最新美国发明专利第2011-07-05期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US07973446B2	Electrical devices having tape wound core laminate rotor or stator elements Electrical output generating devices and driven electrical devices having tape wound core laminate rotor or stator elements. The tape wound core portions enhance magnetic flux and may be shaped and cut to receive magnet and/or flux conducting portions in corresponding stator or rotor portions of devices. The devices can include cooling features integral with the stator and/or rotor portions and superconducting elements. The tape wound core portions can be contained in housings and/or be impregnated with adhesive or other bonding so as to maintain shape and to protect the tape wound core portions during operation of the device. In some variations, the housings can include features for simplifying the adhesive/bonding process.
US07973444B2	Electric machine and rotor for the same Disclosed herein is an electric machine rotor. The rotor includes, a rotatable shaft, a plurality of pole segments attached to the shaft, and a plurality of magnets attached to the plurality of pole segments such that one of the plurality of magnets is positioned circumferentially between adjacent pole segments and each of the plurality of magnets has nonparallel circumferentially opposing sides.
US07973442B2	Permanent magnet-type rotary electric machine and production method for rotor for permanent magnet-type rotary electric machine A production method for a rotor for a permanent magnet-type rotary electric machine, includes the step (S01, S02) of forming a magnet piece that has a plurality of groove portions that are provided on at least one of end surfaces of the magnet piece in a predetermined direction, the step (S03) of stacking a plurality of formed magnet pieces so that adjacent magnet pieces contact each other and the plurality of groove portions of one of the adjacent magnet pieces cross with the plurality of groove portions of another one of the adjacent magnet pieces, and the step (S04) of inserting and disposing the plurality of stacked magnet pieces into a hole formed in a rotor core.
US07973436B2	Electric linear motor In the field of electrical linear motors, it is known to make more than one laminate core (20) having teeth (22), wherein grooves (24) are designed between the teeth (22). Until now, coils assigned to the laminate core are arranged on each laminate core. The invention is based on this background. Instead, each coil (18) is arranged with a first section in a groove (24) of a first laminate core (20a) and with a second section in a groove (24) of a second laminate core (20b). The coils are consequently wound in an entirely different direction and now lie in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the secondary part of the electrical linear motor.
US07973430B2	Power supply A power supply is provided. The power supply comprises: a power input unit switching an input power; a transformer unit inducing an output power of the power input unit to a secondary side; a first power output unit connected to a first coil of the secondary side of the transformer unit; a second power output unit connected to a part of the first coil of the secondary side of the transformer unit; a synchronization signal detecting unit connected to a third coil of the secondary side of the transformer unit and detecting a switching period of the power input unit; and a synchronization signal output unit controlling an operation of the second power output unit according to the detected signal of the synchronization signal detecting unit.
US07973428B2	Supply voltage selector An active diode includes a plurality of transistors that implement a built-in offset voltage. The built-in offset voltage size can be determined by sizing of at least one of the plurality of transistors to prevent supply current flow from one supply source into another supply source, thereby preventing current flow from a higher voltage source to a lower voltage source.
US07973425B2	Power strip device for powering a master load and multiple slave loads A power strip device includes a power plug, a master power outlet, multiple slave power outlets and a control circuit. The control circuit includes an inductor, a reed switch and a switching circuit. Under the control of the control circuit, the power strip device allows the slave power outlets to be automatically turned on or off simultaneous with the master power outlet being turned on or off.
US07973413B2	Through-substrate via for semiconductor device A semiconductor device including a substrate having a front surface and a back surface is provided. A plurality of interconnect layers are formed on the front surface and have a first surface opposite the front surface of the substrate. A tapered profile via extends from the first surface of the plurality of interconnect layers to the back surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, a insulating layer is formed on the substrate and includes an opening, and wherein the opening includes conductive material providing contact to the tapered profile via.
US07973411B2	Microfeature workpieces having conductive interconnect structures formed by chemically reactive processes, and associated systems and methods Microfeature workpieces having conductive vias formed by chemically reactive processes, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes disposing a conductive lining on walls of a via in a microfeature workpiece, so that a space is located between opposing portions of the lining facing toward each other from opposing portions of the wall. The method can further include chemically reacting the lining with a reactive material to form a chemical compound from a constituent of the reactive material and a constituent of the lining. The method can still further include at least partially filling the space with the compound. In particular embodiments, the conductive lining includes copper, the reactive material includes sulfur hexafluoride, and the chemical compound that at least partially fills the space in the via includes copper sulfide.
US07973410B2	Semiconductor device Since a power source voltage is generated from a communication signal in a wireless chip, there is a risk that a large amount of voltage be generated in the wireless chip to electrically destroy a circuit in the case of supplying a strong communication signal. Therefore, the present invention is made with an aim to provide a wireless chip having resistance to a strong communication signal. A wireless chip of the present invention has an element in which a power source wire and a grounding wire are electrically short-circuited if a power source voltage exceeds a voltage at which an electric circuit is destroyed, i.e., exceeds the specified voltage range. Accordingly, a wireless chip of the present invention has resistance to a strong communication signal.
US07973407B2	Three-dimensional stacked substrate arrangements Three-dimensional stacked substrate arrangements with reliable bonding and inter-substrate protection.
US07973405B2	Integrated circuit for driving semiconductor device and power converter An integrated circuit for driving a semiconductor device, which is adaptable for demands, such as a higher output (larger current), a higher voltage, and a smaller loss, and has a small size, is produced at a low cost, and has high reliability. A power converter including such an integrated circuit is also provided. Circuit elements constituting a drive section of an upper arm drive circuit 212, a level shift circuit 20 including a current sensing circuit 210, a drive section of a lower arm drive circuit 222, and a drive signal processing circuit 224 are integrated and built in one high withstand voltage IC chip 200. Circuit elements constituting a final output stage buffer section 213 of the upper arm drive circuit 212 are built in a vertical p-channel MOS-FET chip 213p and a vertical n-channel MOS-FET chip 213n. Circuit elements constituting a final output stage buffer section 223 of the lower arm drive circuit 222 are built in a vertical p-channel MOS-FET chip 223p and a vertical n-channel MOS-FET chip 223n. Thus, a driver IC 2 is fabricated.
US07973393B2	Stacked micro optocouplers and methods of making the same Disclosed are packages for optocouplers and methods of making the same. An exemplary optocoupler comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of optoelectronic dice for one or more optocouplers disposed on the substrate's first surface, and a plurality of optoelectronic dice for one or more optocouplers disposed on the substrate's second surface. The substrate may comprise a pre-molded leadframe, and electrical connections between optoelectronic dice on opposite surfaces of the substrate may be made via one or more leads of the leadframe.
US07973390B2	Modifier for low dielectric constant film, and method for production thereof A modifier for lowering relative dielectric constant of a low dielectric constant film used in semiconductor devices, the modifier of the low dielectric constant film being characterized in that it contains as an effective component a silicon compound represented by formula (1) R3-nHnSiN3 (1) in which R is a C1-C4 alkyl group, and n is an integer from 0 to 3.
US07973389B2	Isolated tri-gate transistor fabricated on bulk substrate A method of forming an isolated tri-gate semiconductor body comprises patterning a bulk substrate to form a fin structure, depositing an insulating material around the fin structure, recessing the insulating material to expose a portion of the fin structure that will be used for the tri-gate semiconductor body, depositing a nitride cap over the exposed portion of the fin structure to protect the exposed portion of the fin structure, and carrying out a thermal oxidation process to oxidize an unprotected portion of the fin structure below the nitride cap. The oxidized portion of the fin isolates the semiconductor body that is being protected by the nitride cap. The nitride cap may then be removed. The thermal oxidation process may comprise annealing the substrate at a temperature between around 900° C. and around 1100° C. for a time duration between around 0.5 hours and around 3 hours.
US07973388B2	Semiconductor structures including square cuts in single crystal silicon A single crystal silicon etching method includes providing a single crystal silicon substrate having at least one trench therein. The substrate is exposed to a buffered fluoride etch solution which undercuts the silicon to provide lateral shelves when patterned in the <100> direction. The resulting structure includes an undercut feature when patterned in the <100> direction.
US07973384B2	Phase change memory cell including multiple phase change material portions A memory cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first portion of phase-change material contacting the first electrode. The memory cell includes a second portion of phase-change material contacting the second electrode and a third portion of phase-change material between the first portion and the second portion. A phase-change material composition of the third portion and the second portion gradually transitions from the third portion to the second portion.
US07973382B2	Semiconductor device A gate electrode 20 and first field plates 22a to 22d and 23 are provided on a field oxide film 19. The gate electrode 20 and first field plates 22a to 22d and 23 are covered with an insulating film 24. A high-voltage wiring conductor 28 is provided on the insulating film 24. A shielding electrode 29 is provided between the first field plate 22a positioned closest to a source side and the high-voltage wiring conductor 28.
US07973381B2	Thick field oxide termination for trench schottky device A schottky diode of the trench variety which includes a trench termination having a thick insulation layer that is thicker than the insulation layer inside the trenches in its active region.
US07973379B2	Photovoltaic ultraviolet sensor A photovoltaic ultraviolet sensor comprises a zinc oxide single crystal substrate. On the +c face of the zinc oxide single crystal substrate, an ultraviolet receiver is formed. The exemplary ultraviolet receiver includes a Schottky electrode which, when receiving ultraviolet rays, produces a voltage in cooperation with the zinc oxide single crystal substrate. The ultraviolet sensor does not have any sensitivity to the visible rays. The ultraviolet sensor has a relatively fast response of several microseconds.
US07973378B2	Solid-state imaging device having improved sensitivity and reduced flare Provided is a solid-state imaging device that realizes sensitivity improvement while maintaining flare prevention effect even when miniaturization of cell is advanced. The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: light receiving units formed on a semiconductor substrate; an antireflection film arranged above the semiconductor substrate, except above the light receiving units; and microlenses arranged above the light receiving units, in which the antireflection film is formed at a position equal to or higher than a position of the microlenses.
US07973377B2	Image sensor comprising isolated germanium photodetectors integrated with a silicon substrate and silicon circuitry In accordance with the invention, an improved image sensor comprises an array of germanium photosensitive elements integrated with a silicon substrate and integrated with silicon readout circuits. The silicon transistors are formed first on a silicon substrate, using well known silicon wafer fabrication techniques. The germanium elements are subsequently formed overlying the silicon by epitaxial growth. The germanium elements are advantageously grown within surface openings of a dielectric cladding. Wafer fabrication techniques are applied to the elements to form isolated germanium photodiodes. Since temperatures needed for germanium processing are lower than those for silicon processing, the formation of the germanium devices need not affect the previously formed silicon devices. Insulating and metallic layers are then deposited and patterned to interconnect the silicon devices and to connect the germanium devices to the silicon circuits. The germanium elements are thus integrated to the silicon by epitaxial growth and integrated to the silicon circuitry by common metal layers.
US07973361B2	High breakdown voltage semiconductor device and fabrication method of the same A high breakdown voltage semiconductor device is formed using an SOI substrate comprising a support substrate, an insulating film, and an active layer. The high breakdown voltage semiconductor device comprises an N-type well region and a P-type drain offset region formed on the active layer, a P-type source region formed on the well region, a P-type drain region formed on the drain offset region, a gate insulating film formed in at least a region interposed between the source region and the drain offset region of the active layer, and a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film. The device further comprises an N-type deep well region formed under the drain offset region. A concentration peak of N-type impurity for formation of the deep well region is located deeper than a concentration peak of P-type impurity for formation of the drain offset region.
US07973351B2	Stack having Heusler alloy, magnetoresistive element and spin transistor using the stack, and method of manufacturing the same A stack includes a crystalline MgO layer, crystalline Heusler alloy layer, and amorphous Heusler alloy layer. The crystalline Heusler alloy layer is provided on the MgO layer. The amorphous Heusler alloy layer is provided on the crystalline Heusler alloy layer.
US07973348B1	Single transistor charge transfer random access memory A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device is described where each memory cell is composed of a single field effect transistor with a dual gate dielectric comprising a dielectric interfacial layer in contact with a silicon substrate and a ferroelectric layer in between the interfacial layer and the gate electrode. To program (write) the cell the ferroelectric layer is polarized in one of two directions, the ferroelectric polarization creating a large electric field in the interfacial layer. This electric field causes electrons or holes to be transported across the interfacial layer and be trapped in the ferroelectric layer establishing a high (erased) or low (programmed) threshold voltage depending on the direction of the ferroelectric polarization representing the two logic states. To read the memory cell a voltage is applied to the drain of the selected transistor and depending on whether a high or low threshold state was programmed into the cell a low or high current is sensed.
US07973347B2	Complementary metal oxide silicon image sensor and method of fabricating the same Disclosed is a method of fabricating a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Silicon) image sensor. The method includes the steps of: forming a device protective layer and a metal interconnection on a substrate formed with a light receiving device; forming an inner micro-lens on the metal interconnection; coating an interlayer dielectric layer on the inner micro-lens and then forming a color filter; and forming an outer micro-lens including a planarization layer and photoresist on the color filter. The inner micro-lens is formed by depositing the outer layer on dome-shaped photoresist. The curvature radius of the inner micro-lens is precisely and uniformly maintained and the inner micro-lens is easily formed while improving the light efficiency. Since the fabrication process for the CMOS image sensor is simplified, the product yield is improved and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
US07973345B2	Method of cleaning a patterning device, method of depositing a layer system on a substrate, system for cleaning a patterning device, and coating system for depositing a layer system on a substrate A method of cleaning a patterning device, the patterning device having at least organic coating material (OLED material) deposited thereon, where the method includes the step of providing a cleaning plasma for removing the coating material from the patterning device by means of a plasma etching process. During the step of removing the coating material from the patterning device, the temperature of the patterning device does not exceed a critical temperature causing damage to the patterning device, while maintaining a plasma etching rate of at least 0.2 μm/min. In order to generate a pulsed cleaning plasma, pulsed energy is provided. The method can be carried out in a direct plasma etching process or in a remote plasma etching process. Different etching processes may be combined or carried out subsequently.
US07973342B2	CMOS image sensor and method for manufacturing the same Disclosed are a CMOS image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same, capable of improving the characteristics of the image sensor by increasing junction capacitance of a floating diffusion area. The CMOS image sensor generally includes a photodiode and a plurality of transistors (e.g., transfer, reset, drive, and select transistors), a first conductive type semiconductor substrate, having an active area including a photodiode area, a floating diffusion area, and a voltage input/output area, a gate electrode of each transistor on the active area, a first conductive type first well area in the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the voltage input/output area, a first conductive type second well area in the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the floating diffusion area, and a second conductive type diffusion area in the semiconductor substrate at opposed sides of each gate electrode.
US07973338B2	Hetero junction field effect transistor and method of fabricating the same There is provided a hetero junction field effect transistor including: a first layer of a nitride based, group III-V compound semiconductor; a second layer of a nitride based, group III-V compound semiconductor containing a rare earth element, overlying the first layer; a pair of third layers of a nitride based, group III-V compound semiconductor, overlying the second layer, the third layers being spaced from each other; a gate electrode disposed between the third layers at least a region of the second layer; and a source electrode overlying one of the third layers and a drain electrode overlying an other of the third layers. A method of fabricating the hetero junction field effect transistor is also provided.
US07973335B2	Field-effect transistor having group III nitride electrode structure A field plate portion (5) overhanging a drain side in a visored shape is formed in a gate electrode (2). A multilayered film including a SiN film (21) and a SiO2 film (22) is formed beneath the field plate portion (5). The SiN film (21) is formed so that a surface of an AlGaN electron supply layer (13) is covered therewith.
US07973334B2	Localized trigger ESD protection device The present invention provides an ESD device to reduce the total triggering current without increasing the overshoot voltage. This is achieved by localizing the triggering current, such that the local current density remains high enough to trigger the ESD device. This localized triggering provides a fast and efficient triggering of the ESD device.
US07973333B2	Lateral DMOS transistor and method for the production thereof A lateral DMOS-transistor is provided that includes a MOS-diode made of a semi-conductor material of a first type of conductivity, a source-area of a second type of conductivity and a drain-area of a second type of conductivity which is separated from the MOS-diode by a drift region made of a semi-conductor material of a second type of conductivity which is at least partially covered by a dielectric gate layer which also covers the semi-conductor material of the MOS-diode. The dielectric gate-layer comprises a first region of a first thickness and a second region of a second thickness. The first region covers the semi-conductor material of the MOS-diode and the second region is arranged on the drift region. A transition takes place from the first thickness to the second thickness such that an edge area of the drift region which is oriented towards the MOS-diode is arranged below the second area of the gate layer. The invention also relates to a method for the production of these types of DMOS-transistors.
US07973332B2	Lamp and method of making the same An LED lamp includes a board, a metal wiring provided on the board, an LED mounted on the metal wiring, and a metal heat dissipation film mainly made of a metal different from a metal for forming the metal wiring. The metal heat dissipation film partially overlaps the metal wiring. The metal heat dissipation film has an irregular surface. The metal heat dissipation film is mainly made of a metal that is softer than the metal wiring. The metal heat dissipation film intervenes between the board and the metal wiring, and part of the metal heat dissipation film that is in contact with the metal wiring has an irregular surface.
US07973324B2	Lamp type light emitting device for safety fuse A lamp type light emitting device for safety fuse, including a substrate, an electrode layer, a chip set, a wire set, two leads and an encapsulator. The electrode layer is arranged on the substrate and includes a first T-shaped electrode, a second T-shaped electrode, a first stripe electrode and a second stripe electrode. The chip set includes a first resistor chip and a first light emitting chip arranged on the first T-shaped electrode and a second resistor chip and a second light emitting chip arranged on the second T-shaped electrode. The wire set has fuse wires electrically connected the first resistor chip, the first light emitting chip, the first stripe electrode, the second resistor chip, second light emitting chip, and the second stripe electrode. The leads are electrically connected to the first and the second T-shaped electrodes. The encapsulator encapsulates the electrode layer, the chip set and the wire set.
US07973321B2	Nitride semiconductor light emitting device having ridge parts As an example of a nitride semiconductor light emitting device, on a sapphire substrate, a GaN buffer layer, an n-type GaN contact layer, an MQW active layer, and a p-type GaN contact layer are sequentially stacked, and a partial region from the p-type GaN contact layer to the middle of the n-type GaN contact layer is mesa-etched so as to form an n electrode. Meanwhile, a p electrode is provided on the p-type GaN contact layer, and, in addition to the p electrode, multiple ridge parts are formed by crystal growth so as to be scattered. By providing the multiple ridge parts, device characteristics can be improved without causing damage on the GaN-based semiconductor layer.
US07973318B2	Schottky barrier diode and method for making the same A schottky diode includes a SiC substrate which has a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface, a semiconductor layer which is formed on the first surface of the SiC substrate, a schottky electrode which is in contact with the semiconductor layer, and an ohmic electrode which is in contact with the second surface of the SiC substrate. The first surface of the SiC substrate is a (000-1) C surface, upon which the semiconductor layer is formed.
US07973312B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same A display device includes a main body, a support stand, and a display portion. The display portion includes a pixel having a TFT and a capacitor. The capacitor includes a capacitor electrode on an insulating surface, an insulating film on the capacitor electrode, and a pixel electrode of the TFT on the insulating film.
US07973311B2	Isolated sensor structures such as for flexible substrates A photosensor structure includes a pixel metal layer disposed in physical and electrical contact with a pixel thin film transistor and a lower sensor layer of a p-i-n photosensor. The pixel metal layer extends laterally to an extent less that the lower sensor layer such that an overhang region is defined below the lower sensor layer and the adjacent the lateral edge of the pixel metal layer. When the relatively thick intrinsic sensor layer is formed over the lower sensor layer, it attaches to the upper surface and, due to the presence of the overhang region, the lateral edge of the lower sensor layer, forming a discrete intrinsic sensor layer structure over the pixel which is physically isolated from adjacent corresponding structures. This isolation allows for thermal expansion and contraction during formation of the intrinsic sensor layer without cracking the intrinsic sensor layer structure.
US07973307B2	Organic photosensitive devices using subphthalocyanine compounds An organic photosensitive optoelectronic device, having a donor-acceptor heterojunction of a donor-like material and an acceptor-like material and methods of making such devices is provided. At least one of the donor-like material and the acceptor-like material includes a subphthalocyanine, a subporphyrin, and/or a subporphyrazine compound; and/or the device optionally has at least one of a blocking layer or a charge transport layer, where the blocking layer and/or the charge transport layer includes a subphthalocyanine, a subporphyrin, and/or a subporphyrazine compound.
US07973300B2	Substrate positioning device and substrate positioning method It is intended to achieve a high level of positioning accuracy for a substrate assuming a two-layer structure constituted with a transparent layer with a high level of light transmissivity and a nontransparent layer with a low level of light transmissivity. A substrate positioning device according to the present invention characterized in that only the edge of the nontransparent layer, not the edge of the transparent layer, is exclusively detected and the substrate is positioned based upon the detection results.
US07973298B2	Transport/storage cask for radioactive material A transport/storage cask for a radioactive material has an inner shell, an outer shell and a circular gamma ray shielding layer and a circular neutron shielding layer both of which are placed between the inner shell and the outer shell. The gamma ray shielding layer is formed by aligning a plurality of gamma ray shielding blocks composed of lead in a block shape in the circumferential direction. The entire gamma ray shielding block in the axial direction is covered with a copper tube having a higher elasticity limit than the gamma ray shielding block. In the above transport/storage cask, the gamma ray shielding layer composed of lead or a lead alloy is not easily deformed.
US07973287B2	Detection of alpha-particle emitting isotopes A system and method for detection of alpha particles generated by a test material in proximity to a light atomic weight element. The system includes a neutron detector that is configured to detect a rate of generation of neutrons produced by an (alpha, n) reaction between the test material and the light atomic weight element. There is also at least one gamma-ray detector configured to measure a rate of generation of 511 keV gamma rays produced by an annihilation reaction triggered by a positron emission from a daughter product of the light atomic weight element. A comparator is configured to compare the rate of generation of neutrons and the rate of generation of 511 keV gamma rays.
US07973286B2	Detector having a thin film of boron nitride (BN) such as cubic BN and method, systems and array utilizing same A detector having a thin film of boron nitride (BN) such as cubic BN, and method, system and array utilizing same are provided. Solid-state p-i-n, deep depletion p-n and Schottky diode detector devices based on a thin film of semiconducting cubic BN are provided. Miniaturized solid-state detectors based on cubic boron nitride have a broad range of applications, both civilian and military.
US07973285B2	Apparatus for detecting the leakage of heavy water in nuclear reactor system and detection method using the same An apparatus and a method for detecting a leakage of heavy water in a nuclear reactor system includes: a diode laser that injects a generated laser beam to a test sample placed in a light absorption cell; a vacuum pump adjusts a degree of vacuum in the light absorption cell; a test sample introduction unit gathers an air test sample from a location with a high possibility of a leakage of heavy water or a light water test sample from a secondary side of a steam generator and transfers the sample to the light absorption cell; an optical detector detects the laser beam which has passed through the light absorption cell; and a microprocessor controls the operation of the diode laser, the vacuum pump, the test sample introduction unit, and the optical detector, receives a detect signal from the optical detector, and analyzes an absorption spectrum signal.
US07973284B2	Image sensing module An image sensing module includes a printed circuit board, an image sensor, and a color filter exchanging system. The image sensor positioned between the printed circuit board and the color filter exchanging system is assembled on the printed circuit board. The color filter exchanging system aligning with the image sensor fastens to the printed circuit board. The color filter exchanging system includes a stand, a driving module and a filter assembly. The stand fastening to the printed circuit board defines an opening revealing the image sensor. The driving module slides the filter assembly within the stand. The filter assembly includes a frame and a visible light bandpass filter and an infrared bandpass filter assembled to the frame. In different modes, the driving module drives the filter assembly so that the visible light bandpass filter or the infrared bandpass filter aligns with the image sensor by way of the opening.
US07973281B2	Semiconductor substrate, substrate inspection method, semiconductor device manufacturing method, and inspection apparatus A semiconductor substrate inspection method includes: generating a charged particle beam, and irradiating the charged particle beam to a semiconductor substrate in which contact wiring lines are formed on a surface thereof, the contact wiring lines of the semiconductor substrate being designed to alternately repeat in a plane view so that one of the adjacent contact wiring lines is grounded to the semiconductor substrate and the other of the adjacent contact wiring lines is insulated from the semiconductor substrate; detecting at least one of a secondary charged particle, a reflected charged particle and a back scattering charged particle generated from the surface of the semiconductor substrate to acquire a signal; generating an inspection image with the signal, the inspection image showing a state of the surface of the semiconductor substrate; and judging whether the semiconductor substrate is good or bad from a difference of brightness in the inspection image obtained from the surfaces of the adjacent contact wiring lines.
US07973280B2	Composite charged particle beam apparatus, method of processing a sample and method of preparing a sample for a transmission electron microscope using the same An apparatus is provided that precisely conduct ion beam etching to a sample having the properties of which easily change by electron beam irradiation with no loss of ease of operation and throughput. An apparatus includes an ion beam lens barrel and an electron beam lens barrel, which can observe or measure the conditions of a sample with an electron beam in the process of etching with an ion beam, wherein first, an observation image is obtained that includes the entire process area formed by secondary signals generated by an electron beam, secondly, an irradiation permit area and an irradiation inhibit area are defined in the observation image, and thirdly, electron beam irradiation is restricted only to the irradiation permit area.
US07973279B2	Method and device for generating positively and/or negatively ionized gas analytes for gas analysis A solution is supposed to be created with a method for generating positively and/or negatively ionized gas analytes for gas analysis in an ion mobility spectrometer or in a mass spectrometer, with which method the gas analyte can be ionized without the restrictions of previous ionization methods for gas analysis in an ion mobility spectrometer or in a mass spectrometer, forming positive and/or negative ions.This is achieved in that the positive and/or negative gas ions are generated by means of a plasma, which is brought about by means of a dielectrically inhibited discharge, whereby the dielectrically inhibited discharge is produced in that a noble gas is passed in through a capillary made of a dielectric material, whereby an alternating voltage is applied by means of two electrically insulated electrodes disposed on the capillary adjacent to the exit region of the capillary, and the gas analyte is passed to the exit region outside of the capillary.
US07973274B2	Tactile sensor module with a flexible substrate adapted for use on a curved surface and method of a mounting tactile sensor The invention provides a tactile sensor module that enables adjustment of the density of sensing elements and adjustment of mounting regions to be carried out in a straightforward manner with one type of module that is highly adaptive to complex curved surfaces. A tactile sensor module comprises a flexible substrate having one or a plurality of strips, a plurality of sensing elements arranged at the one or plurality of strips of the flexible substrate, one or more communication terminals provided at the flexible substrate; and at least one electronic circuit section provided at the flexible substrate having communication functions. At least one of the strips comprises a foldable region and/or a cuttable region.
US07973273B2	Light barrier with feedback control The present invention relates to a light barrier for the monitoring of a light path having a base assembly of a first transmitter emitting a light signal and a first receiver generating an output signal for a control. In accordance with the invention, the light barrier has an active reflector assembly having a second receiver for the reception of the light signal emitted by the first transmitter and a second transmitter for the transmission of a feedback signal in dependence on the received light signal.
US07973272B2	Interface techniques for coupling a microchannel plate to a readout circuit Techniques are disclosed that can be used to interface a microchannel plate (MCP) with readout circuitry. The techniques can be employed, for instance, with MCP based devices used in a numerous sensing/detection applications, and are particularly suitable for applications where it is desirable to interface an MCP having a relatively large active area to a readout circuit having a relatively smaller active area. The interface effectively decouples anode geometry from ROIC geometry and may also be configured with flexible anode pad geometry, which allows for compensation of optical blur variations as well as a very high fill factor. The interface can be made using standard semiconductor materials and photolithography techniques, and can be configured with thermal expansion qualities that closely track or otherwise match that of the readout circuitry.
US07973268B2	Induction heating cooking device An induction heating cooking device has an inverter including a resonant circuit, and a heating output control part. The resonant circuit has a resonant capacitor and a heating coil that is magnetically coupled to a load. The inverter has first and second switching elements. The heating output control part performs control by inverting the rate values of the driving periods of the first and second switching elements. The driving of the inverter is thus controlled so that substantially the same heating output is obtained to average the losses of the first and second switching elements.
US07973266B2	Heat treatment apparatus which emits flash of light In a heat treatment apparatus, a reflector is provided to cover a plurality of flash lamps arranged in an array for emitting a flash of light, and a cooling box is provided over the reflector. The cooling box has a buffer space incorporated therein, and a plurality of jet openings in communication with the buffer space are formed through a bottom surface of the cooling box and the reflector. The plurality of jet openings are positioned just over gaps between the plurality of flash lamps in the lamp array. Nitrogen gas ejected from the plurality of jet openings passes through the gaps between adjacent ones of the flash lamps in the lamp array, and is then blown against a lamp light radiation window. The flash lamps are effectively cooled down by the direct cooling using the nitrogen gas and the decrease in temperature of the lamp light radiation window.
US07973262B2	Powerplant and method using a triple helical vortex reactor A powerplant and method for production and use of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon fuel is disclosed in a combination of a triple helical flow vortex reactor (100) and a power producer (510). The triple helical flow vortex reactor (100) steam-reforms a hydrocarbon fuel in a rich combustion environment and produces a gas stream with synthesis gas. The triple helical flow vortex reactor (100) has a plasma torch to introduce a central vortex and two swirlers to introduce counterposing vortexes, or circumferential flows, at the periphery of a reaction chamber in the triple helical flow vortex reactor. The synthesis gas fuels the power producer (510).
US07973257B2	Rocker switch within a device holder A rocker switch including a base, a rotary to linear converter mounted on the base, the rotary to linear converter being rotatable by means of at least one knob, and an actuating assembly mounted on the rotary to linear converter and arranged to actuate an electric device when the knob is rotated.
US07973256B2	Spring-biased switch for an electronic device A spring member is provided in a switch having a lever to receive a pushing force from outside, by bringing an arch-part formed at the left end of the spring member into resilient contact with the bottom surface of the lever, in addition to the movable contact, the spring member also can return the lever. In the case of developing a compact and low-profile switch, the returning force of the lever can be increased to perform electrical connection or disconnection reliably.
US07973255B2	Keyboards A switch useful for, inter alia, a touch type keyboard or keypad which may be used for a personal computer or the like in a substantially waterproof form while being relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
US07973254B2	Key structure The invention discloses a key structure including a keycap, a base plate, and a support member. The keycap includes a slide part; the base plate includes an engagement part; the support member includes a first end and a second end for engaging the keycap and the base plate. The first end slides on the slide part, and the second end is engaged to the engagement part. Therein, the second end thereon defines a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second directions are substantially parallel to the base plate. The engagement part restrains the second end from sliding along the first direction. The second end includes two block parts. The block parts are deposited on two sides of the engagement part for restraining the second end from sliding along the second direction.
US07973253B2	Neutral draw-out automatic transfer switch assembly and associated method An interlock assembly for a bypass isolation open or closed transition ATS assembly is disclosed. The interlock assembly ensures that a switch assembly being worked upon and/or being inserted is in a neutral configuration, i.e. the switch assembly is not engaging a power source. The interlock assembly is, preferably, an electrical interlock having a control system structured to configure the switch assemblies and to monitor the configuration of the switch assemblies. That is, the switch assemblies each include a power operated, conductive, movable contact arm. The position of each contact arm is controlled, and monitored by, the control system which controls the single actuator for each contact arm.
US07973251B1	Integral junction mounting plate A deadfront junction mounting plate comprises a sheet metal panel, a plurality of panel mounting holes, a plurality of junction module mounting holes, at least one ground shield hole and at least one parking stand wherein the plurality of junction module mounting holes are further provided with fasteners integral therewith. The sheet metal panel has a first planar portion, a second planar portion and a third planar portion, the first planar portion provided with the panel mounting holes, the second planar portion provided with the junction module mounting holes and the third planar portion provided with the parking stand and the ground shield hole. The second planar portion is disposed at an angle to the first planar portion and the third planar portion is parallel to the second planar portion.
US07973250B2	Cable conduit and method of mounting a cable relative to a wall opening A cable harness for passing one or more cables through an opening the wall includes a cable conduit including a generally S-shaped channel defined by an inner surface of a first shell portion and an inner surface of a second shell portion attached to the first shell portion and a least one cable disposed in the cable conduit. A method of mounting a cable relative to an opening in a wall is also disclosed.
US07973248B2	Printed circuit board using paste bump and manufacturing method thereof A printed circuit board using paste bumps and manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The method of manufacturing a printed circuit board using paste bumps, includes: (a) perforating a core board to form at least one via hole, (b) filling the at least one via hole by fill-plating and forming a circuit pattern on at least one surface of the core board, (c) stacking a paste bump board on at least one surface of the core board, and (d) forming an outer layer circuit on a surface of the paste bump board, a structurally stable all-layer IVH structure can be implemented due to increased strength in the BVH's of the plated core boards, the manufacture time can be reduced due to parallel processes and collective stacking, implementing micro circuits can be made easy due to the copper foils of the paste bump boards stacked on the outermost layers, the manufacture costs can be reduced as certain plating and drilling processes may be omitted, the interlayer connection area is increased between circuit patterns for improved connection reliability, and dimple coverage can be obtained.
US07973246B2	Electronic component The invention is to provide an electronic component which can obtain the capacitance value of a capacitor element highly precisely. An electronic component has a lower conductor (first conductor) which is formed on a planarized layer of a substrate, a dielectric film which is formed on the lower conductor, and an upper conductor (second conductor) which is formed on the dielectric film and thinner than the lower conductor. A capacitor element (capacitative element) is configured of the lower conductor, the dielectric film and the upper conductor.
US07973245B2	Wiring board and capacitor to be built into wiring board An intermediate board has a board core formed by a main core body and a sub-core portion. The main core body has a plate-like shape and includes an open sub-core housing portion in which the sub-core portion is housed. A first terminal array of the board core has an area that overlaps an orthogonal projection of the sub-core portion. The latter incorporates a laminated ceramic capacitor formed by first and second conductor layers with a ceramic (dielectric) layer therebetween. The first layer is connected to first and second side terminals of a first type while the second layer is connected to first and second side terminals of a second type. The housing portion has an inner edge which, in cross section, is of a quadrate shape, and a radius portion is formed at each corner having a dimension of between 0.1 and 2 mm.
US07973243B2	Coil insulator, armature coil insulated by the coil insulator and electrical rotating machine having the armature coil A coil insulator of an electrical rotating machine used as a main insulator for insulating a bundle of conductors formed of a plurality of insulated wires to form an armature coil provided in a slot of a rotor core or a stator core of an electrical rotating machine, wherein the coil insulator includes a mica layer including at least one of a peeled-off mica and a composite mica, a woven- or unwoven cloth including at least one of inorganic and organic materials, hexagonal crystal boron nitride particles having a graphitization index of 1.8 or more, and thermosetting polymer organic resin which integrally connects the mica layer and the hexagonal crystal boron nitride particles to each other, and the hexagonal crystal boron nitride particles is oriented in a longitudinal direction of the coil.
US07973238B2	Ceramic compact, ceramic part, method for producing ceramic compact, and method for producing ceramic part A ceramic compact having a patterned conductor is obtained by coating the patterned conductor with a slurry and then by hardening the slurry. The slurry is prepared by mixing a thermosetting resin precursor, a ceramic powder, and a medium. In the ceramic compact, an isocyanate- or isothiocyanate-containing gelling agent and a hydroxyl-containing polymer are reacted and hardened to produce a thermosetting resin. The hydroxyl-containing polymer is preferably a butyral resin, an ethylcellulose-based resin, a polyethyleneglycol-based resin, or a polyether-based resin.
US07973236B2	Optical shutter for improved photovoltaic array thermal performance A photovoltaic array with improved thermal performance includes a photovoltaic array, an electro-optic shutter disposed on the photovoltaic array, and a control system connected to at least the electro-optic shutter. The control system, based upon input from a sensor, switches the electro-optic shutter between transmissive and reflective conditions so as to control exposure of light to the photovoltaic array.
US07973235B2	Hybrid solar lighting distribution systems and components A hybrid solar lighting distribution system and components having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one fiber receiver, at least one hybrid luminaire, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator and each hybrid luminaire. A controller operates all components.
US07973233B2	Musical tone control system for grand-type piano A musical tone control system for a grand-type piano, which not only enables a shutter to be mounted on a hammer without any inconvenience even when a space above the hammer is small, but also is capable of properly controlling musical tones to be sounded. In this system, first to third optical sensors are disposed along the length of a hammer shank. Depression or non-depress of a key and a pivoting direction of an associated hammer are determined based on signals from the first and second optical sensors, respectively. Further, the pivoting speed of the hammer is calculated based on a signal from the third optical sensor. A musical tone to be sounded is controlled based on the determined depression or non-depression of the key and pivoting direction and the calculated speed of the hammer.
US07973231B2	Music synchronization arrangement The invention generally pertains to a hand-held computing device. More particularly, the invention pertains to a computing device that is capable of controlling the speed of the music so as to affect the mood and behavior of the user during an activity such as exercise. By way of example, the speed of the music can be controlled to match the pace of the activity (synching the speed of the music to the activity of the user) or alternatively it can be controlled to drive the pace of the activity (increasing or decreasing the speed of the music to encourage a greater or lower pace). One aspect of the invention relates to adjusting the tempo (or some other attribute) of the music being outputted from the computing device. By way of example, a songs tempo may be increased or decreased before or during playing. Another aspect of the invention relates to selecting music for outputting based on tempo (or some other attribute). For example, the computing device may only play songs having a particular tempo. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to both selecting music based on tempo and adjusting the tempo of the music.
US07973229B2	Comb Comb (1) for a wind instrument, in particular a harmonica, comprising a plurality of cavities (2) forming channels, the comb (1) being constructed from a plurality of thin strips (3) glued together, which extend with a longitudinal dimension (4) along a width (5) of the comb (1) and are cut from bamboo and joined together so that the longitudinal dimension (4) of the thin strips (3) in each case follows the alignment of the grain orientation (6).
US07973227B2	Quick-fix capo having dual adjustability modes for use with a stringed musical instrument, and method of using same A capo is structured and configured to permit rapid installation and tightening thereof on a stringed instrument. The capo includes a yoke with a central support member, a string-contacting clamping bar which is pivotally attached to the yoke, and a spring-loaded release member which fits into a first hollow bore in the central support member of the yoke. The capo also includes a substantially Y-shaped saddle member having a stem which slidably fits through a second hollow bore of the central support member, and an adjustment member for positioning the saddle member in the yoke. The engagement/release member is releasably held in position against the adjustment member by spring pressure. Rapid positioning of the saddle member is enabled by both coarse and fine adjustment of the adjustment member, made possible by buttressed threads present both inside of the engagement/release member and outside of a threaded shaft of the adjustment member.
US07973222B1	Method to confer formaldehyde-resistance to a plant, and a method to have a plant absorb enviromental formaldehyde According to this invention, by introducing genes encoding hexulose-6-phosphate synthase and 6-phosphohexulose isomerase into a plant to have the genes expressed in the chloroplast of the plant, a transgenic plant having a pathway to assimilate formaldehyde through the Calvin cycle is provided. The transgenic plant according to this invention has resistance to formaldehyde and is capable of reducing the level of environmental formaldehyde significantly. Therefore, it is assumed that the transgenic plant according to this invention can be used to purify environmental condition, by placing it in a residence or in an office.
US07973218B2	Methods and compositions for controlling weeds Methods and compositions are provided related to improved plants that are tolerant to more than one herbicide. Particularly, the invention provides plants that are tolerant of glyphosate and are tolerant to at least one ALS inhibitor, and methods of use thereof. The glyphosate/ALS inhibitor-tolerant plants comprise a polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide that confers tolerance to glyphosate and a polynucleotide that encodes an ALS inhibitor-tolerant polypeptide. In specific embodiments, a plant of the invention expresses a GAT polypeptide and an HRA polypeptide. Methods to control weeds, improve plant yield, and increase transformation efficiencies are provided.
US07973216B2	Compositions and methods for modulating pigment production in plants This invention relates to polynucleotides encoding novel transcription factors and to the encoded transcription factors, that are capable of regulating anthocyanin production in plants. The invention also relates to constructs and vectors comprising the polynucleotides, and to host cells, plant cells and plants transformed with the polynucleotides, constructs and vectors. The invention also relates to methods of producing plants with altered anthocyanin production and plants by the methods.
US07973213B2	Antibiotic resistance conferred by a plant ABC transporter gene when expressed in transgenic plants The use of selectable marker genes, such as the kanamycin resistance encoding neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII), has been invaluable in transgenic plant production. The subject invention provides a new selectable marker gene, an Arabidopsis thaliana ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter, Atwbc19 and methods of using the gene for the identification of transgenic plants. Since ABC transporters are endogenous to plants, there should be less controversy using Atwbc19, as a selectable marker in transgenic plants with regards to concerns of horizontal gene transfer.
US07973204B2	Process to make base oil from thermally cracked waxy feed using ionic liquid catalyst We provide a process for making a base oil, comprising: a) selecting an olefin feed produced by thermal cracking of a waxy feed; b) oligomerizing the olefin feed in an ionic liquid oligomerization zone at a set of oligomerization conditions to form an oligomer; and c) alkylating the oligomer in the presence of an isoparaffin, in an ionic liquid alkylation zone, at a set of alkylation conditions to form an alkylated oligomeric product having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 6.9 mm2/s or greater, a VI of at least 134, and a Bromine Number of less than 4. We provide a process to make base oil from an olefin feed produced in a FCC unit. We also provide a process to make two or more viscosity grades of base oil from an olefin feed produced by thermal cracking of a waxy feed.
US07973201B2	Process for production of halogen-substituted benzenedimethanol A process for the production of a halogen-substituted benzenedimethanol represented by the formula (2): wherein X1, X2, X3 and X4 are the same or different and independently represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, provided that at least one of X1, X2, X3 and X4 represents a halogen atom, comprising reacting a halogen-substituted terephthalic acid diester represented by the formula (1): wherein X1, X2, X3 and X4 are the same meanings as defined above and R1 and R2 are the same or different and independently represent an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group, a metal borohydride compound and an acid in the presence of an ether solvent, wherein the amount of the acid is 0.2 to 3 moles per 1 mole of the metal borohydride compound based on protons, and the reaction is conducted under the condition where the liquid phase of the reaction mixture is a single layer.
US07973195B2	Process for unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt An unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt is produced by a process that includes reacting methyl chloride in a first vessel with a stoichiometric excess of an unsaturated tertiary amine in the presence of water to form a reaction mixture that includes the unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt and residual unsaturated tertiary amine. The reaction mixture is transferred to a second vessel and phase separated to yield a first fraction in which the unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt is concentrated, and a second fraction in which the residual unsaturated tertiary amine is concentrated. At least a portion of the second fraction is recycled from the second vessel to the first vessel for use in the reaction with methyl chloride. The process, which is preferably operated continuously, allows the use of reduced reaction pressures compared to processes utilizing a stoichiometric excess of methyl chloride, and it also reduces or eliminates the problems associated with recycling methyl chloride and removing methyl chloride from the unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt product.
US07973184B2	Method for producing propylene oxide Disclosed is a method for producing propylene oxide wherein propylene is directly oxidized with oxygen, as required, water and a catalytic amount of hydrogen in a gas phase in the presence of a gold cluster catalyst supported on an alkali-treated titanosilicalite or mesoporous titanosilicate support, which is produced by an alkaline treatment of titanosilicalite or mesoporous titanosilicate with aqueous solution of NaOH, KOH or CsOH.
US07973178B2	Chemical process for the preparation of an amido-phenoxybenzoic acid compound A process for making a compound of formula (I), which is useful as an intermediate to compounds which activate glucokinase, is described, (wherein P1, R1 and R2 are as defined in the description).
US07973177B2	Process for producing cyclic compounds The invention includes methods of processing an initial di-carbonyl compound by conversion to a cyclic compound. The cyclic compound is reacted with an alkylating agent to form a derivative having an alkylated ring nitrogen. The invention encompasses a method of producing an N-alkyl product. Ammonia content of a solution is adjusted to produce a ratio of ammonia to di-carboxylate compound of from about 1:1 to about 1.5:1. An alkylating agent is added and the initial compound is alkylated and cyclized. The invention includes methods of making N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP). Aqueous ammonia and succinate is introduced into a vessel and ammonia is adjusted to provide a ratio of ammonia to succinate of less than 2:1. A methylating agent is reacted with succinate at a temperature of from greater than 100° C. to about 400° C. to produce N-methyl succinimide which is purified and hydrogenated to form NMP.
US07973172B2	Organic compound, semiconductor film electrode employing the organic compound, photoelectric conversion element employing the organic compound, and photoelectrochemical solar cell employing the organic compound The present invention provides: an organic compound increasing an open circuit voltage, and showing high photoelectric conversion efficiency; a semiconductor film electrode employing the organic compound as a dye; a photoelectric conversion element employing the semiconductor film electrode; and a photoelectrochemical solar cell employing the photoelectric conversion element. The organic compound is represented by the following general formula: wherein A is a carbazole ring; L1 is an electron transfer linking group having at least one heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of a thiophene ring, a furan ring, a pyrrole ring, and a condensed heterocyclic ring formed from any combinations of these rings; R is a substituent group bound to at least one electron transfer linking group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, and an aryl group; X is at least one electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of a cyano group, a carboxylic acid group, an ester group, an amide group, a trifluoromethyl group, a pentafluoroethyl group, a sulfonate group, and a trifluoromethanesulfonate group; M is a hydrogen atom or a salt-forming cation; and n is an integer of 1 to 12.
US07973165B2	Imidazole derivatives The present invention relates to process for the preparation of an imidazole derivative of formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are described hereinabove. These compounds can be used in the treatment or prevention of mGluR5 receptor mediated disorders. These compounds are useful, inter alia, in the treatment or prevention of acute and/or chronic neurological disorders such as psychosis, epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer' disease, cognitive disorders and memory deficits, as well as chronic and acute pain.
US07973163B2	Fused quinoline derivative and use thereof The present invention aims at provision of a quinoline derivative having a neurokinin 2 (NK2) receptor antagonistic action and relates to a compound represented by the formula (I) wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom and the like; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s) and the like; R3 is unsubstituted (i.e., absence), a hydrogen atom and the like; R4 and R5 are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s), and the like; R6 is (cyclic group optionally having substituent(s))-carbonyl, and the like; R7, R8, R9 and R10 are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom, halogen and the like; or R7 and R8, R8 and R9, and R9 and R10 may form a ring together with the adjacent carbon atoms; n is an integer of 1 to 5; --- represents unsubstituted (i.e., absence) or a single bond; and represents a single bond or a double bond, or a salt thereof, and the like.
US07973162B2	Modulators of muscarinic receptors The present invention relates to modulators of muscarinic receptors. The present invention also provides compositions comprising such modulators, and methods therewith for treating muscarinic receptor mediated diseases.
US07973161B2	Apoptosis promoters Disclosed are compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic protein family members, compositions containing the compounds and uses of the compounds for preparing medicaments for treating diseases during which occurs expression one or more than one of an anti-apoptotic protein family member.
US07973160B2	Nitrogen-containing aromatic derivatives Compounds represented by the following general formula: [wherein Ag is an optionally substituted 5- to 14-membered heterocyclic group, etc.; Xg is —O—, —S—, etc.; Yg is an optionally substituted C6-14 aryl group, an optionally substituted 5- to 14-membered heterocyclic group, etc.; and Tg1 is a group represented by the following general formula: (wherein Eg is a single bond or —N(Rg2)—, Rg1 and Rg2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group, etc. and Zg represents a C1-8 alkyl group, a C3-8 alicyclic hydrocarbon group, a C6-14 aryl group, etc.)], salts thereof or hydrates of the foregoing.
US07973155B2	Stable and long-lasting siRNA expression vectors and the applications thereof The invention relates to a siRNA expression vector that can inhibit or eliminate the expression of a target gene in a mammalian cell, said vector comprising: a bacterial cassette containing a bacterial origin of replication and a bacterial selection marker M1; a eucaryotic cell selection cassette comprising a marker M2 for selecting eucaryotic cells under the control of an appropriate promoter; a cassette EBV comprising at least one fragment of the antigen EBNA-1, at least one fragment FR, and at least one fragment of the region DYAD; and a siRNA transcription cassette comprising at least one region coding for a siRNA corresponding to the target gene to be inhibited or eliminated, under the control of elements for regulating transcription in mammalian cells, said regulating elements including at least one promoter capable of transcribing a siRNA in mammalian cells, and a transcription terminator. The invention also relates to the applications of one such expression vector.
US07973153B2	Fusion proteins of mycobacterium tuberculosis The present invention relates to compositions and fusion proteins containing at least two Mycobacterium sp. antigens, and nucleic acids encoding such compositions and fusion proteins. The compositions of the invention increase serological sensitivity of sera from individuals infected with tuberculosis, and methods for their use in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis infection.
US07973151B2	Nucleic acid encoding modified human thymic stromal lymphopoietin Modified, furin resistant human TSLP polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding the modified human TSLP polypeptides are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions, B and T cell activation agents, assays and methods of use are also described.
US07973147B2	K04-0144 substance and a process for production thereof A microorganism represented by a strain K04-0144 belonging to Streptomyces sp. having ability to produce K04-0144 substance is cultured in the medium, and the isolated K04-0144A substance, K04-0144B substance and K04-0144C substance therefrom have strong antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Streptococcus aureus (MRSA), consequently these are useful as the therapeutic agents for infectious disease caused by MRSA as well as infectious diseases caused by multidrug including β-lactam antibiotics resistant bacteria. Further, similarly, since the novel K04-0144D substance isolated from the cultured liquid has the action for enhancing the effect of β-lactam antibiotics, which are utilized as the antibacterial agents, in combination with them, it is useful as the therapeutic agent for infectious diseases caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug including β-lactam antibiotics resistant bacteria.
US07973145B2	Sulfonated sugar compounds, pharmaceutical compositions which contain the same, and methods of treating tumors with the same Sulfoquinovosylacyl propanediol compounds represented by formula (I): wherein R1 is an acyl residue of a fatty acid, Y is a number of 1, 2 or 3, and M represents a cation having a positive charge equal to Y and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are effective for treating tumors.
US07973138B2	Antibodies The present invention relates to the use of VEGF antagonists and a novel anti-α5β1 antibody for treating cancer and inhibiting angiogenesis and/or vascular permability, including inhibiting abnormal angiogenesis in diseases. The present invention also relates to compositions and kits comprising novel anti-α5β1 antibodies and methods of making and using them.
US07973136B2	Optimized anti-CD30 antibodies An antibody that targets CD30, wherein the antibody comprises at least one modification relative to a parent antibody and the antibody binds with altered affinity to an FcgR or alters effector function as compared to the parent antibody. Also disclosed are methods of using the anti-CD30 antibody.
US07973135B2	Compositions and methods for targeting cancer-specific transcription complexes The invention provides molecules that target cancer-specific transcription complexes (CSTC), compositions and kits comprising CSTC-targeting molecules, and methods of using CSTC-targeting molecules for the treatment) detection and monitoring of cancer.
US07973134B2	Reagents for the detection of protein phosphorylation in anaplastic large cell lymphoma signaling pathways The invention discloses 211 novel phosphorylation sites identified in signal transduction proteins and pathways underlying Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) involving the ALK-NPM translocation/fusion, and provides phosphorylation-site specific antibodies and heavy-isotope labeled peptides (AQUA peptides) for the selective detection and quantification of these phosphorylated sites/proteins, as well as methods of using the reagents for such purpose. Among the phosphorylation sites identified are sites occurring in the following protein types: Protein Kinases (including Receptor Tyrosine Kinases), Adaptor/Scaffold Proteins, Cellular Metabolism or Miscellaneous Enzymes, Oxidoreductases, Transcription Factors, Cytoskeletal Proteins, Translation Initiation Complexes, RNA Binding Proteins, Proteases, Acetyltransferases, G protein regulators/GTPases, Helicases, Apoptosis/Cell Cycle Regulation proteins, and Hydrolases.
US07973133B2	Inhibitor of endogenous human interferon-gamma The invention relates to an inhibitor of endogenous human interferon-gamma (hIFN-ϝ) in autoimmune diseases, especially in multiple sclerosis. More precisely, the invention relates to inactivated protein derivatives of the hIFN-ϝ with preserved affinity to the hIFN-ϝ receptor. The derivatives represent genetically modified variants of hIFN-ϝ where the C-terminal part of the molecule is either deleted or replaced with a polypeptide sequence of another human protein and a recombinant hIFN-ϝ inactivated by physical or chemical methods.
US07973130B2	Mammalian tumor susceptibility genes and their uses TSG101 is a tumor susceptibility gene whose homozygous functional knock out in fibroblasts leads to transformation and the ability of these cells to form metastatic tumors in nude mice. The cellular transformation that results from inactivation of TSG101 is reversible by restoration of TSG101 function. Decreased expression of TSG101 is associated with the occurrence of certain human cancers, including breast carcinomas. The TSG101 nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying homologous or related proteins and the DNA sequences encoding such proteins; in producing compositions that modulate the expression or function of the protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways. In addition, modulation of the gene activity in vivo is used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, such as treatment of cancer, identification of cell type based on expression, and the like. The DNA is further used as a diagnostic for a genetic predisposition to cancer, and to identify specific cancers having mutations in this gene.
US07973129B2	Polypeptide films and methods Disclosed herein are polypeptide multilayer films wherein a therapeutic agent is covalently linked to a first layer polypeptide. An advantage of such attachment is that the linked therapeutic agent can be controllably released from the multilayer film into the environment of the film upon the addition of a suitable stimulus. An advantage of the disclosed films and methods is enablement of environmentally-stimulated release under specific conditions.
US07973119B1	Adhesive systems using imines and salts thereof and precursurs to electron deficient olefins This invention relates to adhesive systems using imines and salts thereof and precursors to electron deficient olefins.
US07973114B2	Monocyclopentadienyl complexes Monocyclopentadienyl complexes in which the cyclopentadienyl system bears at least one unsubstituted, substituted or fused, heteroaromatic ring system bound via a specific bridge, a catalyst system comprising at least one of the monocyclopentadienyl complexes, the use of the catalyst system for the polymerization or copolymerization of olefins and a process for preparing polyolefins by polymerization or copolymerization of olefins in the presence of the catalyst system and polymers obtainable in this way.
US07973112B2	De-foaming spray dried catalyst slurries A method for preparing a spray dried catalyst and a low viscosity, low foam spray dried catalyst system for olefin polymerization are provided. In one aspect, the method includes preparing a catalyst system including one or more components selected from metallocenes, non-metallocenes, and activators, adding mineral oil to the catalyst system to form a slurry, and adding one or more liquid alkanes having three or more carbon atoms to the slurry in an amount sufficient to reduce foaming and viscosity of the slurry. In one aspect, the catalyst system includes one or more catalysts selected from metallocenes, non-metallocenes, and a combination thereof, wherein the catalyst system is spray dried. The system further includes mineral oil to form a slurry including a catalyst system, and one or more liquid alkanes having three or more carbon atoms in an amount sufficient to reduce foaming and viscosity of the slurry.
US07973110B2	Copolymer synthesis process Preparing a non-ionic copolymer having a hydrolysable monomer residue and a polyether macromonomer residue in a semicontinuous mode in a polymerization reactor associated with a metering device, including introducing polyether macromonomer and water into the reactor, wherein hydrolysable monomer which is added thereto forms a polymerization reaction mixture; introducing hydrolysable monomer into the metering device; adding hydrolysable monomer into the reactor from the metering device; passing a free radical polymerization initiator into the reactor before and/or during the addition of the hydrolysable monomer, the hydrolysable monomer and the polyether macromonomer reacting by free radical polymerization to form the non-ionic copolymer; and, subjecting the reaction mixture to polymerization while an addition rate of the hydrolysable monomer and/or at least a component of the polymerization initiator is varied stepwise or continuously. No monomer is introduced to incorporate ionic cement binding sites into the non-ionic copolymer.
US07973105B2	Polymer particles having improved mechanical properties and applications of same Polymer particles of improved mechanical hardness are provided, the polymer particles being subjected to a thermal cycle of heating and subsequently cooling. The polymer particles comprise combinations of preferably three monomers, the monomers having hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups in their polymer chain in order to achieve preferential orientation of the polymer chains in a polar solvent after applying the heating cycles of the invention (for example, but not limited to, polymethylmethacrylate and polystyrene based terpolymers and copolymers). Polymeric abrasives used in slurry compositions for polishing copper and their use in a chemical mechanical polishing method are also provided.
US07973103B2	Fuser roller composition The present invention discloses a fuser roller composition that contains a fluorocopolymer, an aliphatic ketone organic solvent, metal oxide particles, and a benzyltriphenylphosphonium phenolate salt curing agent. To this composition is added a sufficient amount of 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphenol to extend a time at which viscosity of the composition rises above a predetermined level.
US07973099B2	Pre-processed thermoplastic compound A pre-processed polymer composite is disclosed comprising a heat-sensitive polymer resin particle; particles of colorant or functional additive in association with the heat-sensitive polymer resin particle; and a thermoplastic encapsulant to form a film around the associated polymer and colorant or functional additive particles. The method of making the polymer composite avoids a melting of the heat-sensitive polymer resin particles, which avoids contributing to heat history of the polymer prior to extrusion or molding into the form of the final plastic article.
US07973090B2	Process for production of zeolite film A process for producing a zeolite membrane comprising a seed crystal forming step of placing, in a pressure-resistant vessel, a seeding sol containing silica, water and a structure-directing agent and a support in a state that the support is immersed in the seeding sol and heating the heat-resistant vessel to form a zeolite seed crystal on the surface of the support, and a membrane formation step of allowing the zeolite seed crystal to grow to form a zeolite membrane on the surface of the support. In the seed crystal forming step, the molar ratio of water/silica in the seeding sol is set 10 to 50 and the heating of the pressure-resistant vessel is conducted at 90 to 130° C. The crystal c-axis of the present zeolite membrane is oriented in a direction vertical to the surface of the support and its thickness is uniform.
US07973086B1	Process of synthesis gas conversion to liquid hydrocarbon mixtures using alternating layers of synthesis gas conversion catalyst and hydrocracking catalyst Disclosed is a process for converting synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbon mixtures useful in the production of fuels and petrochemicals. The synthesis gas is contacted with at least two layers of synthesis gas conversion catalyst and at least two layers of acidic hydrocracking catalyst in an alternating layer arrangement within a single reactor tube wherein each synthesis gas conversion catalyst layer is followed by a layer of hydrocracking catalyst. The process is conducted within a single reactor at an essentially common reactor temperature and an essentially common reactor pressure. The process provides a high yield of naphtha range liquid hydrocarbons and a low yield of C21+ normal paraffins.
US07973085B2	Gel composition A gel composition having the formula R1O-[(AO)k(EO)m(AO)n]-R2 comprises (a) 0.1 to 60 mass % of a block-type alkylene oxide derivative, (b) an oil, and (c) 0.1 to 10 mass % of water. AO represents a C3-C4 oxyalkylene group; EO represents an oxyethylene group; k and n represent average addition mole numbers of the oxyalkylene group and m represents average addition mole number of the oxyethylene group, 1≦m≦70 and 1≦k+n≦70. The oxyethylene group is 20 to 80 mass % with respect to the sum of the oxyalkylene group (AO) and the oxyethylene group. R1 and R2 may be identical to or different from one another and are each a C1-C4 hydrocarbon group or a hydrogen atom. The composition has a continuous phase comprising the oil; and the viscosity of the composition at 25° C. is 500 mPa·s or more.
US07973070B2	Monatin hydrate crystals New (2R,4R) monatin monosodium salt hydrate crystals characterized by having specific characteristic X-ray diffraction peaks provide general-purpose, stable, and safe monatin sodium salt crystals incorporating no organic solvent. These crystal may be prepared by a method that requires no organic solvent in the crystallization, separation, and drying steps. These crystal are useful as sweeteners and for the preparation of orally consumed products, such as foods, beverages, pharmaceutical products, topical pharmaceutical products, and feeds containing general-purpose, stable, and safe monatin sodium salt crystals.
US07973068B2	Arthroscopic irrigation solution and method for peripheral vasoconstriction and inhibition of pain and inflammation A method and solution for perioperatively inhibiting a variety of pain and inflammation processes during arthroscopic procedures. The solution preferably includes a vasoconstrictor that exhibits alpha-adrenergic activity and one or more additional pain and inflammation inhibitory agents at dilute concentration in a physiologic carrier, such as saline or lactated Ringer's solution. The solution is applied by continuous irrigation of a wound during a surgical procedure for peripheral vasoconstriction and inhibition of pain and/or inflammation while avoiding undesirable side effects associated with systemic application of larger doses of the agents.
US07973066B2	Pyrrolo[1,2-A]imidazoledione effective in the treatment of peripheral neurotoxicity induced by chemotherapeutic agents The use of a compound of formula (I), is disclosed in treating and/or preventing 5 chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN). The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions wherein the compound of formula (I) is present in a mixture with anticancer agents. An improved anticancer treatment with reduced CIPN-related side effects is also provided.
US07973062B2	Androgen receptor-ablative agents Compounds of the thiazolidinedione family are provided and shown to be effective androgen receptor ablative agents that can be used in methods of treating or preventing cancer or precancer, including prostate cancer. Also provided are methods of treating or preventing cancer by administering a therapeutically effective amount of one of the androgen receptor ablative agents to a subject in need of such treatment.
US07973061B2	Anaplastic lymphoma kinase modulators and methods of use The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I, wherein L, X, Y, Z, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are defined herein. The invention also provides methods of using the compounds for inhibition of kinases, more specifically ALK kinases. The invention provides compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Compounds of the invention inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinase receptor signal transduction pathways related to the changes in cellular activities as mentioned above, and the invention includes compositions which contain these compounds, and methods of using them to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions; (Formula I).
US07973060B2	Fab I inhibitor and process for preparing same A compound which is effective for inhibiting Fab I, and a method for treating a bacterial infection.
US07973058B2	Transdermal methods and systems for the delivery of anti-migraine compounds Iontophoretic patches for the delivery of anti-migraine compounds and methods of using the patches are described.
US07973047B2	Beta-Secretase modulators and methods of use The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the modulation of Beta-secretase enzyme activity and for the treatment of Beta-secretase mediated diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related conditions. In one embodiment, the compounds have a general Formula I wherein A, B, W, R3, R4, R5, i and j are defined herein. The invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of Formula I, methods of use for these compounds, including treatment of AD and related diseases, by administering the compound(s) of Formula I, or compositions including them, to a subject. The invention also comprises further embodiments of Formulas II and III, intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of the invention.
US07973046B2	Use of allopurinol for the treatment of palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia Allopurinol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof can be used for the treatment or prevention of palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia induced by chemotherapy. The allopurinol or its salt may be administered topically to the affected areas, palms and soles, preferably in the form of a cream.
US07973042B2	Derivatives of alkylpiperazine- and alkylhomopiperazine-carboxylates, preparation method thereof and use of same as fatty acid amido hydrolase enzyme inhibitors The present invention comprises alkylpiperazine- and alkylhomopiperazine carboxylates and their derivatives, methods for their preparation and the therapeutic use thereof as fatty acid amido hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme inhibitors. These derivatives exert various pharmacological activities by interacting, inter alia, with cannabinoid and vanilloid receptors. By inhibiting the metabolic activity of the FAAH enzyme, compounds often responsible for the onset of disease and other pathological conditions are not generated and the incidence of the disease is greatly reduced.
US07973041B2	Substituted cyclic hydroxamates as inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases The present invention provides compounds of the formula: its enantiomers, diastereomers, racemic mixtures thereof, prodrugs, crystalline forms, non-crystalline forms, amorphous forms thereof, solvates thereof, metabolites thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, wherein the ring A substituent groups are fully defined in the following disclosure. The compounds of formula are inhibitors of metalloproteases such as matrix metalloproteases and sheddases, and are useful in treating diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, neoplastic diseases, allergies and all those diseases wherein inhibition of MMPs is desirable.
US07973040B2	Macrocyclic quinoxaline compounds as HCV NS3 protease inhibitors The present invention relates to macrocyclic a compound of formula (I) and its use as inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease, and in treating or preventing HCV infections.
US07973039B2	Sulfonyl amino cyclic derivatives and use thereof The present invention is related to derivatives of Formula (I) and use thereof in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases and fibrosis, including multiple sclerosis, arthritis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, liver and pulmonary fibrosis.
US07973035B2	Inhibitors of C-FMS kinase The invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: wherein Z, X, J, R2 and W are set forth in the specification, as well as solvates, hydrates, tautomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that inhibit protein tyrosine kinases, especially c-fms kinase. Methods of treating autoimmune diseases; and diseases with an inflammatory component; treating metastasis from ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, hairy cell leukemia; and treating pain, including skeletal pain caused by tumor metastasis or osteoarthritis, or visceral, inflammatory, and neurogenic pain; as well as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and other diseases in which bone resorption mediates morbidity including rheumatoid arthritis, and other forms of inflammatory arthritis, osteoarthritis, prosthesis failure, osteolytic sarcoma, myeloma, and tumor metastasis to bone with the compounds of Formula I, are also provided.
US07973034B2	Amide, aryl sulfonamide, aryl urea, and α,β-diketone derived carboxylesterase inhibitors, and their methods of use This disclosure relates to amides, aryl sulphonamides, aryl ureas, and α,β-diketones derivatives useful as carboxylesterase esterase inhibitors. The disclosure is also directed to the use of these compounds as selective human intestinal carboxylesterase inhibitors and insect carboxylesterase inhibitors. The disclosure is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions and pesticide formulations containing these compounds, and to methods for treating or ameliorating the toxic effects following administration of drugs such as cancer therapy drugs, treating or ameliorating the effects of a drug overdose, and to the use of the compounds for increasing the effectiveness of insecticides and pesticides.
US07973033B2	Multi-cyclic cinnamide derivatives The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I): or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Ar1 represents an imidazolyl group that may be substituted with a C1-6 alkyl group, or the like, Ar2 represents a phenyl group that may be substituted with a C1-6 alkoxy group, or the like, X1 represents a double bond or the like, and Het represents an imidazolyl group that may be substituted with a C1-6 alkyl group, or the like, which is effective as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for a disease caused by Aβ.
US07973029B2	Inhaled aztreonam lysine for the treatment of deficits in health-related quality-of-life in lung diseases Provided is a method of treating the health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) symptoms of a lung disease, comprising the administration of an inhalable aerosol of aztreonam lysine. The method is suitable for the short term and sustainable long term treatment of HRQOL symptoms.
US07973028B2	Pyrimidine compound and pests controlling composition containing the same The present invention relates to a pyrimidine compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom or C1-C4 alkyl; R2 represents C3-C7 alkynyloxy; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom or C1-C3 alkyl; X represents C7 polymethylene, in which a CH2—CH2 may be replaced with a CH═CH, optionally substituted with at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, trifluoromethyl and C1-C4 alkyls. This pyrimidine compound has an excellent activity of controlling pests.
US07973027B2	Compound with antimalarial activity and antimalarial drug containing the same as active ingredient Compounds with high antimalarial activity; and antimalarial drugs containing the same as an active ingredient. There are provided compounds with antimalarial activity represented by the chemical formula: (wherein R1 is H, Cl or OCH3; R2 is H or CH3; R3 is CH, CH2, C(CH3), CH(CH3) or C(CH3)2; Ar is imidazole, triazole, pyridine, benzene, pyrrole, furan, thiophene or derivatives thereof; n is 1 to 5; and m is 1 to 5). Further, there are provided antimalarial drugs containing these compounds with antimalarial activity or pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof as active ingredients.
US07973026B2	Thienopyrroles as antiviral agents The present invention relates to tetracyclic thienopyrrole compounds of formula (I), wherein Ar, A, D1, D2, W, X, Y and Z are defined herein, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and their use for the treatment or prevention of infection by hepatitis C virus.
US07973021B2	Immunomodulating agent in gut An object of the present invention is to provide an immunomodulating agent in gut that can be ingested continuously in daily diet without adverse side effect. The object is attained by providing an immunomodulating agent in gut comprising a cyclic tetrasaccharide as an effective ingredient.
US07973017B2	Treatment of cancer by inhibition of IGFBP's and clusterin Agents that reduce the amount of IGFBP-2 and/or IGFBP-5 and that are known to be useful in the treatment of cancer result in increased expression of the protein clusterin. Since clusterin can provide protection against apoptosis, this secondary effect detracts from the efficacy of the therapeutic agent. In overcoming this, the present invention provides a combination of therapeutic agents that is useful in the treatment of cancer. The combination includes an agent that reduces the amount of IGFBP-2 and/or IGFBP-5 and that stimulates expression of clusterin as a secondary effect, and an oligonucleotide that is effective to reduce the amount of clusterin in cancer cells. In some embodiments of the invention, the agent that reduces IGFBP-2 and/or IGFBP-5 is a bispecific antisense species. The oligonucleotide may be an antisense oligonucleotide or an RNAi oligonucleotide.
US07973012B2	C-phenyl glycitol compound Provided is a novel C-phenyl glycitol compound that may serve as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for diabetes by inhibiting both SGLT1 activity and SGLT2 activity, thereby exhibiting a glucose absorption suppression action and a urine glucose excretion action. A C-phenyl glycitol compound represented by Formula (I) below or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a hydrate thereof wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C1-6 alkoxy group or a halogen atom, R3 is a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group, a C1-6 alkoxy group or a halogen atom, Y is a C1-6 alkylene group, —O—(CH2)n- (n is an integer of 1 to 4) or a C2-6 alkenylene group, provided that when Z is —NHC(═NH)NH2 or —NHCON(RB)RC, n is not 1, Z is —CONHRA, —NHC(═NH)NH2 or —NHCON(RB)RC,
US07973011B2	Blockade of gamma-secretase activity to promote myelination by oligodendrocytes Methods are provided for enhancing myelination. Myelination is enhanced by administration of agents that are inhibitors of γ-secretase. Methods of screening for pharmaceutically active compounds that enhance myelination, and for genes involved in myelination are also provided.
US07973010B2	Full length polynucleotide coding chicken type II collagen and the use of it The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding full length chicken type II collagen (CCII), or a fragment thereof in possession of the same biological functions as well as CCII encoded thereof. It also relates to a method for producing CCII, and its use in the manufacture of a medicament for treating and/or preventing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The invention specifically relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating and/or preventing osteoarthritis and RA, to a food or beverage composition, and to a food additive composition, containing CCII prepared according to the method described in this invention, and the use of the nucleic acid molecules of the present application in gene therapy.
US07973007B2	Neuregulins for prevention and treatment of damage from acute assault on vascular and neuronal tissue and as regulators of neuronal stem cell migration Neuregulin, a known neuroprotein, has been found to ameliorate or prevent damage caused by mechanical or chemical assault to blood vessels and, when administered into the cerebral spinal fluid, can ameliorate damage to neuronal tissue caused by stroke or inflammation. Additionally, neuregulin has been found to be useful for enhancement of stem cell migration from the ventricle to the site of injury to the brain.
US07973005B2	Alpha-1 antitrypsin for treating exacerbation episodes of pulmonary diseases The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of exacerbation periods of pulmonary diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, by administering alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) to a subject in need thereof. Particularly, the present invention discloses the efficient treatment of exacerbation periods of pulmonary diseases by administering AAT via inhalation.
US07973002B2	Detergent composition A composition comprising phthalimidoperhexanoic acid (PAP) is provided. The PAP has a particle size of 0.01 to 100 μm and a particle size distribution with x(50) of less than 10 μm. Preferably the composition is a detergent composition.
US07973001B2	Lubricant composition A lubricating oil composition of the invention includes a lubricant base oil of which kinematic viscosity at 100 degrees C. is 1 to 5 mm2/s; and at least one component selected from an olefin copolymer (OCP) and a poly-α-olefin (PAO) of which kinematic viscosity at 100° C. is 20 to 2000 mm2/s, a kinematic viscosity of the lubricating oil composition at 100 degrees C. being 8 mm2/s or less and viscosity index thereof being 155 or more.
US07972989B2	Enhancement of molecular sieve performance A catalyst for converting methanol to light olefins and the process for making and using the catalyst are disclosed and claimed. SAPO-34 is a specific catalyst that benefits from its preparation in accordance with this invention. A seed material is used in making the catalyst that has a higher content of the EL metal than is found in the principal part of the catalyst. The molecular sieve has predominantly a roughly rectangular parallelepiped morphology crystal structure with a lower fault density and a better selectivity for light olefins.
US07972987B2	Fourth group transition metal compound having cyclopentadienyl ligand, method of preparing compound, and method of preparing olefin polymer using compound The present invention relates to a novel cyclopentadienyl compound, a fourth group transition metal compound having the cyclopentadienyl compound, a method of preparing the fourth group transition metal compound, a method of preparing an olefin polymer by using the fourth group transition metal compound, and an olefin polymer prepared by using the method.
US07972984B2	Mat for reducing the disturbance of particulate matter and liquids by wind A mat for reducing the disturbance of particulate matter by wind, has a first layer of coarse mesh material, and a second layer of coarse mesh material. The first layer is held in a substantially fixed position relative to the second layer. The mat is particularly suitable for use as a helicopter landing mat, in conditions where dust, sand, snow, water or other particles or liquids might otherwise cause a disturbance resulting in loss of visibility, damage or wear to parts of the helicopter, and injury or damage to nearby people or equipment.
US07972981B2	Microporous composite sheet material A moisture vapor permeable, water impermeable composite sheet material is provided which is suitable for use as a housewrap material, and is also useful for other applications such as tarpaulins, or as covers for automobile, boats, patio furniture or the like. The composite sheet material includes a nonwoven substrate and an extrusion-coated polyolefin film layer overlying one surface of the substrate. The nonwoven substrate is comprised of polymeric fibers randomly disposed and bonded to one another to form a high tenacity nonwoven web. The nonwoven substrate has a grab tensile strength of at least 178 Newtons (40 pounds) in at least one of the machine direction (MD) or the cross-machine direction (CD). The extrusion coated polyolefin film layer is intimately bonded to the nonwoven substrate. The film layer has micropores formed therein to impart to the composite sheet material a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 35 g/m2/24 hr. at 50% relative humidity and 23° C. and a hydrostatic head of at least 55 cm. In one embodiment, the nonwoven substrate comprises a spunbonded nonwoven fabric formed of randomly disposed substantially continuous polypropylene filaments. The spunbonded nonwoven fabric is an area bonded fabric in which the filaments are bonded to one another throughout the fabric at locations where the randomly disposed filaments overlie or cross one another.
US07972980B2	Method of forming conformal dielectric film having Si-N bonds by PECVD A method of forming a conformal dielectric film having Si—N bonds on a semiconductor substrate by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) includes: introducing a nitrogen- and hydrogen-containing reactive gas and a rare gas into a reaction space inside which a semiconductor substrate is placed; applying RF power to the reaction space; and introducing a hydrogen-containing silicon precursor as a first precursor and a hydrocarbon gas as a second precursor in pulses into the reaction space wherein a plasma is excited, thereby forming a conformal dielectric film doped with carbon and having Si—N bonds on the substrate.
US07972979B2	Substrate processing method and substrate processing apparatus Provided is a substrate processing method comprising: loading a substrate, on which polysilazane is applied, into a substrate process chamber; maintaining an inside of the substrate process chamber, into which the substrate is loaded, in water vapor atmosphere and depressurization atmosphere at a temperature of 400° C.; performing a first heat treatment process on the substrate in a state where the inside of the substrate process chamber is maintained in the water vapor atmosphere and the depressurization atmosphere at the temperature of 400° C.; next, increasing an inner temperature of the substrate process chamber from the temperature of 400° C. in the first heat treatment process to a temperature ranging from 900° C. to 1000° C.; and performing a second heat treatment process on the substrate in a state where the inside of the substrate process chamber is maintained in water vapor atmosphere and depressurization atmosphere at the temperature ranging from 900° C. to 1000° C.
US07972976B1	VLSI fabrication processes for introducing pores into dielectric materials Porous dielectric layers are produced by introducing pores in pre-formed composite dielectric layers. The pores may be produced after the barrier material, the metal or other conductive material is deposited to form a metallization layer. In this manner, the conductive material is provided with a relatively smooth continuous surface on which to deposit.
US07972974B2	Gallium lanthanide oxide films Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a gallium lanthanide oxide film for use in a variety of electronic systems. The gallium lanthanide oxide film may be structured as one or more monolayers. The gallium lanthanide oxide film may be formed using atomic layer deposition.
US07972972B2	Molecular self-assembly in substrate processing Methods for sealing a porous dielectric are presented including: receiving a substrate, the substrate including the porous dielectric; exposing the substrate to an organosilane, where the organosilane includes a hydrolysable group for facilitating attachment with the porous dielectric, and where the organosilane does not include an alkyl group; and forming a layer as a result of the exposing to seal the porous dielectric. In some embodiments, methods are presented where the organosilane includes: alkynyl groups, aryl groups, fluoroalkyl groups, heteroarlyl groups, alcohol groups, thiol groups, amine groups, thiocarbamate groups, ester groups, ether groups, sulfide groups, and nitrile groups. In some embodiments, method further include: removing contamination from the porous dielectric and a conductive region of the substrate prior to the exposing; and removing contamination from the conductive region after the forming.
US07972970B2	Fabrication of semiconductor interconnect structure An etching process for selectively etching exposed metal surfaces of a substrate and forming a conductive capping layer over the metal surfaces is described. In some embodiments, the etching process involves oxidation of the exposed metal to form a metal oxide that is subsequently removed from the surface of the substrate. The exposed metal may be oxidized by using solutions containing oxidizing agents such as peroxides or by using oxidizing gases such as those containing oxygen or ozone. The metal oxide produced is then removed using suitable metal oxide etching agents such as glycine. The oxidation and etching may occur in the same solution. In other embodiments, the exposed metal is directly etched without forming a metal oxide. Suitable direct metal etching agents include any number of acidic solutions. The process allows for controlled oxidation and/or etching with reduced pitting. After the metal regions are etched and recessed in the substrate surface, a conductive capping layer is formed using electroless deposition over the recessed exposed metal regions.
US07972969B2	Method and apparatus for thinning a substrate A method is provided for controlling substrate thickness. At least one etchant is dispensed from at least one dispenser to a plurality of different locations on a surface of a spinning substrate to perform etching. A thickness of the spinning substrate is monitored at the plurality of locations, so that the thickness of the substrate is monitored at each individual location while dispensing the etchant at that location. A respective amount of etching performed at each individual location is controlled, based on the respective monitored thickness at that location.
US07972967B1	Method of forming patterns of a semiconductor device including forming spacers on sidewalls of auxiliary patterns and removing exposed auxiliary patterns A method of forming patterns of a semiconductor device comprising forming an auxiliary layer over an underlying layer comprising a cell region and a select transistor region, forming a first passivation layer over the auxiliary layer, wherein the first passivation layer blocks the auxiliary layer of the select transistor region and opens the auxiliary layer of the cell region, and forming a first photoresist pattern having a narrower width than the first passivation layer over (a) the first passivation layer and (b) second photoresist patterns, each having a narrower width than the first photoresist pattern, over an opening region of the auxiliary layer, wherein a gap between the first and second photoresist patterns is identical in width with a gap defined between the second photoresist patterns.
US07972966B2	Etching of tungsten selective to titanium nitride The present invention in one embodiment provides an etch method that includes providing a structure including a tungsten (W) portion and a titanium nitride (TiN) portion; applying a first etch feed gas of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and oxygen (O2), in which the ratio of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) to oxygen (O2) ranges from 1:3.5 to 1:4.5; and applying a second etch feed gas of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), helium (He) and chlorine (Cl2), in which the ratio of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) to chlorine (Cl2) ranges from 1:5 to 2:5 and the ratio of helium (He) to nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and chlorine (Cl2) ranges from 1:3 to 1:1.
US07972965B2	Process for interfacial adhesion in laminate structures through patterned roughing of a surface The present invention relates to a process for improved interfacial adhesion of dielectrics using patterned roughing. Improved adhesion strength between layers and substrates can be achieved through increasing the roughness of the interface between the materials. Roughness may including any disturbance of an otherwise generally smooth surface, such as grooves, indents, holes, trenches, and/or the like. Roughing on the interface may be achieved by depositing a material on a surface of the substrate to act as a mask and then using an etching process to induce the roughness. The material, acting as a mask, allows etching to occur on a fine, or sub-miniature, scale below the Scale achieved with a conventional photo mask and lithography to achieve the required pattern roughing. Another material is then deposited on the roughened surface of the substrate, filling in the roughing and adhering to the substrate.
US07972961B2	Purge step-controlled sequence of processing semiconductor wafers A method of processing semiconductor substrates includes: depositing a film on a substrate in a reaction chamber; evacuating the reaction chamber without purging the reaction chamber; opening a gate valve and replacing the substrate with a next substrate via the transfer chamber wherein the pressure of the transfer chamber is controlled to be higher than that of the reaction chamber before and while the gate valve is opened; repeating the above steps and removing the substrate from the reaction chamber; and purging and evacuating the reaction chamber, and cleaning the reaction chamber with a cleaning gas.
US07972958B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device including a dual silicide process. The method may include sequentially siliciding and stressing a first MOS region, and sequentially siliciding and stressing a second MOS region after siliciding and stressing the first MOS region, the second MOS region being a different type than the first MOS region.
US07972957B2	Method of making openings in a layer of a semiconductor device A method of making a semiconductor device including forming a first sacrificial layer over a first layer to be etched, the first sacrificial layer having a plurality of openings formed therethrough exposing a portion of the first layer; forming a first photoresist layer over the first sacrificial layer and filling the plurality of openings formed through the first sacrificial layer; forming a plurality of openings in the first photoresist layer, each one of the plurality of openings in the first photoresist layer overlying one of the openings in the first sacrificial layer and wherein each opening in the first sacrificial layer has a smaller cross-sectional area then the cross-sectional area of the overlying opening in the first photoresist layer; and etching the first layer through the openings in the first photoresist layer and the first sacrificial layer, comprising exposing the first layer to an etching material.
US07972956B2	Method for manufacturing a wire structure of a semiconductor device A wire structure of a semiconductor device capable of ensuring a process margin for bit line patterning in a 6F2 cell layout of a semiconductor device, and a method for manufacturing the same.
US07972955B2	Three dimensional semiconductor memory device and method of fabricating the same Provided are a three dimensional semiconductor memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The method includes forming a stepwise structure by using mask patterns and a sacrificial mask pattern formed on the mask patterns as a consumable etch mask.
US07972951B2	Memory device etch methods A method of manufacturing a memory device forms a first dielectric layer over a substrate, forms a charge storage layer over the first dielectric layer, forms a second dielectric layer over the charge storage layer, and forms a control gate layer over the second dielectric layer. The method also forms a hard mask layer over the control gate layer, forms a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer over the hard mask layer, and provides an etch chemistry that includes tetrafluoromethane (CF4) and trifluoromethane (CHF3) to etch at least the control gate layer.
US07972950B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device having dual gate A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a dual gate allows for the gates to have a wide variety of threshold voltages. The method includes forming a gate insulation layer, a first capping layer, and a barrier layer in the foregoing sequence across a first region and a second region on a substrate, exposing the gate insulation layer on the first region by removing the first capping layer and the barrier layer from the first region, forming a second capping layer on the gate insulation layer in the first region and on the barrier layer in the second region, and thermally processing the substrate on which the second capping layer is formed. The thermal processing causes material of the second capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the first region and material of the first capping layer to spread into the gate insulation layer in the second region. Thus, devices having different threshold voltages can be formed in the first and second regions.
US07972948B2	Method for forming bit lines for semiconductor devices A memory device includes a number of memory cells and a number of bit lines. Each of the bit lines includes a first region having a first width and a first depth and a second region having a second width and a second depth, where the first width is less than the second width. The first region may include an n-type impurity and the second region may include a p-type impurity.
US07972944B2	Process simulation method, semiconductor device manufacturing method, and process simulator A process simulation method includes: converting condition data of plasma doping for introducing an impurity into a semiconductor in a plasma atmosphere to corresponding condition data of ion implantation for implanting impurities as an ion beam into the semiconductor; and calculating device structure data on the basis of the ion implantation condition data converted from the plasma doping condition data.
US07972940B2	Wafer processing Methods, devices, and systems for wafer processing are described herein. One method of wafer processing includes modifying a peripheral edge of a wafer to create a number of edge surfaces substantially perpendicular to a number of dicing paths and dicing the wafer along the number of dicing paths. In one or more embodiments, the method includes modifying the peripheral edge of the wafer with a first tool and dicing the wafer with a second tool different from the first tool.
US07972939B2	Transfer method with a treatment of a surface to be bonded A method for minimizing or avoiding contamination of a receiving handle wafer during transfer of a thin layer from a donor wafer. This method includes providing a donor wafer and a receiving handle wafer, each having a first surface prepared for bonding and a second surface, with the donor wafer providing a layer of material to be transferred to the receiving handle wafer. Next, at least one of the first surfaces is treated to provide increased bonding energy when the first surfaces are bonded together; the surfaces are then bonded together to form an intermediate multilayer structure; and a portion of the donor wafer is removed to transfer the thin layer to the receiving handle wafer and form the semiconductor structure. This method avoids or minimizes contamination of the second surface of the receiving handle wafer by treating only the first surface of the donor wafer prior to bonding by exposure to a plasma, and by conducting any thermal treatments after plasma activation at a temperature of 300° C. to 500° C. in order to avoid diffusion of impurities into the transfer layer.
US07972936B1	Method of fabrication of heterogeneous integrated circuits and devices thereof A heterogeneous integrated circuit and method of making the same. An integrated circuit includes a surrogate substrate including a material selected from the group consisting of Group II, Group III, Group IV, Group V, and Group VI materials and their combinations; at least one active semiconductor device including a material combination selected from the group consisting of Group IV-IV, Group III-V and Group II-VI materials; and at least one transferred semiconductor device including a material combination selected from the group consisting of Group IV-IV, Group III-V and Group II-VI materials. The at least one active semiconductor device and the at least one transferred device are interconnected.
US07972933B2	Method of selective nitridation Methods of forming semiconductor devices are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of forming a semiconductor device may include providing a substrate having an oxide surface and a silicon surface; forming a nitrogen-containing layer on exposed portions of both the oxide and silicon surfaces; and oxidizing the nitrogen-containing layer to selectively remove the nitrogen-containing layer from atop the oxide surface. In some embodiments, an oxide layer is formed atop a remaining portion of the nitrogen-containing layer formed on the silicon feature. In some embodiments, the oxide surface is an exposed surface of a shallow trench isolate region (STI) disposed adjacent to one or more floating gates of a semiconductor device. In some embodiments, the silicon surface is an exposed surface of a silicon or polysilicon floating gate of a semiconductor device.
US07972932B2	Mark forming method and method for manufacturing semiconductor device A mark forming method includes forming a first mask layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming at least three first patterns having periodicity on the first mask layer; forming a second mask layer on the first mask layer having the first patterns formed thereon; and forming an opening in the second mask layer to cover at least two patterns on ends of the at least three first patterns, thereby forming a mark composed of exposed ones of the first patterns.
US07972931B2	Top-gate thin-film transistors using nanoparticles and method of manufacturing the same The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing thin-film transistors using nanoparticles and thin film transistors manufactured by the method. A hydrophilic buffer layers are deposited on the substrates to facilitate formation of nanoparticle films. Sintered nanoparticles are used as an active layer and dielectric materials of high dielectric coefficient are also used as a gate dielectric layer to form a top gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, thereby enabling low-voltage operation and low-temperature fabrication.
US07972927B2	Method of manufacturing a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device According to a method of manufacturing a MONOS nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a tunnel insulating film, a charge storage layer, a block insulating film containing a metal oxide and a control gate electrode are stacked on a semiconductor substrate. Heat treatment is carried out in an atmosphere containing an oxidizing gas after the tunnel insulating film, the charge storage layer and the block insulating film are stacked on the semiconductor substrate. Thereafter, the control gate electrode is formed on the block insulating film.
US07972923B2	Non-volatile memory device and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device may include a tunnel insulating layer disposed on an active region of a substrate, field insulating patterns disposed in surface portions of the substrate to define the active region, each of the field insulating patterns having an upper recess formed at an upper surface portion thereof, a stacked structure disposed on the tunnel insulating layer, and impurity diffusion regions disposed at surface portions of the active region adjacent to the stacked structure.
US07972922B2	Method of forming a semiconductor layer A method of forming a semiconductor layer, which in one embodiment is part of a photodetector, includes forming a silicon shape, applying ozonated water, removing the first oxide layer at a temperature below 600 degrees Celsius, and epitaxially growing germanium. The silicon shape has a top surface that is exposed. The ozonated water is applied to the top surface and causes formation of a first oxide layer on the top surface. The germanium is grown on the top surface.
US07972916B1	Method of forming a field effect transistors with a sacrificial stressor layer and strained source and drain regions formed in recesses The process forms a FET with a channel region that has in plane compressive stress in one direction and in plane tensile stress in a perpendicular direction. The process deposits a germanium silicon sacrificial stressor layer on a silicon substrate so that the germanium silicon is in a state of compressive stress. Etching trenches forms silicon pillars covered by the stressor layer and transfers tensile strain to the upper portion of the pillar. The process fills the trenches with stiff insulating material to maintain the strain in the pillar and etching removes the stressor layer. More etching creates recesses on either side of a channel region in the upper portion of the pillar. Doped germanium silicon layers fill the recesses, apply lateral compressive stress to the pillar's channel region and act as source and drain electrodes. A gate is formed above the strained channel region.
US07972914B2	Semiconductor device with FinFET and method of fabricating the same A FinFET semiconductor device has an active region formed of a semiconductor substrate and projecting from a surface of the substrate. A fin having a first projection and a second projection composed of the active region are arranged in parallel and at each side of a central trench formed in a central portion of the active region. Upper surfaces and side surfaces of the first projection and the second projection comprise a channel region. A channel ion implantation layer is provided at a bottom of the central trench and at a lower portion of the fin. A gate oxide layer is provided on the fin. A gate electrode is provided on the gate oxide layer. A source region and a drain region are provided in the active region at sides of the gate electrode. A method of forming such a device is also provided.
US07972909B2	Guard ring extension to prevent reliability failures An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to prevent reliability failures in semiconductor devices. A trench is patterned in a polyimide layer over a guard ring having a top metal layer. A passivation layer is etched at bottom of the trench. A capping layer is deposited on the trench over the etched passivation layer. The capping layer and the top metal layer form a mechanical strong interface to prevent a crack propagation.
US07972901B2	Chip package sealing method A method of manufacturing a package including manufacturing a substrate to include at least one layer of LCP material, manufacturing a cover made of LCP material to include a lower lip, and sealing the cover to the substrate by heating the interface between the lower lip and the substrate.
US07972900B2	Methods of fabricating nanostructured ZnO electrodes for efficient dye sensitized solar cells The present invention provides methods of forming metal oxide semiconductor nanostructures and, in particular, zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor nanostructures, possessing high surface area, plant-like morphologies on a variety of substrates. Optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic cells, incorporating the nanostructures are also provided.
US07972894B2	Method of producing a photovoltaic cell with a heterojunction on the rear face A method of producing a photovoltaic cell. A passivation layer based on an intrinsic amorphous semiconductor is deposited on a back surface of a substrate based on a crystalline semiconductor. A first sacrificial mask including at least one through-opening on the passivation layer is screen-printed at a temperature less than or equal to 250° C. A doped amorphous semiconductor layer of a first type of conductivity is deposited at least in the opening. The first sacrificial mask is removed, leaving at least one doped amorphous semiconductor pad of the first type of conductivity remaining at the opening of the first sacrificial mask.
US07972892B2	Light emitting device and method of fabricating the same A composite growth-assisting substrate 10 is formed by epitaxially growing a separation-assisting compound semiconductor layer 10k composed of a non-GaAs III-V compound semiconductor single crystal, and then a sub-substrate 10e composed of a GaAs single crystal in this order, on a first main surface of a substrate bulk 10m composed of a GaAs single crystal. The sub-substrate portion 10e is then separated from the composite growth-assisting substrate 10, so as to be left as a residual substrate portion 1 on a second main surface of the main compound semiconductor layer 40, and a portion of the residual substrate portion 1 is cut off to thereby form a cut-off portion 1j having a bottom surface used as a light extraction surface. By this configuration, the light emitting device is provided as allowing effective use of the GaAs substrate, and increasing the light extraction efficiency.
US07972891B2	Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same An image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same that includes photodiodes formed in a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, the first insulating layer including a seed pattern corresponding spatially to the positions of the photodiodes, lower microlenses composed of an organic material formed over the seed pattern, a second insulating layer formed over the lower microlenses, a third insulating layer formed over the second insulating layer, color filters formed over the third insulating layer, and upper micro lenses formed over the color filters.
US07972887B2	Micro-electro-mechanical-system package and method for manufacturing the same According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a MEMS package, the method including: forming a MEMS device on a substrate; forming a sacrificing member on the MEMS device; forming a cavity formation film on the sacrificing member; forming a through hole in the cavity formation film at a portion other than above the MEMS device; removing the sacrificing member through the through hole, thereby forming a cavity around the MEMS device; and forming a seal layer on the cavity formation film to block the through hole and to seal the cavity, by performing a film forming process in which a seal layer material is straightly applied in a direction of perpendicular to a surface of the substrate.
US07972885B1	Broadband imaging device and manufacturing thereof This invention relates to imaging device and its related transferring technologies to independent substrate able to attain significant broadband capability covering the wavelengths from ultra-violet (UV) to long-Infrared. More particularly, this invention is related to the broadband image sensor (along with its manufacturing technologies), which can detect the light wavelengths ranges from as low as UV to the wavelengths as high as 20 μm covering the most of the wavelengths using of the single monolithic image sensor on the single wafer. This invention is also related to the integrated circuit and the bonding technologies of the image sensor to standard integrated circuit for multicolor imaging, sensing, and advanced communication. Our innovative approach utilizes surface structure having more than micro-nano-scaled 3-dimensional (3-D) blocks which can provide broad spectral response. Utilizing multiple micro-nano scaled blocks help to increase the absorption spectra more than the material used as the absorption layer. In addition, utilizing the multiple nano-scaled 3-D blocks help to increase the absorption over the wavelength due to the multiple reflections and diffractions inside the 3-D structures. The absorption layers will be designed to achieve the required quantum efficiency and also required speed.
US07972884B2	Micromechanical device and method of manufacturing micromechanical device An example of the present invention is a micromechanical device including, a substrate in which a signal line is provided, a micromachine which is mounted on the substrate, is formed of a conductive material into a beam-like shape, is elastically deformed by a function of an electric field in such a manner that the beam-like part moves closer to or apart from the signal line, and changes the electric characteristics concomitantly with the deformation, a deformation restraint section constituted of a material having a higher viscosity coefficient than the conductive material, provided on the opposite side of the micromachine to the signal line, for restraining deformation of the micromachine in a direction in which the micromachine is separated from the signal line, and a sealing body provided on the principal surface of the substrate, for covering the micromachine with a hollow section located therebetween.
US07972882B2	Microresonator systems and methods of fabricating the same Various embodiments of the present invention are related to microresonator systems and to methods for fabricating the microresonator systems. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a microresonator system comprises: forming a multilayer system having a bottom layer, a top layer, and an intermediate layer having one or more quantum wells and sandwiched between the bottom layer and the top layer; embedding at least one waveguide in a substrate having a top surface, the at least one waveguide positioned adjacent to the top surface of the substrate; wafer bonding the top layer of the multilayer system to the top surface of the substrate; forming a microresonator in the multilayer system, wherein at least a portion of a peripheral annular region of the microresonator is portioned above the at least one waveguide; and forming a current isolation region in at least a portion of a central region of the microresonator.
US07972881B2	Method for cooling light-emitting diode A heat spreader for an LED can include a thermally conductive and optically transparent member. The bottom side of the heat spreader can be configured to attach to a light emitting side of the LED. The top and/or bottom surface of the heat spreader can have a phosphor layer formed thereon. The heat spreader can be configured to conduct heat from the LED to a package. The heat spreader can be configured to conduct heat from the phosphors to the package. By facilitating the removal of heat from the LED and phosphors, more current can be used to drive the LED. The use of more current facilitates the construction of a brighter LED, which can be used in applications such as flashlights, displays, and general illumination. By facilitating the removal of heat from the phosphors, desired colors can be better provided.
US07972879B2	Multi-level integrated photonic devices A laser and electroabsorption modulator (EAM) are monolithically integrated through an etched facet process. Epitaxial layers on a wafer include a first layer for a laser structure and a second layer for an EAM structure. Strong optical coupling between the laser and the EAM is realized by using two 45-degree turning mirrors to route light vertically from the laser waveguide to the EAM waveguide. A directional angled etch process is used to form the two angled facets.
US07972877B2	Fabricating method of light emitting diode package A method of fabricating a light emitting diode package structure is provided. First, a first circuit substrate having a first surface and a corresponding second surface and a second circuit substrate having a third surface and a corresponding fourth surface are provided. The second surface and the third surface respectively have a plurality of electrodes. Then, a plurality of N-type semiconductor materials and a plurality of P-type semiconductor materials alternatively arranged on the electrodes are formed. Then, the first circuit substrate and the second circuit substrate are assembled. The two type semiconductor materials are located between the electrodes of the first circuit substrate and the second circuit substrate. The two type semiconductor materials are electrically connected to the first circuit substrate and the second circuit substrate through the electrodes. Finally, an LED chip is arranged on the first surface and electrically connected to the first circuit substrate.
US07972876B2	Zinc-oxide-based semiconductor light-emitting device and method of fabricating the same The invention discloses a zinc-oxide-based semiconductor light-emitting device and the fabrication thereof. The method according to the invention, first, is to prepare a substrate. Next, by an atomic-layer-deposition-based process, a ZnO-based multi-layer structure is formed on or over the substrate where the ZnO-based multi-layer structure includes a light-emitting region.
US07972874B2	Semiconductor process evaluation methods including variable ion implanting conditions Semiconductor process evaluation methods perform multiple scans of a test semiconductor substrate (e.g., test wafer) using ion beams under different ion implanting conditions. Parameters of the test semiconductor substrate that was scanned using the ion beams under different ion implanting conditions are then measured to conduct the semiconductor process evaluation.
US07972872B2	Chromatography detection apparatus, detection method, and kit utilizing the same This invention provides an immunochromatography detection apparatus exhibiting excellent convenience, sensitivity, and specificity, a detection method therefore, a kit using the same, and a method for producing such apparatus and kit, by constructing a solid-phase support, on which the conditions for the reaction wherein an analyte specifically binds to a labeled reagent containing a ligand that specifically binds to the analyte and those for the reaction wherein a capture reagent specifically binds to a complex of the analyte and the labeled reagent in the immunochromatography detection method are continuously optimized, and the pretreated specimens are optimized for such reactions. This chromatography detection apparatus comprises: a sheet-like solid-phase support; a specimen-supply site thereon at which a specimen deduced to contain at least an analyte or a mixture of such specimen and a labeled reagent containing a ligand that specifically binds to the analyte is supplied; and a capture reagent site to which a capture reagent capable of specifically binding to and capturing a complex of the analyte and the labeled reagent has been immobilized, wherein at least one functional site having a particular or multiple functions is provided between the specimen-supply site and the capture reagent site.
US07972862B2	Noninvasive glucose monitor A method of sensing glucose in subjects includes the steps of providing a sensing solution including a plurality of metal ions, introducing a bodily fluid sample from a subject into the sensing solution. An optically-based measurable derived from directing incident light on the solution is generated. The concentration of glucose in the bodily fluid using the measurable is then determined which permits the blood glucose level to be derived.
US07972858B2	Ultra high-throughput opti-nanopore DNA readout platform Described herein are methods for analyzing polymer molecules. These methods are employed for the high throughput readout of DNA and RNA molecules with single molecule sensitivity. The method of the present invention comprises (1) the electrically controlled unzipping of DNA (or RNA) double strands, and (2) the readout of the molecule's identity (or code) using one or more molecule signal detection.
US07972853B2	Compositions and methods for making mutations in cell lines and animals The present invention is directed generally to reduction or inactivation of gene function or gene expression in cells in vitro and in multicellular organisms. The invention encompasses methods for mutating cells using a combination of mutagens, particularly wherein at least one mutagen is an insertional mutagen, to achieve homozygous gene mutation or mutation of multiple genes required cumulatively to achieve a phenotype to create knock-outs, knock-downs, and other modifications in the same cell. The invention is also directed to cells (and libraries thereof) and organisms created by the methods of the invention, including those in which at least one of the genes created by insertional mutagenesis is tagged by means of the insertion sequences thereby allowing identification of the mutated gene(s). The invention is also directed to libraries of mutated cells and their uses. The invention is also directed to methods of identifying mutations with methods of the invention, in cells (and libraries thereof) and organisms, by means of the insertional tag.
US07972849B2	Primate pluripotent stem cells produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer Purified totipotent stem cells and pluripotent stems cells derived by somatic cell nuclear transfer are disclosed herein, as well as cell lines, multipotent cells and differentiated cells produced from these stem cells. The stem cells are produced from an enucleated host cell from a first donor and nuclear genetic material from a somatic cell of a second donor. Methods for making and using such compositions of such stem cells are also provided.
US07972842B2	Lockable cell growth chamber A lockable cell growth chamber is disclosed wherein the lid and base of the dish are provided with at least two pairs of locking members, each comprising a notched docking member and a docking member-engaging tab.
US07972840B2	Apparatus for culturing organism and method of culturing organism There are provided an organism-culture apparatus in which a pooled culture medium and a culturing tissue is not directly contacted, which comprises a culture medium, and a microporous body having the water-absorbing ability, a part of which is immersed in the culture medium, or an intervening body connected to the microporous body which can supply the culture medium to the microporous body by contact between a part of the intervening body and the culture medium, wherein the culture medium is transferred upwardly via communicating pores in the interior of the microporous body to supply the culture medium to an organism tissue or an organism cell placed on a surface of the microporous body, whereby, the organism tissue or the organism cell is cultured, as well as a method of culturing an organism using the same.
US07972839B2	Aerobic compost tea making device and method The device and method invented provides a unique means to extract and multiply, by the millions, beneficial aerobic microbes found in compost and vermicompost to be applied to soil and plants in liquid form. Compared to many compost tea making devices being sold, the invented device is truly simple and can be dismantled and cleaned in under twenty minutes. Most of the parts are not glued and can be pulled apart. The device and method uses air pumps alone to actually circulate the water and can be used with or without a mesh extractor. This is achieved by the insertion of an air diffuser into the piping used, which infuses the water with oxygen while circulating the water, into either, an extractor containing compost or a body of water containing compost. Concurrently additional diffusers infuse the body of water with oxygen.
US07972838B2	Method for stabilizing assay reagents, reagent container with stabilized assay reagents and use thereof A reagent container having an inner surface upon which at least two reagents are dried, with the first reagent dried on a first area separate from a second area where the second reagent is dried. The first and second reagents are a nucleic acid polymerase and its substrate. A method is disclosed which includes dispensing at least the first and second reagents onto separate areas of the inner surface of the reagent container, and removing excess water from the reagents. The reagent container can be used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, an assay that utilizes a reverse transcriptase, a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, an immuno-PCR assay, a nucleic acid sequence based assay, a proximity ligation assay, a ligase chain reaction assay, a rolling circle amplification assay, and a strand displacement amplification assay.
US07972834B2	Modified fluorescent proteins and methods for using same Embodiments of the present invention provide nucleic acid molecules encoding improved fluorescent mutants of the Katushka fluorescent protein, variants and derivatives thereof, as well as proteins and peptides encoded by these nucleic acids. Also of interest are proteins that are substantially similar to, or derivatives, or homologues, or mutants of, the above-referenced specific proteins. Also provided are fragments of the nucleic acids and the peptides encoded thereby, as well as antibodies specific to the proteins and peptides of the invention. In addition, host-cells, stable cell lines and transgenic organisms comprising the above-referenced nucleic acid molecules are provided. The subject protein and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of different applications and methods, particularly for labeling of biomolecules, cells or cell organelles. Finally, kits for use in such methods and applications are provided.
US07972827B2	Photoswitchable method for the ordered attachment of proteins to surfaces Described herein is a method for the attachment of proteins to any solid support with control over the orientation of the attachment. The method is extremely efficient, not requiring the previous purification of the protein to be attached, and can be activated by UV-light. Spatially addressable arrays of multiple protein components can be generated by using standard photolithographic techniques.
US07972825B2	Integrated apparatus for ethanol production and extraction An apparatus includes a mash circulating system with pump and fermentation tank, an atmosphere circulating system with blower for circulating atmosphere between the tank and an ethanol-removal station, and an integrated refrigerating heat-transfer system with first coils for condensing out ethanol from the atmosphere, and second coils for warming the mash. A support frame supports portions of the above components, making it a transportable modular unit to facilitate installation, minimize cost, and provide for efficient operation. The entire apparatus can be up-sized or down-sized for specific applications. In one form, the system includes electrically-driven pump, blower, and refrigeration compressors, with the external energy consumption kept surprisingly low. Methods related to the above are also disclosed.
US07972823B2	Succinic acid-producing bacterium and process for producing succinic acid Coryneform bacterium is modified so that an activity of acetyl-CoA hydrolase is decreased, and succinic acid is produced by using the bacterium.
US07972820B2	Isothermal amplification of nucleic acids on a solid support Methods for isothermal amplification of nucleic acids by the means of a solid support are disclosed. These methods are useful for applications needing high throughput, in particular nucleic acid sequencing.
US07972816B2	Efficient process for producing dumbbell DNA The present invention provides a simple method for producing a dumbbell-shaped DNA.A method for producing a dumbbell-shaped DNA, wherein each of sense and antisense strands is connected at both the 5′ and 3′ ends of a linear-shaped double stranded DNA by a single stranded DNA of loop structure, comprising the steps of; 1) amplifying a target DNA in a template DNA by PCR using sense and antisense primers, wherein each of the sense and antisense primers contains the following sequence (a) at the 5′ end and also contains the following sequences (b), (c), and (d) in order from the 5′ end to the 3′ end, (a) a part of a sense sequence of a nickase recognition sequence, comprising the sequence of a region between the site where a nick is introduced by the action of a nickase and the 3′ end, (b) a sequence capable of forming a loop structure from a single strand, (c) the entire antisense sequence of the nickase recognition sequence (a), (d) a sequence complementary to all or part of the sequence of the target DNA; 2) treating the amplified DNA product of step 1) with a nickase of (a); 3) heating and then annealing the nickase treated amplified DNA product of step 2); and 4) treating the heated and annealed amplified DNA product of step 3) with DNA ligase, wherein the sense and antisense primers used in step 1) are phosphorylated at the 5′ end, or the amplified DNA product is phosphorylated at the 5′ end after step 1) but before step 4).
US07972812B2	DNA encoding a soluble fragment of TRAIL polypeptide A novel cytokine designated TRAIL induces apoptosis of certain target cells, including cancer cells and virally infected cells. Isolated DNA sequences encoding TRAIL are disclosed, along with expression vectors and transformed host cells useful in producing TRAIL polypeptides. Antibodies that specifically bind TRAIL are provided as well.
US07972811B2	Eukaryotic signal sequences for polypeptide expression and polypeptide display libraries The present invention generally relates to methods and compositions for expressing proteins or polypeptides in prokaryotic hosts using eukaryotic signal sequences.
US07972807B1	Diagnostic tests for inflammatory bowel diseases Disclosed are diagnostic tests helpful in indicating presence of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a human patient. In one embodiment, the test comprises obtaining a sample of mucosal tissue from the ileum or sigmoid colon of the patient; evaluating sample quality by testing for cadaverine and continuing the diagnostic test if the sample has no detectable cadaverine; testing the cadaverine negative sample for N-acetylated spermine; and correlating a detectable level of N-acetylated spermine in the sample with presence of IBD in the patient. Another, less invasive, method disclosed includes a diagnostic test comprising isolating mononuclear leukocytes from the patient's blood; testing the isolated mononuclear leukocytes for level of spermidine; and correlating a level of spermidine higher than that in mononuclear leukocytes of normal subjects as indicative of an inflammatory bowel disease in the patient.
US07972803B2	Centrosomal proteins and secretion Described are methods for modulating cellular secretion, and methods for identifying novel modulators of cellular secretion, that target centrosomal proteins.
US07972798B2	Method for identifying diabetic patients at increased risk for pathological complications The present invention provides methods for detecting and measuring, in a sample from a subject, the plasma levels of endothelial cell antibodies to diagnose an increased risk of pathological complications, such as visual impairment, associated with diabetes.
US07972797B2	Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of immune disorders The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment and diagnosis of immune disorders, especially T helper lymphocyte-related disorders. In particular, the invention describes a gene known in the art, alternatively, as ST2, T1 and Fit-1, and referred to herein as the 103 gene. The 103 gene is disclosed herein to be differentially expressed in TH2 cells and not in TH1 cells. Further, the 103 gene product is demonstrated herein to be an important modulator of TH2 and TH2-like immune response both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the 103 gene, its gene products and antibodies that specifically bind thereto can be used diagnostically or as targets for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of a variety of immune disorders.In this regard, the invention provides methods for the identification and therapeutic use of compounds for treatments of immune disorders, especially TH cell subpopulation-related disorders and including TH2 and TH2-like disorders (i.e., disorders associated with a TH2 or TH2-like mediated immune response) such as atopic conditions (e.g., allergy and asthma). Additionally, methods are provided for the diagnostic evaluation and prognosis of TH cell subpopulation related disorders, for the identification of subjects exhibiting a predisposition to such conditions, for monitoring patients undergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of such disorders and for monitoring the efficacy of compounds used in clinical trials.
US07972796B2	Methods for diagnosis of encephalitis This invention provides methods of diagnosing or determining a cause of an autoimmune encephalitis or an epilepsy in a subject and of diagnosing a tumor in a subject, comprising the step of testing a biological sample of the subject for an antibody to an NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor. This invention further provides methods of treating an autoimmune encephalitis or an epilepsy, comprising the steps of detecting an antibody to an NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor and treating a tumor associated with the disease.
US07972789B2	Dye compounds The present disclosure provides compounds that may be used as chromogens, fluorochromes, or as both. Said compounds may further be used as substrate for at least one enzyme, wherein said enzyme is capable of processing an aromatic amine group (—NH2), an aromatic hydroxyl group (—OH), or an aromatic phosphate group (—PO4). Furthermore, the present disclosure also provides methods for precipitating said compounds as well as methods for detecting a target using said compounds. Even further, kits comprising said compounds are disclosed. Said compounds may be used in any method utilizing a fluorochrome, a chromogen, or both.
US07972787B2	Methods for detecting age-related macular degeneration The invention provides methods and compositions for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, for example, the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration. The method involves determining whether the subject has a protective variant and/or a risk variant at a polymorphic site in the HTRA1 gene. In addition, the invention provides a method of treating or slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration by reducing the expression of the HTRA1 gene, or reducing the biological activity of the HTRA1 gene product.
US07972783B2	Method and markers for determining the genotype of horned/polled cattle Provided herein are methods to discover and use single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) for determining the genotype of a horned/polled ruminant subject. The present invention further provides specific nucleic acid sequences, SNPs, and SNP patterns that can be used for determining the genotype of a horned/polled ruminant subject.
US07972780B2	ITPase gene polymorphisms associated with adverse drug reactions to azathioprine therapy The present invention provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction to a thiopurine drug such as AZA or 6-MP by genotyping the patient for a polymorphism in the gene encoding ITPase (ITPA). The present invention also provides methods for predicting a patient's risk of an adverse drug reaction to a thiopurine drug by determining a level of ITPase activity or ITP in a sample from the patient. The present invention further provides methods for optimizing therapeutic efficacy in a patient receiving a thiopurine drug by determining whether the patient should be given an alternative drug based on the presence or absence of a polymorphism in the ITPA gene.
US07972775B2	Method of risk management for patients undergoing Natalizumab treatment Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has been identified in patients taking natalizumab (NMAB) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). This patent application provides a novel method of patient screening and monitoring intended to decrease the risk of PML and other opportunistic central nervous system (CNS) diseases in patients undergoing MS therapy with NMAB, and proposes a novel method of screening and monitoring intended to decrease the risk of opportunistic disease processes of the CNS during the treatment of other medical disorders with NMAB.
US07972773B2	Method for detecting concentrations of a target bacterium that uses phages to infect target bacterial cells The invention is directed to a method for detecting low concentrations of bacteria in liquid solution that may or may not be complex liquid solutions. In one embodiment, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is used to separate target bacterium that may be in a liquid mixture from other constituents in the mixture. A low concentration of a bacteriophage for the target bacteria is subsequently used to infect target bacterial cells that have been captured using the IMS technique. If at least a certain concentration of target bacterium are present, the bacteriophage will multiply to a point that is detectable. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF-MS) is then used to produce a mass spectrum that is analyzed to determine if one or more proteins associated with the bacteriophage are present, thereby indirectly indicating that target bacterium were present in the liquid mixture.
US07972771B2	Human brain carboxypeptidase B A novel carboxypeptidase and the encoding gene thereof were successfully identified by screening a human hippocampus extract using brain-APP-cleaving activity as an index. This protein and its gene are useful in, for example, preventing, treating, examining, and diagnosing diseases that cause accumulation of Aβ in the brain, including senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage, and cephalic contusion.
US07972764B2	Electron beam writing method, fine pattern writing system, method for manufacturing uneven pattern carrying substrate, and method for manufacturing magnetic disk medium When writing elements of a fine pattern on a substrate applied with a resist by scanning an electron beam on the substrate, the electron beam is scan controlled so as to completely fill the shape of each of the elements by vibrating the electron beam rapidly in a radius direction of the rotation stage and at the same time deflecting in a direction orthogonal to the radius direction of the rotation stage faster than a rotational speed thereof, thereby sequentially writing the elements.
US07972763B2	Chemically amplified positive resist composition The present invention provides a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising (A) a resin obtainable by reacting a novolak resin, a poly(hydroxystyrene) and a compound having at least two vinyl ether structures, and (B) an acid generator.
US07972760B2	Electrophotographic image receiving sheet and image forming method using the same The present invention provides an electrophotographic image receiving sheet including a support, and at least two toner image receiving layers formed over at least one surface of the support, wherein a mixture mass ratio M of a crystalline polymer and an amorphous polymer in each of the toner image receiving layers is defined as [A/(A+B)], where A represents a mass of the crystalline polymer (g), and B represents a mass of the amorphous polymer (g), and a mixture mass ratio M1 of the outermost toner image receiving layer which is located farthest from the support, and a mixture mass ratio M2 of the highest inner toner image receiving layer, which has the highest mixture mass ratio among the inner toner image receiving layers located under the outermost toner image receiving layer, satisfy the relation: M1
US07972759B2	Electrophotographic image-receiving sheet, method for producing the same and image forming method Provided are an electrophotographic image-receiving sheet that comprises a support, a toner image-receiving layer on at least one side of the support, wherein the toner image-receiving layer is formed from a coating liquid for the toner image-receiving layer and the coating liquid for the toner image-receiving layer comprises an aqueous dispersion that comprises a crystalline polymer, and an image forming method that employs the electrophotographic image-receiving sheet.
US07972758B2	Toner for development of electrostatic image, method of producing the same, electrostatic image developer, toner cartridge, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus The invention provides a toner for development of an electrostatic image, which has colored particles containing a crystalline polyester resin having a melting temperature Tm1 (° C.) of approximately 50 to approximately 100° C., a non-crystalline polyester resin, and a coloring agent, the temperature Tm2 (° C.) of an endothermic peak derived from the crystalline polyester resin in a first process of raising temperature and the temperature Tm3 (° C.) of an endothermic peak derived from the crystalline polyester resin in a second process of raising temperature, in differential scanning calorimetry based on JIS K7121:1987, satisfying the following relationships (1) and (2): 0≦(Tm1−Tm2)<2 (1) 4<(Tm1−Tm3)≦15 (2)
US07972751B2	Reflection photolithography mask, and process for fabricating this mask The invention relates to an extreme ultraviolet photolithography mask, operating in reflection, the mask comprising a substrate, a mirror structure deposited uniformly on the substrate, and an absorbent layer which is absorbent at the operating wavelength of the mask and is deposited on top of the mirror structure and etched in a desired masking pattern. The absorbent layer contains indium among its principal constituents.
US07972750B2	Mask blank and mask The mask blank is patterned to form a corresponding mask having a light shielding film pattern with enhanced resolution. A mask blank (10) on which a chemically amplified resist film (20) is formed, the mask blank (10) comprising a substrate (12), a light shielding film (13) provided on the substrate (12), and a resist underlying film (18) provided on the light shielding film (13), for suppressing the deactivation of the chemically amplified resist film (20). When the light shielding film (13) is etched using the patterned chemically amplified resist film (20) as a mask, the etching rate of the deactivation preventive film (18) is higher than the etching rate of the chemically amplified resist film (20).
US07972748B2	Internally gas regulated fuel cell A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and at least one bipolar plate having an anode-side gas distributor structure for distributing anode reactants, a cathode-side gas distributor structure for distributing cathode reactants, and a guide passage structure for distributing a cooling medium. At least one of the anode-side gas distributor structure and the cathode-side gas distributor structure is divided into at least a first field and a second field, each of the first and second fields having an entry port and an exit port for the reactants. In addition, a method for such a fuel cell includes passing a reactant into an entry port of the first field and out of an exit port of the first field, mixing the reactant with a fresh reactant so as to form a mixture, and passing the mixture into the entry port of the second field.
US07972747B2	Direct reaction fuel cells utilizing taylor vortex flows Direct reaction fuel cells (10) and fuel cell batteries (200) with rotating electrodes (18) that generate Taylor Vortex Flows (54) and Circular Couette Flows (56) in electrolyte chambers (24) are disclosed.
US07972745B2	PEM fuel cell system with a porous hydrophobloc plug for maintaining system back pressure and methods for designing the plug and for designing systems for using the plug A polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant is cooled evaporatively by a non-circulating pressurized water coolant system. The coolant system utilizes a hydrophobic porous plug for bleeding air from the coolant water while maintaining coolant back pressure in a coolant flow field of the system. Furthermore, there is a first method for identifying appropriate parameters of the hydrophobic porous plug for use with a known particular coolant system; and a second method for determining proper operating conditions for a fuel cell water coolant system which can operate with a hydrophobic porous plug closure having known physical parameters.
US07972740B2	Fuel cell coolant bubble control To mitigate bubble blockage in water passageways (78, 85), in or near reactant gas flow field plates (74, 81) of fuel cells (38), passageways are configured with (a) cross sections having intersecting polygons or other shapes, obtuse angles including triangles and trapezoids, or (b) hydrophobic surfaces (111), or (c) differing adjacent channels (127, 128), or (d) water permeable layers (93, 115, 116, 119) adjacent to water channels or hydrophobic/hydrophilic layers (114, 120), or (e) diverging channels (152).
US07972738B2	Residual capacity detection method and residual capacity detection system for fuel cell battery Upon determining the temperature of and pressure in a flow path connecting between a fuel cell and a fuel storage container for supplying fuel to the fuel cell in order to detect a residual capacity of a fuel cell battery, the temperature is determined from those measured in electronic equipment connected to the fuel cell battery. Therefore, there can be provided a residual capacity detection method and a residual capacity detection system for a fuel cell battery, which can give a user accurate information on battery residual capacity even if there is no temperature detection part in a fuel cell system. The present invention can also be understood as a residual capacity detection system for a fuel cell battery.
US07972736B2	Fuel cell system with warming-up and method of operating the same In a fuel cell system including a fuel cell supplied with reaction gases for generating an electric power, and a combustion heater supplied with the reaction gases for heating the fuel cell during warming-up, an electric discharging circuit is provided to discharge an electric current from the fuel cell supplied with the reaction gases to decrease a voltage difference applied to the membrane sandwiched between the anode and cathode during the warming-up. The combustion heater is connected in series or in parallel with the fuel cell system.
US07972733B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte and secondary battery using the same Disclosed is an electrolyte for a secondary battery comprising an electrolyte salt and an electrolyte solvent, the electrolyte further comprising both a cyclic diester compound and a sulfinyl group-containing compound. Also, disclosed is an electrode having a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film partially or totally formed on a surface thereof, the SEI film being formed by electrical reduction of the above compounds. Further, a secondary battery comprising the electrolyte and/or the electrode is disclosed.
US07972731B2	Electrode for cell of energy storage device and method of forming the same A method of the present invention is used for the high-rate deposition of materials, such as carbon, silicon, metals, metal oxides, and the like, onto a metal substrate defined by a metal current collector. The particles of the material are mixed with fluid and are injected against the metal tape at high pressure and high velocity. The particles of the material form an active layer of the metal current collector. The metal current collector is used as a cathode or anode combined with a separator to form a cell of a secondary battery, metal-ceramic membranes, film composite metal-ceramic materials for electronic devices.
US07972729B2	Positive electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the same, and method for producing positive electrode material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery The invention includes, as a positive electrode material, active material particles comprising a lithium-containing manganese oxide represented by the general formula: Li1+aMn2−x−aMxO4+y where M is a transition metal element other than Mn, 01.0 and A≧0.3. In an X-ray diffraction analysis using CuKa radiation as an X-ray source, the intensity ratio of the largest peak of peaks attributed to an oxide of the transition metal element M to a peak around 2θ=36.4° is 0.25 or less.
US07972728B2	Cathode materials for secondary (rechargeable) lithium batteries The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivineor the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3− as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
US07972727B2	Electrode compositions based on an amorphous alloy having a high silicon content An electrode composition for a lithium ion battery that includes an amorphous alloy having the formula SixMyAlz where x, y, and z represent atomic percent values and (a) x+y+z=100, (b) x≧55, (c) y<22, (d) z>0, and (e) M is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of manganese, molybdenum, niobium, tungsten, tantalum, iron, copper, titanium, vanadium, chromium, nickel, cobalt, zirconium, yttrium, and combinations thereof.
US07972725B2	Polyimide electrode binders Irreversible first cycle capacity loss in lithium secondary cells having a cell electrode based on a powdered material and a binder may be significantly decreased or eliminated by using an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyimide binder. Compared to conventional polyimide binders prepared by reacting an aromatic dianhydride and a diamine, the disclosed polyimide binders have decreased aromatic carbonyl content, may be less likely to undergo electrochemical reduction, and may be less likely to consume electrons that might otherwise help lithiate the electrode.
US07972723B2	Flat alkaline primary battery A flat alkaline primary battery is provided. The annular end portion of the negative electrode can is engaged with the annular end portion of the positive electrode can so that the positive electrode can and the negative electrode can are connected via a gasket to create an enclosed space inside the cans. The enclosed space accommodates a separator, a positive electrode mixture having a positive electrode active material as a main component, and a negative electrode mixture having a negative electrode active material as a main component. The enclosed space is filled with an alkaline electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is oxy nickel hydroxide. The negative electrode active material is a zinc or zinc alloy powder. The mass of the oxy nickel hydroxide is between 3.9 and 4.4, times, inclusive, of the mass of the zinc or the zinc alloy. Alternatively, the mass of the oxy nickel hydroxide is between 3.3 times, inclusive, the mass of the zinc or the zinc alloy.
US07972720B2	Method of electric coupling of a connection to a current output In the production of a secondary electrochemical generator comprising a container with a casing (3) and a cover (4), the stage of electric coupling of a connection to a current output is designed so that the length of the connection does not allow it to come into contact with the current output when the cover is not in its closed position. This stage comprises the following steps: a first end (22) of the connection is electrically connected to an electrode (2), the cover is placed on the casing in order to close the container so that the second end (23) of the connection is in physical contact with the current output which is electrically insulated from the casing, and an electric current is applied between the casing and the current output so as to weld the second end of the connection to the current output.
US07972717B2	Battery A battery with improved safety which can establish a short circuit between electrodes more reliably when the battery is crushed by an external force is provided. A battery includes a battery element including a cathode and an anode, a battery can containing the battery element, and a conductive short circuit member arranged in a gap between the battery element and the battery can, the short circuit member capable of biting into the battery element when the battery can is deformed.
US07972716B2	Perpendicular magnetic recording medium A magnetic recording medium exhibiting a high recording density performance is disclosed. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium has a soft magnetic underlayer, a first seed layer, a second seed layer, an intermediate layer, a granular magnetic recording layer, a non-granular magnetic recording layer, a protective layer, and a lubricant layer laminated on a nonmagnetic substrate in this order. The first seed layer contains cobalt, nickel, and at least one element selected from a group consisting of Si, Cr, V, Zr, Nb, Ta, Ti, Cu, and Mo, and the second seed layer contains nickel, chromium, and at least one element selected from a group consisting of Si, V, Zr, Nb, Ta, Ti, Cu, and Mo.
US07972712B2	Organic electroluminescent device and method for producing the same An organic EL device capable of being produced by a wet film forming method in which all processes can be conducted consistently under an inert atmosphere for efficiently forming a predetermined pattern without using any aqueous or acidic material. The device includes an organic layer between an anode and a cathode, the anode and the cathode facing each other, and the organic layer containing at least a light emitting layer. At least one layer composing the organic layer is a cured film having a predetermined pattern and containing a cured dendrimer material having one or more photoreactive functional groups at the ends thereof. The organic electroluminescent device is produced by: forming a dendrimer material layer, as at least one layer composing the organic layer, from a coating liquid containing a dendrimer material having one or more photoreactive functional groups at the ends thereof and an organic solvent; and pattern-exposing the dendrimer material layer.
US07972708B2	Heat shield A heat shield for shielding an object against heat and/or noise has at least one metal layer having a first and a second surface, beyond at least one of which a plurality of embossments projects. At least a part of the embossments differ from the remaining embossments in their size.
US07972706B2	Adhesion of polyethylene on polypropylene This invention provides a multi-layer film or sheet prepared by coextruding or laminating polypropylene with one or more polyethylene(s), characterised in that the adhesion between a polypropylene layer and a polyethylene layer is provided by a metallocene-produced polyethylene.
US07972704B2	Single-crystal silicon carbide ingot, and substrate and epitaxial wafer obtained therefrom The present invention provides a single-crystal silicon carbide ingot capable of providing a good-quality substrate low in dislocation defects, and a substrate and epitaxial wafer obtained therefrom.It is a single-crystal silicon carbide ingot comprising single-crystal silicon carbide which contains donor-type impurity at a concentration of 2×1018 cm−3 to 6×1020 cm−3 and acceptor-type impurity at a concentration of 1×1018 cm−3 to 5.99×1020 cm−3 and wherein the concentration of the donor-type impurity is greater than the concentration of the acceptor-type impurity and the difference is 1×1018 cm−3 to 5.99×1020 cm−3, and a substrate and epitaxial wafer obtained therefrom.
US07972700B2	Laminated film A laminated film including a thermoplastic resin film, and a laminated layer disposed on at least one surface of the thermoplastic resin film including an acryl-urethane copolymer resin (A), and a polyester resin (B), and a crosslinking agent (C) including an isocyanate crosslinking agent, a carbodiimide crosslinking agent or mixtures thereof, the amount of the crosslinking agent (C) is from 5 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the sum of the acryl-urethane copolymer resin (A) and the polyester resin (B).
US07972699B2	Transparent and electrically conductive single wall carbon nanotube films An optically transparent and electrically conductive single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) film comprises a plurality of interpenetrated single walled carbon nanotubes, wherein for a 100 nm film the film has sufficient interpenetration to provide a 25° C. sheet resistance of less than 200 ohm/sq. The film also provides at least 20% optical transmission throughout a wavelength range from 0.4 μm to 5 μm.
US07972697B2	Electrochemical activation of capacitor material The present teachings are directed toward methods for preparing activated capacitor materials by exposing capacitor material to an electrical potential of sufficient voltage and for a sufficient time to activate the capacitor materials. Compositions of capacitor materials containing carbon nanotubes and other carbon-containing materials are also disclosed.
US07972696B2	Particles with structured surface Particles with a structural surface which are useful to produce abrasion resistant self-cleaning surfaces contain particulate solid particles having a superstructured overlayer of fine particles. The particles may be prepared by polymerizing a polymerizable siloxane, silane, or mixture thereof in a Pickering emulsion.
US07972694B2	Triple-layer semiconductor nanoparticle and triple-layer semiconductor nanorod A semiconductor nanoparticle and semiconductor nanorod that have optical characteristics (luminescence intensity and emission lifetime) superior to those of conventional core/shell nanosized semiconductors. There are provided a triple-layer semiconductor nanoparticle, and triple-layer semiconductor nanorod, having an average particle diameter of 2 to 50 nm and comprising a core layer, an interlayer and a shell layer, wherein the layers are composed of different crystals, and wherein the crystal constructing the shell layer exhibits a band gap greater than that of the crystal constructing the core layer, and wherein the crystal constructing the interlayer has a lattice constant assuming a value between those of the crystal constructing the core layer and the crystal constructing the shell layer.
US07972692B2	Biodegradable multicomponent fibers A multicomponent fiber that contains a high-melting aliphatic polyester and a low-melting aliphatic polyester is provided. The multicomponent fibers are substantially biodegradable, yet readily processed into nonwoven structures that exhibit effective fibrous mechanical properties.
US07972690B2	Decorative sheet, formed product and transportation apparatus A decorative sheet includes a base member made of a resin material; a decoration layer, which is supported by the base member and which includes a pigment; and two resin layers, which are arranged so as to sandwich the decoration layer between them. The two resin layers are made of a resin material that has a lower load deflection temperature than the resin material of the base member.
US07972685B2	Glass mat laminate comprised of polymerizable cyclic polyester oligomers suitable for composites with a class-A surface A composition of a fiber reinforced multi-layered laminate that when compression-molded forms a composite having a Class-A surface that is resin rich. The fiber reinforced multi-layered laminate has an outer layer of a cyclic polyester oligomer containing a latent polymerization catalyst; a glass mat; a core layer of a cyclic polyester oligomer containing a latent polymerization catalyst; a second glass mat, and another outer layer of a cyclic polyester oligomer containing a latent polymerization catalyst. When compression molded, the combination of heat and pressure force the core layer through the permeable glass mats and toward the surface. The latent polymerization catalyst initiates polymerization of the cyclic polyester oligomer forming a Class-A surface that is resin rich. The core layer of a cyclic polyester oligomer thoroughly permeates the reinforcing fiber forming a composite having a middle, with a nearly uniform mixture of reinforced glass fiber and thermoplastic in situ polymerized resin.
US07972680B2	Resin composition and film To realize a resin composition which enables formation of a film having excellent film formability and bending resistance and having a small retardation. A resin composition of the present invention comprises: an acrylic resin as a main component; and organic fine particles whose average particle diameter ranges from 0.01 μm to 1 μm, wherein a glass transition temperature of the acrylic resin ranges from 110° C. to 200° C., and each of the organic fine particles has a structural unit of a vinyl cyanide monomer and a structural unit of an aromatic vinyl monomer.
US07972667B2	Gas container packing structure having a material crystallized in needle form The present invention relates to a packing structure for containers, characterized in that it comprises a material of xonotlite and/or tobermorite and/or foshagite crystal structure crystallized in the form of needles, at least 50% by volume of which have a length ranging from 2 to 10 μm and a thickness ranging from 0.2 to 1 μm. Process for manufacturing such a packing structure and gas container containing it.
US07972665B2	Ink jet recording medium The invention provides an ink jet recording medium comprising a support and an ink receiving layer provided on at least one surface of the support. In one embodiment, a center line average roughness average Ra of a surface of the ink-receiving layer, measured with a 2.5 mm measuring length and 0.8 mm cut-off value, is in a range of 0.3 μm or more but less than 0.8 μm. In another embodiment, a center line average roughness average Ra of the surface of the support measured with a 2.5 mm measuring length and 0.8 mm cut-off value, is preferably in a range of 0.3 μm or more but less than 1.0 μm. An image clarity of the surface of the ink receiving layer is preferably in a range of 2 to 40%.
US07972663B2	Method and apparatus for forming a high quality low temperature silicon nitride layer A method of forming a silicon nitride layer is described. According to the present invention, a silicon nitride layer is deposited by thermally decomposing a silicon/nitrogen containing source gas or a silicon containing source gas and a nitrogen containing source gas at low deposition temperatures (e.g., less than 550° C.) to form a silicon nitride layer. The thermally deposited silicon nitride layer is then treated with hydrogen radicals to form a treated silicon nitride layer.
US07972660B2	Electrostatic fluidised powder bed coating process The present invention pertains to a process for forming a coating on a substrate using a tribo-charging electrostatic fluidized bed process; characterized in that a powder coating is used which has a particle size distribution such that a) d(v,90)≦42.5 μm, and b) i) the percentage of particles <10 μm in size is ≦12% by volume, and/or ii) [d(s,90)÷d(s,10)]2≦3.5, [d(s,90)−7]d(s,90) being greater than 7 μm and d(s,90) and d(s,10) being measured in microns.
US07972659B2	Method of applying silanes to metal in an oil bath containing a controlled amount of water Organofunctional silanes are applied to metal surfaces using an oil bath. Metal is immersed in an oil bath containing approximately 2% silane and an oil dispersible hygroscopic liquid, such as glycerol. In one embodiment, the metal is a tire cord. Water vapor entrained in a carrier gas can also be bubbled into the oil silane bath.
US07972656B2	Coating compositions, articles, and methods of coating articles Coating compositions, articles, and methods of coating articles are provided. The coating compositions and methods provide abrasion resistant formable coatings when cured on a substrate. The articles can be formed after the coating compositions are applied to a substrate and cured. Abrasion resistant, tintable coatings are also provided.
US07972654B2	Planarizing coating method A planarizing coating method for filling a step between patterns formed on a board surface, includes the steps of: preparing at least two types of coating liquids different in non-volatile matter densities, first coating one of the coating liquids higher in density on the board surface, rotating the board so as to leave the one coating liquid inside the step and such that, at the same time, substantially none of the one coating liquid is left on a pattern crest of the patterns, subsequently coating another of the coating liquids lower in non-volatile matter density on the board surface, and rotating the board so that the coating liquid lower in density is left on a coating film comprising the one coating liquid higher in density and such that, at the same time, substantially none of the other coating liquid lower in density left on the pattern crest.
US07972652B2	Electroless plating system An electroless plating system includes a plating solution, and controlling reducing agents in the plating solution for deposition over outlier features smaller than about five hundred nanometers and isolated by about one thousand nanometers.
US07972648B2	Deposition of discrete nanoparticles on a nanostructured surface of an implant A method of forming an implant to be implanted into living bone is disclosed. The method comprises the act of roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to produce a microscale roughened surface. The method further comprises forming a nanoscale roughened surface on the microscale roughened surface. The method further comprises the act of depositing discrete nanoparticles on the nanoscale roughened surface though a one-step process of exposing the roughened surface to a solution including the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles comprise a material having a property that promotes osseointegration.
US07972646B2	Aroma-producing compositions for foods An improved aroma-producing composition is provided that is shelf-stable and allows controlled release of a desired aroma from the composition, and also food products treated with the aroma-producing composition. The aroma-producing composition is a homogenous one-phase system which includes an aroma-producing material and a fat-containing composition which includes a medium chain fatty acid triglyceride and fat or lipid having a melting point greater than the medium chain fatty acid triglyceride. The aroma-producing composition can be heated to induce and boost aroma release from the aroma-producing composition at an opportune time, such as when a food product treated with the aroma-producing composition is preheated by microwave heating immediately before it is consumed.
US07972644B2	Bottleable green tea beverage With the object of providing a bottleable green tea beverage for selling hot, a bottleable green tea beverage was prepared, which is a bottleable green tea beverage containing a green tea extract obtained by extracting green tea leaves, wherein the content in epigallocatechin gallate and gallocatechin gallate is 380 mg/l to 1500 mg/l as a total value, the content of glutamic acid is 20 mg/l to 120 mg/l, the diff-use transmittance is 1.0% or less, and the pH is 5 to 7.
US07972641B2	Method for producing soybean milk Lipoxygenase-free soybean grains are mechanically pulverized into fine particles and then subjected to heat drying treatment with water vapor having a temperature in the range of 130 to 250° C. under atmospheric pressure to form lumps of soybean powder. The lumps are formed into granules having controlled sizes by placing the lumps in a space defined by two plates having a predetermined distance therebetween and having a plurality of parallel grooves formed in the surfaces. The plates are in a state of relative rotation. This method allows the production of soybean powder free from disagreeable odor and taste and the production of soybean milk from the soybean powder, with inexpensive equipment in a quick process.
US07972637B2	Method for making center-filled chewing gum pieces A dual-filled gum piece is provided having a first cavity filled with a liquid filling and a second cavity filled with a powder filling. The gum pieces are produced by extruding a gum rope having two separate channels respectively filled with liquid and powder, sizing and shaping the gum rope, cooling the gum rope, cutting the rope into discrete gum pieces, and finally cooling the gum pieces. The gum pieces optionally can be coated with a hard coating. In other aspects for single- and dual-filled gums, a process for making the gum pieces employs a rope sizer that reduces the diameter of the gum rope and shapes it to have a non-round cross-section, and a multi-story cooling tunnel having individually motor-driven conveyors.
US07972636B2	Beverage and medicament containing bamboo extract as a main ingredient The present invention relates to a beverage containing bamboo extract as a main ingredient, for details, a beverage containing bamboo extract as the main ingredient, which is useful for amelioration of diabetes, cancer, life-style related diseases or the like. A beverage characterized in containing, as the main ingredient, bamboo extract obtained through the process comprising the steps by immersing bamboo in water and extracting the bamboo extract with heating the water to 95° C. or higher and maintaining the temperature for a period of 2 hr 45 min to 3 hr 15 min.
US07972634B2	Gel-type bird aversion compositions A gel-type bird aversion composition consists of, on the basis of weight, 30 to 90% of a thickening agent, 0.01 to 4% of an ultraviolet ray absorbent, 0.1 to 20% of methyl anthranilate, 0.1 to 10% of cinnamon essential oil, 0.1 to 20% of mint essential oil; 5 to 40% by weight of mineral oil or grease; and 1 to 10% by weight of emulsifier.
US07972630B2	Injectable bone mineral substitute material An injectable bone mineral substitute material composition comprises an inorganic bone cement powder and a biologically compatible oil. The oil is an intermixture with the cement powder at a concentration of less than 10 wt % of the total weight of the composition in order to improve the rheology of the same. In a method of intermixing a powder of an implant material and a biologically compatible oil to a composition the oil is mixed with the powder of implant material at an elevated temperature.
US07972628B2	Porous biomaterials The invention provides porous biomaterials and methods for forming porous biomaterials. The porous biomaterials of the invention comprise a biocompatible polymer scaffold defining an array of pores, wherein substantially all the pores have a similar diameter, wherein the mean diameter of the pores is between about 20 and about 90 micrometers, wherein substantially all the pores are each connected to at least 4 other pores, and wherein the diameter of substantially all the connections between the pores is between about 15% and about 40% of the mean diameter of the pores. The invention also provides implantable devices comprising a layer of a biomaterial, and methods for promoting angiogenesis in and around an implantable biomaterial.
US07972627B2	Beclomethasone dipropionate monohydrate nasal pharmaceutical formulations and methods of using the same Nasal pharmaceutical formulations comprising a drug substance having a specific particle size distribution profile are disclosed herein. Such profile provides increased bioavailability, increased efficacy or prolonged therapeutic effect of the drug substance when administered intranasally. The formulations of the present invention may comprise one or more corticosteroids having a specific particle size distribution profile. In a preferred embodiment, the corticosteroid is beclomethasone or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof for the treatment of one or more symptoms of rhinitis. Preferably, the drug substance is beclomethasone dipropionate. The formulations herein may be provided as an aqueous suspension suitable for inhalation via the intranasal route.
US07972621B2	Process for formulating fast dispersing dosage forms comprising at least one fish gelatin selected on the basis of molecular weight The invention disclosed herein relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a carrier and an active ingredient, wherein the carrier is at least one fish gelatin predetermined on the basis of the molecular weight profile of the gelatin. In some embodiments, particularly when the concentration of carrier comprises a relatively lower percentage of the total composition, the carrier may be exclusively a high molecular weight fish gelatin, or may be comprised of a mixture with standard molecular weight gelatin in which high molecular weight gelatin comprises a predominant portion. In those embodiments where the concentration of carrier comprises a relatively larger percentage of the total composition, the carrier may be an exclusively standard molecular weight fish gelatin, or may be comprised of a mixture in which standard molecular weight gelatin comprises a predominant portion. Thus, compositions may be designed to optimize performance for various required gelatin concentration formulations.
US07972620B2	Polysaccharide capsules and methods of preparation The present invention is directed to seamless capsules and methods for making seamless capsules having a high oil content. More specifically, the present invention is directed to seamless capsules, and methods for making seamless capsules, made from a process involving the steps of: (a) preparing an emulsion comprising oil, water, an emulsifier, and at least one of a water-soluble monovalent metal salt, polyvalent metal salt, and an acid, wherein said oil is present in an amount of at least 50% by weight of said emulsion; with the proviso that said emulsion does not contain marmelo mucilage; and (b) adding portions of said emulsion to an aqueous gelling bath comprised of at least one ionic polysaccharide, thereby encapsulating said portions of said emulsion in a polysaccharide gel membrane, and optionally (c) drying the resulting capsules by removing water. The capsule is, for example, an alignate gel. The capsules of the invention are suitable for a variety of applications, e.g. pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, veterinary, agricultural, cosmetic, or food applications.
US07972617B1	Anti-thrombogenic device and method of manufacturing the same One embodiment of an anti-thrombogenic device includes a substrate, an attachment compound including a first end directly, mechanically secured to the substrate a second end positioned opposite the substrate, and an anti-thrombogenic species bonded to the second end of the attachment compound.
US07972615B2	Peptide compositions for coating metal medical devices with vancomycin The presently disclosed subject matter provides compositions comprising a first substrate-binding domain (a peptide or a polymer) having binding affinity for a tissue or a medical device, a second substrate-binding domain having binding affinity for a target molecule, and the target molecule. In some embodiments, the first and second substrate-binding domains are covalently linked. The first and second substrate-binding domains are covalently coupled to at least one hydrophobic interaction tag, negatively charged interaction tag, or positively charged interaction tag. When the substrate-binding domains are combined and coated onto the tissue or medical device, the hydrophobic interaction tags interact with each other and the charged interaction tags interact with the oppositely charged interaction tags or the oppositely charged substrate binding polymers, to form a macromolecular network of non-covalently coupled substrate-binding domains to load the target molecule onto the tissue or medical device.
US07972611B2	Fungus-induced inflammation and eosinophil degranulation This document relates to methods and materials involved in fungus-induced inflammation and eosinophil degranulation. For example, isolated nucleic acids encoding fungal polypeptides, fungal polypeptides, methods for assessing fungus-induced inflammation, methods for assessing eosinophil degranulation, and methods for identifying inhibitors of fungus-induced inflammation and/or eosinophil degranulation are provided.
US07972609B2	Method of treating cancer Present invention relates to the method of treating cancer. According to present invention, a pharmaceutical composition made from ‘Mycobacterium w’ (Mw) is found to be useful in the management of cancer. We have now found that the same therapeutic agent is useful in management of cancer. The use of Mycobacterium w containing formulations is associated with decrease in burden of cancer tissue, decreasing symptoms associated with cancer and improving quality of life. It also improves tolerance to other therapies.
US07972608B2	Carrier proteins for vaccines The present invention provides, among other things, improved carrier proteins for antigen-based vaccines, including polysaccharide-based vaccines. An aspect of the invention advantageously employs tetanus toxin Fragment C.
US07972606B2	T24 antigen for immunodiagnosis of Taenia solium cysticercosis The present disclosure relates to T24 nucleic acid sequences, amino acid sequences, and antibodies. Methods for detecting and diagnosing Taenia solium infection in a subject using the T24 sequences and specific binding agents are also disclosed. The T24 sequences disclosed herein can be formulated into a pharmaceutical composition for administration to a subject. For example, the disclosed T24 polypeptides can also be administered to a subject to stimulate an immune response in the subject, thereby protecting the subject against T. solium infection.
US07972602B2	Promiscuous HER-2/Neu CD4 T cell epitopes The present invention relates to the discovery of novel T cell epitopes of the human HER-2/Neu protein that is promiscuous for at least 25 different HLA-DR alleles. The invention also relates to compositions that contain one of the novel epitopes or a fusion peptide of such a epitope and a heterologous polypeptide. Further disclosed herein is the use of the epitopes or their fusion peptides, and compositions containing the epitopes or their fusion peptides.
US07972599B2	Immunomodulation of inflammatory conditions utilizing Follistatin-like protein-1 and agents that bind thereto Follistatin-like protein (FSTL-1) is a secreted glycoprotein of unknown function, first isolated from mouse osteoblastic cells as a transforming growth factor-β1-inducible gene. The inventors have discovered that FSTL-1 is a proinflammatory mediator. As such, the invention provides for composition and methods of using agents that bind to FSTL-1 to modulate various types of inflammation (e.g., autoimmune diseases). Inhibitors and antagonists of FSTL-1, particularly antibodies or antibody fragments, may be used to treat conditions related to inflammation, such as arthritis. In addition, the inventors have discovered that FSTL-1 has a role in the Th17 pathway. Accordingly, the invention provides for compositions and methods of using agents which bind to FSTL-1 to modulate the generation of Th17 cells. Such agents are useful for delaying development of and treating diseases associated with undesired production of Th17 cells, such as autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, since FSTL-1 is a proinflammatory mediator with a role in cancer, the invention provides for compositions and methods of using a pharmaceutical composition of FSTL-1 to delay development of or treat cancer.
US07972596B2	Antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 Monoclonal antibodies that are specific for vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-I). This invention also provides nucleotide sequences encoding and amino acid sequences comprising variable heavy and light chain immunoglobulin molecules, including sequences corresponding to the complementarity determining regions of CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3. The invention also provides methods for generation and expression of anti -VEGFR-I antibodies and methods of treating angiogenic-related disorders and reducing tumor growth by administering anti-VEGFR-I antibodies.
US07972595B2	Methods and compositions for protecting and treating at least one muscarinic receptor from dysfunction not resulting from oxidative stress, toxic actions of metals or infectious agents by administering a pyrophosphate analog Methods and compositions for protecting and treating a muscarinic receptor in a subject in need thereof from dysfunction not resulting from oxidative stress, toxic actions of metals or metal ions, or infectious agents by administering a pyrophosphate analog.
US07972594B2	Ablative immunotherapy The invention disclosed herein relates generally to immunotherapy and, more specifically, to the use of immunotherapy for treating tumors and pathogen infected tissues by first priming patients with allogeneic cells designed to be rejected by a Th1 mediated mechanism, then inducing necrosis or apoptosis in a tumor or pathogen infected lesion by methods such as cryotherapy, irreversible electroporation, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, ultrasound therapy, ethanol chemoablation, microwave thermal ablation, radiofrequency energy or a combination thereof applied against at least a portion of the tumor or pathogen infected tissue, and then delivering one or more doses of allogeneic cells (e.g., Th1 cells) within or proximate to the tumor or pathogen-infected tissue in the primed patient. The present invention provides an immunotherapeutic strategy to develop de-novo systemic (adaptive) immunity to a tumor or pathogen.
US07972592B2	Prevention of type 1 diabetes and other non-polio enterovirus diseases Live virus vaccines comprise attenuated viruses, while other vaccines comprise killed viruses or parts thereof. It has now been found that the immune response induced by oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), which is a live vaccine, is cross-reactive with non-polio enteroviruses. OPV is therefore useful in the prevention of non-polio enterovirus diseases, especially Type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM). OPV is also useful in combination with killed/subunit non-polio enterovirus vaccines, whereby it prevents harmful side-effects of the killed/subunit vaccine by shifting the immune response from a harmful Th2-type response to a Th1 type response.
US07972591B2	Methods for treating rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis using MCP1 fusions The present invention provides polypeptides including MCP1 fused, optionally, by a linker, to an immunoglobulin. Methods for using the polypeptides to treat medical disorders are also covered.
US07972587B2	Hydrogen production from biomass Briefly described, methods of generating (H2) from a biomass and the like, are disclosed.
US07972578B2	Device and method for separating components of a fluid sample A device and method is provided for separating heavier and lighter fractions of a fluid sample. The device includes a plurality of constituents comprising a container and a composite element in the container. The composite element is a separator comprising at least two components and more particularly an elastic portion and a plug member. A fluid sample is delivered to the container and the device is subjected to centrifugation whereby the centrifugal load causes the elastic portion of the separator to deform so that the separator migrates into the fluid sample and stabilizes between the heavier and lighter fractions of the fluid sample. The elastic portion of the separator will resiliently return to its initial configuration upon termination of the centrifugal load such that the elastic portion sealingly engages the container and separates the heavier and lighter fractions of the fluid sample.
US07972575B2	Two-phase pipette The invention relates to a two-phase electronic pipette, in which the piston can be moved from the basic position to the lower position and in which the distance between basic position and lower position can be changed.
US07972573B2	Supercritical water oxidation apparatus and process A reactor suitable for the continuous oxidizing of an organic material in a supercritical water oxidation process, the reactor includes (a) a reactor body with reactor walls; (b) and a threaded reactor upper plug; and (c) a cylindrical liner attached solely to the threaded reactor upper plug, such that, when the threaded reactor upper plug is removed from the reactor, the reactor liner is consequently and simultaneously removed from the reactor as well.
US07972570B2	Distributor nozzle for a two-phase charge in fixed-bed reactors A distributor nozzle for a two-phase charge, to be used in fixed-bed reactors in order to increase the area over which the mixture is dispersed and to make its flow rate the same over the whole area of the bed in the reactor. The device includes a number of fixing bars and a deflector cone frustum. The deflector cones or cone frusta may have more than one angle in order to improve the distribution, and they have a number of apertures or slits and a number of vertical directing elements or a directing cage or frame to direct the stream of the two-phase charge in order to increase the area over which the mixture is dispersed and to make its flow rate the same over the entire area of the bed in the reactor.
US07972558B2	Method and an apparatus for sterilizing packaging material A method and an apparatus for sterilizing packaging material for use in packaging for protein containing products, such as food products or medical drugs. The packaging material is sterilized by irradiating it using a beam of ionizing radiation, such as an electron beam or a beam of gamma rays. Afterwards, the packaging material is processed in such a manner that protein reactive substances or compounds formed in the packaging material during the irradiation step are at least partly removed or rendered inreactive with respect to proteins. The processing step may advantageously be performed by heating the packaging material. Preferably, the processing step involves accelerating diffusion from the packaging material of protein reactive substances or compounds. Since the protein reactive substances or compounds are removed or rendered inreactive with respect to proteins, degradation of the product which is later stored in the packaging material is considerably reduced. The packaging material needs to be stored under sterile conditions for a shorter period of time. Thereby the space needed for sterile storage, as well of the risk of contamination, is considerably reduced.
US07972554B2	Air cartridge devices and methods of using same Air cartridge devices and methods of using the air cartridge devices are provided. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an air cartridge device comprising an elongated cylindrical shaft defining a first elongated end portion and a second elongated end portion. The second elongated end portion can defining one or more apertures. The air cartridge device can be incorporated into a blow molding apparatus for blow molding bottles.
US07972548B2	Method for molding composite structures Method for making, modifying and using machinable composite molds for use in molding composite structures. The mold includes a mold body having a tool surface that is shaped to provide the molded surface of the composite structure. The mold body is made up of at least one mold layer composed of a quasi-isotropic material composed of a plurality of randomly oriented fiber bundles or chips impregnated with a resin. The use of randomly oriented fiber chips allows post-cure machining of the mold body.
US07972546B1	Layered composites Useful composites and methods of using such composites are provided. The composites include an outer layer containing a first polymeric material, an intermediate layer circumscribed by the outer layer and containing a second polymeric material, and an inner layer circumscribed by the intermediate layer and containing a third polymeric material. The inner layer, in combination with the intermediate layer, is structured and effective to reinforce the composite relative to a substantially identical composite without the inner layer. The present composites can be produced using co-extrusion processing.
US07972542B1	Layer by layer self-assembly of large response molecular electro-optic materials by a desilylation strategy The preparation of robust, thin film materials with large second-order optical nonlinearities through the covalent self-assembly of chromophoric compositions and innovative use of silyl chemistry.
US07972541B2	Doped organic semiconductor material The present invention relates to a doped organic semiconductor material comprising at least one organic matrix material, which is doped with at least one dopant, the matrix material being selected from a group consisting of certain phenanthroline derivatives; and also an organic light-emitting diode which comprises such a semiconductor material.
US07972536B2	Electrically conductive, optically transparent polymer/carbon nanotube composites The present invention is directed to the effective dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into polymer matrices. The nanocomposites are prepared using polymer matrices and exhibit a unique combination of properties, most notably, high retention of optical transparency in the visible range (i.e., 400-800 nm), electrical conductivity, and high thermal stability. By appropriate selection of the matrix resin, additional properties such as vacuum ultraviolet radiation resistance, atomic oxygen resistance, high glass transition (Tg) temperatures, and excellent toughness can be attained. The resulting nanocomposites can be used to fabricate or formulate a variety of articles such as coatings on a variety of substrates, films, foams, fibers, threads, adhesives and fiber coated prepreg. The properties of the nanocomposites can be adjusted by selection of the polymer matrix and CNT to fabricate articles that possess high optical transparency and antistatic behavior.
US07972533B2	Chromate free waterborne corrosion resistant primer with non-carcinogenic corrosion inhibiting additive A waterborne corrosion resistant primer composition is composed of a waterborne resin system; an optional curing agent; and a non-chromate containing corrosion inhibiting additive. The non-chromate corrosion inhibiting additive includes at least one of an anodic corrosion inhibitor, a cathodic corrosion inhibitor and a metal complexing agent. The metal complexing agent increases the solubility of at least one of the anodic and cathodic corrosion inhibitors.
US07972532B2	Composition for odor control A synergistic composition is provided for controlling odor from waste products. The composition comprises a combination of nitrate salt, sulfide-consuming compound, pH-elevating compound, sulfide-oxidizing, nitrate-reducing bacteria, and sulfide-oxidizing enzyme. The method includes adding a sufficient amount of the composition to a waste stream to provide sufficient sulfide-consuming compound to effect immediate removal of sulfide. The composition incorporates a pH elevating compound, which both decreases the amount of gaseous H2S and puts the aqueous phase into a pH range where naturally occurring bacteria can more easily metabolize the sulfide. The composition also includes one or more nitrate salts which will accomplish longer term prevention of odors. Specific bacteria are incorporated into the formulation to insure that the nitrate has the right type and amount of bacteria present to prevent formation of and/or consume sulfide. Specific enzymes are incorporated into the formulation to promote oxidation of sulfide.
US07972527B2	Method of making ternary piezoelectric crystals A ternary single crystal relaxor piezoelectric grown from a novel melt using the Vertical Bridgeman method. The ternary single crystals are characterized by a Curie temperature, Tc, of at least 150° C. and a rhombohedral to tetragonal phase transition temperature, Trt, of at least about 110° C. The ternary crystals further exhibit a piezoelectric coefficient, d33, in the range of at least about 1200-2000 pC/N.
US07972524B2	Azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions of Z-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene Azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are disclosed. The azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are mixtures of Z-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene with methyl formate, pentane, 2-methylbutane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, dimethoxymethane, or cyclopentane. Also disclosed is a process of preparing a thermoplastic or thermoset foam by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as blowing agents. Also disclosed is a process of producing refrigeration by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as solvents. Also disclosed is a process of producing an aerosol product by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as heat transfer media. Also disclosed is a process of extinguishing or suppressing a fire by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as dielectrics.
US07972523B2	Method of manufacturing magnetic recording medium According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes forming a magnetic recording layer, an oxidation inhibiting layer, a hard mask layer includes carbon on a substrate, coating the hard mask layer with a resist, transferring patterns of protrusions and recesses to the resist by imprinting to form resist patterns, sequentially performing etching of the hard mask layer using the resist patterns as masks, etching of the oxidation inhibiting layer, and etching and/or magnetism deactivation of the magnetic recording layer to form patterns of the magnetic recording layer, and sequentially performing stripping of the resist patterns, stripping of the hard mask layer and stripping of the oxidation inhibiting layer, in which ion beam etching is used for stripping the oxidation inhibiting layer.
US07972521B2	Method of making reliable wafer level chip scale package semiconductor devices The present invention relates to a method of making a robust wafer level chip scale package and, in particular, a method that prevents cracking of the passivation layer during solder flow and subsequent multiple thermal reflow steps. In one embodiment, a passivation layer that is formed using an insulating material applied in a highly compressive manner is used. In another aspect, another layer is applied over the passivation layer to assist with preventing cracking of the passivation layer.
US07972520B2	Process for operating a centrifuge The present invention relates to a process for operating a centrifuge which has a drive shaft used for loading, a drum which is connected to the drive shaft and has a drum casing and a drum base, a filter with a working region situated within the filter, an annular space formed between the filter and the drum casing, at least one drum base opening which is formed in the drum base and opens out into the annular space, and at least one swirl nozzle which is arranged in such a manner that it injects a fluid through the at least one drum base opening into the annular space. The process according to the invention includes the steps of loading a product suspension into the working region through the drive shaft, centrifuging the product suspension and drying the product suspension, wherein the drum rotates continuously during drying, and a fluid is injected into the drum through the annular space by means of the at least one swirl nozzle, and the rotational speed of the drum during drying is selected such that a product cake formed in the drum does not collapse.
US07972516B2	Device and method for separating, mixing and concentrating magnetic particles with a fluid and use thereof in purification methods A process for manipulating magnetic particles suspended in a fluid that are able to bind to an entity of interest, the fluid being contained in a reaction vessel having a large funnel shaped upper compartment, an elongate lower compartment of substantially constant cross-section and a closed base. The process consists of: a) subjecting the magnetic particles to two simultaneously applied magnetic fields to separate all said magnetic particles present in at least the upper compartment of the vessel from the fluid, b) transferring the separated magnetic particles from the upper compartment to the lower compartment, c) removing the fluid from the vessel, d) adding a washing liquid to the lower compartment, e) subjecting the magnetic particles to at least two magnetic fields applied successively with changing directions to wash all the magnetic particles present in the lower compartment, and concentrating said magnetic particles in said lower compartment.
US07972504B2	Skimmer apparatus for use with a body of water A skimmer apparatus including a floatation element defining an operative top end and configured to remain on top of a body of water, a net material having a top edge connected to the floatation element and extending nearly a complete width of the floatation element, a non-floatation element defining an operative bottom and connected to a bottom edge of the net material, a guide element extending from a first side and second side of the floatation element and first side and the second side of the non-floatation element, and a handle attached to the end of the guide element distant from the floatation element and the non-floatation element.
US07972502B2	Aeration-less water treatment apparatus An aeration-less water treatment apparatus including an anaerobic reactor which receives sewage to cause the sewage to flow as an upward stream, and an aerobic reactor which receives treated water from the anaerobic reactor to cause the water to flow as a downward stream so that the water contacts aerobic microorganisms and air to aerobically treat the polluted matter in the water, the apparatus further including a suspended sludge section located in a lower part of the anaerobic reactor and in which the anaerobic microorganisms are suspended in the sewage, and a carrier section located in an upper part of the anaerobic reactor and having carriers to which the anaerobic microorganisms are attached, the anaerobic microorganisms having flowed from the suspended sludge section being further attached to the carriers.
US07972499B2	Process for recycling an active slurry catalyst composition in heavy oil upgrading The instant invention is directed to a process employing slurry catalyst compositions in the upgrading of heavy oils. The slurry catalyst composition is not permitted to settle, which would result in possible deactivation. The slurry is recycled to an upgrading reactor for repeated use and products require no further separation procedures for catalyst removal.
US07972498B2	Resid processing for steam cracker feed and catalytic cracking The invention concerns integration of hydroprocessing and steam cracking. A feed comprising crude or resid-containing fraction thereof is treated by hydroprocessing and visbreaking and then passed to a steam cracker to obtain a product comprising olefins.
US07972496B2	Process oil, process for production of deasphalted oil, process for production of extract, and process for production of process oil The present invention is related to a process oil using as a raw material a deasphalted oil obtained by deasphalting a vacuum residual oil of a crude oil and a manufacturing method of the process oil, the process oil having properties of: (a) a polycyclic aromatics (PCA) content of less than 3 mass %; (b) a viscosity (100° C.) of 40 to 70 mm2/s; (c) an aniline point of 85 to 100° C.; (d) a flash point of 250° C. or higher; (e) an aromatic hydrocarbon content of 40 to 55 mass %; and (f) a polar substance content of 10 to 15 mass %. The present invention is also related to a process oil and a manufacturing method of the process oil, the process oil obtained by mixing: an extract obtained by deasphalting and solvent-extracting a vacuum residual oil of a crude oil; and a lubricant base oil having a polycyclic aromatics (PCA) content of less than 3 mass %, and having properties of: (a) a polycyclic aromatics (PCA) content of less than 3 mass %; (i) a viscosity (100° C.) of 30 to 80 mm2/s; (j) an aniline point of 90° C. or lower; (k) a flash point of 240° C. or higher; (l) a benzo(a)pyrene content of 1 mass ppm or less; (m) a specified aromatic compound content of 10 mass ppm or less; and (n) a polar substance content of 10 to 30 mass %.
US07972495B1	System, method, and probe for monitoring pH levels of a sample medium A system for monitoring a pH level of a sample medium is disclosed herein as including a pH probe having a pH-sensitive electrode, a reference electrode and a temperature electrode arranged within a housing of the pH probe. The probe housing generally includes a flexible inner tube and a flexible outer tube, the inner tube being concentrically arranged within the outer tube. Preferably, a size of the probe housing minimizes the amount of trauma introduced by insertion of the pH probe into physiological tissues, muscles or fluids. The system also includes a processing means, which is coupled to the pH probe for determining the pH of the sample medium. A method of forming a pH-sensitive electrode, a method of manufacturing a pH probe, and a method for using a pH probe are also disclosed herein.
US07972494B2	Application of biosensor chips A method of sensing a property of each of a plurality of samples is disclosed. The method includes disposing a sensor chip in each sample, the sensor chip being adapted to sense the property of a respective sample and comprising sensing electronics, a wireless communication device and an identifier. Each sensor chip is then registered and sensed data is received from each of the registered sensor chips concurrently via the respective wireless communication device.
US07972493B2	Filter wash for chloralkali process Filter wash methods and apparatuses for chloralkali processes are provided. The filter wash uses in-process fluids from the chloralkali process to wash filters. The in-process fluids may be drawn from a point in the chloralkali process where the in-process fluids contain active chlorine values such as bleach. A filter may then be isolated from the chloralkali process and contacted with the in-process fluids containing active chlorine values to wash the filter. The in-process fluids containing active chlorine values may be operable to oxidize organic material clinging to the filter, thereby cleaning the filter. After washing, the in-process fluids containing active chlorine values may be returned to the chloralkali process to a point at or near where they were drawn from. The filters may be membrane filters. The filters may comprise expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
US07972492B2	Electrosynthesis of organic compounds Disclosed is a process for the electrochemical transformation of a compound to form a product, the process comprising (i) effecting the transformation in the presence of an electrolyte comprising at least one room temperature ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid is air-stable and moisture-stable, (ii) recovering the product, and optionally (iii) recovering the ionic liquid. The process can be used to effect the electrochemical transformation of a wide range of organic compounds.
US07972491B2	Method for imparting hydrogen resistance to articles A simple and low cost method for imparting excellent hydrogen resistance to various types of articles such as a rare earth metal-based permanent magnet. A method for imparting hydrogen resistance to an article of the present invention is characterized by forming a metal coating film by pulse plating on the surface of the article.
US07972490B2	Magnetic transfer master disk and method for manufacturing the same A magnetic transfer master disk including a magnetic layer and exhibiting excellent shape stability of a protrusion/recess pattern is provided. An initial layer formed of a conductive film is formed on a surface of a master on which a pattern of minute protrusions/recesses is formed, and then a magnetic layer (principal layer) is formed on the initial layer, and then, a metal layer is formed by electroforming. A duplicate in which the initial layer, the magnetic layer and the metal layer have been integrated is peeled off from the master, thereby obtaining a magnetic transfer master disk, which is a duplicate in which the magnetic layer and the initial layer are deposited on the protruded/recessed surface of the metal layer.
US07972489B2	Sensor element A sensor element is used to detect a physical property of a measuring gas, preferably to determine the oxygen content or the temperature of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The sensor element contains a first solid electrolyte layer and a second solid electrolyte layer. A first printed conductor and a second printed conductor are provided on opposite sides of the first solid electrolyte layer, the first printed conductor including a first electrode and a feed line to the first electrode, and the second printed conductor including a second electrode and a feed line to the second electrode. A third printed conductor, which includes a third electrode and a feed line to the third electrode, is provided on the second solid electrolyte layer. The second printed conductor is positioned between the third electrode and the first printed conductor.
US07972488B2	Sensor deterioration judging apparatus and sensor deterioration judging method In a sensor diagnosis process, a controller for controlling an NOx gas sensor performs processing of changing the oxygen partial pressure in a second measurement chamber by changing the oxygen partial pressure in a first measurement chamber (S190), processing of detecting a current flowing through a second pump cell before the change of the oxygen partial pressure (S180), and processing of detecting a current flowing through the second pump cell after the change of the oxygen partial pressure (S230). Furthermore, the controller performs processing of judging whether or not the ratio between the current values detected by the respective current detecting unit falls within an allowable range, judging that the second pump cell 113 is in a normal state if the ratio between the current values falls within the allowable range, and judging that the second pump cell 113 is in a deteriorated state if the ratio between the current values is out of the allowable range (S240 and S250).
US07972481B2	Scraping apparatus for the paper industry Scraping apparatus for the paper industry, of the type which consists of a scraping blade (l), a support (s) for the scraping blade (l) with a pivot swivel pin (e) with respect to a tray (4), said tray being supported (4) on the frame (b) of the apparatus, characterized because magnetic means are used to exert magnetic forces between the tray (4) or from the fixed element to it and the frame (b), and there are means of action on said magnetic means to activate/deactivate the magnetic forces between the tray (4) and the frame (b).The magnetic means consist of at least one zone (z) of ferromagnetic material and several permanent magnets or electromagnets (1) placed on the tray (4)-frame (b) in a conjugate/corresponding manner.
US07972479B2	Process for the control of pitch The present invention relates to a process for the control of pitch in an aqueous medium by adding surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate or an aqueous suspension comprising surface-reacted calcium carbonate and having a pH greater than 6.0 measured at 20° C., to the medium, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is a reaction product of natural calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more acids, the use of the surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate for pitch control, as well as to a combination of a surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate and talc for pitch control, and the resulting composites.
US07972475B2	Soft tissue paper having a polyhydroxy compound and lotion applied onto a surface thereof The present invention provides a paper product having at least one ply, wherein only one outer surface of said tissue paper has a polyhydroxy compound and a lotion applied thereto.
US07972474B2	Tissue products having enhanced cross-machine directional properties Tissue products are disclosed having desirable strength, stretch and softness properties. In particular, the tissue products exhibit relatively high strength while still having a relatively low stiffness and a significant amount of stretch. The tissue webs generally comprise uncreped through-air dried webs. In accordance with the present disclosure, the webs are formed in a through-air drying process in which the transfer fabric and the through-air drying fabric are both textured fabrics having a substantially uniform high strain distribution in the cross-machine direction. Various improvements in properties in the cross-machine direction are exhibited by deforming or molding a tissue web against one or more of the fabrics during the tissue making process.
US07972472B2	Process for forming a patterned thin film structure for in-mold decoration A process for forming a patterned thin film structure on a substrate or in-mold decoration film is disclosed. A pattern is printed with a material, such as a masking coating or ink, on the substrate, the pattern being such that, in one embodiment, the desired structures will be formed in the areas where the printed material is not present, i.e., a negative image of thin film structure to be formed is printed. In another embodiment, the pattern is printed with a material that is difficult to strip from the substrate, and the desired thin film structures will be formed in the areas where the printed material is present, i.e., a positive image of the thin film structure is printed. The thin film material is deposited on the patterned substrate, and the undesired area is stripped, leaving behind the patterned thin film structure.
US07972466B2	Process for manufacturing composite material structures with collapsible tooling A process for manufacturing stiffened structures (11) in composite materials formed by an outer coating (13) and a plurality of stiffeners (15) the cross-section of which has a closed form delimiting an inner opening (23), comprising the following steps: a) Providing a shaping tool (31); b) Providing auxiliary male tools (37) with an inert material inside them coated with membranes suitable for curing c) Providing stiffeners (15) in fresh or cured condition; d) Arranging the stiffeners (15) in the tool (31) and the auxiliary male tools (37) in their inner openings (23); e) Laminating the outer coating (13); f) Curing the stiffened structure (11) with high temperature and pressure; g) Removing the auxiliary male tools (37) after reducing their volume by withdrawing the inert material thereof; h) Separating the cured stiffened structure (11) from the tool (31). The invention also relates to the auxiliary male tools.
US07972459B2	Method for making pull-on disposable wearing article In a method for continuously making pull-on disposable wearing, a web is fed in a machine direction. The web is formed with first fastener elements on both sides of a region defining a cut line extending in a cross direction. Second fastener elements on a fastener base sheet are engaged with the respective first fastener elements, and a region between these first fastener elements is cut away from the web. Then, the web is folded in two and a side edge of the web is bonded to the fastener base sheet. Thereafter, the web is successively cut along the cut lines to separate the web into segments each of which is a pull-on wearing article having front and rear waist regions adapted to be detachably connected with each other by the first and second fastener elements.
US07972458B2	Filter material and process for producing same A filter material and process for producing a filter material, which may be used as a vacuum cleaner bag or a household air filter, are provided. Embodiments of the filter material comprise a porous substrate comprising a plurality of recycled fibers bound together by an adhesive. Embodiments of the process comprise arranging a plurality of fibers to form a layer; providing an amount of an adhesive to the fibers such that when the adhesive has cured, the layer is porous; and curing the adhesive.
US07972457B2	Device and method for draping and pre-shaping curved profiled structural components of fiber materials A device for draping and pre-shaping curved profiled structural components of fiber materials includes at least one shaping tool having a curved shaping face which has a profiled cross-section and which defines the outer contour of the profiled structural component. The device also includes a plurality of unwinding devices each for discharging a web-like fiber material, a device for performing a relative movement between the shaping tool and the plurality of unwinding devices for tangentially winding the web-like fiber materials onto the curved shaping face under tension, and a fixing device for finally fixing the shape of all of the web-like fiber materials wound on the curved shaping face. A method of draping and pre-shaping curved profiled structural components of fiber materials is also disclosed.
US07972450B2	High resistance magnet and motor using the same A magnet comprising grains of a ferromagnetic material whose main component is iron and a fluorine compound layer or an oxy-fluorine compound layer of fluoride compound particles of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and rare earth elements, present on the surface of the ferromagnetic material grains, wherein an amount of iron atoms in the fluorine compound particles is 1 to 50 atomic %.
US07972447B2	Screening arrangement for a dishwasher, and associated apparatus and method A screening arrangement is provided for a dishwasher having a tub portion defining a sump about a lower end thereof. The dishwasher further includes a heating element disposed proximate to the lower end of the tub portion and defining laterally-opposed inner and outer peripheries. A screen element is arranged adjacent the sump and is configured to screen a dishwashing fluid entering the sump from the tub portion. The screen element extends laterally inward of the inner periphery of the heating element and laterally outward of the outer periphery of the heating element. The screen element is also configured to be heat-resistant so as to protect one of the lower end, the sump, and a lower spray arm from heat emitted by the heating element. An associated apparatus and method are also provided.
US07972445B2	Vertical continuous vacuum pan The present invention consists of an improved vertical continuous vacuum pan apparatus consisting of eight chambers (2) (instead of four or five) and a storage or buffer tank (27) at the top, within the existing conventional height, characterized in that each chamber has a bottom mounted mechanical circulator housed in an insulated pocket (28) in the vapour space segment (29) of each chamber and not in additional space above the chamber.
US07972434B2	Resorbable ceramic compositions Ceramic precursor compositions and chemically bonded ceramic (CBC) materials, especially Ca-based, and a composite biomaterial suitable for orthopaedic applications. The CBC-system includes a binding phase (chemical cement) and additional phases with specified chemistry imparting to the biomaterial the ability of initial strength followed by interaction with the body tissue including body liquid, to form a resorbable or partly resorbable biomaterial. The ceramic precursor composition includes at least one silicate with Ca as the main cation with a resorption rate less or equal to that of the bone in-growth rate. The silicate will form the binding phase of the cured material. Implants and surface coated devices are also disclosed. The cured material exhibits a compressive strength exceeding 100 MPa.
US07972433B2	Fiber reinforced cement composition and products and manufacturing process The problems to be solved by the invention are to provide a fiber reinforced cement composition for obtaining a fiber reinforced cement product which is excellent in bending strength, dimensional stability and installing property such as handling property, flexibility performance and nail performance, as well as a process for manufacturing the product.Namely, the fiber reinforced cement composition comprises the following raw materials: a hydraulic inorganic material, a siliceous material and a woody reinforcement, wherein the siliceous material is an inorganic hollow material and/or an inorganic spherical material and a finely dividing inorganic hollow material and/or a finely dividing inorganic spherical material.The effects of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a fiber reinforced cement product having good bending strength, dimensional stability and installing property such as handling property, flexibility performance and nail performance.
US07972432B2	High early strength pozzolan cement blends A high early strength pozzolan cement includes larger sized pozzolan particles blended with smaller sized hydraulic cement particles containing tricalcium silicate and/or dicalcium silicate (e.g., Portland cement). Excess calcium release from the hydraulic cement when mixed with water forms calcium hydroxide available for reaction with the pozzolan. The fineness of the hydraulic cement particles is substantially greater than the fineness of the pozzolan particles (e.g., about 1.25 to about 50 times greater). Reducing or eliminating coarse hydraulic cement particles that cannot fully hydrate but include unreacted cores reduces or eliminates wasted cement normally found in concrete. Replacing some or all of the coarse cement particles with pozzolan particles provides a pozzolan cement composition having significantly lower water demand compared to the hydraulic cement by itself.
US07972429B2	Bituminous composition This invention relates to bituminous compositions and methods of producing the same. More particularly, the invention relates to the production of bituminous compositions formulated with performance-graded bitumen-containing solvent-free bitumen emulsions which exhibit controllable, temperature-dependent interfacial rheology. When employed in paving applications, these bituminous compositions develop adhesive strength and load-bearing strength properties at rates comparable to traditional hot mix paving compositions and at rates faster than traditional cold mix paving compositions.
US07972425B2	Postal blue ink with improved durability A water-based ink for inkjet recording exhibits a blue color defined as L*<45, 25
US07972419B2	Apparatus and method for reducing emissions resulting from raw meal grinding Disclosed is a method for reducing emissions from exhaust gas generated during the grinding and drying of cement raw meal as part of a cement manufacturing process. The invention comprises circuiting the exhaust gas between a raw mill and a clinker cooler. In the clinker cooler at least a portion of said emissions are delivered to a cement kiln in which said emissions are removed by being combusted and/or absorbed.
US07972418B2	Compressed air supply device A compressed air supply device for a commercial vehicle is provided. The compressed air supply device includes a valve housing and an essentially axially symmetrical, exchangeable air-drying cartridge which is connected to the valve housing. The valve housing and the air-drying cartridge are connected via an essentially circular seal which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the air-drying cartridge. The valve housing and the air-drying cartridge can be coupled to each other by being brought together in an axially parallel manner. The valve housing and the air-drying cartridge have features which permit a leak-proof connection between the valve housing and the air-drying cartridge at one or more angular positions of the air-drying cartridge relative to the valve housing.
US07972417B2	Hydrogen gas separator system having a micro-channel construction for efficiently separating hydrogen gas from a mixed gas source A hydrogen purification method that is used to separate hydrogen gas from a source gas. A hydrogen separator into which flows the source. Within the hydrogen separator is at least one hydrogen permeable tube that is made of a hydrogen permeable material. A support tube is provided for each hydrogen permeable tube. A support tube is coaxially aligned with the hydrogen permeable tube, wherein a micro-channel exists between the hydrogen permeable tube and the support tube in an area of overlap. The source gas is introduced into the micro-channel. The source gas spreads thinly over the hydrogen permeable tube in the micro-channel. The restrictions of the micro-channel cause the source gas to embody turbulent flow characteristics as it flows through the micro-channel. The turbulent flow causes the hydrogen separator to separate hydrogen from the source gas in a highly efficient manner.
US07972416B2	Method and apparatus for humidifying air with water vapor extracted from moisture-laden flue gas A method and apparatus for humidifying air in which the first side of a permselective water transport membrane is contacted with water vapor laden flue gas from a combustion process having a first water vapor partial pressure and a first temperature and at least a portion of the water vapor is condensed, producing condensed water. The condensed water is transported through the membrane to the opposite side of the membrane, which is contacted with an air stream having a second water vapor partial pressure, which second water vapor partial pressure is less than the first water vapor partial pressure, and having a second temperature, which second temperature is less than the first temperature. Upon contact with the air stream, the condensed water evaporates into the air stream, resulting in a humidified air stream.
US07972415B2	Membrane-based compressed air breathing system A breathing air purification device and method having a carbon-monoxide free sweep stream. Water vapor is removed from a compressed air stream using a membrane dryer, comprising, a membrane having a permeate portion and a non-permeate portion, a membrane housing which encases the membrane, a membrane feed inlet conduit connected to the membrane and a non-permeate gas outlet conduit fluidly connected to the non-permeate portion of the membrane. The sweep stream used to cleanse the outer permeate portion of the membrane dryer is taken from a catalyst filter. The catalyst filter includes a cartridge containing a bed of catalyst, two end pieces maintaining the cartridge within a catalyst bed housing and having outlet holes, a catalyst inlet conduit connected to the bed of catalyst and a product gas outlet conduit connected to the outlet holes. A sweep inlet tube provides a gas connection from the catalyst filter component to the permeate portion of the membrane.
US07972414B2	Method and system of operating a trans-fill device A method and system of operating a trans-fill device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising generating an enriched gas stream from atmospheric air, and operating an intensifier which, when provided the enriched gas stream, produces a cylinder fill gas stream. The operating continues in the absence of the enriched gas stream being provided to the intensifier.
US07972411B2	Method for separating dross in soldering process Proposed is a method for separating dross in a soldering process for a printed circuit board using a tin bath containing liquid tin. The method includes collecting dross produced during the soldering process; grinding the dross to tin ash in the tin bath for allowing a portion of tin contained in the tin ash to be melted again to join the liquid tin; and scooping up and recycling the tin ash not melted in the tin liquid. The method precludes a waste of tin resources and high manufacturing costs which might otherwise arise from directly scooping up dross of high tin content.
US07972409B2	Cemented carbide and cutting tool Disclosed is a cemented carbide comprising 5 to 10 mass % of cobalt and/or nickel, and 0 to 10 mass % of at least one selected from a carbide (except for tungsten carbide), a nitride and a carbonitride of at least one selected from the group consisting of metals of groups 4, 5 and 6 of the Periodic Table, the balanced amount of tungsten carbide, a hard phase comprising mainly tungsten carbide particles, and containing β particles of at least one selected from the carbide, the nitride and the carbonitride, and the hard phase being bonded through a binder phase comprising mainly cobalt and/or nickel, wherein a mean particle size of the tungsten carbide particles is 1 μm or less, and the cemented carbide having a sea-island structure in which plural binder-phase-aggregated portions composed mainly of cobalt and/or nickel are scattered in the proportion of 10 to 70 area % based on the total area on the surface of the cemented carbide. The cemented carbide is excellent in wear resistance and fracture resistance.
US07972406B2	Diesel particulate filter and method of making A filter assembly for a diesel particulate filter, the filter assembly having: a first end disk; a second end disk; a center tube secured to the first end disk by a sealing glass; a filter media secured to the first end disk and the second end disk by a sealing glass.
US07972404B2	Air cleaner arrangements; components thereof; and, methods Air cleaner assemblies and components therefore are described and shown. Also methods of assembly and use are described and shown. Example air cleaner assemblies shown. Projection/receiver arrangements are described, for securing a filter cartridge in place within the housing. Also housing seal arrangements for the filter arrangements being sealed to the housing, and specific housing features and cartridge features are shown.
US07972400B2	Honeycomb filter system A honeycomb filter system comprising a first honeycomb filter disposed upstream: first filter having partition wall matrix of a mean pore diameter of 25 μm or more and below 70 μm and a porosity of 40% or more and below 70%, and carrying an oxidation catalyst containing at least one material selected from the group consisting of platinum (Pt), palladium, ceria, and alumina in at least a part of inner surfaces of pores of the matrix; and a second honeycomb filter disposed downstream; having a surface layer of a peak pore diameter of 0.3 μm or more and below 20 μm which is equivalent to or smaller than that of its matrix, and a porosity of 60% or more and below 95% which is higher than that of the matrix; and having the other specified relations.
US07972398B2	Polishing composition for glass substrate The present invention provides a polishing composition for a glass substrate having a pH of from 1 to 5 and containing silica particles having an average particle size of from 5 to 100 nm, wherein, in a projected image of the silica particles obtainable by an image analysis of electron photomicrographs, an average of an area ratio R of a projected area of the silica particles (A1) to an area of a maximum inscribed circle of the silica particles (A), i.e. (A1/A), is in the range of from 1.2 to 3.0, and the silica particles have an average of 2.0 to 10 projection portions having a curvature radius of from ⅕ to ½ of a radius of the maximum inscribed circle of the silica particles (r) on the outline of the silica particles in the projected image, and a method for manufacturing a glass substrate, including the step of polishing a substrate to be polished with a polishing load of from 3 to 12 kPa and at a pH of from 1 to 5 while allowing the polishing composition to be present between a polishing pad and the substrate to be polished. The polishing composition for a glass substrate of the present invention can be suitably used, for example, in the manufacture of glass hard disks, aluminosilicate glass for reinforced glass substrates, glass ceramic substrates (crystallized glass substrates), and the like.
US07972396B2	Method of producing polishing pad The present invention relates to a method of producing a polishing pad, comprising steps of: (a) providing a base material comprising a plurality of fibers; said base material having a surface for polishing a substrate, wherein the fibers comprise a core and a cladding surrounding the core, and the cladding comprises a hydrophobic polymer; (b) impregnating the surface of the base material with an elastomer solution; (c) coagulating the elastomer impregnated in the surface of the base material to mold the elastomer and to form a plurality of first continuous pores between the elastomer, and between the elastomer and the fibers; (d) planarizing the surface of the base material; (e) impregnating the surface of the base material and elastomer obtained in the step (d) with a condition polymer solution; and (e) curing the condition polymer impregnated in the surface of the base material and elastomer and partially filling the condition polymer into the first continuous pores to form a plurality of second continuous pores.
US07972395B1	Superabrasive articles and methods for removing interstitial materials from superabrasive materials A method of processing a polycrystalline diamond material is disclosed. According to the method, a metal-solvent catalyst is leached from a polycrystalline diamond material by exposing at least a portion of the polycrystalline diamond material to a leaching solution. The leaching solution includes water, a complexing agent, and a mineral acid. The complexing agent is configured to inhibit tungsten in the polycrystalline diamond material from oxidizing.
US07972393B2	Compositions comprising boric acid A multiphase distillate fuel composition includes an emulsion comprising a first phase comprising a diesel fuel; a second phase comprising glycerol and boric acid; and a surfactant. A lubricant composition includes a grease and a mixture of boric acid with different particle sizes.
US07972391B2	Salt brine capillary crystallization This invention relates to a method of crystallization of salt from brine on top of any soil surface through airborne brine droplet crystallization, controlled moisture depth, capillary action and enhanced renewable energy to grow a layer of salt which can be collected. The brine is pumped from an underground source, sprayed in ambient air over a solid surface and, if water is not completely evaporated, allowed to seep through the surface to saturate the capillary zone. Water is evaporated while the sprayed brine is in the air or on the surface where capillary action brings it up to the surface for the water component to be evaporated by net heat gained from the environment resulting in salt crystallization. The evaporation of sprayed brine is enhanced by smaller droplet size, residence time due the spray height and wind machines to reduce humidity and increase natural thermal input. The salt layer thus formed further grows by capillary action of the soil and the crystalline salt to a depth suitable for conventional mechanical harvesting. Instrumentation is included to optimize the method through the measurement of evaporation and moisture content of the lower boundary of the capillary zone of the soil and or crystalline salt.
US07972384B2	Amputation stabilization device The present invention extends to a stemmed amputation implant. In some embodiments, a dual stemmed implant includes a base plate and two intramedullary rods extending from the proximal side of the base plate. The two intramedullary rods are configured for insertion into corresponding intramedullary bone canals reamed into remaining portions of amputated bones, such as, for example, a tibia and fibula or an ulna and radius. The position of the intramedullary rods relative to one another is configured to maintain appropriate separation between amputated bones when the first intramedullary rod and the second intramedullary rod are inserted into the amputated bones. In some embodiments, a hollow tube replaces one or more of the intramedullary rods. A hollow tube can be configured to cover the exterior of a bone, such as, for example, the fibula, when the bone is not stable enough for intramedullary fixation.
US07972379B2	Aiding apparatus for nasal cartilage strut in nasal tip surgery An aiding apparatus for nasal tip plasty is useable in augmentation rhinoplasty. The aiding apparatus for nasal tip plasty includes a strut part and a holding part provided on a lower portion of the strut part and coupled to septal cartilage. Thus, a cartilage scaffold complex useable in nasal tip plasty may be easily prepared at the exterior of an operation space. This aiding apparatus allows substitution for the paired batten graft or paired spreader graft and easier execution of caudal septal extension graft. Further, a decreased amount of cartilage is used to execute the nasal tip plasty in a simple way, therefore easily making a pretty nose, in addition to shortening the operation time.
US07972374B2	Securing rods and modular graft systems Modular graft systems with conjoinable grafts comprising graft material with the system comprising a first and second graft prosthesis with mating ends, securing rods attached to one of the mating ends comprising at least one spike that juts from the securing rod. The other of the mating ends is double layered with graft material for receiving at least one spike in the first layer of graft material when the mating ends are conjoined.
US07972372B2	Kit for treating vascular bifurcations A stepped balloon catheter prosthesis deployment system is disclosed for placement of a prosthesis across an Os opening from a main body lumen to a branch body lumen. The prosthesis comprises a radially expansible support at one end, a circumferentially extending link at the other end and at least one frond extending axially therebetween. The prosthesis is configured to be deployed from a stepped diameter balloon with the support in the branch body lumen, with the circumferentially extending link in the main lumen and the frond extendable across the Os.
US07972365B2	Spinal implant having deployable bone engaging projections and method for installation thereof Instrumentation is disclosed for inserting an interbody spinal fusion implant for implantation at least in part within and across the generally restored height of a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine. The implant has an external housing and a substantially hollow internal rotatable member having bone engaging projections that are deployable through the housing to penetrably engage the adjacent vertebral bodies.
US07972359B2	Intracardiac cage and method of delivering same A method of preventing ingress of material into the left atrium of a heart includes providing a delivery sheath, advancing the sheath distal end through an opening between the right atrium and the left atrium of the heart, providing an expandable cage, delivering the expandable cage to the left atrium, and expanding the expandable cage within the left atrium. The expandable cage includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of supports extending therebetween. The expandable cage also includes a first membrane provided at its proximal end and a second membrane provided at its distal end. The expandable cage has a collapsed configuration so that it can be received within the lumen of the delivery sheath, and an expanded configuration for deployment within the heart. When expanded, the first membrane is positioned at an opening between the left and right atria of the heart, and the second membrane is positioned at the ostium of the left atrial appendage. The first membrane substantially prevents passage of blood between the atria and the second membrane prevents passage of embolic material from the left atrial appendage into the left atrium of the heart.
US07972357B2	Extraluminal sealant applicator and method An apparatus for applying sealant to a target tissue of a surgical site is provided. The apparatus includes a handle, conduit and an end effector. The handle has means configured and adapted for operating the end effector and dispensing biological sealant to the surgical site via the end effector. The conduit stores and/or carries sealant towards the end effector. The end effector is configured to clamp around a body organ or tissue and apply and confine biological sealant in a substantially uniform manner thereto.
US07972353B2	Removable vena cava filter with anchoring feature for reduced trauma The present invention involves a removable filter for capturing thrombi in a blood vessel. The filter comprises a plurality of struts having first ends attached together along a longitudinal axis of the filter. Each strut has a body member extending from the first end along the longitudinal axis to an anchoring hook defining a strut axis. Each strut is configured to move along a strut path relative to the longitudinal axis between an expanded state for engaging with the blood vessel and a collapsed state for filter delivery or retrieval. Each anchoring hook has an angle of up to about 90 degrees relative to the strut axis.
US07972348B1	Single use scleral marker A single-use scleral marker, including a one-piece molded-plastic marker having an elongate body; a pair of opposite forked ends, and a pair of removable guards, each of the guards encircling one of the ends and having connection ends which connect the guard to the body, wherein the connection ends may be broken by exerting a bending force thereon to enable the guard to be removed.
US07972346B2	Telemetrically controlled band for regulating functioning of a body organ or duct, and methods of making, implantation and use Apparatus and methods are provided comprising an implantable non-hydraulic ring that encircles and provides a controllable degree of constriction to an organ or duct and an external control that powers and controls operation of the ring. The ring includes a rigid dorsal periphery that maintains a constant exterior diameter, and a compliant constriction system that reduces intolerance phenomena. A high precision, energy efficient mechanical actuator is employed that is telemetrically powered and controlled, and maintains the ring at a selected diameter when the device is unpowered, even for extended periods. The actuator provides a reversible degree of constriction of the organ or duct, which is readily ascertainable without the need for radiographic imaging. Methods of use and implantation also are provided.
US07972341B2	Device for forming a drill hole in bone A device for a correctly targeted formation of a drill bore centrally in a femoral attachment site of a posterior cruciate ligament of a knee joint comprises a hollow shaft for guiding a drill wire therethrough and a sighting element arranged at a distal end of the hollow shaft. Said sighting element has an edge for placing said sighting element via said edge to an outer margin of a femoral attachment site of a posterior cruciate ligament.
US07972328B2	System and method for tissue sealing An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.
US07972326B2	Illuminated laser probe with adjustable area of illumination An illuminated laser probe primarily designed for ophthalmic surgery provides both illumination light to a surgical site and laser light to the surgical site. The probe has an elongate handle with a tubular tip extending from a distal end of the handle. A length of illumination optic fiber and a length of laser optic fiber extend through the handle and the tip. A mechanism is provided on the handle at a position where the mechanism can easily be manipulated by a finger of a surgeons hand holding the handle. The mechanism is operatively connected with the laser optic fiber and is manipulated to selectively extend a distal portion of the optic fiber from the instrument tip and retract the distal portion of the optic fiber back into the instrument tip.
US07972323B1	Steerable device for introducing diagnostic and therapeutic apparatus into the body An apparatus including an elongate body having a lumen extending therethrough and a steering wire associated with the distal portion of the elongate body.
US07972319B2	Wearing article and method of manufacturing the same A wearing article capable of suppressing the occurrence of a loss of materials and an increase of the cost of facilities and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A wearing article includes a waist portion (3) formed in a ring shape capable of continuously surrounding the waist of the wearer and using one of openings as a waist opening (9), and a crotch portion (4) joined to the waist portion (3) across an opening on the opposite side to the waist opening (9) so that the crotch portion (4) and the waist portion (3) define a pair of leg openings (10) for the wearer to put through his legs individually. Shirring is formed in the crotch portion (4) so as to shorten the distance between the mutually opposing inner surfaces of the waist portion (3) connected to each other by the crotch portion (4).
US07972311B2	Cardioplegia catheter system A cardioplegia catheter system for delivery of a cardioplegia solution, comprising a cardioplegia catheter comprising an elongate tubular catheter body that defines a continuous central lumen and a flange that is connected to and extends therefrom an exterior surface of the catheter body, the flange defining a plurality of suture openings that extend therethrough the flange from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. The cardioplegia system further comprising at least one stay suture and at least one suture capture stylet having a distal portion that is adapted to extend through one suture opening of the plurality of suture openings in the flange of the catheter body, wherein the distal portion of the rod has a shape that is adapted for slideably grasping a portion of the at least one stay suture.
US07972307B2	Valved introducer assembly and method therefor An introducer assembly includes a sheath having a sheath proximal end and distal end, and a passage therethrough. The introducer assembly further includes a valve assembly that is sealingly associated with the passage of the sheath. The valve assembly includes a valve having a first seal and a second seal, where the first and second seal optionally have different sealing properties. For example, the first seal and the second seal have different thicknesses, different sealing durometers, or otherwise different sealing features. In another option, the sheath is removable from the instrument disposed therethrough. In yet another option, the valve of the valve assembly further includes a chamber disposed between the first and second seals. The seals are spaced to accommodate devices with multiple flow holes therein.
US07972306B2	Directly engaged syringe driver system A syringe driver system comprises a rotatable threaded lead screw shaft and a plunger which directly engages the threaded shaft such that rotation of the shaft drives the plunger into the syringe body. The plunger is formed with a threaded shaft engaging portion in the form of a half nut to engage with and follow the threaded shaft. The syringe driver system further comprises a guide system to secure the plunger in direct engagement with the threaded shaft and to prevent rotation of the plunger. An arm of the plunger stem carries markers useful in determining the near end of infusion. The syringe body carries a marker or markers useful in determining a characteristic about the syringe, such as its volume.
US07972301B2	Safety needle syringe braking system A braking mechanism for a retractable safety syringe is disclosed herein. In a first embodiment, the braking mechanism is disposed about the distal end of a piston. The braking mechanism may comprise a friction material about a post attached to a piston. The friction material is displaced from a seat to a landing when the piston is traversed to a fully extended position to disengage the braking mechanism. In a second embodiment, the braking mechanism is disposed at a proximal end of a syringe body. The braking mechanism has a friction member which engages an outer surface of a rigid shaft of a plunger. The friction member is selectively pivotable to disengage the braking mechanism.
US07972300B2	Syringe A retractable needle safety syringe is provided having a braking mechanism. The braking mechanism may be disposed at a proximal portion of a syringe body of the syringe. The braking mechanism may comprise a brake member which is traversable between a braking position and a released position. At the braking position, fingers of the brake member frictionally engage an outer surface of the shaft of a plunger of the syringe. The frictional engagement counterbalances a retraction force that urges a piston of the syringe toward a retracted position. When the brake members are traversed to the released position, the fingers do not press against the outer surface of the shaft. As such, the retraction force may traverse the piston toward the retracted position and traverse a needle and needle holder into the body of the syringe.
US07972292B2	Methods and apparatus for deploying ureteral stents A ureteral decompression device comprises a guide member and an anchoring structure. The guide member may be introduced through the urethra and bladder into the ureter so that the anchor structure passes a lodged kidney stone. Once past the stone, the anchor structure can be compacted to anchor the guide member in place. The anchor structure will permit leakage and the guide member will provide a leakage path directly past the stone, thus decompressing the kidney.
US07972291B2	Single-needle dialysis sytem utilizing a peristaltic pump with pumping and occluding rollers A peristaltic roller pump includes a rotor carrying a pumping roller on one end and an occluding roller on the other end. Occluding roller has a number of protrusions designed to occlude the tubing section that is located under that roller as it moves over it in order to prevent any back flow through that section of the tube. Occluding roller is designed to not cause any pumping of fluid through the section of the tubing under that roller. Such design is useful in a single-needle dialysis system in which during a first phase of pumping blood is moved in one direction from the patient towards the dialysis unit and during the second phase of operation blood is returned to the patient in the opposite direction.
US07972288B2	Medical bandage substrate, medical bandage, and medical bandaging product with low abrasion side edges, and method A medical bandaging product, including a sleeve formed of moisture-impervious material and sealable to prevent entry of moisture, and a medical material positioned in the sleeve and sealed therein against entry of moisture until use. The medical material is a substrate having two marginal areas of relatively lower modulus yarns and/or a more open knitted structure to provide reduced abrasion against the skin. A reactive system on the substrate remains stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardens upon exposure to sufficient moisture to form a rigid, self supporting structure. A soft, flexible protective material covers at least one of the major faces of the substrate along its length to provide a cushioning barrier between the substrate and the skin of a patient when the material is in use.
US07972286B2	Method of applying acoustic energy effective to alter transport or cell viability A method for reversibly, or irreversibly, altering the permeability of cells, tissues or other biological barriers, to molecules to be transported into or through these materials, through the application of acoustic energy, is provided. The acoustic energy is applied indirectly to the cells or tissue whose permeability is to be altered, at a frequency and intensity appropriate to alter the permeability to achieve the desired effect, such as the transport of endogenous or exogenous molecules and/or fluid, for drug delivery, measurement of analyte, removal of fluid, alteration of cell or tissue viability or alteration of structure of materials. In the preferred embodiment, the method includes applying the ultrasound in combination with devices for monitoring and/or implementing feedback controls.
US07972285B2	Motor function measuring sensor, motor function measuring apparatus, and motor function analyzing apparatus A motion sensor for measuring motion information of a subject comprises a coil substrate having transmitting or receiving coils piled one on top of another and a holder in which the coil substrate is mounted. Formed on the holder are curved surfaces to which an adhesive sheet is stuck and at which the holder is attached to a nail of a subject via the adhesive sheet. Further, there is provided a casing where first and second containing space are formed to contain measurement instruments including an adhesive member where a plurality of the adhesive sheets are laid one on top of another, the motion sensor, and the like.
US07972282B2	Torque device for a medical guidewire A torque device for selectively gripping a medical guidewire. The device includes a housing, an actuator slidably mounted on the housing, and a resilient member biasing the actuator. A lumen dimensioned to receive the guidewire extends through the housing and actuator. The resilient member biases the actuator from a first position in which the lumen portions are aligned, toward a second position in which the lumen portions are misaligned. The actuator may include a catch that interferes with a stop of the housing to retain the actuator within the housing. The actuator may be oblong or otherwise shaped to maintain the lumen portions in substantial alignment in a longitudinal direction. Preferably, at least a portion of the lumen is teardrop-shaped in cross-section. The housing may include circumferentially or longitudinally extending ribs defining an outer grasping surface. Frusto-conical cavities may be defined at entry and exit ends of the lumen.
US07972277B2	Exhaled breath analysis method Handling of the condensate collecting vessel in conventional breath analysis apparatuses having a cold condensation mechanism is complicated, and time consuming.The present invention provides a method for analyzing exhaled breath using a breath analysis apparatus, the breath analysis apparatus including: a vessel; an injection port of the exhaled breath; an outlet port of the exhaled breath; a cooling unit; an electrode zone; a counter electrode zone; and a chemical substance detection unit, in which the exhaled breath contains water vapor and a volatile organic compound, the volatile organic compound having a molecular weight of no lower than 15 and no higher than 500, and the method for exhaled breath analysis comprising the steps of: injecting the exhaled breath from the injection port into the vessel; condensing the exhaled breath on the outer peripheral surface of the electrode zone by cooling the electrode zone with the cooling unit; forming charged fine particles from the condensed breath; recovering the charged fine particles into the chemical substance detection unit by an electrostatic force; and detecting the volatile organic compound included in the charged fine particles recovered.
US07972274B2	System and method for analyzing a patient status for congestive heart failure for use in automated patient care A system and method for providing diagnosis and monitoring of congestive heart failure for use in automated patient care is described. At least one recorded physiological measure is compared to at least one other recorded physiological measure on a substantially regular basis to quantify a change in patient pathophysiological status for equivalent patient information. An absence, an onset, a progression, a regression, and a status quo of congestive heart failure is evaluated dependent upon the change in patient pathophysiological status.
US07972272B2	Electrostatically driven image probe The present invention provides an imaging probe for imaging mammalian tissues and structures using high resolution imaging, including ultrasound and optical coherence tomography. The imaging probe uses electrostatic discharge for actuating a metalized cantilever which holds the end portion of imaging assembly which emits energy in the imaging probe device by holding the cantilever at a potential such that it is neither grounded or charged such that the only electrical path to ground is through a dissipative polymer forming part of the device which is enveloped by a wire or coil held at ground potential. A high voltage electrode attracts the metalized cantilever and the dissipative polymer is used to connect to the cantilever to ground causing the cantilever to move about thereby scanning the region in front of the probe.
US07972266B2	Image data normalization for a monitoring system A method for providing normalized physiological monitoring data of an individual with a measure of the quality of the normalization, including providing a reference feature based on a physiological attribute of the individual for which an attribute value can be determined; unobtrusively capturing physiological monitoring data for the individual during a series of capture events and determining the capture conditions present during each capture event; detecting the presence of the reference feature in the series of captured physiological monitoring data and determining associated attribute values for each capture event; normalizing the captured physiological monitoring data from each capture event according to differences in the attribute values associated with each event and previously calculated attribute values; and calculating normalization confidence values for the individual at the series of capture events, based on capture conditions, normalization transforms, or semantic data, wherein the confidence values statistically measure the quality of the normalization.
US07972261B2	Devices to resist migration and rotation of implants used in brachytherapy and other radiation therapy An anchor mechanism includes a sleeve to fit around a structure such as a radioactive source, a thermal ablation implant, a spacer, a strand or a radiopaque marker. The sleeve has a bore that extends an entire longitudinal length of the sleeve, and through which the structure fits, such that the structure can extend out from both longitudinal ends of the sleeve. One or more protrusion extends from an outer surface of the sleeve to engage surrounding patient tissue after implantation of the structure into a patient, to thereby reduce a tendency for the structure to migrate and rotate after implantation.
US07972259B2	Method and apparatus for real time dosimetry A method of determining the dose rate of a radiation source includes locating three or more detectors in the vicinity of the source. Each detector provides an output indicative of the amount of radiation received from the source and determining the location of the source from at least three of the detector outputs, wherein as many of the detector outputs is required to provide an acceptably accurate result are used in determining the location. Thus, the dose of radiation from the source can be determined from the determined location of the source and either a known activity of the source or a measure of the activity of the source determined by means of the detectors.
US07972258B2	Cushioning product and method and apparatus for making same The invention relates to a crumpled paper tube for use as a cushion in packing items, and to a method and apparatus for producing the same.
US07972257B2	Article forming paper wrapping device A device for processing sheets, rolls or the like, preferably sheets or rolls of corrugated paper, into useful articles. More specifically, the invention relates to a paper wrapping device that can convert a sheet or strip of paper into a useful article comprising a plurality of wrapped paper layers, suitable for use as a support member or a pallet stringer. Also the invention provides a device that contains a conveying unit which transfers a material, such as paper, to a forming unit which produces a core layer and further wraps additional layers in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around said core in one or more layers to form a support member having a solid wrap of continuous layers.
US07972254B2	Apparatus for inserting objects into a filter component of a smoking article, and associated method An apparatus for manufacturing a rod member for a cigarette filter element, is provided. Each rod member defines a longitudinal axis and includes a generally longitudinally-extending filter material and a plurality of objects disposed therein along the longitudinal axis. Such an apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An object insertion unit is configured to introduce a plurality of objects into engagement with the rod member. A rod-dividing unit is configured to divide the rod member into a plurality of rod portions such that each rod portion includes a plurality of the objects. Associated method are also provided.
US07972253B2	Pressure compensating device for a roller A pressure compensating device or arrangement for a roller arrangement which includes a central, non-rotating shaft provided with spaced apart bearings positioned adjacent opposite axial ends of the shaft and rotatably supporting at least one tubular roller segment, and where sealing arrangements are provided outside the bearings for sealing off the space inside the bearings and between the shaft and the roller segment towards the environment. The pressure compensating device includes a longitudinal bore extending from one end of the shaft and through at least a part thereof, with the bore communicating with the space between the sealing arrangements via channels. The bore is provided with a flexible member preventing direct communication between the exterior and the space between the sealing arrangements.
US07972247B2	Method and apparatus for creating a virtual workout community A method for creating a virtual online gym for providing members with a shared workout experience and decreasing the feeling of isolation when members are not all working out at the same physical location. The method including the steps of receiving a request for access to the virtual online gym and receiving a selection for a first exercise program from a plurality of available exercise programs from the first member. The method also includes the steps of determining a program length based on the selection of the first exercise program; presenting updated status information during a length of the program length; and, providing a notification when the program length has been reached. An apparatus and system for implementing the method are also disclosed.
US07972246B2	Walking ability diagnosis system A sensor unit installed in a premises for detecting a user's walking behavior. Connected to the server through a communication network are a server, an information reporting unit, and an exercise machine. The server includes a diagnosis section for analyzing time series data of walking signal from the sensor unit to determine walking ability and generate walking ability data indicative thereof, and an information providing section which provides the walking ability date to the information reporting unit and the exercise machine. The information reporting unit includes reporting means for reporting the determined walking ability to the user. The exercise machine includes a control section which gives an exercise to the user depending upon the walking ability.
US07972244B2	Method for controlling the transmission of a vehicle Described is a method for controlling a transmission for motor vehicles, especially an automatic transmission or an automatic gearbox, where a gear ratio (“1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”) is adjusted according to operating conditions by means of pre-determined shifting programs (“0”, “Eco”, “Normal”, “Sport”, “Mountain II”, “Warm-up”, “Tip”) and corresponding specific shifting values (HS45, RS43) and where in relation to a vehicle's actual operating condition at least one special function (“Curve Recognition KE”, “Rapid Drive Pedal Release FO”, “Spontaneous Delay Vehicle SVF”, “Drive Speed Control FGR”, “Drive Dynamic control ESP”) is activated, which prevents the change from an actual gear ratio to a target gear ratio requested by a shifting program within a pre-determined operating range of a vehicle. In a first version of the method, the operating range, wherein a gear ratio change of the transmission is prevented, is changed in relation to applied specific values that depend on the operating condition. In a second version of the method it is planned that the shifting characteristics are changed in relation to applied specific values that depend on the operating condition in such a manner that the operating points of the vehicle that are defined on the side of the shift characteristics, for which gear ratio changes must be performed, are adjusted to the actual operating condition of the vehicle.
US07972238B2	Working vehicle In a working vehicle, a control unit is configured to control an engine based on an engine power curve indicating a relationship between an engine speed and an engine output torque. The control unit is further configured to calculate an absorption horsepower that is an absorption horsepower of a hydraulic pump and to change the engine power curve used to control the engine based on the absorption horsepower.
US07972236B2	Transmission system A sun gear of a first planetary gear train is connected to an input shaft. A carrier 9 of the first planetary gear train is connected to a sun gear of a second planetary gear train and to a first pump/motor. A ring gear of the first planetary gear train is connected to a second pump/motor, and a ring gear of the second planetary gear train is connected to an output shaft. A first clutch is provided for engaging and disengaging a carrier of the second planetary gear train and the ring gear of the first planetary gear train with and from each other, and a second clutch is provided for engaging and disengaging the carrier of the second planetary gear train and a fixed end with and from each other.
US07972235B2	Hybrid powertrain system having selectively connectable engine, motor/generator, and transmission A hybrid powertrain having an engine, multi-speed transmission connected to a final drive and not continuously connected to the engine, a single motor/generator connected to an energy storage device and a controller and not continuously connected to the engine or transmission, and three clutches. The first clutch is connected to the engine, the second clutch is connected to the transmission and first clutch, and the third clutch is connected to the motor/generator and first and second clutches. The first and second clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting the engine and transmission; the first and third clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting the engine and motor/generator; the second and third clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting the transmission and motor/generator; and the three clutches are operable for selectively interconnecting the engine, transmission and motor/generator to transmit power therebetween. An engine starter system may be connected to the engine to transmit power to and receive power from the engine.
US07972234B2	Silent chain String vibration is reduced without causing friction loss. A silent chain is comprised of a multiple number of link plates, each of which has a pair of tooth portions and pin holes and which are laminated laterally and longitudinally and guide plates which are arranged at outermost positions of the link plates. The link plates and the guide plates are connected by connecting pins. In this construction, some of the guide plates are made heavier than that of other guide plates and are irregularly mixed in a longitudinal direction of the chain. Thus, the natural frequency can be changed in an arbitrary chain span and string vibration may be reduced without causing friction loss.
US07972226B2	Multi-material composite locking upright A composite locking upright having low weight and great rigidity for installation into a playing surface with built-in sleeves. The composite locking upright supports and secures a net at a playing height for athletic sports such as, volleyball, tennis, and badminton. The composite locking upright may have a composite tube, a multi-material tube, an upper and a lower protective collar, and a locking tool. The composite tube may be made of a light-weight, fiber-reinforced composite. The multi-material tube may be made at least in part of the same material and may incorporate at least one abrasion resistant area, which may be a partial or full thickness insert and may be, but is not necessarily, formed of a metal. The multi-material tube is extendable and retractable from the composite. The locking tool locks the multi-material tube with respect to the composite tube and thereby fixes a net at a playing height.
US07972225B2	High-strength, lightweight blow-molded plastic basketball backboard Blow molded plastic structures are provided for use in various structures such as, but not limited to, tables, chairs, walls, backboards, storage bins, sports equipment and the like. The blow molded plastic structure has a first surface and a second surface extending between a first end and a second end and forming a chamber there between. A plurality of depressions is formed on the second surface and extends into the chamber. The depressions are usually unitary structures formed by a depression wall. Generally, the steeper the depression wall, the more strength is provided to the structure. In addition, where the plurality of depressions has a low profile and a greater density, increased strength is provided to the structure. The depressions may or may not be joined to the first surface.
US07972224B2	Athletic training sled apparatus A weight sled apparatus useful for strength training and simulating the resistance of an opponent during a blocking event has a tubular construction forming a U-shaped member having a pair of parallel legs which serve as runners. A weight bearing member affixed to and extending between the pair of runners allows mounting of removable mount weights on a horn projecting therefrom. A crossbar extending between the runner ends presents a rearward facing surface at least 8 inches above the plane of the runners against which force may be applied. An optional handlebar attachment presents a rearward facing surface against which force may applied in a range from 8 inches to 40 inches above the plane of the runners and normal thereto. The weight sled affords a trainee multiple force application surfaces near the center of gravity of the sled and at differing vertical heights, enabling a more realistic simulation of the resistance presented during a blocking event.
US07972223B2	Golf club A graphite golf club which is formed on a mandrel is provided. The graphite golf club comprises a club head which strikes a golf ball; a club shaft which comprises a coupling unit to be coupled with the club head and a main body unit extending from the coupling unit to a golf club grip. The mandrel includes a mandrel joint unit which is formed with mandrel steps that decrease in diameter from one end of the mandrel to the other end of the mandrel. The golf club shaft is formed on the mandrel with a lower sheet layer contacting and overlapping the mandrel and an upper sheet layer overlapping an outer part of the lower sheet layer. The lower sheet layer and the upper sheet layer form a sheet joint unit which includes sheet steps decreasing in diameter corresponding to the mandrel steps.
US07972220B2	Rotary game table A rotary game table includes a combination game table, two side support members, and at least one cross member. The combination game table includes a pool table surface formed on one side and an air powered hockey table surface formed on the opposite side. The at least one cross member is terminated on each end by a single side support member. The combination game table is pivotally retained by a side support member on each end thereof. To pivotally constrain the combination game table, at least one locking pin device is used; in a second embodiment at least two pivotal support arms; and in a fourth embodiment a pair of support latches. A third embodiment includes at least one side support member configured to retain a plurality of game accessories. A gaming table may be substituted for the air hockey table.
US07972218B2	Drive shaft and constant velocity joint for it A homokinetic joint includes an outer hub having outer running tracks, an inner hub having inner running tracks, balls which are guided in pairs consisting of an outer running track and an inner running track and a cage having cage windows, in which the balls are accommodated. The homokinetic joint further includes a sleeve that is firmly connected with the inner hub and disposed coaxial to it and sealing means having an accommodation part that is connected with the outer hub so as to rotate with it. The sealing means have a sealing membrane firmly connected with the outer hub by means of an outer collar, and connected with the sleeve by means of an inner collar, forming a seal, and having a securing ring for fixing the inner collar in place on the sleeve. The sleeve has a circumferential annular groove, into which the sealing membrane engages with an inner annular bead that is formed on.
US07972215B2	Application-centric user interface techniques Various application-centric user interface techniques are described. A user can easily launch, add, or update applications. An application-centric activity center can be presented as part of a user interface for an operating system shell. A file defining metadata for an application can be defined. The techniques can be applied to game-related software.
US07972210B2	Electronic slot machine An improved slot machine provides a plurality of animated scenes, the outcomes of which determine whether the player has won. The slot machine provides some of the traditional elements of a slot machine but with improved entertainment replacing the spinning reels. Scenes may depict objects that are moving toward a line, which is reminiscent of the line in the traditional slot machine, but in this case represents something physical with which the objects interact. For example, the objects could be birds that are falling/flying down onto a wire. In another example, the objects are freely falling onto the ground or floor. The scenes depict several possible outcomes of the interaction between the objects. Based upon the resulting outcomes (e.g. matching outcomes, like a traditional slot machine) the player wins or loses.
US07972206B2	Gaming machine and display device therefor A gaming machine capable of maintaining the interest of a player even when the gaming machine does not work normally. For, example, a slot machine (10) comprises a display device (30) for displaying an image, and an image state control unit for controlling the display device (30) to display an image relating to a game. The slot machine (10) may be characterized in that the image state control unit controls the display device into a predetermined state upon determination that an image signal relating to the image provided to the display device fails to satisfy a predetermined condition.
US07972205B2	Search engine crossword puzzle A grid game, such as crossword, operable on a networked computer or internet enabled device, which employs pre-designed clues and searching and search engine retrieval functions to aid the user in ascertaining the answers. The results generated by the search engine are displayed in predetermined locations on the results page returned by the search engine.
US07972203B2	Windshield saver An air flow device for generating an air flow 30 across a windshield 4 of a vehicle 2, the air flow device has one or more means 10 for generating an air flow 32 located in proximity on a lateral end or side of the windshield 4, the one or more means 10 for generating an air flow 30 directs the flow of air laterally onto the windshield 4. The one or more means 10 for generating an air flow 30 has one or more fans 20 rotatable about an axis 22. Each fan 20 has a plurality of fan blades 24 for intaking air near the axis of rotation 22 of the fan blade 24, the fan blades 24 extend longitudinally having a cross section of increasing curvature to a substantially flattened unshaped terminal end 24E for directing the air flow 30 laterally. The one or more fans 20 can be driven by a single motor 25. Alternatively, each fan 20 may include a motor 25 for driving the fan blade 24.
US07972197B2	Grinding machine for grinding of a gear The invention relates to a grinding machine for grinding of a gear or of a gear-like workpiece, which has a grinding worm (1) with a tooth-shaped profile (2), which consists at least partly from a dressable abrasive material and which is arranged rotatably on a grinding spindle, so that it can rotate around an axis of rotation (C) during grinding and a dressing device (3), with which at least a part of the forming areas (4, 5) of the grinding worm (1) can be profiled, wherein the dressing device (3) has a dressing spindle (6), which bears a disk-shaped dressing tool (7), so that it can rotate around an axis of rotation (B). To allow a faster dressing of the grinding worm the invention is characterized in that the grinding machine further has a dressing bar (8) which has a dressing edge (9), wherein the form of the dressing edge (9) corresponds at least partly to the ideal envelope of the grinding worm (1).
US07972196B2	Methods of crystallographically reorienting single crystal bodies A method of changing the crystallographic orientation of a single crystal body is disclosed that includes the steps of characterizing a crystallographic orientation of the single crystal body and calculating a misorientation angle between a select crystallographic direction of the single crystal body and a projection of the crystallographic direction along a plane of a first exterior major surface of the single crystal body. The method further includes removing material from at least a portion of the first exterior major surface to change the misorientation angle.
US07972191B2	Manufacturing method of image display apparatus A manufacturing method of an image display apparatus, having a vacuum container with getters therein, includes the steps of exhausting an inner gas through an exhaust hole provided in the vacuum container; and activating the getters during the exhausting. In the activating step, the getters are sequentially activated first from a getter positioned in an area having a larger exhaust conductance with respect to the exhaust hole.
US07972190B2	Organic electroluminescent device, method for producing organic electroluminescent device, and electronic apparatus A method for producing an organic electroluminescent device includes forming a first electrode configured to partially cover a substrate, forming an organic light-emitting layer configured to cover the first electrode, forming an optically transparent second electrode that lies on a side of the organic light-emitting layer opposite the side adjacent to the first electrode and is superposed on a current-carrying portion of the first electrode in plan, forming a third electrode in at least part of a region that is not superposed on the current-carrying portion in plan, the third electrode being electrically connected to part of the second electrode, forming an optically transparent protective layer configured to cover at least a region of the second electrode where the second electrode is not superposed on the third electrode in plan, and removing part of the organic light-emitting layer with the third electrode and the protective layer serving as a mask.
US07972189B2	Tilt and trim device for outboard motor A tilt and trim device for an outboard motor includes a tilt cylinder and a trim cylinder arranged to raise and lower the outboard motor, a reserve tank, an oil route arranged to allow the tilt cylinder to communicate with the reserve tank, and a branch oil route branched from the oil route and arranged to communicate with the trim cylinder. At least one hydraulic pressure adjustment mechanism is arranged to adjust the hydraulic pressure applied to the trim cylinder via the branch oil route to be equal to or lower than a pressure resistance of the trim cylinder when the outboard motor is forcibly lowered by an external force from a tilt range in which the outboard motor is raised or lowered only by the tilt cylinder. The tilt and trim device is operative to prevent deformation of and damage to a trim cylinder by suppressing the hydraulic pressure applied to the trim cylinder to be not greater than a specified pressure value even when the outboard motor is rapidly lowered from a tilt range, and a high hydraulic pressure from the tilt cylinder is returned in the direction of the trim cylinder.
US07972185B2	Battery module having connector for connecting terminals A battery module includes a plurality of unit batteries each having a terminal electrically connected to a terminal base. The battery module further includes at least one connector including at least one protrusion on a side facing the terminal base of the terminal to electrically couple the terminal of one of the plurality of unit batteries with the terminal of a neighboring one of the plurality of unit batteries. The at least one protrusion may include at least one first protrusion and at least one second protrusion. The at least one first protrusion contacts the terminal base of the one of the plurality of unit batteries and the at least one second protrusion contacts the terminal base of the neighboring one of the plurality of unit batteries.
US07972183B1	Sled that reduces the next variations between modular plugs A connector plug terminates a communication cable having a plurality of twisted pair conductors therein. The plug includes a conductor organizing sled, which includes structural features to minimize variations in conductor organization, as the conductors pass along the sled. By minimizing the variations as the conductors pass along the sled, technicians may assemble plugs having a relatively consistent level of crosstalk. The structural features of the organizing sled may include combinations of a ramp surface for a center pair, neck-down portions to cause consistent placement of stacked pairs, and crossing of stacked pairs to prevent a lower stacked pair from rising above a floor surface of the sled.
US07972172B2	Cable end connector assembly A cable connector assembly includes a cable (5) and a connector (100) terminated to the cable (5). The connector (100) further includes a connector body (20), a cover means (9) fastening the connector body (20) and connecting means (7) securing said cable (5) to the cover means (9). The connecting means (7) further includes an outer ferrule (73) having a first part (733) crimped onto the cable and a second part (731) crimped onto a shield (53) of the cable 5, and an inner ferrule (71) fastened substantially under the shield (53) to the outer ferrule (73) in the area of the second part (731) for making an axial locking between the outer ferrule (73) and the inner ferrule (71). The inner ferrule (71) forms a number of resilient tabs (719) flexibly abutting the cover means (9) thereby making firmly electrical connection to the cover means (9).
US07972168B2	Cable connector assembly with an improved apparent member A cable connector assembly (100) comprises an insulative housing (1), a contact group (2, 3) assembled with the insulative housing, an insulated cover (5), a cable (4) connected with the contact group, and an apparent member (6) with a columnar shape having a right-hand thread (61) on one end of an inner wall thereof and a left-hand thread (62) on the opposite end, and the inner wall of the apparent member is matched with the insulated cover via the threads in different directions.
US07972167B2	Electrical connector with a flexible blade-shaped housing with a handle with an opening The flexible electrical connector is designed to facilitate electrical connections between a power receiving device, such as an at least partially electric vehicle, and a power supplying device, such as an electric vehicle charging station. The flexible electrical connector has a blade shaped housing attached to a power cord that extends to the power supplying device. The blade shaped housing has a substantially rigid end portion with an electrical interface configured to detachably mate with a corresponding electrical interface on the power receiving device. The blade shaped housing also has a handle portion made of a substantially flexible material such which is configured to flex about the rigid end portion along an arc in a single plane. As such, the flexible handle can absorb impacts it receives rather than transferring them to the rigid and breakable electrical interface components.
US07972164B2	Connector assembly with a latch A connector assembly includes a receptacle connector including a receptacle connector housing having an interior cavity. The receptacle connector includes a latch element extending within the interior cavity of the receptacle housing. The receptacle housing holds a receptacle connector contact. The connector assembly also includes a plug connector having a plug connector housing engaged with the receptacle connector housing. The plug connector housing holds a plug connector contact. The plug connector contact is engaged with the receptacle connector contact. The plug connector includes a latch arm extending outwardly from the plug connector housing. The latch arm includes a latch member received within the interior cavity of the receptacle connector housing. The latch member is engaged with the latch element of the receptacle connector entirely within the interior cavity of the receptacle connector housing.
US07972161B2	Connector with free spinning nut to engage with plug housing and angled housing A connector includes a plug housing configured to engage with a socket. A free spinning nut of the connector is disposed between the plug housing and an angled housing. The free spinning nut includes a first end portion configured to engage with the angled housing and a second end portion configured to engage with the plug housing.
US07972158B2	Co-axial push-pull plug-in connector An RF plug connector having a plug head on which a sliding sleeve is seated which can be rotated, can be moved axially and clasps a radially elastic collet (4) in such a manner that the sliding sleeve compresses the collet radially in the coupled state, the design can be considerably simplified in comparison to that of known plug connectors of this generic type, to be precise by the collet (4) being arranged such that it cannot be moved axially on the plug head. For connection to a coupler with an external thread, the collet (4) has internal profiling on the plug side, in particular an internal thread with a pitch which is not the same as that of the external thread of the coupler.
US07972157B2	Electrical connection device The present invention relates to an electrical connection device that connects a rotating electrical machine and an inverter within a housing. The electrical connection device is configured with a first bus bar connected to a terminal of the rotating electrical machine such that the first bus bar that is insulated from the housing, and a second bus bar that is connected to a terminal of the inverter device such that the second bus bar is also insulated from the housing. An insulating connection member is configured to connect the first bus bar and the second bus bar. The first bus bar and second bus bar are housed within the housing such that they face each other to form a gap between them. The connection member is configured to pass through a wall of the housing so as to electrically connect the first and second bus bars.
US07972156B2	Electronic card connector with an improved housing for assembling a switch terminal thereof favorably An electronic card connector includes an insulative housing, a number of contacts and a first switch terminal retained on the insulative housing. The insulative housing has a receiving space, a receiving slot communicating with the receiving space along an up to down direction and a limiting block at a front side of the receiving slot. The first switch terminal has a fastening portion retained on the insulative housing, a connecting portion forwardly extending to the receiving slot, a limiting portion forwardly extending to a lower side of the limiting block and a tail portion. The switch terminal further has a guiding portion extending sidewardly. The insulative housing has a pre-pressing surface at one side of the receiving slot to pre-press the guiding portion and prevent the switch terminal from bouncing upwardly to resist a front side of the limiting block in an assembly process of the switch terminal.
US07972149B2	Board with connection terminals Connection terminals each include: a bonding portion bonded to a pad of a substrate; a contacting portion disposed to face the bonding portion; a spring portion present between the bonding portion and the contacting portion; and an engaging portion engaged with a portion of a slit provided in a plate-like member. These constituent portions of the connection terminal are formed integrally with each other. The plate-like member has recessed portions formed at predetermined positions, and the connection terminals are electrically connected to the pads of the substrate with the bonding portions of the connection terminals being locked to the recessed portions.
US07972147B2	Connector apparatus A connector apparatus is provided having a first connector including a first contact part with first and second contact terminals connected by a first connection part and a space therebetween, the second contact terminal being bent such that the space between the first and second contact terminals becomes narrower, a second connector engageable to the first connector and including a second contact part with third and fourth contact terminals connected by a second connection part and a space therebetween, the fourth contact terminal being bent such that the space between the third and fourth contact terminals becomes wider. When the first and second connectors are engaged, the first and second contact parts are connected having the third and fourth connection terminals sandwiched between the first and second connection terminals, having the first contact terminal contact the fourth contact terminal, and having the second contact terminal contact the third contact terminal.
US07972146B2	Plug-in connector for circuit boards The invention relates to a plug-in connector (1) for circuit boards (40), comprising a number of contact elements (30). Each contact element (30) is fitted with two terminal ends, one of which is designed as a wire-connecting contact for connecting wires while the other terminal end is designed as a tuning fork contact (31) for contacting terminal areas on a circuit board (40). The plug-in connector (1) further comprises a plastic housing inside which the contact elements (30) are arranged. The wire-connecting contacts can be connected from outside and are designed as wire-wrap contacts (32) which are disposed in at least two rows. The wire-wrap contacts (32) of the different rows are offset relative to one another.
US07972145B2	Electrical connector having adapter with hook so as to prevent and reduce distortion of the adapter An electrical connector (100) adapted for electrically connecting a package to a printed circuit board comprises a base (4), an adapter (3) assembled on the base (4), a plurality of contacts (6) received in the base (4), a frame (1) assembled on the base (4) and moves up and down relative to the base (4), an actuator (2) assembled on the base (4) and moves from a closed position to an opened position when the frame (1) moves up and down, the base (4) comprises a plurality of passageways (4101), the adapter (3) comprises a plurality of receiving holes (31) corresponding to the passageways (4101) of the base (4), the contacts (6) are received in the passageways (4101) and go through the receiving holes (31), a hook (311) is formed on one of the adapter (3) and the base (4) to latch the adapter (3) on the base (4).
US07972144B2	Electrical contact having additional mounting feet arranged to ensure reliable electrical connections with conductive pad around via of circuit board A contact (1) for an electrical connector mountable on a substrate (3) having at least a via (311) therethrough comprises a medial portion (10), a contact engaging portion (121) extending from the medial portion (10), a solder terminal portion extending from the medial portion (10) in a direction away from said contact engaging portion (121) and includes at least a first spring arm (11) having a standing point (111), and at least an auxiliary foot (112) extending sideway from the first spring arm (11) having a distance with respect to the standing point (111), the contact engaging portion (121) is adapted to engage with a mating contact.
US07972142B2	Vehicle battery terminal expansion and power distribution device A remote battery terminal expander for electrically connecting a plurality of appliances to a vehicle battery is disclosed that includes an electrical terminator assembly having a permanent electrical communication with a wire, where the terminator is adapted for electrical connection to the positive terminal of a battery and this terminator assembly is permanently attached to a conductive metal terminal block. The terminal block has a multi-sided block shape, usually with a rectangular shape. The plurality of appliances are in electrical communication with the electrical terminator assembly by use of alternating threaded apertures in each of the sides for receiving threaded fasteners to electrically secure the appliance wires from the plurality of appliances desired to be hooked to the vehicle battery for its power requirements. For safety sake, a fuse assembly is placed in electrical communication between the electrical terminator assembly and the conductive metal terminal block so that the appliance wires can be secured to the terminal block in a non-90° configuration, such that space is saved and a multitude of connections can be made in a small amount of space, without stacking all the connectors onto the positive and negative battery terminals.
US07972140B2	Method and apparatus for performing a behaviour analysis using a virtual environment A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a virtual environment or a visual presentation to a user. A portion of interest is created and depending on a response of the user to the virtual environment or to the visual presentation, a feedback is preferably provided.
US07972138B2	Device for drawing lines on a sized sheet of paper and maintaining registration of the paper when it has been removed and is being replaced on the device Improvements in the instruments for drawing lines using grooves providing the presentation of lines that may be drawn by placing a sheet of paper over the presentation and engaging the sheet of paper with the point of a writing tool with sufficient force to press the engaged part of the paper into a selected groove and then moving the writing tool point within the line, depositing pencil lead or ink from the end of the writing tool on the paper that is pressed into the selected groove to form a line on the paper. The improvements include the provision of registration marks on a clipboard which has the presentation of grooves for lines to be drawn on the upper side of the clipboard, the registration marks acting as guidelines for the precise placement of the sheet of paper on which lines are to be drawn.
US07972135B2	Dental handpiece for root canal treatment and method A dental handpiece for root canal treatment comprises an outer sleeve, a connecting device for connecting the handpiece to a control and analyzing unit, a measurement circuit having a power source and to a drive unit, an electrically conducting tool receptacle and an electrically conducting driving device, wherein the tool receptacle and the driving device are mechanically and electrically connected together so that a driving motion generated by the drive unit can be transmitted via the driving device to the tool receptacle and electrical measurement signals can be transmitted between the driving device and the tool receptacle. A first connection is provided for transmitting the driving motion. A second electrically conducting connection, which may comprise sliding contacts, is provided for transmitting the electrical measurement signals. With separate connections, an improved signal transmission and in particular a low loss of measurement signals of the root canal length measurement during the signal transmission are achieved.
US07972134B2	Response surfaces for orthodontic treatment planning Methods and apparatus for orthodontic treatment planning that involve determining an initial position of an orthodontic structure, determining an altered position, and generating response surface data using a mathematical relationship between the positions. The mathematical relationship may be defined by a number of parameters useful for determining one or more of the stress, strain, force, and moment associated with movement of the orthodontic structure. The mathematical relationship between the initial position and the altered position may be defined using a finite element analysis, empirically determined, or using other computational methodologies such as a finite difference methodology. The mathematical relationship may also be defined using an analytical methodology, such as elasticity and/or plasticity methodologies. Response surface data may be generated as a teaching aid, treatment planning aid, table, or other useful form, which may be useful, for example, for designing an orthodontic appliance, verifying an orthodontic prescription, and/or planning the prescription.
US07972133B2	Burner for the operation of a heat generator and method of use A burner (23) for operating a heat generator includes a swirler (2) for a combustion air flow (9), and also devices (7, 12) for injecting at least one fuel into the combustion air flow (9), wherein a mixing path (3) is arranged downstream of the swirler (2), and wherein at least one nozzle (20) for feeding liquid pilot fuel is arranged in the region radially outside the discharge opening of the mixing path (3) of the burner. With such a burner, an operating mode which is as pollutant-free and overheating-free as possible can be enabled even at low load and under transient conditions if the at least one nozzle (20) is arranged in a burner front plate (32), wherein at least one discharge opening (15), through which the pilot fuel discharges into the combustion chamber (16), is provided in a front face (34) of the burner front plate (32), which is arranged essentially parallel to a combustion chamber rear wall (28).
US07972127B2	Wedge-lock system for injection molds A wedge-lock system for injection molds, using a protrusion on one side of the mold and a mating opening and sets of wedges which act together upon mold closing to provide and maintain accurate centering of the core and cavity halves in reference to each other, to prevent core shifts and compensate for uneven thermal expansion of mold components.
US07972125B2	Compressor having output adjustment assembly including piston actuation A compressor may include a housing, first and second scroll members, and a compressor output adjustment assembly. The first scroll member may define a first chamber having first and second passages in communication therewith, a second chamber having third and fourth passages in communication therewith, and first and second apertures. The first and third passages may be in communication with a first pressure source and the second and fourth passages may be selectively in communication with a second pressure source. The compressor output adjustment assembly may include a first piston located in the first chamber and displaceable between first and second positions and a second piston located in the second chamber and displaceable between first and second positions. The first piston may isolate the first aperture from the first passage and the second piston may isolate the second aperture from the third passage when in their respective second positions.
US07972124B2	Piezoelectric micro-blower A blower body is provided with a first wall and a second wall, and openings are provided in the walls at positions facing the approximate center of a diaphragm. An inflow passage that allows the openings to communicate with the outside is arranged between the two walls. When the diaphragm is vibrated in response to a voltage applied to a piezoelectric element, the first wall vibrates near the opening and sucks in air from the inflow passage so that the air can be ejected from the opening. A plurality of branch passages which provide sound absorption are connected to an intermediate section of the inflow passage so as to prevent noise generated near the opening from leaking from an inlet.
US07972122B2	Multiple rotor, wide blade, axial flow pump A blood pump comprises a pump housing; a plurality of rotors positioned in said housing, each rotor comprising an impeller having a hydrodynamic surface for pumping blood; and a motor including a plurality of magnetic poles carried by each impeller, having motor stators, each including electrically conductive coils located adjacent to or within the housing. At least one of the rotors is adopted to rotate clockwise, and at least one of rotors is adopted to rotate counterclockwise. By this means, stator or stationary blades between the rotors may not be needed.
US07972120B2	Discharge system for compressors A discharge system for a compressor which includes a first plurality of discharge chambers connected to provide a serial discharge from the compression chamber of the compressor to an outlet and a second set of discharge chambers providing a parallel discharge path from the compression chamber of the compressor to the outlet upon the pressure in the compression chamber exceeding a predetermined value.
US07972114B2	Composite blade root structure A spar of a rotor blade having moderate depth transitions to a relatively much deeper shank over a relatively short distance. This rapid transition enables a low-weight blade root that is structurally efficient, offers a high moment capability, and enables high Mach number axial flow. A transition could advantageously reduce section depth by at least 15%, 20%, 30%, or even 40% over at most 5%, 6%, 10%, or 12% of a total length of the rotor blade. Such a transition could advantageously be accomplished using a cuff, which has interfaces with each of the spar and the shank. The rotor blade shank has a generally circular cross-section which allows for a rotary attachment to a hub, where the attachment may advantageously comprise a mechanical or elastomeric bearing. Preferred embodiments have a spar with a generally rectangular cross-section.
US07972100B2	Three piece garage hook In one aspect, a holder mountable to a friable substrate may include a self-drilling drywall fastener, a wall engaging base plate having an opening for receiving a fastener, and at least one leg extending from the base plate for holding an object. In another aspect, a holder may include a self-drilling drywall fastener having a drilling portion longer than a drywall thickness followed by a high-threaded portion, a wall engaging base plate, and at least one leg for holding an object. In still another aspect, a holder may include a self-drilling drywall fastener having a screw-like drilling portion longer than a drywall thickness followed by a high-threaded portion, a drywall engaging base plate having a recess for receiving a rotary driver and a pair of openings each capable of receiving a threaded drywall fastener and engaging threads thereof.
US07972098B2	Liner for cushioning and securing rolled coils and other cylindrical objects in a transverse trough of a railway car A liner for a transverse trough of a coil-transport railway car for cushioning a coil and for preventing lateral creep of the load during transport. Each sloping wall of a transverse trough is lined with at least one liner to prevent lateral creep in both transverse directions. Each liner is comprised of a horizontal bottom base or support layer, from which upwardly project a plurality of spaced-apart, flexible fingers or ribs. The fingers or ribs of the liner of the invention may be oriented leftward or rightward in direction of cant, and oriented such as to face or incline toward the centerline of the transport vehicle, and behave or act as leaf springs. When the load of coil is placed onto the liner of the present invention, the fingers thereof serve as the load-bearing surface, and bend or deflect in accordance with the weight of the load, to thereby support the load of coil. In addition, those remaining fingers or ribs not deflected by the load and immediately adjacent to the coil at either end, act as leaf springs to resist any side-to-side, lateral movement of the roll or coil, as would otherwise occur due to vibration and shock imparted during transport.
US07972096B2	Spindle device of machine tool The present invention provides a cartridge-type spindle device having an easily separable structure despite the fact that it comprises a rotary joint for a through spindle coolant device. In the cartridge replacement type spindle device (11), front bearings of the spindle are built in a front housing (23) and rear bearings of the spindle (15) are supported on a rear housing (25) so that, when the front housing (23) is separated from the rear housing (25), the front bearings (17a, 17b), the spindle (15), and the rear bearings (19a, 19b) can be separated from the rear housing (25) integrally with the front housing (23). The rotary joint is disposed in a piston (63) of an unclamp means for unclamping a tool (21, T) mounted to the forward end of the spindle (15), so that a draw bar (51) accompanied by a seal ring can be separated from the rear housing (25) and the rotary joint together with the spindle (15) and the front housing (23).
US07972092B2	Insert adapted for use in bar peeling and method An insert for rotary milling includes a polygonal member having at least one primary cutting edge and at least one secondary cutting edge arranged at an obtuse angle thereto. At least one connecting region is arranged between the at least one primary cutting edge and the at least one secondary cutting edge. The connecting region has a local radius of curvature. This abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07972091B2	Milling tool, a cutting insert for milling tool as well as a solid milling tool A milling tool intended for chip-removing machining includes a basic body rotatable around a geometrical centre axis and peripherically spaced-apart, detachable cutting inserts, which separately are securable in insert pockets adjacent to chip channels formed in the basic body. The individual cutting insert have at least one edge formed between a chip surface on the top side of the cutting insert and a clearance surface along the periphery side of the cutting insert, and the individual insert pocket is arranged to secure the individual cutting insert in a position in which the chip surface is inclined in relation to the centre axis while forming a positive angle of inclination.
US07972090B2	Indexable turning insert and a cutting tool comprising such an insert An indexable turning insert includes two opposing larges sides formed by a support center part and a plurality of cutting parts projecting outwardly therefrom, each having a cutting edge extending between the sides and being spaced apart around the outer perimeter of the center part for indexing, has four the cutting parts. Each cutting part has a clearance side extending on one of the sides of the insert from the cutting edge of the cutting part towards the center part while making clearance angles in two dimensions with respect to the cutting edge, and the cutting edge of each cutting part makes an angle being below 90° by less than the clearance angles with the other of the sides of the insert.
US07972087B2	Vacuum transfer apparatus and process with improved product weighing controls A vacuum transfer apparatus and process with weighing controls. An exemplary vacuum transfer apparatus includes a hopper that retains food product and includes a discharge port. A vacuum chamber has an inlet coupled to the discharge port of the hopper, and a member that is time-controlled to dispense product from the vacuum chamber. A portioning hopper receives product from the vacuum chamber and dispenses a predetermined weight of product.
US07972086B2	Earthen retaining wall with pinless soil reinforcing elements An earthen retaining wall constructed with welded wire grid includes a series of soil reinforcing elements and separate facing panels with distal ends is provided. Soil reinforcing transverse elements capture the distal ends of the facing panel on both the front face side and the back face side. Capturing the distal ends on both the front side and back side horizontally secures the reinforcing elements without the aid of secondary connectors such as hog-rings, tie wires, connection pins, or other supplemental connectors. The soil reinforcing elements are free to move in the vertical direction but not in the horizontal direction.
US07972085B2	Method and device for shoring trenches A method and device for shoring trenches includes insertion of a first couple of lining plates into a ditch. A stiff bracing frame may be guided within a first couple of linear guides between the two lining plates, one linear guide being connected to one lining plate. A second couple of lining plates may be guided between the first lining plates and inserted into the ditch. A second couple of linear guides may be inserted between the first linear guides, one of the second linear guides being connected to one of the second lining plates, and the second linear guides being kept at a distance using a brace. The bracing frame between the first linear guides may be removed, and the second lining plates and the second linear guides may be lowered while the stiff bracing frame is inserted between the first linear guides when the ditch is dug deeper.
US07972082B2	Collection of landfill gas at variable rates to match temporal needs for energy generation The invention involves a method of collecting biogas from a landfill with a variable rate of collection varied to match periods of greatest need for energy and greatest economic value of energy during a day. The variable collection rate is made possible by a landfill design that includes a gas permeable layer and a gas containment layer with gas collection from an extraction locus beneath the gas permeable layer. In some embodiments the landfill also includes a porous gas storage layer above the gas-permeable layer.
US07972079B2	Method and assembly for maintaining structural stability and configuration of golf course sand bunker borders A method is provided for maintaining the structured stability and configuration of golf course sand bunker borders which method comprises excavating the soil area adjacent the bunker edge, rigidly positioning adjacent open-top, uniquely designed compartments in the excavated area along the edge of the bunker, filling the compartment with soil to the top of each compartment and leveling the soil on top of the compartments. Each compartment comprises side panels, front and back panels and a bottom closure panel. The compartment is rigidly positioned by means of spikes driven through the back and front panel into the soil at the edge of the bunker and a spike through the bottom closure into the soil beneath the sand in the bunker.
US07972077B2	Connector for linear members Connectors for linear members of wall structure which allows a variety of guide rails, fences, and pipes to be assembled in a desired pattern conveniently are provided. The connector includes a central body of annular shape; at least one socket member 6, the one end of the socket member being connected to the central body and the other end being connected to the linear member, such as pipe, wire or bar; and a rail means that connects the central body and the socket member such that the socket member can be moved along the circumferential surface of the central body.
US07972074B2	Leveling tool for applying fluent material A leveling tool having a body which consists of a handle part and a leveling part. The leveling part being generally pointed in shape by way of two converging plows.An apex formed by the convergence of the converging plows. An exit located at the apex.
US07972073B2	Cosmetic product distributor applicator The mascara distributor applicator (1) includes: a) a container (3) including a neck (7) threaded externally and a chamber (5) extending in an axial direction with a side wall (6), b) an applicator (8) including a head (9) threaded internally so as to cooperate with the neck by screwing to ensure a sealed closing of the container, a stem (10) attached by its upper extremity to the head and by its lower extremity to a means of application (11). The applicator also includes: c) a hollow outer envelope (21) with at least one opening (28) and at the inside of which the container is fixed in a removable way and d) a hollowed-out cover with at least one opening (25) and inside which the applicator of the cosmetic product is fixed in a removable way.
US07972068B2	Header assembly for communications module In one example, a header assembly for use in a communication device has a base that includes a plurality of single ports through which a corresponding plurality of leads extends. The leads are retained in their respective single ports by a retainer material. Additionally, the base includes one or more plural ports through which two or more leads extend.
US07972065B2	Hydrodynamic bearing device, spindle motor, and recording and reproducing apparatus equipped with same A hydrodynamic bearing device includes a sleeve having a bearing hole, a shaft, and a flange cover. The shaft is disposed in the bearing hole of the sleeve in a state of being capable of relative rotation, and has a large diameter flange portion. The flange cover is disposed opposite the bottom surface of the flange portion. A bubble suppression portion, which is formed as a recess on the bottom surface of the shaft, communicates with the upper surface of the flange portion through a communicating hole in the flange portion. This provides a hydrodynamic bearing device with which negative pressure is prevented from being generated in the bearing even when it is subjected to impact or vibration, and durability and reliability can be enhanced, as well as a spindle motor and a recording and reproducing apparatus equipped with this hydrodynamic bearing device.
US07972061B2	C-arm having a radiographic source and a heat pump An x-ray device is provided. The x-ray device includes a C-arm, on which a radiographic source and a heat pump are arranged. At least sections of the C-arm are hollow, such that at least sections of the radiographic source and the heat pump are arranged inside the C-arm.
US07972059B2	X-ray cassette cover An X-ray cover for enveloping an X-ray cassette. The cover comprises a first sheet of non-plastic material and a second sheet of non-plastic material. The cover further comprises a cushion element integrally distributed throughout the first sheet and the second sheet wherein the first sheet and second sheet are sized and shaped to accept the X-ray cassette and wherein the cushion element is sized and shaped to cushion the patient's body part during an X-ray procedure.
US07972058B2	Apparatus and method for mixing with a diaphragm pump An apparatus for mixing a fluid including a storage vessel including a hollow portion for holding the fluid, the hollow portion including at least one access port, the at least one access port adapted to at least one of receive and expel fluid and a diaphragm pump in fluid communication with and removeably coupled to the vessel, the pump adapted to move fluid into and/or out of the hollow portion. Either the vessel or the pump can be disposable. Also, at least one portion of the vessel can be made of a flexible material that takes shape in relation to the contents of the hollow portion. Also, the fluid can be moved between the vessel and the pump by natural or artificial pressure.
US07972057B2	Device for producing a multi-component compound A device for producing a multi-component compound, in particular for dental purposes, by mixing its components after they have been pressed out of cartridges which open into a dynamic mixer and are arranged exchangeably in the device, with a first motor for advancing all of the pistons assigned to the cartridges, and with a second motor for rotary driving of mixing elements in the mixer via a shaft, which is held in engagement with the mixer by spring pretensioning and can be pulled back from the mixer counter to the spring pretensioning, is characterized in that the shaft is provided with a radially extending projection which, by the spring pretensioning, is pressed onto a ramp-like upwardly sloping cam surface, which is provided on its foot with an abutment surface, of a toothed wheel, which is provided with saw-like teeth and is coaxial to the shaft, which toothed wheel, in a first angle direction in which the cam surface slopes upwards, is prevented from rotating by a catch and, in the second angle position opposite thereto, is rotatable, the mixer drive shaft being pulled back during rotation in the first direction of rotation.
US07972056B2	Machine for mixing hair colors A countertop apparatus dispenses hair coloring, developers and bleach in specified quantities and mixes them, substantially reducing the manual labor involved in performing such tasks. A housing has an upstanding back wall and a bottom wall. A plurality of hair color tube stations is mounted on a forward side of the back wall and a hair color tube squeezing device is positioned at each hair color tube station. The hair color tube squeezing device includes a pair of confronting rollers that engage the trailing end of an inverted hair color tube. A plurality of developer reservoirs and a bleach hopper are also mounted to the apparatus. First and second mixing bowls receive and mix hair coloring and developer at first and second stations, and a third mixing bowl receives and mixes bleach and developer at a third station. Operation of the apparatus is keypad-controlled.
US07972055B2	Method and system for administering micro-ingredient feed additives to animal feed rations including controlled bin access A method and system are provided for administering micro-ingredient feed additives wherein controlled access is provided to the bins or containers that store the micro-ingredients prior to delivery thereby preventing inadvertent errors in adding incorrect micro-ingredients to a feed ration as well as to provide a measure of security to prevent tampering with the micro-ingredients in the bins. A micro-ingredient delivery system typically includes a plurality of bins that store designated micro-ingredients therein. Each bin may have a locking device thereby restricting access to the bin, along with a switch indicating whether the bin access cover is open or closed. A master controller of the delivery system provides signals to lock or unlock the locking devices based upon authorizations provided to access the bins in accordance with the particular operating parameters and requirements of the delivery system.
US07972054B2	Lighting assembly and light module for same A lighting assembly that has a light fixture and an LED light module is provided. One or more resilient members generate a compression force when the LED light module is removably coupled to the light fixture to thereby exert a generally axial force on the LED light module to resiliently maintain the LED light module in resilient contact with the light fixture or socket of the light fixture to thereby resiliently couple the LED light module to the light fixture or socket of the light fixture. One or both of the LED light module and light fixture have one or more engaging members that extend radially from a circumferential surface thereof, and one or both of the LED light module and the light fixture have one or more slots configured to removably receive the one or more engaging members therein when coupling the LED light module to the light fixture.
US07972048B1	Window mounted solar powered night light A window mounted solar powered night light has a structural attachment fastener, a lighting module; and a holder for attaching the lighting module to the attachment fastener. The lighting module includes a light emitting diode, a rechargeable battery, a solar cell for recharging the battery, and a switch for turning the light emitting diode on and off. A housing maintains the various elements of the lighting module in circuit communication.
US07972044B2	Horticultural light fixture with adjustable air circulation vent hole cover and adjustable light socket assembly A light fixture for use as a horticultural and agricultural grow light fixture, which includes a fixture housing, end panels disposed in the open ends of the housing, each of which includes a duct opening and a duct connector disposed in the duct opening. A specular insert is installed in the interior of the fixture housing and includes sides spaced apart from the sides of the fixture housing such that a cooling and insulating airspace is defined between the specular insert and the housing. Both the housing and specular insert are mounted on a base, and the fixture bottom opening is covered by a lens. In the preferred embodiment, an adjustable light socket assembly is positioned in one of the duct connectors. Finally, the assembly includes a adjustable vent hole cover mounted in each of the duct connectors. The vent hole covers can be adjusted between a fully open position and a fully closed position, such that when the duct connectors are connected to an air circulation system, the rate and volume of air flow to and within the interior of the light fixture can finely adjusted.
US07972042B2	Light guide and illumination device having same A light guide is a quarter of cylinder in shape and includes a cylindrical emitting surface, an incident surface adjacent to and facing away from the cylindrical emitting surface, and a connecting surface connecting the cylindrical emitting surface and incident surface. The light guide defines five a number of grooves in the incident surface. Each groove is bounded by two surfaces. The inclined angle of the two surface is designed to satisfy a set of conditions to improve light uniformity of the cylindrical emitting surface.
US07972038B2	Direct view LED lamp with snap fit housing A direct view LED lamp (10) comprising: a heat sink body (12) having a longitudinal axis (14) and a wall (16) having an exterior (18) and an interior (20). A cavity (22) is formed in the interior (20) and is defined by a circumferential side wall (24) and a back wall (26). A circuit board (28) is positioned in the cavity (22) adjacent the back wall (26). At least one LED (30) is mounted on the circuit board (28) facing in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (14) and away from the circuit board (28). An optical light guide (32) is positioned adjacent the at least one LED (30). A housing (42) spans the cavity (22) and has a coupling face (44) to mate with the heat sink body (12).
US07972037B2	High intensity replaceable light emitting diode module and array A light fixture, comprising a matrix, a plurality of electrical sockets fixedly secured to the matrix and forming a rigid matrix of electrical sockets electrically interconnected in two dimensions. One or more light emitting diode modules are individually removable and replaceable within any individual electrical socket within the matrix. Each individual light emitting diode module includes a base and a light emitting diode, wherein the base is configured and arranged for fitted electrical engagement within the electrical socket.
US07972035B2	Adjustable lighting apparatus A lighting apparatus having a pivotable light cartridge for positioning and directing the light output of a plurality of light sources, the light cartridge including an elongated base oriented along the longitudinal axis, a pivot at the opposed first and second ends of the light cartridge along the longitudinal axis, a plurality of light sources, and an longitudinal wall extending from the lateral edge of the base, the wall including a plurality of spaced-apart, radially-extending ribs, each having a distal edge. A rotatable worm gear having a helical thread is positioned in mechanical engagement with a portion of the distal edges of the plurality of ribs, so that rotation of the worm gear with a hand tool effects pivoting of the light cartridge along the longitudinal axis.
US07972031B2	Addressable or static light emitting or electronic apparatus The present invention provides an addressable or static electronic apparatus, such as a light emitting display. An exemplary apparatus comprises a substrate having a plurality of cavities; a plurality of first conductors coupled to the substrate and at least partially within the cavities, with the plurality of first conductors having a first and substantially parallel orientation; a plurality of light emitting diodes or other electronic components coupled to the plurality of first conductors and having a second orientation substantially normal to the first orientation; and a plurality of substantially optically transmissive second conductors coupled to the plurality of light emitting diodes and having a third orientation substantially normal to the second orientation and substantially perpendicular to the first orientation. In an exemplary method, the plurality of electronic components in a suspending medium are deposited within the plurality of cavities, and the plurality of electronic components are oriented using an applied field, followed by a bonding of the plurality of electronic components to the plurality of first conductors.
US07972029B2	Method and apparatus for creating high efficiency even intensity circular lighting distributions A surface mount LED lamp includes a central first section having a flat circular window that provides a direct view window to the source energy and having an angle equal to the total intended output viewing angle of the LED lamp thereby providing a smooth and relatively undistorted output intensity distribution. The window allows the energy from the wide angle LED source to exit the lamp with minimal distortion, creating a smooth generally cosine shaped light distribution through the intended viewing angle of the device. A second outer section has both refractive and internally reflective surfaces for the purpose of collecting the wider output angle light from the LED source thereby adding to the intensity at the outer edges of the distribution.
US07972021B2	Transmission-controlled window glazing The invention relates to a window glazing comprising at least two window panes with an intermediate ventilated space arranged therebetween, wherein at least one window pane is provided with a layer which is arranged on the interior side therefore and whose transmission is controllable. More specifically, said invention relates to a multilayer glazing comprising corresponding intermediate spaces in which a sweeping gas circulates, wherein said sweeping gas consists of a mixture of air and other gaseous components in which the sweeping gas content is adjustable.
US07972020B2	Apparatus and method for reducing speckle in display of images An apparatus and method of reducing speckle in projection of images is provided that includes the elements or features of producing a first image and displacing the first image to produce a second image that will reduce speckle relating to the first image when the first image and the second image are displayed on a display medium.
US07972019B2	Optical device and projector An optical device includes a plurality of light modulating devices for forming optical images and a color combining optical device. The optical device includes a first fixed member and a second fixed member for mounting the light modulating devices so as to face light flux incoming end surfaces of the color combining optical device. The first fixed member includes a plate-shaped first base portion mounted to oppose the light flux incoming end surface and having an opening for transmitting the light flux. The second fixed member includes a plate-shaped second base portion having an opening for transmitting the light flux. The first fixed member and the second fixed member are assembled in such a manner that the first base portion and the second base portion are opposed to each other.
US07972018B2	Image projection system with auto-focus Focus adjustment for a projector which includes a projection lens having an adjustable focus position. An asymmetrically focused pattern is projected through the projection lens onto a projection screen, wherein the asymmetrically focused pattern is imaged by the projection lens onto the projection screen with a focus at one portion on the screen that differs with focus at another portion thereof. An image of the asymmetrically focused pattern is captured from the projection screen. A focus adjustment direction is calculated by using asymmetrical aspects of the captured image of the asymmetrically focused pattern. The focus position of the projection lens is driven in the calculated focus adjustment direction so as to move from an out-of-focus state of the projection lens toward an in-focus state.
US07972017B2	Optical element having a diffractive layer and a relief pattern with concave and convex portions An optical element, includes: a diffractive functional layer which diffracts at least part of incident light; and a grid formed on a first surface of the diffractive functional layer, the grid including a plurality of fine wires and having a polarization separation function; wherein the optical element reflects a part of the incident light while transmitting another part of the incident light, the first surface of the diffractive functional layer including: a plurality of first regions; a plurality of second regions, a height thereof relative to a second surface of the diffractive functional layer being different from that of the first regions, the second surface being an opposite surface to the first surface; and a step provided at a border between the first regions and the second regions.
US07972007B2	Image generating apparatus using a mirror common to a plurality of optical paths An image generating apparatus is provided, which has a plurality of image generating optical paths and means for simultaneously deflecting a received plurality of light beams of primary illumination light having coherence properties. The received light beams are assigned to the respective optical paths. The means for deflecting simultaneously optically couples each of the received light beams into a respective assigned optical path and irradiates intermediate faces of illumination units of each respective optical path with the respective assigned light beam. The means for deflecting is configured so that, during the process of irradiating, each of the light beams subsequently in time irradiates different portions of the respective assigned intermediate faces.
US07971998B2	Apparatus and method for measuring a displacement within an eye in vivo in situ, and method of assessment The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring a displacement in vivo in situ of an eye, along with a method of assessing of an eye condition. More particularly, the apparatus and method of the present invention permits measurements of a displacement of at least two points in proximity of an optic disc, in the eye of a patient. For doing so, the apparatus uses a probing unit, an analog/digital converter and an analyzer. The displacement measured may include a pulsatile displacement of the lamina cribrosa, so as to perform early assessment of an eye condition.
US07971997B2	Apparatus for selecting an intraocular lens and a method of selecting the intraocular lens An intraocular lens selection apparatus and an intraocular lens selection method for selecting an intraocular lens to be implanted into an examinee's eye. The apparatus has an input unit which inputs corneal wavefront aberration of the eye, a memory which stores wavefront aberrations of a plurality of intraocular lens models, an unit which sets, as a target value, desired post-operative residual wavefront aberration of the eye after the lens is implanted, an unit which calculates, as an estimated value, post-operative residual wavefront aberration of the eye to be obtained when each lens model is implanted, based on the inputted corneal wavefront aberration and the stored wavefront aberration of each lens model, and specifies one of the lens models which renders the estimated value close to the set target value, a monitor, and a display control unit which controls the monitor to display information of the specified lens model.
US07971995B2	Net-molded optical articles and methods of making the same An injection molding apparatus and method of use are provided whereby a net-molded optical article can be produced. Edge wave deviations are reduced by controlling the cooling profile of the resin. The apparatus can be configured to include at least one heat control element disposed adjacent to an edge of the mold cavity. After plasticized resin has been injected into the mold cavity, the edge of the mold cavity can be thermally regulated relative to the center of the cavity.
US07971993B2	Lens fixing method for rimless eyeglasses, and rimless eyeglasses using the same Rimless eyeglasses are provided that allow a lens to be fixed to a connector only by fitting the lens into the connector, and that also enable strong engagement between the lens and the connector. Rimless eyeglasses include a rimless lens, a bridge, and a connector that is provided at the tip of a temple. The rimless lens has an inwardly extending notch near upper left and right ends thereof. The bridge and the connector have a groove having a C-shaped longitudinal cross section and extending between top and bottom surfaces thereof. The notches of the rimless lens engage with the grooves of the bridge and the connector.
US07971991B2	Apparatus and methods for handling materials in a 3-D printer The present invention is directed towards methods and apparatus for handling powder in a 3D printer. The invention includes a means of transporting powder from multiple sources to a powder dispensing apparatus with minimal user intervention, thus reducing contamination of the 3D printer and surrounding area with loose powder, while also providing a means of improving the recycling of powder for re-use.
US07971987B2	Heated drum assembly having integrated thermal sensing for use in a printer A heated drum assembly enables improved thermal control of a hollow drum in the heated drum assembly by integrating thermal sensing devices in the assembly. The heated drum assembly includes a hollow drum having a circumferential wall that defines an outer boundary for an internal cavity, the hollow drum having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis about which the hollow drum rotates, a stationary heater that is located within the internal cavity of the hollow drum to heat the circumferential wall as it passes by the heater, the heater having a reflector with at least one wall and at least one heating element between the reflector and the circumferential wall of the hollow drum, the reflector and a portion of the circumferential wall subtended by the reflector forming a heating zone, an insulating shield mounted to the wall of the reflector, a thermal cutout mounted on the insulating shield, a support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the support arm being mounted to the insulating shield, and a thermal sensor mounted to the second end of the support arm.
US07971986B2	Inkjet containing phthalocyanine dye with non-planar groups An inkjet ink comprising an IR-absorbing dye of formula (A): wherein M is selected from the group consisting of: Si(A1)(A2), Ge(A1)(A2), Ga(A1), Mg, Al(A1), TiO, Ti(A1)(A2), ZrO, Zr(A1)(A2), VO, V(A1)(A2), Mn, Mn(A1), Fe, Fe(A1), Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, Sn(A1)(A2), Pb, Pb(A1)(A2), Pd and Pt; A1 and A2 are axial ligands, which may be the same or different, and are selected from the group consisting of: —OH, halogen and —OR3; R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, hydroxyl, C1-12 alkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, amino, C1-12 alkylamino, di(C1-12 alkyl)amino, halogen, cyano, thiol, C1-12 alkylthio, nitro, carboxy, C1-12 alkylcarbonyl, C1-12 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-12 alkylcarbonyloxy and C1-12 alkylcarbonylamino; R3 is a selected from the group consisting of: C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl and Si(Rx)(Ry)(Rz); Rx, Ry and Rz may be the same or different and are selected from C1-12 alkyl, C5-12 aryl, C5-12 arylalkyl, C1-12 alkoxy, C5-12 aryloxy or C5-12 arylalkoxy; W is —SO3H or a water-soluble salt thereof; and each m is independent selected from 0, 1 or 2.
US07971977B2	Retention device for ink cartridge and recording apparatus having the same A retention device for an ink cartridge for engaging and retaining a locking lever when the ink cartridge is attached to a carriage such that a contact between conductive connection portions of a cartridge-side substrate of the ink cartridge and contact terminals of a connector is in a desired state, the retention device includes: a position regulation portion that is provided at a mounting place of the ink cartridge in the carriage, and that is brought into contact with a part of the locking lever and regulates an engagement position of the locking lever when the ink cartridge is attached to the carriage.
US07971976B2	Liquid storage container A liquid storage container prevents quality degradation of liquid caused by evaporation of moisture in the liquid stored in a liquid storage chamber and contact between the liquid and air introduced into the liquid storage chamber. Quality is stably maintained for a long time. As ink contained in a liquid storage chamber is consumed, an atmosphere communicating path guides air into the liquid storage chamber from the outside. The atmosphere communicating path has a thin communicating path at an intermediate position. The thin communicating path is thinner than other portions and is capable of holding ink by a meniscus. An amount of ink sufficient for blocking the ink contained in the liquid storage chamber from the atmospheric air is held in the thin communicating path.
US07971971B2	Inkjet nozzle assembly having bilayered passive beam An inkjet nozzle assembly includes: a nozzle chamber having a nozzle opening and an ink inlet; and a thermal bend actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening. The actuator includes: an active beam for connection to drive circuitry; a first passive beam fused to the active beam; and a second passive beam fused to the second first passive beam. The first passive beam is sandwiched between the active beam and the second passive beam such that when a current is passed through the active beam, the active beam expands relative to the passive beams, resulting in bending of the actuator and ejection of ink through the nozzle opening.
US07971970B2	Ink ejection device with circular chamber and concentric heater element An ink drop ejection device with a bubble forming chamber for holding an ejectable liquid, a nozzle in fluid communication with the bubble forming chamber, and at least one heater element in the bubble forming chamber for thermal contact with the bubble forming liquid. Heating the heater element to a temperature above the boiling point of the bubble forming liquid forms a gas bubble to eject a drop of the ejectable liquid through the nozzle. The bubble forming chamber has a circular cross section and the heater element has arcuate sections that are concentric with the circular cross section.
US07971969B2	Printhead nozzle arrangement having ink ejecting actuators annularly arranged around ink ejection port A printhead for an inkjet printer includes a wafer defining a plurality of nozzle chambers and a plurality of ink supply channel in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzle chambers for supplying the plurality of nozzle chambers with ink; an ink ejection port associated with each nozzle chamber; and a plurality of actuators associated with each nozzle chamber, the plurality of actuators each including a petal formation. A plurality of petal formations are arranged around an ink ejection port of each nozzle chamber to annularly surround the ink ejection port. Each actuator is operable to displace a respective petal formation into the nozzle chamber.
US07971968B2	Printhead nozzle arrangement having variable volume nozzle chamber A printhead has a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each arrangement includes a substrate defining an ink inlet aperture with a wall portion bounding the ink inlet aperture and a crown portion defining a nozzle opening; a skirt portion depending from the crown portion to form part of a peripheral wall of the nozzle assembly, the crown and skirt portions being displaceable with respect to the wall portion towards the substrate to alter a volume of a nozzle chamber defined by the wall, crown and skirt portions; and a thermal actuator interconnecting the crown and skirt portions with the substrate, the actuator for displacing the crown and skirt portions. The wall portion and skirt portions are configured to define a fluidic seal to inhibit the egress of ink during such displacement. The substrate further includes a layer of micro-electromechanical drive circuitry for actuating the actuator. The actuator has a first active beam arranged above a second passive beam, the beams fabricated from a conductive ceramic material with an electrical connection between the active beam and the drive circuitry established via conductive pads.
US07971967B2	Nozzle arrangement with actuator slot protection barrier A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer includes a wafer substrate defining a supply channel; side and roof walls positioned on the substrate, said walls defining a nozzle chamber operatively supplied with ink via the supply channel, and a nozzle rim defined in the roof wall; an actuator device passing through a slot in a side wall of the chamber, the device configured to operatively eject ink from the nozzle rim; and an actuator slot protection barrier mounted on the actuator device, and extending at a normal to the actuator device, the actuator slot protection barrier located proximate the slot and configured to reduce ink wicking on the nozzle rim during ejection of ink from the nozzle rim.
US07971963B2	Liquid discharge method and liquid discharge head A liquid discharge method of a liquid discharge head having a discharge port which discharges a liquid, a channel which communicates with the discharge port and an energy generation unit which is disposed opposite to the discharge port and which generates energy for use in discharging the liquid. The method includes driving the energy generation unit, and then connecting a tip portion of the liquid discharged from the discharge port to the liquid at the discharge port via at least two liquid columns, and cutting the at least two liquid columns to separate the tip portion of the liquid from the liquid at the discharge port.
US07971962B2	Collective transfer inkjet nozzle plate and method of producing the same There provides a nozzle plate having fine nozzle holes capable of transferring a pattern collectively, and a method of producing the same. Further, there provides a method of forming fine nozzle holes in a required shape, at a required position on a substrate, and an inkjet nozzle plate obtained by the method. Moreover, there provides a collective transfer inkjet nozzle plate can have a high imaging efficiency, and can reduce the cost by simplifying a nozzle controller; and a method of producing the same.Fine nozzle holes in a plate of a setting material are formed by: forming three-dimensional structures on a substrate in accordance with a fine inkjet process based on data in a computer, coating a setting material in a portion other than portions where the three-dimensional structures are formed, and then hardening and removing the setting material.
US07971961B2	Forming images with stitched swaths A method for forming an image on recording media includes providing a support adapted to receive the recording media; providing a controller programmed for controlling a print head comprising a plurality of individually controllable marking elements to form the image on the recording media in accordance with image data corresponding to the image; and operating the print head to form a plurality of sub-images on the recording media, wherein the plurality of sub-images are stitched together to form the image with a stitching pattern that is determined based at least one a size of a portion of a feature of the image that can be formed in each sub-image of the plurality of sub-images.
US07971958B2	Inkjet printer with maintenance assembly having non-absorbent roller An inkjet printer having a printhead maintenance assembly for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance assembly comprises a maintenance roller having an elastically-deformable non-absorbent contact surface for sealing engagement with an ink ejection face of the printhead. An engagement mechanism moves the roller between a first position in which the contact surface is sealingly engaged with the face and a second position in which the contact surface is disengaged from the face.
US07971955B2	Method and control unit for controlling the power supplied to a plurality of heat sources in a printer A control unit for a printing apparatus has a plurality of heat sources, each heat source being operable at an individual power level. The control unit is configured to control the power supplied to the heat sources such that, at each instant, the sum of the delivered individual power levels is less than or equal to a maximum allowable power. The control unit is also configured to control the power delivered to the heat sources on the basis of sequential cycles and for each cycle, to receive for each heat source a requested power pulse duration, to schedule within the cycle instants at which power is to be delivered to the heat sources, based on the individual power levels and requested pulse durations and to deliver the power according to the scheduled instants within the cycle.
US07971954B2	Recording apparatus and method of controlling recording apparatus A recording apparatus having a transporting unit to transport a target, a recording unit recording on the target transported, a fluid supply adjusting unit to switch an operation between supply and non-supply of fluid from a fluid supply source, a drive source for the transporting unit and the fluid supply adjusting unit, a control unit to control the drive source, a jam detection unit to detect a jam of the target, a storage unit to retain jam data, a determining unit configured to determine the presence or absence of occurrence of the jam, wherein the control unit carries out a first control or a second control according to the detection of the jam when the power is turned OFF and carries out a third control or a fourth control according to the state of occurrence of the jam when the power is turned ON.
US07971953B2	Recording-medium-residual-quantity detecting device, recording apparatus, and liquid ejecting apparatus A recording-medium-residual-quantity detecting device includes a first rotation-quantity detecting unit that detects a rotation quantity of a roll in which a recording medium is wound. A second rotation-quantity detecting unit detects a rotation quantity of a transportation roller that transports the recording medium by rotating in contact with the recording medium that is unwound from the roll. A controlling unit has a winding control mode in which driving units of the device are controlled so that rotational powers to wind the recording medium into the roll without slack between the roll and the transportation roller are applied to the roll and the transportation roller. The residual quantity of the recording medium is calculated on the basis of a rotation quantity θr of the roll and a rotation quantity θs of the transportation roller that are respectively detected by the rotation-quantity detecting units when the winding control mode is executed.
US07971951B2	Inkjet printing apparatus and printing method therefor The printing elements of each printing element array are divided into blocks. A block to be driven and a block not to be driven are determined for each scanning of a printhead. The printhead is driven to print by complementing blocks to be driven by each scanning in a plurality of scanning operations. In each scanning, the printhead prints while making a printing area corresponding to at least one ink different from a printing area corresponding to another ink.
US07971948B2	Liquid jet apparatus and printing apparatus A liquid jet apparatus of the invention includes a drive waveform generator that generates a drive waveform signal, a modulator that pulse-modulates the drive waveform signal so as to produce a modulated signal, a digital power amplification circuit that amplifies the power of the modulated signal so as to produce an amplified digital signal, and a low pass filter that smoothes the amplified digital signal so as to produce a drive signal. The digital power amplification circuit includes multiple stages of digital power amplifiers each including a pair of switching elements that are push-pull-connected. The amplified digital signal is a multi-value signal that reaches a larger number of steps of electric potentials than the number of digital power amplifiers.
US07971940B2	Wheel design Embodiments of the present invention are directed at least to a plastic wheel, methods of making a plastic wheel and a waste receptacle. The wheel has a wheel body and a hub. The hub has an outer wall, an inner wall and a central bore orientated along an axis that the hub extends along. The outer wall of the hub has been compressed inwardly toward the inner wall, providing greater structural support for the hub.
US07971939B2	Seat structure A seat structure which can ameliorate fatigue of a sitting person in accordance with a long period of sitting is provided.In a vehicle seat 10, a back edge side of a lower layer sheet 50 of a cushion material 20, of which a front edge side is fixed to a front edge side of a sitting portion frame 14, is resiliently connected to a back edge side of the sitting portion frame 14 via a movable frame 34 and a torsion bar 46, which is a resilient member. The cushion material 20 has a spring zero characteristic in which a spring constant of a portion that supports a protrusion portion of the sitting person is smaller than a spring constant of other portions. This vehicle seat 10 makes smaller the energy of vibrations which are transmitted to a spinal column portion of the sitting person through the sitting portion frame 14, and peripheral portions thereof convert vibrations corresponding to fluctuations in the body and transmit these through the sitting portion frame 14. α waves of 10 Hz to 12 Hz, which occur in a relaxed waking state, are caused in the brain of the sitting person. Vibrations in a resonance frequency region are attenuated in amplitude and transmitted to the sitting person.

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