the aircraft is in cruising flight or close to cruising flight.
US08915772B2
A crab shelling machine includes first and second transfer mechanisms for conveying crabs, a cutting mechanism for sectioning the crabs and a separating mechanism for separating crab meat and/or crab roe from crab shells. The cutting mechanism includes a frame body, a pair of transmitting apparatuses positioned above the frame body, and a cutter vertically extending into a slot formed by the pair of transmitting apparatuses. The slot is adapted for the crabs to be conveyed therethrough. Each transmitting apparatus includes two transport wheels and a transport belt associated to the transport wheels. The separating mechanism includes a storage box located above the second transfer mechanism, a suction tube fixed to the storage box for separating the crab meat and/or the crab roe, and a driving apparatus for driving the suction tube.
US08915764B2
A bra with embroidered support regions that provide support without compression is provided. The embroidered support regions are constructed by stitching a configurable thread pattern on a middle layer of a bra cup. The configurable thread pattern includes a plurality of top threads and a plurality of bobbin threads that are arranged to provide support in needed areas.
US08915761B2
A connector terminal which can achieve high mechanical connection strength and stabilized low electrical connection resistance when it is crimped to an aluminum electric wire, and in addition, can suppress electrical contact resistance low when it is fitted to a mating connector terminal is provided. In a connector terminal (1A) having an electrical contact section (10) which is brought into contact and conducted with a mating connector terminal by fitting to the mating connector terminal, and a conductor crimping section (12) which is crimped to the conductor of an electric wire, a metal material which constitutes the terminal uses aluminum or an aluminum alloy as a base material (100), a Zn layer (101) having a thickness in the range from 0.1 μm to 2.0 μm by electroless plating and a Cu layer (102) having a thickness in the range from 0.5 μm to 1.0 μm by electrolytic plating are formed in sequence on the surface of the base material (100), and an Sn layer (105) having a thickness in the range from 0.7 μm to 1.7 μm by electrolytic plating is formed on the outermost surface.
US08915742B2
An artificial body wall is disclosed herein. The artificial body wall may include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is substantially formed of a silicone rubber and includes at least one of an artificial epidermis-dermis layer or an artificial subcutaneous layer. The second layer extends along and below the first layer and is substantially formed of a silicone rubber. The second layer includes at least one of an artificial fascia layer or an artificial muscle layer. At least one of the first layer or second layer may be vascularized.
US08915740B2
A simulator facilitates virtual welding activity of pipe and open root weld joints. The simulator may include a logic processor based system operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment that emulates welding activity on a section of virtual pipe having at least one virtual weld joint. It also includes a display connected to the logic processor based system for visually depicting the interactive welding environment, wherein the display depicts the section of virtual pipe. A mock welding tool is provided for performing virtual welding activity on the at least one weld joint in real time where one or more sensors are adapted to track movement of the input device in real time for communicating data about the movement of the input device to the logic processor based system.
US08915738B2
A driver performance evaluation and apparatus includes means for generating first data stream representing driver actions, a second data stream representing vehicle movements, a filtering function to eliminate short term actions in both data streams, the generation of a raw score which is independent of timing and the adjustment of the raw score based on a comparison of actual driver action timing to an ideal timing sequence to provide a final score which is an indication of driver performance/proficiency.
US08915734B2
The current invention refers to a device for the removal of residues that have not been removed after the repair of teeth. It enables easier sanding between teeth, provides greater support, and requires less time for the oral cavity to be open. It is lubricant, electricity, and battery free. The surfaces of this invention are smooth with rounded edges, and can sand both the fronts and the backs of the teeth. The current invention will enable dentists throughout the world easier manipulation in the process of removing residues after teeth repair and will only require the use of one hand.
US08915727B2
According to one embodiment, a rotary compressor includes a compressing unit provided with a cylinder having a flared portion to provide a vane groove. In the compressing unit, a piston revolves along a cylinder inner wall, and an operation chamber is formed between the cylinder inner wall and the piston. A vane protrudes from the vane groove into the operation chamber and comes in contact with the annular piston to partition the operation chamber into an inlet chamber and a compression chamber. A spring inserted in a spring hole formed in the back of the vane groove presses the back of the vane. A spring holder pin is inserted in a pin hole located on the outer circumferential side of an end of the vane groove and crossing the spring hole to prevent the spring from coming off the spring hole when the compressing unit is installed in the housing.
US08915725B2
A compressor is provided having an accumulator that forms an accumulating chamber in an internal space of a shell of the compressor, reducing a size and simplifying an assembly process. A stationary shaft having a refrigerant suction passage may be directly connected to the accumulator to prevent leakage of refrigerant. A center of gravity of the accumulator may correspond to a center of gravity of the compressor to reduce vibration caused by the accumulator. An eccentric portion may be provided at the stationary shaft to secure a spacious compression space. Both ends of the stationary shaft may be supported by a frame to reduce vibration. A rotor and a cylinder may be coupled with a bearing to reduce cylinder deformation. An installation area of the compressor may be minimized to enhance design flexibility of an outdoor device employing the compressor and minimize interference with other components.
US08915721B2
A mini-fan has a drive motor having an external rotor (222) and an internal stator (244). The external rotor (222) is equipped with a rotor shaft (234) that has a necked down portion (258) in the region of its free end (235). The mini-fan (216) has a bearing tube (238) on whose outer side the internal stator (244) is mounted and in whose interior is arranged a bearing arrangement (236) in which the rotor shaft (234) is rotatably supported. A closure arrangement (262) serves to close off the bearing tube (238) in liquid-tight fashion at one end, and is equipped, in the region of the necked down portion (258) of the rotor shaft (234), with at least one resilient securing member (260) that engages into that necked down portion (258) and secures the rotor shaft (234) against being pulled out of the bearing arrangement (236).
US08915714B2
A partial pitch wind turbine is described wherein the wind turbine blade has an inner blade section designed for stall-controlled operation and an outer blade section designed for pitch-controlled operation. The different blade profiles for the different sections allow for the efficient operation of the blade while providing for the control of the wind turbine to effectively reduce blade root moments. The outer blade sections can be pitched out of the wind to reduce root moments due to the outer blade sections, while the increasing power capture of the inner blade section maintains nominal power output.
US08915707B2
An exhaust gas housing for a gas turbine is provided and includes a support structure, which, arranged concentrically, includes an outer ring and an inner ring which are interconnected by radially arranged struts, and a flow liner, which is attached inside the support structure and, arranged concentrically, includes an outer liner and an inner liner which are interconnected by radially arranged liner ribs. The liner ribs each encompass the struts of the support structure, and the outer and inner liners inside the support structure form an annular passage for the turbine's hot exhaust gases. The liner ribs are welded together from front and rear parts in the flow direction, forming welded seams which extend axially in the outer liner and in the inner liner up to the liner edge. End rings, which cover the welded seams at the liner edge, are welded on the liner's rear edges for reinforcement.
US08915706B2
A transition nozzle is provided and includes a liner in which combustion occurs and through which products of the combustion flow toward a turbine bucket stage. The liner includes opposing endwalls and opposing sidewalls extending between the opposing endwalls. The opposing sidewalls are oriented to tangentially direct the flow of the combustion products toward the turbine bucket stage. At least one of the opposing endwalls and the opposing sidewalls including a flow contouring feature to guide the flow of the combustion products.
US08915700B2
A gas turbine engine includes a first shaft defining an axis of rotation and a second shaft rotatable about the axis of rotation and spaced radially outwardly relative to the first shaft. A speed change mechanism is driven by the second shaft. A fan includes a fan rotor driven by the speed change mechanism such that the fan and the first shaft rotate at a slower speed than the second shaft. At least one inducer stage is positioned aft of the fan and is coupled for rotation with the fan rotor.
US08915699B2
A circulation structure for a turbo compressor, in particular for a compressor of a gas turbine, is disclosed. The circulation structure includes at least one annular chamber that can be traversed in a circumferential direction, is concentric with a shaft of the turbo compressor in the region of the free blade ends of a blade ring, and radially borders a main flow channel. Several chambers that can be traversed in an axial direction are situated upstream of the or each annular chamber, when viewed from the main flow direction of the main flow channel.
US08915697B2
An articulated erection structure is disclosed for use in mobilizing a wind energy extraction device. The wind turbine has blades capable of being disposed in side-by-side, parallel alignment for transportation. The erection structure has a mast that can be configured in a horizontal orientation for transportation with the turbine generator lowered, and reconfigured for power-generating operations in a vertical orientation with the turbine raised. The turbine generator may be mounted with an erection structure to a variety of transportation platforms, such as on a self-propelled vehicle, towed trailer, or transportation pallet. A hybrid system may integrate photovoltaic cells in addition to a wind energy extraction device.
US08915685B2
A strap corner protector multifunctional installation tool may include a plate having a front side, a rear side, a top end and a bottom end. The plate may be bent into a J-shape with a curved section ending in front of the front side of the plate. At least two upper posts may be attached to the top end of the plate. At least one lower post may be attached to the bottom end of the plate. At least two back posts may be attached to the rear side of the plate. A threaded protrusion may be attached to the bottom end of the plate. A pole may be connected to the strap corner protector multifunctional installation tool. Various accessories for securing cargo may be installed and positioned through the use of the strap corner protector multifunctional installation tool.
US08915664B2
A lipstick tube has an outer-layer spiral tube, a middle-layer involution tube and a lipstick cup arranged on the inner side sequentially sheathed on the inner side of a base, and a longitudinal groove is arranged on the tube wall of the middle-layer involution tube. The lipstick cup has a vertical groove on the cup wall. A first lifting point is arranged directly under the vertical groove, engaged with the longitudinal groove of the middle-layer involution tube and the internal thread of the outer-layer spiral tube; a second lifting point is arranged on the outer surface of a base plate, engaged with the vertical groove, the longitudinal groove and the internal thread. The outer-layer spiral tube allows the first and the second lifting points to move side by side. The internal thread of the upper-section spiral tube only allows the second lifting point to move.
US08915660B1
A self-photographing mount device for holding a camera equipped user device at a distance from a user, comprising: a mounting structure having at least two corner mounting elements for mounting a camera equipped user device in parallel to a mounting plane; an extendable shaft having a handle at a proximal end thereof; and a hinge mounted on one of the at least two corner mounting elements to allow pivotal rotation of the extendable shaft from a folded position to an open position; when in the folded position, the extendable shaft is adjacent to the mounting plane and parallel to a diagonal of a back panel of the camera equipped user device; and when in the open position, the extendible shaft forms a wide angle with the mounting plane.
US08915659B2
An optical fiber cable includes a first cable segment; a second cable segment; and a splice enclosure. The first cable segment can have a different configuration than the second cable segment. The splice enclosure is coupled to the strength member and strength component of the first cable segment and the second cable segment. One example splice enclosure includes a first enclosure body having a first threaded connection region and a second enclosure body having a second threaded connection region. Another example splice enclosure includes a tubular enclosure with two end caps. Cable retention members are positioned within the splice enclosure at fixed axial positions.
US08915658B2
An optical mover with functions of nanometer fine adjustment and micrometer coarse adjustment is mainly used to align two optical elements for connecting two optical elements, such as connection of two optical fibers, connection of one optical fiber with a photo diode, or connection of one optical fiber and one optical waveguide. In using, one optical element is placed upon the supporting seat for fine position adjustment, and another optical element is fixed on an external retainer for aligning to the former optical element on the supporting seat. A coarse control button is firstly used to coarsely adjust the position of the former optical element to approximately align to the later optical element. Then a fine-adjusting button is used to fine adjust the position therebetween so as to well align the two optical elements to a desire level for further operation, such as connecting the two elements.
US08915639B2
A lighting system including a light guide plate having a groove, a light source module arranged in the groove, and a projection from a side of the groove in the light guide plate toward the light source module for guiding a light from the light source module to the light guide plate.
US08915638B2
The present invention provides a backlight module and a display apparatus. The display apparatus comprises the backlight module and a display panel. The backlight module comprises a back bezel and a plurality of light sources. The back bezel includes a plurality of bezel convex portions and a plurality of corresponding bezel concave portions. The light sources are disposed on the back bezel and positioned between the bezel convex portions. The present invention can use the bezel concave portions of the back bezel to improve a heat-dissipation effect.
US08915633B2
There are provided systems, devices and methods for operating a light source to match a white point of ambient light. In one embodiment, a light control system is provided. The light control system includes a light source and a light sensor. The light sensor is configured to operate in conjunction with the light source to provide a visual effect. A controller is electrically coupled to the light source and the light sensor and configured to determine the intensity and color of light to which the light sensor is exposed and dynamically adjust the output of the light source to match the determined intensity and color of light to which the light sensor is exposed.
US08915620B2
The present invention relates to an illumination system for use in a stereolithography apparatus. The illumination system includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), each LED having at least a first light-emitting surface and a second surface, at least one of the first and the second surface being substantially flat. The illumination further includes a plurality of electrical pathways, selectively connected to the respective LEDs, such that each LED can be individually controlled and a leveling surface. The leveling surface is substantially flat and in leveling contact with the at least one substantially flat surface of each LED, such that a two-dimensional array of LEDs extends in a plane parallel to the leveling surface.
US08915617B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting diode fixture assembly, having at least one component made out of thermally conductive thermoplastic which is comprised of a thermally conductive thermoplastic composition which is comprised of at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one thermally conductive filler. The light emitting diode fixture assembly is comprised of (1) at least one light emitting diode, (2) a lens covering a portion of the light emitting diode, (3) a back plate to which the light emitting diode is affixed, (4) the housing for the light emitting diode and the base plate, and (5) electrical connectors which are in electrical communication with the light emitting diode and an electrical supply source with a enclosing cup/sleeve.
US08915616B2
A lighting apparatus is disclosed. The lighting apparatus has a drain structure of guiding water introduced through an assembly clearance to discharge the water to the outside and improves waterproof performance.
US08915610B2
A lighting device includes a substrate and a planar light source portion including a plurality of LED chips arrayed on the substrate. The planar light source portion faces an illumination space (space to be illuminated) by a predetermined opening area. The plurality of LED chips are arrayed on the substrate such that the mounting density with respect to the opening area is not less than 3/cm2, and accordingly, a planar light source is formed.
US08915605B2
A light source module includes a receiving container, a light source disposed in the receiving container and a filter filtering the light produced from the light source. A backlight unit includes a plurality of light source modules. The plurality of light source modules include a first light source module with a filter and a second light source module alternately disposed with the first light source module. The filter includes a substrate, a transparent layer disposed on the first metal layer and a second metal layer disposed on the transparent layer. The filter transilluminating light of specific area is disposed on the light source module. Thus, the backlight unit having high color reproducibility may be manufactured.
US08915601B2
An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting portion mounted to a side of a vehicle, a mirror head portion, a reflective element fixedly attached at the mirror head portion, and an actuator operable to impart pivotal movement of the mirror head portion relative to the mounting portion and about a generally horizontal pivot axis and a generally vertical pivot axis to adjust the mirror head portion and the reflective element relative to the side of the vehicle to which the mounting portion is mounted. The actuator may include a tilting drive system for tilting the mirror head portion about the generally horizontal pivot axis and the actuator may include a rotating drive system for rotating the mirror head portion about the generally vertical pivot axis.
US08915599B2
The present application relates to a reflector body (10), particularly a spherical retro-reflective marker, comprising a plurality of reflector body segments (11), and the individual reflector body segments (11) comprised by such a reflector body (10), and methods for producing the reflector body segments (11) and the reflector body (10). The reflector bodies (10) comprise a coating having a reflection film (12), by which the reflector body segments (11) of the reflector body (10) are uniformly spanned, performed by suitably selecting the geometric shape of the reflector body segment (11) to be spanned, by injecting molding behind the reflection film (12) in an injection molding process and/or by producing the reflector body segments (11) in a forming process.
US08915595B2
A method of producing a Pepper's Ghost Illusion comprising using a reflective and semi-transparent foil formed from a polymeric composite, the polymeric composite including a flame retardant.
US08915583B2
Methods and/or systems for printing or otherwise evincing temporary indicia on media with disappearing inks are described along with suitable disappearing ink formulations and media constructions for executing the same. In particular embodiments, the methods and/or systems described employ a plurality of disappearing inks with different disappearing rates. In one embodiment, a barrier layer that is selectively used to cover a major surface of the media is employed to substantially block or otherwise regulate a rate of phase transitions (e.g., evaporation and/or sublimation) experienced by ink borne by the media.
US08915582B2
A printing material supply system 10 includes a printer 50 equipped with a holder 600 and cartridges 20 that are detachably attached to the holder 600. The holder 600 has a first apparatus-side locking element 810 and a lever 800. The first apparatus-side locking element 810 is formed as part of the lever 800. The cartridge 20 has a first cartridge-side locking element 210 that includes a first locking surface 211 to engage with the first apparatus-side locking element 810. The first cartridge-side locking element 210 has an extended surface 219 that prevents a negative Z-axis end 818 of the lever 800 from running on the first locking surface 211.
US08915562B2
A computer-controlled system determines attributes of a frexel, an area of human skin, and applies a modifying agent (RMA) at the pixel level, typically to make the skin appear more youthful and so more attractive. The system scans the frexel, identifies unattractive attributes, and applies the RMA, typically with an inkjet printer. The identified attributes relate to reflectance and may refer to features such as irregular-looking light and dark spots, age-spots, scars, and bruises. Identified attributes may also relate to the surface topology of the skin, for more precisely enhancing surface irregularities such as bumps and wrinkles. Feature mapping may be used, for example to make cheeks appear pinker and cheekbones more prominent. The RMA can be applied in agreement with identified patterns, such as adding red to a red frexel, or in opposition, such as adding green or blue to a red frexel, according to idealized models of attractiveness.
US08915561B2
A refrigerator includes a shelf assembly positioned within a compartment. The shelf assembly includes a first shelf portion attached to a first slide and having at least one projection, and a second shelf portion attached to a second slide and having at least one receiving portion. The first and second shelf portions are movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The at least one projection selectively engages the at least one receiving portion. Further, the first shelf portion is movable between a lowered position and a raised position when the first shelf portion is in the retracted position.
US08915558B2
Articles for supporting computers on users' laps and for isolating the users from heat from the computers. Embodiments may include a body, a top surface for contacting the computer, a bottom surface for contacting the user's lap, and back and front walls or surfaces. In various embodiments, the body defines a hollow area and a side opening, the back is taller than the front, the top surface is at an acute angle to the bottom surface, the bottom surface has a greater horizontal dimension from front to back than the top surface, the bottom surface has a greater horizontal dimension from left to right than the top surface; the article has a cross section that is a trapezoid (e.g., isosceles), the article comprises a foam portion (e.g., tubular) and fabric covering the foam portion, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, each surface comprises the foam covered with fabric.
US08915553B2
A braking device for braking a moving mass includes a movably guided coupling member for pressing a brake lining against a braking surface, a brake cylinder, filled with a hydraulic liquid, a brake piston which is movable inside the brake cylinder and which is connected to the coupling member. At least one hydraulic line can be connected to the brake cylinder. The device ensures the moving masses to be reliably decelerated. For that purpose, a fluidic-mechanical safety brake device is used to connect the brake cylinder to the one or more hydraulic lines.
US08915546B2
A locking device is disclosed, such as for head restraint of a vehicle seat. The head restraint has a first subsection that may be displaced from a first position in a direction of displacement into a comfort position. Relative movement of a second subsection relative to the first subsection and/or relative to a third subsection is provided about a rotational axis substantially parallel to the direction of displacement. A blocking device and a sliding device are arranged between the first and second subsections and/or between the second and third subsections.
US08915542B2
A sunroof apparatus includes a movable roof panel including a front edge connected to an upper edge of a front window without a roof outer plate interposed between the roof panel and the front window for closing an opening portion of a roof; a seal member disposed at a circumference of an edge portion of the opening portion; a front panel holder fixed to a lower surface of at least the front edge of the roof panel for reinforcing the roof panel, wherein during closing of the opening portion of the roof, the front panel holder pressingly contacts the seal member disposed at the front edge of the roof panel, and a lower surface of the roof panel pressingly contacts directly the seal member disposed at a rear edge of the roof panel.
US08915534B2
A guide (10) for a sliding door, in particular of a vehicle (V), includes: a first straight section (11), a second straight section (12), a curved section (11C), in particular the curved section (11C) being located between the first straight section (11) and the second straight section (12), the guide (10) including a first portion (20) having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section and including a first side wall (21), an intermediate wall (21I) and a second side wall (22) facing the first side wall (21). The first straight section (11) and the second straight section (12) of the guide (10) include an intermediate wall (21I) so realized as to include at least one corrugation (23).
US08915532B2
Deformation of a trunk door is suppressed with a simple structure. A lateral bead is formed along a ridgeline region that is formed by an inner upper wall portion and an inner rear wall portion of an inner panel of the trunk door. The lateral bead is not connected to a ring bead formed at an outer periphery of the inner panel. Thus, stiffness of the ridgeline region may be suppressed compared with a case in which the lateral bead is connected to the ring bead. Thus, substantial V-form folding of an outer upper wall portion and an outer rear wall portion may be suppressed.
US08915519B2
An airbag is manufactured as follows. In a first joining step, peripheral portions of structural fabric portions that are located closer to the main body fabric portions at the installation are joined to the main body fabric portions in a spread state. In a second joining step, a part that is not overlaid onto the structural fabric portions is joined to the main body fabric portions, and a part that is overlaid onto the structural fabric portions is joined only to the structural fabric portions. In a third joining step, peripheral portions of the structural fabric portions that are separated away from the main body fabric portions at the installation are joined to each other.
US08915518B2
A side airbag module assembly for a vehicle seat back rest features a molded plastic cover (22) with a Class A surface constituting the outside of the cover visible after installation in the backrest (60). An airbag holder portion (24) made of plastic is molded onto the cover (22). The airbag holder portion (24) is formed as a fastening bracket (34). An airbag (15) including a gas generator (14) is prepackaged in a soft pack (12) with fasteners (20) protruding from the soft pack (12). The fasteners (20) and the fastening bracket (34) are configured to attach the soft pack (12) to the airbag holder portion (24). Upon deployment of the airbag, the fastening bracket (34) will bend and thereby open the cover (22), which allows the airbag (15) to inflate in a forward direction.
US08915516B2
A convertible tandem stroller frame is capable of locking in a tandem stroller mode for installing a second seat thereby concurrently transporting two occupants, and capable of converting said mode into a single seat mode for transporting single occupant by simply manipulating a release actuator at a front portion of the convertible tandem stroller frame. The convertible tandem stroller frame may include a front rack, a rear rack, at least a longitudinal telescopic mechanism and at least a locking mechanism. The front rack and the rear rack are lockably and adjustably connected by the longitudinal telescopic mechanism, so as to be extended into the tandem stroller mode and be retracted into the single seat mode. The locking mechanism is associated with the release actuator for locking and un-locking the longitudinal telescopic mechanism by manipulating in front of the convertible tandem stroller frame.
US08915507B2
A rigid axle with direct air suspension, preferably for a commercial vehicle. The rigid axle includes an axle body, trailing arms, air springs and vibration dampers. The rigid axle is characterized in that a contact point of the vibration damper, on the axle side, is arranged on the trailing arm. The arrangement of the vibration damper parallel to the direction in which the axle is deflected provides both space and weight savings, without the necessity of arranging elaborately constructed and weight-increasing additional devices in the area of the axle body or the chassis and allows light and slim vibration dampers to be used, and eliminates undesirable horizontally-acting force components of the damping force.
US08915499B2
An accessory for coupling to an attachment mechanism of an oscillating power tool includes a working end, an opposite rear end, and a fitment portion adjacent the rear end portion. The fitment portion includes a generally U-shaped opening having a central portion and a rearward portion open to the rear end, and configured to receive a post of a tool clamping mechanism. The fitment portion further includes a first plurality of openings in communication with and extending radially outward from the central portion, a second plurality of openings not in communication with and positioned radially outward from the central portion. The central portion, the first plurality of openings, and the second plurality of openings are configured to couple the fitment portion to a plurality of different configurations of attachment mechanisms for oscillating power tools.
US08915493B2
The invention proposes a method and an installation for monitoring and/or controlling at least one handling apparatus for handling a multiplicity of preferably sheet-like products, in particular printed products, each product being assigned a reference (4). The installation comprises a transporting apparatus for transporting the multiplicity of products at a distance apart from one another along a transporting direction to at least one handling apparatus, or past the same, at least one detecting apparatus (1, 1′) at least for picking up references of the products and for communicating messages belonging to the references, and at least one processing unit (3) for processing the messages. In at least one delay device (5), a number of messages relating to references (4) from a plurality of products are combined to form a message group (6) and are communicated to the processing unit (3) via a communications medium (2) once a delay period (9) has elapsed.
US08915487B2
A barrier is provided, including opposed longitudinal side members separated by a gap, supports which hold the side members above the ground; and at least one U-shaped member when viewed in transverse cross section which is/are connected to the opposed members to span between the gap and wherein the at least one U-shaped member does not contact the supports.
US08915479B2
The present invention provides an anti-vibration apparatus including an anti-vibration base, a plurality of supporting mechanisms configured to support the anti-vibration base, a plurality of actuators configured to apply a force to the anti-vibration base, an obtaining unit configured to obtain vibration data which represents vibrations on the anti-vibration base, a first calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the vibration data obtained by the obtaining unit, a force to be applied to the anti-vibration base so as to reduce the vibrations on the anti-vibration base, and a distribution unit configured to distribute the force calculated by the first calculation unit to forces to be applied by the plurality of actuators to the anti-vibration base.
US08915471B2
An apparatus for an aircraft structure comprising first and second stringers, each having a vertical stringer portion defining a lengthwise gap. The structure may include a fitting having a central rib attachment member and first and second extensions extending in opposite directions from said central rib attachment member. Stringer attachment portions extending up from said first and second extensions are inserted into the lengthwise gaps of the first and second stringer portions, respectively. The rib attachment member may be attached to a side-of-body rib.
US08915470B2
An aircraft nose structure includes a fuselage, a floor for a pressurized space and a nose landing gear bay arranged under the floor, on the opposite side to the space. The bay includes walls that form a pressure barrier, of which there are two lateral panels mechanically secured to the floor by load-reacting members, an upper panel adjacent to the floor and extending between the lateral panels, and a rear panel extending between the upper panel and the fuselage.
US08915468B2
A device for interior covering of an aircraft cabin, intended to be fastened to a structure of an aircraft and to extend along a skin of the aircraft, the device comprising a covering panel. The covering panel bears at least one system, possibly through a system support. It advantageously comprises at least one air circulation pipe fastened to an exterior face of the covering panel, each air pipe having an upstream end equipped with a connection device.
US08915464B2
An aircraft (1) comprising a fuselage (2), a rotary wing (10) having two contrarotating main rotors (12) arranged in tandem above the fuselage (2), at least one propulsion member (20), and a power plant (30). Each propulsion member (20) is carried by a rear portion (3) of the fuselage. The aircraft (1) includes an interconnection system (40) providing a permanent connection between the power plant (30) and the rotary wing (10), except in the event of a failure or during training, the aircraft (1) having differential control means (50) for controlling the cyclic pitch of the blades of the main rotors (12) to control the aircraft (1) in yaw, and inhibition means (60) for inhibiting each propulsion member (20).
US08915451B2
When a humidity adjustment device starts up, an outside air temperature To and an room air temperature Tr are compared to determine which air temperature is higher. By mutually changing the flow of the outside air and the flow of the room air by means of an air circulation switching device, the air having the higher temperature of the outside air and the room air is circulated to a heat exchanger that operates as an evaporator.
US08915426B2
A self-service terminal comprises a media dispenser coupled to a control board; a cryptographic memory coupled to the control board; a network connection; a contact token reader; and a user interface comprising a plurality of lights. The control board includes a processor executing firmware. The firmware is operable to (i) read a token presented to the token reader each time the token contacts the token reader, (ii) ascertain a number of times a token reader is presented as part of a single transaction, (iii) create a transaction request including (a) an identifier read from the presented token and (b) an amount of cash requested based on the number of times the token was presented, (iv) encrypt the transaction request using data read from the cryptographic memory, and (v) transmit the encrypted transaction request to a remote authorization server using the network connection.
US08915422B1
An apparatus that operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records, includes a processor that is in operative connection with a card reader and a touch screen display. The processor can cause the card reader to read card data from a user card, and can determine whether the read card data corresponds to an authorized financial account. Without the touch screen display surface visibly providing indicia that corresponds to a desired character, the user can still input the character through user contact with the touch screen display surface. The processor can resolve the desired character from the user contact.
US08915421B2
The present invention relates generally to the process method of transferring/linking/binding specimen tube label barcode information (such as unique accession number along with other useful laboratory information such as test code information, testing department, specimen temperature) using an RFID Specimen Transport Puck moving continuously on a continuously moving conveyor belt and an RFID Reader/Writer that writes the information onto the RFID chip on the RFID Specimen Transport Puck. The process method is to space the specimen transport pucks on the conveyor, rotate the specimen transport puck that is holding the specimen tube with the barcode while the specimen is moving continuously forward using rotating wheels on the side of the conveyor belt and using a dispersed barcode reader to read the barcode information from the specimen tube label, and to transfer/link/bind the information from the specimen tube barcode label to the RFID chip on the specimen transport puck holding the specimen tube using an RFID reader/writer beneath the conveyor belt, a PLC and a database server.
US08915416B2
A nail guiding device for nailers includes a guide plate located between the opening of the casing of the nailer and the magazine. The guide plate has a guide slot and two flanges on two sides of the guide slot. The end of the cover contacts the flanges and the strike plate is movable within the guide slot. The guide plate has at least one guide block on a face facing the opening. An adjustment plate is located in the casing and has at least one adjustment block. A resilient member located in the casing and biases the guide plate to make the at least one guide block contact the at least one adjustment block or move over the at least one guide block to adjust the distance between the guide plate and the magazine, such that the nails of different sizes can be used in the nailer.
US08915415B2
In a gas combustion type striking machine, a combustion chamber is opened and closed by moving a movable sleeve in a vertical direction. A safety lever is attached to a trigger, and a switch is switched by being pressed by a switch lever arranged to be engageable with the safety lever. A hold member which is engageable with the movable sleeve is rotatably connected to the trigger. A shaft supporting a base end of the hold member positions between a shaft supporting the switch lever and a cylinder in a right-left direction which is perpendicular to the vertical direction.
US08915409B2
A system is described that includes a base adapted to hold a device which is removable therefrom, the system including a retractor mechanism coupled to the base and having a retractable cord wound thereon with both ends extending therefrom through at least one opening as a line part of the retractable cord for access by a wearer of the base, and setting means providing adjustability of a perch position on the wearer for the base.
US08915394B2
When cleaning water hits a lower wall 33h of a first waterproof portion 33 of an upper cover 15, and the water is thrown up to the upper cover 15, a tapered outer wall 30b of the first waterproof portion 30 and a tapered inner wall 33g of the first waterproof portion 33 come into contact with each other, and are engaged with each other to close an entrance side of a tiny passage 27. Even if the water enters, the water enters a blind passage 33b to reduce the force of the water. The water of which force is reduced falls down. It is effective for improving waterproof performance to reduce the force of the water by the blind passage 33b.
US08915390B2
A joint for use in making a shipping crate includes a base and a pair of orthogonal channels which extend upwardly from the base and are open from above. Each channel has an inner closed end and an outer open end, and has a width, along a length of the channel between the inner and outer ends, which is greater than the width at the inner and outer ends. The channel is preferably defined by an outer wall, an inner wall, and a pair of reinforcement members located at the inner and outer ends to define the region of smaller width at each end. The reinforcement members are preferably hollow vertical members which are rectangle or square in cross-section and which extend from the inner wall towards the outer wall. Preferably, at their inner ends, the channels share a reinforcement member.
US08915384B2
An implement for use in a bathroom or a kitchen which is composed of at least one rod which is oval in cross section, the rod being aesthetic in appearance and providing an advantageous force distribution over rods with circular cross sections. The implement can be a hanging device, such as a hanger, a hanger for ties and belts, and many other variations having a hook portion for engaging a cylindrical support, an over-the-door/vertical wall device also including the rods with the oval cross section, the latter devices being, for example, clothes supporting hooks, hooks for articles made from fabric; wire metal baskets having a rim and/or transition device made from a rod with an oval cross section; paper or magazine holders comprising parallel racks separated by upstanding walls; bag dispenser and handles for implements.
US08915382B2
An apparatus and system are disclosed for supporting a ski on a support structure. The apparatus includes a ski support member, a spacer, and a coupling element. The ski support member includes a ski engaging portion and a binder engaging portion. The binder engaging portion is positionable within a receiving space in a binder toe piece. The ski engaging portion includes a substantially flat surface engageable with one of a deck surface of the ski and an element disposed on the deck surface of the ski to maintain the ski in a desirable orientation. The spacer is positioned between the ski support member and a the support structure. The coupling element is configured to couple the ski support member to the support structure.
US08915381B2
A vertical roll wrap tray kit of the present invention includes at least one product tray, a plurality of spacer clips, a plurality of wire dividers and a plurality of push clips. The product tray can be attached to various types of retail display units. The product tray contains two slot walls which are sized to accommodate insertion of the wire dividers. The dividers are used to divide the tray into segments or compartments in which the roll wrap material is stored and displayed in a vertical arrangement. The width of the rows or compartments can be varied based on the diameter of the roll wrap product. Spacer clips are used to hold two adjacent dividers into place. The tray is angled slightly in a backwards direction to avoid accidental removal of the vertical roll wrap.
US08915380B2
A separator 252 for immiscible liquids comprises a tank having an inlet, a separation chamber and an outlet chamber 262, with the inlet 12 feeding effluent into the separation chamber 28 at or below a maximum acceptable flow rate. The effluent is separated into a more dense and less dense fractions in the separation chamber 28. The separation chamber 28 is in communication with the outlet chamber 262, where the more dense fraction exits. An outlet 260 for the less dense fraction is in communication with the separation chamber 28 and has a lowermost exit level at which the less dense fluid exits. The more dense fluid cannot rise to the level of the lowermost level, and the height of the less dense fluid is such that it will exit through the outlet as the more dense fluid passes over the weir.
US08915378B2
A hollow fiber type reverse osmosis membrane including cellulose acetate, characterized in that the filtration rate and the salt rejection rate when an aqueous solution having sodium chloride concentration of 1,500 mg/L is filtered from outer side to inner side of the hollow fiber type reverse osmosis membrane at 25° C. and 1.5 MPa pressure are 180 to 350 L/m2/day and 90.0 to 99.0%, respectively and the outer diameter, the inner diameter and the hollow rate of the hollow fiber type reverse osmosis membrane are 100 to 280 μm, 50 to 200 μm and 24 to 42%, respectively. The hollow fiber type reverse osmosis membrane preferably has a dense layer near the outer surface, and thickness of the dense layer is 0.1 to 7 μm.
US08915374B2
This invention relates to particulate and/or liquid droplet separation processes from liquids containing the same and the use of specific chemical additives to control surface wetting, hydrophobicity and surface forces in such processes.
